Guru Viking Podcast

Leigh Brasington shares his work with jhana meditation and neuroscience, discussing brain scans in profound states of samadhi. Topics include samadhi, spiritual insights, deathlessness vs immortality, math debates, and Buddhist notions of paticca-samuppada.

In this interview I am once again joined by Tibetologist, author, and Tantric Buddhist Lama Glenn Mullin. Glenn takes a deep dive into the use of yidam, or meditation deities, in Buddhist tantra including the role of personal preference, karmic coincidence, and divination in choosing the right yidam for you. Glenn reveals his own primary yidam practice and details the unusual experiences around his initiation as well the effects of the yidam practice over his lifetime. Glenn also explains the use of ritual instruments, mudra, and choreographed hand gestures in Tantric practice, and discusses what it means to become an accomplished practitioner of these disciplines. … Full episode link in bio. Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:47 - How to choose a practice deity 11:54 - How to determine your karmic dispositions and tales of empowerments 18:13 - Divination and karmic coincidence 24:57 - Effects of Yamantaka tantric practice on Glenn 44:42 - What is a yidam really? 54:10 - What does it mean accomplish a practice? 01:02:23 - Tantric use of ritual instruments, mudra, and choreographed hand gestures 01:26:04 - Founding ‘The Mystical Arts of Tibet’ touring group … Previous Glenn Mullin episodes: - https://www.guruviking.com/?s=glenn+mullin Buy ‘The Dalai Lamas on Tantra’: - https://www.shambhala.com/from-the-heart-of-chenrezig-2783.html To find our more about Glenn, visit: - http://www.glennmullin.com/ - https://www.facebook.com/Maitripa.Glenn … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by Erik Jampa Andersson, a teacher of Tibetan medicine, astrology, and meditation endorsed by luminaries of the field such as Dr Nida Chenagtsang and Lama Tsultrim Allione. Erik recounts how childhood tragedy and an early interest in the occult saw him deeply influenced by the works of J.R.R Tolkien, and to eventually become a Buddhist in the Nyingma lineage of Tibet. Erik reveals his personal journey in resolving friction points with the Buddhist religion, including doctrines of hell realms and heteronormative ethical standards. Erik also discusses his education in Tibetan medicine, and shares his deep interest in and personal experience of the realm of spirits and unseen beings, both as mythic devices and also as influences in mental health and physical disease. … 

Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep108-erik-jampa-andersson-from-tolkien-to-tibet/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:28 - Childhood interest in the occult 04:39 - From Tolkien to Tibetan Buddhism 11:15 - Becoming a student of Lama Tsultrim Allione 13:12 - Attraction to Tibetan Buddhism 17:37 - Christian vs Buddhist ethics 20:51 - Frictions points with Buddhism 26:09 - Homosexuality and Buddhism 40:39 - Queer liberation and religious marginalisation 48:15 - S3xual ethics and Buddhism 50:52 - The myth of Padmasambhava 55:13 - From acting to Tibetan medical studies 01:01:36 - Modern vs traditional education styles 01:09:13 - Cultural and medical exchange in antiquity 01:17:47 - Erik’s work on unseen beings and spirit provocations 01:28:17 - Endorsed by Lama Tsultrim Allione and Dr Nida Chenagtsang 01:32:57 - Becoming a professional astrologer 01:47:26 - Personal entity encounters 01:53:33 - Experiments with states of high concentration and plant medicines 02:03:20 - The genius of Tolkien 02:17:02 - Erik’s upcoming book on rational animism 02:27:09 - Contacting Erik … To find out more about Erik Jampa Andersson, visit: - https://www.shrimala.com/ 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

I was recently interviewed by James Iandoli at 'Engaging the Phenomenon', where we discussed meditation, psychic powers, and UFOs 👽 00:00 - Who is Steve? 02:10 - Why ‘Guru Viking’? 05:05 - Becoming interested in meditation 07:52 - Contemplative Christianity 10:13 - UFOs 18:08 - Close encounters as catalysts for awakening 21:58 - Siddhi and psychic experiences 34:15 - CE5 and contacting entities 48:27 - Meditation, perennialism, and being fun at parties 58:59 - Advice when starting meditation Check out James Iandoli's 'Engaging the Phenomenon' podcast at: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnFc2oM4A60NcG0LCjKoH8g Find out more about Steve and the 'Guru Viking Podcast' at: - www.guruviking.com

In this episode I am once again joined by Henry Shukman, award-winning poet, Zen teacher, and author of ‘One Blade of Grass; a Zen memoir’.  In this interview Henry reveals what he calls Zen’s true miracle, and shares his own personal journey of healing childhood trauma in the context of spiritual awakening and integration of enlightenment. Henry also explores the two purposes of Zen koan training, contrasts different models of enlightenment, and explains how to awaken in the midst of intense suffering and pain. …

 Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep107-henry-shukman-2-zens-true-miracle/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:36 - Endorsed by Dr Rick Hanson 01:25 - Evolving definitions of trauma 05:16 - Cold War espionage and Henry’s infant trauma 08:18 - Profound insights from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 10:43 - Exploring Jungian dream work 17:36 - Can one be enlightened and traumatised? 21:08 - Integration and the Heart Sutra 29:46 - Asymptote of enlightenment vs ‘just this’ 37:04 - Awakening in extreme trauma 40:40 - The two purposes of koan training 49:19 - Extraordinary states of mind vs ordinary reality 57:40 - Addendum: The true miracle of Zen … Previous episode with Henry Shukman: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep101-henry-shukman-one-blade-of-grass/ To find out more about Henry Shukman, visit: - https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/henry-shukman/ 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James …

In this interview, I am joined by Professor Arthur Versluis, a professor and Department Chair of Religious Studies in the College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University, author of over 25 books on subjects ranging from Western esotericism, magic, Christian Theosophy, ancient mystery schools, and more. In this episode we discuss Arthur’s latest book, ‘Conversations In Apocalyptic Times’ and trace a thread of esoteric Christianity that stretches back to the mystery schools of Ancient Greece. We discover fascinating figures such as shoemaker and mystic Jakob Böhme; priest, alchemist, and astrologer John Pordage; and learn about the negative theology of Christian Neoplatanist Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, contrasting it with Buddhist notions of emptiness and the ‘neti neti’ method advocated by Shankara. Arthur also explains the differences between historical and a-historical lineages and discusses the recurring friction between the religious mystic and the religious institution. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep106-arthur-versluis-phd-conversations-in-apocalyptic-times/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - Arthur’s academic and popular writing 02:30 - Arthur’s childhood interest in the unknown 03:59 - Jakob Böhme, John Pordage, and Christian Theosophy 07:33 - Lineage and ahistorical continuity 10:00 - Christianity as a Mystery Tradition 18:28 - Christian Theosophy as an alchemical, contemplative path 24:32 - Why are mystics persecuted by the institutions? 30:04 - Negative theology, mystical transcendence, and Platonic mysticism 35:53 - Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite 39:39 - Comparisons and differences between negative theology and shunyata 44:43 - How are a-historical lineages revived and reconstructed? 49:35 - Robert Fass’ synthesis of Western psychology and Christian Theosophy ... To find out more about Dr Arthur Versluis, visit: - https://arthurversluis.com/ 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this interview, I am joined by Dr Angelo Dilullo, anaesthesiologist, spiritual teacher, and author of ‘Awake! It’s your Turn’. We learn how a profound existential angst in childhood and adolescence propelled Angelo into spiritual practice and, at the age of 24, precipitated a radical spiritual awakening. Angelo details the practices, shifts, and consequences of his awakening, and shares the process of coming face to face with deeply held conditioning. Angelo also discusses certainty and religious experience, and reveals why he is absolutely certain that not only can anyone wake up, but that anyone who wants to will. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep105-dr-angelo-dilullo-simply-always-awake/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:45 - Profound existential suffering during childhood and adolescence 05:44 - Transcendental Meditation and a life-changing encounter 09:56 - Angelo’s awakening 14:11 - More on Angelo’s teenage existential angst 19:42 - Anyone can wake up 20:20 - Awake nature and Angelo’s certainty 24:54 - Is certainty a valid basis for truth claims? 31:11 - Certainty = truth? 41:14 - More on Angelo’s pre-awakening practice and awakening experience 45:26 - Past life recall and disappearance of the self structure 50:31 - Sampling Zen 54:07 - More details on Angelo’s past life experience 55:20 - Consequences of awakening 59:18 - Sexuality after awakening 1:12:08 - Agency and motivation after awakening 1:21:51 - Facing conditioning, behavioural guard rails, & people pleasing 1:35:15 - Authenticity and socialisation 1:44:26 - Differentiating Angelo’s truth claims 1:54:34 - How Angelo began to teach 2:02:49 - Paradox, objective claims, and moving beyond concept ... To find out more about Dr Angelo Dilullo, visit: - www.simplyalwaysawake.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 David Curtis, a Lama in the Shangpa-Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism and founder of the Tibetan Language Institute. In this interview, David shares his passion for the Tibetan language and insights gained from his 27 year career teaching Tibetan to thousands of students. We learn about David’s unique approach to language learning, the unique characteristics of the Tibetan language that David loves, and how different approaches to grammar can open up meaning at different points in a student’s journey. David also reveals how to approach language learning as a spiritual practice, and shares stories of his interactions with prominent gurus and translators. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep104-lama-david-curtis-teaching-the-tibetan-language/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:45 - Tibetan Language Institute 02:26 - Developing language learning materials over 27 years of teaching 07:45 - Early dictionaries assumed a knowledge of Greek and Latin 08:43 - David’s approach to teaching the Tibetan language 11:44 - The connection between enlightened nature and language 14:07 - The integration of Sino-Tibetan and Indo-European elements in the Tibetan literary language 22:18 - Chomsky and how to teach grammar 29:08 - Language learning as a spiritual practice 33:04 - The three aspects of language, and advice for the intermediate language learner 39:01 - Resources from Joe B Wilson and John Rockwell 40:39 - How David sees his role as a language teacher 41:39 - Benefits of learning Tibetan and some student success stories 44:33 - The profile of an ideal student Previous interviews with Lama David Curtis: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep84-lama-david-curtis-hitchhiking-in-samsara/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep99-lama-david-curtis-2-making-of-a-tantric-lama/ To find out more about Lama David Curtis, visit: - http://www.bigskymindmontana.org/ - http://www.tibetanlanguage.org/ 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I host part 6 of an ongoing conversation between Shinzen Young, meditation teacher and neuroscience research consultant, Chelsey Fasano, a Columbia University neuroscience student, and Dr Jay Sanguinetti, Assistant Director for the Center for Consciousness Studies and Research Professor at the University of New Mexico. In this episode we take a deep dive into the dopaminergic reward system, including current thinking on its function and role, and its interaction with meditation practice and Buddhist notions of craving and suffering. We also discuss what to do after enlightenment, and speculate about the Fibonacci sequence as a universal constant. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep103-dopamine-meditation-fibonacci-feat-shinzen-young-chelsey-fasano-dr-jay-sanguinetti/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:44 - International attention and Sir Roger Penrose 02:38 - What is the reward system and how does it function? 06:45 - The punishment system 09:50 - Social media and the basal ganglia 11:09 - Meditation’s effects on the basal ganglia 14:50 - SART and the work of Dr David Vago 19:37 - Meditation and resting tonic dopamine levels 22:24 - Knytl & Opitz on meditation and negative reinforcement 25:14 - What is resting tonic dopamine? 27:04 - Leigh Brasington and Haggerty’s jhana study 30:19 - Is the Haggerty study fatally flawed? 32:21 - More to pleasure than dopamine 33:05 - The different jhana systems of Buddhism 35:36- Jay suggests a jhana study at his lab 37:26 - Integration of ecstatic experience across traditions 43:13 - Integrating the the top-down Self with the basal ganglia 45:47 - After enlightenment, what to do? 49:10 - Shinzen on measuring the endorphin rush 53:14 - Endorphins, Dopamine, and craving 55:48 - Hard and soft jhana, wet and dry vipassana 01:01:02 - Jay on in-brain competition and behaviour change 01:04:51 - Outcomes from Shinzen’s life of practice 01:07:54 - The Fibonacci sequence as the universal constant 01:21:01 - Craving, conflict, and suffering … Previous episodes in this series: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep72-shinzen-young-and-chelsey-fasano-tantra-neuroscience-and-true-enlightenment/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep76-shinzen-young-chelsey-fasano-2-the-science-of-enlightenment/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep81-shinzen-young-chelsey-fasano-3-orgasm-epilepsy-mystical-experience/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep86-bliss-enlightenment-fristonian-physics-feat-chelsey-fasano-shinzen-young-dr-jay-sanguinetti/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep94-the-enlightenment-button-feat-shinzen-young-chelsey-fasano-dr-jay-sanguinetti/ - To find out more about Shinzen, visit: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep37-shinzen-young-pandemic-edition-guru-viking-podcast/ - www.shinzen.org To find out more about Chelsey, visit: - www.chelseyfasano.com To find our more about Dr Sanguinetti, visit: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep102-dr-jay-sanguinetti-cults-science-the-dalai-lama/ - 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 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, Jay recalls his upbringing in Mississippi, falling in love with science, and how his work synthesising MDMA as a promising undergraduate brought him o an ethical crisis . Jay recounts a life changing encounter with the Dalai Lama that radically altered his research path and inspired him to personally take up the practice of meditation. Jay reveals how a profound meditation epiphany led to an existential crisis, and the role that psilocybin had in reintegrating his body and mind. Jay also discusses Olympic level meditators, the role of identity in self-transformation, and what it’s like to collaborate with noted meditation teacher Shinzen Young. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep102-dr-jay-sanguinetti-cults-science-the-dalai-lama/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Research resources and recent media interest 03:12 - Jay’s upbringing in Mississippi and falling in love with science 06:00 - Manufacturing MDMA and an facing an ethical crisis 10:04 - How Jay’s upbringing affected his life and career 13:11 - A profound encounter with the Dalai Lama 18:58 - Discussing the Dalai Lama’s spiritual power 25:40 - Jay’s life-changing spiritual epiphany and ensuing existential crisis 32:22 - Reintegrating the psyche with psychedelics 36:26 - Lasting consequences of Jay’s epiphany 42:14 - Olympic level meditators and becoming the Dalai Lama 51:04 - The malware of religion and science 58:28 - The bias lensing mechanism 01:01:21 - Identity and spiritual bypass 01:13:25 - Jay imagines the future of contemplative neuroscience 01:15:01 - Cults, conversion, and meditation progress 01:21:38 - Inner resources and reducing cognitive load 01:27:15 - Jay on Shinzen Young … Previous episodes with Dr Sanguinetti: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep86-bliss-enlightenment-fristonian-physics-feat-chelsey-fasano-shinzen-young-dr-jay-sanguinetti/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep81-shinzen-young-chelsey-fasano-3-orgasm-epilepsy-mystical-experience/ … To find our more about Dr Sanguinetti, visit: - https://www.jaysanguinetti.com/ Jay’s TEDx Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGEjmwaIPZk Jay at USC - https://youtu.be/ljl7tapTCh4 Jay and Shinzen in the Guardian - https://youtu.be/spukj-4sYS0 … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James