Ep144: Hardcore & The Body in Spiritual Practice - Guo Gu 2
In this interview I am once again joined by Guo Gu, Chan Buddhist teacher, author, and scholar of Buddhism.
Available on Youtube, iTunes, SoundCloud & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
Guo Gu describes how ongoing bullying and violent confrontations as a teenager led him to form influential music groups Death Before Dishonor and Judge.
Guo Gu reveals why a feeling of hypocrisy as a monk led him to study social work and eventually obtain a PhD from Princeton University's Department of Religion on self-inflicted violence in Chinese religions
Guo Gu also reveals why he became Straight Edge, considers the role of religious asceticism and the body in today’s world, and comments on what others have called a meaning crisis in today’s society.
Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Bullied as an adolescent
08:53 - Meeting Mike Ferraro and getting good at fighting
14:29 - Imprint of his violent past
21:30 - Death Before Dishonor and heavy metal influences
23:26 - Becoming Straight edge
33:05 - Guo Gu’s PhD on religious asceticism
33:47 - A feeling of hypocrisy as a monk
44:30 - Reflecting on religious asceticism
47:43 - Bodily aptitude in spiritual practice
50:52 - Meaning crisis in society
54:12 - New book on the Gateless Barrier
59:31 - The practice of silent illumination
01:13:02 - Apophatic and cataphatic practice
Previous episode with Guo Gu:
To find out more about Guo Gu, visit:
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James