Ep239: Gurus I Have Known - Ralph White 3

Guru Viking Podcast

In this interview I am once again joined by Ralph White holistic learning pioneer, international speaker on cultural transformation and the history of the Western esoteric tradition, and co-founder of the New York Open Centre. Ralph reflects on his decades at the centre of the American spirituality and human potential movements and discusses the life and works of figures such as poet Robert Bly, Ram Dass, Colin Wilson, RD Laing, and Rupert Sheldrake and tells personal anecdotes of his time spent with each. Ralph also reflects on today’s psychedelic renaissance, the pros and cons of AI, and why he is more motivated than ever before to bring about an enlightened cultural shift. … https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep239-gurus-i-have-known-ralph-white-3 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 02:14 - Ralph on Robert Bly 07:48 - Bly as a source of spiritual strength 08:35 - Where did Bly get his depth of insight? 09:48 - The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart 11:06 - Spiritual Athlete in an Orange Robe 13:29 - The mysterious Colin Wilson 18:49 - RD Laing’s wildness 20:04 - RD Laing’s alcoholism 22:53 - British vs USA approaches to the esoteric 24:27 - Rupert Sheldrake and the psychedelic renaissance 28:35 - Do psychedelics affect one’s credibility? 31:05 - Ralph on Ram Dass and Timothy Leary 35:30 - Was the 60s psychedelic movement good or bad? 37:13 - Reconnecting to the earth and existential crisis 41:13 - Is civilisational utopia naive? 46:33 - The rise of the religious right in America 49:34 - Engage with society or withdraw into the ark? 54:14 - Ralph’s work organising international conferences 56:29 - Indigenous Peoples’ Resistance To Globalisation 57:56 - Techno utopian attitudes of Silicon Valley 01:00:39 - Revitalising the Western Esoteric tradition 01:04:09 - Ralph on the current frontiers of human potential and culture … Previous episodes with Ralph White: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep140-quest-for-a-life-of-meaning-ralph-white - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep202-mission-to-tibet-ralph-white To find out more about Ralph White, visit: - https://www.ralphwhite.net/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James