Ep287: Dawn of Mind - James Cooke PhD

In this episode I am joined by Dr James Cooke, Oxford-trained neuroscientist, spiritual teacher, and author of “Dawn of Mind: How Matter Became Conscious and Alive”. James recounts how, at aged 13, an existential crisis driven by fear of hell saw him emerge into a profound mystical opening. James shares the radical changes he experienced and traces his subsequent years spent exploring and integrating this spiritual breakthrough. James recalls his improbable journey to winning a place at Oxford University, discusses the remarkable overlaps he found there between cutting-edge neuroscience and his own awakening, and reveals the social structures of elite education in the UK. James details the arduous and often overlooked post-awakening work of surrendering egoic structures and releasing attachments, explains why enlightenment is both a gain and a loss, and reflects on the challenges of teaching nonduality as a natural mystic. … Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. 01:07 - Why did James write Dawn of Mind? 03:43 - Making consciousness science accessible 04:41 - Catholic upbringing, an overly conscientious child 05:49 - Disturbed by hell 06:38 - Existential rumination, a crisis of faith 08:27 - Spiritual awakening at age 13 09:54 - Aftermath of James’ awakening 12:59 - Life affirming vs death affirming phases of awakening 15:16 - Letting go of attachments 17:24 - What happened to James’ excessive conscientiousness? 20:00 - Two mistakes about the no-self 21:15 - Freedom from extremes, letting go 23:39 - The dissolving self 24:44 - Is therapy necessary? 26:44 - Meditation as a gradual path 27:15 - Meditation vs therapy 28:37 - Practice in life vs joining a monastery 30:11 - Can a natural mystic really teach others? 32:37 - Alienation through spiritual language 33:21 - Enlightenment as loss 34:27 - 3 types of spiritual teacher 36:30 - James’ profile as a teacher 37:47 - Self-aggrandising nondual teachers 38:38 - Spiritual influences 40:40 - Adyashanti & the end of suffering 42:08 - Buddhist progress of insight model 43:59 - Volatile teenage years 44:57 - Extreme somatic tension 36:25 - Difficult integration phase 47:39 - Oxford University, dealing with pressure 50:26 - How James got into Oxford against all odds 54:07 - Social context of elite education in the UK 56:52 - The Oxford wound 58:11 - The mystic’s mistake, post-awakening 01:00:15 - James’ research path at Oxford 01:01:39 - Opening a path for others + psychedelic experimentation 01:04:13 - James’ last psychedelic trip 01:05:12 - Working with Beliefs 01:07:29 - Unravelling resistance & faking it 01:10:40 - Is there an end to post-awakening work? 01:13:54 - James’ experience of intimate relationships 01:17:25 - Charlatans and why awakening can be off-putting for friends 01:19:30 - Alienating terminology 01:19:48 - Feeling isolated after awakening 01:20:33 - Mimicking awakening, the nondual teaching circuit 01:22:05 - Why did James wait so long to go public 01:25:57 - Reaction of James’ family 01:26:51 - Moral perfection 01:30:37 - Why James doesn’t like the word “enlightenment” 01:31:10 - The problem with “awakening” 01:32:31 - Language phases, changing the lingo 01:33:20 - The Borg and analogies for awakening 01:34:42 - Siddhi, intuition, supernatural powers 01:36:48 - Insecure rockstars, kundalini 01:38:39 - The language game 01:39:11 - Hearing voices, the dramatising brain 01:40:58 - World as a shared hallucination 01:42:45 - Does James suffer? 01:44:56 - Gross vs subtle suffering 01:45:52 - An experience of physical pain 01:47:08 - Meditative austerities vs life practice 01:50:46 - Trainings in equanimity 01:51:49 - Ideas in Dawn of Mind 01:53:20 - An instinct for empowerment 
… To find our more about James Cooke PhD, visit: - https://www.drjamescooke.com/ - https://www.innerspaceinstitute.org/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode, filmed on location in Kathmandu, I am joined by Radha Krishna Upadhyaya, an astrologer, clairvoyant, Kriya Yogi, & disciple of Tibetan Buddhist master Sakya Trizin. Radha Krishna recalls his birth and childhood in Western Nepal, his traditional Brahmanical education & service to great saints, & initiation into his family’s Kuladevata lineage devoted to Mashta Devata. Radha Krishna recounts details of his years in forest retreat, his practice of Kriya Yoga and Advaita Vedanta & the process of purifying the energy channels, & why an encounter with Sakya Trizin radically reoriented his life towards Buddhist practice. Radha Krishna also discusses his own & his family’s history of siddhi powers, his encounters with spiritual beings & mysterious forest creatures, describes his unique astrological method, & shares five observations about the Westerners for whom he has provided divination services. For an explanation of the timestamps, visit episode page at guruviking.com. 01:04 - Benefits of Kora 02:27 - Why make offerings 03:31 - Power of blessed places 05:07 - 4 types of liberation 05:56 - Brahmin birth & upbringing (Q) 06:33 - N 07:31 - E 09:26 - Astrological significance of Panditji’s birth (Q) 09:36 - N 11:05 - E 12:49 - Unusual childhood traits (Q) 13:10 - N 15:02 - E 16:49 - Coming of age & Brahmanical education (N) 17:20 - E 18:40 - Why was Panditji sent? 19:25 - Serving great saints (Q) 19:42 - N 21:55 - E 23:43 - Brahmanical curriculum (Q) 23:47 - N 25:09 - E 25:52 - Initiation into the family Kuladevata lineage (E) 26:59 - Details about the family Kuladevata lineage (Q) 27:23 - N 29:28 - E 30:18 - Receiving guidance from the deity (E) 31:18 - Rites of propitiation of Mashta Devata and the deity as source of knowledge (N) 32:41 - E 34:01 - The deity enters a devotee’s body as a chosen vessel (N) 35:26 - E 36:43 - Panditji’s siddha grandfather (N) 39:23 - E 41:16 - Stories of the power of Mashta Devata (E,N) 46:17 - A story of Śaṅkarācārya’s encounter with Panditji’s grandfather (N,E) 51:23 - Has Mashta Devata ever entered into Panditji? (Q) 51:35 - N 52:31 - E 53:29 - The desire for deeper spiritual practice & retreat (Q) 53:53 - N 57:37 - E 01:00:23 - Encounter with a mysterious forest creature (E) 01:01:31 - Living in the forest, family intervention, & fleeing marriage (N) 01:03:06 - E 01:05:10 - Who was the mysterious forest creature? 01:09:09 - 7 years wandering in India; study of Advaita Vedanta & Kriya Yoga (Q) 01:09:26 - N 01:12:51 - E 01:16:50 - Effects of this period of yogic practice (Q) 01:17:17 - N 01:20:05 - E 01:22:11 - Panditji’s unusual astrology method (Q) 01:22:17 - N 01:23:46 - E 01:26:23 - Sadhana-based astrology lineage (Q) 01:26:29 - N 01:27:26 - E 01:28:24 - Responsibilities & requirements for the siddha practitioner (Q) 01:28:39 - N 01:31:23 - E 01:34:13 - Miraculous siddhi powers of Kriya Yoga & meditation (Q) 01:34:57 - N 01:36:39 - E 01:39:51 - Therapist’s intuition vs perception of karma (N,E) 01:41:04 - Liberating a patient’s karma (Q) 01:41:09 - N 01:41:42 - E 01:42:09 - Meeting Sakya Trizin & a profound turn towards Buddhism (Q) 01:42:34 - N 01:44:13 - E 01:46:51 - Physical pain & other obstacles during inner yoga (Q) 01:47:24 - N 01:48:23 - E 01:49:13 - Why was Panditji open to Sakya Trizen & Buddhism? (Q) 01:49:50 - N 01:51:54 - E 01:53:52 - Gradual opening, despite social cost (N) 01:54:33 - E 01:56:23 - Impressed by Sakya Trizen (Q) 01:56:34 - N 01:57:08 - E 01:58:18 - Did Panditji stop being a Brahmin priest? (Q) 01:58:29 - N 01:59:35 - E 02:00:28 - Dramatic loss of social position (Q) 02:00:42 - N 02:01:40 - E 02:02:18 - Accomplishment in Buddhadharma (Q) 02:02:30 - N 02:02:59 - E 02:03:14 - Explanation of Panditji’s current astrology practice (Q) 02:03:53 - N 02:07:23 - E 02:14:37 - 5 observations about Westerners & Western culture (Q) 02:15:05 - N 02:18:19 - E 02:20:52 - Advice for Steve (Q) 02:21:08 - N 02:22:59 - E

During a recent trip to Nepal, I met with frequent podcast guest Lama Glenn Mullin, spiritual teacher, Tibetologist, and author of over 30 books on Buddhism. Glenn was in Kathmandu to lead a group of over fifty pilgrims into tantric retreat in the nearby mountains and graciously agreed to film with me at various sacred sites before and after their retreat. In this video, Glenn and I travel to Swayambhu Stūpa, a sacred monument venerated by both Buddhists and Hindus. First, we circumambulate the base of the hill. Then Glenn is joined by some of his students and ascends the hill to the main stūpa. Along the way, Glenn explains the history of the site as well as the symbolism of its architecture, sacred statues, and inscriptions. Glenn also discusses Shaivite and Tantric Buddhist relations and their shared power centres, the three kāyas and the tulku tradition, and the use of psychoactive substances such as soma in spiritual practice. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep285-swayambhu-stpa-lama-glenn-mullin Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:10 - History of Swayambhu 04:07 - Recent development at Swayambhu 07:32 - Glenn jokes with the ladies of the cleaning team 09:29 - Legendary origins of the Tibetan people 10:52 - The Tamang people 11:28 - Maoist mountain guerrilla activities 14:51 - Je Tsongkhapa statue 15:28 - The death of the Buddha and the 8 Great Stūpas 16:54 - Glenn explains mantras of compassion, wisdom, and power 17:45 - Sang offerings and sang kilns 19:50 - On Bodhi trees 20:52 - Shaivite and Buddhist relationships and shared power centres 22:29 - Shiva Babas, chillum smoking, and use of drugs in spiritual practice 24:04 - 5 ways to generate clairvoyant power 24:38 - Buddhist use of mind-altering substances and sacraments 26:00 - Bengali masters in Swayambhu 26:56 - Religious exclusivity 29:01 - Use of substances such as soma in tantric Buddhism 31:08 - Nagi Gompa and Tulku Urgyen’s sons 33:10 - Circumambulating a perimeter stūpa 35:09 - The cultural significance of circumambulation 36:00 - Bönpo Triten Norbutse Monastery and dark retreat 37:02 - Teaching on the 3 kāyas 39:29 - Explanation of the tulku tradition 43:44 - Further explanation of the 3 kāyas in terms of method and enlightenment 46:53 - Meaning of offering butter lamps 48:45 - Glenn’s practice of giving money to beggars 51:10 - The monkey temple 52:05 - Exponential merit during Saga Dawa 53:52 - Ritualised scripture recitals 55:01 - Carving sacred mantras and symbols on slate 57:17 - The power of statues and temples 59:07 - The meaning of “Swayambhu” 01:01:11 - Explanation of stūpa design 01:02:36 - Explanation of dharmaśālās 01:05:10 - Buddhas past, present, and future; and the spread of Buddhism 01:10:14 - Teaching on the 5 animals 01:13:04 - Circumambulating the main stūpa 01:15:02 - Mantra and prayer offering site for protection of babies 01:16:14 - Teaching on the five elements and transforming emotions 01:18:07 - Challenging spiritual elitism 01:19:42 - Legends of previous Buddhas’ visits to Swayambhu … Previous episodes with Lama Glenn Mullin: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=glenn%20mullin 
To find out more about Lama Glenn Mullin, visit: - http://www.glennmullin.com/ - https://www.facebook.com/Maitripa.Glenn For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
 Thanks to Norbu Samphel for checking my translation of the Tibetan language section.

In this episode I am once again joined by Gilbert M Gutierrez, Chan Buddhism teacher and dharma heir of Master Sheng Yen. Gilbert recalls his discipleship under renowned Chan Master Sheng Yen, shares stories of gruelling retreat, private 1-1 exchanges, profound spiritual insights, mystical visions, and supernatural powers. Gilbert gives an overview of Chan philosophy, emphasises the importance of both study and practice, and illuminates the Buddhist doctrine of emptiness. Gilbert also details his process of becoming a Dharma Heir, defends telling stories of spiritual experiences, and reflects on his difficulties as an American in being accepted as a genuine teacher of Chan Buddhism. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep284-adventures-of-a-chan-master-gilbertm-gutierrez-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Becoming a disciple of Master Sheng Yen 04:49 - Eat bitter in your practice 05:54 - Loss of faith 08:21 - Profound encounter with the bodhisattva Quan Yin 12:48 - A contract of the heart 13:39 - A private meetings with Master Sheng Yen 18:30 - Receiving inka transmission from Master Sheng Yen 19:47 - A real master is a chameleon 22:36 - Master Sheng Yen’s compassion and mission 25:49 - About Chan Buddhism and emptiness 29:19 - The Heart Sutra 33:07 - We awaken people 35:10 - Master Sheng Yen’s emphasis on study 36:42 - Study and practice 38:33 - A reading from Daoxin 39:37 - Meditation experiences and a humbling lesson 45:39 - It’s a joke and a sham 47:34 - Becoming a Dharma Heir 49:54 - Everything is mind 51:03 - Special experiences and transcending pain 53:10 - Hearing one’s heart beat 53:38 - A state of ultimate bliss 55:08 - A famous master, a loyal attendant, and Gilbert’s powerful realisation 01:01:03 - Catching the bug 01:06:26 - The bug whisperer 01:08:44 - Why share stories of spiritual experiences? 01:10:17 - Gilbert’s biggest realisation 01:16:22 - Communicating with animals and entities 01:19:58 - Seeing peoples’ past and future lives 01:20:36 - Working with ghosts 01:21:39 - How to calm down a ghost 01:22:54 - Dealing with heaven dwellers 01:24:30 - Concerns about being accepted as a dharma heir 01:28:45 - Anti-Western prejudice 01:30:31 - Growing acceptance from the Taiwanese sangha 01:32:55 - The death of Master Sheng Yen 01:37:07 - A final encounter with the master 
… Previous episode with Gilbert M Gutierrez: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=gilbert To find our more about Gilbert M Gutierrez, visit: - https://www.youtube.com/@chanmindwork/playlists  - https://mind-work.mn.co/   - https://riversidechan.org/    … 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 Duncan Barford, occult practitioner, counsellor, and author of ‘Occult Experiments in the Home’. Duncan details the different categories of spirits and entities, ranging from ghosts to demons to angels to elementals and land spirits. Duncan reveals his own encounters with these entities, recalls paradigm shifting fire kasina retreats with Daniel Ingram, and shares his own ideas about the importance and inevitability of working with the dead while on the spiritual path. Duncan also explains the Goetia, a controversial system of summoning demons for personal gain; recalls his own and others’ experiences of the system; and reflects on what drives practitioners to seek tangible contact with the realms beyond. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep283-seance-summoning-goetic-demons-duncan-barford-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:57 - Ontology of spirit entities 04:18 - How to categorise spirits 07:07 - Different spirit relationships 08:18 - Demonic entities and their demands 09:44 - What is the Goetic magickal system? 11:08 - Dangers of working with Goetic entities 13:48 - When Duncan used a Goetic demon for money 15:24 - Addictive quality of working with demons 16:55 - Goetia as magick of last resort 18:33 - Why do people work with Goetic demons? 21:41 - Duncan reflects on his Goetic rituals 24:43 - Barrier to entry for success in magick 29:37 - Duncan comments on the Enochian system 32:16 - Fey and fairies 33:28 - A challenging fire kasina retreat 35:18 - A powerful encounter with elementals and nature spirits 40:47 - Duncan reflects on his fire kasina retreats 43:59 - Encounter with Duncan’s guardian angel 45:27 - Why seek supernatural experiences after enlightenment? 47:49 - Shared magickal experiences with Daniel Ingram 49:52 - Duncan’s breakthrough and a compelling encounter with Spider Buddha 58:44 - Dreams as a portal 01:00:09 - Contacting the dead 01:01:31 - The hatred of the dead 01:02:27 - Death of Duncan’s father and dream visitations 01:08:25 - What the dead leave behind 01:10:18 - Helping the dead to let go vs judging them 01:14:15 - The fear of death 01:14:45 - Denying the dead 01:17:02 - We are accountable to the dead 01:18:53 - Carl Jung on relating to the dead 01:20:15 - Duncan’s affinity with the poet John Clare 01:21:18 - Duncan’s encounter with Badger 01:22:05 - The perfected dead 01:23:18 - Working with ancestors 01:24:55 - We live in a world of the dead 01:26:00 - Duncan’s advice for working with the dead 01:27:29 - Encountering the dead in the Odyssey and Aeneid 01:33:41 - The dead as bundles of karma 01:34:52 - National myths and history as propaganda 01:39:32 - Black Easter and occult means of obtaining power and influence 01:47:15 - Magick and politics 01:49:24 - Glory and honour 01:50:27 - Are magicians political? 
… Watch previous episode with Duncan Barford: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep265-occult-experiments-duncan-barford To find our more about Duncan Barford, visit: - https://www.duncanbarford.uk/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by Shiv Mathur, Youtuber and spiritual explorer. Shiv recounts his life story including his upbringing in India, 16 years of military service, and international career in IT. Shiv describes how a growing spiritual calling saw him retire from the world of work to seek out spiritual masters in the Himalayas. Shiv shares stories from his search, including his encounters with Himalayan yogis such as Tat Wale Baba, and recalls how he began practicing in earnest the teachings he received. Shiv also discusses his current practice, the pros and cons of remote retreat, how to find and relate to a guru, the process of purification, and shares his views on the trajectory of world civilisation today. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep282-spiritual-explorer-shiv-mathur Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - Shiv’s Youtube channel 02:06 - Shiv’s upbringing in India 03:56 - Education and 16 years of military service 05:25 - Leaving the navy and success in the private sector 06:33 - The spiritual calling and travel to the Himalayas 07:31 - Teaching international workshops 08:54 - Interest in Himalayan yogis 09:48 - Influence of Paul Brunton 10:26 - Travel to find authentic yogis 11:50 - Current life of solitude and self enquiry 12:48 - 3 ways of learning 13:38 - Shiv’s current retreat location 15:02 - Pilgrimage and the network of ashrams 16:22 - Shiv’s disillusionment with material riches 18:41 - Looking for an escape 19:59 - Meeting Tat Wale Baba and experiencing profound samadhi 21:36 - Traversing dimensions of experience 23:29 - Delusion and luxury beliefs 25:13 - Meeting yogis and purifying your energy 26:15 - Leaving the body and Shiv’s meditation goal 27:25 - Challenges of practicing in remote locations 29:52 - Personal prerequisites for practicing sādhanā 31:32 - Shiv’s practice method 32:44 - The practice of self enquiry 37:16 - Shiv’s interactions with Nasa and other scientists 39:04 - Indian astrology 40:09 - UFOs + did Nasa steal from India texts? 40:36 - The importance of self enquiry 41:55 - Real saints vs commercial yogis 43:55 - Spotting fake gurus 44:42 - How gurus fall into moral degradation 45:13- How to relate to a guru 46:48 - Lifestyle of a real guru 48:17 - How to prepare to work with a guru 51:11 - Shiv discusses siddhi and supernatural powers 53:57 - What is the purpose of siddhis? 55:00 - Purification 57:11 - Bugs in the human operating system 58:24 - Shiv comments on today’s social issues 01:00:00 - Feminism, trad wives, and Western capitalists 01:02:23 - The benefits of arranged marriage 01:03:59 - Civilisational collapse and universal correction 01:08:19 - Advice for yogis in times of world turmoil 01:10:06 - Closing remarks 
… To find our more about Shiv Mathur, visit: - https://www.youtube.com/@ShivMathur … 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 reflects on lessons learned from the series of exorcisms her underwent in his 20s, as described in episode 263 of this podcast, “My Demon Exorcism”, including the means by which entities may gain entry, and the surprising motives for their doing so. Mattias explains the vast hierarchy of spirit beings described in Taoism, considers the problems of obtaining special powers through relationships with entities and gods, and contrasts deity worship with voluntary shamanistic possession. Mattias also reflects on different types of Taoist practices, drawing a distinction between cataphatic and kenotic approaches, and recounts a remarkable story of spiritual healing. … Video version: Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Lessons learned after exorcisms 03:34 - Can entities give supernatural powers and siddhis? 06:44 - Entities enter through pride 08:15 - Entities piggyback on humans to accumulate merit 09:43 - The problem with gaining siddhi from entities 10:33 - A renowned Taiwanese siddha 11:59 - Do special powers come with spiritual attainment? 15:27 - Necessity to show off during rituals 17:54 - The vast celestial hierarchy of beings 22:10 - Abbess Liu’s spiritual journeys 24:11 - Making contact with higher beings 26:09 - Shamanism and voluntary entity possession 32:34 - Fr Michael Saso on cataphatic Taoist ritual 34:51 - Cataphatic vs kenotic practice 36:34 - Meeting a Taoist practitioner who had three spirit-helpers 43:13 - Requesting information from the spirit realm 49:59 - The cataphatic side of Taoism 52:43 - Learning a powerful somatic release technique and a remarkable healing 01:06:40 - Further healings and the purple cloud 01:17:43 - Mattias’ current views on entities and powers … Watch the previous episodes with Mattias Daly: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=daly To find our more about Mattias Daly, visit: - https://www.shambhala.com/authors/a-f/mattias-daly.html … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Delson Armstrong is a spiritual teacher, meditation virtuoso, and author of ‘A Mind Without Craving’. In this interview, Delson renounces all of his previous claims to spiritual attainment. Delson details recent changes in his inner experiences that saw him question the nature of his awakening, including the arising of emotions and desires that he thought had long been expunged. Delson critiques the consequences of the Buddhist doctrine of the 10 fetters, reveals his redefinition of awakening and the stages of the four path model from stream enterer to arhat, and challenges cultural ideals about enlightenment. Delson offers his current thoughts on the role of emotions in awakening, emphasises the importance of facing one’s trauma, and discusses his plans to broaden his own teaching to include traditions such as Kriya Yoga. Delson also reveals the pressures put on him by others’ agendas, and shares his observations about the danger of student devotion, the hypocrisy of spiritual leaders, and his mixed feelings about the monastic sangha. … https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep280-i-renounce-my-attainments-delson-armstrong Also available on Youtube & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … 01:14 - Delson’s declaration 07:56 - Why has Delson changed his view? 10:13 - Pressure on Delson and other peoples’ agendas 15:12 - Delson’s shocking observations about his 3 year teaching experiment 15:53 - Teaching debut under Bhante Vimalaramsi 17:22 - European teaching tour 17:32 - Tension towards other traditions at Dhammasukha 19:26 - Teacher-student divide at Dhammasukha 20:14 - Tensions with the Indian sangha 21:18 - Discomfort with guru worship in India 22:41 - Mixed feelings about the monastic community 24:30 - Teachers should never stop learning 24:45 - The 10 fetter model and an unhealthy narrative of spiritual success 26:15 - Potential for teacher-student abuse 27:41 - Questioning the 10 fetter model 29:28 - Ideals of awakening and cultural projections 30:48 - Transcending all models and systems 31:39 - Importance of ethics 33:21 - Why is Delson renouncing all spiritual attainments? 36:15 - Being open to your own experience 37:06 - Don’t gloss over suffering 39:41 - Changes in Delson’s understanding about the Buddha, dharma, and sangha 44:20 - Rethinking negative emotion and the end of craving 47:23 - The Simile of the Saw Sutta, Kakacūpamasutta 48:11 - Recontextualising the higher fetters of restlessness, conceit, and ignorance 49:15 - Is awakening static? 50:06 - Delson’s definition of awakening 51:55 - Redefining the 4-path model from stream-enterer to arhat 57:26 - Facing the shadow 59:10 - What was the experience that changed Delson’s mind? 01:02:48 - Learning from conflict and shadow 01:04:37 - Maintaining the image of a teacher 01:05:12 - No longer a teacher 01:06:35 - The corrupting pride of being a spiritual teacher 01:07:04 - Hypocrisy of spiritual leaders 01:09:23 - Do not seek perfection in Delson 01:10:14 - K the Buddha 01:11:44 - Against disempowering students 01:14:06 - Does Delson believe awakening even possible? 01:17:12 - What is awakening? 01:18:06 - Levels of awakening 01:18:58 - The true nature of reality 01:20:43 - Siddha tales and Delson’s supernatural experiences 01:24:27- Sifting the serious students from the merely curious 01:25:22 - Delson’s powerful trip to South India, astrology, and mystical experiences 01:31:07 - Delson’s future plans for teaching 01:32:02 - Plans to conduct Kriya Yoga initiations 01:32:41 - Delson as a conduit 01:33:16 - Reactions to Delson’s declaration Watch previous episodes with Delson Armstrong: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=delson Find out more about Delson Armstrong: - Personal Site: https://www.delsonarmstrong.com/ - YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@delson999 - Delson's Foundation: https://www.freedom-of-mind.org/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by Miles Neale & Matthew Freidell to discuss their documentary film “Missing Peace”. The film’s description states: “Borobudur is a 1250-year old Buddhist monument located on the island of Java, Indonesia. It was designed as a kind of ancient technology to broadcast the frequency of peace across the world. The only problem is---Borobudur is missing its most important piece. Follow along as two masters, from two different traditions, come together with the goal of reactivating this powerful relic at a time when the Earth needs it most.” Miles and Matthew share the remarkable story of the making of the film, including the powerful life lessons both men learned along the way, Miles and Matthew also reflect on the power of pilgrimage, learning to trust intuition in life and the creative process, and the strategies they employed in dealing with local land spirits on location. … Link in bio. Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:03 - Chance meeting in Kathmandu 01:57 - Matthew’s creativity 03:39 - Synchronistic moments 04:07 - Origin story of the collaboration 05:22 - Matthew’s ontological suicide through plant medicines 06:42 - Embracing good and evil, coming to Bali 08:04 - Meeting of minds 09:54 - Thin veils since pandemic 10:43 - Miles’ stagnation and facing a choice 12:45 - Going to Bali during lockdown to follow an intuitive call 15:09 - Synergy and how to find courage and clarity 17:21 - Waypoints in learning to trust intuition 18:05 - Costly decisions and visions of Asclepius 21:25 - Healing temples of Ancient Greece 22:41 - From hyper-rationality to the mythopoetic 24:30 - Contact with discarnate entities 26:10 - Matthew’s experiences in the Amazon & encountering Chenrezig 29:57 - Spirit encounters in Bali 32:21 - Holistic perspective of wisdom cultures 36:03 - Turning off connection to the unseen world 38:10 - Borobudur monument has been turned off 38:57 - Strategies for dealing with entities 41:39 - The Missing Piece documentary 42:47 - Stupas are ancient technologies 44:46 - The power of pilgrimage 46:46 - Uniting Geshe Tenzin Zopa with a Javanese tantrika Mangku Jitho 51:45 - Shiva Buddha prophecy with global import 55:21 - Who is Geshe Tenzin Zopa? 55:52 - Who is Mangku Jitho? 56:38 - Mangku Jitho’s collection of cursed kris knives 57:43 - Reflections on the Shiva Buddha 59:14 - The joint ceremony to reactivate Borobudur 01:04:25 - The chatra and what do we worship? 01:06:50 - Challenges of filming in remote locations 01:08:49 - Style, the artistic process, and AI 01:11:44 - Matthew’s hero’s journey 01:16:06 - Invitation to the viewer … Watch “The Missing Peace”: - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDBzNsxyi_y_4ICCcAoMji6azDelR60OZ Watch previous episode with Miles Neale: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep69-dr-miles-neale-buddhas-tulkus-narcissists … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by Ishtar, an independent mediation teacher, mystic, and spiritual guide. Ishtar shares his unusual childhood including near constant encounters with ghosts, early spiritual experiences, astral journeys, and precognitive dreams. Ishtar details his life of spiritual seeking, years of intensive meditation practice, encounters with the cult groups, dark nights of the soul, and more. Ishtar also recounts the car crash which both killed his mother and plunged Ishtar, at 13 years old, into a near death experience that would change his life forever. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep278-the-mystic-ishtar Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:42 - Ishtar’s unusual childhood 02:16 - Early encounters with ghosts 04:35 - Distress of constant ghost encounters 05:33 - Becoming Sherlock Holmes for ghosts 07:19 - Discovering the personality 10:48 - Beginning to suffer and developing roles 12:48 - Becoming a good faker 13:21 - Car crash, NDE, and the death of Ishtar’s mother 23:34 - Anger towards God 24:08 - A strange silence and bliss 26:59 - Grief and searching for transcendence 29:43 - Beginning of spiritual seeking 31:03 - Meeting local psychics 31:48 - Considering careers 33:12 - A powerful palm reading 36:15 - The mad monk inside 37:07 - 6hrs of practice each day 38:36 - Past life memories and spiritual proclivities 43:33 - Out of body experience 45:38 - Astral travel to floating cities 48:12 - Shaft of light 49:38 - Precognitive daydreams 50:17 - Further precognition 53:39 - Reading “Autobiography of a Yogi” and praying to Babaji 56:52 - Joining the Ishaya Foundation and living in ashrams 01:02:39 - Leaving the ashram and entering a dark night of the soul 01:05:44 - Repercussions of leaving a cult group 01:07:40 - Suffering returns and facing death 01:09:42 - The magic returns and teaching meditation 01:11:47 - Meeting his future wife 01:13:21 - A tough 2016 01:14:19 - Breakthrough to fully merging with everything 01:14:56 - Visions of Tuscany and experiences of blended time 01:19:20 - Reconciliations and purifications 01:19:43 - Leaving Portland and move to Portugal 01:21:47 - “I” vs “we” 01:22:52 - How did Ishtar spend his daily 6hrs of meditation? 01:26:18 - Spinning the wheels of meditation and trying to force results 01:27:40 - Powerful psychedelic experience 01:30:40 - Ishtar reflects on losing his mother at age 13 01:32:42 - An experience of maternal reconnection and affirmation 01:34:38 - Inner child work 01:36:11 - Mother’s embrace in Florence 01:37:44 - What does Ishtar’s teach 01:38:54 - Ishtar’s recent spiritual breakthroughs 01:41:40 - Psychic powers are not the bullseye 01:43:25 - Ishtar’s concluding thoughts and advice 01:47:29 - Christopher Wood, the stick peddler 
… To find our more about Isthar, visit: - https://www.ascension-meditation.com/ - https://www.awakenedlightastrology.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/ishtarishaya … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James