224. Robert Svoboda

Apr 2, 2014

Robert Svoboda, the first non-Indian Ayurvedic practitioner, shares his unique journey from Kenya to India, providing insights into Ayurveda, Yoga, and spiritual practices. He elaborates on the intricate relationship between substance use and spirituality, particularly concerning alcohol in Indian culture. The conversation dives into concepts of possession, identity, and the dualities of human consciousness. Svoboda also discusses the transformative nature of Kundalini awakening and its impact on personal growth, along with the essential balance between individuality and collective consciousness.

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Intro

00:00 • 4min

Spirituality and Substances: A Complex Dance

04:02 • 8min

Exploring the Roots of Hindu Identity and the Culture of Possession in Indian Rituals

12:31 • 4min

Kundalini and Tantra: Spiritual Misunderstandings

16:06 • 7min

Exploring Possession: Genetics, Culture, and Identity

23:06 • 12min

The Battle of Collective Consciousness

35:33 • 6min

Exploring Human Dependence on Sensory Inputs

41:46 • 2min

The Complexity of Consciousness and Duality

44:11 • 8min

The Interconnectedness of Humans and Microorganisms

52:38 • 2min

The Dance of Identity and Consciousness

54:53 • 22min

Consciousness and Spirituality in Evolution

01:16:31 • 19min

Navigating the Kundalini Awakening

01:35:20 • 20min

Navigating Ego and Spiritual Growth

01:55:27 • 20min

Transforming Divides through Consciousness

02:15:28 • 18min

Robert E. Svoboda is the first white member of Kenya's Pokot tribe, and the first non-Indian ever to graduate from a college of Ayurveda and be licensed to practice Ayurveda in India, where he lived for more than a decade. During and after his formal Ayurvedic training he was tutored in Ayurveda, Yoga, Jyotish, Tantra, and other forms of classical Indian lore by his mentor, the Aghori Vimalananda. For a decade he was involved with thoroughbred horses as Vimalananda's Authorized Racing Agent. The author of more than a dozen books, since 1985 he divides his time between India and other lands. Website: drsvoboda.com Books: AGHORA, At the Left Hand of God (Aghora) (v. I) AGHORA II: Kundalini (Aghora) (Vol II) Aghora III: The Law of Karma The Greatness of Saturn: A Therapeutic Myth Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution Ayurveda: Life, Health, and Longevity Prakriti Vastu: Breathing Life into Space Ayurveda for Women: A Guide to Vitality and Health Tao and Dharma: Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda Interview recorded 3/29/2014 Interview transcript YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Robert Svoboda 00:06:18 - The Quest for the Soma 00:12:44 - The Appeal of Alcohol and Possession in Indian Religion 00:19:59 - Possession and Worship in India 00:25:55 - Possession and Disembodied Entities 00:31:51 - The Story of the Billiken 00:37:31 - Growing Up in Different Cultures 00:43:17 - The Battle of Positive and Negative Forces 00:49:37 - Potential Pathological and Bizarre Results of the Singularity and Transcendence 00:55:28 - The Concept of Her-ness and Femininity in Kundalini 01:02:14 - The Complexity of Human Organisms 01:08:11 - The Nature of Shakti and its Search for Supreme Reality 01:14:52 - The Supreme External and Internal 01:21:01 - The Meaning of Moksha and Enlightenment 01:27:30 - The Creation of Chakras 01:33:27 - Puberty and the Purpose of Reproduction 01:39:03 - The Role of Sexual Energy in Spiritual Awakening 01:44:36 - Humans as servants to other species 01:50:15 - Higher intelligence in other species 01:55:56 - Unleashing Kundalini and the Journey of Self-Discovery 02:01:42 - The Transformative Power of Kundalini and LSD 02:08:22 - The Awakening of the Prana Kundalini 02:13:45 - The Three Levels of Kundalini Energy 02:19:08 - The Price of Ignorance 02:24:21 - The beginning of the spiritual journey 02:30:18 - Surviving Difficulties and the Need for External Guidance 02:35:26 - The Guru and the Student's Dharma 02:41:04 - The Complexity of Historical Figures and Issues 02:46:25 - Materialism vs Consciousness 02:52:01 - Smiling on the Battlefield 02:57:17 - Join Our Mailing List Save