Podcast appearances and mentions of Steve James

Send us a text or a voicemailA reckless Patreon Supporter goes dangerously rogue to catch a group of hardened podcasters. He explores a corrupt world where the lines between fantasy and reality completely blur. On Episode 724 of Trick or Treat Radio we are joined by Joshua Libre for the June Patreon Takeover! Josh has selected the films; To Live and Die in L.A. from director William Friedkin, and The Convent (2000) from director Mike Mendez for us to discuss! We also find out what a four robot lion Voltron would look like, learn what horrifying selections have been curated on our Tubi recommendations, and we react to trailers for the films; Fall 2: Deadpoint, and Night Nurse. So grab your bags of neon blood, make sure to have unique serial numbers on your counterfeit money, and strap on for the world's most dangerous podcast!Stuff we talk about: George A. Romero, Day of the Dead, Tom Savini, Scream Factory, Cine-Strange, AI upscaling, Voltron, forming the blazing sword, a one-armed Jack Palance push-up, City Slickers, Rescue from Gilligan's Island, Martin Landau, The Professionals, Qui-Gon Libre, The Covenant, Tubi or not Tubi, Megan is Missing, Salo, Massage Parlor Murders, Debbie Does Demons, A Clockwork Shining, Donald Farmer, 8 1/2, Fellini, Amityville Spa, Bob Kraft, Donna Speir, Ted Lasso, World Cup, The Oblong Box, E.T. The Extraterrestrial, Humongus, Witchcraft 4: The Virgin Heart, Jurassic Park, Blink, The Chronicles of Riddick, Open Water, The Stepford Wives, The Originals, The Vampire Diaries, Shia Lebouf, The Transformers, Joshua Jackson, Shutter, Fringe, The Facts of Life, being a Cloney, Peter Dinklage, The Toxic Avenger, Adrienne Barbeau, The Fog, Creepshow, Escape From New York, Open House, Back to School, Young Frankenstein, Gene Wilder, Richard Todd, The House of Long Shadows, Sly Stallone, Fall 2: Deadpoint, The Spierig Brothers, My Bloody Valentine, Undead, Bad Taste, Night Nurse, Masters of the Universe, Wang Chun, Laura Branigan, To Live and Die in L.A., Willem Dafoe, William Friedkin, William Peterson, Michael Mann, Cruising, Al Pacino, Sorcerer, Sirat, American Ninja, Dead Stockwell, Quantum Leap, Steve James, Griffin Dunne, Asia Argento, the history of the Secret Service, Invasion USA, Die Hard, Cobra, Barton Fink, John Turturro, Oliver Stone, Natural Born Killers, John McTiernan, Neon Demons, The Convent, Mike Mendez, Dead Alive, Evil Dead II, Night of the Demons, Nunsploitation, Hokum, Patreon Takeover, Iron Lung, Backrooms, CSI DSO, Brian May, I'm Prince Albert Prince of Eternia, Nipsey Muscle, and the details are a lie.Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trickortreatradioJoin our Discord Community: discord.trickortreatradio.comSend Email/Voicemail: mailto:podcast@trickortreatradio.comVisit our website: http://trickortreatradio.comStart your own podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=386Use our Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2CTdZzKFB Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/trickortreatradioTwitter: http://twitter.com/TrickTreatRadioFacebook: http://facebook.com/TrickOrTreatRadioYouTube: http://youtube.com/TrickOrTreatRadioInstagram: http://instagram.com/TrickorTreatRadioSupport the show

Legends Ryan Marker (The American Cinematheque) and Drea Clark (Maximum Film, Film Independent Spirit Awards, Bentonville Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival) meet at the Draft Table for a competitive / collaborative ranking of the films of award-winning documentarian STEVE JAMES! Also joining us at the table is Screen Drafts Booster Joy Novak, representing the Official Sponsor of this episode, The Film and Media Archive at the Libraries at WashU in St. Louis, Missouri, permanent home of the Kartemquin Films Collection. Visit https:/ https://library.washu.edu/news/kartemquin-sixtieth/ for information about screenings, events, and exhibits highlighting the past 60 years of groundbreaking documentaries produced by Kartemquin, including a free screening of Steve James' iconic film Hoop Dreams on June 28th at the Hi-Pointe Theatre!

In this episode I am once again joined by Duncan Barford, occult practitioner, counsellor, and author of “Occult Experiments in the Home”. Duncan reflects on his training as a counsellor and the difficulties in sharing his occult interests in that context; his deep appreciation of Freud and Jung; and the links between psychoanalysis and mythic figures such as such as Uranus, Oedipus, and Narcissus. Duncan considers whether Buddhism is merely a useful fiction, offers advice for those interested in learning how tp use mythology to gain insight into life, and explains why the emphasis of his spiritual practice has shifted from awakening to psychological wellbeing. Duncan also talks about his new magical novel, “The Going Down”, describes its plot and messages, and reveals why he believes the practice of Pragmatic Dharma can accrue a profoundly dark karmic debt. … Video version: www.guruviking.com Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Duncan's therapist hated the occult 02:58 - Misconceptions about Jungian therapy 04:19 - Psychopomp as therapist 04:25 - Freud, Jung, Skinner, Piaget, Rogers, and Carlyle 08:48 - Duncan was a fervent Freudian 09:35 - Freud vs trauma therapy 13:13 - What Freud did 15:58 - Buddhism's useful fiction 19:47 - Where Freud went wrong 21:50 - The castration complex 26:37 - Castration myths 27:58 - Freud and Duncan's childhood 30:40 - Universal or culturally specific? 32:15 - Oedipus, myth, and psychoanalysis 37:29 - Duncan's novel 38:36 - Writing “The Going Down” 41:11 - Plot summary 43:07 - A life-changing ancestor working 44:22 - Duncan's hope for the book 45:53 - Fiction and the occult 48:40 - Alan Chapman's dismay at the novel 49:22 - The dark, karmic debt of Pragmatic Dharma 54:38 - Meeting a Dark Goddess 56:15 - The myth of Persephone 59:49 - A change in Duncan's meditation practice 01:00:43 - This is the Underworld 01:02:34 - Bailey's and Steve's problems 01:03:55 - The Franklin's Tale 01:05:30 - How occultists interpret their life situations 01:09:12 - Is everyone psychotic? 01:10:45 - Using depression and panic as portals 01:12:16 - Duncan believes in everything 01:14:00 - Internal vs external integration 01:19:30 - Why you need mythic literacy 01:20:57 - How to learn more about myths 01:22:55 - Should you read myths? 01:25:07 - The myth of Narcissus 01:28:25 - Scholar vs poet 01:32:22 - Finishing a novel 01:34:06 - Narrative fashions in fiction 01:36:01 - Haunting quality 01:37:43 - A companion in the Underworld 
… Watch previous episodes with Duncan Barford: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=barford Read “The Going Down”: - https://godsandradicals.squarespace.com/bookstore/p/the-going-down-by-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 once again joined by Delson Armstrong, spiritual teacher, meditation virtuoso, and author of ‘A Mind Without Craving'. Delson describes his recent initiation into the goddess tradition of Śri Vidya, recounts his subsequent encounters with deities and supernatural beings, and discusses his latest writings on para-consciousness and nibbanadhatu. Delson explains how to relate to guilt, doubt, and skepticism; how to enter the three gates to cessation; and gives his take on the essence of the spiritual path. Delson also reveals his recent explorations in Western Philosophy, why he has begun writing about world peace, offers his predictions for the future, and shares what he is doing to prefer himself and his family for what is to come. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep362-mirror-beyond-mind-delson-armstrong Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Delson life update 02:24 - Words for the exhausted seeker 04:18 - Why Delson still teaches TWIM 05:50 - Jhana wars 08:28 - Bad doubt vs good doubt 10:06 - What is beyond the fetter of doubt? 18:33- Questioning the doctrine of rebirth 19:46 - Ordinary right view vs supramundane right view 21:39 - Delson's library of books 23:35 - Exploring Western philosophy 25:57 - The essence of the path 31:20 - Philosophy reading list 36:49 - Lucretius and the Swerve 38:42 - Initiation into Śri Vidya 45:10 - Encounters with Goddesses 50:17 - Deity visitations 54:39 - The Mirror Beyond Mind 58:41 - Para-consciousness and nibbanadhatu 59:01 - Did the Buddha reject the Vedas? 01:03:28 - Zero point of expansion and contraction 01:04:57 - 3 gates to cessation 01:10:25 - How to relate to cessation? 01:15:27 - What happens at death 01:16:47 - The Vakkalisutta 01:18:45 - Life review during meditation and death 01:19:42 - Forgiveness practice 01:22:25 - Teachings of Jesus 01:23:21 - Guilt and how to forgive 01:29:51 - When reconciliation is not possible 01:31:20 - Civilisational utopia thru enlightenment? 01:38:11 - Is world peace unrealistic? 01:39:57 - Can peace come from weakness? 01:44:01 - Why is Delson writing about world peace? 01:46:48 - Predictions about the immediate future of the world 01:50:43 - How Delson is preparing for the future ... Watch previous episodes with Delson Armstrong: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=delson Find out more about Delson Armstrong: - https://www.delsonarmstrong.com/events - https://delsonarmstrong.substack.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Can we influence the strong nuclear force? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Paul Mecurio answer grab bag questions about sci-fi laser guns, the Roche Limit, how we interact with the fundamental forces, and more! NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:  https://startalkmedia.com/show/cosmic-queries-scars-in-spacetime/ Thanks to our Patrons Gladys Strickland, Jonathan Marino, Petri Rajama, Benjamin Cross, Smooth, Cecelia Linley, John Burgin, Elizabeth Shope, Barrett Mayes, Paweł Szczypa, Ivan Ocampo, Angelo Rios, Luisangel Araujo, B-RO RTR, Sebastian Poehlmann, Kendra, Charles, LateGame, Stephanie, Denis, Joseph Hodge, Daniel Smith, Matt Sutton, Ziyod Yusupov, TheAceIsHere _, Robert Baughman, Patricia Weaver, Scott Jones, Luis Figueroa, TheJosh, Justin Garrity, J. Michael Mastro, Andreas Sorteberg Vik, Christian Di Patria, Steve Kingan, Martha, Nick, Jeff Ferren, Louise Keyte, Ann Hosler, Darren, Roni Gi, Salacious B Crumb, Tero Tommola, Dhaval, Andy Roberts, Brian Simmons, Toney, Remedy, Terry Melman, David Smith, Andrew M Gross, Conan, Raz, Joseph Watkins, Joe, Dom WB, Mike Bertuccio, Deepak Mani, Adam Dockerty, Mike, Habib Hassan, Exercise Enlightenment, Everett, Twisted Universe, Jason Prechtl, Luis Antonio Leon, SwillisBolt, Switchblade91, Linda Hall, Bo J, Megan Marler, Dalton, Jim, Chris Brown, Krisztian Unpronounceable, Donce, Jay, Jacob, Suzan Wallace, Ted, Steve James, TERP Radio, Sublimis, Alexander Casian, Onlymeami, Zack Blankenship, John Perez, Specter, DJ, Kristian Jeremiassen, Adam Flores, Dan Herman, Zef Correal, Maddie, Adam, Mark, Mary, Andrew494, and Matthew Grieve for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode I am once again joined by Stephen Snyder, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of several books including “Living Awakeness: Embodying Your Awakening”. Stephen compares Theravada to Zen in terms of difficulty and depth, explains why 30 minutes of cessation is his minimum to achieve Theravada stream entry, and shares why he believes cessation has a feminine energy. Stephen discusses the writing practices that have made him such a prolific author, reflects on how spiritual experiences can change one's reading habits, and reveals his opinion on academic histories of Buddhism Stephen also discusses false awakenings and ego inflation, whether enlightenment eliminates all negative emotions, and considers the controversial relationship between enlightenment and political engagement. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep361-living-awakeness-stephen-snyder

 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - Stephen's secrets for writing so prolifically 04:51 - Writing routine 05:57 - Influence of law career on writing style 07:32 - Does Stephen read fiction? 08:00 - Does awakening change reading preferences? 10:03 - Does Stephen read Buddhist history? 12:14 - Stephen's new book, “Living Awakeness” 12:34 - Patterns in students with deeper awakening 13:30 - 8 levels of consciousness 18:22 - Are desire and anger eliminated by awakening? 20:32 - The Buddha was angry 21:19 - How does awakening affect emotion? 22:59 - Stored karma in the 8th level of consciousness 24:31 - Awakening vs self improvement 27:07 - Meditation as stress reduction 29:26 - Why not just teach the brahmavihārās? 30:45 - Yogic origin of Buddhist practices 31:18 - Different ways to practice brahmavihārā 34:13 - Theravada vs Zen awakenings 34:54 - Theravada awakening is in danger of being lost 37:00 - Which is more difficult: Theravada or Zen? 37:58 - Fear of extinction 39:34 - Cessation is a feminine energy 41:06 - Which awakening should you get first: Theravada or Zen? 41:54 - 30 min cessation minimum for stream awakening 44:56 - False awakenings 45:11 - Cessation vs falling asleep during meditation 45:38 - “Awakening” is used to generically 46:10 - Interrogating awakening experiences 47:18 - Ego inflation after transcendent experiences 49:09 - Post awakening perspectives 53:07 - Awakening and political engagement 57:21 - Bernie Glassman's Auschwitz retreats 59:52 - Does awakening change one's politics? 01:03:01 - Origin of enflamed political engagement … Watch previous episodes with Stephen Snyder: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=Stephen%20Snyder To find our more about Stephen Snyder, visit: - https://awakeningdharma.org/ … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

 | Artist  | Title  | Album Name  | Album Copyright | Andres Roots And Raul Terep  | Bullfrog Medley  | Trad.Alt.Blues  |  | Andy Cohen  | Built Right On The Ground  | Built Right On The Ground | The Old Ramblers  | My Fat Gal  | Old Ramblers  |  | Mama Yancey  | Make Me A Pallet On The Floor (1943)  | Broadcasting the Blues, volume 3 | Mary Stokes Band  | That's All Right  | Hometown Blues  |  | John Henry Hopkins  | Hey, Baby, Hey  | The Hopkins Brothers, Joel, Lightnin' and John Henry (1964) | Big Bill Broonzy  | Lonesome  | Where The Blues Began | Little Brother Montgomery  | Vicksburg Blues  | Classic Blues from Smithsonian | Maria Muldaur, Del Rey, Steve James  | Crazy Cryin' Blues  | First Came Memphis Minnie | Blind Willie Johnson  | Sweeter As The Years Roll By  | The Complete Blind Willie Johnson (1 of 2) | Sister Rosetta Tharpe  | Every Time I Feel The Spirit (Recorded Live At The Free Trade Hall Manchester 1957  | Chris Barber Presents The Blues Legacy Lost & Found Series | Skip James  | Everybody Ought to Live Right  | Studio Sessions Rare & Unreleased | Robert Johnson  | 32-20 Blues  | The Complete Recordings;  The Centennial Collection | Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee  | I Was Born With the Blues  | An Introduction to Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee | Eddie Bo and Chris Barber  | She Gay San  | The 1991 Sea-Saint Sessions

In this episode, I am once again joined by Dr Christopher “Hareesh” Wallis, a Sanskritist and scholar-practitioner of Classical Tantra. Christopher shares how he became a spiritual teacher, explains the dangers of guru idealisation, and considers if he may be misleading his students. Christopher discusses his own series of religious peak experiences, explores their causes, and reflects on their consequences. Christopher recalls his time studying with American spiritual teacher Adyanshanti, the influence of Marshall Rosenberg, and reveals how his ability to spot fake gurus improved after his awakening. … Full episode at www.guruviking.com. Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:43 - Studying under Alexis Sanderson 04:16 - Faithfulness to the traditions 05:38 - The requirements to understand tantric sources 06:24 - Secrecy and the oral tradition 09:07 - Did Sanderson receive Lakshmanjoo's energetic transmission 12:28 - Academic approaches to religion 13:28 - Public vs private religion 14:23 - Why isn't Sanderson religious? 16:40 - Is Shaivite Tantra a relic of the past? 17:42 - Does religious affiliation contaminate academic objectivity? 20:43 - Cabezón on the benefits of an insider perspective on religious 21:44 - Piety and devotion as motives 23:02 - Humanists can have devotion too 23:43 - Cynicism about human motives 24:50 - Loss of trust in gurus 26:39 - Famous gurus want to be famous 28:30 - How gurus fall 31:25 - How Christopher became a spiritual teacher 33:33 - Switching from academia to freelance spiritual teaching 25:22 - Is Christopher a guru? 39:30 - Does Christopher mislead his students? 44:21 - Christopher's experience of flow when teaching 47:20 - Feeling the presence of past masters 49:30 - Self-deception and collusion with students 53:02 - Student-teacher projection 54:29 - Christopher's experience with naive projection 56:23 - How Christopher deals with idealisation 57:52 - Why your biggest fans can become your greatest haters 59:14 - A story of praise and blame 01:01:55 - Christopher's spiritual journey 01:05:22 - Studying with Adyashanti 01:08:26 - Christopher's awakening 01:09:45 - What is vs one's mental representation 01:14:39 - Sudden or gradual? 01:18:08 - Freedom from mental constructs 01:20:08 - Non-violent communication 01:24:13 - Am I good enough? 01:26:31 - Aftermath of an awakening experience 01:29:58 - Glimpse vs abiding shift 01:33:42 - Spotting fake gurus after awakening 01:35:57 - Changes in doctrinal understanding 01:40:22 - Challenging the true believer 01:42:29 - Denying the Buddhist doctrine of no-self 01:43:26 - 3 stages of awakening 01:47:41 - Christopher's “Tantra 112” meditation app … Previous episode with Christopher Wallis: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=wallis To find our more about Dr Christopher Wallis visit: - https://hareesh.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 Jensen Martin, a scholar-practitioner and PhD student at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. Jensen leads a deep dive into Narasiṃha, compares different version of the Narasiṃha myth, and examines contradictions in the tradition. Jensen reveals his motive for pursuing a PhD, describes his plans for a meditation retreat as part of the project, and reflects on what he sees as a crisis in academia. Jensen also discusses the relevance of Narasiṃha to today's world situation, the terror of dissolution, and the advantages of being an outsider. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep359-narasimha-the-lion-man-jensen-martin-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:47 - Jensen's PhD about Narasiṃha 02:27 - Caveats and disclaimers 04:26 - Relevance of Narasiṃha to today's world situation 07:54 - Story of Narasiṃha 25:59 - Uniqueness of Narasiṃha 29:00 - Calculating the yuga 33:46 - Interstellar travel and kriya yoga 37:15 - Reconciling myths with historical evidence 37:15 - Soifer and comparing the Narasiṃha myths 50:06 - Star Wars canon 51:55 - 1000 years of narrative development 56:03 - How Narasiṃha is most commonly seen today 01:01:49 - Many different schools 01:02:50 - The advantages of being an outsider 01:06:09 - Jensen is motivated by awakening 01:08:42 - Narasiṃha meditation text 01:15:15 - Oral tradition 01:20:12 - Dhruva Gorrick and visions of Narasiṃha 01:23:43 - Terror of dissolution 01:28:42 - The Cult of Janagannath 01:34:14 - The benefit of worshipping Narasiṃha 01:42:28 - What Narasiṃha means to Jensen 01:45:29 - Jensen's goal is to find out what Narasiṃha means today 01:47:21 - Contradictions in the tradition 01:48:35 - How Jensen will proceed with his PhD and a practice focus 01:49:37 - The danger of moving too fast 01:52:43 - Jensen's retreat curriculum 02:00:09 - Learning Hindi 02:01:58 - Academic lineage and a flexible programme 02:03:12 - Future plans and financial crisis in academia … Previous episode with Jensen Martin: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=jensen 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 am once again joined by Mary Shutan: author, occultist, and spiritual teacher. Mary opens her casebook as a spirit lawyer, working on behalf of her clients with occult techniques to solve all manner of natural and supernatural problems. Mary recounts stories of jealous wizards, astral encounters, and the dark side of shamanism. Mary also reveals the two ways in which curses operate, warns about the power of blood magic, and explores the connection between trauma and soul retrieval. … Video episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep358-casebook-of-a-spirit-lawyer-mary-shutan Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:39 - What is a spirit lawyer? 05:46 - How Mary works with clients 09:16 - Case study: I am blocked in my spiritual seeking 12:50 - Case study: I keep getting angry at work 15:14 - How to meet people where they are 18:28 - A shift in Mary's method 20:30 - Working with spirits 23:07 - Initiations and navigating the Underworld 27:08 - Dark side of shamanism 30:01 - 2 ways in which curses work 34:23 - Easy-access occult systems 36:44 - Rescuing black magic practitioners 38:20 - Magick can be addictive 40:27 - Difficulty letting go of magick 41:44 - How to offset karmic debts 45:19 - Language magick 47:16 - The exorcism of Mattias Daly 49:39 - - How common is genuine spirit oppression? 55:13- Blood magick 57:29 - Dangers to the spirit lawyer 01:00:41 - Power and jealous wizards 01:02:25 - Meeting powerful practitioners 01:04:14 - Commonalities among systems 01:06:11 - Meeting people in the astral realm 01:07:08 - Mary's shamanic techniques 01:08:45 - Journeying and discernment 01:10:37 - Trauma and soul retrieval 01:13:26 - Psychedelic casualties 01:14:25 - Mentoring others 01:17:32 - Alienation from the natural world 01:19:42 - Mary on today's world 01:22:18 - Healing, shadow work, and creativity 01:23:54 - Mary's advice for others … Previous episodes with Mary Shutan: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=shutan To find out more about Mary Shutan, visit: - http://maryshutan.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Richie is joined by the activists and citizen journalists Sue and Steve James. On today's show Sue and Steve discuss the importance of biological reality and why it's vital to keep campaigning for real women's rights. They also chat about new Bird flu mRNA vaccine trials, assisted dying legislation and much more. For more on Sue and Steve visit:https://rebelsonroundabouts.com/https://www.youtube.com/@edgeofthematrix

In this episode I am joined by Muho, Sōtō Zen teacher, Youtuber, and previous abbot of Antai-Ji monastery in Japan. Muho recalls the death of his mother when he was 6 years old, his childhood behavioural problems and time in boarding school, and initial contact with meditation. Muho shares what he describes as his narcissism, which arose from the death of his mother and a subsequent yearning to be seen; how his desire to be seen has caused difficulties for those around him; and how his thirty years of discipleship under a Zen master in a Japanese monastery collided with these patterns. Muho also observes that there is something missing in American Zen teachers, disambiguates good and bad reasons for teaching Zen, and explains why he believes sitting meditation is actually good for nothing. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep357-zen-is-good-for-nothing-muho Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:54 - Death of Muho's mother and the beginning of questioning 04:49 - Sent to boarding school 05:35 - First meditation at 16 years old 07:48 - Discovering a connection to the body 10:02 - Reading about Zen Buddhism 11:32 - Studying Japanese and moving to Japan 12:21 - Being the class clown 13:14 - Muho's narcissism 15:10 - Trouble from describing himself as a narcissist 18:20 - Others' suffering from Muho's narcissism 19:31 - How Zen practice affected narcissism 22:01 - “It's not about you” 24:35 - Vertical and horizontal axis of enlightenment 27:32 - Achieving Buddhahood 30:00 - Should you try to improve yourself? 34:37 - Student projections and exposing the teacher's flaws 36:16 - Guru as father figure 38:02 - Looking for the perfect leader 39:00 - What is the role of the Zen teacher? 40:31 - Muho's teaching activities 41:40 - The problem with American Zen teachers 42:21 - What example should a teacher set? 43:38 - Real teachers do not promote their enlightenment 45:11 - Using your teacher to promote yourself 47:14 - A teacher must first be a student 49:00 - Spiritual businessmen and teacher trainings 50:30 - 3 reasons to teach 56:05 - What is missing in Western teachers? 57:05 - Teaching as an expression of gratitude 58:15 - Minimum time before becoming a teacher 59:57 - Signs to become a teacher 01:00:26 - Tragedy of premature teaching 01:02:40 - Muho's advice for shallow teachers 01:05:01 - Zen has become a game 01:06:25 - Zen is good for nothing 01:07:56 - Techniques, states, and stages 01:11:25 - Play a different game 01:13:48 - Is Zen true or just another method? 01:19:43 - Taking the result as the path 01:22:00 - Do other practices miss the point? 01:25:51 - From samsara to nirvana 01:28:46 - Muho's Youtube channels … To find our more about Muho, visit: - https://www.youtube.com/@muho - https://www.youtube.com/@MuhoZen For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

The epic 4-part ROBERT ALTMAN SUPER DRAFT continues, with author & critic Walter Chaw joining commissioner Ryan at the Draft Table to place picks #28 to #22 on the definitive list of 35 narrative feature films. Returning as guest co-commish is author & podcaster Alonso Duralde, providing trivia, insight, and tough love! This episode is brought to you by the Film & Media Archive at WashU Libraries, celebrating 60 years of Kartemquin Films! This summer, experience the diversity of the Kartemquin catalogue with FREE screenings of Steve James' Hoop Dreams (June 28th), Bill Siegel's The Trials of Muhammad Ali, and Jerry Blumenthal & Gordon Quinn's Golub, all FREE at the Hi-Pointe Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri.  Hoop Dreams Screening Information: https://library.washu.edu/events/hoop-dreams-screening/. The Maid of McMillan Details & Screening: https://library.washu.edu/spec/themaidofmcmillan/ The Film & Media Archive Gift Link: giving.washu.edu/FilmMediaArchive   The Film & Media Archive is a nationally recognized learning center, committed to preserving documentary film and media that chronicle American political and social movements. The FMA collections not only include finished work but also the diverse primary source materials that document the filmmaking process, such as original filmed interviews and outtakes, producers' research and notes, treatments, scripts, storyboards, and correspondence.

In this episode I am joined by Ken Wilber, contemporary philosopher, author, and founder of Integral Theory. Ken recounts his biography and intellectual development including prodigious early reading, major spiritual experiences, and his models of spiritual and psychological development. Ken reflects on his rise to fame, his deeper motivations for writing, and whether or not his Integral Institute made the impact he had hoped for. Ken also gives a detailed account of his association with controversial American spiritual teacher Adi Da, weighs the good and bad of Da Free John's career, considers the source of Adi Da's shaktipat power, and reveals why he almost joined the guru's inner circle. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep356-awakening-to-wholeness-ken-wilber Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Steve's favourite Ken Wilber book 02:01 - Difficulties writing “One Taste” 05:39 - Adolescent interest in developmental psychology 08:53 - Major spiritual experience at 13 years old 09:55 - Comparing stage models 12:24 - Zen Buddhist practice 13:47 - Ken's first theoretical discovery 15:57 - Different types of wholeness 17:19 - Waking up 17:55 - Growing up 19:00 - Opening up 21:15 - Cleaning up 23:47 - Showing up 24:43 - 4 perspectives of person 28:51 - Ken's fiction reading and the types of truth 31:11 - Marquis de Sade 32:45 - Why Ken wrote 39:39 - Why participate in the Great Conversation? 41:29 - Who you really are 43:32 - Universal mysticism 45:00 - Two types of religion 53:15 - Dealing with the audience response 56:22 - Being noticed in public 57:50 - Did Ken have collaborators? 01:00:05 - Integral group gatherings and conferences 01:04:22 - Ken's assessment of the overall impact of Integral theory and the Integral gatherings 01:07:58 - No regrets 01:09:39 - Ken's opinion of Steve's work 01:12:23 - Ken's history with Adi Da 01:17:10 - Invited to be part of Adi Da's inner circle 01:19:57 - Meeting Adi Da 01:20:59 - When Ken decided not to join Adidam 01:21:57 - Sadness at Adi Da's death 01:23:53 - William Tsiknas 01:25:22 - Falling in love with Adi Da 01:28:35 - Source of Adi Da's power 01:28:41 - Ken on Adi Da's relationship with his teachers 01:32:59 - Adi Da's pranic transmission 01:35:38 - Muktananda + why Adi Da was drawn to Rudi 01:40:16 - What is shaktipat? 01:43:15 - Post-death contact and ethical controversies 01:45:04 - Feeling the heart transmission of Adi Da 01:47:17 - Ken's disappointment in Adi Da's controversial conduct 01:50:54 - Good vs bad of Adi Da … To find our more about Ken Wilber, visit: - https://kenwilber.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

For the entire month of March, the guys at Not A Bomb are throwing it back to their old Movie Matchup format, pitting notorious box office bombs against each other in a battle for redemption. Two flops enter… only one survives. There can only be one!This week, Troy and Brad are strapping on their headbands, polishing their katana, and diving into a matchup that blends ‘80s martial‑arts mayhem with ‘90s neo‑samurai intensity. It's a clash of cultures, a duel of destinies, and—let's be honest, a celebration of that timeless cinematic art form: white‑guy karate. That's right, it's American Ninja vs. The Hunted, and the dojo has never been more chaotic.American Ninja (1985)Directed by Sam Firstenberg and starring Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Judie Aronson, and Tadashi Yamashita, this Cannon Films classic is the apex of Reagan‑era martial‑arts absurdity. It's a movie where ninjas fall from trees like confetti, the U.S. Army apparently has no HR department, and the choreography proudly screams, “We taught this guy karate last week.” A cult favorite for anyone who believes the greatest martial art is confidence.The Hunted (1995)Directed by J.F. Lawton and starring Christopher Lambert, John Lone, Joan Chen, and Yoshio Harada, this sleek, bloody thriller drops a confused American businessman into a centuries‑old samurai feud. Lambert, armed with nothing but bewilderment and the fighting instincts of a man who once took a weekend aikido class. It's stylish, atmospheric, and surprisingly intense, proving that even in the ‘90s, Hollywood couldn't resist the allure of “What if a regular white guy accidentally became part of a ninja war?”The MatchupThis isn't just a duel—it's a full‑blown martial‑arts heavyweight fight. Cannon‑era ninja chaos vs. moody samurai noir. Dudikoff's “I guess I'm a ninja now” energy vs. Lambert's “I definitely did not sign up for this” panic. Troy and Brad break down which film kicks harder, which one stumbles, and which earns the coveted weekly crown. Expect shurikens, sword fights, questionable accents, and enough white‑guy karate to power a VHS dojo.We Want to Hear From YouGot a cinematic flop you want us to tackle? Drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or reach out through our contact page. Reviews on Apple Podcasts or Spotify help us grow and keep the chaos coming.Cast: Brad, Troy

In this episode, filmed in Sarnath, India, I am joined by Doug Nurnberg, a close student of Tarthang Tulku for over 50 years and project manager and board member of the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute (SINI). Doug recalls his childhood in a conservative farming family in Kansas, how an out of body experience saw him embark on a search for meaning, and why he sometimes thinks of himself as an “accidental Buddhist”. Doug describes his 50 year discipleship under Tarthang Tulku; recounts stories of conflict, trust, and unusual teaching methods; and reveals his impressions of the personality and capabilities of Tarthang Tulku the man. Doug also reflects on work ethic as a path to enlightenment, why he has deferred meditation practice to preserve Tibetan culture and further the aims of his teacher, and the role of esoteric geomancy in the building of grand stupas and statues around the world. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep355-the-accidental-buddhist-doug-nurnberg Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - Tour of the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute 09:45 - Library and scripture collections 12:54 - Books by Tarthang Tulku 13:27 - Revelations of Mind 14:39 - Deferring practice to preserve the Tibetan culture 16:30 - Setting up a printing press at Ratna Ling 17:55 - Doug's childhood in Kansas 19:47 - Accidental Buddhist 20:30 - Excellence in athletics 21:39 - Winning the national championship and an out of body experience 24:16 - Searching for meaning 25:41 - Meeting Tarthang Tulku 28:29 - Conflicts during construction projects for Tarthang Tulku 34:29 - Horses and Tarthang Tulku's teaching methods 37:59 - Permaculture projects 42:17 - Work ethic as a path to enlightenment 46:04 - Tarthang Tulku's individualised teaching style 48:37 - Why such grand scale projects? 52:36 - Geomancy and sacred building projects 56:29 - Difficult relationship with Tarthang Tulku 01:01:33 - Leaving in frustration for 10 years 01:03:22 - Family obligations 01:05:37 - Political instability in America 01:08:12 - Family concern about Doug's involvement with Tarthang Tulku 01:10:40 - Tarthang Tulku the man 01:14:59 - Devotion to the guru 01:17:19 - Tarthang Tulku's unusual capacities 01:21:21 - Doug's understanding of Buddhist doctrine 01:27:36 - Gratitude to Tarthang Tulku 01:29:56 - Thinking about death 01:31:14 - Does Doug want to be enlightened? 01:33:19 - Buddhism is a natural state … To find our more about Doug Nurnberg, visit: - https://www.sinibridge.org/team-member/doug-nurnberg/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

This week, The Good, The Bad, and The Sequel takes on American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt, the third entry in the cult-favorite action franchise — and this one was a Doug hall pass pick, so you know it's going to get wild.With a new lead, over-the-top villains, and peak late-'80s action energy, American Ninja 3 leans all the way into ridiculous fun, questionable logic, and nonstop martial arts mayhem.We dig into everything, including:

Steve James is a former British Commando and career firefighter who is taking on the woke agenda. Socials instagram.com/chris.thrall youtube.com/christhrall facebook.com/christhrall christhrall.com Support the podcast at: patreon.com/christhrall (£2 per month plus perks) gofundme.com/christhrall paypal.me/teamthrall Our uncensored content: christhrall.locals.com Mailing list: christhrall.com/mailing-list/ Life Coaching: christhrall.com/coach/

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. … 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'. … 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 … 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

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow provides state and federal updates in his “Seven with Kevin” segment.  Collin Watters discusses his position as Director of Exports and Logistics for the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. IHSA Friday Friday Friday segment features SIU Carbondale alum Steve James, who reflects on the continued acclaim of his 1994 documentary film “Hoop Dreams”.  

So you've developed a sequel to one of your recent "successes," but the legendary action star of the previous film has decided he doesn't want to do a follow-up. Are you supposed to scrap the whole thing? Not if you're Cannon Films, who knew better than to throw out all the work they had already done on a potential Invasion USA sequel, and instead decided to rework it into a new potential franchise starter of its own. "Misfired Cannons" continues as we look at 1986's Avenging Force, which saw Chuck Norris replaced with Cannon's own pet-project up-and-coming star, Michael Dudikoff. Here, Dudikoff takes over the role of Matt Hunter (or is maybe a totally different Matt Hunter?), this time taking on an an underground society of crazed right-wing extremists that likes to hunt men for sport. We discuss Dudikoff's place in the Cannon legacy, the movie's surprising-for-the-time-and-genre politics, the perpetual underutilization of co-star Steve James, and much more. Our Twitter Our Facebook Our Instagram Our YouTube Trev's Letterboxd Chris' Letterboxd

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. … Video version: www.guruviking.com Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … 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 
… 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. … 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'. … 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 … 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

The biggest Draft of the year is here! Rookie / screenwriter Daniel Waters (Heathers, Batman Returns) joins Legend Drea Clark (Maximum Film), All-Star / film critic Katie Walsh, and the Co-Commish Mr. Ryan Marker to definitively rank the 20 BEST FILMS from the year 2025! This episode is brought to you by the Film and Media Archive at WashU Libraries, celebrating 60 years of Kartemquin Films! This summer, experience the diversity of the Kartemquin catalogue with FREE screenings of Steve James' Hoop Dreams, Bill Siegel's The Trials of Muhammad Ali, and Jerry Blumenthal & Gordon Quinn's Golub, all FREE at the Hi-Pointe Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri. More details on dates and speakers to come! Visit https://library.washu.edu/spec/kartemquin/ for more information on the WashU Film and Media Archive, and Kartemquin Films. WashU Libraries is also sponsoring a FREE screening of The Maid of McMillan at the Hi-Pointe on April 19th, to celebrate the film's recent entry to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry! From WashU University Archives, the The Maid of McMillian is the first known student film, and it will be paired with Harold Lloyd's classic college story, The Freshman.  https://library.washu.edu/events/the-maid-of-mcmillan-the-freshman-screening/

After rounding up the day's top stories, Richie is joined by Steve James from Edge of The Matrix. New MP Hannah Spencer was given a police escort after an anti-hate demonstration turned violent. The Green Party MP had made a speech at the Greater Together Manchester event on Sunday afternoon in Piccadilly Gardens. The 34-year-old, who won last month's Gorton and Denton by-election, was helped by the police towards a waiting car after anti-transgender activists clashed with women's rights and anti-racism campaigners. Steve James was there and attempted to challenge Hannah Spencer on the Green Party's trans policies. He discusses what happened and much more in a fascinating conversation with Richiehttps://www.youtube.com/@edgeofthematrix

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. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep351-psychic-entrepreneur-alana-fairchild Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … 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 … 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

On the latest episode of the podcast, Jamie reveals how long it takes before her attention drifts from movies (these Pluto commercials aren't helping), Doug believes two characters in this film are auditioning for a sitcom that never happened, and we both agree that not much has changed in society over the past 40 years (some for better but far more for worse). Pay for your fresh fruits before eating them, take off your fake eyelashes before bed, and join us as we celebrate Black History Month with a movie far more thoughtful and prescient than the title would have you believe, The Brother from Another Planet!The Brother from Another Planet is a 1984 film written and directed by John Sayles and starring Joe Morton, Steve James, Leonard Jackson, Maggie Renzi, Renn Woods, Tom Wright, David Strathairn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Rosetta LeNoire, Fischer Stevens & Bill Cobbs.Visit our YouTube ChannelMerch on TeePublic Follow us on TwitterFollow on InstagramFind us on FacebookDoug's Schitt's Creek podcast, Schitt's & Giggles can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/schitts-and-giggles-a-schitts-creek-podcast/id1490637008

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. … 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'.
 … 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/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

It's a rare starring role for the late great Steve James, and it is the topic of discussion on Episode 193 of the Bulletproof Podcast! Join Chris the Brain, "The Toyman" Chris DePetrillo, and Ryan Campbell as they chat all things Street Hunter. The talking points include the fantastic character names, the ultra cool Steve James, the strong supporting cast that included John Leguizamo and Frank Vincent, plus was this Reb Brown's greatest performance? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. … Full episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep349-deep-dive-into-magick-alex-w Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … 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 … 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

If you think L.A. is Sodom and Gomorrah 2.0 today, it was not exactly Disney World in the 80s either. A movie came out in 1985 that showed the not so glamorous side of L.A. with a story about Secret Service agents chasing down a murderous, psychotic counterfeiter around L.A. That movie is William Friedkin's “To Live And Die In L.A.”, and if Friedkin's name sounds familiar, it's because he also directed “The Exorcist” and “The French Connection.” He brings his gritty, never-know-what-you're-gonna-get style to his action thriller. William L. Peterson plays the main character, Secret Service agent Richard Chance and his target in a quest for vengeance is a clever counterfeiter named Eric Masters, played by Willem Dafoe. Masters murders someone very close to Chance and that triggers a dangerous, frenzied pursuit where you never know who's going to make it out alive. “To Live And Die In L.A.” is also famous for a 80s cool soundtrack by Wang Chung. Is it worth checking out? Check out this episode to find out! “To Live And Die In L.A.” also stars Darlanne Fluegel, John Pankow, Debra Feuer, Dean Stockwell, Steve James and Robert Downey Sr.Support the showFeel free to reach out to me via:@MoviesMerica on Twitter @moviesmerica on InstagramMovies Merica on Facebook

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. … Video version: www.guruviking.com Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … 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? … 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. … Link in bio. Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … 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 … To find out more about “Nurturing the Mind: A Dialogue between a Psychiatrist & a Yogi“, visit: - https://www.sowarigpainstitute.org/course/nurturing-the-mind … 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 … 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. … 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

Is this one of the best or worst method or repertoire books for learning to play acoustic fingerstyle blues guitar? You can learn to play music using a variety of resources including teachers, online resources, and books. Roots and Blues Fingerstyle Guitar Explorations by Steve James is a hybrid repertoire/method book for learning to play fingerstyle and bottleneck blues.  This book is suitable for late beginner to advanced fingerstyle players but is best for intermediate players.  I would definitely not recommend this book for complete beginners – it starts out too hard for inexperienced fingerstyle players.  The book offers some technical advice as well as fun historical anecdotes and quotes. There are a bunch of fingerstyle blues books on the market, and I would generally not recommend this book over some of the others.  On the positive side of things, this book excels in its material focused on open tunings and bottleneck slide.  If you watch the included videos, you'll see that the author is an incredible bottleneck slide player, and that is reflected in these chapters.  On the other hand, I do not like multiple things about this book. The difficulty progression isn't very smooth – the book starts out with some difficult (late beginner/intermediate) tunes, and then the difficulty varies from tune to tune.  Part of this is because the open tuning arrangements (starting in the middle of the book) are a bit easier to play. There aren't a lot of exercises.  There are some, but this is more of a repertoire book with analysis and technical advice in the text. I'm not a fan of the way that Acoustic Guitar Magazine lays out their books.  They don't integrate their text and playing examples.  Instead of text that prepares you for an example, then the example, then more text, then the next example, etc., they usually have the text in a big block, and that text will refer you to the examples which are together in another block.  It requires more jumping back and forth for the reader.  It's not the end of the world, but it's not my favorite. Late-beginner fingerstyle players could utilize Roots and Blues Fingerstyle Guitar Explorations as a supplement to a traditional method book: A general fingerstyle method like Alfred's “Beginning Fingerstyle Guitar,” or A more focused method like Bruce Emery's “Travis-Style Guitar from Scratch.” Roots and Blues Fingerstyle Guitar Explorations provides both treble clef and tablature for each arrangement.  Neither fretting nor picking hand fingering is provided in the music, but it is sometimes mentioned in the separate text.  You can usually tell which notes should be played with your thumb by looking at the treble clef – bass notes generally have down stems.  Regardless, the skill of choosing sensible fingering is important, and you will need to look elsewhere to further develop this skill. Videos demonstrating the examples are available online.  These are great.  For me, it was especially helpful while working through the bottleneck slide chapter. © 2014 by Steve James. Produced by String Letter Media in association with the Acoustic Guitar Magazine. My own books: Fingerstyle Blues Guitar: An In-Depth Study of the 12-Bar Blues in E Major – Books 1 and 2 are available in paperback or as an eBook through Amazon [https://a.co/d/g7Udsso (Book 1) and https://a.co/d/aDbh4H0 (Book 2)].  The first priority of these books is to quickly get you playing a solo instrumental 12-bar blues, and then to build on it until you can freely improvise or “jam.” You should be up and running by the end of the third chapter, and each following chapter will add icing on the cake. Arranging for Fingerstyle Guitar: go to http://joemcmurray.com/checkout/ to purchase a pdf of my eBook.  Learning to arrange melodies will also help your fingerstyle songwriting and your understanding of the inner workings of fingerstyle guitar. My upcoming book, Arranging for Fingerstyle Ukulele, will be published by Mel Bay in 2026. My music is available on all streaming platforms at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dcokTG6C598OhTslHH5uo?si=hrQb7FViSZewDRSgECw9Ew: Pins on the Map: my third fingerstyle guitar album was released on January 19, 2024. Watch the first single, “Open Road,” on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/uPBh8sZQsT4?si=EM_wAwnHFqU1VC9C.Riding the Wave and Acoustic Oasis: my first two fingerstyle guitar albums.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this episode, Michaela shares a big personal update, discusses how to choose adventure over stagnancy, shares her tips for following the lead of intuition, explains the importance of generosity to unlock abundance in all aspects of life, and reveals details about her upcoming “Calling in the New Year” free class. 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - A big personal update 02:05 - Creating a home 03:38 - Choosing adventure and creativity vs becoming stagnant 08:47 - Leaving the ranch behind 16:14 - Taking little steps 20:49 - Following the lead of intuition 23:50 - The importance of generosity and flow in wealth and other things 29:06 - Going beyond the transactional 32:01 - Powerful and empowering 33:09 - Free class and events 35:54 - Characteristics of the Winter Season 37:44 - Keys to envisioning your life 44:20 - Michaela's Christmas reading list 48:20 - Steve's Christmas reading list Join Michaela's free “Calling in the New Year” class: - https://www.michaelaboehm.com/workshops/ For workshops, teacher training and courses: https://www.michaelaboehm.com To order Michaela's book "The Wild Woman's Way" : https://amzn.to/2BQ5WpY Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James at https://www.guruviking.com

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

In this episode, I am once again joined by Gerald Ilyas Klawatsch, Sufi musician, music therapist, and founder of the international musical ensemble Ak Pirim. Ilyas presents the sacred music of Sufism, explains its various instruments and principles, and performs musical pieces live. Ilyas tells stories of discipleship under his Sufi master, recounts profound moments of spiritual bliss, and reflects on the power of music for emotional healing. Ilyas also explains the role of ecstatic trance in Sufism and reveals special breathing techniques to induce transcendent states. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep338-sacred-sufi-music-the-art-of-ecstasy-gerald-ilyas-klawatsch-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … 00:00 - Intro 00:47 - Combining spiritual life with the arts 04:46 - Beauty as a quality of the Divine 07:37 - Sacred calligraphy 11:36 - Music as the main spiritual art 13:!6 - A Sufi creation story 16:32 - How Ilyas learned Sufi music 22:52 - Mystical drunkenness 26:59 - Ney, the Sufi flute 32:03 - Performance: Ney flute 32:52 - A story of a Ney master 35:03 - Music and poetry 36:44 - Arabian maqam 38:51 - About the Oud 40:42 - Performance: Oud 42:25 - Zikr 43:41 - About the Bendhir 44:06 - Performance: Bendhir 44:29 - Performance: Oud 45:37 - Trance, ecstasy, and hyperventilation 50:22 - Awakening the heart 53:08 - Two personal stories of Ilyas' spiritual and music master 59:53 - About the Rebâb 01:02:34 - Performance: Rebâb 01:03:46 - Music therapy 01:05:28 - Healing and personal expression 01:10:06 - A story of Ilyas' music master 01:12:55 - Shamanism and music 01:14:13 - Performance: Bendhir Sufi song 01:15:25 - Performance: Bendhir shamanic song 01:17:05 - About the Qyl-Qobyz, a shamanic instrument 01:18:28 - About the Çeng harp 01:19:43 - Performance: Çeng harp 01:21:08 - Where to hear more of Ilyas' music … Previous episode with Gerald Ilyas Klawatsch: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=ilyas To find out more about Gerald Ilyas Klawatsch, visit: - https://bengusu.com/g-ilyas-klatsch/ - https://www.youtube.com/@akpirimensemble For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

In this interview I am once again joined by Dr Ben Joffe, anthropologist, occultist, and scholar practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. Ben reveals the industry convention of guru ghostwriting in which spiritual teachers employ one or a team of writers to produce their dharma books, explains his collaborative process with Nida Chenagtsang on their latest Vajrayana book, and sheds light on his own editorial process. Ben discusses whether a scholar should have practice experience before translating religious texts, considers whether historical inaccuracies debunk the spiritual value of Buddhist scriptures, and raises questions about the origin of terma treasure texts. Ben also compares the Yuthok Nyinthig retreat format to the Abramelin Ritual of Western Occultism, details the signs of success in tantric practice, and shares Yuthok's promise to appear in bodily form to practitioners with sufficient devotion and attainment. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep337-guru-ghostwriting-tantric-retreat-dr-ben-joffe Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:12 - Ghostwriting for gurus 08:03 - Lamas often don't write their books 10:24 - Ben's editorial process 18:32 - Is guru ghostwriting a dirty secret? 19:17 - Vajrayana jargon vs a felt sense 29:56 - What is a scholar practitioner? 37:39 - Ben's retreat experiences 41:13 - Did Yuthok the Elder really exist? 50:06 - Anachronisms and retroactive attribution in Tibetan historiography 51:57 - Origins of the Tibetan medical tantras (rgyud bzhi) 58:08 - Terma treasure texts: mystical revelation or an editorial process? 01:02:08 - Why have Western scholars been hesitant to question terma texts? 01:05:04 - Does critical scholarship debunk Buddhism? 01:10:55 - Medicine Buddha ex machina 01:12:45 - Referring out 01:13:24 - Encountering Yuthok vs the Holy Guardian Angel in the Abramelin Ritual 01:20:10 - Special 7-day Yuthok ngondro 01:24:10 - Is Yuthok Nyingthig the best tantric system? 01:28:27 - The power of aspiration prayers 01:30:53 - How long does it take to become fully enlightened? 01:33:51 - Practice according to number, time, or signs 01:34:54 - Mythic resonance of lineage 01:36:33 - Signs of spiritual progress 01:41:35 - Ben comments on the Abramelin Ritual 01:43:59 - Sumton's Yeshe Zung's devotional prayer 01:46:50 - Yuthok as a Mighty Dead 01:48:47 - Do Yuthok's promises cause ego inflation and delusion? 01:52:09 - Verifying dreams and spiritual signs 01:58:26 - How to connect with spiritual blessings 02:05:09 - What are blessings? 02:06:32 - Spiritual signs in the Jesuit tradition 02:08:49 - Ngondro as a hazing 02:10:55 - Do people expect to encounter Yuthok at Dr Nida's retreats? 02:15:38 - Dr Nida's approach vs traditional contexts 02:21:00 - Typical student profile and outcomes 02:29:28 - Permissive approach to tantric vows 02:32:37 - Pros and cons of laissez-faire tantric practice 02:33:28 - Charismatic founder stage 
… Previous episodes with Dr Ben Joffe: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=joffe Previous episodes with Dr Nida Chenagtsang: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=nida 
… To find out more about Dr Ben Joffe, visit: - https://perfumedskull.com/ - http://www.skypressbooks.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Mike talks with director Sam Firstenberg and Reelblack founder Michael J. Dennis about Riverbend (1989). The discussion examines the film's production, its depiction of racism in the Jim Crow South, and its unusual release history. Firstenberg reflects on working with Steve James, Larry Dobkin, and Margaret Avery, while Dennis provides broader context on the film's place within independent Black cinema. The conversation also touches on the politics surrounding Riverbend, its themes, and how the film has been received over time.Find out more at https://www.reelblack.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

Mike talks with director Sam Firstenberg and Reelblack founder Michael J. Dennis about Riverbend (1989). The discussion examines the film's production, its depiction of racism in the Jim Crow South, and its unusual release history. Firstenberg reflects on working with Steve James, Larry Dobkin, and Margaret Avery, while Dennis provides broader context on the film's place within independent Black cinema. The conversation also touches on the politics surrounding Riverbend, its themes, and how the film has been received over time.Find out more at https://www.reelblack.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

In this episode I am once again joined by Duncan Barford, occult practitioner, counsellor, and author of “Occult Experiments in the Home”. Duncan begins with an analysis of the 2016 film, “A Dark Song”, which he believes is the most accurate depiction of occult practice in cinema. Duncan details the plot, breaks down its depictions of ritual, and shares his own emotional reaction to the film's climax. Duncan then shifts gear and gives a detailed explanation of the infamous Abramelin ritual, a multi-month ritual considered by many to be the most ambitious working a magician can attempt. Duncan gives a survey of the major written accounts of those who have attempted it including Aleister Crowley, Lionel Snell, and William Bloom; reveals why the ritual has such a high failure rate; and shares what he believes is the key to success. Duncan also analyses the esoteric structure of Coleridge's poem “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and interprets it as a description of the spiritual path, proposes an equivalency between success in the Abramelin and Buddhist stream entry, and reveals why he believes the study of history is an obstacle to magickal success. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep336-the-magick-of-abramelin-duncan-barford-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:28 - The Magick of A Dark Song 02:45 - The film 04:41 - The Abramelin Ritual 07:23 - Cinematic depictions of magick 08:04 - Spoiler warnings and the plot 08:24 - Hiring the magician 10:03 - Sophia's motive for the ritual 11:36 - A deep understanding of how ritual works 14:40 - Describing the magickal working 17:04 - Meeting the Holy Guardian Angel 21:01 - The practitioner's journey 25:58 - Characer arcs 30:03 - The key of devotion 33:02 - The esoteric structure of Coleridge's “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” 33:34 - The cycle of insight 38:37 - Crisis, breakthrough, ordeal, union 43:38 - Unsettling themes 44:12 - Interventus Caninus 44:57 - What next after absolution? 45:33 - What is the point of the Abramelin Ritual? 46:46 - Reflecting on the ending of the film 49:39 - Crowley, Snell, Bloom, and Katz - those who attempted the Abramelin 49:54 - Mysterious history of the Abramelin Ritual 52:39 - Recensions of the Abramelin 53:56 - Duncan describes the Abramelin text and ritual 01:00:20 - Why does the Abramelin ritual have such a high failure rate? 01:02:12 - Meeting Lionel Snell 01:04:51 - A tarot reading and why history is an obstacle to real magick 01:06:53 - Daniel Ingram's revision of traditional fire kasina meditation 01:11:00 - Crowley's attempts at the Abramelin ritual 01:14:37 - Other accounts 01:16:40 - William Bloom's attempt 01:20:45 - Secret to success with the Abramelin Ritual 01:24:13 - How to increase the success rate of rituals 01:29:18 - Are you ready to attempt the Abramelin? 01:31:52 - Stream entry and Abramelin 01:34:35 - Duncan reflects on his past claims to attainment 01:37:16 - Questioning pragmatic dharma assumptions and the vogue of stream entry 01:41:00 - Insider vs outsider views 01:42:13 - Does magick really work? 01:43:31 - A story of powerful magickal effects 
… Watch previous episodes with Duncan Barford: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=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 once again joined by Alex W, long term practitioner of Zen, Pragmatic Dharma, and Western Occultism. Alex lays out his ideal curriculum of practices to achieve awakening including a full technique sequence, explanation of the signs of success at each stage, and the various post-awakening paths that are available. Alex details the energetic openings that occur after awakening and how to nurture them, contrasts Buddhist tummo to Daoist inner alchemy, and explains the process to open the psychic senses. Alex challenges the meditation retreat model of practice which he sees as putting economic concerns over student benefit, offers his opinion on the amount of time one should spend in daily meditation, and emphasises the importance of retaining one's autonomy in the spiritual market place. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep335-how-to-guide-for-awakening-beyond-alex-w-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:05 - What is the ideal curriculum for awakening? 02:55 - Alex's teaching experience 03:30 - Core skills for all traditions 04:42 - Never surrender your autonomy 06:32 - You must learn to sit 08:56 - The first meditation technique 12:32 - Recommended traditions and books 16:11 - First signs of success 19:45 - A major shift 23:39 - Should you pursue enlightenment? 24:51 - Soto vs Rinzai vs Dzogchen vs Mahāmudrā 37:50 - The goal of Dzogchen and Mahāmudrā 39:54 - How to embody realisation 45:35 - Moving from abdomen to heart space 47:04 - Saccidānanda 48:17 - Result of awakening the three energy centres 53:04 - Gurdjieff and self-remembering 55:35 - Using stress to strengthen the energy body 01:00:37 - Tummo and inner alchemy 01:05:55 - Warning about energy practice 01:08:19 - A summary of Alex's recommended path 01:09:54 - How long does the path take? 01:13:24 - The Chinese view of inner alchemy 01:17:32 - Opening the psychic senses 01:22:55 - How much should one practice? 01:25:04 - The economic trap of meditation retreats 01:34:50 - Solo retreats and the limitations of lay life 01:41:21 - Economic logic vs practice effectiveness 01:46:53 - How to relate to strong experiences? 01:49:20 - St John of the Cross 01:56:04 - Deconstructing the Self 02:04:57 - Recognising what is already here 02:07:26 - Closing remarks … 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 once again joined by Myriam Szabo, also known as Ngakma Yumma Mudra: dancer, producer, model, teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, and founder of the international Danza Duende Network. Ngakma Yumma Mudra recounts the story of her life from a childhood of domestic abuse, intense discipleship under Russian dance teachers, and years of living on the streets. Ngakma Yumma Mudra recalls her relationships, her mystical and psychic experiences, and her breakthrough to international fame as the model in a provocative marketing campaign. Ngakma Yumma Mudra shares her conversion to Buddhism, how her devotion to Padmasambhava helped her confront her fear, and how a period of intensive retreat led her to rediscover dance as a spiritual practice. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep334-the-dakinis-journey-ngakma-yumma-mudra Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:55 - An unusual conception 04:56 - Beginning classical dance training at 2 years old 06:42 - Mother beaten every day 08:19 - Fleeing to Paris 10:21 - Dance as refuge 12:32 - Discipleship under two Russian dance gurus 19:58 - Studying music and classical guitar 20:35 - Living on the streets for 3 years 22:17 - An abusive relationship at 17 years old 24:20 - Karma and abuse 26:32 - LSD and a mystical awakening 30:16 - Living with artists and drug dealers 32:45 - Attacked by rival drug gang 33:41 - Psychic abilities 36:05 - Reading Chogyam Trungpa 38:01 - Travel to India to seek Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche 40:39 - Moving to Portugal 42:11 - Modelling career in Paris 46:06 - Devotion to Guru Padmasambhava and releasing fear 49:15 - Space and time 52:44 - Relationship with famous photographer Jean-François Jonvelle  55:25 - Orgies, dharma, and rise to fame 58:36 - Modelling for the famous advertisement, “Demain j'enlève le bas” 01:02:15 - Further Buddhist training and 1 year retreat 01:05:07 - Return to dance 01:07:58 - Discovering the feminine 01:09:08 - Dance as sādhanā 01:16:!6 - Performing without choreography 01:21:20 - Teaching and burning out 01:25:21 - Dharma art 01:29:16 - Relationship with Michel Raji  01:36:28 - Breathwork and healing the inner masculine 01:38:08 - Dharma dance study programme … Previous episode with Ngakma Yumma Mudra: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=yumma To find our more about Ngakma Yumma Mudra visit: - https://www.danzaduende.org/yumma-bio-en.htm For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James