Ep229: Butler of Vajrayana - John Riley Perks

Nov 24, 2023

John Riley Perks, former butler and attendant of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, discusses his childhood during World War 2, his first meeting with Trungpa, and the powerful spiritual field of tantric masters. He reflects on crazy wisdom, abuse of trust, and living in the mystery.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

The Journey from Sid Cup Kent to the US during World War II

01:31 • 25min

Moving to America in 1950 and Farm Work in Nebraska

26:45 • 5min

Starting a School for Exceptional Children and Farm Program

31:27 • 3min

Cultural Changes, Gun Culture, and the Need to Amend the Second Amendment

34:19 • 5min

Reflections on the 60s Revolution

39:35 • 25min

Reflections on Relationships and Controversial Figures

01:04:38 • 16min

In this interview I am joined by John Riley Perks, author, teacher, and was for seven years the butler and attendant of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Born in 1934, John recounts his childhood during World War 2, where he learned how to harness his intuition and psychic capacities under the guidance of his mother while avoiding air strikes and other dangers. John recalls moving to the USA in 1950 and tells of his life there through the decades of cultural change that marked the latter half of the 20th century. John describes his first meeting with renowned guru of Tibetan Buddhism Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the subsequent years in his service as personal attendant and butler. John recalls the powerful spiritual field of tantric masters and details how Trungpa worked to dismantled John’s ego in a variety of potent ways. John also reflects on the line between so called crazy wisdom activity intended to enlighten students and the abuse of trust of which so many celebrity spiritual masters, including Trungpa himself, have been accused. John also explains how to send and receive messages on the wind, the protocol for interacting with spirit beings, and how to live in the mystery. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep229-butler-of-vajrayana-john-riley-perks Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:27 - Childhood during WW2 04:36 - Seances with John’s mother 07:54 - Britains’ native lineages of psychic and healing abilities 08:26 - Clearing the mind of psychic interference 10:00 - Interacting with other beings 11:43 - Learning to live in the mystery 12:57 - Recurring visions throughout John’s life 14:18 - Sending and receiving messages on the wind 16:38 - Importance of deity yoga and Vajrayogini practice 17:47 - Playing the Great Game 20:12 - Fantasy and reading 22:46 - Advice for those who have psychic experiences 25:06 - Panic attacks and PTSD 26:44 - Living in the USA in the 1950s 27:22 - Working as a farmhand and heading West 31:13 - Running a school for exceptional children 34:19 - The assassination period and gun culture 39:35 - The 60s and comments on drug use 42:38 - Living with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche 43:48 - Meeting Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche 45:29 - Powerful first impression 49:19 - The energy field of spiritual masters 51:29 - Dismantling John’s ego 53:26 - The art of serving the guru 54:39 - John’s love for Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche 57:58 - The terror of being so close to the guru 59:55 - How did John last so long? 01:01:51 - Not trying to get enlightened 01:04:38 - Stories of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche 01:08:38 - Accusations of abuse and cruelty 01:13:38 - Facing things as they are 01:14:19 - Đid Trungpa Rinpoche go too far? 01:15:32 - Trungpa Rinpoche’s drinking 01:18:07 - Working for Bill Cosby … To find out more about John Riley Perks, visit: - https://www.celticbuddhism.org/ …  For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James