Ep231: Esoteric Arts of Japan - John Maki Evans
John Maki Evans is a teacher of Japanese swordsmanship, practitioner of several syncretic esoteric Japanese disciplines, and author of ‘Kurikara: The Sword and the Serpent’.
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In this interview I am joined by John Maki Evans, teacher of Japanese swordsmanship, practitioner of several syncretic esoteric Japanese disciplines of tantra and magic, and author of ‘Kurikara: The Sword and the Serpent’.
John recalls aspects of his intense training in Japan, traces his lifetime journey in uncovering the higher esoteric dimensions of the Japanese arts, and details the 9 stage journey from novice to master.
John maps the subtle body and its correspondence to the five elements and the dragon king protectors known as nāgarāja, explains the demands of following the inner path of transformation, and considers the special role of the sword in religious life.
John also reflects on the process of opening up the body and mind, recovery from severe back and brain injuries, and on the dangers of reaching your spiritual goals.
00:00 - Intro
01:05 - John’s 3 practitioner names
02:30 - Prescience of John’s sensei
04:21 - John reflects on his qualities
06:19 - Pros and cons of personal characteristics
07:48 - The process of opening up
09:09 - The danger of reaching your spiritual goals
11:19 - John’s 3 phase grading system
12:30 - 3 levels of transmission
18:26 - 5 elements, 9 Stages
22:01 - The power of the sword
25:29 - Nakamura Sensei’s special forces combat experience
28:53 - Taking up the sword
30:39 - Back injury and meeting Shandor
32:47 - Healing serious back injuries
33:40 - A powerful sexual awakening
36:19 - Japanese tantric and esoteric knowledge
41:37 - Piecing together an inner yogic system
43:44 - The nāgarāja dharma protectors
46:33 - 9 syllable magick
48:57 - Mapping the subtle body
49:48 - An intensive Shingon retreat
52:52 - Discovering a genuine master
54:22 - Squat practice
55:15 - Severe brain injury
58:18 - Left and right hemispheres
59:06 - Working with the brain mandala
01:02:56 - John’s mother’s death
01:05:08 - John’s post-surgery vision
01:07:09 - Post-surgery recovery
01:10:40 - Esoteric yogic techniques
01:13:21 - A profound Japanese spiritual poem
01:18:08 - Memorising Patañjali’s yoga sūtras
01:19:56 - The death of John’s father and John’s childhood death-ritual
To find out more about John Maki Evans, visit:
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James