Guru Viking Podcast

Ep200: Lama Vajranatha - Professor John Myrdhin Reynolds


Listen Later

In this episode I am joined by Professor John Myrdhin Reynolds, also known as Lama Vajranatha: writer, teacher, translator and scholar/practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. 
Professor Reynolds recounts his adventurous life of practice and scholarship, including extensive travels throughout Asia and discipleship under revered gurus such as Dudjom Rinpoche, Namkai Norbu, and Lopon Tenzin Namdak.
Professor Reynolds details his journey through American academia, explains why he turned down an invitation from the CIA to create Tibetan propaganda, and shares anecdotes of Tibetologists such as Hugh Richardson and Edward Conze, including the latter’s escape from the Nazis and defection from Communist activism.
Professor Reynolds also recalls his first out of body experience brought on by a car crash, the mystical visions of water spirits, dakinis, and other beings that have featured in his life since, and tells the story of the tragic consequences of the Gelugpa destruction of the psychic barrier erected by Padmasambhava to protect Tibet from China.
Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep200-lama-vajranatha-professor-john-myrdhin-reynolds
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
Topics Include:
00:00 - Intro
01:16 - Unusual upbringing and resonance with Greek myth
05:01 - Early interest in Indian religion
07:27 - Encountering the ‘Tibetan Book of the Dead’
09:46 - Education at Columbia University
10:50 - Western Esotericism and transfer to University of Washington
13:10 - Influence of the British Diplomat and Tibetologist, Hugh Richardson
14:20 - Close relationship with the controversial Professor Edward Conze
16:31 - Escaping the Nazis and running a Communist cell in London
19:29 - Disillusionment with Communism
23:17 - Approached by the CIA to make Tibetan propaganda
28:42 - Leaving his PhD and meeting Tarthang Tulku
33:11 - Boarding a ship for India and meeting Swami Omkar
43:11 - Darjeeling and meeting Kangyur Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, and others
48:00 - Adventures in Kathmandu
57:49 - Warning about Dharma politics
59:03 - Stories about Namkhai Norbu and other Dzogchen teachers
01:06:19 - Dudjom Rinpoche vs Namkai Norbu’s Dzogchen teaching style
01:07:54 - Surprising Iranian influence on Buddhism and Tibet
01:10:23 - Lopon Tenzin Namdak and Bon
01:14:59 - OBE and a lifetime of psychic experiences and entity visions
01:19:49 - Dakini visionary warning about climate change
01:23:31 - Lama stories of psychic siddhi and the invasion of Tibet
01:27:24 - How to open psychic capacities
01:28:57 - Edward Conze’s Marxism and Buddhism
01:33:48 - Edward Conze’s Visuddhimagga meditation attainments
01:35:41 - Stalin, Buddhism, and Lama Wangyal
01:37:20 - Stories of Tibetan Buddhist missionary incursions into France
01:46:39 - Buddhism’s spread in England via figures such as Ananda Bodhi and Chogyam Trungpa
01:48:32 - The many scandals of Trungpa and his successors
01:49:41 - Dalai Lama tongue-sucking scandal
To find our more about Professor John Myrdhin Reynolds visit:
- https://vajranatha.com/
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Guru Viking PodcastBy Guru Viking

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

92 ratings


More shows like Guru Viking Podcast

View all
Sounds True: Insights at the Edge by Tami Simon

Sounds True: Insights at the Edge

1,835 Listeners

Mindrolling with Raghu Markus by Be Here Now Network

Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

499 Listeners

Buddha at the Gas Pump by Rick Archer

Buddha at the Gas Pump

617 Listeners

Tricycle Talks by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

Tricycle Talks

349 Listeners

For The Wild by For The Wild

For The Wild

1,163 Listeners

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein by Be Here Now Network

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

928 Listeners

The Wisdom Podcast by The Wisdom Podcast

The Wisdom Podcast

328 Listeners

THIRD EYE DROPS by Michael Phillip

THIRD EYE DROPS

1,239 Listeners

The Zen Studies Podcast by Domyo Burk

The Zen Studies Podcast

366 Listeners

Deconstructing Yourself by Michael W. Taft

Deconstructing Yourself

394 Listeners

New Thinking Allowed Audio Podcast by New Thinking Allowed Audio Podcast

New Thinking Allowed Audio Podcast

255 Listeners

The Emerald by Joshua Schrei

The Emerald

958 Listeners

Rupert Spira Podcast by Rupert Spira

Rupert Spira Podcast

239 Listeners

Sounds of SAND by Science and Nonduality

Sounds of SAND

105 Listeners

Wisdom of the Masters by Samaneri Jayasara

Wisdom of the Masters

91 Listeners