Ep229: Butler of Vajrayana- John Riley Perks
John Riley Perks is an author, teacher, and was for seven years the butler and attendant of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
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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.
00:00 - Intro
01:27 - Childhood during WW2
04:36 - Seances with John’s mother
07:54 - Britains’ native lineages of psychic and healing abilities
08:26 - Clearing the mind of psychic interference
10:00 - 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 wind
16:38 - Importance of deity yoga and Vajrayogini practice
17:47 - Playing the Great Game
20:12 - 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 1950s
27:22 - Working as a farmhand and heading West
31:13 - Running a school for exceptional children
34:19 - The assassination period and gun culture
39:35 - The 60s and comments on drug use
42:38 - Living with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
43:48 - Meeting Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
45:29 - Powerful first impression
49:19 - The energy field of spiritual masters
51:29 - Dismantling John’s ego
53:26 - The art of serving the guru
54:39 - John’s love for Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
57:58 - The terror of being so close to the guru
59:55 - How did John last so long?
01:01:51 - Not trying to get enlightened
01:04:38 - Stories of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
01:08:38 - Accusations of abuse and cruelty
01:13:38 - Facing things as they are
01:14:19 - Did Trungpa go too far?
01:15:32 - Trungpa Rinpoche’s drinking
01:18:07 - Working for Bill Cosby
To find out more about John Riley Perks, visit:
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James