Guru Viking Podcast

In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Ben Joffe anthropologist and scholar practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism.

Dr Joffe shares his recent research and publications on the topic of gegs gsel, Tibetan writing about how to remedy the various obstacles and illnesses that can arise during meditation.

Dr Joffe draws on Tibetan gegs gsel texts to describe three types of meditation problems and five categories of solution and explains the surprising technique that Taranatha emphasises as central to removing spiritual obstacles.

Dr Joffe also argues that although there has been increased interest in the negative effects of meditation, gegs gsel literature remains understudied, and we reflect on the possible incompatibility between Tibetan medical and spiritual cures and modern psychological and psychiatric approaches to meditation injury.

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:00 - Spiritual obstacles
02:53 - Ben’s research into meditation sickness
07:20 - Tibetan oral instructions for adverse yogic effects
11:47 - Taranatha on gegs gsel
14:03 - Ben’s personal experience with gegs gsel
16:26 - Why is gegs gsel so understudied?
21:58 - Is intensive tantric practice dangerous?
24:06 - Practices should produce signs
28:22 - It is timely to talk about meditation sickness
31:47 - Differing medical and therapeutic models
36:33 - Catching lice in retreat
38:40 - Gegs gsel literature is for committed practitioners
42:38 - Do tantric solutions make psychiatric symptoms worse?
48:40 - Dr Nida on psychosis in retreat
56:50 - Dza Paltrul on demons
01:01:28 - Ultimate vs relative
01:03:31 - Guru Yoga and a psychodynamic lens on gegs gsel
01:09:42 - Night terrors and deity devotion
01:12:50 - Ben’s experience of devotion
01:17:29 - 3 categories of problems, 5 categories of solutions
01:31:55 - 5 fundamental gegs gsel methods
01:33:55 - Dispelling demonic obstacles
01:38:56 - Warning to not ignore devotion
01:40:23 - Meditation experiences vs obstacles
01:44:09 - Simple visualisation methods
01:46:35 - Tsa, rlung, thig le
01:50:49 - Breathing techniques
01:54:37 - How common is meditation sickness?
02:11:22 - The most important thing
02:13:43 - PTSD and MDMA
02:23:16 - Where to read more

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Previous episodes with Dr Ben Joffe:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=joffe

To find out more about Dr Ben Joffe, visit:
- https://perfumedskull.com/
- http://www.skypressbooks.com/

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by Raya Thorne, occultist, psychic, and spiritual mentor.

Raya recounts her troubled childhood, early ghost encounters, and teenage experiments in the occult and witchcraft.

She describes terrifying encounters with summoned entities, details an ongoing working with a demon of the Goetia, and reveals her current understanding of the nature of spirit pacts and psychic connections.

Raya also reflects on the role of trauma in awakening psychic gifts, shares her thoughts on the connection between protection spells and personal boundaries, and warns of the dangers of spiritual psychosis and ego inflation when practicing magick.

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:49 - Middle class up-bringing in Australia
02:47 - Effects of isolation after premature birth
05:04 - Neglect and sensitivity to energy
07:25 - Chaotic household and learning to read people
09:32 - Ongoing work with childhood trauma
11:28 - Spiritual bypass and terrifying magickal experiences
16:27 - Why magicians should have therapy
17:51 - Spiritual psychosis and ego inflation
20:25 - Deconstructing the persona
24:29 - Which therapies Raya used
29:08 - Should Raya become a therapist?
31:06 - Childhood ghost encounters
34:18 - Early magickal workings
36:39 - Deep listening and interpreting intuition
38:53 - Local spirit encounters and violent dream
42:00 - Seeing spirits
45:12 - Dramatic exorcism by neighbour
50:18 - Reflection on sharing vulnerable stories
54:18 - Trauma and the new age
55:15 - Teenage magickal experiments summoning demons and the dead
01:02:41 - Seeking power through magick
01:05:06 - Similarities to the Labyrinth movie
01:06:36 - Terrifying Goetia demon experience
01:10:12 - Raya’s understanding of how to work with demons
01:11:16 - Working with the Goetia demon Gemory
01:15:47 - Psychic connection to demons
01:20:37 - Connecting directly to demons vs using protection
01:27:04 - Personal boundaries as protection
01:29:59 - Listening to feedback from entities
01:30:56 - Intense magickal experiences in 20s
01:34:09 - Shapeshifter encounter
01:36:38 - Ormus, remote viewing, tantra, and telekinesis
01:39:32 - Sequel plans

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To find our more about Raya Thorne, visit:
- https://www.rayathorne.com/

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by Samuel Bercholz, a senior teacher in the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, founder of Shambala publications, and author of “Rude Awakenings: An Unconventional Guide to the Buddhist Path”.

Samuel recalls his childhood as the son of holocaust survivors, his arrival in America as a refugee, his rapid ascent in the Democratic party as part of the Kennedy campaign, and his eventual disillusionment with politics.

Samuel describes his early spiritual seeking in theosophy and Buddhism, details his first experience of satori, and explains the process of learning to trust his gurus.

Samuel tells stories of his years of discipleship under controversial spiritual teachers such as Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, offers his insights about how to be a vajrayana student, and reflects on what it takes to be the disciple of tough masters.

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Rude Awakenings
02:46 - Child of the holocaust
05:03 - Arriving in America
07:18 - Interest in literature and politics
08:21 - Working for Kennedy
09:32 - Disillusionment with politics
11:16 - Exploring spiritual traditions
12:36 - Theosophy and Buddhism
14:56 - First satori
15:42 - Samuel’s mother’s preference for Russia
17:24 - Difficulties in America as a refugee and becoming a citizen
10:26 - Samuel’s resilience and processing past trauma in meditation
22:22 - Becoming part of the Kennedy office
25:02 - Refugee confidence
26:16 - Samuel’s doubts about himself
28:57 - Witnessing politicians lying about Vietnam
30:42 - Having a breakdown
32:32 - Disappointing spiritual teachers and politicians
34:15 - Experience with Lama Anagarika Govinda
38:17 - Developing trust in spiritual teachers
39:42 - Founding of Shambala Publications
41:00 - Years of discipleship under Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
43:14 - Being with tough gurus
44:10 - Skepticism about Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
45:34 - Death of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
46:43 - How to be a Vajrayana student
49:56 - Samuel’s special relationship with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
51:37 - Stories about Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s personal teaching
54:44 - Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s dark side
58:20 - Comparing enlightened teachers
01:03:09 - Becoming a disciple of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
01:11:24 - Lineage stories are real
01:12:31 - Lama’s commission to Samuel
01:13:19- So easy to miss spiritual opportunities
01:15:19 - Rude Awakenings, breadth and depth
01:16:12 - Why “Rude Awakenings”?

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To purchase “Rude Awakenings: vist:
- https://www.shambhala.com/rude-awakenings.html

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

In this episode I am joined by James Ellis - independent researcher; writer; host of the Hermitix podcast; and founder of the online magick school, the Hermitage.

James traces his spiritual journey including new atheism, explorations in the occult, Gurdjieff work, conversion to and deconversion from Catholicism, and the founding of his online magick school, the Hermitage.

James offers his critique of magickal protection practices, recounts his experiences of summoning demons of the Goetia, and explains his approach to spiritual teaching.

James also describes his years of alcoholism, the complexities of British class culture, the awakening of his intellectual potential, his graduate studies in Continental Philosophy, why he did not enjoy reading Homer’s Odyssey, and the pros and cons of talking in stories.

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:33 - James on Homer’s Odyssey and favourite fiction
07:02 - Church of England upbringing
09:26 - A class mutt
12:22 - Working class lessons
15:10 - Winnie the Pooh vs the Moomins
16:13 - Chronic underachieving at school
22:36 - Functional alcoholism from 14-22 years old
26:53 - Discovering a passion for reading
30:50 - James’ reading regime
32:36 - Finding time for reading
35:41 - School is an engine of trauma
39:45 - University degrees in Fine Art and Continental Philosophy
40:44 - A profound experience at 22 years old
45:08 - Why Continental Philosophy?
48:19 - Awakening intellectual potential
50:52 - Writing from the age of 16
53:53 - Beginnings of spiritual seeking & Alan Watts
56:04 - New Atheism, Chaos Magick, & the Occult
59:18 - Franz Bardon & Gurdjieff
01:03:34 - Franz Bardon and solo practice
01:07:43 - Discipline and building mind power
01:09:45 - Motives for occult involvement
01:12:30 - Crowley and HGA
01:15:47 - Becoming a Catholic
01:18:12 - Seeking falls away
01:23:40 - James draws a line in the interview
01:26:17 - Talking properly vs telling stories
01:28:26 - How to talk properly
01:30:04 - Energetic changes in the chest
01:34:46 - Free flowing being
01:36:56 - James asks for Steve’s reaction
01:40:37 - De-converting from Catholicism
01:46:17 - Catholic formation
01:48:28 - Trying to share doubts with Catholics
01:50:09 - A small wave of de-converts
01:51:44 - Why the recent vogue of conversion to traditional Christianity
01:52:55 - Can the modern man return to religion?
01:57:04 - Being a child of Winter
02:00:04 - Magick without seeking
02:00:57 - James’ magickal school, the Hermitage
02:09:15 - James on the experience of evil
02:14:27 - Summoning a demon of the Goetia
02:16:32 - Critique of magickal protection
02:20:17 - Why James still teaches banishing and protection magick
02:22:43 - Why James decided not to pursue a PhD
02:25:39 - Alan Chapman, John Michael Greer, and mentors
02:32:04 - Spiritual teaching and so what?

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To find our more about James Ellis, visit:
- https://www.youtube.com/@hermitixpodcast
- https://the-hermitage.mn.co/

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 Muho, Sōtō Zen teacher, Youtuber, and previous abbot of Antai-Ji monastery in Japan.

Muho recalls the early days of his marriage and of his abbotship of Antai-Ji monastery, compares Japanese to Western students, and addresses the shortcomings of Western Buddhism.

Muho considers the role of the true teacher, the tension between tradition and innovation, and what it’s like to see the negative side of your teacher.

Muho also reflects on narcissism in spiritual gurus, competitiveness on the spiritual path, and how to work with traumatic memories which arise during meditation.

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:47 - First impressions of Japanese culture
04:12 - Arriving at Antai-Ji Monastery
08:33 - Initial difficulties at the monastery
10:00 - Becoming a monk
14:02 - Living in a tent and teaching Zen in Osaka
17:46 - Elected as abbot of Antai-Ji
19:01 - Falling in love with a Japanese woman
22:25 - Marriage and early days as abbot
26:04 - Retiring as abbot
28:47 - Japanese vs Western students
32:12 - A true teacher is like a carpenter
33:50 - Seeing the negative side of your teacher
37:24 - Is Buddhism universal or specific to each country?
41:25 - Shortcomings of Western Buddhism
49:25 - Innovation vs tradition
55:33 - Narcissism and spiritual teachers
59:24 - Competitiveness between Dharma brothers
01:07:16 - Trauma and emotions in meditation
01:11:53 - Should psychotherapy precede Zen practice?
01:14:21 - Sudden awakenings at Antai-Ji
01:26:18 - Should we emphasise or deemphasise awakening experiences?

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Previous episodes with Muho:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=muho

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