Ep108: From Tolkien to Tibet - Erik Jampa Andersson
In this episode I am joined by Erik Jampa Andersson, a teacher of Tibetan medicine, astrology, and meditation endorsed by luminaries of the field such as Dr Nida Chenagtsang and Lama Tsultrim Allione.
Erik recounts how childhood tragedy and an early interest in the occult saw him deeply influenced by the works of J.R.R Tolkien, and to eventually become a Buddhist in the Nyingma lineage of Tibet.
Erik reveals his personal journey in resolving friction points with the Buddhist religion, including doctrines of hell realms and heteronormative ethical standards.
Erik also discusses his education in Tibetan medicine, and shares his deep interest in and personal experience of the realm of spirits and unseen beings, both as mythic devices and also as influences in mental health and physical disease.
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
Topics include:
00:00 – Intro
01:28 – Childhood interest in the occult
04:39 – From Tolkien to Tibetan Buddhism
11:15 – Becoming a student of Lama Tsultrim Allione
13:12 – Attraction to Tibetan Buddhism
17:37 – Christian vs Buddhist ethics
20:51 – Frictions points with Buddhism
26:09 – Homosexuality and Buddhism
40:39 – Queer liberation and religious marginalisation
48:15 – S3xual ethics and Buddhism
50:52 – The myth of Padmasambhava
55:13 – From acting to Tibetan medical studies
01:01:36 – Modern vs traditional education styles
01:09:13 – Cultural and medical exchange in antiquity
01:17:47 – Erik’s work on unseen beings and spirit provocations
01:28:17 – Endorsed by Lama Tsultrim Allione and Dr Nida Chenagtsang
01:32:57 – Becoming a professional astrologer
01:47:26 – Personal entity encounters
01:53:33 – Experiments with states of high concentration and plant medicines
02:03:20 – The genius of Tolkien
02:17:02 – Erik’s upcoming book on rational animism
02:27:09 – Contacting Erik
To find out more about Erik Jampa Andersson, visit:
https://www.shrimala.com/
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James