Ep376: Adi Da’s Zookeeper - Stuart Camps

In this episode I am joined by Stuart Camps, a 30 year devotee of the American spiritual teacher Adi Da, long time curator of Adi Da’s zoo, the “Fear No More Zoo”, and author of “Lightning Thunder Cows”, a memoir of Stuart’s life with his guru. Stuart recalls his upbringing in Papa New Guinea, his later struggles to reintegrate into Australian society, and his lifelong connection with animals. Stuart describes his approach to Adi Da and their first meeting, how he became a devotee and zoo keeper, and details his master’s teachings about animals and natural contemplation. Stuart shares many anecdotes of his personal interactions with Adi Da, reflects on the teacher’s controversial behaviours and claims, and considers whether Adi Da was trapped by his own spiritual community. … Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - 30 years with Adi Da 04:16 - Lightning Thunder Cows 05:56 - Natural contemplation 07:31 - Are animals inferior to humans 11:15 - Childhood in Papa New Guinea 12:53 - Explaining Adi Da’s use of the term “non-humans” 13:47 - Life in Papa New Guinea 15:36 - Childhood mystical experiences 17:45 - Reading habit 18:49 - Difficulties adjusting to Australian life 20:45 - Connection with animals 22:43 - The Eating Gorilla Comes In Peace 25:35 - Approaching Adi Da 26:56 - Trying to escape 31:47 - The need to grow up 35:25 - “Come to me when you’re already happy” 38:44 - Preparing to work with Adi Da 42:39 - Powerful first meeting with Adi Da 48:58 - Stuart’s unique relationship with Adi Da 53:04 - Adi Da on animals 58:27 - Direct relationship rather than religion 58:55 - Stuart’s evolving understanding of Adi Da and his controversial behaviour 01:04:31 - Adi Da’s sannyasin period 01:07:40 - What was it like to be around Adi Da? 01:08:24 - Reflecting on Adi Da’s claims to superlative spiritual realisation 01:12:03 - Why did Adi Da incarnate? 01:16:02 - More of Adi Da on animals 01:21:18 - Adi Da’s roar when a camel died 01:25:48 - Human congestion and thought 01:30:14 - Energetic conductivity and premodern peoples 01:35:27 - The role of spiritual practitioners 01:37:06 - Australian aborigines 01:40:08 - What it takes to be in relationship with a guru like Adi Da 01:49:59 - Problems with the community 01:50:45 - Was Adi Da trapped by his own community? 01:53:10 - Adi Da’s sacred theatre activities 01:56:30 - Why Stuart left Adidam 01:57:56 - Adi Da’s death 02:02:40 - Life after Adidam 02:06:54 - Sadness at how Adi Da is perceived in the world 02:08:23 - Exhortation to consider Adi Da’s teachings … To find our more about Stuart Camps, visit: - https://fearnomore.vision/ - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stuart-Camps/author/B0CKQ9PFVJ? For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James