Ep300: The Spiritual Practice of Alchemy - Katarina Falkenberg & Tommy Westlund

In this episode I am once again joined by John Myrdhin Reynolds, also known as Lama Vajranatha: writer, teacher, translator, and scholar/practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism.  John begins with a discussion about the unique characteristics of Dzogchen, common misunderstandings that have arisen from its widespread popularity, and the differences between Dzogchen, Mahāmudrā, and the kenshō of Zen. John discusses his extensive field research into Himalayan shamanism, spirit possession and rituals of exorcism, shamanic diagnosis and healing, and what it takes to become a shaman. John also explores the various classes of spirit including gyalpo spirits who manifest as authoritarianism and sectarianism, recounts experiences of spirit attacks, and explains the differences between the shaman, lama, and magician. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep221-exorcism-himalayan-shamanism-john-myrdhin-reynolds-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - Lama Vajranatha’s Dzogchen teaching 03:35 - Unique characteristics of Dzogchen 04:27 - Misunderstandings about Dzogchen 08:34 - The metaphor of the mirror 09:53 - The tantric context and the practices of deity yoga and tummo 12:12 - Entering Dzogchen through sadhana practice 13:52 - Mahāmudrā vs Dzogchen 16:26 - Sakya Pantida’s criticisms of Gampopa’s Mahāmudrā teachings 17:30 - Spontaneous Zen awakenings 19:51 - Dzogchen vs hypnotic trance induction 23:26 - Meeting Himalayan shamans 27:42 - Childhood visions of spirits 30:11 - Spirit possession and exorcism in Himalayan Buddhism 31:28 - Tribal shamans vs Tibetan Lamas 33:01 - Guardian pujas and the power of blood sacrifice 45:13- Buddhism vs shamanism 49:40 - Shamanic diagnosis, healing, and trance states 54:03 - Paying karmic debts to cure disease 57:00 - Banishing ghosts, poltergeists, and preta 01:00:02 - Exorcism rituals and la-hooking 01:05:07 - How to become a shaman 01:08:01 - Western shamans and Carlos Castaneda 01:09:47 - Magicians vs shamans 01:14:16 - Life balance and spirit encounters 01:16:58 - Personal communication with dakinis 01:17:49 - Gyalpo spirits of authoritarianism and sectarianism 01:18:56 - Dorje Shugden 01:23:17 - Dalai Lama’s illness when practicing Dzogchen after Dorje Shugden empowerment 01:25:46 - Geshe Kelsang’s Gyatso’s Buddhist group 01:27:40 - Namkhai Norbu retreat attacked by a gyalpo spirit 01:29:49 - Dangers of receiving empowerments 01:31:56 - Leaving the USA under the direction of the dakinis 01:34:00 - Contacting Lama Vajranatha 01:36:27 - Importance of asking questions … Previous episodes with John Myrdhin Reynolds visit: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep200-lama-vajranatha-professor-john-myrdhin-reynolds - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep211-magick-systems-of-the-west-east-john-myrdhin-reynolds-2 To find our more about John Myrdhin Reynolds visit: - https://vajranatha.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

29 Sep 20231h 39min

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

22 Sep 20231h 11min

In this episode I am once again joined by Lionel Snell, a contemporary English magician, publisher, and, under various pen names such as Ramsey Dukes, a renowned author on magic and philosophy. Lionel explores the idea that people, societies, and even cultures cycle through 4 distinct phases with profound affects. Lionel traces the history of the last hundreds and even thousands of years and identifies the emergence of these phases with periods of religious fervour, scientific progress, magickal revivals, and artistic eruption. Lionel explains the similarities and differences between magick and art, the archetypes of the feminine, and the fear of the free woman. Lionel also provides analysis of our current time, reveals how finding the Trickster can unravel polarised and dualistic thinking, and how a deep understanding of the occult can be noted in leading political and cultural figures. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep219-cycles-of-the-occult-ramsey-dukes-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:08 - Cycles and modes of thought and culture 03:52 - Cycles vs linear time 05:38 - Suspicion of thinking in cycles 07:01 - Time of magickal revival 08:47 - The art movements of the 1920s and the 1980s 11:31 - Cycles of Ramsey’s life 12:40 - Why magick emerges from science and religion 14:55 - Magick vs art 16:52 - The miracle of the axial age 18:29 - Magickal revival in the early ADs and the rise of alchemy 20:34 - The silent art of Greek medicine (ἰατρική) 22:40 - Ramsey on astrology 23:41 - Process of Pluto into Capricorn 26:01- Pluto into Aquarius and corrosion of democracy 27:24 - Danger of the free female 29:01 - Shadow projection onto the individual 31:50 - Social media, war, and the shadows of Aquarius 36:42 - Egregores and the power of othering 41:50 - God, Devil, Trickster 43:14 - Archetypes of the feminine 46:04 - Transcending duality 47:00 - The rich-poor cycle 51:49 - Political polarisation and spotting the trick 56:38 - Using polarity to act on the world 01:00:08 - The terror of the linear view 01:06:44 - Do politicians use magick to influence world events? 01:11:44 - Did Trump study the occult? 01:12:36 - Ramsey on the Illuminati 01:14:41 - Rosicrucianism, fact of fiction? 01:18:23 - Interactions between personal and societal cycles 01:27:09 - The skeptical movement and chaos magick 01:30:08 - Using cycles to inspire and infuriate 01:38:18 - How to work with cycles as an individual 01:44:00 - Addendum: What might the future hold? … Previous episode with Ramsey Dukes: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep209-the-english-magician-ramsay-dukes To find out more about Ramsey Dukes, visit: - https://ramseydukes.co.uk/ - https://www.youtube.com/@RamseyDukes ... For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

15 Sep 20231h 49min

In this episode I am once again joined by Leigh Brasington, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of ‘Right Concentration, A Practical Guide to the Jhanas’. Leigh reveals his upcoming solo retreat plans and personal meditation goals and considers why it is that he continues to meditate after so many decades of practice. Leigh recalls his career as a computer programmer and draws analogies from the computer world to the workings of human beings on the Dharma path. Leigh expresses his views on AI, in particular whether or not AI will replace meditation teachers, and goes on to explore what makes a great meditation teacher and what makes a bad one, as well as the importance of heart connection when leading retreats, and answers the question ‘how enlightened should someone be before they can teach meditation?. Leigh also shares an exchange he had with an AI in which he asks questions about jhana meditation and evaluates the AI’s answers. Leigh goes on to offer his take on Shinzen Young’s ultrasound neuromodulation research and questions the possibility of its efficacy to bring about meaningful spiritual progress. … Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify. … 01:20 - Why does Leigh still go on solo meditation retreats? 06:15 - How has meditation changed Leigh’s life? 06:42 - Leigh’s meditation goals 08:30 - Why do intermediate and advanced practitioners stop practicing? 11:42 - The early days of computer programming 14:40 - Working as a computer programmer 18:09 - Writing a Tibetan-Tibetan dictionary for Tsoknyi Rinpoche 21:33 - Building his own DOS box 23:41 - Overlaps between computer programming and meditation 26:47 - Pros of cons of computer metaphors for describing humans and the Dharma 28:53 - KISS and other computer metaphors for meditation 32:02 - Buddhist fundamentalism and the doctrine of rebirth 34:41 - Did the Buddha really believe in rebirth? 38:21 - The lies of the Buddha 42:32 - Is Buddhist fundamentalism compatible with enlightenment? 45:46 - Does belief in rebirth prevent enlightenment? 49:02 - The immortality project 49:26 - Did Buddhism degrade or evolve? 53:34 - Mahayana writers who Leigh enjoys 54:07 - Why Leigh loves Shantideva’s chapter on dedication 55:55 - Computers and Buddhism 58:33 - Will AI replace human programmers? 01:05:15 - Will AI teach meditation better than human teachers? 01:06:54 - What makes a really good meditation teacher 01:10:22 - Leigh asks AI dharma questions: what is the cause of dukkha? 01:13:41 - How do I know if I’m practicing jhana correctly? 01:15:05 - Why are the jhanas important? 01:16:23 - How can I tell whether I’m in 3rd of 4th jhana? 01:17:15 - How does one go from 4th to 5th jhana? 01:17:49 - Trouble entering the 1st jhana 01:19:12 - The human connection in meditation interviews 01:19:54 - How to establish a heart connection with your meditation students 01:23:11 - Is AI better than a mediocre meditation teacher? 01:26:30 - What makes a bad meditation teacher? 01:30:13 - How to spot a teacher with an agenda 01:32:56 - Why Leigh dislikes the Mahasi noting practice 01:34:53 - How enlightened should a meditation be? 01:40:12 - How Leigh tests Westerners who claim full enlightenment 01:42:17 - Buddhist faith claims vs other religions 01:48:28 - Buddhist vs Christian faiths 01:51:09 - Leigh challenges Shinzen’s attempts to use ultrasound to induce nirodha 01:52:05 - How stream entry really works 01:54:13 - Using ultrasound to induce jhana states 01:56:23 - Does Leigh see any use in Shinzen’s research? 01:57:42 - Could ultrasound jumpstart mediocre and fearful meditators? 02:01:20 - The spiritual path is about letting go … Previous episodes with Leigh Brasington: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=brasington To find our more about Leigh Brasington visit: - http://www.leighb.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

8 Sep 20232h 3min

In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Alexander Arguelles, world-renowned polyglot, linguist, and scholar of comparative religion. Dr Arguelles discusses the spiritual dimension of language, recounts his own experiences of self-transcendence, and comments on the power of reading sacred works in their original languages. Dr Arguelles reflects on his personal explorations in meditation, pranayama, and prayer and shares his own method to silence the monkey mind with a combination of breath control and linguistic meditation. Dr Arguelles also discusses how to include work and study as a part of spiritual practice, details the lifestyle habits required to nourish the life of the mind, and warns against the deleterious effects of the convenience traps found in modern life. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep217-spiritual-life-of-the-mind-dr-alexander-arguelles-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - Spiritual dimension of language 05:34 - Silencing the monkey mind 09:41 - Superior meditation 10:14 - Experiences of profundity and trance 13:39 - Power of sacred languages 15:11 - Realisation of vastness 16:50 - Self transcendence and choosing the hard path 18:51 - Life without the monkey mind 20:51 - Comparisons to classic meditation paths 21:53 - Dr Arguelles spiritual experiences studying Sanskrit and Russian 29:51 - The source languages of the world 31:40 - Powerful sacred works in Latin 32:57 - The Bhagavad Gita 33:51 - Reading as a spiritual exercise 34:50 - Obtaining mother language’s blessing 41:26 - Working with resistance 42:54 - Professor Arguelles’ linguistic meditation technique 49:06 - Traits of great polyglots of the past 51:38 - The art of shadowing 53:56 - Degradation of intellect 57:18 - The convenience trap 57:59 - The dumbing down of the 20th century 59:23 - Urbanisation and natural living 01:02:51 - Lifestyle and dietary habits for maximising the life of the mind 01:05:37 - Learning as a mental and spiritual exercise 01:06:02 - Keeping your edge as you age 01:07:52 - The Rule of St Benedict 01:09:35 - Work and study as prayer and meditation 01:12:31 - Working with Dr Arguelles … Previous episodes with Dr Alexander Arguelles: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep199-path-of-the-polyglot-dr-alexander-arguelles - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep207-wandering-polyglot-dr-alexander-arguelles-2 To find our more about Dr Alexander Arguelles and his Academy, visit: - https://www.alexanderarguelles.com/academy/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

1 Sep 20231h 14min

In this interview I am joined by Mordy Levine, serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author of ‘The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners’ with Lama Lhanang and published by Sounds True. Mordy reveals the origins of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, considers the validity of the claims of its supernatural transmission, and pulls back the curtain on his own writing process in collaboration with Nyingma meditation master Lama Lhanang. Mordy discusses the subject of money and spirituality and recounts his own journey from poverty and avarice to financial and business success and beyond, to a more enlightened view informed by Buddhist doctrines. Mordy also addresses the range of dysfunctional money attitudes found in American Buddhism such aversive attitudes to money based on beliefs that money is fundamentally unspiritual, immoral, and evil. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep216-death-money-dharma-mordy-levine

 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:50 - Tibetan religious teachings about death 02:35 - Why another book on the Tibetan Book of the Dead? 05:04 - Collaborating with Lama Lhanang 08:03- Lineage vs psychedelics and Timothy Leary 10:34 - Does Mordy really believe in Tibetan terma claims? 12:31 - Mordy’s experiences of the supernatural 14:05 - ’God of the gaps’ 18:03 - How important are the supernatural claims of the Tibetan Book of the Dead’s transmission? 21:27 - Energetic transmission of spiritual lineage 23:05 - The purpose of energy transmission 24:40 - Perceiving the light body 26:20 - Mordy’s practice of karate 31:55 - Conversion to Buddhism 34:03 - From Zen to Tibetan Buddhism 37:29 - Initial experiences of Tibetan Buddhism and search for a teacher 39:24 - Meeting Lama Lhanang 41:33 - About Lama Lhanang 44:21 - Applying lessons from the business world to dharma organisations 46:42 - Origin of Mordy’s motivation to become rich 48:45 - Addiction to success and money 50:47 - Grasping and clinging to feed one’s identity 53:17 - Childhood programming about money 56:03 - What woke Mordy up to his money addiction? 59:36 - Seeing through the BS of identity 01:02:04 - Addictions and grasping 01:04:04 - American Buddhists’ dysfunctional attitudes to money 01:08:34 - Advice for contemplating one’s relationship to money 01:11:47 - Is money unspiritual? … To purchase ‘The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners’, visit: - https://www.soundstrue.com/blogs/authors/mordy-levine To find out more about Mordy Levine, visit: - https://www.mordylevine.com/ 
 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

25 Aug 20231h 16min

In this interview I am once again joined by Anthony Metivier, author and internationally renowned memory expert who’s meditation practice is reciting sacred Sanskrit texts from memory. Anthony takes us on a journey through the memory techniques that enable them to memorise hours of material in a variety of languages, including Sanskrit texts such as the Ribhu Gita, swathes of Shakespeare, and detailed facts and figures. Anthony demonstrates his use of the memory palace technique, pulls back the curtain on the art of spaced repetition, and recounts the life of 16th century Hermetic occultist and memory master Giordano Bruno. Anthony also reveals how he used memory techniques to face severe childhood trauma, to untangle a pattern of generational rage, and reflects on subjects such as non-duality, radical honesty, and consciousness. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep215-unlocking-the-power-of-memory-anthony-metivier-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:01 - The lineage of memory mastery 03:56 - Comparing the world’s memory traditions 06:47 - The fascinating life of Giordano Bruno 10:16 - Bruno’s memory techniques 14:48 - Neitzsche, Spinoza, and analysing the current times 19:05 - Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’ 20:20 - Can we really learn from the past? 24:10 - How implicit memory influences decision making 25:43 - Generational rage and the spectre of Anthony’s father 28:50 -Clearing generational trauma via sacred Sanskrit memorisation 30:46 - Sudden vs gradual 33:16 - What motivated Anthony to face his generational patterns? 37:26 - Consciousness and why we talk to each other 42:42 - How to memorise sacred Sanskrit texts 46:32 - Anthony’s memory palace 58:33 - Power of spaced repetition 01:03:10 - Experiments in forgetting 01:05:17 - Hermann Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve 01:06:53 - Spacial memory and Anthony Hopkins 01:09:36 - Is a memory palace really necessary? 01:11:38 - Radical honesty 01:13:22 - Delusional memory experts 01:17:17 - Do memory techniques obscure the sacred meaning of the texts? 01:22:49 - How to memorise Shakespeare 01:31:20 - Sherlock Holmes myth 01:33:10 - Memory demands of being a working musician 01:35:41 - Benefits of improving memory 01:37:14 - Transformative effects on meditation 01:41:02 - The ego and non duality 01:46:27 - Studying with Anthony … Previous episode with Anthony Metivier: - https://www.guruviking.com/ep123-master-of-memory-anthony-metivier/ - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep203-unlock-the-enlightened-mind-anthony-metivier To purchase Flyboy, visit: - https://www.magneticmemorymethod.com/fb-sq/ To find out more about Anthony Metivier, visit: - https://www.youtube.com/c/AnthonyMetivierMMM - https://www.magneticmemorymethod.com/ 
 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

18 Aug 20231h 48min

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

11 Aug 20231h 34min