Episodios

  • Ep327: Neoplatonic Mystic - Dr Francisco José Luis

    Ep327: Neoplatonic Mystic - Dr Francisco José Luis
    Oct 3 2025
    In this episode I am joined by Dr Francisco José Luis, scholar of Indo-Iranian Studies and Comparative Religion trained at the Sorbonne, Paris and SOAS, London. Francisco recalls his upbringing and education in Luxembourg; details his rigorous academic training in classical languages such as Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit; and laments what he sees as the rise of idealogical indoctrination in modern education Francisco discusses his PhD in pre-reformist Sikhism, his years of field work living in the Punjab, and expresses his love of the German intellectual tradition. Francisco reveals the influence of Neoplatonism in Islamic theology and mysticism, describes his own turn to Shiʿi Islam, and explains why he believes that even today there is a living lineage of Neoplatonism that stretches directly back to Plotinus. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep327-neoplatonic-mystic-dr-francisco-jos-luis Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:01 - Upbringing in Luxembourg 02:56 - Classical education 04:28 - Learning Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit 08:03 - Germanic intellectual tradition and WW2 12:37 - Advantages of an anti-American education 15:06 - Critical thinking and intellectual independence 17:04 - Boomer educators and idealogical indoctrination 20:59 - German literature 22:56 - Post WW2 culture shock and the boomer revolution 27:20 - Vatican II and loss of trust 30:35 - Filling education gaps 32:06 - A deeply pagan Catholic 35:21 - Meditation practice and interest in Neo-Vedanta 37:52 - Studying two masters degrees simultaneously at the Sorbonne 39:57 - Rigorous training in Sanskrit 43:56 - MA theses in French literature and pre-reform Sikhism 45:20 - PhD at SOAS in pre-reformist Sikh monastic orders 46:48 - Living among the Sikh community and learning Punjabi 49:54 - Young Sikh’s interest in pre-reformist religion 50:54 - Death threats from Sikhs 53:00 - Changes in Sikhism 55:20 - Tradition religious music of Sikhism and other pre-reformist features 01:00:18 - Neo-traditionalist Sikh movements in the UK and India 01:03:59 - Falling in love with Shiʿi Islam 01:10:16 - Conversion to Islam? 01:11:45 - Shi’ism as a personal practice 01:13:23 - Cultural barriers against European converts 01:16:12 - Neo-Platonic Vajrayanism 01:17:43 - Mysticism perceived as a threat 01:21:48 - Neoplatonic influence on Islam 01:27:28 - Surprising Neo-Platonic features of Islamic mysticism 01:33:30 - Metempsychosis in Islam 01:37:16 - Francisco is a Neoplatonist 01:43:08 - Vajrayana and Shiʿi inner alchemy and dream yoga 01:50:43 - Islamic tummo … To find our more about Dr Francisco José Luis, visit: - https://www.instagram.com/hludvig_tradicionalista For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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    1 h y 54 m
  • Ep326: Enlightened Politics - Leigh Brasington

    Ep326: Enlightened Politics - Leigh Brasington
    Sep 26 2025
    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’. In this episode we had planned to discuss Leigh’s latest book, entitled “On The Way To The Far Shore”. Instead Leigh spontaneously began to explore the theme of Buddhism and politics and so we decided to go deeper into his ideas. Leigh shares his take on the world situation and reveals the impact of his childhood upbringing and college education on the development of his own political views. Leigh discusses whether or not Buddhist spiritual development necessarily leads to left wing politics, reflects on the role of compassion and interdependence in the left-right divide, and considers whether or not past Buddhist masters who held different political views to his own lacked enlightenment. Leigh also warns about the dangers of clinging to fixed views, gives advice for how meditators should relate to politics, and explains why he believes political engagement is a natural result of the spiritual path. This episode is a spontaneous exploration of Leigh’s ideas about Buddhism and politics in the spirit of open discourse and is not intended to represent my own views or the stance of this podcast. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep326-enlightened-politics-leigh-brasington Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:18 - Complexity and inequality 02:52 - Global warming 03:28 - Visiting mission fields in Mexico 05:13 - Overpopulation 06:02 - What motivates Leigh’s political engagement? 08:24 - Practice and politics 11:03 - Should Buddhists be politically engaged? 16:49 - Dependent origination leads to politics 22:21 - Diverse politics of past Buddhist masters 24:31 - Evolution of Leigh’s political views 28:40 - How Leigh relates to those who hold different political views 32:19 - Why did past Buddhist masters hold different views different Leigh’s? 35:21 - Spiritual insight leads to left wing positions 40:54 - How does Leigh explain past Buddhist masters who have held conservative views? 47:58 - Does it give Leigh pause to claim his political views are the most enlightened? 54:11 - Leigh comments on the awakening of past masters who held different political views to his own 56:34 - Leigh refines his position 57:44 - What if Leigh is wrong? 59:16 - Advice for how to relate to politics as a spiritual practitioner 01:02:27 - New sutta index 01:06:09 - Why discuss controversial topics? 01:08:43 - Concluding remarks … 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
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    1 h y 11 m
  • Ep325: My Spiritual Journey - Lopon Yudron Wangmo 3

    Ep325: My Spiritual Journey - Lopon Yudron Wangmo 3
    Sep 19 2025
    In this episode, I am once again joined by Lopon Yudron Wangmo, American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and author of several books including, her most recent, “Clearing the Way to Awakening”. Lopon Yudron Wangmo shares stories of her discipleships under various spiritual gurus such as Lama Tharchin, recalls her memories of the California Vajrayāna scene, and remarks on the qualities she has observed in realised masters. Lopon Yudron Wangmo reflects on her ADHD struggles with concentration in meditation, offers a critique of śamatha practice, and shares her own relationship to the dialectic between effort and rest. Lopon Yudron Wangmo explains how Dzogchen works, shares her experiences in extended solo retreat, and warns about the possibility of psychological regression during Tibetan Buddhist 3-year retreat. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep325-my-spiritual-journey-lopon-yudron-wangmo-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - New audiobook of “Clearing the Way to Awakening” 06:34 - Text and oral cultures in Tibet 09:44 - Ngondro workbook 11:58 - Discipleship under various Tibetan Lamas 15:09 - Attraction to Vajrayāna 15:20 - Memories of Lama Tharchin 22:53 - 3 year retreat 25:28 - Solo retreats 26:09 - Longchen Nyingthig practice 27:00 - Desire for practice and further retreats 29:15 - Evidence of attainment 32:51 - The nature of mind and the 6 bardos 34:29 - Lama Tharchin’s spaciousness 36:26 - Dzogchen vs Mindfulness 39:28 - Critique of śamatha meditation 41:43 - Effortful practice vs Dzogchen 45:01 - Rewards of a life of practice 46:18 - Uncontrived resting 48:05 - How Dzogchen works 54:21 - Practicing in old age 56:05 - Production-line teaching style 58:21 - Regression to childlike state in 3 year retreat 59:00 - Peak experiences and being good enough 01:00:22 - The California Vajrayāna scene 01:03:52 - Encouragement to practice Vajrayāna … Previous episode with Lopon Yudron Wangmo: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=yudron To find our more about Lopon Yudron Wangmo, visit: - https://www.yudronwangmo.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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    1 h y 7 m
  • Ep324: How To Practice After Awakening - Alex W 2

    Ep324: How To Practice After Awakening - Alex W 2
    Sep 12 2025
    In this episode I am once again joined by Alex W, long term practitioner of Zen, Pragmatic Dharma, and Western Occultism. Alex explains how to meditate after awakening; details the path to success in Zen, Mahāmudrā, and Dzogchen; and compares Taoist Inner Alchemy to cultivating the enjoyment body, Saṃbhogakāya. Alex reflects on the biases of the Buddhist tradition, summarises the phases of his own meditation development, and differentiates constructive and deconstructive modes of practice. Alex also reveals the purpose of the 6 Yogas of Naropa, warns about the dangers of advanced meditation techniques, and considers whether greater political engagement is a result of spiritual maturity. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep324-how-to-practice-after-awakening-alex-w-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Repercussions of first interview 03:20 - Changing practice priorities 04:26 - Concern for younger generations 07:04 - Constructive vs deconstructive practice 08:18 - Biases of the Buddhist tradition 13:47 - Crystallising the energy body 14:46 - Success in Zen, Mahāmudrā, and Dzogchen practices 17:02 - Why talk about spiritual experiences 19:09 - Beyond nondual realisation 23:04 - Post-awakening stages 26:41 - Rewiring the energy body 31:03 - Out of body experiences and the body of light 35:41 - Summoning spirits 37:36 - Building the Saṃbhogakāya 38:40 - Improving the self 40:51 - Summarising the phases of Alex’s practice 41:42 - Cultural resonances and adopting foreign traditions 45:36 - Inner alchemy 49:01 - The big danger of energy practices 52:11 - Power of Now 55:21 - Consciousness and energy 01:00:46 - Preparing for the afterlife 01:04:45 - The purpose of the 6 Yogas of Naropa 01:06:24 - The purpose of deity yoga 01:08:25 - Taoist inner alchemy 01:10:21 - Rainbow body and Dzogchen attainments 01:13:53 - What is the point of post-awakening practices? 01:30:42 - Spirituality vs self improvement 01:36:11 - Dangers of intense practices 01:40:43 - Wrong ideas about freedom from suffering 01:43:24 - Enlightened self interest 01:45:45 - Clarifying the term “ego” 01:51:17 - Cult leader manipulations 01:53:25 - Change of interest from spirituality to politics 01:54:57 - Political concern related to age or spiritual development? 01:56:29 - Perks of aging 01:58:42 - Finding your purpose 02:01:27 - Service as a spiritual path 02:02:27 - Who Alex admires 02:09:56 - Sequel plans … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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    2 h y 13 m
  • Ep323: British Occultist - Alan Chapman

    Ep323: British Occultist - Alan Chapman
    Sep 5 2025
    In this episode I am joined by Alan Chapman, British writer, occultist, and spiritual teacher. Alan recalls his troubled childhood in the impoverished North of England, reflects on the British class system, and shares his first encounter with Aleister Crowley. Alan recounts his occult adventures with long time collaborator Duncan Barford, shares his spiritual biography of awakenings and mystical experiences, and considers the power and pitfalls of spiritual transmission. Alan also compares gurus Papaji, and Andrew Cohen, and Adi Da; reveals why he considers Stephen Batchelor and Sam Harris to be Black Brothers; and discusses the role of the Dark Goddess on the path of awakening. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep323-british-occultist-alan-chapman Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:55 - Duncan Barford and Alex W 03:07 - Impoverished upbringing in the North of England 05:05 - Early reaction to Christ 05:56 - First encounter with Aleister Crowley 11:17 - Chaos magic and meeting Duncan Barford 12:00 - What kind of boy was Alan? 14:28 - Class consciousness 15:44 - Sensitive boy in a cruel environment 19:20 - Regret about violence 20:58 - One’s own nature 22:25 - Alan questions Steve’s questions 22:45 - British class system 27:21 - Liminal identity 29:50 - Working vs middle vs upper class 31:18 - Anti-aspiration 33:18 - Growing out of musical aspirations 37:36 - Shedding Feathers and fulfilment on the path 41:41 - Crowley book and facing challenges 47:37 - Path myth in The Book of the Law 54:56 - True path vs the New Age 58:08 - Following the Silent Knowing 01:05:10 - Facing darkness 01:10:36 - Black Brothers like Stephen Batchelor and Sam Harris 01:19:48 - Stephen Batchelor’s crisis of faith 01:22:49 - Warning about spiritual teachers 01:23:48 - Stereotypes of culture and awakening 01:27:54 - Papaji and the nondual car crash 01:31:33 - Adi Da and guru yoga 01:35:45 - Papaji vs Adi Da 01:41:24 - Invoking the Holy Guardian Angel 01:47:30 - Andrew Cohen 01:52:16 - Great White Brotherhood 01:54:34 - Enlightened in India 01:57:26 - Ancestors appear 01:59:11 - Practicing with Adi Da 02:01:01 - Transmission traps 02:05:02 - Confronted by Adi Da disciple 02:06:51 - Solid, vital, peculiar 02:09:12 - Cutting truth and Adyashanti 02:10:43 - Reflections on Adi Da’s trajectory 02:11:52 - Further awakening at 33 02:19:52 - Receiving the Magia teaching 02:33:58 - The Dark Goddess 02:36:15 - Accommodating yourself to the Damned 02:37:25 - Finding Sophia 02:40:28 - Crowley and Jung 02:42:14 - Myth of Sophia 02:47:42 - Sequel plans 02:48:58 - Alan’s perspective on near death experiences 03:00:31 - Purpose of life and awakening … To find our more about Alan Chapman visit: - https://barbarouswords.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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    3 h y 4 m
  • Ep322: Dharma of Dance - Ngakma Yumma Mudra

    Ep322: Dharma of Dance - Ngakma Yumma Mudra
    Aug 29 2025
    In this episode I am joined by Myriam Szabo, also known as Ngakma Yumma Mudra: dancer, producer, model, teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, and founder of the international Danza Duende Network. Ngakma Yumma Mudra describes the path of the body, what it means to practice the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta through movement, and how to contact the blissful nature of mind with dance. Ngakma Yumma Mudra reveals how she guides students to transform habitual tendencies into new expressions, how to read others, and why it is so easy to become stuck in the 6 realms. Ngakma Yumma Mudra also discusses dance as art, how to infuse technique with goodness, and reflects on what it takes to be a true artist. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep322-dharma-of-dance-ngakma-yumma-mudra Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:54 - Path of the body 02:28 - Dancing without choreography 04:40 - Mindfulness of the body and the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta 07:25 - Empathy and reading others 13:11 - Art, technique, and the Path of the artist 16:15 - The Man Who Cried 20:53 - Structure and flow 22:27 - Working with students through dance 23:32 - Infuse technique with goodness 24:08 - Transforming habitual tendencies 26:06 - Bridging students’ technique into art 30:56 - First thought, best thought 35:49 - Blissful nature of mind 37:22 - Expressing bodhicitta 40:55 - Opening a fan of possibilities 42:09 - Getting stuck in the 6 realms 49:32 - All true Buddhist masters are unique 51:17 - Cleansing technique 53:47 - Attracting mostly women 56:06 - Trajectory as a teacher 01:00:29 - Whirling 01:03:36 - Attracting students 01:06:53 - Sequel plans … To find our more about Ngakma Yumma Mudra visit: - https://www.danzaduende.org/yumma-bio-en.htm For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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    1 h y 8 m
  • Ep321: Tibetan Bon - Lama Vajranatha

    Ep321: Tibetan Bon - Lama Vajranatha
    Aug 22 2025
    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 shares his own decades of contact with the Bon religion, reveals its doctrines and practices, and gives a detailed history of its transmission in the West. John traces the automythos of Bon, compares it to historical evidence and Buddhist accounts, and addresses the common critique that Bon is merely plagiarised Buddhism. John also addresses misconceptions about the history of religion in Tibet, explains how to successfully practice multiple religious lineages, and reveals various means of attaining siddhi power through ritual and meditation. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep321-tibetan-bon-lama-vajranatha Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Bon vs Buddhism 01:35 - First contact with Bon and subsequent involvement 06:17 - Namkhai Norbu’s nationalism and promotion of Bon 06:44 - 2 authentic Dzogchen lineages 07:45 - Bon Dzogchen 09:10 - Later transmission period and folk religion syncretism 12:03 - Old Bon vs New Bon 13:06 - Bon’s automythos 14:11 - Snellgrove’s “9 Ways of Bon” 16:37 - Bonpo refugee community in India 18:08 - Reprinting of Bonpo texts in exile 19:31 - Gene Smith’s text preservation work 22:25 - Election of Lungtok Tenpai Nyima as the 33rd Menri Trizin 24:35 - Dalai Lama’s recognition of Bon as the fifth Tibetan school 26:39 - Bon scriptures 28:38 - Are gter ma authentic? 32:17 - Personal contact post-1959 and T Lobsang Rampa 33:27 - Academic work on Bon 34:44 - Geshe Tenzin Wangyal comes to the West 40:03 - Lopon’s interest in translations and USA activities 43:46 - New Age sponsorship of Bon 45:31 - Further USA activities 48:02 - Search for a Bon HQ in Europe + gtum mo studies 51:20 - Guinness sponsor a Bonpo HQ in Europe, blocked by aristocrats over Sogyal scandal 56:11 - Tenzin Wangyal’s USA activities and influx of Bon teachers 58:48 - Geshe Wangyal, Jeffrey Hopkins, and Robert Thurman 59:32 - Jeffrey Hopkin’s influence on Buddhist Studies 01:02:38 - Popularity of podcasts 01:04:11 - Samten Karmay 01:05:27 - Bon vs Buddhism & the question of plagiarism 01:07:34 - Bonpo one-upmanship? 01:12:44 - How to practice different lineages simultaneously 01:18:50 - Namkhai Norbu’s independent status 01:21:16 - Supernatural powers of Bonpo lamas and other spiritual beings 01:24:53 - Chatral Rinpoche’s siddhi powers and the possibility of miracles 01:27:24 - How to attain siddhi powers 01:30:32 - Tibetan vs gter ma in the rest of the world 01:33:06 - Accidental gter ma 01:35:39 - Misconceptions about the history of religion in Tibet 01:37:32 - Animal sacrifice and gtor ma 01:41:40 - Lithuanian’s unusual religious heritage 01:45:44 - Spiritual relations in India and Tibet … Previous episodes with John Myrdhin Reynolds: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=vajranatha 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
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    1 h y 54 m
  • Ep320: Divination & Tarot - Dr Ben Joffe

    Ep320: Divination & Tarot - Dr Ben Joffe
    Aug 15 2025
    In this interview I am once again joined by Dr Ben Joffe, anthropologist, occultist, and scholar practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. Dr Joffe leads a deep dive into the topic of divination, explores its underlying mechanisms and practical methods, and compares different cultural understandings of the practice. Dr Joffe details his understanding of the tarot as a scholar and reader, shares his advice for those who wish to learn the system, and reveals how to use tarot for information gathering, sorcery, and magickal workings. Dr Joffe also reflects on his own journey as a tarot reader, addresses criticisms that tarot and other psychic methods are exploitative, and considers the uneasy relationship between divination and licensed counselling. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep320-divination-tarot-dr-ben-joffe Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 02:12 - What is divination? 06:08 - Synchronicity and randomness 09:37 - Dependent origination 14:34 - Ben’s extensive study of divination 22:13 - Mechanistic vs intuitive 29:17 - Scrying and establishing parameters 34:56 - Childhood divination 39:59 - What should divination mean for the client? 41:50 - Addiction to divination 43:50 - Cold reading and choosing a question 48:45 - Ben’s recounts his own history as a diviner 01:20:43 - Structure of the tarot 01:27:16 - How to read tarot 01:48:38 - Tarot reading mistakes 01:53:46 - Tibetan butter lamp divination 01:57:11 - Collaboration vs cold reading 02:02:10 - Studying the history of tarot 02:06:58 - 6 reasons to engage with tarot 02:09:22 - Critique of modern, inclusive decks 02:12:43 - Bad omens and gatekeeping 02:20:17 - Is tarot exploitative pseudo-counselling? 02:47:23 - Why not just become a counsellor? 02:54:19 - Is tarot over-psychologised? 02:55:25 - Ben reflects on his recurring clients 03:01:11 - The power of the right question 03:07:39 - Shaman and tarot reader as therapy-adjacent 03:13:18 - Does clairvoyance actually have value? 03:16:16 - Caution about taking life advice from Buddhist lamas 03:21:44 - Wild West of Tiktok diviners 03:22:49 - Anti-divination laws 03:29:14 - Tibetan and Buddhist divination 
… 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/ - http://www.skypressbooks.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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    3 h y 31 m