Ep18: Leigh Brasington - Guru Viking Interviews

In this episode I am joined by Tulku Sherab Dorje, Buddhist teacher, translator, and author of scholarly and popular books about Tibetan Buddhism. Tulku Sherdor recounts his unusual childhood and past-life proclivities, his graduation from Columbia Law School and subsequent elite level law practice, and years of spiritual retreat under masters of Tibetan Buddhist lineages. Tulku Sherdor explores the creative tension between cynicism and devotion, the use of humour in scripture and spiritual teaching, and the importance of reinvesting one’s merit with the inspiration of bodhicitta. Tulku Sherdor also reflects on what it takes to be an effective translator, whether critical scholarship is a threat to religious faith, and the pros and cons of the tulku system from his position as a recognised reincarnation. … Link in bio. Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:34 - Why write about one’s spiritual life? 04:48 - Humour and literary conventions of self-diminishment 06:20 - Self promotion and the marketplace of ideas 08:33 - Cynicism, devotion, and humour in relationship with gurus 11:46 - Buddha’s humour in the sutras 13:53 - Tulku Sherdor’s family background and unusual childhood behaviours 15:20 - Jewish diaspora and resonance with the Tibetan diaspora 17:36 Awakening of existential questioning 18:57 -Child psychologist’s advice to Tulku Sherdor 19:54 - Past life explanation and how to invest your merit 24:24 - How to use your freedoms and advantages 25:22 - Tulku Sherdor expresses gladness about his life’s work 26:52 - Are there dedicated practitioners? 27:49 - Tulku Sherdor’s unique combination of successes 28:53 - Benefits of being a well trained lawyer 29:46 - Important writing lessons learned at Columbia Law School and during law career 32:59 - Hypercriticism of other translators 34:00 - Serving the lineage with high standards 35:44 - Praise for Erik Pema Kunsang and Thinley Norbu 38:11 - Advice for writers and translators 41:12 - Dual-language immersion 42:23 - Translator disillusionment and historical perspective 46:46 - Cultural naivety and the published word 48:41 - Is critical scholarship a threat to sacred texts and religious faith? 53:16 - Advice about how to learn Tibetan 55:31 - Pros and cons of training at Harvard University and the Rangjung Yeshe Institute 56:46 - Advice for graduates of elite academic programs 01:00:39 - Sanskrit and Chinese 01:02:33 - The Amazon monster and Tulku Sherdor’s books 01:05:10 - Remembering past lives 01:08:44 - Carrying qualities into your next life 01:09:15 - Tulku Sherdor reflects on his childhood Dharmic tendencies 01:10:55 - Being a tulku 01:14:21 - Tulku Sherdor reflects on the tulku system 01:15:58 - Concluding remarks 
… To find our more about Tulku Sherdor, visit: - https://blazingwisdom.org/tulku-sherab-dorje/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

18 Okt 20241h 17min

In this episode I am once again joined by Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and executive director of Saraswati Bhawan Publications. Khandro Kunzang details her apprenticeship in Nepal under renowned ngakpa Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche, outlines the course of her training from yidam practice to tummo and beyond, and reflects on the profound trust involved in the guru-disciple dynamic. Khandro Kunzang shares stories about Kunzang Dorje’s psychic powers, his testing the honesty and obedience of potential students and even other lamas, and the price he paid for adhering to his yogic ideals by refusing involvement in politics and religious institutions. Khandro Kunzang explains the value of a close relationship with a guru, what it takes to be a worthy student to a spiritual master, and considers the differences between those who teach dharma with or without lineage authority. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep275-i-was-a-tantric-disciple-khandro-kunzang-dechen-chodron-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:06 - Finding the guru 02:08 - US Tour with Lama Dawa 06:13 - Personal time and teachings with Lama Dawa 08:08 - Insistence on ngondro 09:16 - Proposing a consort relationship 14:23 - Meeting Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche in Nepal 16:46 - Past life test 20:48 - Receiving Dudjom Tersar 3 Roots Empowerment 22:00 - Challenged to drink alcohol as a nun 24:41 - Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche agrees to become Khandro’s teacher 25:23 - Further ngondro and 6 month retreat 27:01 - Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche’s clairvoyance and psychic powers 28:51 - How Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche tested seekers and students 30:29 - Exposing infidelity between a student and lama 31:23 - The importance of honesty and trust 32:23 - A pride offering 34:13 - Follow-through and other conditions of samaya 36:40 - A disobedient student 38:28 - Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche’s attitude towards high lamas 40:51 - The price of purity 42:52 - Exploitation of Westerners 44:15 - Ngakpas don’t form groups 45:20 - Faith in the guru 47:03 - Challenged by Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche 49:11 - Arguing with Lama Dawa 50:09 - The value of having a close relationship with a teacher 52:12 - Wrathful teaching vs abuse 53:57 - 2 dimensions of mentorship 55:08 - Motivation and lama wannabes 57:29 - Critique of bad lamas who come to the West 59:20 - What makes a real student? 01:00:27 - Importance of work ethic and personal sacrifice 01:02:30 - Self interest and hidden agendas 01:04:14 - Who is authorised to teach the lineage? 01:07:07 - Selecting a lineage holder 01:08:37 - Different levels of teacher 01:10:02 - The burden of being enthroned 01:12:56 - Khandro details her training under Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche 01:14:28 - Generation stage for ḍākinī, lama, and yidam 01:16:02 - Tummo and completion stage practices 01:19:40 - Rare pipe practice 01:23:23 - Private and public enthronements 01:25:28 - Further completion stage practices and Vajrakīlāya 
… Previous episode with Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep268-sitting-with-terror-khandro-kunzang-dechen-chodron To find our more about Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, visit: - https://www.phurbathinleyling.org/khandro-kunzang/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

11 Okt 20241h 29min

In this episode I host a dialogue between Henry Shukman, British poet, Zen teacher, and author of ‘One Blade of Grass; a Zen memoir’; and John Brehm, American poet and author of ‘The Dharma of Poetry’. Henry and John share the story of their formations as poets, compare the similarities as well as the marked differences in their backgrounds, and reveal the powerful forces that inspire the creative process. Henry and John discuss the purpose and process of writing poetry, reflect on poetry as a means of contact with the sacred, and contrast the richness of poetry with attentional practices such as mindfulness and Zen. Henry and John also perform and discuss several of their poems, including “Walk the Talk”, “Swifts”, “Yahrzeit”, and “Finis Ter”. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep274-poetry-the-sacred-henry-shukman-john-brehm Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - Henry’s early interest in poetry 03:45 - Poetry and spiritual practice 06:04 - What is it to be alive? 06:30 - Searching for the charge 06:51 - First profound experience of writing poetry 08:17 - Poetry that awakes 09:25 - John’s unliterary family background 12:00 - John’s psychedelic experiences in the 1970s 13:23 - Poetry as a way to evoke luminosity 14:37 - Contact with the sacred 15:11 - Henry reflects on John’s early life 15:57 - Henry’s unusual parents 17:23 - Inner freedom and childhood trauma 18:01 - Imagist and Tang dynasty poets 20:08 - The Beat poet and a different way of living 20:54 - Intimacy and rediscovering landscape 22:26 - Seeing beauty in the ordinary and discarded 24:41 - It’s about quality of attention 26:01 - Attracted to the neglected 29:25 - The curse of being a public poet 30:09 - No allies and no encouragement 32:01 - John’s first poetry teacher 33:08 - The audience 34:40 - Poetry only works without purpose 35:32 - Recognising the false note 36:54 - Henry’s process of composition and revision 38:24 - Great poets of the past as audience 39:43 - A R Ammons an writing for an audience 40:20 - Henry’s dream for his poetry 41:52 - The chore of mindfulness 43:09 - Remembering your True Self 43:31 - The sacred pause 44:28 - Temporary enlightenment 45:31 - Poetry is richer than mindfulness 47:28 - Beauty beyond mere mindfulness 49:28- Focusing on what you love 49:59 - Using language to go beyond language 50:54 - Autopoiesis and memetic fulfilment 53:25 - Poet as conduit 55:32 - Radical awakening 57:00 - Banishing the beautiful 58:13 - Seamus Heaney on poetry as redress 59:24 - Collective awakening of consciousness 01:00:20 - Reciprocity and post-medieval alienation 01:01:20 - Hospicing modernity 01:02:30 - Why publish poems? 01:04:27 - John reads “Walk the Talk” 01:06:03 - Reflecting on success as poets 01:09:08 - John reads “Swifts” 01:12:48 - Henry reads “Yahrzeit” 01:18:22 - Henry reads “Finis Ter” 01:19:26 - Appreciation and gratitude 
… Previous episodes with Henry Shukman: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=shukman 
 Previous episode with John Brehm: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep230-the-dharma-of-poetry-john-brehm … Find out more about Henry Shukman: - https://henryshukman.com/ - http://thewayapp.com/ Find out more about John Brehm: - https://www.johnbrehmpoet.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

4 Okt 20241h 21min

In this interview I am once again joined by Dr Ben Joffe, anthropologist and scholar practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. Dr Joffe leads a deep dive into the Western magickal tradition of spirit conjuration, traces their diverse forms through the centuries, and considers the range of beings described, from the land sprites of localised traditions to the high angels of the Enochian system of Renaissance polymath John Dee. Dr Joffe reflects on the origin and changing usage of terms such as “demon” and “devil”, laments the prevalence of dangerously lax invocation practices, considers the cultural impact of the grimoire tradition, compares the systems of demonology found in world religions, and notes striking similarities between Buddhist tantric mystic Padmasambhava and King Solomon. Dr Joffe also shares his own occult experiences including tales of spirit contact, servitor creation, dream visitations from the recently deceased, and ritual workings in several magickal systems. ... Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:12 - Western Esotericism 04:42 - Spirit conjuration and the grimoire tradition 05:49 - Analysing spirit conjuration tropes in horror movies 09:46 - Diverse magical practice 10:51 - Professor Ronald Hutton’s history of Western Esotericism 12:05 - History of spirit conjuration from Ancient Egypt to today 14:49 - Mesopotamian laws against witchcraft 16:08 - The status of magick in the Abrahamic traditions 16:58 - Clerical underground of wizards 18:20 - Literacy and the power of a magickal book 21:03 - Prioritising of the book and of language itself 23:08 - Gathering one’s magickal tools 25:00 - Preparation is key 26:20 - Do spirits find humans repulsive? 30:29 - Self-purification and strategies for self-deification 31:24 - Similarities between Padmasambhava and King Solomon 32:43 - Dzamling Chi Sang and subjugating spirits 33:41 - The Testament of Solomon and subduing spirits 35:34 - Magick and frat-boy fantasy 37:47 - John Dee and the quest for knowledge 39:40 - Christian ceremonial magick and Jesus as a sorcerer 41:55 - Pre-Christian Pagan European spirit traditions 43:09 - Magick vs religion 45:12 - Hamlet and old spirit frameworks 48:03 - Arguments for and against the grimoire tradition 53:56 - Cultural impact of the grimoire tradition 56:05 - Wisdom of the past 58:33 - Different types of spirits and supernatural beings 01:02:33 - Muslim views of Iblīs (the devil) and djinn. 01:04:22 - Evil spirits in Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism 01:06:01 - Different ideas of the Devil 01:07:17 - What is a demon? 01:07:50 - Lazy demonology 01:15:05 - The perspective of nondual Tibetan tantra 01:18:31 - Limitations of dualistic cosmology 01:20:56 - Angels and pre-modern Christian views 01:25:03 - Why demons are useful for practical magick 01:27:47 - Ben’s personal reflections on working with spirits 01:31:17 - Rites of passage and creating servitors 01:33:00 - Ben explains the Goetia 01:34:16 - Ben reflects on his magickal career 01:36:45 - Summoning spirits at 12 years old 01:43:11 - ADHD approach to magick 01:44:09 - Ben recalls powerful, unexpected spirit contacts 02:00:51 Group corroboration 02:02:17 -Dream visitations from the recently deceased 02:04:56 - Are these experiences real? 02:07:30 - The social aspects of magickal practice 02:10:48 - Ben’s relationship with an invented spirit 02:15:42 - Wyatt the servitor 02:21:02 - Models of magick and questions of purity 02:29:09 - The two wolves inside of Ben 02:31:25 - Universal principles or relative frames? 02:34:33 - Artisanal magick and honing attention 02:36:18 - Is magickal training reliable? 
… Previous episodes with Dr Ben Joffe: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=joffe To find out more about Dr Ben Joffe, visit: - https://perfumedskull.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

27 Sep 20242h 39min

In this episode I am joined by Dr. William Rory Dickson an associate professor of Islamic Religion and Culture at The University of Winnipeg and author of “Dissolving into Being: The Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy”. Professor Dickson recalls his Christian upbringing, teenage atheism, and how powerful psychedelic experiences saw him embark on a religious search. Professor Dickson recounts his initial explorations of Tibetan Buddhism, his conversion to Islam, and how his dissatisfaction with conservative and Salafi revivalist trends saw him embrace the Sufi path. Professor Dickson also explains the history of Sufism; considers the influence of Ancient Egyptian, Persian, and Neo-Platonic thought; reflects on the role of language proficiency in the study of religions; and addresses common misconceptions about Sufism and Islam. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep272-mystical-path-of-sufism-professor-william-rory-dickson Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Upcoming book 01:42 - Religious upbringing 03:39 - Becoming a precocious atheist 04:36 - Late teen mystical experiences 05:29 - Rebellious teen years and interest in Japan 06:29 - Working as a social worker in child protection 07:57 - Drawn to academia 08:29 - Returning to graduate school in late 20s 09:58 - Becoming a professor 11:02 - Psychedelics as spiritual doorways 13:10 - Lessons from trauma 14:24 - Spiritual reading and engaging with Tibetan Buddhism 17:42 - Passion for reading 18:42 - From Tibetan Buddhism to Islam 20:44 - Dissatisfaction with local mosque Islam 22:50 - Friends and family reactions to conversion to Islam 23:52 - Involvement with Salafi Muslim revivalist movements 24:53 - First flush of fundamentalism 26:26 - Burning out, renewed spiritual exploration, and seeking a teacher 28:37 - Meeting Ngak’chang Rinpoche of the Aro gTer 31:32 - Gradual or sudden conversion to Islam? 32:23 - The role of Arabic language study 35:05 - Is source language study necessary to really understand and practice religions? 37:08 - Three idiots on an island 38:04 - Language skills and scholarship 40:21 - Decay of language skills in academia 41:59 - Shift from textual study to lived religion 44:56 - Elite vs popular Sufism 47:44 - Common misconceptions about Sufism and Islam 49:53 - Rich mystical philosophy and the post-colonial dilemma 51:17 - Meeting Sufi teachers and the question of Islamic identity 53:26 - Origin story of Sufism 57:515 - Historical perspective of Sufism and connections to Ancient Egypt, Neo-Platonism, and Persia 58:35 - Enoch as a progenitor of the mystical tradition 59:51 - Inner circle perspective 01:00:52 - Evolution and methods of Sufism 01:03:43 - Diversity of Sufi forms through cultural adaptation 01:06:28 - Ibn ‘Arabi 01:07:58 - Methods and metaphors 01:09:11 - Overwhelmed by the visceral presence of love 
… To find our more about Professor William Rory Dickson, visit: - https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/experts-guide/william-rory-dickson.html … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

20 Sep 20241h 11min

In this episode, I host a dialogue between Brad Warner, Zen teacher, Youtuber, and best-selling author of “Hardcore Zen”; and Shozan Jack Haubner, ex-Zen Monk, Youtuber, and prize winning author of the memoir “Zen Confidential: Confessions of a Wayward Monk”. Brad and Jack explore their own journeys as writers, the humorous and confessional elements in their work, and the complications of writing about real life events that involve other people. Brad and Jack reflect on what they see as the politicisation of American Zen, describe how religious institutions can compromise their principles when faced with financial and political pressure, and explain their own efforts on Youtube and elsewhere to challenge hegemony and encourage a return to essential Zen. Brad and Jack also discuss facing criticism as public figures, consider some of their more controversial videos and views, and reveal how they stay centred amidst the polarising forces of today’s internet and social media world. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep271-zen-confessions-brad-warner-shozan-jack-haubner Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:10 - Radical self disclosure 02:49 - Why Brad began writing about Zen 05:59 - Hardcore Zen and success 06:48 - Noah Levine’s Dharma Punx 07:50 - Jack’s initial Zen writing 10:43 - Complications of being ordained 12:34 - When people find out 13:40 - Protecting others’ identity 16:29 - Compromise thru affiliation with Zen organisations 18:08 - Selling meditation as a product 21:03 - Austrian Zen and hard retreat 22:44 - Mainstream mindfulness 23:37 - Wearing Zen robes 24:55 - Why Brad stopped teaching in the USA 25:45 - Hostility in NYC 27:50 - Zen apprenticeship and closing the doors 30:53 - Boomer hippy ideals vs real Zen 31:45 - US Zen hegemony 35:11 - Politicised Zen and 80s televangelists 36:20 - Bullying and fixed views 37:25 - Sasaki Roshi’s scandal and encounters with boutique Zen teachers 39:02 - Politicisation of US Zen 41:07 - Financial pressure and running an institution 44:59 - Brad on Sasaki Roshi 47:16 - Sweeping Zen 48:08 - Challenging socio-political trends in American Zen 50:08 - Hijacking Zen 56:06 - The Jack Kornfield problem 59:20 - Attacked from both sides 01:01:16 - Right wing Zen 01:03:54 - Demonising the other side and facing your shadow 01:09:40 - Abuse and pushing your buttons 01:12:10 - Being too nice 01:13:28 - Self-justification 01:14:57 - Co-opting Zen 01:16:09 - Sasaki beats a lazy student 01:19:06 - The danger of Zen practice 01:23:06 - Patron priest corruption 01:24:58 - Dealing with negative feedback on social media 01:33:24 - Internet radicalisation and keeping your head 01:38:52 - Watching your equilibrium 01:39:49 - Jordan Peterson vs Zen 01:43:07 - Teachings vs entertainment 01:46:00 - Why Rinzai is evil and Soto sucks Previous episode with Brad Warner: - www.guruviking.com/podcast/155-hardcore-zen-brad-warner Previous episodes with Shozan Jack Haubner: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=haubner … To find out more about Brad Warner, visit: - http://hardcorezen.info/ - https://www.youtube.com/c/HardcoreZen To find our more about Shozan Jack Haubner, visit: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt9Q74t3o7AUCJ_bKTc5CgA … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

13 Sep 20241h 48min

In this episode, filmed on location in Kathmandu, Nepal, I am joined by Jina Kusala, originally from Norway and now a wandering Theravada monk. Jina tells the story of his traumatic childhood, the mental suffering and instability it caused, and how the Buddhist path provided a means to reckon with the pain. Jina shares encounters with religious leaders such as Mingyur Rinpoche, recounts meeting previous podcast guest Bhante Jason and reflects on the profound time he spent under Bhante’s instruction. Jina recalls his Himalayan wanderings and cave retreats, discusses the power of the 4 foundations of mindfulness, details the differences between Hīnayāna and Vajrayāna realisations, and explains why with incremental progress one may aim for sainthood. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep270-wandering-monk-jina-kusala Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - Background and recent travels in the Himalayas 01:40 - How to work with hardship 03:09 - Upbringing in Norway and traumatic childhood 04:30 - Healing trauma 06:21 - Redeeming trauma and helping others 07:42 - Chasing satisfaction 10:22 - Finishing high school and seeking 13:25 - Discerning the wholesome vs unwholesome 14:46 - First encounter with Buddhism in Norway 15:44 - Travel to Sri Lanka and attempts at meditation 17:17 - Jina suggests a location change 17:57 - Meeting Bhante Jason 19:19 - Sophisticated use of the 4 Foundations of Mindfulness 22:46 - Entering the 4 jhānas, clearing emotional blockages, 23:34 - Mechanism of gaining insight 24:31 - The Buddhist path in brief 24:59 - 3 kinds of delusion 25:35 - The 4 noble truths 29:14 - When the mind lets go 31:55 - Leaving Bhante Jason’s hermitage 35:21 - Making Jina’s broken mind functional 38:25 - A scripture parade 38:45 - A period of chaos and profound uncertainty 40:05- Stabilising and improvement of functionality 40:59 - Interpersonal difficulties and wounds of mistrust 42:52 - Manifestation of unprocessed trauma 43:55 - Becoming a cure for trauma 44:53 - Himalayan Buddhism as Jungian shadow work 45:49 - Jina’s karmic background with Himalayan Buddhism 47:02 - Differences between the realisations of early vs later Buddhist forms 49:16 - Formless states vs true nirvāṇa 52:25 - A private meeting with Mingyur Rinpoche and 5 month retreat in caves 54:40 - Plans for India 55:21 - Reflections on the wandering life 57:05 - Developing intuition and accessing the magical mind 58:59 - Reflections on the path, meaning, and ennobling character 01:00:43 - Learning from your mistakes 01:02:29 - Incremental improvement 01:02:32 - Aiming for sainthood … Kathmandu Interviews playlist: - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknwvU82dU487LhF_mF4AkGek&si=gFGJpi-fnLtxeyZ5 Previous Episode with Bhante Jason: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep12-bhante-jason-guru-viking-interviews … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ and ‘Meditation’ by Steve James

6 Sep 20241h 3min

In this episode I am once again joined by Damo Mitchell author, teacher, and student of the internal arts of Asia including Tai Chi and Daoist Inner Alchemy. Damo draws on his background in the qi arts, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Western psychology to reveal the causes and symptoms of various types of qi and meditation related problems, including dragon sickness, nihilism and depression, scorched nervous system, entity possession, and more. Damo explains the two most common triggers for qi illnesses, expresses warnings about working with spirits and reservations about tantric practices of deity and guru yoga, and differentiates true meditation from mere mental cultivation. Damo shares his own spiritual encounters, considers whether or not it is wise to explain mystical experiences to students, and offers recommendations for those facing energetic or existential upset. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:03 - Damo comments on Dr Willoughby Britton’s work 03:04 - Is meditation dangerous? 04:31 - Mediation vs qigong illnesses 06:15 - The illness threshold 07:06 - Why qigong illnesses are common 07:38 - Hunting sensation and hyper-stimulation of the nervous system 11:12 - Releasing the nerves 11:45 - Teachers who disclose vs those who withhold 1534 - Making progress or losing ground? 19:19 - Combining Eastern and Western psychological methods 23:00 - Meditation vs mere mental work 26:27 - Fascination with one’s own psychology 27:12 - Damo’s definition of mental illness 28:07 - Is mental work a preliminary to or distraction from meditation? 30:39 - Chinese terms for meditation vs mental work 32:23 - Comparisons with Patanjali’s 8 limbs of yoga 34:10 - Identity attachment 34:55 - Why teaching hurts your training 35:55 - Freedom vs negligence as a teacher 38:01 - Psychiatry vs traditional medical and religious models 41:03 - Two common triggers for qi deviations 42:34 - The dangers of going inside 43:32 - Qi side effects 44:14 - Advice for qigong teachers 45:19 - Scorching the nervous system 46:37 - Dragon sickness 47:43 - A case of dragon sickness that ended in suicide 50:04 - 5 types of qigong illness 51:38 - Entering into fire to encourage demons 52:39 - Nihilism from meditation 53:05 - Poison fire infecting the heart 54:19 - Criticism of sexual practice 58:06 - Contamination of the heart mind 01:00:25 - Love in the spiritual arts 01:01:49 - Demon possession or psychological disorder? 01:03:51 - How entity possession happens 01:06:27 - Lighting up the body 01:07:22 - A story about possession 01:08:58 - Seeking contact with entities through Falun Gong and tantra 01:11:56 - Don’t trust spirits 01:15:07 - Evolution away from shamanism 01:17:15 - Tulkus, dead gurus, and terma 01:20:05 - The cult of Avalokiteśvara and the Dalai Lama 01:21:07 - Risks associated with contacting ascended masters 01:23:42 - Reflections on deity yoga 01:25:15 - Quan Yin worship and personification of deities 01:27:52 - Premature ejaculation and sexual imbalances 01:31:36 - Damo’s mystical experience in a Bhutanese temple 01:35:19 - Questioning one’s own position 01:36:39 - Kundalini syndrome vs qi sickness 01:38:40 - What is kundalini syndrome? 01:39:55 - Commenting on Gopi Krishna’s kundalini account 01:41:26 - Karmic illnesses 01:43:39 - Pilgrimage and confession 01:44:30 - How to fix qi deviations 01:46:28 - Complicated cases and overpowering the incorrect patterns 01:47:22 - How extreme cases develop 01:48:43 - Scaremongering and the value of lineage 01:52:02 - Combining psychedelics with qigong practices 01:55:24 - Potency and risk … Previous episode with Damo Mitchell: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep174-daoist-inner-alchemy-damo-mitchell To find out more about Damo Mitchell, visit: - https://damomitchell.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

30 Aug 20241h 56min