In this episode I am joined by Dr. Ian Wickramasekera, Bön Buddhist practitioner and associate professor of Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling at Naropa University. We discuss how a violent, childhood near-death experience propelled Ian onto the path of meditative exploration, and how psychedelics played a part in unraveling deep seated racial conditioning. We learn how early encounters with Glenn Mullin and Robin Kornman profoundly shaped Ian’s contemplative and academic trajectories. I...
Sep 26, 2020•2 hr 17 min
In this episode I am joined by Taiwanese Youtube Fitness star Frank Yang who on May 25th 2020, declared himself to be an arhat - the highest level of enlightenment in Theravada Buddhism. Frank discusses his intense spiritual quest, from his early days as a bodybuilder struggling with sex addiction, to a multi-year deep dive into Buddhist meditation practice. We learn about Frank’s initial awakenings, kundalini phenomena, encounters with entities, and journeys to astral dimensions. Frank lifts th...
Sep 12, 2020•1 hr 21 min
In this episode I am joined by Sang-gyé A-tsal, an ex-dancer, jazz club owner, and Brevet Lama in the Aro gTer lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. We discuss Sang-gyé’s personal journey through Santeria, Sufism, and Vedanta before meeting her future teacher, Ngak’chang Rinpoche. Sang-gyé discusses her transformative time spent in Nepal with Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche, and recounts her completion of the esoteric practice of phowa under the guidance of Jomo Sampel. We learn about how to practice Vajra Romanc...
Aug 28, 2020•1 hr 12 min
In this episode I am once again joined by Tibetologist, author, and Tantric Buddhist lama Glenn Mullin. We discuss a fascinating range of topics, including Theosophists Madame Blavatsky, Colonel Olcott, and Alice Bailey; and controversial American spiritual teacher Adi Da. We explore the line between mystical experience and psychotic delusion, and how mystics from various traditions have related to hearing voices and seeing visions. Glenn comments on the role of teachers and lineage in keeping m...
Aug 20, 2020•54 min
To support people in this pandemic, I decided to release the full workshop recording of 'Dimensions of the Heart - Exploring Meditation Practices Of Loving Kindness And Compassion'. The video version includes important slides and visual aids, and can be viewed here: https://www.guruviking.com/dimensions-of-the-heart-meditation-practices-of-compassion-full-workshop/ … 'Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.’ - Abraham Lincoln … Everyone likes to feel good. Much of the t...
Aug 11, 2020•3 hr 5 min
In this interview I am joined by Ron Serrano who, after securing financial freedom, turned away from the business world and declared the rest of his life a retreat, turning his full attention to spiritual awakening. Ron is a long time meditation practitioner and co-founder of the online meditation group Dharma Mechanics. We discuss Ron’s rigorous practice schedule, including his advanced lucid dreaming approach, and discover the one technique that increases lucid dreams by 20x. Ron also discusse...
Jul 21, 2020•1 hr 18 min
In this interview I am joined by Daizan Skinner, a British Zen Roshi holding lineages in both the Soto and Rinzai schools. We learn about Daizan’s Catholic upbringing, his fascination with the 14th century Christian contemplative text the Cloud of Unknowing, and how a search throughout Asia eventually led him to become a Zen monk for over twenty years. We lift the lid on his traditional training, including intensely painful meditation practice, severe sleep deprivation, and deep emotional cathar...
Jul 12, 2020•1 hr 48 min
In this episode I am again joined by Lorin Roche PhD, meditation teacher and author of ‘The Radiance Sutras’. We begin by discussing Lorin’s career as a writer, and learn why one of his early works triggered a visit from the CIA. We go on to discuss accidental mystical experiences, their positive and negative effects, and the role of practice in integrating such experiences. We learn why so many meditators are stuck and don’t know it, why meditation teachers are often the worst off of all, and w...
Jun 21, 2020•1 hr 1 min
In this interview I am once again joined by Nyei Murez, personal student and writing collaborator of best-selling author and nagual sorcerer Carlos Castaneda. In this discussion, we learn about the art of dreaming in the tradition of the nagual. Nyei talks about the various different stages and training approaches to the art of dreaming, including how to become lucid - waking up in the dream and even to changing the dream environment. We discuss how to identify beings from other realms, so calle...
Jun 14, 2020•1 hr 23 min
In this episode I am joined by Paul Linden PhD, who has practiced and taught Aikido for 50 years and out of that has developed body-based ways of teaching power and compassion. He has applied this in peace-making, conflicts between ethnic groups, and with victims of severe trauma. He summarises his work: Power without love is brutality. Love without power is ineffective. We learn about Paul’s early days in the martial arts, and how a lack of coordination forced him to completely re-engineer his...
Jun 07, 2020•1 hr 10 min
In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Ben Joffe, anthropologist and scholar practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. This episode is the third part of a series in which we explore Ben’s PhD dissertation about the ngakpa of the Himalayas, or as Ben calls them ‘wizards and socially engaged yogis’. In this episode we explore the realms of gender and sexual orientation, in both textual and social contexts. Ben discusses the complex situation of female spiritual practitioners in the Tibetan Buddhist ...
May 31, 2020•1 hr 36 min
In this episode I am once again joined by Tibetologist, author, and Tantric Buddhism teacher Glenn Mullin. We discuss references to the extra-terrestrial origin of humanity in Mongolian shamanism and Buddhist Abhidharma. We explore the differences between a lineage and a sect, and the impact of the Tibetan diaspora on sectarian attitudes. Glenn reveals how it was he first began to teach, what makes a lineage holder, and how to relate to a tantric guru. We learn about why Glenn’s approach to sama...
May 24, 2020•1 hr 16 min
In this interview I am joined by Nyei Murez, personal student and writing collaborator of best-selling author and nagual sorcerer Carlos Castaneda. We discuss who Castaneda was, and Nyei gives a detailed history of his lineage up to the present day. We find out how Nyei first met Castaneda, and explore her intensive course of study and training under his personal guidance. We learn about Castaneda’s writing process, including stories of Nyei’s close collaboration with him on several best selling...
May 18, 2020•2 hr 35 min
In this episode we explore the life story of Dr Nida Chenagtsang, master of Tibetan Medicine and lineage holder of the spiritual teachings of the Yuthok Nyingthig. We learn about Dr Nida’s childhood as a nomad on the high grasslands of Tibet and the lessons he learned immersed in nature. We follow him to Lhasa, where he trained as a doctor of Tibetan medicine, and engaged in private spiritual training in lineages such as the Longchen Nyingthig, Dudjom Tersar, Yuthok Nyingthig and more. We hear D...
May 11, 2020•1 hr 26 min
In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Ben Joffe, anthropologist and scholar practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. This episode is the second part of a series in which we explore Ben’s PhD dissertation on the ngakpa of the Himalayas, or as Ben calls them ‘wizards and socially engaged yogis’. In the previous episode, we met the scholar, exploring Ben’s life as well as looking at his research methodology. In this episode we begin by defining the ngakpa, both in terms of traditional definitions a...
May 04, 2020•1 hr 18 min
In this episode I am once again joined by Tibetologist, author, and Tantric Buddhism teacher Glenn Mullin. In this fascinating, story-filled episode we focus on Glenn’s career as an author and translator. Glenn has authored over 30 books on Tibetan Buddhism, which themselves have been translated into many languages. He has translated an extremely wide range of classical Tibetan literature from some of the greatest minds of that tradition, including many Dalai Lamas, Tsongkhapa, and more. We disc...
Apr 30, 2020•1 hr 46 min
In this interview I am joined by Nicki Wells, internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and composer. We learn about Nicki’s Himalayan upbringing in Dharmsala, India as part of the Sahaja Yoga group, a tradition of awakening that exposed Nicki to profound states of meditation as well as Indian classical music. We go into depth about the Sahaja Yoga system, including its approach to kundalini energy, darshan, and spiritual evolution, as well as Nicki’s own spiritual epiphanies. We explore Nicki...
Apr 22, 2020•1 hr 14 min
In this interview I am joined by Jayür Dorje, a lama in the non-monastic Aro gTér lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and the partner of previous interview guest Métsal Wangmo. We learn about Jayür’s early explorations in Zen and the Karma Kagyu traditions, before an ususual meeting in France changed his course to become a Nyingmapa. We discuss Jayür’s early apprenticeship in the Aro gTer and explore his special interest in that lineage’s magical movements of trulkhor. Jayür Dorje recounts his time in N...
Apr 17, 2020•1 hr 6 min
In this episode I am joined by Dr Ben Joffe, anthropologist and scholar practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. We discuss Ben’s early interest in Western Occultism saw him become a professional tarot reader at age 11 and engage in rigorous self study of magical disciplines. We learn about how Ben taught himself the Tibetan language, and follow him to Indian and Nepal where he carried out his doctoral field work among the Ngakpa community in exile. Ben reveals the methodological and ethical challenges...
Apr 13, 2020•1 hr 55 min
In this interview I am joined by Métsal Wangmo, a lama in the non-monastic Aro gTér lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. We learn about Métsal’s explorations in meditation and shamanism, that led her to commit to life-long study with Ngakchang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen. We discuss how Métsal’s background in Steiner education influences her teaching style, and hear the story of the death of her first apprentice. Métsal recounts meeting and falling in love with her now teaching-partner Jayür Dorje, afte...
Apr 09, 2020•1 hr 23 min
Susan Guner recently interviewed me about meditation as part of her free 21 Day Meditation Challenge. 0:00 - How Susan met Steve 02:30 - About Steve 04:12 - Susan on meditation and self-agency 06:20 - Different types of meditation, guided meditation vs silent sitting 10:33 - Is guided meditation useful? 16:57 - Building a daily meditation practice 25:32 - Common meditation misconceptions 30:35 - Susan on different states of consciousness and meditating in life 35:35 - Aspiration vs practice 39:3...
Apr 05, 2020•1 hr 11 min
In this episode I am once again joined by Tibetologist, author, and Tantric Buddhism teacher Glenn Mullin. We discuss tukdam and rainbow body, the mysterious after-death phenomena in which accomplished yogis can remain in suspended animation for days or weeks after death or dissolve their bodies into their elemental constituents. We hear about the remarkable death of one of Glenn’s own gurus, which he witnessed first hand, as well as discuss the means of communicating with deceased masters throu...
Apr 04, 2020•1 hr 23 min
I was recently interviewed by Bill and Jasmine of Awake-In Podcast about meditation, podcasting, and my thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic. Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/steve-interviewed-on-awake-in-podcast/ 0:00 - Introductions 02:40 - What has Steve learned from his guests on the Guru Viking Podcast 08:54 - The pros and cons of combative interview styles 11:08 - Steve’s personal meditation practice 14:16 - Explaining Steve’s practice to a child, a lay person, and an experienced med...
Apr 01, 2020•1 hr 33 min
Dr Nida Chenagtsang, master of Tibetan Meditation and lineage holder of the Yuthok Nyingthig, is my featured guest in this episode of the Guru Viking Podcast: Pandemic Series. Please share these episodes among those who might find them helpful, and let me know what you think in the comments below. ... Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep41-dr-nida-chenagtsang-pandemic-edition-guru-viking-podcast/ Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Stitcher – search ‘Guru Viking Po...
Mar 31, 2020•33 min
Daniel Ingram, meditation teacher and author of ‘Mastering The Core Teachings Of The Buddha’, is my featured guest in this episode of the Guru Viking Podcast: Pandemic Series. Please share these episodes among those who might find them helpful, and let me know what you think in the comments below. ... Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep40-daniel-ingram-pandemic-edition-guru-viking-podcast/ Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Stitcher – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’...
Mar 30, 2020•1 hr 27 min
Ngak'Chang Rinpoche And Khandro Déchen, the Lineage Lamas and principal teachers of the a tantric Buddhist Aro tradition house holder tradition, are my featured guests in this episode of the Guru Viking Podcast: Pandemic Series. There is some audio interference in this episode, but the content is well worth the effort to listen. Please share these episodes among those who might find them helpful, and let me know what you think in the comments below. ... Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/...
Mar 26, 2020•31 min
Godfrey offers a breathing class and Q&A for the listeners of the Guru Viking Podcast focused on his ‘Free Breathing’ approach to pranayama. This practice is referenced and further explained in Episode 38 of the Guru Viking Podcast, and is part of a special series of the podcast to support those affected by the pandemic. Please share these episodes among those who might find them helpful, and let me know what you think in the comments below. … https://www.guruviking.com/free-breathing-class-...
Mar 24, 2020•46 min
Godfrey Devereux, yoga and meditation teacher of over 45 years experience, is my featured guest in this episode of the Guru Viking Podcast: Pandemic Series. Please share these episodes among those who might find them helpful, and let me know what you think in the comments below. ... https://www.guruviking.com/ep38-godfrey-devereux-pandemic-edition-guru-viking-podcast/ Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Stitcher – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … I am producing a special se...
Mar 24, 2020•32 min
Shinzen Young - meditation teacher, neuroscience researcher, and author of ‘The Science of Enlightenment’ - is my featured guest in this episode of the Guru Viking Podcast: Pandemic Series. Please share these episodes among those who might find them helpful, and let me know what you think in the comments below. ... Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep37-shinzen-young-pandemic-edition-guru-viking-podcast/ Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Stitcher – search ‘Guru V...
Mar 23, 2020•34 min
Bar-ché Dorje, a Dutch Lama in the Aro gTer tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, is my featured guest in this episode of the Guru Viking Podcast: Pandemic Series. Please share these episodes among those who might find them helpful, and let me know what you think in the comments below. ... Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep36-bar-che-dorje-pandemic-edition-guru-viking-podcast/ Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Stitcher – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … I am producing ...
Mar 21, 2020•27 min
