Guru Viking Podcast

In this interview I am joined by John Maki Evans, teacher of Japanese swordsmanship, practitioner of several syncretic esoteric Japanese disciplines of tantra and magic, and author of ‘Kurikara: The Sword and the Serpent’. John recalls aspects of his intense training in Japan, traces his lifetime spent uncovering the higher esoteric dimensions of the Japanese arts, and details the 9 stage journey from novice to master. John maps the subtle body and its correspondences to the five elements and the dragon king protectors known as nāgarāja, explains the demands of following the inner path of transformation, and considers the special role of the sword in religious life. John also reflects on the process of opening the body and mind, recovery from severe back and brain injuries, and on the dangers of reaching your spiritual goals. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep231-esoteric-arts-of-japan-john-maki-evans

 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:05 - John’s 3 practitioner names 02:30 - Prescience of John’s sensei 04:21 - John reflects on his qualities 06:19 - Pros and cons of personal characteristics 07:48 - The process of opening up 09:09 - The danger of reaching your spiritual goals 11:19 - John’s 3 phase grading system 12:30 - 3 levels of transmission 18:26 - 5 elements, 9 Stages 22:01 - The power of the sword 25:29 - Nakamura Sensei’s special forces combat experience 28:53 - Taking up the sword 30:39 - Back injury and meeting Shandor 32:47 - Healing serious back injuries 33:40 - A powerful sexual awakening 36:19 - Japanese tantric and esoteric knowledge 41:37 - Piecing together an inner yogic system 43:44 - The nāgarāja dharma protectors 46:33 - 9 syllable magick 48:57 - Mapping the subtle body 49:48 - An intensive Shingon retreat 52:52 - Discovering a genuine master 54:22 - Squat practice 55:15 - Severe brain injury 58:18 - Left and right hemispheres 59:06 - Working with the brain mandala 01:02:56 - John’s mother’s death 01:05:08 - John’s post-surgery vision 01:07:09 - Post-surgery recovery 01:10:40 - Esoteric yogic techniques 01:13:21 - A profound Japanese spiritual poem 01:18:08 - Memorising Patañjali’s yoga sūtras 01:19:56 - The death of John’s father and John’s childhood death-ritual … To find out more about John Maki Evans, visit: - https://www.battodo-fudokan.co.uk/ … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

John Brehm, American poet and author of 'The Dharma of Poetry', discusses his early life, formation as a poet, use of psychedelics, and the power of poetry for personal growth. He reads his poem 'Non-Harming' and reflects on achieving profundity in poetry. The conversation also touches on self-awareness, the influence of other poets, and the beauty in ordinary landscapes.

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.

Dr Nida Chenagtsang, a Buddhist teacher and doctor of Tibetan Medicine, and Justin Von Bujdoss, an author and Buddhist teacher, discuss the esoteric Dzogchen practices of trekchö and tögal, as well as the mysterious practice of dark retreat. They delve into the history, dangers, and potential benefits of dark retreat and explore themes of fixation, nationalism, translation, and spiritual trauma. The podcast covers topics such as the unique energy of Bhutan, the importance of using Sanskrit and Tibetan words, and the transformative experience of dark retreat.

Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, a tantric priest in a centuries old Buddhist family lineage, shares the secrets and spiritual teachings of the Charya Nritya dance tradition. Topics include the lineage's secrecy, family dynamics, meditative training process, importance of Buddhas and animals, and stages of enlightenment in the Newari Buddhist tradition.

Lama Lhanang, a Nyingma Master and expert in Tibetan Buddhism, shares his nomadic childhood in Golok, Tibet, encounters with enlightened teachers, and struggles living in America. Topics include his upbringing, education, miraculous powers of his teachers, and his perspective on current events like war and political division.

David Johnson, a meditation teacher and author of ‘A Path to Nibbana’, discusses forgiveness meditation technique and its benefits in overcoming emotional blocks. He shares personal stories of forgiving a toxic boss and anecdotes of students' forgiveness experiences. The podcast explores the link between Buddhist precepts and a peaceful mind, the power of the habit of forgiveness, and common mistakes in metta meditation. It also touches on the Buddha's forgiveness method and the use of forgiveness meditation in psychiatric care.

In this episode I am joined by Joe Evans, founder of the Rangdröl Foundation and teacher of Dzogchen under the name Jigme Rangdröl. Joe discusses his impoverished upbringing, recounts unusual childhood resonances with aspects of Tibetan Buddhism, and reveals how his boyish fantasies about meeting a guru were shattered when he met Gelek Rinpoche in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Joe shares his own practice journey, including his dream yoga skills and understanding of the Great Perfection, and recalls a transformative Vajrayogini retreat in which powerful meditation and dream experiences saw him seek the guidance of famous Dzogchen master Namkhai Norbu. Joe also shares his love of books, gives a tour of his library, highlights volumes of particular significance, and discusses the role of study in the path of Dzogchen. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep224-american-dzogchenpa-joe-evans Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - Joe’s love of books 02:52 - Tour of Joe’s library 06:09 - Showing some favourite books 07:32 - Study vs practice in Dzogchen 10:57 - Higher standards for teachers 12:22 - Learning the Tibetan language 12:55 - Tibetan terms that require better translation 13:22 - Meaning of ‘yeshe’, ‘sherab’, and ‘dhatu’. 16:30 - Joe’s upbringing and early interest in meditation 21:17 - Teenage reading about Buddhism 22:41 - Fantasies about meeting a teacher 23:21 - Meeting Gelek Rinpoche 28:18 - University study of Buddhism and Tibetan language 28:54 - Praise for Professor Luis Gómez 32:22 - Decision not to enter graduate school 34:22 - Director of marketing for Wisdom Publications 37:01 - A life transforming Vajrayogini retreat 37:51 - Inspiration to seek out Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche 39:10 - Mystical experiences and spiritual dreams on retreat 41:18 - Namkhai Norbu’s revelatory dreams 44:16 - Joe’s talent for dreaming 45:27 - Namkhai Norbu’s emphasis on dream yoga 46:10 - Joe’s current dream yoga practice 47:29 - Meeting Namkhai Norbu in a dream 50:41 - 24hr Dzogchen practice 56:06 - Founding the Rangröl Foundation … To find out more about Joe Evans, visit: - https://www.rangdrolfoundation.org/ 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 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 Last Spiritual King of Bhutan’. In this interview, Naomi discusses the life of Freda Bedi, born in 1911 and also known as Sister Palmo; activist, radical, and the first Western woman to take full ordination in Tibetan Buddhism. Naomi recounts Freda’s upbringing, education at Oxford University, controversial marriage to the communist activist BPL Bedi, flight from Nazi Germany, and arrival in India. Naomi describes Freda’s conversion to Buddhism, ordination, and founding of the ‘Young Lama’s Homeschool’, where she taught English to young Tulkus such as Chogyam Trungpa, Ringu, Thupten Zopa, Chokyi Nyima, and more. Naomi also discusses Freda’s religious practice, the remarkable circumstances of her death, and shares the accounts of Buddhist lamas who ascribe to Freda high spiritual attainments. … Video episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep223-the-spiritual-odyssey-of-freda-bedi-naomi-levine-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - Writing about Freda Bedi 06:00 - The extraordinary death of Freda Bedi 10:56 - Living through remarkable times 12:30 - Born in a working class family 13:06 - Time at Oxford University 14:34 - Marrying Baba Pyare Lal ‘BPL’ Bedi 16:02 - Participation in Gandhi’s freedom movement 17:36 - Childhood meditation 20:41 - Flight from Nazi Germany 21:57 - Trouble in Kashmir 26:04 - Learning meditation under Sayadaw U Titthila and experiencing shunyata 27:14 - Friendship with Indira Gandhi and refugee work in Assam 29:02 - Founding the Young Lama’s Homeschool 31:01 - Convincing 16th Karmapa to travel to the West 33:31 - First Western woman to attain enlightenment? 35:01 - Didi Contractor on Freda Bedi 40:36 - Why is Freda Bedi not better known? 45:33 - Turbulent times and war 44:57 - Complexity and charisma 46:42 - How did Freda Bedi penetrate elite political and religious circles? 51:36- Ayang Rinpoche on Freda Bedi’s death 54:40 - Freda Bedi’s Marxism 58:27 - Ambiguities and motherhood 01:01:20 - The home life of great humanitarians 01:04:30 - BPL Bedi’s miraculous healing powers 01:09:32 - Freda Bedi’s spiritual and meditation practices 01:17:09 - Audio recording of Freda Bedi 01:35:44 - Kabir’s intention to make a film about Freda Bedi 01:36:16 - Naomi’s great admiration for Freda Bedi … Previous episodes with Naomi Levine: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep190-love-death-in-the-himalayas-naomi-levine - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep208-karmapa-tales-naomi-levine-2 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: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this interview, I am once again 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 Arthur discusses his latest book ‘American Gnosis’ in which he explores the surprising connections between the Gnostic tradition and contemporary American spirituality, politics, and popular media. Arthur shows the ways in which gnostic religious themes explicitly and implicitly express in political groups such as the dissident right, probes Eric Voegelin’s theories which propose links between gnosticism and left wing political movements, and explores the blend of cosmological and metaphysical gnosis in the writings of David Icke. Arthur also details the key features of neognosticism, discusses the meme battles over the Matrix film’s ‘red pill’, and considers the overlaps between light work, conspiracy theories, and Tibetan Buddhism. … Video episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep222-american-gnosis-arthur-versluis-phd-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:19 - American Gnosis 02:17 - Origins of and surprises in the research 06:03 - An anecdote of American Gnosticism 08:02 - The gnosis of Twin Peaks 08:38 - Defining Gnosticism 12:18 - Emerging 20th century Neo-Gnosticism 14:30 - Cosmological vs metaphysical gnosis 17:19 - A surprising claim of awakening 21:26 - Crossover between Buddhist and Neo-Gnostic awakenings 23:40 - Political gnosis on the left and right 25:50 - Psychedelic gnosis 26:33 - Neo-gnosticism and the dissident right 29:31 - Is there neognosticism on the left? 34:01 - Are analyses in terms of whiteness and patriarchy neognostic in structure? 36:14 - Double-view of gnosticism on the right 40:44 - A problem in the American Buddhist world 42:23 - Struggle between the left and right over the symbolism of the Matrix’s red pill 49:22 - The pseudo-religion of the state and the 2nd reality 53:03 - Overreach of the label of ‘gnostic’ 55:18 - The gnosis of David Icke 01:02:14 - Suicidal nihilism of neognosticism vs Icke’s metaphysical gnosis 01:06:02 - Lightwork and conspiracy theory overlap with Buddhism 01:13:33 - Entities and dark forces in Tibetan Buddhism … Previous episodes with Prof. Arthur Versluis: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep106-arthur-versluis-phd-conversations-in-apocalyptic-times/ - https://www.guruviking.com/ep113-arthur-versluis-phd-2-american-gurus/ … To buy ‘American Gnosis’, visit: - https://global.oup.com/academic/product/american-gnosis-9780197653210?cc=gb&lang=en& To find out more about Prof. Arthur Versluis, visit: - https://arthurversluis.com/ 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James