In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Alexander Arguelles, world-renowned polyglot, linguist, and scholar of comparative religion.
Dr Arguelles discusses the spiritual dimension of language, recounts his own experiences of self-transcendence, and comments on the power of reading sacred works in their original languages.
Dr Arguelles reflects on his personal explorations in meditation, pranayama, and prayer and shares his own method to silence the monkey mind with a combination of breath control and linguistic meditation.
Dr Arguelles also discusses how to include work and study as a part of spiritual practice, details the lifestyle habits required to nourish the life of the mind, and warns against the deleterious effects of the convenience traps found in modern life.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep217-spiritual-life-of-the-mind-dr-alexander-arguelles-3
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics Include:
00:00 - Intro
00:56 - Spiritual dimension of language
05:34 - Silencing the monkey mind
09:41 - Superior meditation
10:14 - Experiences of profundity and trance
13:39 - Power of sacred languages
15:11 - Realisation of vastness
16:50 - Self transcendence and choosing the hard path
18:51 - Life without the monkey mind
20:51 - Comparisons to classic meditation paths
21:53 - Dr Arguelles spiritual experiences studying Sanskrit and Russian
29:51 - The source languages of the world
31:40 - Powerful sacred works in Latin
32:57 - The Bhagavad Gita
33:51 - Reading as a spiritual exercise
34:50 - Obtaining mother language’s blessing
41:26 - Working with resistance
42:54 - Professor Arguelles’ linguistic meditation technique
49:06 - Traits of great polyglots of the past
51:38 - The art of shadowing
53:56 - Degradation of intellect
57:18 - The convenience trap
57:59 - The dumbing down of the 20th century
59:23 - Urbanisation and natural living
01:02:51 - Lifestyle and dietary habits for maximising the life of the mind
01:05:37 - Learning as a mental and spiritual exercise
01:06:02 - Keeping your edge as you age
01:07:52 - The Rule of St Benedict
01:09:35 - Work and study as prayer and meditation
01:12:31 - Working with Dr Arguelles
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Previous episodes with Dr Alexander Arguelles:
- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep199-path-of-the-polyglot-dr-alexander-arguelles
- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep207-wandering-polyglot-dr-alexander-arguelles-2
To find our more about Dr Alexander Arguelles and his Academy, visit:
- https://www.alexanderarguelles.com/academy/
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
