Ep18: Leigh Brasington - Guru Viking Interviews

In this episode I am joined by Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and executive director of Saraswati Bhawan Publications. Khandro Kunzang recalls her childhood samadhi experiences and communications with animal spirits, her meetings with great gurus, and her own path of mystical experiences. Khandro Kunzang recounts stories about Lama Dawa and Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche including tales of mirror divination, precognitive dreams, chulen mastery, and other yogic feats. Khandro Kunzang also explains how to work with terror and collapse of the Self, how to hold a place in one’s practice for uncertainty, and the importance of the student’s capacity when working with a guru. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep268-sitting-with-terror-khandro-kunzang-dechen-chodron Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:52 - Early life and connection to nature 03:06 - Exposure to Eastern religion and samadhi experiences 05:38 - Powerful experience with a Buddha statue at 14 years old 08:07 - Initial Buddhist seeking 09:44 - Involvement in New Age 10:03 - Transformative resonance with Yeshe Tsogyal’s biography 12:42 - Collapse of the Self structure 14:11 - Active Buddhist involvement 16:31 - Taking refuge and life falling apart 18:34 - All in for Dharma 20:29 - Meeting Lama Dawa and open discussion of the spirit realm 26:29 - Karmic affinity with Lama Dawa 28:16 - Invitation to meet Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche 29:59 - Accompanying Lama Dawa on a 9 month tour 33:10 - The influence of Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo 34:10 - Childhood communication with nature spirits and interest in environmental activism 38:20 - Dreams of guardian angel / dharma protector 40:42 - Feelings of alienation and other awakening experiences 44:58 - Past life as a Kagyu retreat master 47:00 - New Age interpretations 50:17 - Time as a sound healer 53:00 - More than mere appearances 54:13 - Trauma and the subtle body 55:52 - Lama Dawa’s yogic emphasis on experience 58:42 - Lama Dawa’s criticisms of scholars 59:55 - Bad death of a geshe 01:00:29 - Lama Dawa’s skill in debate 01:02:06 - Disillusionment with scholarship and social status 01:03:25 - Using the body to process trauma and “stuff” on retreat 01:05:21 - Intense experiences on retreat 01:07:18 - Discipline and music 01:09:08 - Constructive criticism and student capacity 01:11:27 - History of Lama Dawa and Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche 01:18:40 - Mastery of stone chulen and other yogic feats 01:23:12 - Mirror divination and other prognostication 01:31:21 - Living with a collapsed Self 01:33:16 - Sitting with terror and holding the place for uncertainty 01:36:14 - Working with the edge 
… 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

23 Aug 20241h 41min

In this episode I am joined by Gilbert M Gutierrez, Chan Buddhism teacher and a dharma heir of Master Sheng Yen. Gilbert recounts his early childhood mystical and meditation experiences, his deep-dive into closed-door internal martial arts and nei gong systems, and the special abilities he both witnessed and unlocked. Gilbert describes the unusual circumstances leading up to meeting Taiwanese Chan master Master Sheng Yen, and how an arduous meditation retreat and a powerful encounter with Quan Yin changed his life forever. Gilbert also discusses exorcisms, ghosts, and vexing spirits, and tells stories of the pitfalls of using spiritual healing to sustain terminally ill patients. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep267-american-chan-master-gilbertm-gutierrez Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:52 - Childhood bardo memories 03:28 - Early meditation experiences 06:05 - A “roaming” Catholic and asking questions 10:26 - Studies at UCLA 11:37 - Studying closed-door martial arts systems 12:44 - Chinese master vs Japanese karateka 15:23 - Things are not as they appear 17:45 - Visionary experiences across time 19:37 - Nāgārjuna’s refutation of time and space 20:32 - True meaning of “no thought” 24:27 - The first level of Chan practice 25:53 - Nei gong studies and building chi 29:07 - Developing Wu Nien and related abilities 33:13 - Demonstrating abilities 34:52 - Meeting a qigong master and becoming his successor 39:52 - Healing abilities of the master 42:32 - Meeting masters and cracking the code 44:15 - Asking why we practice 45:33 - The dangers of using entities to empower your practice 50:39 - Meeting Master Sheng Yen 54:01 - Master Sheng Yen psychically anticipates meet Gilbert 58:59 - Suffering at first retreat with Master Sheng Yen 01:02:44 - Prostrating to Quan Yin and finding life’s purpose 01:06:37 - Metta, Karuna, and Henry Shukman 01:08:44 - Unconditional compassion 01:11:21 - True meaning of the Heart Sutra 01:18:45 - Moving from qigong to Chan 01:25:57 - Exorcisms, ghosts, and vexing spirits 01:29:42 - Buddha-perception and seeing other realms 01:31:10 - How do the Buddhas see the world? 01:35:33 - A vision of Quan Yin 
… To find our more about Gilbert M Gutierrez, visit: - https://www.youtube.com/@chanmindwork/playlists  - https://mind-work.mn.co/   - https://riversidechan.org/    … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

16 Aug 20241h 37min

In this episode, I host a dialogue between Guo Gu, Chan Buddhist teacher and scholar and author of ‘Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening’, and Meido Roshi, Rinzai Zen Abbot of Korinji Monastery and author of ‘Hidden Zen: Practices for Sudden Awakening and Embodied Realisation’. Guo Gu and Meido Roshi reflect on their long friendship, recall their first meeting in 1989 at a meditation retreat led by Master Sheng Yen, and extol the virtues of dharma friendship. They challenge common misconceptions about awakening, explain how to train the body in Chan and Zen practice, and reveal the suprising results of an integrated body-mind. They also describe the enlightened field of a true master, the power of being close to one’s teacher, and how to master energy, time, and space. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep266-meeting-of-masters-guo-gu-meido-roshi Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - Meido and Guo Gu reflect on their friendship since 1989 08:20 - What is a dharma friend? 11:36 - Sharing experiences in Chan vs Zen 14:28 - Half baked experiences and marking history 16:25 - Keeping a practice journal 20:16 - Dreaming about Master Sheng Yen 24:30 - Developing as a teacher 28:30 - Embodying the master 31:04 - Master Sheng Yen’s sharp humour and private sarcasm 34:01 - Face to face training and being an attendant 35:55 - Drawbacks of online training 39:22 - The teacher as friend 41:46 - Dharma projections 43:16 - The resonant field of a master 47:42 - Embodied practice and interdependence of being 51:47 - The power of the retreat container 52:39 - The silent influence of one’s practice 57:33 - Learned bodily aptitude 58:39 - How to train the body 01:01:44 - Content and clear 01:04:32 - Mastering energy, time, and space 01:06:57 - Everyone is different 01:09:33 - The body-supporting experience 01:10:46 - Working with injuries 01:13:47 - Zazen emerges organically 01:15:20 - How to use the teacher’s influence 01:17:09 - Learning to let go 01:20:39 - “Put it down” 01:25:40 - Delusion is baked into the body 01:31:24 - Mind and body conditioning 01:34:20 - Solving problems 01:36:40 - Integrating the body-mind 01:30:01 - The entire universe is the true human body 01:38:30 - Putting down awakening 01:39:11 - Effort vs allowing 01:40:47 - Concluding remarks Previous episodes with Guo Gu: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=guo Previous episode with Meido Roshi: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep98-meido-roshi-hidden-zen … To find out more about Guo Gu, visit: - https://guogulaoshi.com/ To find our more about Meido Roshi, visit: - https://www.korinji.org/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

9 Aug 20241h 45min

In this episode I am joined by Duncan Barford, occult practitioner, counsellor, and author of ‘Occult Experiments in the Home’. Duncan discusses his own journey into the occult including reality-bending experiments with Chaos Magick, invocation of his holy guardian angel, identifying and relating to entities, and meeting his long-time collaborator, the magician and spiritual teacher Alan Chapman. Duncan recalls his first encounter with Daniel Ingram’s “Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha”. He explains how he combined Daniel’s approach with Western occult methods and rituals to attain arhatship for himself. Duncan declared his enlightenment on the internet and began teaching awakening in a short-lived venture called “Open Enlightenment”. Duncan reflects on the strongly negative reactions that both his declaration and teaching project received. Duncan also comments on demonic affliction, both his own experiences as well as those of recent podcast guest Mattias Daly, the influence of social class and geographic location, navigating kundalini crisis, the intersection of mysticism and magick. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep265-occult-experiments-duncan-barford Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:19 - Occult experiments in the home 02:38 - Duncan comments on Mattias Daly’s demonic affliction 04:34 - Demonic or kundalini awakening? 06:27 - - Duncan’s own kundalini crisis 08:44 - Seeking guidance from Tara Springett 11:39 - Identifying entities 14:19 - Duncan’s specialism in counselling those having unusual occult experiences 17:05 - Finding the best paradigm 19:38 - Does Duncan prescribe magickal practice? 21:50 - Spirituality vs everyday life 24:42 - Meeting Alan Chapman and sustained interest in the occult 26:59 - Invocation of the Holy Guardian Angel 27:57 - Encountering Daniel Ingram and bringing awakening back to magick 30:31 - Duncan’s childhood interest in the supernatural and strange 33:13 - Gothic horror and psychoanalysis 33:52 - Beginning to explore magickal practice 35:03 - Moving from intellect to feeling and emotion 36:32 - Abandoning a PhD, meditation frustration, and life crisis 44:12 - Encountering Chaos Magick and leaning to bend reality 46:26 - Envy of Daniel Ingram and reception in the Chaos Magick community 49:40 - Are mysticism and spirituality compatible with magick? 51:09 - Using magick to induce mystical experiences 52:44 - Declaring arhatship and attaining the four paths 57:45 - Powerful experience with Andrew Cohen 01:01:43 - Advice from Christopher Titmuss 01:03:50 - Dreaming of Gary Numan 01:05:25 - Is arhatship the end of enlightenment? 01:07:09 - Duncan asks Steve’s opinion 01:09:07 - Did Duncan and Alan keep pace in their awakening path? 01:10:03 - The 3 doors and awakening with visions 01:13:39 - Fire kasina retreat with Daniel Ingram 01:16:26 - Why did Duncan declare arhatship? 01:17:59 - Ego inflation through magickal practice 01:19:08 - Negative responses to declaration of enlightenment 01:19:54 - Failure of Open Enlightenment and the compulsion to share one’s awakening 01:24:49 - Is UK conducive to spiritual and magickal work? 01:27:27 - Reflections on being working class 01:28:33 - Travellers vs locals 01:29:15 - Comments on the spectrum of entities 01:31:09 - Discount code for the Baptist Head Compendium 
… To find our more about Duncan Barford, visit: - https://www.duncanbarford.uk/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

2 Aug 20241h 32min

In this episode, filmed on location in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, I am joined by Naljorma Tsül'dzin, an internationally acclaimed performance artist and ordained apprentice in the Aro gTer sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsül'dzin recalls her childhood in rural Ireland, early cultural and occult explorations, substance abuse and recovery, and her international career as a performance artist under the name “Kira O’Reilly”. Tsül'dzin traces her history with the Aro gTer sect of Tibetan Buddhism, from first encounter to full ordination, reveals her religious robes and the reactions they provoke, and explains her ongoing fascination with the Great Stupa in Kathmandu. Tsül'dzin also considers the intersection of art and religious expression, the tension between practice and performance, ritual and spectacle, and reflects on her long-standing work with Serbian conceptual and performance artist Marina Abramović. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep264-vajrayana-performance-art-naljorma-tsldzin Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - Inspiring example of Jomo Samphel Dechen Rinpoche 06:30 - Working with body and physicality as a practitioner 09:34 - Childhood in Catholic rural Ireland 11:55 - The 80s goth scene 12:43 - Linda Montano’s insight on Tsül'dzin and subcultures 14:07 - Occult explorations 15:09 - Substance abuse and entering recovery 16:29 - Studying fine art at university 17:36 - Encountering the Aro gTer Buddhist sect 20:22 - Group practice format in the Aro gTer 22:44 - Attraction to the Aro gTer 23:37 - Internationally acclaimed performance art career 29:08 - Deepening Buddhist practice 30:47 - Ordination and Kathmandu 31:28 - Performance art and religious ritual 32:50 - Meeting Marina Abramović 35:25 - The Golden Bough and ritual as performance art 36:16 - Working with Marina Abramović 37:50 - Performing at Marina Abramović’ recent London retrospective at the Royal Academy of Art 39:16 - West/East influence 41:34 - Marina Abramović as a teacher 43:45 - Wearing religious robes 44:48 - Conversations arising from wearing robes in public 47:08 - Explaining the colour scheme 49:56 - Robes and participation 53:00 - Fasting and preparing for the 12-day Royal Academy performance 57:41 - Street Dog Care 58:43 - Reflecting on spiritual experiences 01:00:20 - Time and space 01:02:27 - Why spend so much time in Boudha? 01:06:22 - Practice vs spectacle 01:07:15 - Prostrations 01:08:08 - Art and the Aro gTer 01:09:44 - Secular vs religious art 01:12:04 - Disappointment with Western Buddhist art 01:14:08 - Recommendations for when visiting Boudha 01:14:36 - How to have impromptu conversations … Boudhanath Interviews playlist: - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknwvU82dU487LhF_mF4AkGek&si=gFGJpi-fnLtxeyZ5 
… To find our more about Naljorma Tsül'dzin, visit: - https://www.instagram.com/naljormatsuldzin/ - https://www.kiraoreilly.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

26 Juli 20241h 15min

In this episode I am once again joined by Mattias Daly, Taoist practitioner and translator of ‘Taoist Inner Alchemy’, published by Shambala. Mattias tells the story of his affliction by a malevolent entity, a demon attached to his ancestral line for generations. Mattias details the progression of his symptoms and his terror as the being began to take deeper hold on his body and mind. Mattias recounts several attempts at exorcism, working with ritualists from Taoist, Catholic, Tibetan Buddhist, Spiritualist, and Māori traditions in increasingly desperate attempts to rid himself of the entity. Mattias also explains various theories of demonology, the steps he now takes to avoid contact with such forces, and reveals the surprising reasons why he is sharing his story now, for the first time in public. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep263-possessed-by-a-demon-mattias-daly-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - Arriving in New Zealand 03:49 - Searching for a mentor 04:23 - Intense and unusual spontaneous meditation experiences 11:48 - Teacher’s advice 13:02 - Extreme experiences reach a crescendo 14:54 - Martial movements and speaking in tongues 17:34 - Self healing powers 20:26 - Meeting a new Qi Gong teacher 26:01 - Lead up to the exorcism 35:06 - Exorcism #1: Taoist 37:33 - Failure of the exorcism 42:06 - Exorcism #2: Catholic 50:18 - Challenge to Mattias’ materialistic world view 55:03 - Return to meditation practice and involvement with Tibetan Buddhism 58:38 - The demon returns 01:02:13 - Teacher advises to stop practice 01:04:37 - Exorcism #3: Tibetan Buddhist 01:09:26 - Demon breaks through and takes possession of Mattias 01:13:33 - A deeper level of possession 01:15:47 - Isolation and worsening symptoms 01:20:20 - Exorcism #4: Spiritualism 01:24:14 - Fear of full possession 01:25:35 - Exorcism #5: Māori 01:38:06 - Māori tohunga’s explanation of the exorcism 01:49:03 - Origin of the demon and ancestral ties 01:50:54 - Why did the demon try to take possession of Mattias? 01:54:11 - Care and safety around malevolent entities 01:59:19 - Contact with other entities 01:59:48 - Should you learn exorcism? 02:02:23 - Sleep schedule and dreams 02:03:16 - Chinese demonology 02:07:15 - Ghost sightings 02:10:38 - Why is Mattias sharing this story now? … Watch the previous episodes with Mattias Daly: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep244-taoist-adventures-mattias-daly - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep251-taoist-inner-alchemy-mattias-daly-2 To find our more about Mattias Daly, visit: - https://www.shambhala.com/authors/a-f/mattias-daly.html … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

19 Juli 20242h 17min

In this episode, filmed on location in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, I am joined by Dorje, an American Vajrayana practitioner born in 1947. Dorje recounts his childhood in the American South, his move to San Francisco in 1968, and his involvement in the early days of the gay liberation movement. He recalls the arrival of AIDS in 1981, the traumatic deaths of his close friends, and the impact of his own HIV diagnosis. Dorje explains his conversion to Buddhism in the midst of a chaotic and stressful life, his 25 years as an ordained monk, the power of Yamantaka practice, and his understanding of the spiritual path. Dorje also explores the deep relevance of the core teachings of Buddhism to his experience of the AIDS crisis, describes the rhythms of grief and death, and shares what he has learned about helping the dying. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep262-life-of-liberation-dorje Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:03 - Dorje’s upbringing 02:07 - Dorje as a boy 02:59 - Career aspirations and becoming a lawyer 04:16 - Arriving in San Francisco in 1968 04:38 - Involvement in the civil rights movement 06:28 Early days of the gay liberation movement 09:13 - The Cockettes 11:48 - Gay political organising in Atlanta 14:02 - Arrival of AIDS in 1981 15:21 - Deaths of Dorje’s close friends 16:10 - Dorje’s HIV diagnosis 16:45 - Stages of grief 18:50 - Dorje’s HIV related legal and political work 20:39 - Activism vs realpolitik 23:06 - Encountering Buddhism 25:08 - Reading DT Suzuki and Evans-Wentz 25:46 - Shamata in a highly stressful of life 28:29 - Drawn to Tibetan Buddhism 30:39 - The life of the Buddha 33:57 - Modern insulation from sickness and death 36:14 - The Buddha’s quest for enlightenment 39:18 - 4 noble truths and the core of Buddhism 42:26 - How to develop wisdom 44:10 - The spiritual path 47:38 - Ordaining as a Buddhist monk 52:12 - The 3 jewels of refuge 54:05 - Challenges of living as a monk 56:14 - Moving to Nepal 57:48 - Why were some people slow to recognise the danger of HIV 01:02:25 - Helping the dying 01:03:27 - The rhythm of grief 01:06:43 - Actors and magicians 01:08:42 - Facing his own death 01:10:01 - The power of Yamantaka practice 01:12:10 - Living with an HIV diagnosis 01:17:06 - Leaving monasticism and solo retreat during Covid 01:19:28 - Aspiration to help those newly diagnosed with HIV 01:23:19 - How to help those with a new diagnosis 01:24:10 - Side effects of medication 01:25:31 - Climate change in Kathmandu 01:25:42 - Hippy trail and changing fashions 01:26:35 - Experimentation with psychedelics 01:27:51 - Unsung heroes of civil rights 01:28:53 - Dorje’s Great Stupa kora practice 01:30:07 - Compassion and the goal of practice 01:31:33 - Kora around the Great Stupa 01:32:34 - Developing compassion for others … Boudhanath Interviews playlist: - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknwvU82dU487LhF_mF4AkGek&si=gFGJpi-fnLtxeyZ5 
… For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

12 Juli 20241h 37min

In this episode I am once again joined by Henry Shukman, award-winning poet, Zen teacher, and author of ‘One Blade of Grass; a Zen memoir’ and the new book ‘Original Love’.  Henry discusses the surprising writing process of ‘Original Love’, the importance of love in spiritual practice, and how to release the heart. Henry describes the 4 major areas of spiritual development, his own first and subsequent awakenings, and the purifying effects of deep jhana practice. Henry also talks about his own journey from head to heart, his personal challenges of heartbreak and neurological illness, and his love for St Augustine’s ‘Confessions’. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep261-original-love-henry-shukman Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - Writing Original Love 06:01 - 4 major areas of spiritual development 07:47 - The importance of love 09:27 - The example of mindfulness 11:06 - Henry’s neurological illness 13:37 - Letting go 14:39 - An epiphany in Venezuela 18:35 - Migrating from head to heart 20:53 - Heartbreak of awakening 22:31 - What is awakening? 26:56 - Henry’s first awakening 28:35 - Subsequent awakenings and the place of love 29:50 - The two wings of practice 30:41 - Release of the heart 32:50 - Does awakening change the experience of suffering? 36:53 - Resistance and suffering 38:37 - Unwrapping the gift of life 39:38 - Training jhana with Stephen Snyder 48:31 - Purification and catharsis in jhana 49:42 - Jhana vs awakening 53:54 - Encouragement to those seeking awakening 01:03:55 - Henry’s love for Augustine’s ‘Confessions’ 01:06:44 - Henry’s mother 01:10:03 - A resurgence in interest in awakening 01:14:15 - The original face 01:15:50 - Henry’s meditation app … Previous episodes with Henry Shukman: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=shukman 
To find out more about Henry Shukman, visit: - henryshukman.com - thewayapp.com 
… For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

5 Juli 20241h 19min