Guru Viking Podcast

In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Evan Thompson: Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia, an Associate Member of the Department of Asian Studies and the Department of Psychology, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
 Dr Thompson discusses his 2014 book ‘Waking, Dreaming, Being’ and takes a deep dive into the self from the point of view of the world’s contemplative traditions as well as neuroscience and philosophy of mind. Dr Thompson shares his life-long fasciation with the way in which consciousness and the sense of self change across different phases of the wake-sleep cycle, and challenges claims that insight into the self is a means to eliminate suffering and attain enlightenment. Dr Thompson reveals his own deep practice of meditation, lucid dreaming, Tai Chi and Chinese energy arts, and explains how he, as both a trained skeptical philosopher and as a dedicated practitioner, approaches the religious framing of practice and related concepts such as ‘chi’ and ‘enlightenment’. Dr Thompson also answers Youtube comments about our previous interview, including a clarification of his critique of Buddhist exceptionalism and a response to Buddhists who feel his work threatens their religious affiliation. …

 Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep193-waking-dreaming-being-dr-evan-thompson 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:30 - Answering Youtube comments 02:14 - ‘Why I Am Not A Buddhist’ and Bertrand Russel 04:59 - What would Bertrand Russel target today? 06:18 - The non-aligned mystic 08:15 - Does Evan meditate? 10:13 - Evan’s extensive daily qigong and tai chi practice 11:55 - Retreat practice and states of high concentration 13:00 - Why does Evan practice so diligently? 13:15 - How does Evan think about ‘chi’? 17:35 - Traps in understanding of chi 18:24 - Why does Evan still meditate if he is not a Buddhist? 20:11 - Evan’s critiques of the doctrinal framing of practices 22:25 - Response to Buddhists who are threatened by Evan’s work 25:43 - Waking, Dreaming, Being 27:28 - Fascination with how consciousness alters across the sleep-wake cycle 28:11 - Evan reflects on ‘Waking, Dreaming, Being’ 29:58 - How Evan’s views on practice have evolved 31:12 - The sense of self and the experience of consciousness 32:20 - Awareness, contents of awareness, and sense of self 34:21 - Self construction in imagination, memory, and lucid dreaming 37:03 - 1st person vs 3rd person memory 38:23 - View/field dreams vs outside dreams 39:11 - The self experience in lucid dreaming and OBE’s 41:12 - Evan’s lucid dreaming practice 42:38 - Meeting the Dalai Lama and beginning to lucid dream 44:50 - The curriculum of lucid dreaming in Tibetan Buddhism 46:09 - Meditating in the dream state and Alan Wallace’s advice 48:37 - Walking through walls and transforming the dream 49:39 - Evan’s powerful tai chi dreams 50:06 - Variation in lucid dreaming talent 51:07 - What constitutes the sense of self? 52:51 - How does the self complex arise? 54:56 - Metacognition 55:33 - Mindfulness rides on social cognitive capacities 56:40 - Self understanding and claims of liberation 59:10 - The value of the Buddhist view of self 01:01:54 - The claim that insight into self reduces suffering is naive 01:04:12 - How to make the world a better place 01:04:49 - Social is crucial 01:05:57 - Hermit is a social category 01:06:31 - Recognising the value of meditation in a social context 01:09:27 - Vasubandu vs Candrakirti and Metzinger vs Thompson 01:12:32 - Evan’s upcoming projects 01:14:22 - Dying, our ultimate transformation … Previous episode with Evan Thompson: - www.guruviking.com/podcast/158-why-i-am-not-a-buddhist-evan-thompson … To find out more about Evan Thompson, visit: - https://evanthompson.me/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Buddhist psychotherapist Tara Springett explores the connection between Kundalini awakening and paranormal experiences. She discusses the different modes of consciousness expansion, creativity as a test, and the inevitability of paranormal experiences. Tara also distinguishes between psychosis and Kundalini, lists possible paranormal experiences, and shares insights on entity attachment and defending against magickal attacks.

In this interview I am once again joined by Martin Faulks: author, hermeticist, meditation adept, and memory expert. Martin takes us through a journey of the remarkable people he has encountered in his life as an occultist and meditation practitioner. Including his close inner circle of adepts, a famous American Ninja, Bohemian occult masters, Freemason private detectives, nature mystics, and more. Martin also discusses his own career as a teacher, how he deals with online haters and stalkers, and why it is that so many students fall out from their teachers. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep191-sojourns-in-the-occult-martin-faulks-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:42 - Martin’s powerful group of friends 05:20 - Martin’s two disclaimers 07:41 - Two significant observations about practice and instructions 15:38 - Consistency in the Zen temple 18:31 - Small virtues and the celebration of champions 21:20 - Martin’s unusual upbringing and his clairvoyant grandmother 25:20 - Deep friendship with Swami Atmagyanam 34:17 - Bo Ou Mander the acupuncturist and internal arts master 42:42 - The transformative influence of Martin’s partner Kindra Jones 54:01 - Is Stephen K Hayes the ninja the real deal? 01:02:32 - A remarkable Japanese Zen nun 01:11:44 - Duncan the Freemason private detective 01:22:14 - The spiritual aristocrat and other honourable mentions 01:24:42 - Practicing Franz Bardon brought Martin everything he ever wanted 01:25:34 - How to really practice Franz Bardon’s system 01:36:45 - Training with a reclusive nature mystic 01:43:30 - Martin’s occult students 01:49:08 - Learning from all sources 01:51:41 - Working with Martin and advice for practitioners 01:55:53 - Dealing with conflicts and haters 02:01:40 - Martin’s female stalkers 02:04:38 - Does Martin have a nemesis? 02:15:33 - Falling out with your teacher … Previous episode with Martin Faulks: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/162-the-hermeticist-martin-faulks To find out more about Martin Faulks, visit: - https://martinfaulks.co.uk/ … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by Naomi Levine, author, under her birth name Norma Levine, of multiple books including ‘The Miraculous 16th Karmapa’, ‘A Quest For The Hidden Lands’, and ‘Chronicles of Love and Death: My Years With The Lost Spiritual King of Bhutan’. Naomi recalls why she dropped out of academia to pursue an alternative lifestyle, and through a series of life-changing encounters with Tibetan gurus such as Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, 16th Karmapa, and Tai Situpa, converted to Buddhism and moved to India to pursue a life of yogic practice. Naomi describes her close discipleship under Tai Situpa, and recounts her initial meeting, and subsequent multi-year relationship, with the Shabdrung - a highly revered Bhutanese tulku said to possess potent magical abilities. Naomi also discusses the difficulty of differentiating between crazy wisdom and abusive behaviour, reflects her own naivety about what the practice of Vajrayana really entails, and describes the signs of enlightenment after the death of great beings. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep190-love-death-in-the-himalayas-naomi-levine Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:14 - Naomi’s recent autobiographical writings 04:58 - The last free generation 09:53 - How the world and culture changed and became less open 11:51 - Post war culture and music’s effect on culture 12:50 - Naomi’s PhD thesis on the English playwright Arnold Wesker and moving to England 14:37 - The extraordinary village of Hay-on-Wye 16:05 - Naomi’s family of origin and upbringing 17:48 - A powerful Saturn return 19:34 - Meeting Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche at Samye Ling 21:46 - Impressions of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche 25:19 - Life changing meeting with the 16th Karmapa 26:30 - Becoming a disciple of Tai Situ Rinpoche 27:48 - Conversion to Buddhism 30:18 - Naivety about the realities of Vajrayana practice 33:23 - The Guru is not your best friend 34:20 - Not ready for Tantra 37:17 - What’s really required for Vajrayana practice 40:24 - Vajrayana cannot be taught in today’s culture 45:11 - Meeting the Shabdrung for the first time 49:06 - Falling in love with the Shabdrung and beginning a relationship 51:16 - The remarkable story of the previous Shabdrung incarnations 53:02 - Great beings can still experience trauma 55:08 - Crazy wisdom or just crazy? 01:01:13 - Impressions of Bhutan 01:03:49 - Supernatural experiences around the Shabdrung 01:05:58 - The death of the Shabdrung and revealing realisation 01:08:31 - Shabdrung’s opinion of other lamas 01:10:14 - How Naomi’s book was received 01:13:14 - Not a great Khandro … To find out more about Naomi Levine, visit: - https://www.facebook.com/naomilevine111 - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Norma-Levine/author/B001K86LZ4?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am once again joined by Dean Sluyter: meditation teacher and best-selling author of several books including ‘Cinema Nirvana: Enlightenment Lessons from the Movies’. Dean explores the distinction between the art and craft of meditation, what it means to rest in effortlessness, and critiques much meditation practice is egoic aggrandisement and fetishisation. Dean discusses the edifying effect of finding religious themes in literature and cinema, and discusses the approach he takes in his books to analyse both the Western Canon and the great movies of the past. Dean also recounts stories of his time studying with Ngak’chang Rinpoche of the Aro gTer Buddhist group, draws parallels between jazz and enlightenment, and weighs in on the direction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep189-effortless-awakening-dean-sluyter-2 

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Stories about Ngak’chang Rinpoche of the Aro gTer 06:48 - The living edge of practice 08:43 - Craft in art 09:54 - Creativity and the secret of improvisation 11:21 - The vocabulary of jazz 11:47 - Work to play 13:01 - Meditation does not require work 15:38 - Resting in effortlessness 17:43 - Egoic meditation heroics 18:23 - Dean guides contacting effortlessness 20:45 - Dealing with being caught up with thoughts 23:19 - Meditation on-ramp 26:59 - Dean’s favourite mantras 28:23 - Fetishising meditation 29:42 - Dean’s free meditation classes 30:19 - Facsimiles of true meditation 30:43 - Mood making and intellectualisation 33:59 - Spontaneous openings to awakening 37:40 - Practice vs effort 43:14 - What is the ultimate practice? 43:49 - The moment of enlightenment 46:28 - Evaluating results of practice 49:34 - Emily Dickinson and the watershed moment 51:55 - Finding dharma in literature 52:45 - Finding dharma in cinema 53:19 - Interpreting art 57:46 - Dean’s interpretive approach 01:00:51 - Spreading dharma in the dialect of the people 01:03:53 - Addiction to intensity and the Marvel Cinematic Universe … Previous episode with Dean Sluyter: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/163-dharma-bums-guide-to-western-literature-dean-sluyter Interview with Ngak’chang Rinpoche: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep16-ngapka-chogyam-and-khandro-dechen-guru-viking-interviews To find out more about Dean Sluyter, visit: - https://deansluyter.com/ … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am once again joined by Bruce Frantzis, world renowned Taoist master and author of books such as ‘Opening the Energy Gates of your Body’ and ‘Taoist Sexual Meditation’. Bruce recounts his training as a Taoist priest in an ancient secret society, including psychic training, sexual training, spiritual training, and more. Bruce discusses his training in Taoist exorcism, recalls the first exorcism he witnessed, and tells stories about exorcising trapped spirits in concentration camps and other sites of historical suffering. Bruce goes into depth about his training with Liu Hung Cheh, the Taoist immortal who would become Bruce’s most significant master, and shares impressions and memories from that time including Liu Hung Cheh’s last great miracle. Bruce also reflects on personal enlightenment, astral projection, the business of religion, compares Buddhism with Taoism, and considers his own legacy as a Taoist master. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep188-esoteric-taoism-bruce-frantzis-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:09 - Wang Shu Jin and Taoist priesthood 03:01 - China’s history of secret societies 04:39 - Inducted into a secret society 08:36 - Branches of learning 09:39 - Witnessing an exorcism 10:50 -Bruce’s Taoist sex education 11:55 - Secret psychic training 14:16 - Problem with modern presentations of Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity 16:23 - The role of a Taoist priest 17:16 - Sexual tests 19:39 - Learning qigong tui na 20:45 - Feeling chi and releasing trauma 26:14 - Varieties of enlightenment 29:42 - Personality development and the human condition 34:31 - Becoming aware of what’s inside and clearing out trauma 38:39 - Bruce’s teachers’ extreme methods 42:50 - Enlightenment and the 10,000 identities 47:53 - Internal alchemy after enlightenment 48:23 - Seeing beyond this life 51:33 - Astral body journeys to other planets 53:28 - The life of Bruce’s master, Liu Hung Cheh 57:06 - Bruce reflects on Liu Hung Cheh 59:27 - Life with Liu Hung Cheh 01:03:55 - The death of Liu Hung Cheh and leaving China 01:09:36 - Kalu Rinpoche and mystical visions 01:15:49 - Compassion and Bruce’s tonglen practice 01:22:00 - Bruce’s greatest gift 01:22:04 - The cultural revolution 01:23:26 - Beginning to teach meditation 01:25:03 - Clearing out trapped spirits in concentration camps and comments on Kabbalah 01:27:53 - Comments on Scientology 01:31:18 - Miraculous physical feats of Liu Hung Cheh 01:32:31 - Liu Hung Cheh’s final miracle 01:36:39 - Taoist exorcism 01:38:57 - Sex with 1000 women 01:40:37 - Full effort with no force 01:44:44 - Dzogchen vs Taoism 01:47:53 - The martial and spiritual potentials of Tai Chi 01:52:26 - Buddhism vs Taoism 01:54:54 - Beyond happiness 01:53:44 - Difficulties teaching Taoism in the West 01:56:44 - Bruce’s legacy 01:57:40 - Taoism is practical … Previous episode with Bruce Frantzis: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep171-taoist-master-bruce-frantzis To find out more about Bruce Frantzis, visit: - https://www.energyarts.com/ … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am once again joined by Dr K.A Shakoor: spiritual life coach, doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, and author of several books such as ‘Ghetto Sutras’ and ‘Maahaah Yoga’. Dr Shakoor discusses his own meditation practice, including periods of extreme mantra recitation, and recounts his struggles to reconcile the Bodhisattva ideal with corporate culture and for-profit medicine. Dr Shakoor shares his experiences teaching energy and meditation techniques to the mentally ill, and discusses the discipline needed to acquire mastery of such techniques. Dr Shakoor also recounts his own encounters with evil, including anecdotes of exorcisms, sorcery, and occult attacks, as well as magickal self defence advice for healers and spiritual practitioners. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep187-the-bodhisattva-occult-self-defence-dr-ka-shakoor-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:54 - Training in Sufism 04:04 - Extreme Buddhist mantra practice 04:58 - Expressing the Bodhisattva ideal 05:36 - Disillusionment with corporate culture and racial politics 10:24 - Work as a social worker and counsellor 11:31 - The business of medicine 14:34 - The art of leadership 18:35 - Struggles navigating the healthcare industry 23:33 - Teaching energetic practices to the mentally ill 25:14 - Fake teachers of energy arts 27:05 - Discipline in personal practice 27:50 - 1-1 instruction is vital 30:05 - Direct teaching and Dr Nida Chenagtsang 31:27 - Facing challenges in practice 36:09 - Novelty seeking vs persistence and follow-through 38:23 - Old school teaching methods 39:03 - Wrong Tummo meditation and damaging chi 41:13 - Encountering evil 43:01 - Sorcery and ritual trauma 44:56 - Magick is easy to do, but difficult to fix 45:57 - Tools to help victims of magick 48:16 - Influence of Chagdud Rinpoche 49:28 - Exorcisms and spiritual healing 50:10 - Dr Shakoor’s first exorcism 52:58 - Possession vs psychological imbalances 53:30 - The importance of buy-in 54:29 - Occult attacks on Dr Shakoor 57:37 - Why healers and spiritual practitioners come under occult attack 01:00:35 - Psychic self defense advice 01:05:31 - Psychic recoil 01:06:39 - The basics are most important Previous episode with Dr K.A. Shakoor: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/164-dr-ka-shakoor-ghetto-sutras To find out more about Dr K.A. Shakoor, visit: - https://www.drkashakoor.com/ … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by Camille Maurine, meditation mentor, dancer, and author of ‘Meditation Secrets For Women’ written with her husband Dr Lorin Roche. Camille describes her turbulent upbringing and how her discovery of practices of mediation and embodiment saw her embark on over 50 years of adventure and exploration. Camille recalls her performance career in dance and theatre, how she used movement to learn to feel her emotions, and the practices she uses to process strong feeling. Camille recounts meeting Lorin Roche at a time when she had rejected romantic relationships, and how she drew on inner processes and practices to open into relationship with him. Camille also discusses meditation secrets for women, why one should not fear the depths, how to honour one’s rhythms, and reflects on the limitations of male-oriented religious and spiritual systems. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep186-meditation-secrets-for-women-camille-maurine 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - Camille’s upbringing 05:32 - Discovering dance at the time of her mother’s death 06:40 - The path of spirituality, creativity, and love 10:16 - Studying philosophy and looking for the essence in all 12:51 - Marriage to Lorin Roche 15:09 - Learning how to feel emotion 19:00 - Calling the inner beloved 20:32 - Camille leads a drinking practice 22:26 - Meeting Lorin Roche 28:13 - Empowerment and vulnerability 30:14 - From inner marriage to relationship with Lorin 36:25 - When love feels like dying 38:49 - Connection and awe 40:12 - Practices for working with strong emotion and deep patterns 45:16 - Primal, primary, and primordial creativity 52:39 - Meditation Secrets For Women 57:10 - Do not fear the depths 01:01:08 - Honouring your rhythms and hormonal cycles 01:05:02 - Male-oriented religions and spiritual traditions 01:09:37 - Tragic misunderstanding about meditation 01:13:02 - Camille’s contribution to Lorin’s ‘Radiance Sutras’ rendering of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra 01:19:40 - Training meditation teachers 01:26:30 - Concluding remarks … Previous episodes with Lorin here: - https://www.guruviking.com/the-guru-viking-interviews-ep1-lorin-roche-phd/ - https://www.guruviking.com/guru-viking-interviews-ep6-lorin-roche-phd/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep30-lorin-roche-pandemic-edition-guru-viking-podcast/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep55-lorin-roche-instinctive-meditation/ 
 To find out more about Camille visit:
- https://www.camillemaurine.com/ - www.meditationtt.com 
- www.radiancesutras.com 
 For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com/ Music 'Deva Dasi' by Steve James

In this episode I am once again joined by Lorin Roche PhD, meditation teacher and author of ‘The Radiance Sutras’. Lorin describes meditation as an affair with life force itself, explores the role of sleep and rest, and explains the discipline of following the cosmic impulse in one’s practice. In the context of this meditative view and drawing from his experience of 40 years of marriage, Loren reflects on intimate relationship, including his own journey in understanding intimacy, meditation keys to a thriving relationship, and how to use meditation to keep love alive. Lorin also discusses tantric sex, including the difference between technique and art, common errors and misunderstandings, and the redemptive power of spiritual union. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep185-meditation-and-tantric-sex-lorin-roche-phd 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:54 - Meditation as an affair with life force 04:19 - How to thrive in a long term relationship 07:39 - Psychedelic origins of meditation traditions 08:55 - Childhood in 1950’s Malibu 12:14 - Teenage schooling in Santa Monica and summer hunting in Kenya 15:48 - Meditating with the Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra and discovering Tantric Sex 19:57 - Seeking a romantic relationship between equals 22:46 - How to use meditation to keep love alive 25:09 - Spontaneous meditation and healing trauma 30:37 - Psychedelic intensity of reality 35:32 - Celebration of thinking in meditation 38:35 - What is tantric sex? 41:32 - Technique and the art of touch 43:53 - Errors in tantric sex 46:54 - Prerequisites to practicing tantric sex 49:40 - Patanjali’s 8 Limbs and the yogic lifestyle 51:59 - Sleep and deep rest 55:52 - Following the cosmic impulse 56:46 - Beyond solo meditation into union with a partner 58:51 - Yogic science of the senses and sound 01:02:32 - The power of craving for fullness of being 01:07:39 - Redemptive power of spiritual sex 01:14:31 - Meditation in the modern world 01:18:02 - Attending to the electricity of sensation 01:20:18 - Lorin’s meditation teacher training program 01:24:30 - How Lorin teaches meditation 01:26:30 - The power of deep listening … Previous episodes with Lorin here: - https://www.guruviking.com/the-guru-viking-interviews-ep1-lorin-roche-phd/ - https://www.guruviking.com/guru-viking-interviews-ep6-lorin-roche-phd/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep30-lorin-roche-pandemic-edition-guru-viking-podcast/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep55-lorin-roche-instinctive-meditation/ 
 To find out more about Lorin visit:
- www.lorinroche.com 
- www.radiancesutras.com 
- www.meditationtt.com For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com/ Music 'Deva Dasi' by Steve James

In this episode I host a dialogue between doctor of Tibetan Medicine and Buddhist spiritual teacher Dr Nida Chenagtsang and Dr Ian A. Baker, author, scholar, and initiate of Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu Tantric lineages. Drs Nida and Ian explore the theme of Vajrayana in the 21st century, including issues such as tradition and innovation, mass empowerments vs 1-1 discipleship, and what is essential for successful practice. Drs Nida and Ian discuss common mistakes in practicing the 6 Yogas of Naropa, religious syncretism, and dark triad traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and machiavellianism in spiritual teachers. Drs Nida and Ian also discuss the role of religious institutions in the history of Vajrayana and explore the tensions between the critical historical approach of academia with traditional views often held by religious teachers and practicing Buddhists.
 … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep184-the-vajra-path-dr-nida-chenagtsang-dr-ian-a-baker 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:05 - The Vajra Path 03:42 - Tradition and innovation 08:25 - Mass empowerments 10:24 - 84 Mahasiddhas and individualised practice 13:14 - Vajrayana is experiential 14:52 - Correcting misunderstandings 16:53 - What is essential for Vajrayana to be effective? 19:11 - The role of empowerment 21:00 - Listen, study, meditate 23:19 - The power of place 25:03 - Discerning effective methods for contemporary audiences 28:23 - Secrecy and education 32:18 - How much practice is needed for Varjayana? 36:30 - Struggles with dream yoga and tummo 40:14 - Working with your talents 42:34 - 6 Yogas study mistakes 44:05 - Misguided attitudes to ngondro, preliminary practices 47:06 - Spiritual cocktails and narcissism 49:02 - How to relate to other traditions 50:49 - Syncretism the critical historical perspective 54:51 - Fundamental values 58:12 - Dark triad traits in spiritual practitioners and teachers 01:02:12 - Vajrayana and institutions 01:03:35 - Distilling the essence or taking out of context? 01:05:00 - Dr Nida’s vision of Vajrayana institutions 01:06:38 - Cultural trappings vs the essence of Buddhism 01:12:49 - Dr Ian on religious institutions and the evolution of Vajrayana 01:16:41 - Essence of Vajrayana 01:20:45 - Who does Vajrayana belong to? 01:22:25 - Critical historical vs traditional perspectives 01:26:39 - Dr Nida reflects on the power of simplicity 01:30:09 - Friendship and collaboration 01:31:33 - Hijacking of Buddhism 01:34:47 - Deelaboration and the beautiful adventure 01:36:40 - Future trips, courses, and activities … Previous episodes with Dr Nida Chenagtsang: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=nida 
 Previous episodes with Dr Ian A. Baker: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=baker … To find out more about The Vajra Path, visit: - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088040336775 - https://www.instagram.com/thevajrapath/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com/ Music 'Deva Dasi' by Steve James