Ep171: Taoist Master - Bruce Frantzis
Bruce Frantzis is a world renowned Taoist master and author of books such as ‘Opening the Energy Gates of your Body’ and ‘Taoist Sexual Meditation’.
Available on Youtube, iTunes, SoundCloud & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
Bruce recalls his turbulent childhood living with a schizophrenic mother, witnessing murders in New York city, and early training in martial arts and meditation.
Bruce recounts a lifetime of adventurous travel and powerful encounters with spiritual and energetic masters in Japan, China, and India.
Bruce describes his induction into a secret Taoist priesthood, his discipleship under Taoist immortal Liu Hung Cheh, and his training under Dzogchen masters such as Dudjom Rinpoche, Namkhai Norbu, and Lama Wangdor.
Bruce also discusses the keys to Taoist meditation, the mechanics of mind-to-mind spiritual transmission, and how to heal mental, emotional, psychic, and karmic traumas.
Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Bruce’s troubled childhood with his schizophrenic mother
03:10 - Boarding school at 6 and appetite for learning
07:12 - Spontaneous meditation practice as a child and other karmic presages
09:18 - Witnessing violent killings and beginning martial arts
14:13- Participation in the 60s counter culture
17:55 - Facing death at first Zen sesshin
20:03 - The New York scene
23:03 - Intense martial arts training in Japan
26:07 - Shocking meeting with Wang Shujin
30:31 - Adventures travelling in Asia
34:59 - Life changing experiences in India
42:38 - Getting busted in Okinawa
44:32 - Encountering a secret Taoist priesthood and further adventures in America
49:58 - Travelling through Europe
51:47 - Dangerous encounters in the Middle East
54:24 - One year of kundalini practice in a cave in India
58:19 - Surviving hepatitis and travel to Kashmir
01:03:33 - Further studies in East Asia
01:06:08 - Return to the USA
01:06:27 - More Hong Kong anecdotes
01:09:12 - Bagua and challenge matches
01:17:32 - Bruce’s observations about meditation after 60 years of practice
01:19:32 - The problem with the Buddhist valorisation of mothers
01:25:21 - Resolving childhood trauma
01:28:49 - Bruce’s teacher confronts his attitude
01:30:37 - Meetings with survivors of torture
01:43:01 - Essence of spirituality
01:48:23 - Past life karma with Dudjom Rinpoche
01:53:38 - Mental illness in America and impending environmental catastrophe
01:59:27 - The golden age of the baby boomers
02:02:18 - Medical gigong tuina
02:03:53 - Teaching meditation and exploitative gurus
02:06:22 - Taoist view of the spiritual path
02:10:36 - Taoism vs Buddhism
02:13:37 - Dzogchen studies with Namkhai Norbu and Lama Wangdor
02:17:26 - Realisation of clear light
02:20:03 - Advice for those facing difficult times
02:23:13 - Mind to mind transmission
02:25:24 - Understanding the totality of something
02:26:12 - First attain stability of mind
02:27:49 - Nityananda, Muktananda, and shaktipat
02:30:01 - How to do mind-to-mind transmission
02:38:42 - Potential for abuse in mind-to-mind transmission abilities
02:40:52 - Muktanada, Satchidananda, and sexual repression
02:46:16 - Mental vs emotional vs psychic vs karmic traumas
To find out more about Bruce Frantzis, visit:
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James