Ep 381: I Nearly Died - Delson Armstrong
Delson Armstrong is a spiritual teacher, meditation virtuoso, and author of ”A Mind Without Craving”.
Available on Youtube, iTunes, SoundCloud & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
Delson recounts his recent close encounter with death in severe floods in Missouri. He recalls fighting for his life as ten feet of water filled his retreat cabin, and how he escaped with deep laceration in his foot.
Delson describes the surprising consequences of this experience including what he calls a “crotchety old man” attitude towards spiritual practice as entertainment or escapism, symptoms of trauma, and a new perspective on meditation and enjoying life.
Delson also talks about the dimension of spiritual luminosity, why he hasn’t meditated since the floods, his openness to a change in life direction, and the relationship between the will to live and the ego.
00:00 - Intro
01:01 - Delson’s close encounter with death
06:07 - Pure survival instinct
08:47 - Escaping the flood
12:25 - Recovery
13:45 - Becoming a “crotchety old man” about spirituality
14:39 - Loosh and the demiurge
16:43 - Impatience with spiritual entertainment
17:25 - What’s important when you die
17:55 - Delson and Steve sit in silence
23:12 - Luminosity and the thinking mind
26:29 - Delson’s experience of luminosity
31:49 - Spiritual practice as escapism and avoidance
36:28 - How to embrace the present moment
40:53 - Delson’s intention to live to the fullest
42:15 - Waves and the ocean
42:54 - The importance of the spiritual journey
47:38 - Is Delson traumatised?
51:51 - Jhana-assisted therapy?
55:07 - Why Delson hasn’t meditated since the flood
57:38 - The spiritual ego
01:01:04 - There was no God that came at the point of death
01:02:14 - Meditation just for fun
01:04:01 - Surrender and openness to change of life direction
01:06:58 - Might Delson give up teaching?
01:08:26 - How to completely give up
Watch previous episodes with Delson Armstrong:
Find out more about Delson Armstrong:
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James.