In this interview I am joined by John Riley Perks, author, teacher, and was for seven years the butler and attendant of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Born in 1934, John recounts his childhood during World War 2, where he learned how to harness his intuition and psychic capacities under the guidance of his mother while avoiding air strikes and other dangers. John recalls moving to the USA in 1950 and tells of his life there through the decades of cultural change that marked the latter half of the 20th century.

John describes his first meeting with renowned guru of Tibetan Buddhism Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the subsequent years in his service as personal attendant and butler. John recalls the powerful spiritual field of tantric masters and details how Trungpa worked to dismantled John’s ego in a variety of potent ways.

John also reflects on the line between so called crazy wisdom activity intended to enlighten students and the abuse of trust of which so many celebrity spiritual masters, including Trungpa himself, have been accused.

John also explains how to send and receive messages on the wind, the protocol for interacting with spirit beings, and how to live in the mystery.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep229-butler-of-vajrayana-john-riley-perks

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro01:27 - Childhood during WW204:36 - Seances with John’s mother07:54 - Britains’ native lineages of psychic and healing abilities08:26 - Clearing the mind of psychic interference10:00 - Interacting with other beings 11:43 - Learning to live in the mystery 12:57 - Recurring visions throughout John’s life 14:18 - Sending and receiving messages on the wind16:38 - Importance of deity yoga and Vajrayogini practice17:47 - Playing the Great Game20:12 - Fantasy and reading 22:46 - Advice for those who have psychic experiences 25:06 - Panic attacks and PTSD 26:44 - Living in the USA in the 1950s27:22 - Working as a farmhand and heading West31:13 - Running a school for exceptional children34:19 - The assassination period and gun culture39:35 - The 60s and comments on drug use 42:38 - Living with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche 43:48 - Meeting Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche45:29 - Powerful first impression49:19 - The energy field of spiritual masters51:29 - Dismantling John’s ego 53:26 - The art of serving the guru 54:39 - John’s love for Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche57:58 - The terror of being so close to the guru59:55 - How did John last so long?01:01:51 - Not trying to get enlightened01:04:38 - Stories of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche01:08:38 - Accusations of abuse and cruelty01:13:38 - Facing things as they are01:14:19 - Đid Trungpa Rinpoche go too far?01:15:32 - Trungpa Rinpoche’s drinking01:18:07 - Working for Bill Cosby

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To find out more about John Riley Perks, visit:- https://www.celticbuddhism.org/

…For more interviews, videos, and more visit:- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James