Guru Viking Podcast Guru Viking

In this interview I am once again joined by Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, a tantric priest in a centuries old Newari Buddhist family lineage and master of the religious dance tradition of Charya Nritya.

Prajwal Vajracharya explores the history of Newar Buddhism, a rich form of Varjayana practiced in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. Prajwal Vajracharya recounts the history of the religion, from its periods of suppression and secrecy up to its complex modern day interactions with 1960s hippies and Tibetan Buddhist refugees.

Prajwal Vajracharya details the distinctive ritual practices of Newar Buddhism, which contain cultivation practices for ten paramitas, and explains the use of sacred sounds and the alphasyllabry.

Prajwal Vajracharya also reveals distinctive mudra and mantra practices, explains the many esoteric uses of the mala prayer beads, and decodes the rich deity artwork for which the region is renowned .

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep256-newar-buddhism-prajwal-ratna-vajracharya-2

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:05 - Suppression of Newar Buddhism for 800 years
03:56 - Secret family lineages
04:52 - Distinctive ritual practices of Newar Buddhism
06:23 - 10 Paramita system
09:05 - Why perform daily ritual?
09:48 - Learning to perform ritual
11:28 - The power of ritual
13:00 - Sacred sounds and the alphasyllabary
14:54 - Decoding the symbolism of sacred deity art
16:50 - Daily practice
17:34 - History of Nepal’s Buddhist textual tradition
20:08 - Buddha’s birth and past life activity in Nepal
21:56 - Lost in Tibetan translation
23:14 - Guru Rinpoche activities in Nepal
24:18 - Secret practices under Gorkha rule
25:42 - Frustrations publishing about Charya dance
26:55 - Gendun Chophel
27:55 - Lack of scholarly evidence and destruction of Buddhism in Nepal
28:49 - Modern revival
29:44 - History of the Tibetan refugee community in Nepal
31:54 - Opening to the hippies in the 60s
33:17 - Lack of interest in Newar Buddhism among Tibetan lamas in Nepal
36:03 - Sectarian rivalry and racism
39:33 - How to use a mala
40:44 - Subtle anatomy and mudra
41:08 - Elemental and energetic significance of each finger
43:38 - Mudra uses the whole body
44:44 - The 3 important mudras
46:50 - Inner mudra
47:32 - The flower mudra
48:08 - Making mudra into meditation
49:32 - A gradual path
51:18 - Future mudra discussions
51:56 - A call for more research into Newar Buddhism

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To find out more about Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, visit:
- https://www.dancemandal.com/


For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Anthony Metivier, author and internationally renowned memory expert who’s meditation practice is reciting sacred Sanskrit texts from memory.

Anthony shares his own language learning journey, including his childhood struggles learning French, to later success with languages such as German, Mandarin, Latin, Hebrew, and Sanskrit.

Anthony describes the 5 levels of processing and reveals how he uses his expertise in the art of memory to fast track language acquisition, including strategies to optimise progress in vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension.

Anthony challenges popular theories of comprehensible input, criticises gamified language learning apps, and reveals his number one secret to success in foreign language study.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep255-memory-secrets-for-language-learning-dr-anthony-metivier

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:55 - Anthony’s struggles with English
03:09 - Early life aversion to language learning
04:06 - Learning Hebrew as a revenge language
05:20 - Moving to Germany and unlocking the secrets of language learning
06:45 - Passing level 3 in Mandarin and other studies
08:55 - Impressive Hebrew progress
10:23 - Grammar tables and the importance of extensive reading
11:30 - Criticism of comprehensible input theories
12:30 - 5 levels of processing
14:20 - Key metrics to avoid overwhelm
16:54 - Advice for beginners and intermediates
19:02 - Frequency lists
20:53 - Working with native speakers
22:19 - A powerful reading regime
24:38 - Movie mixing
26:33 - Speaking and yogic exercises
28:28 - Latin grammar approaches
32:03 - Don’t need to learn grammar?
33:44 - Anticipatory reading
35:40 - Latin and Sanskrit vs German and Mandarin
37:38 - Disillusionment after fluency
39:55 - Breaking through to German fluency with extensive reading
43:46 - Problems with the language learning industry
46:40 - The tragedy of gamified apps
49:26 - Fast tracking vocabulary acquisition
56:39 - Linguistic deskilling
58:15 - Pros and cons of tests and exams
01:02:04 - Maintaining multiple languages
01:05:28 - The power of laddering

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Previous episodes with Anthony Metivier:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=metivier

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

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Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by Jason Miller, occultist, author, and teacher of magick.

Jason shares his explorations in Tibetan Buddhism, including life changing encounters with Lama Vajranatha and famed ngakpa Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche. Jason recalls his months spent in Nepal during which he received esoteric empowerments, conducted cave and charnel ground practice, and refused the offer of discipleship under a spiritual master.

Jason also discusses encountering the goddess Hekate and beginning to teach a magickal system associated with her. Jason compares Western ritual magick to the tantric sorcery of the Himalayas, and considers the role of natural talent in spiritual accomplishment.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep254-adventures-in-vajrayana-jason-miller

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro
00:53 - Meeting Lama Vajranatha
04:27 - Experiments in Voodoo and psychedelic insights
07:23 - Beginning studies in Buddhism
10:31 - Travel to Nepal and meeting Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche
14:12 - Cave practice of Vajrakilaya
16:38 - Refusing Kunzang Dorje’s offer of traditional training
20:01 - Charnel ground practice and introduction to the nature of mind
22:37 - Realising rigpa
23:56 - Memories of empowerments in Nepal
30:30 - Powerful encounter with Hekate
36:26 - Choosing Western Magick over Tibetan Buddhism
37:37 - Communication with Hekate
40:53 - Grimoire culture of the early 2000s
42:45 - Beginning to teach the Hecate system
44:01 -Success of the Sorcery of Hekate online courses
45:56 - Why collect Buddhist empowerments?
49:19 - Illusory body and connections between systems
51:00 - Empowerments and further adventures in Nepal
57:01 - Himalayan vs Western Magick
59:17 - The truest wizard Jason has ever met
01:01:22 - What makes a powerful wizard?
01:02:46 - Old vs new systems
01:09:08 - Are some people supernaturally or spiritually gifted?
01:18:34 - Spiritual duds
01:19:41 - Senders vs receivers
01:20:17 - How to relate to spiritual experiences
01:23:11 - Astral projection and guitar playing

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Previous episode with Jason Miller:
- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep235-strategic-sorcery-jason-miller

To find out more about Jason Miller, visit:
- https://strategicsorcery.net/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com


Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

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 discusses his latest book, ‘Gradual Training: The Buddha’s Step-by-Step Guide for Awakening’, in which Leigh lays a 13 step training which culminates in enlightenment.

Leigh explains the scriptural origins of this formulation, why it is so crucial for meditation success, and speculates as to why it is so rarely taught by Buddhist teachers in America.

Leigh also emphasises the importance of moral precepts, wrestles with contradictions in the Buddhist scriptures, considers how the scriptures have been altered over the centuries, and reveals his opinion of Buddhist claims to psychic powers.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep253-the-buddhist-path-leigh-brasington

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro
00:53 - Leigh’s latest book
02:09 - A life changing meditation encounter
03:00 - The gradual training
05:05 - Training in insight practice under Ayya Khema
05:49 - Leigh’s insight journey
07:31 - Why isn’t gradual training taught in Western Buddhism?
07:55 - Buddhist teacher schtick
09:00 - People don’t teach the suttas
09:47 - 13 steps to awakening
12:23 - Origin and evolution of the 13-step Gradual Training
13:23 - The Buddhist scriptures have been tampered with
15:23 - Evolution of the doctrine of 12 links of dependent origination
16:34 - Philological implications
17:51 - Did the Buddha have supernatural powers?
21:59 - Contradictions in Buddhist scripture
24:11 - Early vs late suttas
26:20 - When were the suttas composed?
29:39 - When was the gradual training devised?
31:11 - Gradual training vs Lamrim
32:35 - Fruits of the spiritual life
36:38 - Keeping the precepts
40:08 - Guarding the senses
42:41 - Mindfulness and clear comprehension
44:47 - Contentment with little
47:04 - Overcoming hinderances
49:12 - Are psychic powers real?
50:14 - Meditation or morality?
54:13 - Consequences of skipping ethics
58:05 - Do the precepts spoil the fun of life?
01:01:19 - What makes practice life changing?
01:02:36 - Enjoyment without attachment
01:04:17 - The power of motivation to change habits
01:06:19 - How Leigh gave up pot and sweets
01:08:19 - How to do insight practice
01:09:08 - Future writing projects
01:13:30 - Why Leigh publishes his books for free

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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

In this episode I host a dialogue between Dr Chencho Dorji, Bhutan’s first psychiatrist and the Professor of Psychiatry at Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences, and Dr Caroline Van Damme, an adult psychiatrist and family and systemic psychotherapist specialising in chronic psychotic disorders.

Drs Dorji and Van Damme dialogue about their experiences as psychiatrists in very different countries, Bhutan and Belgium. They compare their experiences treating religious psychosis in which patients believe they are Jesus or Padmasambhava, address mental health stigma, and examine the interaction of supernatural beliefs such as spirit possession with modern psychiatry.

The Drs discuss the emerging mental health laws in Bhutan, including forced treatment laws, innovative treatment models, and pressures from pharmaceutical companies.

The Drs also consider the pros and cons of religion to both society and the individual, examine three levels of Bhutanese Buddhism, and reflect on the dire consequences of the death of Christianity in Europe.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep252-religion-psychiatry-dr-chencho-dorji-dr-caroline-van-damme

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:16 - How they met
03:44 - Dr Chencho’s visit to the Night Hospital in Belgium
05:12 - Dr Chencho’s side of the story
06:07 - Fascination with the ‘Night Hospital’ model
08:33 - Sharing models between countries
09:39 - Not trying to cure
12:36 - Mental health challenges in developed vs developing countries
15:04 - Psychiatry is a simple science
17:26 - Negligence of psychotic patients
19:01 - Stigma around mental illness
23:03 - Pressure from pharmaceutical companies
25:53 - Mental health laws in Bhutan
30:17 - Forced treatment laws in Belgium
39:15 - Complications of supernatural beliefs in Bhutan
41:28 - Getting the family on side
45:02 - Anti-psychiatry beliefs
46:57 - Psychosis or spirit possession?
49:25 - Dangers of marijuana
55:38 - Padmasambhava’s proscription against smoking
58:00 - Religion at societal and personal level
59:47 - Religious psychosis
01:01:23 - 3 levels of Buddhism
01:02:27 - Pros and cons of religious belief
01:06:25 - Treating psychotic Padmasambhavas
01:08:06 - Patients who hear God
01:11:00 - Fading of Christianity in Europe
01:13:03 - Spiritual void and fading of religion in Bhutan
01:13:55 - Today’s Buddhist monks’ failings
01:16:00 - Learning from the fall of European religion
01:21:17 - Science vs religion
01:22:05 - Spiritual void and suicide
01:24:04 - Is religion needed?
01:26:38 - Lack of priests
01:29:40 - Uniqueness of psychiatry
01:31:25 - Reflections on inter-cultural collaboration
01:33:53 - Dr Caroline praises Dr Chencho’s accomplishments

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Previous episodes with Dr Chencho Dorji:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=chencho

Previous episode with Dr Caroline Van Damme:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=damme


To find out more about Dr Chencho Dorji, visit:
- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057403100633

To find out more about Dr Van Damme, visit:
- https://www.sowarigpainstitute.org/dr-caroline-van-damme

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am once again joined by Mattias Daly, Taoist practitioner and translator of ‘Taoist Inner Alchemy’, published by Shambala.

Mattias recounts the unusual circumstances that saw him travel to a remote monastery to meet Abbess Liu Yuanhui, under whom he would begin intensive training in meditation.

Mattias discusses Taoist meditation and its relationship to magical powers, psychic abilities, and other unusual meditation experiences.

Mattias then pulls back the veil to reveal the history and evolution of Taoist inner alchemy, referencing classical texts to contextualise and explain the Golden Elixir, differing ideas of the goal of alchemy, and the various ways in which the practice was undertaken.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep251-taoist-inner-alchemy-mattias-daly-2

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:54 - Meeting Abbess Liu Yuanhui
03:23 - Recruited to rescue a wealthy son
08:10 - Miraculous cure through Buddhist ritual
11:38 - First visit to Abbess Liu’s monastery
13:05 - Initial intensive training with Abbess Liu
16:19 - Attachment to unusual meditation experiences
19:05 - Siddhi and magical power in Taoism
24:00 - Influence of Kung Fu novels
26:06 - Ge Guolong’s commentary Huang Yuanji’s The Oral Record of the Hall of Joyous Teaching
30:30 - History and evolution of Taoist inner alchemy
34:58 - Sexual interpretations of Taoist inner alchemy
36:30 - Disagreement about the goal of inner alchemy
39:29 - What about physical immortality?
42:08 - Mechanism of alchemy
45:43 - The Nameless Master and physical secretions
48:26 - Text alteration and philological considerations
52:02 - Achieving the Goku moment
52:53 - Why close reading of classical texts is a necessity for practitioners
56:34 - How to read early texts
58:24 - Is facility in Classical Chinese necessary?
01:00:50 - What is the Golden Elixir?
01:03:48 - Mattias shares some of his translations about Golden Elixir
01:06:07 - Decoding alchemical symbols and metaphors
01:10:08 - Confusion about sex
01:12:09 - How to go about practicing?

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Watch the previous episode with Mattias Daly:
- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep244-taoist-adventures-mattias-daly
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To find our more about Mattias Daly, visit:
- https://www.shambhala.com/authors/a-f/mattias-daly.html

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com

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Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James