Ep244: Taoist Adventures - Mattias Daly

In this episode I am joined by Mattias Daly, Taoist practitioner and translator of ‘Taoist Inner Alchemy’, published by Shambala.
Mattias reveals how youthful delinquency and substance abuse problems saw him kicked out of the University of Chicago and drove him to seek out martial arts and meditation instruction under a Taoist master.
Mattias shares his travels to China and unusual training adventures there including bodily purification through tree slapping, encounters with religious cults, and experiences with profound spiritual masters.
Mattias also discusses having a generational demonic possession exorcised by a Māori Tohunga in New Zealand and warns of the danger of incorrect internal practice such as psychosis, premature ejaculation, and more.
…
www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep...
Also available on KZbin, iTunes, & Spotify - search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
…
Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
00:57 - Why translate Taoist Inner Alchemy
04:58 - Trying not to be a scumbag
06:50 - Attraction to Buddhism
09:06 - Meeting Red Pine and mentoring relationship
11:59 - Red Pine’s influence and friendship
14:02 - Chaos Elemental
15:01 - Professor father and blue collar mother
18:34 - Childhood delinquency
24:07 - Model of masculinity
24:14 - Entry into the martial arts
26:27 - Male role models and discipline
28:57 - Did UFC destroy traditional martial arts?
31:34 - How to win a fight
33:34 - Limits of Chinese Kung Fu schools
35:31 - Rock bottom and kicked out of University of Chicago
38:09 - Return to martial arts and finding a Taoist master
41:17 - Initial Taoist training
45:01 - Buddhist vs Taoist cultivation
49:26 - Possession by demonic entity
55:58 - Generational demonic possession
59:50 - Learning Chinese
01:01:49 - Finding teachers in China
01:04:19 - Powerful purification experiences in Taoist cultivation
01:09:58 - Encountering a spiritual cult leader
01:17:04 - Reflections on spiritual charlatans in China
01:18:43 - Discovering the power of the empty state
01:22:13 - Practicing Taoist Inner Alchemy
01:25:17 - Move to Taiwan and walking away from Chinese medicine
01:27:36 - The dangers of meditation and internal cultivation
01:32:52 - Premature ejaculation and the lower Dantian
01:33:39 - Qigong and Tai Chi delusions
01:35:53 - Psychosis and Qigong fever
01:36:40 - Being in the presence of powerful teachers
01:38:07 - The heart of the path
…
Pre-order Mattias’ new book at a 30% discount with the promo code ALCHEMY30 at www.shambhala.com/ten-discour.... Valid through March 11th.
To find our more about Mattias Daly, visit:
- www.shambhala.com/authors/a-f...
…
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com
…
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

[@jamesboswell9324]

Beautiful ending to a really fascinating interview.

[@Joseph-zw6wm]

Really liked this interview, Mattias has a genuineness about him that points to an underlying quality of self-reflection/self-development that seems to be so scarce in other spiritual practitioners.

[@marcuszerbini5555]

A very enjoyable interview. I hope the sequels eventuate.

[@TheGigantus]

Oh, Wow!! That was one of the most enjoyable and engaging interviews I have witnessed in such a long time!!! Here or on any channel. There was something so resonant about it! Saturated in that "something"! What a follow-up! The book, as Mattias sees it, the process and stories he went through writing it, the 'exorcism' and more of that palpable presence and pointing to contact with those who have touched and are emersed in the lived experience of the Toa or whatever you want to call it! So impressed. Mattias managed to say so much with so few words. With such candour, grace and authenticity. Re the App.. "No. If we teach people real meditation..." Gold! I cannot agree more that those who have real awakening, that “something”, from any and all traditions, powers (siddhis) or not, integrity and kindness, of natural ease, balance and flow, are words that point to the Tao. Qualities of its embodiment. Following that discussion, a query that naturally comes to mind is does ‘Taoist Inner Alchemy: Master Huang Yuanji's Guide to the Way of Meditation’ teach "real meditation"? So interesting!!! More please. More.. 🙇‍♂🙏✨

[@icultivatebooks]

Really wanna hear the possession story!!

[@davidwearley7843]

So glad to hear more westerners sharing this understanding of Neidan. There are a lot of crazy ideas about this practice. Great conversation!

[@relecto2800]

finally a proper daoist on this channel!

[@amaryllisequistra]

A second episode! Yes please ✨ Also, I’ve often thought what Mattias was saying about command hallucinations and improbably horrific crimes… I was once overshadowed by an entity which told me to ill myself, and i was not mentally ill.

[@thetruemorg]

@1:03:30 Matthias mentions the book iron& silk the author is Mark salzman and the reason that I went to China back in late 90s

[@mayploy6869]

this is the only martial arts type of guest that i actually enjoyed on this podcast and i was riveted the whole time. looking forward to the next installment and learned a lot.

[@youzensama]

wonderful episode..

[@sabrinax4575]

So good.

[@jethrobradley7850]

Mattias is very astute - and could be describing any number of paths, religions and teachers - when he talks about one or two essential gems wrapped in a lot of nothing. And how some people insist that you must also take on that lot of nothing. On a separate note, in any follow up I would be very interested to hear Mattias clarify the distinctions between religious and philosophical Taoism as he sees them. Or whether he thinks they are inextricably connected.

[@Bjorn_Algiz]

Very beautiful ❤

[@johninman7545]

Oh wow The Avatamsaka Sutra! very deep!. Dharma Realm University is going through it now. Thomas Cleary has translated .John Blofeld, too, is great Bodhisattva Of Compassion,I.Ching,,Charles Luck wrote much on Taoist Alchemy, "Secrets Of Chinese Meditation"

[@viaesta]

Would love to see a Buddhist / Tao discussion with Amrita Baba 🙏🏻

[@westa1762]

I believe in Westism exclusively.

[@philmcdonald6088]

26:50: martial arts are excellent for healing juvenile delinquency. also good foundation for contemplative practice. 48:02: stop thinking. 1:37: be here now do no harm help others be still close eyes listen to your breathing. 1:40: "i have 3 treasures: kindness simplicity humility." tao te ching 67:5-7.