Beyond the Occult – Discipline, Danger, and Nothingness with Greg Kaminsky

Ken sits down with Greg Kaminsky — host of the Occult of Personality podcast, author, and long-time explorer of Western esotericism turned Vajrayana practitioner — for a deep and uncompromising conversation on the limits of occultism, the demands of genuine spiritual practice, and the often misunderstood path toward enlightenment.

Beginning with Greg’s early immersion in Western magical traditions and podcasting, the discussion traces his journey through alchemy, Kabbalah, and ceremonial magic, before confronting their limitations and turning toward the disciplined, teacher-led path of Vajrayana Buddhism.

What emerges is a stark contrast between Western “talking schools” and Eastern traditions rooted in rigorous practice, direct transmission, and the transformation of the practitioner themselves. Along the way, the conversation explores tantra, the left-hand path, taboo as method, the role of the guru, and the uncomfortable reality that the greatest obstacle on the path may be the practitioner themselves.

This week:

• Greg Kaminsky’s background in Western esotericism
• The transition from occult practice to Vajrayana Buddhism
• Western “talking schools” vs disciplined spiritual traditions
• The role of the guru and transmission
• Tantra and the left-hand path re-examined
• Taboo, ritual, and transformation
• The Great Work across East and West
• The Grail quest and getting lost on the path
• Ego, identity, and the idea that “you are the problem”
• Meditation as submission rather than control
• Nothingness, reality, and the limits of experience

 People, books, and concepts mentioned:

Greg Kaminsky – Host of Occult of Personality

Vajrayana Buddhism – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajrayana

Tantra – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantra

Left-Hand Path – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-hand_path_and_right-hand_path

Nisargadatta Maharaj / I Am That – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_That

Aleister Crowley – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley

Kabbalah – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah

Alchemy – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy

Gurdjieff – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gurdjieff

 Greg Kaminsky

Occult of Personality Podcast
https://occultofpersonality.net

Books and Writing
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Greg-Kaminsky/author