In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Ian A. Baker, international fellow of the Explorers Club and the Royal Geographic Society, author of 7 books, and an initiate of Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu Tantric lineages.

In this interview Ian recounts a life-changing encounter with a Shakta tantric Siddha in Nepal, who healed Ian of severe climbing injuries and initiated him into the Kaula Tantric order. Ian compares the hitherto secret practices of this sect - such as pranayama, asana, and kundalini techniques - with their Tibetan Tantric equivalents.

Ian reveals the surprising reactions of his Tibetan teachers to his initiations into Kaula Tantra, including Chatral Rinpoche and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, and shares a drinking practice taught to him by his Kaula guru.

Ian also discusses Himalayan Beyul, the thin places of the Scottish Highlands, and how a trip to the Isle of Skye brought him into living contact with local Faerie lore.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep100-ian-baker-emancipated-passion-of-kaula-tantra/

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

01:02 - Recent research into esoteric Burmese spiritual elixirs and the Soma tradition

09:55. Exploring the thin places of the Scottish Highlands

15:15 - Encountering the human the faerie tradition of the Isle of Skye

18:21 - Psychoactive substances in Buddhism

22:32 - Tantric Buddhism in Burma

28:38 - Ian on Mike Crowley’s book ’The Secret Drugs of Buddhism’

34:12 - Initial interest in Kaula Tantra

39:59 - Padmasambhava and the Nyingma Sects of Tibetan Buddhism

41:41 - Love vs renunciation and the Indian roots of Tibetan Tantra

47:18 - Emancipated passion, Yab Yum, and Maithuna

52:14 - Touring the sacred Shakta sites of Kamakya, Assam with Sakya Trinzin

59:29 - Ian’s first Kaula Tantric initiation

1:03:05 - Meeting a Shakta master and experiencing Siddhis (paranormal powers)

1:05:06 - Extensive physical healing by the Shakta master after Ian’s climbing accident

1:16:05 - Ian’s second Kaula Tantric initiation and Maithuna practice

1:20:11 - Tulku Urgyen and Chatral Rinpoche’s responses to his Kaula experiences

1:23:50 - Ian demonstrates a pranayama drinking practice

1:29:58 - Criticisms of mulabhanda and visualisation practice

1:35:08 - Comparison of Shakta and Tibetan pranayama practices

1:37:46 - Integration of Sahaja and the core practices of Dzogchen

1:41:32 - Comparison of approaches to the pelvic floor in the esoteric traditions

1:49:04 - Female masters and the overlooked roots of Tantric practice

1:52:14 - Ian recommends some recent scholarship

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To find out more about Dr Ian A Baker, visit:

- https://www.ianbaker.com/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James