In this episode I am joined by Ray Russell, founder of Tartarus Press and, as R.B. Russell, the author of the newly published T. Lobsang Rampa And Other Characters of Questionable Faith, the first definitive biography of T Lobsang Rampa.
Ray shares the life story of Rampa, born Cyril Henry Hoskin in 1910, who claimed to have been possessed by the consciousness of a Tibetan Lama. Rampa’s books were best sellers in the mid 20th century and, though debunked by specialists at the time, are credited for bringing awareness to Tibetan Buddhism and serving as the initial inspiration for the careers of several notable Tibetologists.
Ray reveals the truth of Rampa’s origins, his various assumed identities, his ascent to international fame, the consequences of his exposure by the press, and the surprising reasons for his ongoing popularity.
Ray also reflects on the mystery of faith, the psychological payoffs from belief in hoaxes and conspiracy theories, and what motivates some authors to represent fiction as fact.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/p319-mystery-of-t-lobsang-rampa-rb-russell
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
01:10 - A look at the book
02:32 - Childhood exposure to world religions
04:31 - The New Age and the question of faith
07:04 - Denying scientific facts
08:04 - Mystical experiences
09:22 - Alan Moore and belief in magick
10:16 - Meaning and comfort from myths and religions
10:56 - Crowley
11:22 - Incredulity and fascination
13:04 - Suspension of disbelief and religious conversion
14:27 - Nutrients of meaning and comfort
15:39 - Facing death
17:26 - Does everyone have faith in something?
19:01 - Secular religion?
19:55 - Encountering T Lobsang Rampa
21:04 - Discovering Rampa’s fraud
22:19 - Third Eye (1956)
23:13 - Possessed by the consciousness of a Tibetan Lama
24:42 - Erich von Däniken’s clever approach
26:47 - Becoming first Dr KuanSuo and then T Lobsang Rampa
31:09 - Never coming out of character
34:28 - Inspiration for converts and scholars of Tibet Buddhism
36:00 - The Dalai Lama’s thanks to Rampa
36:45 - Liar, delusional, or the Son of God?
38:06 - Reactions among the inner circle
40:38 - Transmigration revealed too late
42:22 - Independent vs institutionally validated miracles
44:44 - Rampa’s theosophical ideas
46:52 - Mistakes in the Third Eye
47:53 - Nostalgia for childhood
49:24 - Which miracles to believe?
50:11 - Tibetologists on Rampa
52:34 - Carlos Castaneda
54:04 - Raynor Winn’s “The Salt Path” controversy
55:45 - Anger at Rampa
57:35 - Crop circles
59:29 - Tartarus Press and Arthur Machen
01:01:30 - Why “Tartarus"
01:03:09 - The Great God Pan and other Machen writing
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Buy Ray’s book here:
- http://tartaruspress.com/russell-rampa.html
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
