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.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep200-lama-vajranatha-professor-john-myrdhin-reynolds

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

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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

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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