Guru Viking Podcast

Join Lama Vajranatha on the Guru Viking Podcast as he discusses the unique characteristics of Dzogchen and clears up misunderstandings. He also shares insights from his field research on Himalayan shamanism, including spirit possession, exorcism rituals, and the different classes of spirits. Discover the differences between shamans, lamas, and magicians and learn about personal experiences with spirit attacks. Explore the intersection of shamanic practices with Buddhism and the importance of making offerings to spirits.

In this episode I am once again joined by Morgan O Smith, teacher of non-duality, and under the stage name ‘Mista Mo’, was a stand-up comedian and host of the Gemini award winning television show ‘Buzz’. In this episode Morgan discusses his latest book ‘Bodhi in the Brain’, a guide to meditation using Morgan’s Yinnergy method. Morgan describes how he developed the method, as well as its role in his own awakening journey, and shares the results of applying it in schools, prisons, and in his role as a youth worker. Morgan also reveals how it was he integrated the devotional path of Bhakti yoga into his spiritual, what he has learned about the power of the guru’s shaktipat energy transmission, the necessity of purification and catharsis, and the transformative effects of awakening the heart and not just the head. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep220-bodhi-in-the-brain-morgan-o-smith-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:00- Writing ‘Bodhi in the Brain’ 04:40 - Morgan’s writing routine and process 04:53 - Darshan blessings from Paramahamsa Vishwananda 07:56 - Morgan’s current and future book projects 11:18 - Swallowing Vedanta 12:24 - Discovering the power of bhakti yoga and devotion to a guru 15:21 - Meditation and shaktipat 17:26 - Purging after powerful shakipat transmission 20:18 - Clearing the energy and karmic bodies 22:42 - Opening the heart chakra 23:57 - Brain waves, binaural beats, and Yinnergy 33:17 - How to practice with Yinnergy 40:19 - What is gained and what is lost with enlightenment 45:17 - Letting go of discrimination and opening the heart 48:36 - Impulse control, visions, and spiritual experiences 52:35 - Catharsis and bliss 54:13 - Morgan’s work in the prison system 59:22 - Morgan’s spirit of service 01:04:52 - How to get find Yinnergy and Morgan’s books 01:07:04 - Morgan invites communication from listeners … Previous episodes with Morgan O Smith: - www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep176-the-awakening-of-mista-mo - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep195-enlightened-comedian-morgan-o-smith-2 To find out more about Morgan O Smith, visit: - https://www.instagram.com/morgano.smith/ - https://linktr.ee/morganosmith For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Renowned author Ramsey Dukes joins the podcast to discuss cycles in thought and culture, the similarities between magic and art, and the emergence of magic from science and religion. They explore historical cycles in art and magic, the impact of education on breaking cycles of poverty, and the influence of magic in society. The discussion also touches on astrology, the role of talismans, and concerns about government restrictions and populist politics.

Leigh Brasington, a Buddhist meditation teacher, discusses his upcoming retreat plans, his views on AI and meditation teachers, and the qualities of a great meditation teacher. He shares his exchange with an AI on jhana meditation and questions the effectiveness of ultrasound neuromodulation for spiritual progress.

Dr. Alexander Arguelles, a polyglot and scholar, delves into the spiritual aspects of language, silencing the monkey mind, and the power of reading sacred texts. He shares his method of breath control combined with linguistic meditation for self-transcendence. Dr. Arguelles also discusses integrating work and study into spiritual practice, lifestyle habits for nourishing the mind, and the dangers of modern convenience traps.

Guest Mordy Levine discusses the origins of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, his collaboration with Lama Lhanang, and the intersections of money and spirituality. They explore dysfunctional money attitudes in American Buddhism, the impact of psychedelics in the West, and the importance of finding the right teacher. Mordy also shares his personal journey of transitioning from avarice to a more enlightened view and addresses the supernatural claims of the Book's transmission.

Internationally renowned memory expert Anthony Metivier takes us on a journey through memory techniques, including the memory palace technique and spaced repetition. He also discusses his use of memory techniques to face childhood trauma and reflects on non-duality and consciousness. Topics covered include the lineage of memory mastery, the fascinating life of Giordano Bruno, analyzing the current times through the lens of Nietzsche and Spinoza, and the influence of implicit memory on decision making.

In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Julian Schott, Indologist & Tibetologist, trained at institutions such as the renowned Center for the Study of Manuscript Culture at the University of Hamburg. In the first section of the episode, Dr Schott discusses the idea that Buddhist Studies as an academic discipline is in decline, with meagre enrolment, falling standards, and the deemphasis on philology and mastery of the tradition’s scriptural languages. Dr Schott also reflects on the skills and attitudes that make a good scholar. For the rest of the episode Dr Schott discusses his re-edition of ‘Indrabhūtis Jñānasiddhi: An In-depth Study of it’s Indian Origins and Early Tradition within the Indo-Tibetan Mahāmudrā Teachings’, details the philological process of reconstructing this important text and explains the pathway from the inception of the idea to obtaining funding to eventual publication. Dr Schott also remarks on the early tantric tradition in India, compares its character to later tantric forms such as the Yogini Tantras in both India and Tibet, and shares some surprising insights from Indrabhūti’s text on attaining siddhi and enlightenment. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep214-tantric-philology-dr-julian-schott-2 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:29 - Dr Schott’s recent appointment at University of Vienna 03:04 - Which universities have a high philological standard? 04:10 - Bringing classical philology into today’s context 06:23 - The declining quality of Buddhist Studies 08:30 - Weakness in today’s mindfulness research 09:46 - Causes of academic decline 13:41 - The flourishing of philology and Indology 17:32 - The economics of Sanskrit 101 20:48 - What function does today’s university perform? 24:31 - Does it matter of Buddhist studies declines? 27:32 - The qualities of a good scholar 33:09 - Setting a good example 36:24 - The work of a philologist 37:22 - Choosing the Indrabhūti project and getting funding 43:25 - Why Indrabhūti and early Tantric Buddhism? 45:01 - Characteristics of the early Tantric traditions 48:02 - Early Tantra vs later Yogini Tantras 51:38 - Surprising aspects of Indrabhūti’s Jñānasiddhi 01:01:01 - How to attain siddhi through tantra 01:04:20 - The process of Sanskrit translation and producing a critical edition 01:10:44- Profiling the mind of an ancient author 01:12:30 - Human nature and the presentation of truth 01:16:17 - Challenges in reconstructing the Jñānasiddhi 01:19:26 - Navigating the spiritual landscape, what can we rely upon? 01:22:43 - What has Steve learned from over 200 podcast episodes? 01:24:07 - Liberation of ignorance and knowing your place 01:28:10 - The final steps of a critical edition … Previous episode with Dr Julian Schott: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep197-scholar-practitioner-dr-julian-schott To find our more about Dr Julian Schott, visit: - https://www.aai.uni-hamburg.de/indtib/personen/schott.html For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by Dr Nicholas Van Dam, the inaugural Director of the Contemplative Studies Centre and an Associate Professor in the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne, and Chelsey Fasano, a Columbia University neuroscience graduate. Dr Van Dam discusses his 2018 paper ‘Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation’ which levels serious criticisms at his own field of mindfulness research and contemplative neuroscience, taking aim at poor methodological practices, problems with definitions, and the strong incentives in the field which can conflict with the pursuit of science. Dr Van Dam reveals what he calls the unholy triad of mindfulness research, explores the theme of elitism in meditation, and raises questions about the studies conducted on Buddhist contemplative Matthieu Ricard, known as the ‘happiest man in the world’. Dr Van Dam also considers the degree to which mindfulness can be meaningfully isolated apart from its traditional religious contexts, notes the adverse effects of meditation, and shares his thoughts for the individual meditator on how to practice and who to trust in todays meditation marketplace. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep213-mind-the-hype-dr-nicholas-van-dam-chelsey-fasano 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:26 - Mind the Hype 03:02 - Realising something was wrong with the mindfulness field 05:30 - Has the field improved? 06:20 - Perverse incentives 08:08 - The unholy triad of mindfulness 09:53 - The definition problem 11:56 - Poor standards of evidence 14:36 - Misunderstanding of neuroplasticity 16:36 - The Matthieu Ricard problem and elitism 19:17 - Olympians of the mind 21:21 - Adverse effects of meditation 22:11 - History of elitism in Buddhist meditation 23:48 - Controversies about defining mindfulness 29:16 - The judgment trap 31:58 - Operationalising mindfulness to serve the research agenda 32:58 - Missing the traditional context 35:40 - To what extent can science be informed by traditional schema? 42:01 - Consequences of moving away from religious thinking 46:45 - Scientism as a faith position 47:41 - Profit incentives 51:17 - What motivates mindfulness researchers? 51:29 - How to we recognise authority? 52:43 - Omertà and corrupt science 59:22 - Career risks in criticising mindfulness research 01:02:33 - Mindfulness is passé 01:04:28 - Critique of psychedelic and tech interventions 01:08:56 - Why bother with meditation? 01:12:39 - Importance of practice goals 01:13:50 - Is enlightenment really worth the effort and risk? 01:16:40 - Is meditation just practicing skilful suffering? 01:18:21 - Real practice doesn’t sell 01:20:46 - Advice for meditation practitioners 01:23:22 - Recommendations for mindfulness researchers 01:23:58 - Gaslighted by religious traditions 01:24:51 - Who can we trust? 01:27:26 - Contemplative Studies Centre … To find out more about Dr Van Dam, visit: - https://www.nicholastvandam.com/ - https://psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/CSC - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29016274/ To find our more about Chelsey Fasano visit: - www.chelseyfasano.com For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

I was recently interviewed by Mark V Wiley for his ‘Transformations Podcast' with a particular focus on ritual, religion, meditation, martial arts, my teenage apprenticeship to a Christian mystic, and more. ... Mark's Shownotes: Our discussion touched a wide variety of subjects from Steve early childhood entering karate, being an altar boy and the comparative rituals of both, early fiction writing, and introduction to a Celtic mystic; crossing thresholds, energy work, altered states and meditation; ways to manage pain, merge with it and let it go; Movement Koan Method and migraine relief. 0:14 The Guru Viking - not just a guy on a boat 4:38 Non-ordinary lifestyle, aesthetic and embodied nature of karate 7:45 Profound Altar boy ritual experience, shared ideology but private faith, personal contemplative space 11:45 Story: Wado-Ryu karate 12:17 crossing thresholds: martial art and religious space and ritual 16:56 The young contemplative, TV sound meditation and thought problems 19:02 Observation of martial arts with and without ritual, Arrogance 21:30 Skatipat, no-mind, how thought brings you out of the altered state, meditative practices 23:48 The untangling of pain from emotion and psychological reactivity and physically bracing against it 27:21 Heroic "strong determination' sitting of Shinzen Young, working through pain in meditation 38:50 Ann array of techniques, ego, meditating with others on their terms, not being bound by dogma 41:22 More thoughts on Catholicism, the Bible, and door-knocking sects 44:00 Novel, Celtic mystic writing group, learn by doing and observing, listening to God and the still, small voice within, seeing with God's eyes 51:28 Mentoring, learning by osmosis and proximity, apprenticeship, The Paris Review 54:44 Scotitsh fencing team, weight training, if strong appear weak, deception/perception 1:01:29 Movement Koan Method, what to do after a spiritual epiphany, body movement riddles, muscular activation and somatic reference points, investigation and inquiry over imposition of answer 1:10:41 Somatic emphasis on the concept "there is only here and now, don’t fight just feel and be" with it. 1:14:22 Zhan Zhuang qigong, water seeks its level, muscles, migraines, why we hold pain 1:15:34 Holding tension to withstand migraine and headache. Parallel to sitting meditation pain. Why we hold onto pain, persistent pain, mind/body pain, phantom pain, referred pain. 1:19:34 Dr. Wiley's Migraine cure - Headache's Relieved (book), Natural Solutions to Pain and Inflammation (book) 1:25:27 Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Framework of excess, stagnation, deficiencies 1:27:35 Extending the sweet spot in wellness 1:29:33 Deliberate exposure to weak causing, homeopathy, resources for pain relief 1:34:18 ending comments More on Steve James and The Guru Viking Podcast found here: https://www.guruviking.com/ Transformations Podcast brought to you by: www.TambuliMedia.com ... To watch more of Mark's episodes, click here: https://www.youtube.com/@markvwiley