Guru Viking Podcast

In this episode I am joined by Christiana Polites, practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, long time collaborator of Tibetan spiritual teacher Nida Chenagtsang, and founder of Sky Press Books, Pure Land Farms, the Sowa Rigpa Institute, and more. Christiana recalls her privileged upbringing in Manhattan, New York; her education in comparative religions at Harvard University; and her deep involvement in the 90s New York yoga scene. Christiana talks about her discipleship under and collaborations with Nida Chenagtsang, reflects on the tantric guru-disciple relationship, and considers the trend of asking one’s guru for advice about life choices. Christiana shares her own journey to personal empowerment and self-direction, why working closely with a guru requires adaptability, and gives a potted history of the many religious and cultural organisations she has founded. … Also available on Youtube , iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 02:42 - Upbringing in Manhattan 05:54 - Beginnings of spiritual questioning 06:50 - History of religions class 09:08 - New York yoga in the 90s 10:55 - Spiritual side of yoga in the 90s 13:00 - Body bliss 16:37 - Quitting yoga overnight 22:05 - Studying comparative religions at Harvard 25:55 - Influential professors and deciding against academia 28:43 - Areas of study 30:18 - Life-changing 3 months in Bodhgaya 32:46 - A survey of the 3 yanas 35:02 - Connecting with Tibetan Buddhism 37:52 - Gradual vs sudden awakening 39:42 - Constitutional type vs karma 41:03 - Pros and cons of kapha/bad kan constitution 42:38 - Character change vs peak experiences 44:49 - Fruits of the path 45:47 - Adaptability and working with Dr Nida 47:52 - Dr Nida’s spontaneous creativity 49:28 - Life after Harvard, further study of Tibetan Buddhism, and Chinese medicine studies 52:14 - Gurus in Colorado 53:22 - Decision not to study @ Naropa 53:42 - When did Christiana become a Buddhist? 55:25 - Plant medicines and meeting Dr Nida 01:01:26 - Taoist medicine studies in China 01:05:33 - Asking Dr Nida for advice and founding Yanchenma Healing Arts 01:10:47 - Culture of asking the guru for life advice 01:13:37 - Becoming personally empowered and the burden of logistics 01:20:40 - Healthy separation 01:22:48 - Having a dharma centre 01:24:13 - Reflections on the guru-disciple relationship with Dr Nida 01:30:43 - What motivates Christiana’s practice? 01:34:48 - Basic teachings vs advanced practices 01:40:03 - Founding Sky Press Publications 01:48:02 - Founding the Sowa Rigpa Institute 01:50:17 - Founding Yangchenma Arts and Music with Simone Giuliani 01:52:51 - An auspicious year 01:54:55 - An unusual sangha 
… Find out more about Christiana Polites: - https://skypresspublications.com/ - https://www.yangchenma.org/christiana - https://purelandfarms.com/teachers … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James If you value the podcast and would like to support its continued production, you can do so here: https://ko-fi.com/guruviking.

In this episode I am once again 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”. Sam reflects on the controversial behaviour of his guru, Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chogyam Trungpa; explores the uneasy relationship between enlightenment and morality; and reports Thinley Norbu Rinpoche’s enthusiasm for cleaning and toilet hygiene. Sam explains why he believes that the ground of meditation is hopelessness, shares his own past skepticism about Buddhist doctrines of awakening, and discusses the pros and cons of publicising one’s spiritual attainments. Sam also recounts times when his gurus demonstrated omniscience and other siddhi powers, muses about a special sense of humour that comes with spiritual realisation, and reveals the centrality of working with spirits and other beings in Indo-Tibetan Tantra. … Also available on Youtube , iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:11 - High octane gurus 02:33 - Guru trends, edgy vs nice 04:07 - Dzogchen madness 05:45 - Things happen 07:43 - How lies become truth 10:04 - Claiming enlightenment 13:41 - Why meditate? 18:29 - Meditation and hopelessness 20:20 - Skepticism about the path 24:08 - Realising hopelessness 25:23 - From depression to liberation 26:18 - The middle way 29:09 - No problem amidst problems 32:29 - No more working hard 35:27 - Guru relationship vs personal practice 38:09 - Chod practice 39:46 - Ngondro, the preliminary practices 40:45 - Is more practice better? 44:13 - The mind of the 16th Karmapa 45:02 - Enlightened humour 47:46 - The cosmic joke 49:32 - Concepts about enlightenment 51:56 - Thiney Norbu Rinpoche’s fanaticism about cleaning and toilet practice 53:38 - Enlightenment vs moral development 55:20 - The ālaya, all-ground 55:59 - Wrathful and peaceful deities 59:04 - Spiritual bliss 01:00:32 - Esoteric and drop the scientific method 01:01:11 - Morality and gurus 01:03:30 - Vinaya is based on human error 01:05:00 - Vajrayana morality 01:06:06 - Why people hate Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche 01:09:02 - The Merwin incident 01:09:35 - Trungpa slept with his students 01:11:59 - Does Trungpa’s bad reputation bother Sam? 01:14:20 - Why Sam wrote Rude Awakenings 01:15:38 - Building an enlightened society 01:16:39 - Why Trungpa’s enlightened society crumbled 01:17:36 - Guided Tour of Hell 01:18:54 - Guru omniscience and psychic powers 01:23:06 - Thinley Norbu Rinpoche’s omniscience 01:25:53 - ESP and entity contact in Tantra 01:28:37 - Why Buddhist Tantra is failing 01:29:36 - Working with spirits 01:32:09 - Emphasising the Indo-Tibetan link 01:33:16 - Narpoa, Tilopa, and Padmasambhava 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 If you value the podcast and would like to support its continued production, you can do so here: https://ko-fi.com/guruviking.

In this episode I am once again joined by Alan Chapman, British writer, occultist, and spiritual teacher. In episode 370, Alan shared a prophecy and predicted that a major disaster would occur in New York on the 11th of September 2026. No such disaster occurred. In this episode, Alan wrestles with the implications of his failed prediction; confronts the possible suffering he may have caused others; and shares his experiences before, during, and after the predicted day Alan explores the concept of the false prophet, considers whether or not he is one, and describes Satanism as a force of accusation against God. Alan also reflects on conscious reputation destruction for spiritual growth, compares Crowley with Christ, and warns about the danger of using prophecy for personal gain. … Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:01 - Alan’s failed prediction 02:17 - Passing on the curse 03:36 - Despite best intentions 06:09 - Accusing God 07:28 - Is Alan a false prophet? 10:01 - A deeper sin 11:01 - Using prophecy for personal gain 13:16 - Satan and the Satanic 15:41 - Catastrophes and the nature of God 22:48 - What is justice? 25:44 - New Atheism, rejecting God, and subverting trust in God 27:06 - Why did Alan share his prediction when he knew better? 32:46 - Giving advice and the absence of God 34:32 - Taking full responsibility 37:56 - Peoples’ reactions to Alan’s failed prediction 39:21 - Personal gain and false prophets 40:36 - What if the prediction had come true? 42:50 - Alan’s experience before, during, and after the predicted day 47:07 - Consciously destroying one’s reputation 50:04 - Death of possibilities 51:01 - Puncturing idealisation of Alan 52:21 - Is death of reputation liberating? 56:44 - Pythagoras and the way of blame 59:22 - Crowley’s reputation destruction 01:04:44 - Christ as the archetype of reputation destruction 01:07:46 - Crowley’s character traits 01:12:54 - Christ vs Crowley 01:17:03 - Growth of the Soul 01:17:13 - Alan sums up what he thinks happened to him 01:19:52 - Prophecy vs prediction 01:21:44 - 4D chess 01:25:24 - Negative consequences of Alan’s failed prediction 01:26:46 - For what Alan takes responsibility 01:29:23 - Alan’s distress 01:31:01 - Demonstrating the nature of Satan 01:32:40 - Alan’s courses … 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

In this episode I am joined by Jessica Messenger psychic, occultist and founder of a new occult bookshop, CraftHaus, in the city of Derby, England. Jessica recalls her idyllic childhood in the Midlands of England, her early affinity for the weird and metaphysical, and how a life changing experience at age 17 drove her to a lifelong study of the occult. Jessica discusses psychic gifts, mediumship, tarot, ritual, and descries how she used chaos magic to radically change her financial situation. Jessica also talks about the inspiration behind starting her occult bookshop, reflects on the importance of community, and shares stories of entity encounters and visitations. … Also available on Youtube , iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Opening an occult bookstore 03:47 - Downloading ideas from spirit 05:29 - Jessica’s idyllic childhood 07:25 - An affinity for the weird and metaphysical 08:01 - Early experiments with potions and magick 09:33 - A life changing supernatural experience at age 17 14:35 - Driven to explore the occult 16:18 - Internet occult communities 18:10 - Finding a deeper spirituality in a toxic relationship 20:23 - Trauma and connecting with the spirit world 21:06 - Premonition about ex-partner’s death 23:38 - Finding herself exiting a toxic relationship 25:57 - Everything you need is within 27:51 - Learning to trust intuition 29:42 - Two sources of intuition 32:57 - Working with guides 33:46 - Years of secret occult practice 34:33 - Exploring Tarot cards 36:10 - Shame around occult practice 36:19 - Worry about the opinions of others 37:47 - Ongoing learning and mentoring others 39:33 - Chaos magick practice 41:01 - Wealth magick and radical financial gain 43:30 - Is wealth magick stealing? 45:11 - Podcasts and books 47:55 - Icons and idols 49:51 - Me-too era and mistrust of public figures 50:54 - Meditation practice 52:40 - Evolution of Jessica’s meditation practice 53:08 - Trance mediumship 55:17 - Physical sensations of spirit contact 55:40 - Psychic self defence and magickal protection 59:49 - Going beyond fear 01:01:04 - Entity encounters 01:02:15 - Visitations 01:03:29 - What do entities want? 01:05:29 - Personal lore and natural psychics 01:07:00 - Sharing magick in a relationship 01:10:17 - A hub for alternative lifestyle communities 01:13:14 - A magickal experience in the shop 01:17:13 - Using magick and psychic abilities to help others 01:20:34 - Finding CraftHaus Occult 01:22:15 - Concluding remarks 
… Find out more about Jessica Messenger: - https://crafthausderby.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James If you value the podcast and would like to support its continued production, you can do so here: https://ko-fi.com/guruviking.

In this episode, filmed in London, England, I am once again joined by Delson Armstrong, spiritual teacher, meditation virtuoso, and author of ”A Mind Without Craving”. Delson recounts his recent close encounter with death in severe floods in Missouri. He recalls fighting for his life as ten feet of water filled his retreat cabin, and how he escaped with deep laceration in his foot. Delson describes the surprising consequences of this experience including what he calls a “crotchety old man” attitude towards spiritual practice as entertainment or escapism, symptoms of trauma, and a new perspective on meditation and enjoying life. Delson also talks about the dimension of spiritual luminosity, why he hasn’t meditated since the floods, his openness to a change in life direction, and the relationship between the will to live and the ego. … Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:01 - Delson’s close encounter with death 06:07 - Pure survival instinct 08:47 - Escaping the flood 12:25 - Recovery 13:45 - Becoming a “crotchety old man” about spirituality 14:39 - Loosh and the demiurge 16:43 - Impatience with spiritual entertainment 17:25 - What’s important when you die 17:55 - Delson and Steve sit in silence 23:12 - Luminosity and the thinking mind 26:29 - Delson’s experience of luminosity 31:49 - Spiritual practice as escapism and avoidance 36:28 - How to embrace the present moment 40:53 - Delson’s intention to live to the fullest 42:15 - Waves and the ocean 42:54 - The importance of the spiritual journey 47:38 - Is Delson traumatised? 51:51 - Jhana-assisted therapy? 55:07 - Why Delson hasn’t meditated since the flood 57:38 - The spiritual ego 01:01:04 - There was no God that came at the point of death 01:02:14 - Meditation just for fun 01:04:01 - Surrender and openness to change of life direction 01:06:58 - Might Delson give up teaching? 01:08:26 - How to completely give up ... 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 If you value the podcast and would like to support its continued production, you can do so here: https://ko-fi.com/guruviking.