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Guru Viking Podcast

Guru Viking Podcast

By: Guru Viking
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The Guru Viking Podcast specializes in in-depth interviews with remarkable figures in the world of meditation, spirituality, and self development. Steve travels internationally teaching somatic practices and meditation, and leads explorations in contemplative, mystic, & relational realms.All rights reserved Spirituality
Episodes
  • Ep367: Life Extension & Inner Alchemy - Martin Faulks

    Ep367: Life Extension & Inner Alchemy - Martin Faulks
    Jun 26 2026
    In this interview I am once again joined by Martin Faulks: author, hermeticist, meditation adept, and memory expert. Martin discusses the recent death of his mother, reflects on the profound power of her positive support in his own life successes, and describes the surprising consequence of her loss in his own mindset and practice. Martin discusses his latest book “Long Livers”, a new edition of a work published in 1722 by English alchemists Thomas and Rebecca Vaughan. Martin explains the text’s methods of life extension, shows their links to spiritual and moral practice, and reflects on his successful participation in the Rejuvenation Olympics. Martin also muses on the appeal of high demand religious groups, espouses the virtues of philosophical Freemasonry, and compares Western and Eastern methods of spiritual alchemy. … Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Long Livers editions 02:24 - Martin’s current daily practice 03:55 - Interest in esoteric rejuvenation methods 07:23 - How to measure effectiveness of rejuvenation? 08:00 - Martin’s 2hr daily regime to slow the ageing process 11:16 - Setbacks 12:06 - Death of Martin’s mother 13:36 - Ascetic or English gentleman? 14:56 - Aftermath of Martin’s mother’s death 17:44 - Don’t let anything pull you out of who you are 18:33 - Sending well wishes to his mother 19:43 - The power of supportive observers 25:07 - Martin summarises his progress 26:41 - Authorship of “Long Livers” (1722) 28:45 - Thomas and Rebecca Vaughan, practical alchemists 31:33 - Anti-ageing advice in “Long Livers” 34:48 - Eccentric techniques 36:39 - Western vs Eastern Inner Alchemies 38:52 - Christian Inner Alchemy 42:31 - Morality and rate of ageing 46:52 - Simulacra of virtue 48:32 - Philosophical Freemasonry 53:22 - Is Freemasonary a good spiritual path? 01:01:48 - An avoidant pattern in Martin’s life 01:03:20 - Detachment vs engagement 01:06:34 - Respect through observation of authenticity 01:07:49 - Skepticism about public spiritual claims 01:09:58 - When spirituality is a distraction from the real challenges of life 01:14:54 - Actions as truth 01:16:37 - Intuition vs intellect 01:19:45 - Unity of complementary opposites 01:20:27 - Jordan Peterson 01:22:56 - Pushing the borderlines of human potential 01:27:00 - A cultural turn to rigorous religion and high demand groups 01:29:16 - Why anti-ageing? 01:30:36 - 5 top anti-ageing tips … Previous episodes with Martin Faulks: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=FAULKS To find out more about Martin Faulks, visit: - https://martinfaulks.co.uk/ … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • Steve James Interviewed on the Clear Mountain Monastery Podcast

    Steve James Interviewed on the Clear Mountain Monastery Podcast
    Jun 25 2026
    I was recently interviewed by Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho from the Clear Mountain Monastery Project. They asked wonderful questions and we talked a lot about the power of listening. ... Their shownotes: In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Steve James, meditation teacher & host of the Guru Viking Podcast (https://www.guruviking.com/). 00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:01:32 Formative faith moments and vocation 00:06:18 Life on an English canal boat 00:08:40 The rhythm of travel and interviewing 00:10:59 Interviewing the same guest over time 00:14:20 Most moving and luminous conversations 00:17:21 Handling negative reactivity in conversation 00:22:24 Balancing internal and external awareness 00:23:50 Advice for engaging with teachers and mentors 00:29:50 Finding beauty in people on different paths 00:34:45 Questions that bring out conversational depth 00:41:06 Personal frameworks for organizing experience 00:48:15 Belief alignments and the "pie chart" of faith 00:55:30 Personal relationship to the Buddha 00:59:44 Navigating dual vs. non-dual teachings
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Ep366: Questioning the Buddha - Leigh Brasington

    Ep366: Questioning the Buddha - Leigh Brasington
    Jun 19 2026
    In this episode I am once again joined by Leigh Brasington, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of “Right Concentration, A Practical Guide to the Jhanas”. This episode begins with a brief comment from Leigh about his appearance in “Ep329: Enlightened Politics” in which he explored the relationship between Buddhism and political ideology. After that we discuss Leigh’s new book “On the Way to the Far Shore”, his commentary on the Pārāyanavagga, chapter five of Suttanipāta, one of the earliest sutta collections in the Pali canon. The text takes the form of a question and answer session with the Buddha himself and evidences nascent forms of the doctrines of the four noble truths and the path of gradual training. Leigh considers the pros and cons of formal study of the Pali language, explains the ways in which English translations can be misleading, and muses on why so few Buddhist converts read their own scriptures. Leigh also reveals how his Dzogchen practice helped him understand early Buddhist doctrine, gives advice about how to internalise intellectual ideas through meditation practice, and shares how a profound experience of the nature of mind changed his life forever. … Video version: www.guruviking.com Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:17 - Can there be an enlightened tyrant? 02:49 - Anyone can perform enlightened activity 04:20 - Why Leigh wrote On the Way to the Far Shore 08:13 - Wrestling with the Pali sutta 09:07 - Leigh’s training the the Pali language 11:18 - Struggles to learn foreign languages 12:37 - Is training as a scholar worth it? 14:36 - 4 categories of Pali suttas 17:05 - Why Leigh won’t pursue a PhD 19:17 - Why don’t Buddhists read the Pali canon? 23:14 - Diving into the the Pārāyanavagga, book five of the Suttanipāta 27:50 - Vedanā and āsava - don’t believe the English translations 29:44 - Literal vs meaning translations + implications of grammar 33:40 - Q&A with the Buddha 36:20 - Questions the Buddha refuses to answer 37:46 - Experiencing the world raw 42:27 - The most important insight 44:22 - How to really gain insight 45:24 - Leigh’s Dzogchen practice 46:14 - Leigh’s mind blowing experience of the nature of mind 51:28 - After effects of Leigh’s epiphany 53:56 - Integrating vs losing an insight 55:04 - How to keep an insight fresh 56:31 - How to regard the world so you are not seen by the King of Death 59:17 - How to become “ever mindful” 01:01:30 - This is a different kind of book 01:02:41 - The roots of the Four Noble Truths and the gradual training 01:05:13 - Will Leigh start a Pali sutta discussion group? 01:07:14 - Man in the Light of History of Religion 01:10:02 - Scripture as literature or an instruction manual? 01:12:32 - Leigh’s advice for approaching difficult books 01:13:46 - What do the suttas say about the brahmavihārās? … Previous episodes with Leigh Brasington: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=brasington To find our more about Leigh Brasington visit: - http://www.leighb.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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    1 hr and 17 mins
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