Don't retreat into silence too soon Rupert, the world needs your voice. I listen with great pleasure most of your talks for years, they are always new while simultaneously always the same...this is the magic, nothing new to learn, but something deeper to reach or to recall, each time. Many thanks. Shanti
Fabulous interview. Guru Viking/Steve James once again shows mastery in asking just the right questions. Rupert Spira's wisdom is a gift to humanity. Thank you for this illuminating interview.
it`s nice to hear Rupert talking about his early life and formative influences. I was one of his close friends back then. We used to go mountaineering together in the snow and hunting for dinosaur bones along the Dorset coast. I was also his best man at his first wedding. What I would emphasise more is the influence of his mother and all the people surrounding him at that time. His mother was and still is a Mevlevi Dervish from Rumi`s tradition and an avid follower of Advaita Vedanta. She was also a professional and very talented artist, later developing her own drawing workshops in the style of Cecil Collins. His step father was a Sheikh in Rumi`s Mevlevi tradition and a tutor at The Royal College of Art. His ceramics tutor at West Surrey College of Art: Henry Hammond, was also a Mevlevi Dervish and a student of Advaita Vedanta. So he was surrounded by people (including myself) who were steeped in the works of Rumi, Ramana Maharshi and Shankara from an early age. It was not so much a question of "finding" it, but rather it being impossible to avoid. It would be great to go into this aspect more in a future interview.
I understand deeply what you have said. I looked up to Rupert for a couple of years until I realised recently that he’s not actually the ‘great shakes’ he appears to be…in the nicest possible way ❤ having read into his mothers life and listened to her speak, I mean come on, I found myself thinking actually ‘how could he possibly NOT become a spiritual teacher?!’ And then next, in comparison to his mother, I began to see how he was actually a step ‘backwards’ from her, with all the resistance and sense of self he still has intact. She was soooo Free. In short I realised, he had come not very far in life. He was born into money and privelage, in who his family knew, he went to public school and was introduced to non duality as a teenager! How can you actually fail with that start?! More the question began to formulate: how did it take you THIS long to become a spiritual teacher and formulate the nature of reality. If I’d have had that start in life, I would have been doing what he is doing now, by the time I was 25! I am a female spiritual teacher and I came from a northern English working class background where my dad was an orphan and a steelworker! My mum barely managed to keep herself alive due to a long term health condition. Many times a year we would have to revive her. I had no such mother into Rumi and non duality! My parents barely even finished school. By the time I was 14 I was more educated than they were. But my mum did allow me into music aged 3. And that, was the golden key. That usurps any concept called non duality. Rather, it is the embodiment of it. With these realisations, it occurred to me, and I began to honour, how far i had come as this character. And that is without going into any of the difficulties and suffering I have faced as an adult being female and from a working class humble background. I began to see that the things in his life, which on the face of it, look like privelage, very much have held him back. Suffering and struggle builds resilience. Resilience….what is that human concept really? True Nature? Finding the inner strength! I began to see that I was very much worthy of standing next to Rupert 🙏🏽 And I say none of this with resentment. Just observation. And honour for myself.
After following you for several years, Rupert, it has been a joy to hear your life story and reflections on how that has developed and cultivated your current craft, which continues to unfold in new ways....Thanks for sharing!!!
I am grateful to hear your background, your story. I studied gerontology, and for me it's so fun and rich to see and hear of a being's life experience. Thank you for sharing yours, Rupert.
This was most required by all us , Rupert's journey .....truly astounding to hear the details leading to his current image , just loved it . thanks to Guru Viking for thinking to do such a talk.
Thank you for the quote from your teacher, Michael Cardew..."You haven't begun to take this shape into your-Self."; an amazing reminder for me. Thank you
Thank you so much for the interview, especially the deep exploration around the intertwining of art and spirituality and how acutely aware Rupert is of the 'suffering' artist vs one that pursues beauty/love/truth through art, and how an artist could have this kind of transmutation while on their spiritual path. That was beautifully expressed.
Very important talk about the "guru" role in spiritual teachings. I was always a big fan of Rupert but as the saying goes " If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him ". I realized that the need to have your teacher on a pedestal is procrastinating that final jump that one must make alone.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful life story Rupert. I find it absolutely fascinating to trace individual journeys and see how rivers end up in the ocean. You had me in stitches describing the horror of your father at the thought of you becoming a potter - very relatable and to the power 10 in the culture I come from. My takeaway was that parent child dynamics you mentioned. You are so right when you talk about the burden children carry of seeking approval from their parents - no matter how old we become we all want that validation so bad. What is it about this parental debt? This yoke we carry is one of the toughest to cast away when it comes to fully practicing self love. It is so hard to convince a parental ego that disagreement does not equate to disrespect.
Yes, my heart sank to when there will come a time that Rupert may retreat into Silence, but I’m sure by that time… we will truly understand who and what we are and will meld with him.. all is perfect.
I loved this podcast, especially that you dove deep into Rupert’s personal story- one we rarely get to hear about- thank you so much for this deep dive. Truly fascinating
Awesome interview, loved hearing Rupert's fascinating background stories. In awe of the way he busted the subtle nuances that establish a Teacher hierarchy. Absolutely love the Rupert's true friendship vibe - so grateful for this brilliant sweetheart!
What Rupert said About best compliment he got for his book, I once heard that a woman who lives in US got the small book "Who am I" by Ramana Maharishi from her friend and before even she reads it she said to her friend " This is It". She then said "after years of searching I finally got it now." I do not think that getting it once is sufficient but it is only after we get it once that we keep going back to our Self, until perhaps stay There for good :)) Hopefully!
yep, the effect is that visceral even if not rationally understandable right away. when i held the book I AM THAT by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, my heart was like "this is it, this is all the knowledge i'll ever need. now get to practicing". and even though i found my Guru couple years later, I AM THAT remains my rock.
Thanks for G Viking and R Spira. Yes...Spira and the rest of the gurus don't have yet a teaching method at the level of their wisdom. The same happens in most of the global educational realm.
Love this! Great questions, esp the last part (1:11) where you ask R about the conflict that many artists have who journey on the spiritual path: how to resolve the pursuit of “Truth” with the worldly demands of their art. This is something I have struggled with for years.
Hi Rupert, your teaching are great. It helps a lot to me in stablising in Awareness State. I don't know why. But I feel so strongly to meet you atlest once in my lifetime. I don't like attending any retreat. I don't have any such problem which I want to share or needing any sol. But I want to feel in presence of Great Master. If possible kindly allow. Will be really grateful 🌺.
This is an absolutely wonderful interview! The insightful questions and genuine answers reached into me at different levels of understanding. I loved getting to know Rupert better. I would love to see a followup interview into Rupert’s individual journey, how he grew in presence with specific day to day struggles, what distracted him from presence, how he handled this and slowly grew (with daily things), so we can see our own journey in his. Thank you both for this interview. 😊😊😊
I have attended more than one of your retreats; and yes, perhaps when you speak you most likely have said the same information before, however, for me, each time I hear the 'same' thing it is always different, new, ever-fresh...
Should I take a year off from university for my mental health? I had a panic attack right before my exam which made me had to go to the ER and miss my exam. The thing is this exam is not even important, I don't expect much and don't feel that stressed about it.But the doctor said it's an autonomous response from my body, probably because of other underlying fear that is more serious. The exam is just a small trigger. I've also feel burned out, anxious, depressed in general. The medication I am on does not help but make things worse by causing drowsiness. I can barely function when I'm on it especially without sleep. As awareness, my true nature, should I listen to these symptoms and adjust my situation or should I let it be by continuing university even though it feels like torture. Also, are there non dual teachers I can ask questions regarding my situation. Thanks a lot. 🙏🏼
Hi Elisa Thank you for your comment. I'm sorry to hear of the challenges you are facing right now. You are welcome to join Rupert through a webinar or retreat at home, where you will have the opportunity to speak to Rupert. You can find out more by clicking the links in the descriptions box below the video. I wish you the very best in the meantime. Warmly, Niya
@@TaylorQuince19493 Thank you for your response. Due to Rupert's busy schedule, it's not possible to ask Rupert a question in another way, other than through the webinars and the retreats at home. I can see that the webinars begin at 11pm for you, so I understand that this is late. However, the retreats at home and live streaming events, have different meeting times to the webinars, so it's worth checking the website for details of those. You can find out more by clicking the links in the descriptions box below the video. Warmly, Niya
Clay, Words, Silence... sounds like the three worlds that conform humanity: gross, subtle and spiritual. Nice way of seeing symbollically your own life.
Hello Rupert--I would like to communicate with you. Is that possible? We have spoken twice before at the Science and Non-duality Conference. I am an artist (painter), an American living in Colombia, and I consider myself a friend and spiritual collaborator of yours. I have much appreciated the little bit of interaction we have had. If you are ever in South America, you would be welcome here. I have plenty of space. Edward Davis....
Hi Edward Davis, Thanks so much for your comment. The best way to speak with Rupert is to attend a live or online event. There are regular webinars and Retreats at Home online, with the opportunity to ask Rupert your questions. You can find out more by clicking the descriptions box under the video, and then clicking the link for the webinars and Retreats at Home. Hope that's of help to know. Warmly, Niya
It must take a lot of sincerity to refer to as "friends" to people who bring large sums of money into your business by attending those overpriced "retreats". I mean my friends don't have to pay me to spend time together.
Somebody want to walk the Being “Guru Viking” through the unconscious ego structures required to call your self “guru viking.” Its Pure Ego. You are Nothingness, any overlay is how your (still unconscious) ego is trying to get other egos to perceive you. So “guru” (i am god) and viking (i am powerful/scary). Laugh my a$$ off. Start with the Shadow. Then walk him through the Blood Eagle and see if he still wants self identify as a “viking.” Is this a joke?
