In this episode I am joined by Dr Yannis Toussulis, Sufi lineage holder, psychotherapist, and author of ‘Sufism and the Way of Blame’. Dr Toussulis recounts his upbringing in Manhattan, New York and how a childhood vision of Jesus Chris changed his life forever. Dr Toussulis recalls several profound mystical experiences and traces his life of travel and study with gurus and sheiks, including his time at the Esalen Institute, close studies with Tibetan Lama Khenchen Palden Sherab, experiments in psychedelic assisted therapy, travel to India, personal time with Osho, and more. Dr Toussulis also critiques new age presentations of Sufism, including modern interpretations of Rumia and early 20th century ideas of the Sarmoung Brotherhood, and considers the case of Idries Shah and the collusion between teachers and disciples to create exaggerated origin myths. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep179-adventures-of-a-sufi-mystic-dr-yannis-toussulis 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:01 - Upbringing in Manhattan 03:04 - Inspired to attend church after a vision of Jesus Christ 04:30 - First encounter with Sufism 07:17 - Meeting first Sheikhs 08:43 - Close study with Khenchen Palden Sherab 09:32 - Return to Sufism 12:42 - A vision of Jesus Christ 15:52 - Interpreting mystical experiences 17:15 - More visionary experiences 21:55 - Realising that God is everywhere 24:09 - Psychedelic experimentation 27:16 - Psychedelic therapy in Vancouver 31:04 - Carlos Castaneda 31:39 - Travel to India and studies with Osho 39:26 - Final conversation with Osho 44:35 - What is enlightenment? 50:23 - Meeting gurus 53:15 - Meeting his Lama in a lucid dream 01:04:40 - ’Nyingthik Drak’ and learning Buddhist tantra 01:08:46 - Sarmoung Brotherhood and misconceptions about Sufism 01:13:57 - What is Sufism? 01:18:25 - Origin myths and the naive audience of the early 1900s 01:22:17 - Collusion and mystification 01:25:39 - The modern inversion of Rumi … To find our more about Dr Yannis Toussulis, visit: - http://www.itlaqfoundation.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James