Guru Viking Podcast

In this episode I am once again joined by Victor Shiryaev a teacher of Buddhist and modern meditation and somatic practices.

Victor traces a contemplative history of modern Russia from the days of the esotericism and Orientalism of the Russian Empire, through the religious restrictions of the Soviet Union, the New Age spiritual fervour of the 1990s, and the Westernisation of recent times.

Victor considers whether Russia was a mission field for spiritual groups such as the Diamond Way, details the different Buddhist sects active in the country, describes how meditation is viewed in Russian culture today, and reflects on the relationship between globalist Buddhist sects and heritage Buddhist groups of the region.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep350-contemplative-history-of-modern-russia-victor-shiryaev-2

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:49 - Why a contemplative history of modern Russia?
05:49 - Russian interest in the East and esotericism
07:54 - Buddhist regions of Russia
08:39 - Catherine the Great and empire
10:08 - Persecution of religion under the Soviet Union
11:14 - New Age and spiritual revival in the 1990s
15:22 - Current scene
16:30 - Westernised spirituality in Russia
21:58 - The self publishing movement
23:32 - How the scene became Westernised
27:12 - Shambala and post-Soviet Russia as a mission field
36:21 - Tibetan Buddhism in Russia today
39:40 - Other Buddhist and mindfulness groups in Russia
41:43 - Vipassana and the lack of a retreat scene
45:41 - Heritage Buddhists vs the new Buddhists
56:21 - Russian esotericism and the Soviet Union
01:04:41 - How is meditation viewed in Russia today?
01:12:06 - Modern mindfulness in Russia
01:13:00 - Russian Orthodox Christianity and the future of Buddhism in Russia

Previous episode with Victor Shiryaev:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=shiryaev

To find out more about Victor Shiryaev, visit:
- https://victorshiryaev.co/

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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 Alex W, long term practitioner of Zen, Pragmatic Dharma, and Western Occultism.

Alex takes a deep dive into the world of magick to compare esoteric systems from around the world including Western Occultism, Tibetan Buddhism, Indian Tantric and Goddess systems, Santeria and more.

Alex gives a history of the development of Western Occultism, exploring the Egyptian mysteries, Neoplatonism, Catholic mysticism, Kabbalah, Shi’ism, Wicca, the Golden Dawn, Thelema, Chaos Magic and beyond.

Alex discusses esoteric techniques such spellcraft, opening the psychic senses, working with entities, mantra, yantra, alchemy, astrology, and divination. He considers the tension between natural talent and practiced skill, reviews strategies for protection against curses and entity oppression, and recounts his own path as a practitioner of the occult.

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Full episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep349-deep-dive-into-magick-alex-w

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:09 - History of magick
06:08 - Christianity as a reinterpretation of Egyptian mysteries of Osiris
06:40 - Syncretism of the Golden Dawn
08:48 - Thelema
09:50 - English vs French magick
11:10 - Wicca
12:55 - Chaos Magic
16:04 - Belief and manifestation
19:26 - Theory vs practice
20:52 - Neoplatonism
22:54 - Kabbalah
29:09 - Shi’ism, Sufism, and the Church fathers
30:42 - Renaissance
32:36 - Not superstition?
33:53 - Alex’s magick path
35:32 - Training under Alan Chapman
38:21 - Scrying and the Holy Guardian Angel
40:10 - What is the HGA?
46:04 - The real initiation of Western Occultism
47:37 - Santeria and spirits
51:16- Exploring the Renaissance grimoires
54:56 - Catholic mysticism, angels, and saints
56:25 - Spellcraft
57:25 - Hinduism and Buddhist magick
01:03:33 - Mantra
01:07:29 - Yantras and Indo-European astrology
01:10:15 - Tantra as a ritual process to effect change and invoke spirits
01:11:34 - Ramnath Aghori Baba 
01:12:51 - How Goddess traditions work
01:19:13 - Initiated by Kālī and the Dark Feminine
01:25:21 - Opening the psychic senses
01:27:19 - Kālī, Chinnamastā, and the Dark Feminine
01:30:41 - Hecate
01:33:10 - Dark spirits, ḍākinīs, and the 64 yogis
01:37:19 - Network of friends
01:41:06 - Past lives
01:42:38 - Astrology
01:46:12 - Which practice is right for you?
01:47:42 - Alchemy
01:48:46 - Why practice magick?
01:53:14 - Divination and protection against curses
01:54:28 - 3 magickal self defence methods
02:02:10 - How common are curses?
02:05:26 - Why seek the Western Tradition?
02:12:08 - Indian vs Tibetan tantra
02:15:29 - Is magick well understood?
02:20:34 - Talent, lineage, and technique
02:22:44 - Crowley’s birthchart
02:27:32 - Alan & Duncan’s relationship
02:29:08 - Dangers
02:35:089 - Spiritual psychosis
02:37:50 - Devotion

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Previous episodes with Alex W:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=alex

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode, I am joined by Jensen Martin, a scholar-practitioner and PhD student at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.

Jensen recalls how his childhood experiences playing the World of Warcraft and reading fantasy books awakened a deep longing for real experiences of magick and shamanism, how reading spiritual biographies inspired him become a live-in member of the Self Realisation Fellowship, and how trips in India drew him to the practice of bhakti.

Jensen recounts powerful visions of Narasiṃha and Egyptian gods, transformative darśanas with Indian gurus such as Amma the Hugging Saint, and experiments with the power of mantra recitation.

Jensen also describes his deep dive into psychedelic use, reveals his extensive experience with ayahuasca, and details his journey to a full-scholarship PhD at the Graduate Theological Union.


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Video version: www.guruviking.com

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:07 - Narasiṃha
01:52 - Jensen’s childhood
02:50 - Drawn to shamanism through World of Warcraft
04:41 - Reading about shamanism and pagan religion
06:17 - Inspired by fantasy and World of Warcraft
09:48 - Lucid dreaming practice and animal totems
12:42 - Reading “Autobiography of a Yogi”
14:35 - Move to Humboldt county to pursue samadhi in nature
15:45 - Experimenting with substances
16:48 - Living at the Self Realisation Fellowship and time in India
20:55 - Masters degree in Yoga Studies
21:36 - Thirst for magickal experiences
27:50 - Living hand to mouth
29:33 - Jensen’s practice regime
32:00 - Hassidic Judaism, Orthodox Christianity, and Amma Sri Mātā Amritānandamayī Devi 
35:35 - Academic studies
37:09 - Powerful darśana from Amma Sri Karunamayi
40:38 - Further trips to India and practicing bhakti
42:36 - Encounter with Narasimha
46:38 - Attending the 2019 Kumbh Mela
50:00 - Dream of Egyptian Narasimha connections
54:41 - Extreme sickness and vision of Narasimha
01:02:52 - Meeting Dhruva Gorrick
01:04:37 - Powerful encounter with Amma the hugging saint
01:08:52 - Why not to share significant spiritual experiences
01:10:00 - Going deep with ayahuasca and other psychedelics
01:23:18 - Mantras coming alive
01:24:54 - High frequency of psychedelic trips
01:25:58 - Work as park ranger
01:26:54 - Negative ayahuasca experiences and magickal attack
01:39:47 - Encountering Narasimha on ayahuasca
01:49:37 - A new theme for Jensen’s ayahuasca ceremonies
01:57:02 - Lineage spirits commanded Jensen to stop ayahuasca
01:57:38 - Further visions
01:59:05 - Encountering Vishnu and further pleas to stop taking ayahuasca
02:07:27 - Return to Amma and Narasimha initiation
02:08: 42 - Receiving a PhD scholarship to study Narasimha
02:15:41 - Still drinking ayahuasca
02:19:52 - Uniqueness of the human body
02:21:02 - Borrowing psychic power and astral contracts
02:29:46 - Why does Jensen keep using ayahuasca despite warnings?

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To find our more about Jensen Martin visit:
- https://www.instagram.com/jensen_sudarshan/

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 Buddhist teacher and doctor of Tibetan Medicine Dr Nida Chenagtsang and adult psychiatrist and family and systemic psychotherapist Dr Caroline Van Damme.

Drs Nida and Caroline reflect on a half decade of collaboration in which they have explored the meeting of Western psychology and psychiatry with Tibetan medical and Buddhist models.

They discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each others’ systems, consider placebo as an explanatory mechanism for traditional health systems, question the benefits of an over-therapised culture, and contrast Tibetan and European approaches to knowledge.

Drs Nida and Caroline also discuss the role of traditional ideas of spirit possession in today’s clinical contexts, share anecdotes of exorcisms and psychosis, and offer their best insights and techniques to truly nurture the mind.

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Link in bio.

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:04 - How did their collaboration begin?
02:38 - Dr Nida’s long standing interest in Western Psychology
06:38 - Meeting Dr Caroline
08:30 - Sowa Rigpa Counsellor Course
13:23 - The power of individualised therapy
16:14 - Reflections on Buddhist psychology and Sowa Rigpa
22:23 - Trauma and childhood conditioning
23:52 - Tibetan vs European ways of thinking
28:50 - Industrial revolution, scientism, and mind-body dualism
30:43 - Open-mindedness when working with psychotic patients
33:04 - Family therapy
36:57 - Weaknesses of Tibetan medicine
42:59 - Traditional medicine leans into placebo
45:46 - Do malevolent spirits cause psychological illnesses?
46:54 - African cultural ideas about spirits and black magic
47:40 - Do exorcisms cause further trauma?
53:12- Dr Nida reflects on the strengths of Western Psychology
57:05 - Too much digging for trauma
58:49 - European Garden vs Tibetan Forest
01:03:23 - Psychological illness from a spirit-influence perspective
01:05:04 - Exorcism rituals as a psychological tool
01:08:01 - Machig Labdron and the greatest evil spirit
01:08:40 - Using spirit-beliefs to encourage personal hygiene
01:09:23 - Exposure therapy
01:11:53 - A Canadian account of possession
01:14:32 - Dr Nida’s African patients
01:15:33 - A ghost story case study
01:21:04 - Duty of care
01:23:00 - The importance of sleep
01:27:54 - Nurturing the mind
01:33:42 - Blaming parents
01:36:55 - Compassion vs positivity
01:39:30 - Attributing everything to childhood trauma
01:42:09 - “Nurturing the Mind” online course

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To find out more about “Nurturing the Mind: A Dialogue between a Psychiatrist & a Yogi“, visit:
- https://www.sowarigpainstitute.org/course/nurturing-the-mind

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Previous episodes with Dr Nida Chenagtsang:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=nida

Previous episodes with Dr Caroline van Damme:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=caroline

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Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

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.

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Video version: www.guruviking.com

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

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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

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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