Buddha at the Gas Pump

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489. Miranda Macpherson, 2nd Interview Feb 08, 2019

Show notes

Miranda Macpherson began her spiritual journey at the age of thirteen when, amidst a period of clinical depression, she was spontaneously opened into a profound state of boundless love. That experience initiated a lifelong dedication to spiritual practice, psychological depth, and the study of the world’s wisdom traditions. Her travels took her from her native Australia to the United Kingdom, where after completing seminary training, she founded the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation in London, at the request of her teacher. Over the next decade, Miranda trained and ordained more than six hundred interfaith ministers and spiritual counselors. In 2005, a seismic shift occurred that changed the course of Miranda’s life. While meditating in a cave in India that was once home to the revered sage Sri Ramana Maharshi, she experienced a direct transmission of the true nature of reality that required total surrender. In the wake of this, Miranda found herself again moving to a new continent, this time the United States. There, in the years it took to integrate this opening, a body of teachings on Grace and Ego Relaxation began to emerge that brings ancient wisdom alive for our changing times. Today, Miranda is known for her depth of presence and gift for guiding others into direct experience of the sacred. Miranda leads the Living Grace sangha in Marin and Sonoma counties, holds retreats internationally, and offers online programs through the Shift Network. Unapologetically feminine, joyful, and down to earth in her way of being, Miranda is dedicated to loving people all the way back into the freedom and wholeness of their true nature. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband Bob Duchmann. Books: The Way of Grace - The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation (Book) Boundless Love: Transforming Your Life with Grace and Inspiration CDs: The Way of Grace - The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation (CD or audio download) Meditations on Boundless Love 'The Heart of Being' - Mantra CD 'Awakening the Soul' - Meditation CD Website: http://mirandamacpherson.com First BatGap interview with Miranda. Miranda in SAND Panel Discussion on Sexual Misconduct, Money, Power, Trauma & Ethics in Spiritual Communities Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded February 4, 2019 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:57 - The Relevance of Ancient Wisdom 00:07:52 - Ego Relaxation and the Sense of Time 00:11:39 - Introduction and Bio of Miranda Macpherson 00:15:25 - Awakening to the Fullness of Being 00:19:37 - The Infinite Ways of Realization 00:23:28 - The Window Panes of Ultimate Reality 00:27:11 - Healing and Transformation through Grace 00:31:19 - The Sweet State of Ego Relaxation 00:35:24 - Living in Alignment with Grace 00:39:38 - The Blessings of Grace 00:43:32 - Opening ourselves to beings of higher consciousness 00:47:27 - Perpetual Ascension and Spiritual Ego 00:51:23 - The Paradox of Spiritual Practice 00:55:04 - Cultivating Virtues: Trust and Humility 01:00:00 - The Fulfillment of Life and the Richness of Life 01:03:08 - Surrender and Accountability 01:06:54 - The Challenge of Surrender and Relaxation 01:10:57 - Surrendering to the Way 01:14:57 - Moving with Life 01:18:38 - Finding Stability in Uncertain Times 01:22:12 - Placing Faith in Humanity 01:26:13 - Relaxing into Truth 01:30:05 - The Partnership between Horse and Man 01:33:59 - The Healing Power of Forgiveness 01:38:02 - Right Action from Being 01:41:44 - The Paradox of Ego and Passivity 01:45:46 - Recognizing and Befriending Our Primal Drives 01:49:38 - Practical Meditation Techniques and Practices 01:53:07 - Resources and Online Courses 01:56:42 - Music Intro

445. Swami Sarvapriyananda Mar 13, 2018

Show notes

Swami Sarvapriyananda has been Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York since January 6, 2017. Prior to this, he served as assistant minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California for 13 months, beginning on December 3, 2015. Swami joined the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1994 and received Sannyas in 2004. Before being posted to the VSSC’s Hollywood Temple, Swami served as an acharya (teacher) of the monastic probationers’ training center at Belur Math. He has served the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in various capacities including being the Vice Principal of the Deoghar Vidyapith Higher Secondary School, Principal of the Shikshana Mandira Teacher Education College at Belur Math, and the first Registrar of the Vivekananda University at Belur Math. Website: vedantany.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcripts of this interview: English Chinese Finnish Second BatGap interview with Swami Sarvapriyananda Swami Sarvapriyananda on the Ethical Foundations of Nondual Spirituality Interview recorded March 3, 2018. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:51 - Upanishads and Vedanta 00:07:54 - The Philosophy of Non-Duality 00:12:07 - The Expression of Ultimate Truth in Hinduism 00:16:27 - The Duality of Bliss and Reality 00:20:21 - The Comparison between Vedanta and Particle Physics 00:24:43 - Panentheism and the Nature of Reality 00:28:51 - Advaita Vedanta as Maximally Supporting Religion 00:33:04 - Two distinct approaches to religion 00:37:34 - Overcoming Limitations with Advaita Philosophy 00:41:09 - The Cyclical Nature of Knowledge 00:44:39 - The Value of Sharing Between Science and Religion 00:48:36 - The Conflict Between Science and Religion 00:52:49 - Contributions of Advaita and Madhyamaka Buddhism 00:57:07 - The Complexity of Standardizing Instrumental Procedures 01:01:24 - Path to Enlightenment through Different Religions 01:04:55 - The Realization of Pure Essential Nature 01:08:56 - Serving Society in Vedantic Philosophy 01:12:37 - The Perspectives of Enlightened Beings 01:16:44 - The Three Stages of Spiritual Awakening 01:20:38 - The Importance of Practices and Ethical Life in Advaita Vedanta 01:25:08 - The Importance of Bhakti Yoga and Meditation 01:28:45 - The Bliss Amidst Suffering 01:32:52 - The Conduits of Spiritual Wisdom 01:36:45 - The Truth about Enlightenment and Past Karma 01:40:42 - The Three Tiers of Reality 01:44:33 - Experiencing World and Brahman Together 01:48:07 - The Differences between Kashmir Shaivism and Advaita Vedanta 01:52:24 - The Beauty and Intricacy of the World 01:56:21 - Divine Presence in You 01:59:46 - Farewell

357. Adam Chacksfield Aug 08, 2016

Show notes

Adam Chacksfield is a nondual spiritual teacher whose retreats and private sessions are known for their transformative power and love-saturated depth. He devotedly serves the alive field of awareness as it unfolds, reveals, and liberates, rather than any fixed philosophy. Adam first turned toward spirituality and meditation after a series of profound psychedelic-assisted openings led him to experience the truth that lies beyond all philosophies. At age 33 he left his career as a university professor of political theory to devote his life to spiritual unfolding. For a few years, Adam struggled to try and piece together all the apparently contradictory teachings and practices. These efforts decisively fell away when he came across the nondual teaching of Peter Fenner, and realized the openness that can never be captured in words and requires no practice. Adam started inviting his friends to do nondual inquiry with him and was amazed by the ease with which the direct experience of openness could be shared. In 2010, with Peter Fenner's encouragement and support, Adam started to publicly share with groups and individuals. Since then, his teaching has been profoundly influenced by the opportunity to soak in Jeannie Zandi's heart-centered and full-bodied transmission. Adam now shares the direct experience of the heart and mind falling open. In this effortless opening, the suffering involved in resisting feelings and believing thoughts spontaneously releases. The natural abundance of joy, peace, wisdom, and love becomes apparent and available. Heart-centered, gentle, and direct, Adam offers a path straight into the truth of who we are. In addition to leading retreats in North America and Europe, Adam meets with individuals, and is the creator of “Falling Open,” a four-month online course. He is also the founder of the Center for Nondual Awareness, a supportive community for those called to share nonduality. Website: adamchacksfield.com Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 8/6/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:01 - A Conversation with David Shapiro 00:07:31 - Recognizing Different Preferences 00:11:04 - The Profound Psychedelic Experience 00:14:54 - Embracing the Mystery 00:19:19 - Contemplating the Wonder of Creation 00:22:52 - Softening and Gentleness in Healing Trauma 00:26:51 - Opening to Difficult Feelings 00:30:31 - The Diversity of Spiritual Practices 00:33:46 - Allowing Things to Unfold Naturally 00:37:19 - The Capacity of the Heart 00:40:51 - Running away from feelings 00:44:25 - The Dark Side of Practice 00:47:53 - Layers of Sensitivity and the Movement of the Heart 00:51:29 - Trusting our own unfolding 00:54:51 - The Buddha's Lifelong Spiritual Practice 00:58:40 - Healing Shame and Violence 01:02:35 - Healing Incorrigible Behavior 01:06:40 - The Depth and Beauty of Here 01:10:22 - Exploring Psychedelics and Spirituality 01:14:12 - The Sweetness of Vulnerability 01:18:37 - Opening up to Grasping in Meditation 01:22:13 - Fear and the Mind-Body Connection 01:25:46 - Exploring the Experience of Reality 01:29:48 - Acclimatization to Openness 01:33:45 - Letting Awareness Do Its Work 01:37:31 - Opening Up to Body Intelligence 01:41:25 - Embracing Our Emotional Wounds 01:45:16 - The Evolution of Emotional Sensitivity 01:49:42 - Settling into the Heart of Things 01:53:27 - Emotional Intensity and Self-Love

323. Adam Bucko Dec 25, 2015

Show notes

Adam Bucko is an activist, spiritual director to many of New York City’s homeless youth, and co-author of a new award-winning book called “Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation (Sacred Activism)". He grew up in Poland during the totalitarian regime and spent his early years exploring the anarchist youth movement as a force for social and political change. At the age of 17, Adam immigrated to America where his desire to find his path towards a meaningful life led him to monasteries in the US and India. His life-defining experience took place in India, where on his way to a Himalayan hermitage, he met a homeless child who lived on the streets of Delhi. This brief encounter led him to the “Ashram of the Poor” where he began his work with homeless youth. After returning to the US, he worked on the streets of various American cities with young people struggling against homelessness and prostitution. He eventually co-founded The Reciprocity Foundation, an award-winning nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of New York City’s homeless youth. In addition to his work with homeless youth, Adam established HAB, an ecumenical and inter-spiritual “new monastic” fellowship for young people which offers formation in radical spirituality and sacred activism. He collaborates with spiritual leaders across religious traditions and mentors young people, helping them discover a spiritual life in the 21st century and how to live deeply from the heart in service of compassion and justice. Adam is a recipient of several awards and his work has been featured by ABC News, CBS, NBC, New York Daily News, National Catholic Reporter, Ode Magazine, Yoga International Magazine and Sojourner Magazine. Huffington Post Articles by Adam Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 10/23/2015 at the Science and Nonduality Conference. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump interview 00:02:20 - Spiritual Activism and the "Gandhis" of Poland 00:04:08 - Building an Altar at Home 00:05:50 - The Peaceful Revolution in Poland 00:07:54 - Finding Solace in an Ashram 00:09:24 - Spiritual Practice in India 00:10:41 - Combining Contemplative Practice with Social Justice 00:12:29 - Falling in Love with Life for Spiritual Awakening 00:14:04 - The Illusion of the World 00:15:33 - The Framework of the Spiritual Journey 00:17:07 - Responsibility to Help the World 00:18:45 - The value of service and surrender 00:20:45 - The Benefit of Serving Others 00:22:33 - Being an Instrument of the Divine in Helping the Poor 00:24:25 - Being Present in a State of Curious Not-Knowing 00:26:19 - Restructuring Life and Developing a Rule of Life 00:28:12 - Remembering True Nature and Creating a Loving Space 00:29:43 - "Church" and the Transformation of Homelessness 00:31:41 - The Starfish Story 00:32:40 - Letting go of the Need for Results 00:34:30 - The Teachings on Service 00:36:04 - The Center as a Family 00:37:44 - The Plight of Homeless Youth and Funding Challenges 00:39:23 - Praying and the Metamorphosis 00:41:47 - Seeing God in Others 00:43:59 - Serving as an instrument of the Divine 00:45:28 - Working with Homeless Kids and the New Monasticism 00:47:20 - The Primary Spiritual Question for Young People 00:48:53 - Hope and Movement 00:50:13 - Rescheduling due to a power outage caused by a squirrel 00:51:35 - Next Interview and Donation Button

317. Richard Moss Dec 07, 2015

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Richard Moss is an internationally respected leader in the field of inner transformation, subtle body-mind dynamics, and living a path of conscious relationships. In 1977 Richard was a practicing medical doctor when he experienced a spontaneous spiritual illumination that awakened him to the multi-dimensional nature of human consciousness. This realization profoundly transformed his understanding of the roots of emotional suffering, and inspired him to explore the almost limitless human potential for growth and healing. Impelled by this opening, he released the practice of medicine to devote his life to mentoring individuals and couples whose lives have brought them to the point where they hunger to explore the mystery of their being. Whether called to his work by their soul’s yearning to awaken and grow, or impelled by a health, career, or relationship crisis, his comprehensive and evolutionary approach to healing and forging loving relationships has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people. He is particularly renowned for the innovative, experiential nature of his workshops and longer retreats that offer individuals direct experience of life-changing states of consciousness and provide them with very effective models and practices for on-going personal growth. He guides seminars and retreats in North and South America, Europe, and Australia, and is available for private mentoring for individuals at his home in Colorado. He has published 7 seminal books on his visionary approach to human evolution which have been translated into 6 languages. Website: richardmoss.com Books: Inside-Out Healing: Transforming Your Life Through the Power of Presence The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness The Black Butterfly: An Invitation to Radical Aliveness The I That Is We: Awakening to Higher Energies Through Unconditional Love The Second Miracle: Intimacy, Spirituality, and Conscious Relationships Metaphysics: Who Will Cure a Sick World? Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 12/5/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:15 - Meeting a Wise Stranger at Jenny Lake 00:08:42 - Loss of Boundary and Vibrating Molecules 00:13:08 - The Energetic Transformation 00:18:15 - The Value of Body Wisdom 00:22:57 - The Lineage of Spontaneous Realization 00:27:33 - Appreciating Different Spiritual Traditions 00:32:06 - Instruments of the Divine 00:36:39 - Personal Background and Connection with Svend Trier 00:41:22 - The Power of Awareness 00:45:07 - The Power of Awareness 00:49:14 - Observing Clinging and Pushing Away 00:53:46 - The Power of Awareness and Focused, Spacious Awareness 00:58:16 - Injury Imprinted in Consciousness 01:02:36 - Learning through the Body 01:07:12 - Nip it at the Bud 01:11:15 - Making a Deeper Mark 01:15:42 - The Flow State and Spiritual Integration 01:20:19 - Shifting States: The Power of Discontinuity 01:24:42 - The Benefits of Discontinuity 01:29:30 - Healing in the Present Moment 01:34:11 - Working with Energy in Dance and Meditation 01:38:58 - The Limitless Consciousness 01:43:11 - The Flow of Energy and Body Wisdom 01:47:13 - Being in the Moment 01:51:52 - The Sense of Personal Identity 01:56:07 - Deriving Identity from the Outside 02:00:54 - Awakening from Future and Past Stories 02:05:06 - The Power of Awareness and Present Moment Consciousness 02:09:07 - Keep Going, Keep Going 02:13:38 - Live Streaming and Future Interviews

259. Rupert Spira, 2nd Interview Nov 05, 2014

Show notes

From an early age Rupert Spira was deeply interested in the nature of reality. At the age of seventeen he learnt to meditate, and began a twenty-year period of study and practice in the classical Advaita Vedanta tradition under the guidance of Dr. Francis Roles and Shantananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the north of India. During this time he immersed himself in the teachings of P. D. Ouspensky, Krishnamurti, Rumi, Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta and Robert Adams, until he met his teacher, Francis Lucille, in 1997. Francis introduced Rupert to the Direct Path teachings of Atmananda Krishnamenon, the Tantric tradition of Kashmir Shaivism (which he had received from his teacher, Jean Klein), and, more importantly, directly indicated to him the true nature of experience. Rupert lives in the UK and holds regular meetings and retreats in Europe and the USA. Books: The Transparency of Things: Contemplating the Nature of Experience Presence, Volume I: The Art of Peace and Happiness Presence, Volume II: The Intimacy of All Experience The Ashes of Love: Sayings on the Essence of Non-Duality The Light of Pure Knowing: Thirty Meditations on the Essence of Non-Duality Transparent Body, Luminous World: The Tantric Yoga of Sensation and Perception (Book and six MP3 CD Box Set - 30 Hours of Audio) The Nature of Consciousness: Essays on the Unity of Mind and Matter Being Aware of Being Aware (The Essence of Meditation Series) Rupert’s YouTube Channel. Interviews can be listened to here and watched here. Rupert lives in UK and holds regular meetings and retreats in Europe and USA. For all further information see http://www.rupertspira.com. Interview recorded 10/25/014 at the Science and Nonduality Conference. Transcript of this interview 1st BatGap interview with Rupert YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Self-Knowing Nature of Consciousness 00:03:58 - The Experience of Awareness 00:06:46 - Directing Attention Inward 00:09:32 - The Experience of Being Aware 00:13:08 - The Nature of Self-Abidance 00:19:37 - The Unnamable Reality of Experience 00:20:10 - Does consciousness need a mind or a nervous system to know itself? 00:23:45 - The Nature of Consciousness 00:26:14 - The Experience of Being Aware 00:28:31 - The Experience of Consciousness Being Aware of Itself 00:31:30 - Knowing Oneself and Consciousness 00:35:01 - Sinking Attention into its Source 00:38:26 - The Relaxation of Attention and the Shining of Peace 00:42:23 - The Illusion of Separate Self and the Fabrication of the World 00:45:10 - The Test of Reality 00:48:47 - Experience as a Coloring of Consciousness 00:52:40 - The Collapse of the Distinction between Consciousness and its Objects 00:55:43 - Compassion for those in difficult circumstances 00:59:33 - Matter as a Perception 01:02:13 - Living with Love and Awareness 01:05:21 - The Universal Feeling-Understanding 01:08:49 - Treating the World with Kindness 01:11:59 - The Longing for Happiness 01:15:16 - The Source of Longing for Happiness and Awareness 01:18:47 - Stepping in the Direction of Discovery 01:21:32 - The Mud Puddle and Living the Words 01:24:46 - The Natural Style of Functioning 01:28:01 - The Presence of Consciousness in Experience 01:32:10 - Trusting Experience and God's Infinite Being 01:35:33 - A Beautiful Gift to Humanity 01:38:07 - Listening during your commute

256. Anamika Borst Nov 01, 2014

Show notes

One spring afternoon in 2009, the last piece of the puzzle found its place, effortlessly. The simplicity of the information stared at me as I made my way back to the train station. While walking away from meeting Leo Hartong in Holland, his simple words “Yes, this is It,” had once and for all confirmed that I already knew the answers to the questions: “ Is it the Beingness of what we are?", "Is this what the search is all about?”, “Is this really It?”, “Is it really this simple?” It started as the trees lining the streets and the people walking and shopping. Nothing had changed and yet everything was different, direct, immediate. Not that I did not know this intimacy. I had been having Oneness experiences in which the little child, the adolescent, the adult disappeared, and the thing that remained was the field of awareness with sounds, sights, and smells in vibrant clarity. Only, it had taken a journey of 25 years to come to grasp that This is what it is all about. While I boarded the train, I wondered: “How come this obviousness had not been recognized before?”, “How can I have been so dense that I had failed again and again to notice it while it already stared at me right in the face all this time?” (Continued on Anamika's bio page.) Anamika's website: anamikaborst.com Book: Life at Zero distance: The freedom of being nothing and none The story of Anamika's owl. Interview recorded at the Science and Nonduality Conference, 10/23/2014 Wind noise may make parts of this interview difficult to hear. Here's a transcript that will help you follow it. Dutch transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Welcome to Buddha at the Gas Pump! 00:01:32 - Dutch people and speaking English 00:02:46 - Travel through Nepal and India 00:04:14 - The core of Sri Aurobindo's teachings 00:05:47 - Wrong ideas about enlightenment and the teachings of Sri Aurobindo 00:07:28 - Brahma Realization and the Interpretation of Teachings 00:08:57 - Understanding the system 00:10:27 - Loss of personality and self-exploration 00:11:43 - Discovering an unknown result 00:13:19 - Misuse of non-dual teaching 00:15:03 - Meeting with Leo Hartong in the Netherlands 00:16:10 - Deconditioning and experiential reality 00:17:43 - The spiritual quest 00:18:58 - No choice, everything is encounter and impulse in the direction 00:20:34 - Preference for Chocolate or Vanilla 00:22:27 - The Longing for Truth 00:23:41 - Releasing energetic tension 00:25:03 - Acceptance of what is 00:26:20 - The natural tendency towards health 00:27:40 - Unity that decides 00:29:06 - The Oneness of Things 00:30:45 - Ideas about something 00:31:43 - A caution about the tendency to say 00:33:36 - Meeting with Leo Hartong 00:34:45 - The process of personal growth and change 00:36:22 - The origins of the book 00:37:35 - The Old Age Home in Pondicherry 00:38:57 - Service as a spiritual practice 00:40:29 - Openness and inclusivity in life 00:42:15 - Interrogating concepts and beliefs 00:43:35 - A conversation with Anamika

180. Steve Taylor Jun 16, 2013

Show notes

Steve Taylor is a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Metropolitan University and the author of several best-selling books on psychology and spirituality. For the last several years he has been included in Watkin's list of the '100 most spiritually influential living people.' His books have been published in 16 languages, while his articles and essays have been published in over 40 academic journals, magazines, and newspapers. Eckhart Tolle has described his work as ‘an important contribution to the shift in consciousness which is happening on our planet at present.’ Andrew Harvey has said of his work, ‘Its importance for our menacing times and for the transformation being birthed by them cannot be exaggerated.’ Steve is also a poet; his first book of poems and spiritual reflections, The Meaning, has just been published. Steve lives in Manchester, England with his wife and three young children Books: Waking From Sleep: Why Awakening Experiences Occur and How to Make Them Permanent The Fall: The Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of A New Era Out of the Darkness: From Turmoil to Transformation Back To Sanity: Healing the Madness of Our Minds The Meaning Steve's website Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/15/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Steve Taylor and his Work 00:03:10 - Healing the Pathology of the Human Psyche and Moving Towards Harmony and Enlightenment 00:06:44 - The Ego Explosion and the Development of Individuality 00:10:28 - The Shift to Male Domination and Exploitation of the Natural World 00:14:10 - The Expansion of Consciousness and the Rise of Empathy 00:17:49 - Jean Gebser's Theory of Evolution 00:21:25 - The True Nature of our Being and Increasing Collective Harmony 00:25:17 - Awakening in the Midst of Suffering 00:28:28 - Shifting into a Different Appreciation of Life 00:31:46 - Transformation and Inner Well-Being 00:35:20 - Surrender and Transformation 00:38:57 - Bliss and the Return Journey 00:43:16 - Awakening to the Radiance of the Universe 00:47:24 - Regaining Awareness of Spirit Force, Identity, and Individuality 00:51:05 - Fear and Separateness 00:54:11 - Awakening and Integration 00:57:37 - The Search for Understanding and Integration 01:00:57 - Parenthood and Spiritual Development 01:04:13 - Awakening to a Larger Reality 01:08:06 - The Role of the 'I' in Decision-Making 01:11:46 - The Role of the Ego in Spiritual Awakening 01:15:14 - Spiritual Awakening and Psychosis 01:18:17 - Signs of Awakening and the Restructuring of Consciousness 01:22:01 - The Emergence of the Higher Self 01:25:37 - Inner Harmony for World Peace 01:28:45 - Detachment and Awakening 01:32:44 - Letting go of Attachments and Beliefs 01:38:57 - Letting Go of Attachments 01:45:10 - Bringing Yourself Back to Now 01:49:29 - The Power of Reading Poetry Aloud 01:52:29 - Updates and Future Plans

137. Tim Freke, 2nd Interview Sep 06, 2012

Show notes

Tim is the standup philosopher – a concept he developed from the ancient idea of a philosopher as a travelling ‘spiritual entertainer’ who transformed people’s consciousness. He is pioneering an accessible new way to experience a profound spiritual awakening, which fully embraces our tender, vulnerable, flawed humanity. He has spent his life exploring the awakened state he often simply calls the ‘mystery experience’ and is able to guide others directly to it. Tim has an honours degree in philosophy and is an internationally respected authority on world spirituality. He is the author of over thirty books that have established his reputation as a scholar and free-thinker. He became well known for his groundbreaking work on Christian Gnosticism with his close friend Peter Gandy, including The Jesus Mysteries, which was a top 10 best-seller in the UK and USA, and a ‘Book of the Year’ in the UK Daily Telegraph. In his latest book, The Mystery Experience, Tim presents a revolutionary approach to spirituality. He creates a new language of awakening, which makes profound ideas simpler to understand, so it’s easier to experience a real transformation of consciousness. During his Mystery Experience Retreats, he personally guides participants directly to the deep awake state. Tim is a passionate and playful communicator, whose enthusiasm for life is contagious. He is often featured in documentaries and chat shows broadcast by the global media, such as the BBC and the History Channel. He is the founder of The Alliance for Lucid Living, (The ALL), an organization dedicated to our collective awakening. He lives with his wife Debbie and their two children in Glastonbury, England. Website: timfreke.com The most recent of Tim's many books: Soul Story: Evolution and the Purpose of Life Deep Awake: Wake Up To Oneness and Celebrate Your Individuality Lucid Living: Experience Your Life Like a Lucid Dream Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/2/2012 Other Batgap interviews with Tim: 1st interview 3rd interview Tim Freke with Lisa Cairns YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Tim Freke and his book "The Mystery Experience" 00:03:15 - The Journey to Love and a New Form of Spirituality 00:06:06 - The Frustration of Scientists with Science 00:09:04 - The Mystery Experience and the Language of Awakening 00:12:21 - Paralogical Thinking and the Nature of Reality 00:15:22 - Embracing Paradox in Quantum Physics 00:18:57 - The Paradox of Individuality and Oneness 00:22:04 - Unleashing Enthusiasm to Live a Human Life 00:24:58 - The Resurrection in the Body 00:28:09 - Consciousness and Discrimination 00:31:09 - The Field of Being and Consciousness 00:34:06 - The Duality of Consciousness and Individuality 00:37:08 - The Coexistence of the Human Self and the Ground of All Being 00:40:03 - The Paradox of Being 00:43:05 - Words and the Knowing of the Universe 00:45:48 - The Adventure of Life and Unraveling Conditioning 00:48:58 - Conditioning: Binding or Liberating 00:51:54 - The Spacious Quality of Identity 00:55:09 - Embracing the Journey of Life 00:57:57 - The Meaning of the Story 01:00:54 - Living the Spiritual Experience 01:03:33 - The Organic Process of Consciousness 01:06:20 - Balancing Attention and Awareness 01:09:21 - The Integration of Two Worlds 01:12:17 - The Integration of Mystical Realization and Practical Existence 01:15:22 - The Fine Line Between Spiritual Awakening and Mental Illness 01:18:38 - Romantic Ideas of Spirituality 01:21:24 - The Importance of Finding Our Own Way 01:24:12 - Nurturing the Wonder of Life 01:27:00 - Finding the Trickle of Honey 01:30:13 - BatGap Community and Discussion Save Save Save

135. Ilona Ciunaite and Elena Nezhinsky Aug 22, 2012

Show notes

Ilona Ciunaite and Elena Nezhinsky are the founders of Liberation Unleashed, an international network of people dedicated to guiding people to awakening from the illusion of separation. Both Ilona and Elena have seen through the illusory nature of the apparently separate self, which is nothing more than a mental construct—a concept that when thoroughly questioned clearly reveals that there is nothing behind the word 'me' at all. Ilona was born in Lithuania and now lives in the UK. She has a degree in psychology, but has never worked in the field; instead she works as a tattoo artist, running her own studio together with her husband. She is a simple and ordinary human with a mindset to focus on freedom for herself and those who find her. Her blog, "Marked, Eternal", is a collection of articles and conversations that demonstrate how easy it is to see that there is no self when one is ready and willing to look. She has always been interested in the 'mind' as such and enjoyed studying the subject from different angles. Observing her own mind led to a deep understanding of how the mind works, how to overcome confusion, and free it from feedback loops. She has been a seeker like many others but had never attended a retreat or satsang until after awakening. Elena Nezhinsky met her close friend and a senior teacher of the Gurdjieff Way in 1998, and since then began a serious investigation of the mind and feelings, and searching for the truth of being. The sudden death of her teacher brought her to a Vipassana meditation practice of mind purification, which she did diligently for 7 years in frequent silent retreats. After leaving Vipassana she found Adyashanti and spent a week in retreat with him, which made her ponder that there are other ways to awakening. In 2010 Elena woke up to the reality of "no-self" with the help of Direct Pointing. Since then she has been helping others to awaken and see the truth of anatta - no-self with the same method. Liberation Unleashed is a rapidly expanding, international project that brings seekers together with those who have awakened and are dedicated to guiding or simply share experiences in a community that is based on honesty and love. There is no greater joy than bringing joy to other hearts and celebrating the gift of freedom. Interview Recorded 8/18/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introducing Elena and Ilona and their work in "Liberation Unleashed" 00:02:54 - The Silence of the Voice in the Head 00:06:20 - The Illusion of Seeking and Chaos Outside 00:11:34 - The Illusion of the Self 00:15:40 - Degrees of Seeing and Fullness Experiences 00:19:40 - The Journey Towards Self-Realization 00:23:43 - The Process of "Falling" 00:27:38 - Dissipation of Fear and Attachment 00:34:11 - Different Types of Meditation 00:38:44 - The Illusion of Reaching Back for States 00:42:50 - Crossing the Gate of Self 00:45:49 - Working with Beliefs and Identifications 00:49:45 - Experiencing the Illusion of Self 00:55:16 - The Simplicity of Awakening and Language Barriers 00:59:38 - The Complete Package of Embodied Realization 01:03:10 - Sensations in the Body 01:07:33 - The Purpose of the Useful Talk Group 01:11:39 - The Existence of the World and the Tree 01:13:57 - The Nature of Consciousness 01:17:54 - Misinterpretation of Tony Parsons' Words 01:21:16 - The belief in a separate Self 01:24:07 - Trust in the Flow of Life 01:28:12 - Liberated from Illusion of the Separate Entity 01:31:45 - Discussion about Bentinho's Approach to Self-Realization 01:35:24 - The Evolution of Teaching Techniques 01:39:19 - Opening of the Heart 01:42:16 - Words as Little Signposts 01:46:00 - Using Different Approaches in Guidance 01:49:38 - The Meaning of Maya and a New Application 01:52:24 - Effortless Contribution and Gratitude from the Community 01:56:20 - Where to find these interviews

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