Nov 15 2024 95 mins 57
Delson Armstrong is a spiritual teacher, meditation virtuoso, and author of ‘A Mind Without Craving’.
In this interview, Delson renounces all of his previous claims to spiritual attainment.
Delson details recent changes in his inner experiences that saw him question the nature of his awakening, including the arising of emotions and desires that he thought had long been expunged. Delson critiques the consequences of the Buddhist doctrine of the 10 fetters, reveals his redefinition of awakening and the stages of the four path model from stream enterer to arhat, and challenges cultural ideals about enlightenment.
Delson offers his current thoughts on the role of emotions in awakening, emphasises the importance of facing one’s trauma, and discusses his plans to broaden his own teaching to include traditions such as Kriya Yoga.
Delson also reveals the pressures put on him by others’ agendas, and shares his observations about the danger of student devotion, the hypocrisy of spiritual leaders, and his mixed feelings about the monastic sangha.
…
https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep280-i-renounce-my-attainments-delson-armstrong
Also available on Youtube & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
…
01:14 - Delson’s declaration
07:56 - Why has Delson changed his view?
10:13 - Pressure on Delson and other peoples’ agendas
15:12 - Delson’s shocking observations about his 3 year teaching experiment
15:53 - Teaching debut under Bhante Vimalaramsi
17:22 - European teaching tour
17:32 - Tension towards other traditions at Dhammasukha
19:26 - Teacher-student divide at Dhammasukha
20:14 - Tensions with the Indian sangha
21:18 - Discomfort with guru worship in India
22:41 - Mixed feelings about the monastic community
24:30 - Teachers should never stop learning
24:45 - The 10 fetter model and an unhealthy narrative of spiritual success
26:15 - Potential for teacher-student abuse
27:41 - Questioning the 10 fetter model
29:28 - Ideals of awakening and cultural projections
30:48 - Transcending all models and systems
31:39 - Importance of ethics
33:21 - Why is Delson renouncing all spiritual attainments?
36:15 - Being open to your own experience
37:06 - Don’t gloss over suffering
39:41 - Changes in Delson’s understanding about the Buddha, dharma, and sangha
44:20 - Rethinking negative emotion and the end of craving
47:23 - The Simile of the Saw Sutta, Kakacūpamasutta
48:11 - Recontextualising the higher fetters of restlessness, conceit, and ignorance
49:15 - Is awakening static?
50:06 - Delson’s definition of awakening
51:55 - Redefining the 4-path model from stream-enterer to arhat
57:26 - Facing the shadow
59:10 - What was the experience that changed Delson’s mind?
01:02:48 - Learning from conflict and shadow
01:04:37 - Maintaining the image of a teacher
01:05:12 - No longer a teacher
01:06:35 - The corrupting pride of being a spiritual teacher
01:07:04 - Hypocrisy of spiritual leaders
01:09:23 - Do not seek perfection in Delson
01:10:14 - K the Buddha
01:11:44 - Against disempowering students
01:14:06 - Does Delson believe awakening even possible?
01:17:12 - What is awakening?
01:18:06 - Levels of awakening
01:18:58 - The true nature of reality
01:20:43 - Siddha tales and Delson’s supernatural experiences
01:24:27- Sifting the serious students from the merely curious
01:25:22 - Delson’s powerful trip to South India, astrology, and mystical experiences
01:31:07 - Delson’s future plans for teaching
01:32:02 - Plans to conduct Kriya Yoga initiations
01:32:41 - Delson as a conduit
01:33:16 - Reactions to Delson’s declaration
Watch previous episodes with Delson Armstrong:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=delson
Find out more about Delson Armstrong:
- Personal Site: https://www.delsonarmstrong.com/
- YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@delson999
- Delson's Foundation: https://www.freedom-of-mind.org/
…
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
In this interview, Delson renounces all of his previous claims to spiritual attainment.
Delson details recent changes in his inner experiences that saw him question the nature of his awakening, including the arising of emotions and desires that he thought had long been expunged. Delson critiques the consequences of the Buddhist doctrine of the 10 fetters, reveals his redefinition of awakening and the stages of the four path model from stream enterer to arhat, and challenges cultural ideals about enlightenment.
Delson offers his current thoughts on the role of emotions in awakening, emphasises the importance of facing one’s trauma, and discusses his plans to broaden his own teaching to include traditions such as Kriya Yoga.
Delson also reveals the pressures put on him by others’ agendas, and shares his observations about the danger of student devotion, the hypocrisy of spiritual leaders, and his mixed feelings about the monastic sangha.
…
https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep280-i-renounce-my-attainments-delson-armstrong
Also available on Youtube & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
…
01:14 - Delson’s declaration
07:56 - Why has Delson changed his view?
10:13 - Pressure on Delson and other peoples’ agendas
15:12 - Delson’s shocking observations about his 3 year teaching experiment
15:53 - Teaching debut under Bhante Vimalaramsi
17:22 - European teaching tour
17:32 - Tension towards other traditions at Dhammasukha
19:26 - Teacher-student divide at Dhammasukha
20:14 - Tensions with the Indian sangha
21:18 - Discomfort with guru worship in India
22:41 - Mixed feelings about the monastic community
24:30 - Teachers should never stop learning
24:45 - The 10 fetter model and an unhealthy narrative of spiritual success
26:15 - Potential for teacher-student abuse
27:41 - Questioning the 10 fetter model
29:28 - Ideals of awakening and cultural projections
30:48 - Transcending all models and systems
31:39 - Importance of ethics
33:21 - Why is Delson renouncing all spiritual attainments?
36:15 - Being open to your own experience
37:06 - Don’t gloss over suffering
39:41 - Changes in Delson’s understanding about the Buddha, dharma, and sangha
44:20 - Rethinking negative emotion and the end of craving
47:23 - The Simile of the Saw Sutta, Kakacūpamasutta
48:11 - Recontextualising the higher fetters of restlessness, conceit, and ignorance
49:15 - Is awakening static?
50:06 - Delson’s definition of awakening
51:55 - Redefining the 4-path model from stream-enterer to arhat
57:26 - Facing the shadow
59:10 - What was the experience that changed Delson’s mind?
01:02:48 - Learning from conflict and shadow
01:04:37 - Maintaining the image of a teacher
01:05:12 - No longer a teacher
01:06:35 - The corrupting pride of being a spiritual teacher
01:07:04 - Hypocrisy of spiritual leaders
01:09:23 - Do not seek perfection in Delson
01:10:14 - K the Buddha
01:11:44 - Against disempowering students
01:14:06 - Does Delson believe awakening even possible?
01:17:12 - What is awakening?
01:18:06 - Levels of awakening
01:18:58 - The true nature of reality
01:20:43 - Siddha tales and Delson’s supernatural experiences
01:24:27- Sifting the serious students from the merely curious
01:25:22 - Delson’s powerful trip to South India, astrology, and mystical experiences
01:31:07 - Delson’s future plans for teaching
01:32:02 - Plans to conduct Kriya Yoga initiations
01:32:41 - Delson as a conduit
01:33:16 - Reactions to Delson’s declaration
Watch previous episodes with Delson Armstrong:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=delson
Find out more about Delson Armstrong:
- Personal Site: https://www.delsonarmstrong.com/
- YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@delson999
- Delson's Foundation: https://www.freedom-of-mind.org/
…
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
