Guru Viking Podcast

In this interview I am joined by Dr Thomas Clough Daffern philosopher, educator, peace activist, and peace officer for the Council of British Druid Orders. Most widely known as a peace activist and academic, Dr Daffern is also an esotericist and in this episode he reveals his system of peace magic which draws on a wide range of occult systems. Dr Daffern explains the difference between a peace magician and a war magician, warns of the dangers of magical practice, and gives advice for navigating today’s information landscape. Dr Daffern also gives a series of case studies of his own career in peace and reconciliation, including work in Ireland and the Middle East, before giving his detailed analysis of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep139-peace-magic-dr-thomas-clough-daffern-2 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - What are magi and druids? 05:16 - What is peace magic? 07:28 - Out of body peace magic examples 14:14 - Dangers in magical practice 21:43 - Dr Daffern’s peace work at Stonehenge 24:01 - Dr Daffern’s peace work in Ireland 27:26 - Celtic oppression in the British Isles 30:24 - History of spiritual oppression in the Byzantine model 35:31 - Dr Daffern’s peace work in the Middle East 41:32 - War magic and war magicians 43:24 - Can peace really be achieved? 47:40 - Interfaith mediation 49:43 - Dr Daffern’s peace work in the Caucasus 54:14 - Peace magic vs war magic 55:54 - Dr Daffern on the invasion of Ukraine 57:05 - The influence of Ivan Ilyin and Julius Evola 01:03:35 - Spartans vs Athenians 01:05:00 - How to resolve European conflict 01:11:40 - How wars end and Dr Daffern’s interfaith peace treaty 01:16:32 - Acharya Tulsi and peace declarations 01:21:33 - Planetary enlightenment 01:25:51 - Advice for navigating the information war … Previous episode with Dr Daffern: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep132-student-of-the-mysteries-dr-thomas-clough-daffern … Dr Daffern's upcoming course on Enlightenment: https://gal.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/A-Course-on-Enlightenments To find our more about Dr Daffern, visit: - http://www.educationaid.net/ - https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/iipsgp - https://interfaithpeacetreaty.wordpress.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this interview I am joined by Beth Upton, a meditation teacher, ex-nun, and student of renowned meditation master Pa Auk Sayadaw. Beth reveals why reading economics at Cambridge caused her to fracture with today’s economic system and eventually led to her ordaination as a nun in Myanmar. Beth details her rigorous training under renowned meditation master Pa Auk Sayadaw, addresses skepticism of the Visuddhimagga, and criticises so called ‘soft jhana’ teachings as watered down dharma. Beth contrasts popular soft jhana teachings with how she was trained at Pa Auk, discusses the 10-fetter model of enlightenment, and explains how samadhi can be used to remember past lives and generate siddhi such as the ability to see devas and ghosts. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep138-trained-as-a-nun-beth-upton 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include:
 00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Upbringing and and reading economics at Cambridge 03:56 - The problem at the heart of money 05:44 - Money as a monastic vs a lay person 09:32 - Beth’s current thinking on money 16:14 - Encountering Buddhism 19:21 - Becoming a nun and meeting the meditation master Pa Auk Sayadaw 23:26 - Is the Visuddhimagga overblown? 25:03 - Soft Jhana teachings are watered down 28:43 - Hard jhana vs soft jhana distinctions 31:42 - Is there duality in jhana? 34:11 - Is jhana necessary for effective vipassana? 36:06 - Is progress possible without retreat? 38:57 - Beth’s 1-1 mentorship 40:14 - The curriculum of Beth’s training as a nun 44:10 - How to remember past lives 48:45 - Observing the causal links of karma 50:45 - How to develop siddhi via deep samadhi 53:44 - Opening the divine eye to perceive devas and ghosts 56:11 - Not claiming attainments 01:00:42 - Choosing the right meditation object 01:03:36 - Beth’s dislike of Dharma talks 01:05:57 - 1-1 mentorship with Beth 01:08:10 - Change technique after stream entry? 01:19:14 - Beth on the 10 Fetters and 4 Path Model … To find out more about Beth Upton, visit: - https://bethupton.com/ … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Tara Springett, a Buddhist psychotherapist specializing in Kundalini Syndrome, shares her journey from a troubled childhood to spiritual awakenings, including paranormal encounters. She explores Tibetan Buddhism, learning practices like compassion meditation and manifestation wish practice. Tara discusses her understanding of kundalini energy, its effects, related systems, and the process of spiritual awakening. She also reflects on meeting spiritual teachers and her experiences with channeling White Tara. Topics range from her initial kundalini awakening to radical transformation.

In this episode I host a dialogue between Daniel Ingram and Delson Armstrong. Daniel Ingram is an independent Buddhist writer, author of ‘Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha’, and co-founder of the Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium (EPRC). Delson Armstrong is a spiritual teacher, author of ’A Mind Without Craving’, and the star student of Bhante Vimalaramsi. Daniel and Delson discuss the similarities and differences between their doctrinal positions and personal experiences of the 4-path model of Buddhist enlightenment, which ranges from stream entry to arhatship. In this collegial yet rigorous dialogue, Daniel and Delson engage in detailed debate on the differences in their positions and draw on personal experience, scriptural examples, and issues of scientific verification. They also discuss the effect of enlightenment on psychopathy and other personality disorders, reflect on which meditation methods best fit different personality types, and conduct in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of ‘nirodha samapatti’. … Video version at: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep136-meeting-of-the-dharmas-daniel-ingram-delson-armstrong 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include:
 00:00 - Intro 01:49 - Daniel on stream entry 05:03 - Delson on stream entry 08:08 - Afterglow of stream entry and dependent origination 14:34 - 3 fetters discussion 24:24 - Does stream entry result in moral improvement? 28:49 - Can you retrain a sociopath with loving kindness meditation? 30:51 - Does stream entry make sociopaths and psychopaths more dangerous? 35:18 - Saints & psychopaths - how can we differentiate? 41:03 - 2nd path and the reduction of craving and aversion 47:30 - 2nd path vs stream entry - which is more profound? 53:13 - Daniel on 3rd path 56:18 - Delson on 3rd path 59:23 - Daniel’s critique of the traditional 3rd path position 01:03:05 - Delson and Daniel dialogue about 3rd path 01:10:40 - Is it possible to completely eradicate craving and aversion? 01:16:00 - Scientific testing and Bikkhu Analayo’s critique 01:23:39 - Delson on TWIM the importance of method 01:26:18 - What is nirodha samapatti? 01:28:08 - Comparing Daniel and Delson’s abilities 01:29:33 - How to train for nirodha samapatti 01:32:25 - Different personalities and jhana aptitude 01:36:43 - Resolution training and balancing enlightenment factors 01:38:18 - Steve on Delson’s yoga training and the three humours 01:43:40 - More on matching personality types to meditation methods 01:53:58 - Arhatship and agency 01:56:20 - Agency vs conceit 02:00:21 - Disagreement between Daniel and Delson about outcomes of arhatship 02:08:30 - Compassion vs suffering 02:13:01 - Suicide and arhatship 02:21:17- The dusty end of the path 

… Daniel Ingram Episode Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdkny_MJSecHyvKHPpvxTskBAC Delson Armstrong Episode Playlist: - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknxiWzbRXNY29pSwlAcDYF_r To find out more about Daniel, visit: - https://theeprc.org/ - integrateddaniel.info To find out more about Delson Armstrong, visit: - https://www.suttavada.foundation/our-teachers/ - https://www.dhammasukha.org/ … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this bonus episode, I am once again joined by Dhammarato – a lineage teacher in the Thai Buddhist tradition who is known for his unique, 1-1 teaching style conducted over Skype.  This footage was recorded right before a dialogue about the Mahasi Method between Dhammarato and Daniel Ingram. Due to a scheduling miscommunication, Dhammarato and I arrived to the recording one hour early. It wasn’t long before Dhammarato began sharing his insights with his characteristic humour and precision and so we decided to release this informal exchange as a bonus episode. Dhammarato discusses the role of story and how to wake up from it, what stream entry really is and how can it be verified, and the difference between sati and psychological repression. Dhammarato also teaches a coffee meditation, talks about mindfulness in daily life, and reveals the real practice of anapanasati. … Video version: www.guruviking.com Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. ... 00:00 - Intro 01:24 - The role of story and memory 04:10 - Waking up to the story 10:52 - Verifying stream entry 12:44 - What is stream entry really? 19:04 - Is stream entry a sudden event? 22:27 - Motor habit and Steve’s coffee 24:21 - Dhammarato teaches a coffee meditation 27:50 - The real practice of anapanasati 32:33 - Spiritual materialism and buying books 36:12 - Catch the rabbit 31:05 - All fires have a fuel 44:28 - Repression, catharsis, and the mechanism of waking up 
 … 
Dhammarato Episode Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknyGISEfksirYaYpsrXdf8va … To find out more about Dhammarato, visit: - https://dhammaratoblog.wordpress.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxg5GJFsRqnS-YLTzyrjLQ … 
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 Alejandro Chaoul PhD to discuss his latest book ‘Tibetan Yoga: Magical Movements of Body, Breath, and Mind’ published by Wisdom Publications. Alejandro tells the story of the creation of this book, describes its textual sources, and explains his decision not to include images of the sacred movements. Alejandro reveals the different uses of Tibetan Yoga movements, including physical healing, clearing obstacles, enhancing meditation, and spiritual advancement. Alejandro also discusses personality typologies, the flavour of Dzogchen awakening, the importance of the full lotus posture, and compares Buddhist tummo techniques to the inner heat methods of the ‘Iceman’ Wim Hof. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep134-tibetan-yoga-alejandro-chaoul 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - The story of Alejandro’s new book 08:04 - Textual sources and Alejandro’s use of image 13:37 - Different uses of tsa lung trulkhor 17:21 - Trulkhor for health 19:49 - - The breath-body trulkhor process 21:32 - Vertical and all-pervasive energies 24:04 - Clearing obstacles and enhancing meditation 29:33 - Approaches to trulkhor for different personality types 35:08 - The flavour of Dzogchen awakening 38:58 - Full lotus posture 43:18 - A dynamic practice 44:20 - Shardza’s 100 day retreat curriculum 47:40 - Tummo vs Wim Hof method 51:29 - Anecdotes and advice from Alejandro’s practice … Previous episode with Alejandro Chaoul: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep92-dr-alejandro-chaoul-magical-movements-of-tibet/ To find our more about Alejandro Chaoul, visit: - www.alechaoul.com - www.ligmincha.org - www.mbsihouston.org For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this interview I am joined by Dr Thomas Clough Daffern, poet, historian, philosopher, educator, and peace officer for the Council of British Druid Orders. Thomas recounts an unusual upbringing, a love affair with classics and poetry, and dropping out of school at 15 to pursue philosophical enquiry. We learn of Thomas’ immersion in study of the world’s religious and mystical traditions, and his early tantric and druidic initiations. Thomas discusses the Ancient Greek mystery schools, the cultural consequences of their closure, and what it would take to revive them in the world today. Thomas reflects his time as a celibate, why every student of the mysteries should have a brahmacharya phase, and why a sense of duty and civic responsibility eventually saw him marry and start a family. Thomas also talks about reconciling the schools of Islam, compares Eastern and Western enlightenments, and reveals the inspiration behind his relentless intellectual curiosity. … Video version at https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep132-student-of-the-mysteries-dr-thomas-clough-daffern 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:07 - Dr Daffern’s family and educational background 03:51 - Discovering classics and poetry 05:50 - Dropping out of school at 15, discovering philosophy, and first love 09:34 - LSD, first druid initiation, and intensive self-study of world religions 15:08 - Psychedelic experiences as a mystery tradition 18:17 - About the Ancient Greek mystery schools 21:51 - Eastern and Western enlightenments 23:33 - What are the essential ingredients of a mystery school? 26:24 - Music and the mysteries 29:53 - Kabbalah and verbal fluency 30:56 - The importance of a brahmacharya phase 33:02 - Thomas’ philosophical enlightenment 35:10 - The consequences of the closing of the Greek mystery schools 39:21 - The Delphic games 40:50 - The influence of Thomas’ mother 51:16 - Baháʼí and interfaith activities 54:42 - Reconciling the schools of Islam 57:24 - Relentless intellectual curiosity 01:01:53 - Writing a sequel to Newton’s ‘Principia Mathematica’ 01:06:39 - The secrets of Thomas’ prodigious work ethic 01:09:50 - Enlightenments, the book of Enoch, and Comparative Diabology … To find our more about Dr Daffern, visit: - http://www.educationaid.net/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

A dialogue between Rupert Spira, a teacher of the direct path method of Advaita and an internationally acclaimed ceramic artist; and Henry Shukman, Zen teacher and award winning poet and writer. Well known as influential spiritual teachers, both men have also had prestigious careers in the arts, and in this episode they discuss the intersection of art and spirituality. Rupert and Henry consider such issues as the true purpose of art, narrative as a healing device, art as interruption of the subject object distinction, the darshan of Rembrandt, and how Chekov relates to the Vedantic witness. Rupert and Henry also reflect on their own artistic careers, including the importance of mentors, finding one’s unique voice, and the relationship between discipline and spontaneity. … Video version at: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep131-art-spirituality-rupert-spira-henry-shukman 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - Art and awakening 02:34 - Rupert Spira as a ceramic artist 03:03 - Henry Shukman as a poet and author 03:40 - Differences between Spira and Shukman 06:09 - The purpose of art 11:06 - What Henry discovered in poetry 19:07 - Intimacy and collapsing the subject-object distinction through art 25:40 - Tang Dynasty poetry and interrupting linearity 27:37 - Imagination vs conceptualisation 30:57 - Using concepts to point to the pre-conceptual 33:36 - Art as interruption and portal 35:53 - Narrative as a healing device 36:33 - The disinterested affection of great art 42:44 - Rembrandt’s darshan 44:24 - Irony and sympathy of the vedantic witness 47:00 - The most real and essential thing in life 50:14 - The power of apprenticeship in Rupert’s life 55:00 - Liberation from the teacher and finding your own voice 58:37 - Henry’s poetry apprenticeship 01:00:58 - Discipline and spontaneity 01:02:38 - Finding a teacher 01:05:20 - The death of Zen 01:07:20 - The real lineage 01:14:55 - The artistic process 01:17:26 - What makes effective art and an effective artist? 01:18:14 - The master’s eye view … To find out more about Rupert Spira, visit: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep124-art-of-awakening-rupert-spira - https://rupertspira.com/ To find out more about Henry Shukman, visit: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=shukman - https://originallove.org/ … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this interview I am once again joined by Dr Jay Sanguinetti, Research Professor at the University of Arizona, Assistant Director at the Center for Consciousness Studies, and co-director of the SEMA Lab with Shinzen Young. In this episode, Dr Sanguinetti reveals his personal secrets for optimal brain function and cognitive high performance that enable him to perform at his intellectual best. Jay also gives us deep dive phenomenological reports of accessing boundary-less states of meditation, experiencing the unraveling of his self identification, and how self-administered brain stimulation in tandem with Dr Jeffrey Martin’s Finder’s Course and close 1-1 coaching with Shinzen Young radically expedited these processes. Jay also shares how his spiritual epiphanies have transformed his communication strategies with his staff and mentees, and explains the power of vulnerability in optimising decision making. … Video version at: www.guruviking.com 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:44 - How Jay optimises his mental function 05:25 - Jay’s current meditation approach 08:59 - Working 1-1 with Shinzen 09:53 - A state without boundaries and Jay’s jhana practice 12:15 - Dr Jeffrey A Martin and the ‘Finder’s Course’ 19:18 - Jay’s transformative experience on the Finder’s Course 20:33 - Falling into the void 23:11 - Using brain stimulation on himself 27:52 - Fear of dissolution 29:44 - Jay’s changing practice motivations from is 20s to 30s 31:40 - Identifying with enlightenment 38:06 - Unravelling the self-identification process 43:47 - The exponential happiness curve and further ultrasound 48:55 - Transformed relationships 49:54 - Shinzen’s ongoing coaching and correspondences to traditional maps 53:37 - Jay’s key spiritual insight 01:00:13 - Defining ‘equanimity’ and is ‘vulnerability’ a weakness? 01:06:50 - - Equanimity and optimised decision making 01:10:12 - Suffering is essential for growth 01:13:00 - Jay’s mentoring approach of vulnerability 01:18:03 - ‘Defining vulnerability’ 01:30:37 - Vulnerability in conflict situations 01:31:46 - The emerging science of compassion … Previous episodes with Dr Sanguinetti: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=sanguinetti … To find our more about Dr Sanguinetti, visit: - https://www.jaysanguinetti.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this interview I am joined by Guo Gu, Chan Buddhist teacher, author, and scholar of Buddhism. Guo Gu shares stories of his early training under the mysterious hermit Gūang Qìn, who’s siddhi powers were sought after by locals for healing and divination. Guo Gu also details his decades as the attendee and disciple monk of Chan Master Sheng Yen, including examples of Master Sheng Yen’s unusual and sometimes painful teaching methods, and shares how a powerful practice brought about Guo Gu’s stream entry in a moment of profound repentance. Guo Gu compares the powerful spiritual presences of his teachers, reflects on the means of acquiring siddhi and why Chan Buddhism deemphasises such powers, and shares the power of humility as a path to enlightenment. … www.guruviking.com Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:55 - Childhood training under the hermit Master Gūang Qìn 11:15 - Meeting Master Sheng Yen and other masters 17:03 - The powerful presences of great masters 21:16 - A wrathful display 23:26 - Intense training under Master Sheng Yen 26:30 - How did Master Gūang Qìn acquire his siddhi powers? 29:10 - Further tales of clairvoyance 31:55 - How to acquire siddhi powers vs Chan’s emphasis 37:10 - The motivation behind Master Gūang Qìn’s ascetic lifestyle 43:16 - Exposing Guo Gu’s self-involvement 54:10 - Public pointing out as a teaching tool 57:33 - The practice of repentance 59:15 - The spiritual power of humility 01:07:07 - Kensho via humility 01:14:26 - An experience of clarity without a reference point 01:17:38 - Master Sheng Yen confirms Guo Gu’s stream entry 01:21:36 - Guo Gu’s most powerful awakening experience 01:38:24 The death of Master Sheng Yen … To find out more about Guo Gu, visit: - https://guogulaoshi.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James