Ep200: Lama Vajranatha - Professor John Myrdhin Reynolds

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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Also available on CZcams, 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:
- vajranatha.com/
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James