Guru Viking Podcast

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Ep4 Visions of A Nomad - Guru Viking Interviews Oct 18, 2017

Show notes

In this interview I’m joined by musicians and artists Michael Cuming and Silvana van Dijk from the Australian musical duo Visions of a Nomad. I’ve known them for a couple of years now and they’re really fascinating. In the interview we dive into the ancient wisdom of Australia including dreamtime stories, how to read nature signs, and dream interpretation. We discuss how Michael and Silvana met, why Silvana left an international modelling career and Michael his own touring musical project to disappear for months into the Australian bush with a spear and a 4x4. We discuss Michael’s death experience in a hang gliding accident that radically changed his life, his time living as the personal secretary to an Indian guru with supernatural powers, and their deep connection to the indigenous people of Australia. Topics include: -The beginnings of Visions of A Nomad -Why Michael left his nationally touring band to live in the desert with just a spear and his instincts -The story of love at first sight between Michael and Silvana -Why Silvana gave up an international modelling career to go with Michael to live with the indigenous people of Australia -Living together with Aboriginals -How the indigenous spiritual blueprint pervades the land of Australia -The unique spiritual energy and traditions of Australia -The old Dreaming Paths of Australia How to tune into nature and read natural signs -The specific meanings of certain animal signs -Personal experiences with warnings from the kuru bird -The ancient knowledge in the Aboriginal dreamtime stories The differences between the energetic information of Europe and Australia -Learning to read the language of nature -Why Michael’s left school to become a stockman in the outback -How Michael’s connection with the indigenous people of Australia began -What Michael learned working with mentally challenged children at a Rudolf -Steiner School -How dying in a hang gliding accident radically changed the direction of Michael’s life -What Michael learned from his spiritual experience when he was dead -The extreme spiritual seeking of Michael’s early twenties that brought him to a crisis point -How a dream brought Michael to meet his Indian guru Swami Krishna -Living and studying Hatha yoga and Tantric meditation with the guru -Swami Krishna’s history learning Tibetan tantra and travelling through India as a colleague of Osho -Michael’s final profound spiritual experience with Swami Krishna -How attachment to concepts and paradigms can block spiritual experiences -When Michael realised he was getting hooked on blissing out -Why Michael stopped meditation and applied his spiritual lessons towards living life of creativity and excellence -Why living a full life is important and how the body can teach us to work with strong energies -Where Michael’s drive for artistic excellence comes from -How Swami Krishna taught his students and worked with his solo -High level practice as a spiritual commando -Why Michael would never be a spiritual teacher -Dream interpretation -The links between the Vedas and the Aboriginals -Why the Aboriginals represent an unbroken line of ancient understanding stretching back through time -The intersection of culture, art, and spirituality -How Michael builds bridges between communities with his music and ceremony work -Why everyone is indigenous -What does the term Aboriginal mean -Michael’s work with the Aboriginal people -Music, art, and traditional ceremony -Are Michael and Silvana shamans? -Michael’s morning ritual Find out more about Michael and Silvana here: - https://www.visionsofanomad.com/ - http://www.arcdreamingaboriginaldancetheatre.com/ - https://visionsofanomad1.bandcamp.com/ Visit www.guruviking.com for more interviews, audios, and articles. Music 'Grassy Spirit' performed live by Visions of a Nomad

Steve James Interviewed by Dan Doty from EvryMan Podast Sep 19, 2017

Show notes

I was recently interviewed by Dan Doty on the Evryman Podcast and we had a really great conversation. We talked about my childhood on a remote Scottish Island, extreme outdoor survival, mystical experiences, and a bunch of other interesting things. Enjoy! More about me: www.guruviking.com More about Dan: https://www.evryman.co/dan/

Ep3 Keith McKenzie - Guru Viking Interviews Sep 14, 2017

Show notes

In this interview I talk with Keith McKenzie. Keith is a meditation teacher and Buddhist chaplain for the British Armed Forces and works extensively with veterans in retreats and ongoing community projects. We discuss Keith’s career as an elite soldier in the Parachute Regiment of the British army, and how severe PTSD ended Keith’s 22 years in the fire service and led to heavy substance abuse and years of suffering. We learn how a profound spiritual experience altered the direction of Keith’s life and saw him immerse in meditation and Buddhism, discovering tools to stabilise his mind and heal his trauma - tools that he now shares in his work with veterans through his charity Sadaya. ... Keith passed away peacefully on November 11th 2021 surrounded by friends and family. ... Topics include: - The importance of credibility and life experience - Keith’s time as a hippy in Holland in the 70s before joining the army - The urge to search and Keith’s childhood experiences of religion - How early childhood challenges influenced Keith’s desire to be the best and prove he wasn’t weak - Keith’s career in the elite Parachute Regiment Pathfinders of the British Army - SAS selection and being shot - How 22 years in the fire service was vastly more traumatic than his time in the army and led to severe PTSD - Complex PTSD and how initial trauma can set a pattern of recurring retraumatisation - Karma and character formation - How the negative consequences of one’s mistakes are actually an opportunity to repair karma - Nightmares are dreams trying to tell us something - Why it’s useful to see challenges in life as an opportunity to pay off negative karma - How Keith’s view of karma sets him free from blaming others and blaming himself - Meditation as a tool for use in daily life - Why meditation is like going to the gym, but application in real life is the main event - How Keith uses mindful awareness to deal with difficult experiences - Mistaken ideas about karma and why it isn’t about self blame - How Keith teaches forgiveness through debate and not meditation techniques - Why being a human being is a great opportunity but can lead to difficulties - How severe PTSD ended Keith’s time in the fire service and saw him spend time in a psychiatric ward - The limits of therapy as a cure and why Keith turned to heavy drinking and drugs - How a powerful spiritual experience radically changed the course of Keith’s life - Quitting drinking, drugs, and smoking all in one day - Keith’s jumps into meditation with 8+ hours of intensive practice a day in a Buddhist monastery - The importance of personal practice and why Keith still meditates for 3 hours every day - Meeting Lama Yeshe, the abbot of Samye Ling Monastery, and experiencing his presence and intuitive power - Lama Yeshe’s surprising advice to Keith - Meditation retreats vs real life service - Why Keith longs to go on extended retreat but chooses to serve veterans instead - Does mediation lead to a muted, dull emotional life? - Keith’s personal meditation practice - Practical techniques to relieve pain and suffering - Keith’s work with veterans and those suffering with PTSD - What happens on Keith’s retreats and the unique needs of veterans - Keith’s passion to give veterans tools to stabilise their minds so they can reclaim their lives - Why Keith isn’t interested in converting people and instead supports people to find their own sense of meaning - Working with Keith The Veterans Community Cafe in Edinburgh: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1184591528228376/ Keith is happy to receive emails at: cianroanfk8@hotmail.co.uk Visit www.guruviking.com for more interviews, audios, and articles. Music 'Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Ep2 Charlie Morley - Guru Viking Interviews Aug 24, 2017

Show notes

In this candid interview I talk with lucid dreaming teacher and Hay House author Charlie Morley. We delve into the mysteries of lucid dreaming and and how we can use the practices of dream yoga to harness the third of our lives we spend sleeping as an inner laboratory of exploration, adventure, and even healing. We also discover how a book by the Dalai Lama radically changed Charlie's path from a life of gang violence and drugs to a passion for Buddhism, Charlie’s devotional relationship with his guru Lama Yeshe, and why the guru-disciple model is so often fraught with controversy. Topic include: - Lucid dreaming defined - How lucid dreaming can be used for fun, spiritual practice, and psychological healing - Why Charlie adds modern scientific and psychological applications to traditional dream yoga techniques - The real heart of dream yoga - Shadow work in the dream state - Charlie’s early childhood lucid dreaming experiences - Surprising signs that a child is a lucid dreamer - How Charlie can have 3-4 lucid dreams a night despite not being a natural - Dream work in other traditions and why Tibetan Buddhism doesn’t have a monopoly on dream yoga - How reading a book by the Dalai Lama radically changed Charlie’s life path from drugs and gang violence to Buddhism - Why a lust for partying and excess can actually be a strong indicator of spiritual potential - Was Charlie a dream yogi in a past life? - Charlie’s motto for the spiritual path and living a meaningful life - The guru disciple relationship and Charlie’s devotion to his guru Lama Yeshe - Disempowering the ego to empower the Buddha Nature - The golden shadow and how we often deny our divine nature - The guru disciple relationship as a skilful means of working with psychological projection - Why Charlie was initially unimpressed with Lama Yeshe - Lama Yeshe’s spiritual attainments - Charlie’s advice for how to wisely choose a teacher - Charlie on the controversy at Rigpa and the dangers of the corrupting influence of power - Crazy wisdom and learning from scandal - Charlie’s motivation to help connect people to their spiritual path - Why Lama Yeshe calls Charlie his joyful ambassador - How Charlie became officially authorised to teach by the Karma Kagyu lineage - The safety net of lineage - Why dream yoga gives you keys to the labratory of your mind every night - Charlie’s top tips for maximising lucid dreaming Find out more about Charlie at www.charliemorley.com. Visit www.guruviking.com for more interviews, audios, and articles. Music 'Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Ep1 Lorin Roche PhD - Guru Viking Interviews Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

In this interview I had the pleasure of talking with my good friend Lorin Roche. Lorin is an author, a translator, and has been teaching meditation since 1968. In our discussion we cover the multi-dimensional meanings of Sanskrit, Lorin’s early years as a renegade meditation teacher in the 60s, the possibilities and dangers of meditation, the oppressed spiritual genius of women, and why each individual has a unique, personal doorway to the meditative state. Topics Include: - Lorin’s philosophy of translation - The many dimensions of meaning and the music of the Sanskrit language - The range of possible meanings of the word ‘Yoga’ - The 112 doorways to meditation offered by the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra - Meditation as a natural state - How to find your personal doorway to meditation - Why so much meditation practice is an unknowing echo of childhood relationship patterns - How the inner critic disguises itself as spiritual teaching - The dangers of meditation - Lorin’s early years as a renegade meditation teacher in the 60s and 70s - Why very few meditation teachers actually listen to their students - How Lorin learned to meditate - Why a lot of people are doing the wrong kind of meditation for them - Teaching meditation vs practicing meditation - The pros and cons of the ancient lineage model - Structures of authority and the open space of live teaching - Lorin’s filters for evaluating the ancient traditions and their techniques - The renunciate’s contempt of householders - The problems of householders adopting monk and nun teachings - Living out the path of desire as a spiritual path - Why monastic teachings harm young people - Meditation as a celebration of a life of fullness - The spiritual genius of women - Traditional doctrines of the inferiority of women - How to filter out the oppressive elements of the ancient traditions - The many natural gateways to meditation - How to build your own approach to meditation - Working with Lorin To find out more about Lorin visit: lorinroche.com radiancesutras.com meditationtt.com Visit www.guruviking.com for more interviews, audios, and articles. Music 'Deva Dasi' by Steve James

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