Guru Viking Podcast Podcast By Guru Viking cover art

Guru Viking Podcast

Guru Viking Podcast

By: Guru Viking
Listen for free

The Guru Viking Podcast specializes in in-depth interviews with remarkable figures in the world of meditation, spirituality, and self development. Steve travels internationally teaching somatic practices and meditation, and leads explorations in contemplative, mystic, & relational realms.All rights reserved Spirituality
Episodes
  • Ep352: Mahāmudrā of Newar Buddhism - Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya

    Ep352: Mahāmudrā of Newar Buddhism - Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya
    Mar 13 2026
    In this interview, filmed at Oxford University, I am once again joined by Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, a 35th generation tantric priest in a centuries old Newar Buddhist family lineage and master of the religious dance tradition of Charya Nritya. Prajwal explains the use of mudrā and movement to embody enlightenment and teaches a full sequence of movement and mantra to use in daily practice when taking refuge. Prajwal explains the four levels of Mahāmudrā in Newar Buddhism, offers methods to build compassion in community, and gives his advice on how to practice well. Prajwal also shares Jātaka tales for every day wisdom and reveals the role of magic in Newar Buddhism. … Video versions: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep352-mahmudr-of-newar-buddhism-prajwal-ratna-vajracharya Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Newar Buddhism and what Prajwal has been doing at Oxford University 03:03 - Dancing and singing for enlightenment 04:33 - Embodying enlightenment 08:02 - Methods of enlightenment 09:04 - Mahāmudrā in Newar Buddhism 23:25 - 4 levels of Mahāmudrā 25:45 - Body as mudrā 31:55 - Integrated mudrā 32:37 - Mudrā in the Buddha’s life 35:30 - How to practice well 40:10 - Compassion is built in community 43:49 - Prajwal explains the mudrā sequence used in taking refuge 52:21 - Demonstration of refuge mudrā and chant practice 54:14 - 5 emotions 55:04 - Further reflections on mudrā and Mahāmudrā 57:07 - Jātaka tale + everything is a mudrā 01:00:58 - Encouragement to practice 01:03:13 - Newar magick 01:05:27 - Anuttarayogatantra … Previous episodes with Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=prajwal To find out more about Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, visit: - https://www.dancemandal.com/ 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Ep351: Psychic Entrepreneur - Alana Fairchild

    Ep351: Psychic Entrepreneur - Alana Fairchild
    Mar 6 2026
    In this episode I am once again joined by Alana Fairchild, spiritual teacher, psychic, and author of the best-selling Kuan Yin Oracle Deck. Alana recalls her spiritual apprenticeship, initial failed attempts to work as a psychic, and what it takes to make it as a new age entrepreneur. Alana describes the tension between following one’s intuition and getting things done, why even spiritual teachers need to work when they don’t feel like it, and how she deals with negative feedback. Alana also discusses her love of myth, a return to matriarchy, and her deep connection with Kālī Mā and the Dark Feminine. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep351-psychic-entrepreneur-alana-fairchild Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:45 - Apprenticeship under a psychic 03:00 - Initial work as a psychic 04:21 - Early challenges 05:31 - Spiritual intuition vs getting things done 09:06 - Business success in spirituality sector 09:36 - Alana’s creative and business process 13:04 - Intuition vs whim when getting things done 17:41 - Working even when you don’t feel like it 19:37 - Trope of the ”full body yes” 20:06 - Divine masculine and feminine 25:27 - Dealing with negative feedback 26:09 - Triggered by masculine energy 27:06 - Polarised by Mother Mary 30:51 - Myth and anthropology 31:45 - Return to matriarchy 33:48 - Which myths resonate with Alana? 35:33 - Alana’s mother complex 38:05 - Alana’s masculine energy 39:38 - Failed attempts to become a professional psychic 42:08 - Overcoming the fear of financial insecurity 44:!4 - Career success as a psychic, spiritual teacher, and author 46:05 - Commodification of spirituality 50:35 - Connection with Kālī Mā and the Dark Feminine 01:02:55 - How Alana communicates with Kālī Mā 01:07:18 - Concluding remarks … Previous episode with Alana Fairchild: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=fairchild To find our more about Alana Fairchild visit: - https://www.alanafairchild.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Ep350: Contemplative History of Modern Russia - Victor Shiryaev 2

    Ep350: Contemplative History of Modern Russia - Victor Shiryaev 2
    Feb 27 2026
    In this episode I am once again joined by Victor Shiryaev a teacher of Buddhist and modern meditation and somatic practices. Victor traces a contemplative history of modern Russia from the days of the esotericism and Orientalism of the Russian Empire, through the religious restrictions of the Soviet Union, the New Age spiritual fervour of the 1990s, and the Westernisation of recent times. Victor considers whether Russia was a mission field for spiritual groups such as the Diamond Way, details the different Buddhist sects active in the country, describes how meditation is viewed in Russian culture today, and reflects on the relationship between globalist Buddhist sects and heritage Buddhist groups of the region. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep350-contemplative-history-of-modern-russia-victor-shiryaev-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - Why a contemplative history of modern Russia? 05:49 - Russian interest in the East and esotericism 07:54 - Buddhist regions of Russia 08:39 - Catherine the Great and empire 10:08 - Persecution of religion under the Soviet Union 11:14 - New Age and spiritual revival in the 1990s 15:22 - Current scene 16:30 - Westernised spirituality in Russia 21:58 - The self publishing movement 23:32 - How the scene became Westernised 27:12 - Shambala and post-Soviet Russia as a mission field 36:21 - Tibetan Buddhism in Russia today 39:40 - Other Buddhist and mindfulness groups in Russia 41:43 - Vipassana and the lack of a retreat scene 45:41 - Heritage Buddhists vs the new Buddhists 56:21 - Russian esotericism and the Soviet Union 01:04:41 - How is meditation viewed in Russia today? 01:12:06 - Modern mindfulness in Russia 01:13:00 - Russian Orthodox Christianity and the future of Buddhism in Russia Previous episode with Victor Shiryaev: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=shiryaev To find out more about Victor Shiryaev, visit: - https://victorshiryaev.co/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 22 mins
No reviews yet