In this episode I am joined by Dr Julian Schott, Indologist & Tibetologist, trained at institutions such as the renowned Center for the Study of Manuscript Culture at the University of Hamburg.

Julian recalls his early interest in philosophy and meditation, and recounts how he emerged from a period of self destruction and found meaning and purpose in academic studies.

Julian describes how he fell in love with classical Indic and Tibetan languages, and details the rigorous academic atmosphere at the University of Hamburg, where he immersed in years of reading Sanskrit for many hours a day under masters of philology.

Julian makes the case for the vital importance of primary language competency for scholars and religious practitioners alike, and offers his opinion on those who practice or teach religious traditions without an ability to read its writings in the original languages.

Julian critiques the idea of Buddhist transmission as a useful lie without historical support which is employed to encourage behaviour in line with the religion’s soteriological aims, and reflects on his own evolving journey as both a scholar and religious practitioner.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep197-scholar-practitioner-dr-julian-schott

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

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro

01:13 - Julian’s upbringing

02:27 - Origins of Julian’s interest in Indology and Tibetology

03:11 - Investigating meditation traditions

04:13 - Spiritual not religious

05:08 - Early meditation experiences

06:44 - Julian’s favourite meditation techniques

07:18 - Self destructive phase and turning life around

10:37 - The downward spiral

11:28 - Rock bottom

12:44 - The day is full of potential

13:14 - Immersion in the study of history, classical Western philosophy, law, and 14:58 - Falling in love with Indian and Tibetan language

17:04 - Redirecting from law to philology

17:47 - Discovering what real mastery takes

19:21 - Rigorous academic atmosphere at University of Hamburg

20:16 - Reading Sanskrit for 5-6 hours a day

23:46 - Self-teaching Classical Tibetan via Sanskrit

24:44 - How to bridge the intermediate gap in language learning

27:43 - The vital role of primary language knowledge in understanding a religion and culture

31:29 - The incredible level of previous generations of philologists and Indologists

32:29 - The diminishing role of primary language learning in the academy

34:51 - The limitations of not knowing the primary languages

37:17 - To meditators and religious teachers who don’t know the languages

42:05 - Julian’s own religious journey

43:39 - Scepticism vs naivety

44:37 - Liberated by the proliferating unknowns in practice and scholarship

46:54 - Friction with religious institutions

48:23 - Make your own Dharma

50:31 - Mistaken ideas about lineage and transmission in Buddhism

54:05 - The useful lie of Buddhist lineage

55:51 - Critically investigating Buddhist claims

57:42 - Challenging the esoteric claims of Tantric Buddhist transmission

01:00:56 - Surpassing the master and the Jedi dimension

01:05:53 - Julian probes Steve’s opinion on doctrinal contradictions

01:07:23 - Lack of self confidence and making your own Dharma

01:10:42 - Contradictions of modern Buddhist practitioners

01:12:34 - Was Buddha a Buddhist?

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To find our more about Dr Julian Schott, visit:

- https://www.aai.uni-hamburg.de/indtib/personen/schott.html

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James