Guru Viking Podcast

Guru Viking
  • 4.7 (102)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
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The Guru Viking Podcast specializes in in-depth interviews with remarkable figures in the world of meditation, spirituality, and self development. Steve travels internationally teaching somatic practices and meditation, and leads explorations in contemplative, mystic, & relational realms.

  1. Ep346: Tantric Scholar-Practitioner - Christopher “Hareesh” Wallis

    6D AGO

    Ep346: Tantric Scholar-Practitioner - Christopher “Hareesh” Wallis

    In this episode, I am joined by Dr Christopher “Hareesh” Wallis, a Sanskritist and scholar-practitioner of Classical Tantra. Christopher recounts his unusual upbringing, early meetings with Osho and Muktananda, early shaktipat experiences, and powerful spiritual awakenings. Christopher traces his educational journey under professors such as Douglas Brooks and Alexis G. J. S. Sanderson, offers his opinions about optimal pedagogy for Sanskrit language study, and questions lineage claims made in Tibetan Buddhism. Christopher also considers the tension between religious faith and academic skepticism, explains why he thinks it is possible to receive spiritual benefit from corrupt gurus, and descries why he believes spiritual awakening leads to a deep trust in the unfolding of life. … Video version: www.guruviking.com Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:57 - An unusual family of origin 03:28 - Mother’s conversion to Hinduism 03:50 - Meeting Osho and Swami Muktananda 05:17 - Awakening experience at 16 years old 05:55 - Attraction to Tantric Shaivism 07:35 - Academic training and intellectual infatuation 09:00 - Multiple teachers 10:13 - Seeing through intellectual ego 12:57 - Teenage rebellion and psychedelics 14:44 - Love of sci fi and fantasy 17:05 - Siddha yoga shaktipat 18:33 - Gurumayi Chidvilasananda 20:33 - Heart opening shaktipat 24:01 - Saint or psychopath? 28:26 - The guru’s shadow 30:18 - Transmission from a disgraced guru 32:25 - No single objective reality 35:32 - No doubts despite guru’s flaws 38:18 - Has Christopher missed the point? 39:53 - Parsing subjective certainty 41:55 - A belief but not really 43:21 - Innate intelligence and trusting the unfolding of life 46:50 - Harmonising with the pattern 50:17 - Don’t pretend to be more enlightened that you are 51:56 - The same awakening as the Buddha’s 54:22 - Waking up out of your tradition 55:32 - Agnosticism about reincarnation 57:29 - BA at Rochester 01:00:53 - Alexis G. J. S. Sanderson 01:05:40 - Great professors at Rochester 01:08:22 - Learning Sanskrit 01:11:12 - Art of translation 01:13:27 - Sanskrit pedagogy 01:16:42 - Christopher’s approach to teaching Sanskrit 01:21:19 - Why learn Sanskrit? 01:24:10 - Parallel primer method 01:26:06 - Does academia ruin religious faith? 01:30:39 - Mantra disillusionment 01:34:40 - Disillusionment with saints and siddhas 01:38:10 - Religious professors 01:39:13 - Debunking tantric lineage claims 01:42:05 - Did Tibetan Buddhists fabricated their lineages? 01:43:10 - Tantric Shaivism as a living tradition 01:46:16 - Is Christopher a lineage holder? 01:48:04 - Critique of lineage holders and lamas … To find our more about Dr Wallis visit: - https://hareesh.org/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

    1h 51m
  2. Ep345: Against the Stream Magick, Awakening, & Crowley - Alan Chapman & Duncan Barford

    JAN 23

    Ep345: Against the Stream Magick, Awakening, & Crowley - Alan Chapman & Duncan Barford

    In this episode I am joined by British occultists, authors, and creative collaborators Alan Chapman and Duncan Barford. Alan and Duncan reflect on their decades of shared magickal practice and creative collaboration. They recall their first meeting at the secret society the “Illuminates of Thanateros” and muse on the gatekeeping and status games of the Chaos magick scene. They explain why they feel their emphasis on awakening and association with Buddhist writer and self-proclaimed arhat Daniel Ingram has contributed to their being shunned by leading figures in British occultism. Alan and Duncan take a deep dive into their controversial new understanding of Aleister Crowley, address criticism levelled at them, and reveal the idealogical mistake that drove Alan to withdraw one of his biggest public projects. Alan and Duncan also share their current practices, detail how to develop visionary capability, give their best understanding about how magick really works, and offer their advice for those who wish to enter the path of Western occultism. … Video: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep345-magick-awakening-crowley-alan-chapman-duncan-barford Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - Meeting at an occult secret society 06:29 - Formative experiences of group magick 07:36 - Should you join the IoT? 07:53 - The importance of group magick 08:19 - Timidity in magickal practice 10:20 - What does magick have to do with enlightenment? 12:03 - Jealousy in spiritual circles 14:38 - Peter Carroll vs Neoplatonism 17:11 - Alan and Duncan’s contribution to Chaos Magick 19:07 - Feuds between religionists 20:33 - What kind of person is drawn to Chaos Magick? 22:25 - Gatekeeping and status games 23:10 - The best thing about Chaos Magicians 25:45 - Bad uses of Chaos Magick 28:38 - Being ignored by the magickal community 29:24 - Why were Alan and Duncan ignored? 30:!4 - Controversial association with Daniel Ingram 31:54 - Why did Peter Carroll dislike Alan and Duncan? 33:01 - How to understand magickal results and synchronicities 36:46 - How Duncan’s practice has changed over time 40:13- Awakening and the structure of things 43:16 - Alan’s current practice 43:57 - The everyday as a basis 45:07 - How to get started in magick 52:35 - Permission and confidence 53:41 - Developing visionary capability 54:55 - Alan’s understanding of the path 01:00:32 - Pinnacle of practical magick 01:01:46 - Duncan’s Goddess vision 01:03:14 - The basis of the path 01:07:50 - How magick works 01:09:00 - Criticism of Alan abandoning projects 01:16:14 - Sigmund Freud 01:16:57 - Why do people criticise Alan? 01:18:56 - One thing that really annoys Alan 01:20:53 - Resentment and psychological shadow 01:22:43 - Malevolence and denying enlightenment 01:29:26 - A dark occult conference experience 01:31:20 - Envy and counter-initiation 01:33:51 - Creative journey 01:35:49 - The toxic belief in cultural progress 01:39:38 - Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory 01:41:10 - Daniel Ingram’s pivot to science 01:42:19 - The spirit of the times 01:44:08 - Realising cultural chauvinism 01:49:53 - Desire to do something else 01:51:30 - Source of many problems 01:53:23 - The Crowley project 02:01:15 - Alan’s academic approach 02:03:53 - Legal challenges 02:06:34 - Crowley on Chinese wisdom 02:09:05 - Dao De Jing 02:17:24 - Misunderstandings about the Dao De Jing 02:19:03 - Jung’s (mis?)undersanding of Asian classics 02:21:06 - Western alchemy and spirit writing 02:23:19 - Two kinds of researchers 02:290:02 - Life of Aleister Crowley 02:31:28 - The Inner Church 02:33:28 - The Bornless Rite 02:35:18 - The Book of the Law 02:45:24 - Crossing the abyss 02:47:39 - Mad or enlightened? 02:52:20 - Liber 31 02:53:53 - Crowley’s failures 02:55:57 - Jung and Philip K Dick 02:56:41 - Controversial take on Crowley 03:00:48 - Why follow Crowley’s path? Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

    3h 5m
  3. Ep344: Nepali Buddhist Nun - Guruma Dhamma Vijaya

    JAN 16

    Ep344: Nepali Buddhist Nun - Guruma Dhamma Vijaya

    In this episode, filmed on location in Kathmandu, Nepal, I am joined by Buddhist nun Guruma Dhamma Vijaya. Guruma recalls her childhood in Kathmandu Valley, the religious life of her Newar Vajrayāna family, and why she turned to Theravāda Buddhism and took ordination as a nun. Guruma recounts her extensive training in Mahasi and Goenka meditation styles, compares tantric techniques to ānāpānassati, and offers her understanding of the essence of Buddhist teaching. Guruma details her educational journey, describes her life-changing encounter with feminism while studying in the USA, and tells the story of obtaining a PhD on the subject of Buddhist Feminism. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep344-nepali-buddhist-nun-guruma-dhamma-vijaya Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - Homage to Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha 01:54 - Blessing and welcome 02:33 - Question etiquette in different cultures 03:17 - Guruma’s Newar childhood in Kathmandu Valley 06:11 - Guruma’s education pathway to PhD 06:36 - Family dynamics 07:30 - First meeting with Buddhist nuns 09:46 - From Vajrayāna to Theravāda 11:12 - Desire to be a nun 12:48 - Attending a teaching by the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya 13:54 - The loss of the bhikkhunī ordination lineage 14:28 - Becoming a nun 17:54 - 4 years of study in Taiwan 19:20 - Meditation and further studies in Burma and India 20:02 - Studying meditation under Mahasi Sayadaw and S.N. Goenka 26:37 - Mahasi vs Goenka 27:37 - 4 points of Goenka meditation 29:10 - Ānāpānassati meditation is the Buddha’s teaching 29:55 - Guruma’s practie 30:51 - Vajrayāna vs Theravāda 36:27 - Body mantras and Vajrayāna threats 39:15 - Choosing Ānāpānassati over Vajrayāna 43:23 - Freedom from suffering 45:38 - The essence of Buddhist teaching 47:25 - Encountering feminism 54:58 - Messy status of nuns in Nepal 01:03:02 - Theravāda revival 01:05:39 - Tragic reason why Guruma’s teacher became a nun 01:08:14 - Buddhist pilgrimage sites 01:08:54 - Life is precious and exhortation to practice 01:1341 - Dedication prayer and blessing … Kathmandu Interviews playlist: - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknwvU82dU487LhF_mF4AkGek&si=4U8rRVEHKA4Z28oF Find out more about Guruma here: - http://tartaruspress.com/russell-rampa.html - https://www.arthurmachen.org.uk/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

    1h 16m
  4. Ep343: The Mystic Arthur Machen - RB Russell

    JAN 9

    Ep343: The Mystic Arthur Machen - RB Russell

    R.B. Russell, author and founder of Tartarus Press, takes us on a deep dive into the life and works of Welsh author and mystic Arthur Machen.  Ray traces the religious life of Machen, his involvement with the occult society the Golden Dawn, and his friendship with famed occultist A.E. Waite. Ray details Machen’s fascination with the esoteric symbolism of the Grail mythology; his role in originating and spreading the supernatural, urban myth of the Bowman; and impact of his notorious horror-fantasy novella ”The Great God Pan”. Ray also shares his reflections on literary theory, the various interpretations of Shakespeare, and the prevalence of psychoanalytic readings of classic genre fiction. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep343-the-mystic-arthur-machen-rb-russell Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:07 - First encounter with the works of Arthur Machen 05:25 - Hill of Dreams and an abiding interest 06:21 - Mysteries of Machen 07:12 - Life of Arthur Machen 09:29 - Involvement with occultism 17:11 - The Great God Pan 22:19 - Machen, Lovecraft, and the mystical 26:17 - Reflections on literary theory 27:26 - Why so many psychoanalytic readings of horror? 29:13 - Historicism vs textualism 31:40 - Shakespeare and classic vs modern productions 34:38 - The Great God Pan needs to be Victorian 35:25 - Machen’s involvement in the Golden Dawn 38:43 - Grail Myth as a spiritual path and an early Welsh church 39:26 - Friendship with occultist A.E. Waite 40:05 - The Great Return and the evolution of awe 43:41 - Why were so many writers fascinated by the Grail Myth and King Arthur? 46:15 - Esoteric symbolism of the Grail 48:52 - Links to Roman Britain 49:58 - Machen’s Oxford disappointment and subsequent work 53:05 - The Bowmen and urban myths 57:28 - Reading vs collecting books 01:02:27 - Ray’s prized item and Machen collection 01:03:34 - Tartarus Press and Machen publishing projects 01:05:28 - Friends of Arthur Machen society 01:07:06 - Faunus journal 01:07:22 - Where to start with Machen for those interested in the occult and mysticism … Previous episode with Ray: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/p319-mystery-of-t-lobsang-rampa-rb-russell Find out more about Ray here: - http://tartaruspress.com/russell-rampa.html - https://www.arthurmachen.org.uk/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

    1h 10m
  5. Ep342: Ānāpānassati - Dhammarato

    JAN 2

    Ep342: Ānāpānassati - Dhammarato

    In this episode, I am once again joined by Dhammarato: a lineage teacher in the Thai Buddhist tradition who is known for his unique, 1-1 teaching conversations conducted with students online.  Dhammarato guides us through the Ānāpānassatisutta, a much loved scripture which describes Buddhism’s famous breath meditation practice. Dhammarato describes the technique in detail, challenges common misconceptions about this practice and the sutta, and explains how the whole Buddhist path is contained within it. Dhammarato also argues that loving kindness meditations and remembering past lives are not Buddhist practices, addresses jhana and other meditation practice mistakes, and reflects on the fruits of his own practice when faced with illness and physical pain. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep342-npnassati-dhammarato Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. ... Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:52 - Various breathing meditations 02:28 - MN 118: Ānāpānassatisutta - about the sutta 04:58 - 4 foundations of mindfulness 05:37 - Factors of Enlightenment 06:39 - Mistaken readings of the sutta 08:01 - Critique of loving kindness meditation 10:12 - Sitting meditation vs ānāpānassati 11:22 - Sati vs loving kindness meditation and recalling past lives 13:00 - Right noble looking 13:55 - Entering the first jhana and gladdening the mind 17:19 - Victim attitude 19:31 - How to make the body comfortable 22:36 - The skill of developing sukha, satisfaction 26:02 - Thoughts, feelings, and body are interrelated 27:35 - Ānāpānassati is not a breathing meditation 28:42 - Pragmatic Dharma vs Engaged Buddhism 30:25 - How to apply ānāpānassati 33:27 - The first step of nobility 36:22 - A feeling of success 39:14 - Attaining knowledge and deliverance 41:58 - Common jhana practice mistakes 46:52 - Loving kindness meditation mistakes 51:50 - Metta is a consequence not a practice 53:06 - Vipassanā vs samatha 57:10 - Explaining other Buddhist masters’ enlightenments 59:23 - Comments on Ajahn Chah and correct practice 01:01:53 - Working with pain and sickness 01:03:06 - Cancer and meditation 01:05:31 - Dhammarato’s aging and health 01:06:03 - Criticism of Goenka and sitting through pain 01:07:11 - Magical thinking of sitting through pain 01:08:28 - Advice for approaching death 01:10:53 - Dhammarato reflects on the deaths of his loved ones 01:13:37 - How to die happy 
Dhammarato Episode Playlist - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=DHAMMARATO To find out more about Dhammarato, visit: - Email: dhammaratog@gmail.com - Discord: https://discord.gg/epphTGY - https://dhammaratoblog.wordpress.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxg5GJFsRqnS-YLTzyrjLQ Read the Ānāpānassatisutta: - https://suttacentral.net/mn118/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin … For more interviews, videos, and more visit. - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

    1h 19m
  6. Ep341: Guru Viking Poetry Stream [Bonus Episode] - John Brehm and Henry Shukman

    12/28/2025

    Ep341: Guru Viking Poetry Stream [Bonus Episode] - John Brehm and Henry Shukman

    In this bonus episode, I share with you a Guru Viking remix video created by Zakery Mizell from the Youtube channel Zakery Mizell. Zakery’s channel focuses on knowledge and beauty and he has made several videos commenting on and even remixing episodes of the Guru Viking podcast. When I came across his remixes, I enjoyed his approach very much and we agreed to share his work here. In this video, Zakery records a five hour livestream sharing his perspectives on various Guru Viking poetry episodes. I will also share another of his Guru Viking videos in which Zakery remixes my poetry interviews with poets John Brehm and Henry Shukman, rearranging the material and adding his own visual effects to create a new interpretation of that episode. So look out for that video on the Guru Viking channel too. Find out more about Zakery: - https://www.youtube.com/@ZakeryMizell Watch the original Guru Viking episodes used in Zakery’s videos: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep274-poetry-the-sacred-henry-shukman-john-brehm - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep230-the-dharma-of-poetry-john-brehm For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

    5h 15m
  7. Ep340: Poetry and the Sacred Remix [Bonus Episode] - John Brehm and Henry Shukman

    12/27/2025

    Ep340: Poetry and the Sacred Remix [Bonus Episode] - John Brehm and Henry Shukman

    In this bonus episode, I share with you a Guru Viking remix video created by Zakery Mizell from the Youtube channel Zakery Mizell. Zakery’s channel focuses on knowledge and beauty and he has made several videos commenting on and even remixing episodes of the Guru Viking podcast. When I came across his remixes, I enjoyed his approach very much and we agreed to share his work here. In this video, Zakery remixes my poetry interviews with poets John Brehm and Henry Shukman, rearranging the material and adding visual effects to create a new interpretation of that episode. I will also share another of his Guru Viking videos in which he records a five hour livestream sharing his perspectives on various episodes. So look out for that video on the Guru Viking channel too. Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep340-poetry-and-the-sacred-remix-bonus-episode-john-brehm-and-henry-shukman ... Find out more about Zakery: https://www.youtube.com/@ZakeryMizell Watch the original Guru Viking episodes used in Zakery’s videos: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep274-poetry-the-sacred-henry-shukman-john-brehm - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep230-the-dharma-of-poetry-john-brehm For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

    1h 51m
  8. Ep339: Christmas & the Winter Solstice - Dr Thomas Clough Daffern

    12/26/2025

    Ep339: Christmas & the Winter Solstice - Dr Thomas Clough Daffern

    In this interview I am joined by Dr Thomas Clough Daffern, philosopher, educator, peace activist, and peace officer for the Council of British Druid Orders. Dr Daffern explains the meaning of Christmas and the Winter Solstice, reflects on cyclic time and indigenous wisdom, and shares his own recent reckonings with death and loss. Dr Daffern reveals the esoteric and mythic symbolism of the Christmas tree, mistletoe, gift giving, and even Father Christmas himself. Dr Daffern also shares his thoughts on the current world situation, why he is an optimist about the future of civilisation, and why he believes it is the moral duty of those with knowledge and power to share it with the world. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep339-christmas-the-winter-solstice-dr-thomas-clough-daffern Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - How Thomas spends this time of year 03:02 - The worst year of Thomas’ life 04:19 - Death of Thomas’ daughter 07:30 - Reckoning with death 10:14 - What the traditions say about the current world situation 12:14 - Druids and cyclical time 12:52 - Increasing wisdom in the world 13:18 - Sophia-phobia 15:11 - Why Thomas is an optimist about the future 18:07 - The meaning of Winter Solstice 18:12 - Christmas and Mithraism 19:34 - Megalithic civilisations and prehistorical religion 25:39 - The Golden Bough and indigenous European wisdom 26:54 - Death and rebirth 29:21 - Rituals and symbols of Christmas 31:23 - Symbolism of the Christmas tree 33:34 - The meaning of “Christmas” 34:31 - Symbolism of mistletoe 35:40 - Symbolism of present giving 36:37 - Thomas comments on peace in the Middle East 37:59 - Is symbolism and the esoteric only for an elite minority? 41:29 - The aristocratic hippy and sharing wisdom 42:37 - The moral duty to share knowledge and power 44:52 - Symbolism of Father Christmas / Santa Claus 46:15 - Concluding thoughts … Previous episodes with Dr Thomas Clough Daffern: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=daffern … To find our more about Dr Thomas Clough Daffern, visit: - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-clough-daffern-phd-6a3463a - https://interfaithpeacetreaty.wordpress.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

    47 min
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4.7
out of 5
102 Ratings

About

The Guru Viking Podcast specializes in in-depth interviews with remarkable figures in the world of meditation, spirituality, and self development. Steve travels internationally teaching somatic practices and meditation, and leads explorations in contemplative, mystic, & relational realms.

Information

  • Creator
    Guru Viking
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    369
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Guru Viking Podcast

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