Ep244: Taoist Adventures - Mattias Daly

Mar 8, 2024

From delinquency to Taoist practice, Mattias Daly shares his journey of seeking martial arts and meditation, tree slapping in China, exorcising demonic possession in New Zealand, the impact of UFC on traditional martial arts, and the importance of mentorship and authenticity in spiritual practice.

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ANECDOTE

Kung Fu Provided Structure At A Crucial Age

At 15 Mattias's parents enrolled him in Kung Fu to give him structure; training included qigong, standing meditation, and rigorous sparring.
The martial arts community provided male role models, discipline, and stability when his life was otherwise chaotic.

INSIGHT

Why Traditional Kung Fu Isn't UFC Training

Traditional Chinese internal martial arts emphasize survival tactics and quick endings, not modern sports competition.
They lack modern sparring in China, so decade-long internal practice improves health and meditation but not necessarily ring-ready fighting skill.

ANECDOTE

Rock Bottom And The Turn Back To Practice

After hitting rock bottom at University of Chicago—substance abuse, legal trouble, and a friend's suicide—Mattias returned to his kung fu teacher for guidance and stability.
A psychiatrist who practiced kung fu agreed to oversee his taper off meds if he stabilized via qigong and meditation.

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In this episode I am joined by Mattias Daly, Taoist practitioner and translator of ‘Taoist Inner Alchemy’, published by Shambala. Mattias reveals how youthful delinquency and substance abuse problems saw him kicked out of the University of Chicago and drove him to seek out martial arts and meditation instruction under a Taoist master. Mattias shares his travels to China and unusual training adventures there including bodily purification through tree slapping, encounters with religious cults, and experiences with profound spiritual masters. Mattias also discusses having a generational demonic possession exorcised by a Māori Tohunga in New Zealand and warns of the danger of incorrect internal practice such as psychosis, premature ejaculation, and more. … Link in bio. Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.  … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:57 - Why translate Taoist Inner Alchemy 04:58 - Trying not to be a scumbag 06:50 - Attraction to Buddhism 09:06 - Meeting Red Pine and mentoring relationship 11:59 - Red Pine’s influence and friendship 14:02 - Chaos Elemental 15:01 - Professor father and blue collar mother 18:34 - Childhood delinquency 24:07 - Model of masculinity 24:14 - Entry into the martial arts 26:27 - Male role models and discipline 28:57 - Did UFC destroy traditional martial arts? 31:34 - How to win a fight 33:34 - Limits of Chinese Kung Fu schools 35:31 - Rock bottom and kicked out of University of Chicago 38:09 - Return to martial arts and finding a Taoist master 41:17 - Initial Taoist training 45:01 - Buddhist vs Taoist cultivation 49:26 - Possession by demonic entity 55:58 - Generational demonic possession 59:50 - Learning Chinese 01:01:49 - Finding teachers in China 01:04:19 - Powerful purification experiences in Taoist cultivation 01:09:58 - Encountering a spiritual cult leader 01:17:04 - Reflections on spiritual charlatans in China 01:18:43 - Discovering the power of the empty state 01:22:13 - Practicing Taoist Inner Alchemy 01:25:17 - Move to Taiwan and walking away from Chinese medicine 01:27:36 - The dangers of meditation and internal cultivation 01:32:52 - Premature ejaculation and the lower Dantian 01:33:39 - Qigong and Tai Chi delusions 01:35:53 - Psychosis and Qigong fever 01:36:40 - Being in the presence of powerful teachers 01:38:07 - The heart of the path … Pre-order Mattias’ new book at a 30% discount with the promo code ALCHEMY30 at https://www.shambhala.com/ten-discourses-on-daoist-alchemy.html. Valid through March 11th. To find our more about Mattias Daly, visit: - https://www.shambhala.com/authors/a-f/mattias-daly.html …  For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James