Guru Viking Podcast

In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Francisco José Luis, scholar of Indo-Iranian Studies and Comparative Religion trained at the Sorbonne, Paris and SOAS, London.

Francisco shares his research into the links between Indian and Tibetan tantric practices and the mystical teachings of Shi’ite Islam, reveals the prevalence of lucid dreaming techniques in antiquity, and emphasises the importance of the Silk Road in transmitting esoteric knowledge between civilisations.

Francisco discusses the Islamic yogi, Jâbir ibn Ḥayyān; traces the historical tensions between the scholarly, jurist factions and mystics within Shi’ism; and asserts that Iranian Buddhism was a key part of the Islamic Golden Age.

Francisco also argues for significant Islamic influence on Buddhism, the need for a sense of civilisational greatness, and why he believes the time has to come to reignite sacred chivalry.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep354-islamic-mysticism-tantric-buddhism-francisco-jose-luis

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Lucid dreaming techniques in a 19th century Shi’ite text
03:34 - The focal point of the Shi’ite tradition
04:28 - 4 volume Shi’ite encyclopaedia of dreams
06:21 - Links between Tibetan and Shi’ite dream yoga techniques
08:01 - Silk road, Gandhāra, and the internationalisation of Buddhism
09:07 - Jâbir ibn Ḥayyān, the Islamic alchemist and “Buddhist yogi”
11:06 - Iranian Buddhist influence on the Golden Age of Islam
14:26 - The rise of the scholar
16:20 - Islamic influence on Buddhism
17:04 - Practice over dogma in Oḍḍiyāna
19:11 - The influence of Classical Greece
19:51 - Lucid dreaming in antiquity
22:27 - Hesychasm: a Christian breath, body, and mind meditation
25:16 - A prophet is always awake
26:19 - Rosary and the influence of Christianity on Islam
28:01 - Lucid dreaming and the Desert Fathers
31:54 - Sleep deprivation to achieve mystical states
37:51 - Bardo ideas and the Iranian worldview
40:49 - Monastic routine and lucid dreaming
42:57 - Tasks to complete in the dream
43:28 - Angelic possession and contacting the Imam in dreams
50:28 - Is mystical Shi’ism practiced today?
58:22 - Francisco’s initiation and anti-mystical, Occidental materialism
59:20 - Political Shi’ism
01:01:41 - Attachment to matter to the detriment of spirit
01:02:07 - The need for the spirit for civilisational greatness
01:04:13 - Francisco’s mentoring
01:07:14 - Reigniting sacred chivalry
01:08:07 - Plato, Evola, and Traditionalism
01:10:19 - Use of the letter “a” in Shi’ite mysticism and other tantric similarities
01:11:13 - Entheogen use in Iranian mysticism
01:12:06 - Francisco’s mushroom trip
01:13:23 - Francisco’s aims
01:15:22 - Reading recommendations: Henry Corbin and Mostafa Vaziri
01:19;18 - Buddhism in Iran

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Previous episodes with Dr Francisco José Luis:
- https://www.guruviking.com/

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

In this episode I am once again joined by Rebekah Sturgill, mother, school teacher, and convert to Orthodox Christianity.

Rebekah discusses the contemplative methods of Orthodox Christianity; shares one of the tradition’s core practices, the Jesus Prayer; and discusses the importance of the liturgical year.

Rebekah explorex the phenomenology of a felt sense of Christ, explains the ideal of theosis, and reveals why the imagination is discouraged in Orthodox practice.

Rebekah also details the Orthodox view on demons, compares it to popular depictions in books and films, and offers her own experience of the supernatural dimensions of the spiritual war for the human will.

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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
00:48 - Practice of Orthodox Christianity
03:37 - Time, community, and individual practice
10:51 - Learning how to be an Orthodox Christian
13:50 - The Jesus Prayer
16:11 - Against the imaginal
17:11 - Breathing practice in the Jesus Prayer
18:51 - Focusing on Christ
22:17 - A felt sense of Christ
24:38 - Phenomenology of meditation
26:49 - False vision and dangers of the imagination
29:50 - Warnings and special experiences
32:29 - Community as a check on spiritual pride
33:52 - Theosis and the goal of Orthodox Christian practice
38:36 - The heat of God
40:42 - Ethics and positive behavioural change
44:57 - The ethical ideal of Christ
47:18 - Angels, demons, and supernatural entities
51:08 - Screwtape Letters and the ontology of demons
53:59 - Theories of demonology
55:35 - War for the human will
58:56 - Levels of understanding
01:01:41 - How much should catechumens be taught about demons?
01:06:00 - Orthodoxy is in vogue

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Previous episode with Rebekah Sturgill:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=sturgill

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this interview, filmed at Oxford University, I am once again joined by Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, a 35th generation tantric priest in a centuries old Newar Buddhist family lineage and master of the religious dance tradition of Charya Nritya.

Prajwal explains the use of mudrā and movement to embody enlightenment and teaches a full sequence of movement and mantra to use in daily practice when taking refuge.

Prajwal explains the four levels of Mahāmudrā in Newar Buddhism, offers methods to build compassion in community, and gives his advice on how to practice well.

Prajwal also shares Jātaka tales for every day wisdom and reveals the role of magic in Newar Buddhism.

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Video versions: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep352-mahmudr-of-newar-buddhism-prajwal-ratna-vajracharya

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:51 - Newar Buddhism and what Prajwal has been doing at Oxford University
03:03 - Dancing and singing for enlightenment
04:33 - Embodying enlightenment
08:02 - Methods of enlightenment
09:04 - Mahāmudrā in Newar Buddhism
23:25 - 4 levels of Mahāmudrā
25:45 - Body as mudrā
31:55 - Integrated mudrā
32:37 - Mudrā in the Buddha’s life
35:30 - How to practice well
40:10 - Compassion is built in community
43:49 - Prajwal explains the mudrā sequence used in taking refuge
52:21 - Demonstration of refuge mudrā and chant practice
54:14 - 5 emotions
55:04 - Further reflections on mudrā and Mahāmudrā
57:07 - Jātaka tale + everything is a mudrā
01:00:58 - Encouragement to practice
01:03:13 - Newar magick
01:05:27 - Anuttarayogatantra

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Previous episodes with Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=prajwal

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 Alana Fairchild, spiritual teacher, psychic, and author of the best-selling Kuan Yin Oracle Deck.

Alana recalls her spiritual apprenticeship, initial failed attempts to work as a psychic, and what it takes to make it as a new age entrepreneur.

Alana describes the tension between following one’s intuition and getting things done, why even spiritual teachers need to work when they don’t feel like it, and how she deals with negative feedback.

Alana also discusses her love of myth, a return to matriarchy, and her deep connection with Kālī Mā and the Dark Feminine.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep351-psychic-entrepreneur-alana-fairchild

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

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Apprenticeship under a psychic
03:00 - Initial work as a psychic
04:21 - Early challenges
05:31 - Spiritual intuition vs getting things done
09:06 - Business success in spirituality sector
09:36 - Alana’s creative and business process
13:04 - Intuition vs whim when getting things done
17:41 - Working even when you don’t feel like it
19:37 - Trope of the ”full body yes”
20:06 - Divine masculine and feminine
25:27 - Dealing with negative feedback
26:09 - Triggered by masculine energy
27:06 - Polarised by Mother Mary
30:51 - Myth and anthropology
31:45 - Return to matriarchy
33:48 - Which myths resonate with Alana?
35:33 - Alana’s mother complex
38:05 - Alana’s masculine energy
39:38 - Failed attempts to become a professional psychic
42:08 - Overcoming the fear of financial insecurity
44:!4 - Career success as a psychic, spiritual teacher, and author
46:05 - Commodification of spirituality
50:35 - Connection with Kālī Mā and the Dark Feminine
01:02:55 - How Alana communicates with Kālī Mā
01:07:18 - Concluding remarks

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Previous episode with Alana Fairchild:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=fairchild

To find our more about Alana Fairchild visit:
- https://www.alanafairchild.com/

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 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