In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Alexander Arguelles, world-renowned polyglot, linguist, and scholar of comparative religion.

Dr Arguelles discusses the spiritual dimension of language, recounts his own experiences of self-transcendence, and comments on the power of reading sacred works in their original languages.

Dr Arguelles reflects on his personal explorations in meditation, pranayama, and prayer and shares his own method to silence the monkey mind with a combination of breath control and linguistic meditation.

Dr Arguelles also discusses how to include work and study as a part of spiritual practice, details the lifestyle habits required to nourish the life of the mind, and warns against the deleterious effects of the convenience traps found in modern life.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep217-spiritual-life-of-the-mind-dr-alexander-arguelles-3

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

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro

00:56 - Spiritual dimension of language

05:34 - Silencing the monkey mind

09:41 - Superior meditation

10:14 - Experiences of profundity and trance

13:39 - Power of sacred languages

15:11 - Realisation of vastness

16:50 - Self transcendence and choosing the hard path

18:51 - Life without the monkey mind

20:51 - Comparisons to classic meditation paths

21:53 - Dr Arguelles spiritual experiences studying Sanskrit and Russian

29:51 - The source languages of the world

31:40 - Powerful sacred works in Latin

32:57 - The Bhagavad Gita

33:51 - Reading as a spiritual exercise

34:50 - Obtaining mother language’s blessing

41:26 - Working with resistance

42:54 - Professor Arguelles’ linguistic meditation technique

49:06 - Traits of great polyglots of the past

51:38 - The art of shadowing

53:56 - Degradation of intellect

57:18 - The convenience trap

57:59 - The dumbing down of the 20th century

59:23 - Urbanisation and natural living

01:02:51 - Lifestyle and dietary habits for maximising the life of the mind

01:05:37 - Learning as a mental and spiritual exercise

01:06:02 - Keeping your edge as you age

01:07:52 - The Rule of St Benedict

01:09:35 - Work and study as prayer and meditation

01:12:31 - Working with Dr Arguelles

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Previous episodes with Dr Alexander Arguelles:

- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep199-path-of-the-polyglot-dr-alexander-arguelles

- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep207-wandering-polyglot-dr-alexander-arguelles-2

To find our more about Dr Alexander Arguelles and his Academy, visit:

- https://www.alexanderarguelles.com/academy/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James