Misreading Eastern Traditions in the West

In this episode I am once again joined by Alan Chapman, British writer, occultist, and spiritual teacher. Alan reflects on his search for true awakening, compares the spiritual traditions of the West and the East, and questions the liberal ideal of the universal man. Alan presents Merlin as the archetype of the Western adept, asserts theosis to be the true purpose of Christianity, and reveals the language of the birds. Alan also offers advice for those who have had an awakening, discusses Gnosticism and Pragmatic Dharma, and critiques the idea that contemplative neuroscience is the Fourth Turning of Buddhism. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep329-the-western-path-alan-chapman-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:46 - Is Alan a book guy? 03:30 - Alan’s books 07:07 - Current writing project 10:02 - Insights on Crowley 11:17 - What Alan enjoys reading 13:53 - Eastern vs Western traditions 19:25 - In search of true awakening 21:05 - Cultural and ethnic inheritance 21:57 - Western Buddhism and Sigalow’s “American JewBu” 27:04- The Christian revival and theosis 29:02 - Trauma for your own good 31:05 - Becoming a fit vessel 32:48 - The true Western tradition 36:50 - Western vs Eastern awakening 37:37 - Merlin 41:23 - Language of the birds 44:33 - Entering the miraculous 45:56 - How Alan first encountered the language of the birds 54:01 - Transmission and birds as messengers 56:23 - Spirituality beyond states and stages 59:32 - The Liberal ideal of the universal human being 01:02:04 - The end of the WW2 cultural drama 01:03:03 - Perennialism, Traditionalism, and Magia 01:06:28 - Spiritual cultural exchange 01:09:07 - Denying difference 01:10:22 - Gnosticism, alchemy, and Merlin 01:14:09 - Beat Zen, Square Zen 01:15:46 - Misunderstanding foreign traditions 01:19:19 - Traditions fit their own cultures 01:20:29 - Scholasticism 01:23:00 - Pragmatic Dharma 01:24:37 - A need to belong 01:26:08 - Morality and nondual realisation 01:27:07 - The real longing 01:29:51 - Follow the Silent Knowing 01:30:51 - Traditionalism and cultural chauvinism 01:32:28 - Problems with following foreign traditions 01:37:44 - Fetishisation 01:40:35 - Post-awakening advice 01:41:48 - Basic Goodness and Chogyam Trungpa 01:42:58 - Syncretism vs divine inspiration 01:49:35 - Origins of Christianity 01:51:01 - History of ideas vs esoteric transmission 01:57:15 - 4th turning delusion 01:59:24 - Critique of contemplative neuroscience 02:02:13 - The winter of a civilisation … Previous episodes with Alan Chapman:  - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=chapman To find our more about Alan Chapman visit: - https://barbarouswords.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James