The Importance of Being a Buddhist

In this episode I am joined by Professor John Myrdhin Reynolds, also known as Lama Vajranatha: writer, teacher, translator and scholar/practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism.  Professor Reynolds recounts his adventurous life of practice and scholarship, including extensive travels throughout Asia and discipleship under revered gurus such as Dudjom Rinpoche, Namkai Norbu, and Lopon Tenzin Namdak. Professor Reynolds details his journey through American academia, explains why he turned down an invitation from the CIA to create Tibetan propaganda, and shares anecdotes of Tibetologists such as Hugh Richardson and Edward Conze, including the latter’s escape from the Nazis and defection from Communist activism. Professor Reynolds also recalls his first out of body experience brought on by a car crash, the mystical visions of water spirits, dakinis, and other beings that have featured in his life since, and tells the story of the tragic consequences of the Gelugpa destruction of the psychic barrier erected by Padmasambhava to protect Tibet from China. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep200-lama-vajranatha-professor-john-myrdhin-reynolds 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:16 - Unusual upbringing and resonance with Greek myth 05:01 - Early interest in Indian religion 07:27 - Encountering the ‘Tibetan Book of the Dead’ 09:46 - Education at Columbia University 10:50 - Western Esotericism and transfer to University of Washington 13:10 - Influence of the British Diplomat and Tibetologist, Hugh Richardson 14:20 - Close relationship with the controversial Professor Edward Conze 16:31 - Escaping the Nazis and running a Communist cell in London 19:29 - Disillusionment with Communism 23:17 - Approached by the CIA to make Tibetan propaganda 28:42 - Leaving his PhD and meeting Tarthang Tulku 33:11 - Boarding a ship for India and meeting Swami Omkar 43:11 - Darjeeling and meeting Kangyur Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, and others 48:00 - Adventures in Kathmandu 57:49 - Warning about Dharma politics 59:03 - Stories about Namkhai Norbu and other Dzogchen teachers 01:06:19 - Dudjom Rinpoche vs Namkai Norbu’s Dzogchen teaching style 01:07:54 - Surprising Iranian influence on Buddhism and Tibet 01:10:23 - Lopon Tenzin Namdak and Bon 01:14:59 - OBE and a lifetime of psychic experiences and entity visions 01:19:49 - Dakini visionary warning about climate change 01:23:31 - Lama stories of psychic siddhi and the invasion of Tibet 01:27:24 - How to open psychic capacities 01:28:57 - Edward Conze’s Marxism and Buddhism 01:33:48 - Edward Conze’s Visuddhimagga meditation attainments 01:35:41 - Stalin, Buddhism, and Lama Wangyal 01:37:20 - Stories of Tibetan Buddhist missionary incursions into France 01:46:39 - Buddhism’s spread in England via figures such as Ananda Bodhi and Chogyam Trungpa 01:48:32 - The many scandals of Trungpa and his successors 01:49:41 - Dalai Lama tongue-sucking scandal … To find our more about Professor John Myrdhin Reynolds visit: - https://vajranatha.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James