Dr Evan Thompson is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia an Associate Member of the Department of Asian Studies and the Department of Psychology, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Evan recounts his upbringing in his father’s intentional community, the Lindisfarne Association, and shares stories of childhood encounters with teachers of Zen, Sufism, Tibetan Buddhism, Yoga, and more. Evan traces his intellectual and academic trajectories, and reflects on the problems of community dynamics and religious perennialism that his father’s community faced. Evan then outlines his critique of what he calls ‘Buddhist Exceptionalism’, as laid out in his book ‘Why I Am Not A Buddhist’. As part of this critique, Evan addresses subjects such as why Buddhism is not a science of the mind (or of anything else), why presentations of the historical Buddha used by figures such as Goenka are a useful fiction, the problems of borrowing the authority of science for...
Tseyang Osel is a Buddhist yogini who has spent most of her twenties in solitary retreat in remote mountain areas. Recorded in Tang Valley, Bhutan. Tseyang tells the story of her childhood, the beginning of the inspiration to become a yogini, and her attraction to solitary retreat. Tseyang details the practicalities as well as the dangers of spending months in the remote mountains, and the unique challenges of being a female practitioner in today’s world. Tseyang also discusses her love of Vajrayogini practice, the effect of kye-rim naljor on the subtle body channels, themes of devotion and attachment, and gives her heart advice to those who wish to practice well. … Video version: Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:47 - Tseyang’s childhood and upbringing 04:25 - The desire to become a mountain practitioner 06:35 - Searching for female inspirations 12:07 - Solitary retreats and attraction to remote mo...
Candia Raquel recently interviewed me for her ‘Sensual Sessions’ Podcast. Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/steve-james-interviewed-on-the-sensual-sessions-podcast 00:00 - What does Steve do? 02:00 - Does Steve have magical powers? 03:36 - Is Steve enlightened? 06:14 - Why is Steve interested in mysticism and relationship? 08:45 - Are Steve’s interests useful in daily life? 10:17 Applying sublime and subtle practices in daily life 14:31 - Falling in love with the mundane 17:22 - Feeling pleasure in meditation 22:37 - Do men struggle to describe feeling? 26:40 - 3 blocks to feeling pleasure 31:20 - Relaxations vs excitation 36:05 - Pleasure in martial arts and competition 39:11 - The ritual of preparation 42:53 - Winning 45:17 - Candia on ritual and the unexpected 47:08 - Biggest challenges for men in feeling pleasure 48:55 - Do men have unique stresses? 50:36 - Stoicism and emotions 54:47 - Candia on macho culture 58:42 - Repression vs narcissism 59:52 - How Steve works w...
In this episode I am once again joined by Delson Armstrong, spiritual teacher, meditation virtuoso, and author of ‘A Mind Without Craving’. Delson draws on his scriptural knowledge and personal experience to take a deep dive into dependent origination, the doctrine believed by many Buddhists to be the key to enlightenment. In practical and relatable terms, Delson explains how this doctrine works, why it is important yet so often misunderstood, and how to use meditation to move from an intellectual understanding to the experiential understanding that is Buddhist enlightenment. Delson also compares the enlightened to the unenlightened experiences of time, memory, and decision making process, and gives a surprising answer to the question: can enlightened people make mistakes? … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/155-key-to-enlightenment-delson-armstrong-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 0...
In this episode I am joined by Brad Warner, Zen teacher and best-selling author of ‘Hardcore Zen’ and ‘The Other Side of Nothing’. Brad recounts his unusual childhood, his passion for Punk rock ethics, and reveals what thwarted his teenage desire to become a born again Christian. Brad describes his first encounter with Zen, shares the secret of his decades of daily practice, and explains why he is at odds with the culture and institutions of mainline American Zen. Brad also discusses his awakening experience, the significance of dharma transmission, his new book on ethics, and what Dogen’s mysterious metaphors have in common with the TV show ‘Ancient Aliens’. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/155-hardcore-zen-brad-warner Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:48 - Brad’s writing process 01:54 - ‘I’m not saying it was Aliens, but it was Aliens’ 03:25 - Brad’s unusual upbringing 06:22 -...
Richard Ayling recently interviewed me on his 'Man Reimagined' Podcast. Topics include: 00:00 - Rich on Steve and interesting topics 03:07 - Steve’s background 08:46 - What is average? 11:06 - Growing up on the Shetland Islands 13:41 - Discipline and delayed gratification 22:54 - Guru Viking Meditation Club 34:10 - Strong determination sitting 36:51 - Dedication from enjoyment 43:07 - ‘Masculine and feminine’ 01:00:36 - Fundamentalism trap 01:03:08 - Rich’s doubts about men’s work 01:07:30 - Rich’s professional trajectory 01:18:36 - Methods are limited + Steve on men’s work 01:29:03 - Enquiry over imposition 01:34:23 - Movement Koan Method 01:42:43 - Meditation vs movement practices 01:44:40 - About relationship 01:49:27 - On conversation 01:51:42 - Steve’s future Richard Ayling: https://www.re-align.co/ Other times I have been interviewed: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/category/Steve+Interviewed
Special guest Dr Jonathan Lunine, distinguished American planetary scientist and physicist, joins the ongoing discussion with: - Shinzen Young, meditation teacher and neuroscience research consultant - Chelsey Fasano, a Columbia University neuroscience student Dr Lunine is the David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences and Chair of the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University. Dr Lunine has published over 380 research papers and is at the forefront of research into planet formation, evolution, and habitability. Dr Lunine’s work includes the Cassini mission to Saturn, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Juno Mission to Jupiter. Dr Lunine is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has participated in and chaired advisory and strategic planning committees for the Academy and for NASA. In this episode, the group question the compatibility of faith and science, explore the writings of St Thomas Aquinas and the radical theology of T.S Eliot, and consider the con...
In this episode I am joined by Mary Shutan: author, occultist, and spiritual teacher. Mary shares her journey from a traumatic early childhood to adoption into an upper-middle class family, and how spiritual overwhelm in her teenage years, and a subsequent kundalini awakening, drove her to in-depth study of spiritual themes. Mary details her own kundalini experience, including challenging side effects, kundalini traps, and the role of sacrifice on the spiritual path. Mary also discusses her love of reading and magical realism, recounts her time as a ritual magician working with the dark feminine, advises on encounters with entities and extra-terrestrials, and describes the different types of spiritual protection employed by institutions and public figures. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/153-mary-shutan-kundalini-and-the-occult Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:03 - Prolific publications 0...
In this episode I travel to the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, where I visit world renowned Bhutanese author Ashi Kunzang Choden at her family seat of Ogyen Choling in the Tang Valley, Bumthang. Ashi gives a tour of her home, which her family have occupied for hundreds of years, including a rare look into a remarkable multi-story temple with rich religious frescos, sacred artefacts, and entire floors dedicated to Tara and Guru Rinpoche. Ashi also recounts her remarkable life that embodies so much of Bhutan’s recent history. Ashi was born into a family of feudal lords, witnessed the reformations of the 1950s, was educated in Catholic convents in India, and worked for the United Nations, before returning to her family home which she now runs as a cultural centre and guest house. Ashi also recalls the spiritual advice given to her by Dudjom Rinpoche, reveals why her exposure to Christianity opened her up to the heart of Buddhism, and discusses the impact of feminist thought on her persp...
David recounts his upbringing in Scotland, and how a lifetime of frustrated spiritual seeking was resolved in a profound spiritual experience that changed everything. David details the results of this transformative experience and discusses themes such as religiosity, the zeal of the convert, falling into the spirit of God, advice for prayer and meditation, and the mystic’s view of identity. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/151-scottish-mystic-david-mcmurdo Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:37 - David’s upbringing in Scotland 03:50 - David’s love of the Scottish town of Thurso 05:56 - Frustrating spiritual seeking 07:57 - A life-changing spiritual experience 10:56 - Piercing the roof of the intellect 12:32 - Jesus Christ 15:43 - The Mystery 18:01 - Changes in David after the experience 20:06 - Gnosis and experiential spirituality 21:55 - Zeal of the convert 26:50 - Disagreement w...