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

In this episode I am joined by Brad Warner, Zen teacher and best-selling author of ‘Hardcore Zen’ and ‘The Other Side of Nothing’. Brad recounts his unusual childhood, his passion for Punk rock ethics, and reveals what thwarted his teenage desire to become a born again Christian. Brad describes his first encounter with Zen, shares the secret of his decades of daily practice, and explains why he is at odds with the culture and institutions of mainline American Zen. Brad also discusses his awakening experience, the significance of dharma transmission, his new book on ethics, and what Dogen’s mysterious metaphors have in common with the TV show ‘Ancient Aliens’. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/155-hardcore-zen-brad-warner Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:48 - Brad’s writing process 01:54 - ‘I’m not saying it was Aliens, but it was Aliens’ 03:25 - Brad’s unusual upbringing 06:22 - Finding Zen and moving to Japan 09:38 - Punk rock ethics 11:38 - Trying to become a Christian 14:39 - Practice vs belief 18:09 - At odds with institutional Zen 20:57 - Brad’s Zen vs American Zen 25:08 - American Buddhist politics 26:25 - The secret of Brad’s daily meditation practice 36:01 - Meditation consequences permanent or temporary? 39:11 - The danger of stopping practice after awakening 40:56 - Nishijima Roshi cutting Brad down 46:36 - Brad’s awakening experience 49:37 - Receiving Dharma transmission 54:01 - Links to SFZC 55:09 - Dharma transmission wars and institutional power 01:02:06 - Secret lineage of transmission 01:05:06 - Will Brad give dharma transmission? 01:09:35 - What if Nishijima Roshi had moved to the USA? 01:13:41 - Does Brad have a teacher now? 01:17:15 - Brad’s new book about ethics and non-duality 01:25:13 - Dogen’s elusive metaphors 01:30:44 - Brad on race and being a foreigner … To find out more about Brad Warner, visit: - http://hardcorezen.info/ - https://www.youtube.com/c/HardcoreZen For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

24 Juni 20221h 36min

Richard Ayling recently interviewed me on his 'Man Reimagined' Podcast. Topics include: 00:00 - Rich on Steve and interesting topics 03:07 - Steve’s background 08:46 - What is average? 11:06 - Growing up on the Shetland Islands 13:41 - Discipline and delayed gratification 22:54 - Guru Viking Meditation Club 34:10 - Strong determination sitting 36:51 - Dedication from enjoyment 43:07 - ‘Masculine and feminine’ 01:00:36 - Fundamentalism trap 01:03:08 - Rich’s doubts about men’s work 01:07:30 - Rich’s professional trajectory 01:18:36 - Methods are limited + Steve on men’s work 01:29:03 - Enquiry over imposition 01:34:23 - Movement Koan Method 01:42:43 - Meditation vs movement practices 01:44:40 - About relationship 01:49:27 - On conversation 01:51:42 - Steve’s future Richard Ayling: https://www.re-align.co/ Other times I have been interviewed: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/category/Steve+Interviewed

19 Juni 20222h

Special guest Dr Jonathan Lunine, distinguished American planetary scientist and physicist, joins the ongoing discussion with: - Shinzen Young, meditation teacher and neuroscience research consultant - Chelsey Fasano, a Columbia University neuroscience student Dr Lunine is the David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences and Chair of the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University. Dr Lunine has published over 380 research papers and is at the forefront of research into planet formation, evolution, and habitability. Dr Lunine’s work includes the Cassini mission to Saturn, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Juno Mission to Jupiter. Dr Lunine is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has participated in and chaired advisory and strategic planning committees for the Academy and for NASA. In this episode, the group question the compatibility of faith and science, explore the writings of St Thomas Aquinas and the radical theology of T.S Eliot, and consider the controversial theories of Sir Roger Penrose. Dr Lunine also discusses his research into life on other planets, reveals the possibility of cyanide-based life, and speculates about the role of God in the universe of the Big Bang. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep145-faith-and-science-jonathan-lunine-shinzen-young-chesley-fasano Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:23 - Faith and Reason 04:42 - How big is life? 07:57 - Physics & God 08:57 - Buddhist exceptionalism 09:33 - Are science and faith compatible? 13:59 - The Society of Catholic Scientists 15:17 - Georges Lemaître and the Big Bang 16:03 - Dr Lunine’s search for life on other planets and moons 17:36 - Titan’s methane seas and hydrogen bonding mechanisms 20:03 - Cyanide-based life and information molecules 28:52 - Future missions to Titan 30:57 - Definition of a habitable zone 33:20 - Detecting water on extra-solar planets 37:04 - How big is life and where is information stored? 43:55 - Is life on Earth the ultimate pinnacle of self-organisation? 45:42 - Meta-life and Sir Roger Penrose 48:04 - The radical theology of T.S Eliot 50:24 - Aquinas on diversity as an expression of order 52:14 - Time and timelessness 55:44 - God as the Infinite and eternal foundation of all reality 56:46 - Chaos and Dr Sanguinetti … Previous episodes in this series: - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknxjhwG5wmXRVfrkeGczVPVI … To find out more about Dr Lunine, visit: - https://astro.cornell.edu/jonathan-lunine 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 For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

17 Juni 202259min

In this episode I am joined by Mary Shutan: author, occultist, and spiritual teacher. Mary shares her journey from a traumatic early childhood to adoption into an upper-middle class family, and how spiritual overwhelm in her teenage years, and a subsequent kundalini awakening, drove her to in-depth study of spiritual themes. Mary details her own kundalini experience, including challenging side effects, kundalini traps, and the role of sacrifice on the spiritual path. Mary also discusses her love of reading and magical realism, recounts her time as a ritual magician working with the dark feminine, advises on encounters with entities and extra-terrestrials, and describes the different types of spiritual protection employed by institutions and public figures. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/153-mary-shutan-kundalini-and-the-occult Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:03 - Prolific publications 01:41 - Mary’s writing process 02:35 - Upper-middle class upbringing as an adoptee 04:56 - Early childhood trauma 08:28 - Spiritual overwhelm during teenage years 13:03 - Magical realism and Mary’s writing influences 17:29 - Spiritual truths in fiction 18:41 - Pan’s Garden, elementals, and Clive Barker 20:34 - Magic in art 22:37 - Mary’s kundalini awakening 26:04 - What is kundalini? 28:04 - Challenging side-effects of Mary’s kundalini awakening 32:35 - Active vs passive surrender 34:49 - Common misconceptions about kundalini 37:59 - What triggers kundalini awakening? 40:58 - Spontaneous kundalini awakenings 42:46 - Direct methods to awaken kundalini 45:40 - Kundalini traps 48:07 - Sacrifice on the spiritual path 49:48 - Losing martyrdom and other identity markers 52:31 - Years in ritual magic and occultism 55:31 - Misogyny in Western Occultism and the dark feminine 59:01 - How to know if an occult ritual has worked 01:01:29 - Are occultists hired by governments and celebrities? 01:07:12 - Different types of spiritual protection employed by institutions and public figures 01:09:09 - Mary’s near death experience 01:12:23 - Working with non-corporeal teachers and other entities 01:14:39 - Voluntary possession practices 01:18:06 - Encounters with extra-terrestrials 01:20:25 - Adi Da’s ‘Knee of Listening’ 01:22:38 - Working with Mary … To find out more about Mary Shutan, visit: - http://maryshutan.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

10 Juni 20221h 23min

In this episode I travel to the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, where I visit world renowned Bhutanese author Ashi Kunzang Choden at her family seat of Ogyen Choling in the Tang Valley, Bumthang. Ashi gives a tour of her home, which her family have occupied for hundreds of years, including a rare look into a remarkable multi-story temple with rich religious frescos, sacred artefacts, and entire floors dedicated to Tara and Guru Rinpoche. Ashi also recounts her remarkable life that embodies so much of Bhutan’s recent history. Ashi was born into a family of feudal lords, witnessed the reformations of the 1950s, was educated in Catholic convents in India, and worked for the United Nations, before returning to her family home which she now runs as a cultural centre and guest house. Ashi also recalls the spiritual advice given to her by Dudjom Rinpoche, reveals why her exposure to Christianity opened her up to the heart of Buddhism, and discusses the impact of feminist thought on her perspective of Bhutanese culture and her place in it. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/152-voice-of-bhutan-ashi-kunzang-choden Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - About Ogyen Choling 04:53 - Entering the temple 06:15 - The main temple featuring Buddha Shakyamuni, Dorje Lingpa, & Longchenpa 08:55 - Bardo Thodol fresco 09:28 - Sacred relics 12:49 - Frescoes of Guru Rinpoche and Kalachakra Shambala 16:53 - The Tara temple with unique family statues 18:36 - Frescos of the 84 Mahasiddhas, Avalokiteshvara, & the Buddha 20:44 - History of Ashi’s family temple 22:26 - Preservation of Dorje Lingpa’s texts 26:43 - Tour of the family museum 28:14 - About the local spirits 30:48 - Pre-reformation life of self-sufficiency 32:44 - Effects of global warming on crops 35:14 - Rice, grain, and alcohol practices 38:16 - History of Ashi’s family 42:44 - Ashi’s memories of Bhutan’s reformations 46:43 - Education at Catholic convents for 11 years 50:28 - Opening to Buddhism to through Christianity 53:41 - Meetings with great Lamas and the advice of Dudjom Rinpoche 01:00:03 - Ashi on feminism 01:06:28 - Ashi’s writing career 01:11:19 - Ashi’s closing remarks 

… To find out more about Ashi Kunzang Choden, visit: - https://www.olingheritagehouse.com/about - https://www.riyangbooks.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

3 Juni 20221h 12min

David recounts his upbringing in Scotland, and how a lifetime of frustrated spiritual seeking was resolved in a profound spiritual experience that changed everything. David details the results of this transformative experience and discusses themes such as religiosity, the zeal of the convert, falling into the spirit of God, advice for prayer and meditation, and the mystic’s view of identity. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/151-scottish-mystic-david-mcmurdo Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:37 - David’s upbringing in Scotland 03:50 - David’s love of the Scottish town of Thurso 05:56 - Frustrating spiritual seeking 07:57 - A life-changing spiritual experience 10:56 - Piercing the roof of the intellect 12:32 - Jesus Christ 15:43 - The Mystery 18:01 - Changes in David after the experience 20:06 - Gnosis and experiential spirituality 21:55 - Zeal of the convert 26:50 - Disagreement with the doctrine of the trinity 30:52 - Zealots aren’t fun 31:48 - Leaving the tribe 34:12 - Falling into the spirit of God 36:43 - The ultimate truth 40:04 - Depression and the Dark Night of the Soul 42:13 - What is God? 47:04 - Heaven, hell, and the afterlife 49:57 - Experiential vs intellectual knowledge 54:35 - Advice for spiritual practice 59:56 - Prayer and meditation 01:02:39 - How to meditate 01:04:51 - What is love? 01:09:26 - Pacifism and conflict 01:14:35 - Repentance and purification 01:17:57 - The mystic’s view of identity 01:23:25 - David’s YouTube channel … To find out more about David McMurdo, visit: - https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidMcMurdo For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

27 Maj 20221h 25min

In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Nida Chenagtsang, master of Tibetan Medicine and spiritual teacher of the Yuthok Nyingthig tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Dr Nida reveals why in 2021 he withdrew from public teaching to take an extended personal retreat lasting the year, and details the overall structure, daily routine, and practices that he engaged. Dr Nida recalls the obstacles he encountered and how he overcame them, and shares the powerful experience towards the end of his retreat that caused lasting significant change in his personality and activity. Dr Nida also discusses the danger of ego inflation and narcissism in spiritual practice, the serious psychological risks of rigorous training, and offers his advice on those who wish to embark on meditation retreat. … Video version: www.guruviking.com Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - Why did Dr Nida go on retreat? 04:31 - Longchenpa on life’s busyness 06:23 - Overall retreat structure 09:28 - Daily retreat routine 11:32 - 2 different styles of practice 19:20 - Pros and cons of using an altar 21:46 - Chulen retreat diet 23:52 - Facing obstacles 26:51 - Bliss interrupted 30:00 - Changes in Dr Nida after the retreat 31:25 - Clarity, public opinion, and compassion burnout 39:02 - A beautiful inner understanding 41:08 - A transformative experience during the retreat 43:07 - Exclusive specialness 46:05 - Dr Nida’s retreat reading 47:31 - Feedback from others after retreat 49:34 - The ultimate spiritual expression 51:20 - Ego inflation from retreat practice 56:26 - Psychological disorders and retreat 59:06 - Spiritual narcissism 01:00:04 - Tough retreats and when training is too hard 01:01:52 - Retreat suicides 01:05:21 - Avoiding ego inflation on retreat 01:07:18 - Dangers of demanding higher practices 01:09:45 - Strict retreat vs quality of practice 01:11:11 - Advice for those embarking on retreat 01:16:17 - Dr Nida’s plans for future retreat 01:18:17 - Stiff mindfulness vs relaxed mindfulness … Previous Interviews with Dr Nida: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=nida To find out more about Dr Nida, visit: - https://www.facebook.com/DoctorNida/ - http://www.skypressbooks.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

20 Maj 20221h 21min

Lian Brook-Tyler recently interviewed me about magic and the esoteric for her ‘Primal Happiness’ podcast. Topics include: 00:00 - Steve is a muggle 03:07 - Who is Daniel Ingram? 08:29 - Musing on magic 18:04 - Cheat code or apotheosis? 19:46 - Magic as listening 22:22 - Dream yoga 25:00 - Lian on magic 26:55 - Siddhi and special powers 28:48 - Magic in modern culture 35:02 - Lian’s journey with magic 42:18 - Lian’s magical evolution 47:21 - Magical dark night 49:30 - Advice for those interested in magic 51:59 - Seeing beyond yourself 56:11 - Lian and the rose Lian’s ‘Primal Happiness’ Show - https://www.youtube.com/c/WakingTheWild Other times I have been interviewed: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/category/Steve+Interviewed

15 Maj 202258min