Ep231: Esoteric Arts of Japan - John Maki Evans

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

23 Juli 20212h 18min

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

16 Juli 202151min

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

9 Juli 20211h 26min

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

2 Juli 20211h 38min

In this episode I am joined by Henry Shukman, award-winning poet, Zen teacher, and author of ‘One Blade of Grass, a Zen memoir’. In this interview Henry discusses his upbringing in Oxford, as the son of a don and a graduate of the illustrious Dragon School, and how in poetry he found the liberating aspect of literary life. Henry reveals his first awakening experience, the breakdown that occurred thereafter, and how finding meditation saw him begin a quest to deepen his spiritual life. Henry discusses the importance of finding a teacher, how he overcome a childhood-learned distrust of men to do so, and why his Zen practice brought an end to his professional writing career. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep101-henry-shukman-one-blade-of-grass/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:47 - Henry’s learned upbringing in Oxford 06:30 - An award-winning career as a poet and author ended by Zen 09:13 - Henry’s education at the illustrious Dragon School, Oxford 15:12 - Poetry as the liberating aspect of literary life 17:17 - Henry as a poet and ‘is poetry high-brow’? 22:56 - First awakening experience 28:11 - Post-awakening breakdown and despair 30:26 - Discovering meditation and unwinding the nervous system 35:00 - Distrust of men and finding a spiritual teacher 43:49 - Inside the teacher-student relationship 51:31 - Did Zen kill Henry’s writing process? 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

25 Juni 202157min

In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Ian A. Baker, international fellow of the Explorers Club and the Royal Geographic Society, author of 7 books, and an initiate of Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu Tantric lineages. In this interview Ian recounts a life-changing encounter with a Shakta tantric Siddha in Nepal, who healed Ian of severe climbing injuries and initiated him into the Kaula Tantric order. Ian compares the hitherto secret practices of this sect - such as pranayama, asana, and kundalini techniques - with their Tibetan Tantric equivalents. Ian reveals the surprising reactions of his Tibetan teachers to his initiations into Kaula Tantra, including Chatral Rinpoche and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, and shares a drinking practice taught to him by his Kaula guru. Ian also discusses Himalayan Beyul, the thin places of the Scottish Highlands, and how a trip to the Isle of Skye brought him into living contact with local Faerie lore. ... Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep100-ian-baker-emancipated-passion-of-kaula-tantra/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - Recent research into esoteric Burmese spiritual elixirs and the Soma tradition 09:55. Exploring the thin places of the Scottish Highlands 15:15 - Encountering the human the faerie tradition of the Isle of Skye 18:21 - Psychoactive substances in Buddhism 22:32 - Tantric Buddhism in Burma 28:38 - Ian on Mike Crowley’s book ’The Secret Drugs of Buddhism’ 34:12 - Initial interest in Kaula Tantra 39:59 - Padmasambhava and the Nyingma Sects of Tibetan Buddhism 41:41 - Love vs renunciation and the Indian roots of Tibetan Tantra 47:18 - Emancipated passion, Yab Yum, and Maithuna 52:14 - Touring the sacred Shakta sites of Kamakya, Assam with Sakya Trinzin 59:29 - Ian’s first Kaula Tantric initiation 1:03:05 - Meeting a Shakta master and experiencing Siddhis (paranormal powers) 1:05:06 - Extensive physical healing by the Shakta master after Ian’s climbing accident 1:16:05 - Ian’s second Kaula Tantric initiation and Maithuna practice 1:20:11 - Tulku Urgyen and Chatral Rinpoche’s responses to his Kaula experiences 1:23:50 - Ian demonstrates a pranayama drinking practice 1:29:58 - Criticisms of mulabhanda and visualisation practice 1:35:08 - Comparison of Shakta and Tibetan pranayama practices 1:37:46 - Integration of Sahaja and the core practices of Dzogchen 1:41:32 - Comparison of approaches to the pelvic floor in the esoteric traditions 1:49:04 - Female masters and the overlooked roots of Tantric practice 1:52:14 - Ian recommends some recent scholarship ... To find out more about Dr Ian A Baker, visit: - https://www.ianbaker.com/ 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

18 Juni 20211h 59min

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, we pick up David’s story as he emerges from 3 years of closed retreat as a fully qualified Lama, and see his return to America to teach both the Tibetan language and the Buddhist religion. David also recounts many unexpected meetings and powerful mystical experiences with Buddhist masters including Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Anam Thubten Rinpoche, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin, and more. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep99-lama-david-curtis-2-making-of-a-tantric-lama/ Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:45 - Becoming a Lama in the Kagyu tradition 05:12 - Finishing the 3 year retreat and studying Tibetan medicine 09:40 - Meeting Dzogchen master Nyoshul Khen 11:38 - A powerful encounter with Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Vajrayogini 17:53 - Shaktipat & mystical experiences with Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche 25:55 - Return to America and beginning to teach the Tibetan language 32:58 - Collaborations with Anam Thubten Rinpoche and Professor Sarah Harding 36:48 - Encounters with Lama Tharchin and Thinley Norbu Rinpoche 43:23 - Divination and encouragement from Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche 49:11 - Endorsed to teach by Anam Thubten Rinpoche 53:33 - David’s approach to teaching Buddhism 1:00:31 - Founding the Big Sky Mind sangha Previous interviews with Lama David Curtis: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep84-lama-david-curtis-hitchhiking-in-samsara/ 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

11 Juni 20211h 3min

In this interview I am joined by Meido Roshi, Rinzai Zen Abbot of Korinji Monastery, Wisconsin, and author of ‘Hidden Zen: Practices for Sudden Awakening and Embodied Realisation’. In this episode we discuss how childhood existential panic set Meido Roshi on a quest for spiritual meaning, travelling Asia to meet famous meditation masters such as Shri Munindra, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, & Sheng Yen before finally finding a home in the practice of Zen. Meido Roshi details his years of rigorous training, his subsequent awakening, and critiques the shortcomings of today’s American Zen lineages. Meido Roshi reveals the Rinzai Zen principle of ‘Ba’, how to cultivate spiritual charisma and use it to impact others, and offers a comparison of the different flavours of spiritual charisma possessed by the masters that he has met. … https://www.guruviking.com/ep98-meido-roshi-hidden-zen/ 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - Childhood existential panic and religious personality 05:42 - Attraction to the Catholic priesthood 07:27 - Encounters with Anagarika Shri Munindra, Chokyi Nyima, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, & Sheng Yen 10:29 - Meeting Tenzan Toyoda Rokoji, Meido’s first teacher 12:19 - Comparing the spiritual charisma of various enlightened masters 15:37 - Meido Roshi’s view on perennialism 17:46 - Deficiencies and shortcomings of Western Zen 26:18 - Conflation of Zen and psychotherapy 27:48 - What can be changed in Zen? 32:40 - Is Meido Roshi’s critique of American Zen inconsistent with his own modifications to the tradition? 38:00 - Why have the techniques in ‘Hidden Zen’ been unknown by scholars and practitioners? 41:18 - 7 years of intense apprenticeship with Tenzan Toyoda Rokoji 44:02 - How Tenzan Toyoda Rokoji burned through Meido’s cloudiness 47:11 - Acknowledged by Tenzan Toyoda Rokoji 48:27 - Hard training or abuse? 51:42 - Traditional martial arts training 54:19 - 15 years with Hosokawa Roshi 57:05 - Training with So'zan Miller Roshi 59:10 - The progression of the Zen path towards and beyond Kensho 1:04:08 - Profound states of Samadhi + shattering vs distraction 1:07:41 - Prerequisites and obstacles to profound Samadhi 1:10:29 - Individualism and bad habits in meditators 1:14:08 - Spiritual charisma as a teaching tool 1:20:22 - How to train spiritual charisma in Rinzai Zen 1:23:55 - How Meido Roshi uses spiritual charisma with students 1:25:57 - Developing Siddhi and special powers 1:31:23 - Siddhi in Meido Roshi’s teachers 1:34:59 - Meido Roshi’s own Kensho experiences … To find our more about Meido Roshi, visit: - https://www.korinji.org/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

4 Juni 20211h 43min