Guru Viking Podcast

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

In this episode I am once again joined by Alan Chapman, British writer, occultist, and spiritual teacher.

Alan takes a deep dive into his understanding of the phenomenon of prophecy, how it operates, and its surprising purpose.

Alan explains the different between prophecy and prediction, the tests a prophet will face, and contrasts his approach to that of the Old Testament prophets.

Alan also shares stories of his own prophetic experiences, including a prophecy which he believes concerns events to come in 2026.

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Video version: www.guruviking.com

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

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Prophecy vs prediction
02:57 - What is prophecy?
03:27 - Prophecy and the path of awakening
03:51 - 2 worlds
05:58 - Expressing the silent knowing
08:43 - Confounding factors on the path
11:32 - Surprising encounters as awakening deepens
12:24 - The role of the prophet
15:00 - Are musicians and artists prophets?
16:26 - Speaking truth to power
20:20 - Alan’s prophetic dream about Fukushima
21:51 - Prophecy about Alan’s awakening
26:04 - Premonitions and more on Fukushima
27:03 - Prediction vs prophecy
30:35 - Divine mercy and a parental tone
31:50 - Purpose of prophecy
34:58 - Divine judgement and smiting
36:36 - Interpreting Old Testament prophecy
40:47 - Love not wrath
45:21 - Is a prophecy inevitable or can it be changed?
50:04 - Incarnation and identity formation
52:21 - Path of spiritual seeking
53:18 - Rebellion and revenge
54:25 - Cultural rebellion and inevitability
58:39 - Analysing Alan’s Fukushima prophecy
01:01:27 - Oracles and prophetic institutions
01:03:00 - Alan’s prophecy about 2026
01:24:44 - Teachers and trusting the silent knowing
01:28:44 - Understanding why prophecy happens
01:30:37 - Has Alan failed?
01:34:26 - Tests on the path
01:38:16 - Alan’s comments on Western culture
01:38:44 - We have forgotten the divine
01:42:13 - The Presocratics were prophets and magicians
01:44:23 - Alan comments on today’s geopolitical and cultural situation
01:46:23 - False flags and true flags
01:49:59 - Alan’s advice for living in today’s world
01:53:03 - Beatitudes and being light
01:56:30 - The consequences of violating your conscience
01:59:07 - True repentance
02:01:55 - Alan’s relationship with Jesus Christ
02:12:07 - Upcoming Magia exegesis
02:13:43 - Planned series about Alan’s Magia system

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Previous episodes with Alan Chapman: 
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=chapman

To find our more about Alan Chapman visit:
- https://barbarouswords.com/

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


Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

During a recent trip to Nepal, I met with Lama Glenn Mullin, spiritual teacher, Tibetologist, and author of over 30 books on Buddhism.

Glenn was in Kathmandu to lead a group of pilgrims into tantric retreat and graciously agreed to film with me at various sacred sites before and after their retreat.

In this video, Glenn and I travel to Pharping where we explore sacred sites, temples, and meditation caves.

We meet a student of Glenn’s who performs a fire pūjā after a multi-year cycle of tantric retreat, enter the meditation cave of Padmasambhava, view a self arising Tara image, and encounter guard dogs at the Vajrayoginī temple.

Glenn converses with monks, explains the meaning of prayer flags, and traces the esoteric history of the region.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep369-esoteric-pharping-lama-glenn-mullin

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
00:57 - Pharping as a sacred site
01:32 - Pāṃthiṅpa brothers
02:21 - Fire pūjā footage
03:02 - Esoteric meaning of the fire puja
04:17 - Guru Rinpoche’s enlightenment place
04:43 - Other great masters who practiced in Pharping
06:05 - History of Tibetan monasteries in Pharping
09:27 - Ra Lotsawa Tulku’s monastery
10:17 - View of the developing valley
10:58 - Self-arisen (rangjung) Tara shrine
11:21 - Ganesh in Buddhism
11:51 - Entering the shrine and viewing the self-arisen Tara
12:26 - About the rangjung phenomenon
13:48 - Lighting the butter lamp
15:56 - Drupthob Rinpoche and persecutions
18:58 - 5 visions of Tsongkhapa
19:16 - Retreat huts
20:00 - About prayer flags
21:16 - Origin of the Dalai Lamas
23:00 - Prayer in Buddhism
24:52 - Evening vs morning kora advice
26:20 - About Thrangu Rinpoche
27:31 - Namo Buddha and the Buddha’s sacrifice
28:28 - Towards the Asura cave
30:12 - Guru Rinpoche cave
31:51 - Hand print of Guru Rinpoche
33:00 - Entering the cave
34:04 - Walking and conversations
37:11 - Vajrayoginī temple
38:31 - Kathmandu’s Buddhist past
40:25 - Remarks on religious conflict

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Previous episodes with Lama Glenn Mullin:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=glenn%20mullin


To find out more about Lama Glenn Mullin, visit:
- http://www.glennmullin.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/Maitripa.Glenn

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

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James


Thanks to Norbu Samphel for checking my translation of the Tibetan language.