Buddha at the Gas Pump

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607. Stephan Bodian, 2nd Interview Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

Stephan Bodian is a teacher in the nondual wisdom tradition of Zen, Dzogchen, and Advaita Vedanta and the founder and director of the annual School for Awakening, an intensive six-month program of exploration and study. His offerings are noted for their humor, warmth, spontaneity, and intimacy and combine direct pointers, lively dialogues, silent sitting, and guided self-inquiry. He’s the author of several books, including Wake Up Now: A Guide to the Journey of Spiritual Awakening and Beyond Mindfulness: The Direct Approach to Lasting Peace, Happiness, and Love. Stephan spent a decade practicing Zen intensively as a monk but left the monastery because he sensed that the rigorous practice of meditation was obscuring the truth he was seeking. After studying Dzogchen for several years, he met his guru, Jean Klein, a European teacher of Advaita Vedanta, who told him to stop meditating and instead discover the meditator. Shortly after meeting Jean, he had a profound awakening to his true identity as timeless presence. After Jean’s death, Stephan met Adyashanti, and in 2001 Adya gave him Dharma transmission and invited him to teach. Trained as a psychotherapist, Stephan also offers individual spiritual counseling and mentoring sessions to people throughout the world. His approach blends direct, experiential, nondual wisdom with the insights of Western psychology to support students in realizing who they really are while inquiring into the stories and patterns of thinking and behaving that continue to cause suffering. Website: stephanbodian.org Other books: Meditation For Dummies, w/Audio CD (Also available in various languages.) Timeless Visions, Healing Voices: Conversations with Men & Women of the Spirit Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. First BatGap interview with Stephan. Interview recorded July 11, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:20 - A Shift in the Locus of Identity 00:10:00 - The Vastness and Dream States 00:15:05 - Roshi's Uninhibited Behavior and the Fall of the Center 00:20:18 - Bodhidharma's Precepts and Acting in Integrity 00:25:13 - The Ugly Truth and Confrontational Behavior 00:30:15 - Dealing with the Shadow and Integrity 00:35:01 - Narcissism in Spiritual Teachers and the Direct Path 00:39:53 - Awakening and the Role of the Teacher 00:44:51 - The Role of Teachers and the Need for Discernment 00:49:48 - The Impressionability of the Mind 00:54:19 - The Interface Between Science and Spirituality 00:57:59 - The Direct Meeting and Potential for Transmission 01:01:23 - The Pitfalls of Spiritual Teachers and Sex 01:05:31 - Boundary-crossing and predatory behavior 01:09:01 - Spiritual Teachers and Dark Triad Qualities 01:12:56 - The Importance of Care in Spiritual Evolution 01:16:34 - Relationships and Higher Callings 01:19:59 - The Literary Invention of Crazy Wisdom 01:23:47 - Compassionate Being and True Crazy Wisdom 01:27:12 - Starting a New University 01:30:43 - The Strange Fit Between Narcissists and Spiritual Teachers 01:34:16 - Embracing Human Relationships 01:37:51 - Giving Power Away and Seeking Enlightenment 01:41:49 - Being Your Own Authority 01:45:11 - The Horse and the Whip 01:48:28 - Different Spiritual Teachers and their Teachings 01:51:57 - The True Guru Within 01:55:49 - The Awakening Journey 01:59:32 - The Role of a Spiritual Teacher 02:03:10 - School for Awakening

567. Terrence Stephens Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

Terrence is an Australian born teacher and guide of Non-Duality. Like us all, Terrence had his own personal back ‘story’ (a ‘me’) which included sexual abuse as a child, living in a dysfunctional and broken family followed by drug addiction, divorce, depression, and anxiety with suicidal thoughts. He has also been a student and chief instructor in the art of Kung Fu for most of his life, a professional singer-songwriter-musician, and has also run several successful companies as a director. During his journey, he consulted various psychologists and therapists and pursued a variety of spiritual paths and self-help groups. Nothing seemed to relieve the deep-seated experience of separation and isolation. Then one day in 1986 he chanced to meet Sailor Bob Adamson who had settled in Melbourne following his 12 months with Nisargadatta Maharaj in Bombay. Here, Terrence gained an intellectual understanding of Non-Duality. However, it was many years later that his sense of self (me) finally collapsed. What resulted was no more searching, no wanting, and no desires, and a state of being carefree. It was in this state of collapse that his true nature was revealed; awakening from the dreamed fictitious personal character. Since then Terrence has been pointing the way. Profoundly direct and yet delivered with compassion, warmth, and fun! Website: terrencestephens.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded September 5, 2020. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:04 - Meeting Sailor Bob Adamson in Melbourne 00:08:19 - The Illusion of Personal Consciousness 00:12:32 - Consciousness and Awareness 00:17:05 - The Primary Love of Being 00:21:12 - The Nature of Thought and Duality 00:25:19 - The Paradoxical Perception of Self 00:30:00 - The Illusion of a Separate Self 00:34:39 - The Mind's Natural Tendency for Seeking 00:39:01 - The Bursting Forth of Creativity 00:43:03 - The Appearance of Mind 00:47:23 - The Three Levels of Enlightenment 00:51:25 - Speaking to the Dream Character 00:55:20 - The Dream Character and Awakening 00:59:34 - Unconditional Love and Conditional Love 01:03:32 - Direct Experience of Consciousness 01:08:16 - The Dark Night of the Soul 01:12:51 - Absolute Surrender 01:17:12 - A Stirring of the Mind 01:21:13 - A Shift in Perspective 01:25:49 - Reconciliation with the Past 01:29:47 - Becoming Carefree 01:33:28 - Being Present in Awakening 01:37:31 - Being Still and Observing 01:41:08 - The Split of "I Am" 01:45:21 - The Profound Effect of Proximity 01:49:16 - The Nature of Consciousness and Awareness 01:53:07 - The Intelligence of Light 01:56:45 - The belief in past lives and memories 02:00:47 - The mysteries of the universe and personal perspectives 02:04:43 - Farewell and outro

546. Stephen G. Post Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

An opinion leader and public speaker, Stephen G. Post, Ph.D. (University of Chicago, 1983) is the best-selling lead author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life by the Simple Act of Giving. He has been quoted in more than 4,000 newspapers and magazines and featured on numerous television shows including The Daily Show. Described by Martin E.P. Seligman in Flourish as one of “the stars of positive psychology,” Post is a leader in research on the benefits of giving and on compassionate care in relation to improved patient outcomes and clinician well-being. He addressed the U.S. Congress on volunteerism and health, receiving the Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition for Outstanding Achievement. Post was co-recipient (2012) with Edmund D. Pellegrino MD of the Pioneer Medal for Outstanding Leadership in HealthCare from the HealthCare Chaplaincy Network, and the Kama Book Award in Medical Humanities from World Literacy Canada (2008). His book The Moral Challenge of Alzheimer Disease: Ethical Issues from Diagnosis to Dying was designated a “medical classic of the century” by the British Medical Journal (2009), which wrote, “Until this pioneering work was published in 1995 the ethical aspects of one of the most important illnesses of our aging populations were a neglected topic.” Post is a recipient of the Alzheimer’s Association's national distinguished service award “in recognition of personal and professional outreach to the Alzheimer’s Association Chapters on ethics issues important to people with Alzheimer’s and their families.” In 2021 Post published Dignity for Deeply Forgetful People: How Caregivers Can Meet the Challenges of Alzheimer’s Disease (Hopkins). Co-Recipient of the 2019 Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Professionalism Award for development the Professional Identity Formation curriculum of the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Post has taught at the University of Chicago Medical School, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (1988-2008), and at Stony Brook (2008-present), where he is Founding Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics. The Center was selected (2011) for special institutional excellence by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (AMA & AAMC accrediting body), the only humanities and ethics entity in American medical school history to receive this distinction. An elected member of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the New York Academy of Medicine, and the Royal Society of Medicine, London, Post is the author of 300 articles in journals such as Science, the New England Journal of Medicine, Psychosomatic Medicine, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, and the Journal of the American Medical Association. In 2003 Post was invited to join the Founding Fellows of the International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR), based at Cambridge University. Founded in 2002, ISSR is the world’s preeminent learned society devoted to this intersection, with 200 Fellows from the sciences and humanities. In 2001 he founded the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, so named by philanthropist Sir John Templeton, who selected Post as the Institute’s President. A non-profit 501(c) 3 public charity that investigates kindness, giving, and spirituality, Post has written popularly on this topic in God and Love on Route 80: The Hidden Mystery of Human Connectedness. Websites: stephengpost.com unlimitedloveinstitute.org Email: post@stephengpost.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded April 18, 2020 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:14 - The Angel's Message in the Dream 00:10:04 - Adolescent Spirituality & the Meaning of Experiences 00:14:38 - Following a Dream 00:19:16 - Chasing Dreams in Nebraska 00:23:40 - A Life-Changing Encounter on the Ledge 00:28:26 - Exploring Comparative Spirituality and Religion 00:33:22 - Meeting Ken Kesey at Reed College 00:37:41 - The Bridge and the Phone Call 00:42:22 - The Power of Compassion and Kindness 00:47:31 - Theodicy and the Problem of Evil 00:52:32 - The Role of Parents in Modeling Kindness 00:57:18 - The oneness of the other 01:01:58 - The Perspective of Life as One Chapter 01:06:29 - Sensitivity of Alzheimer's patients to empathic qualities 01:10:53 - Honoring the Divine in Individuals with Disabilities 01:15:31 - The One Mind in the Universe 01:20:45 - The Plausibility of the Big Bang Theory and Open-Mindedness 01:25:24 - Selfless Service and the Expansion of the Heart 01:30:41 - The Experience of Beautiful Energy and Spiritual Nature 01:35:23 - Everyday Divine Interventions 01:39:54 - Synchronicity and the Carl Jung Story 01:44:40 - The Neurology of Helping Others 01:49:23 - Cultivating Compassion in Medical Education 01:53:52 - Cultivating Empathy and Compassion in Medical Students 01:58:17 - Benefits of Compassionate Care and the Role of Love 02:03:11 - The Power of Spiritual Experiences 02:08:08 - Spreading Unlimited Love Through Poetry 02:12:47 - Dreaming about the Future 02:17:01 - The Importance of Lightness of Being 02:21:28 - Interspirituality and the UN

501. Daniel Schmidt May 09, 2019

Show notes

Daniel is the creator of the award-winning film "Inner Worlds Outer Worlds" as well as the ongoing "Samadhi" series. He is also the founder of the Awaken The World initiative whose purpose is to bring the ancient teachings of Samadhi back to the world for free (in as many languages as possible) Daniel's approach combines self-inquiry with traditional forms meditation so that participants have the opportunity to simultaneously realize their transcendent nature, and to purify themselves of conditioned patterns. The pathless path is to realize an ever-deepening development process within the self-structure, and to simultaneously realize what is always already beyond the self-structure. Samadhi is when the world that is constantly changing merges or unites with the changeless. Website: awakentheworld.com YouTube Channel Inner Worlds Outer Worlds - Part 1 - Akasha Inner Worlds Outer Worlds - Part 2 - The Spiral Inner Worlds Outer Worlds - Part 3 - The Serpant and the Lotus Inner Worlds Outer Worlds - Part 4 - Beyond Thinking Samadhi Parts 1 and 2 - DVD Blu-ray Combo Pack Samadhi Free Guided Meditations and Instructions Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 6, 2019 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:28 - Kundalini Awakening and Terrifying Experiences 00:08:44 - The Terror of Ego Dissolution in Spiritual Awakening 00:13:18 - Exploring Christian Influences 00:18:18 - Battling Diabetes & Discovering Meditation 00:23:44 - Identification with the Dan Structure and the Truth of What We Are 00:28:59 - Techniques for Purifying the Mind and Body 00:33:55 - Cultivating Stillness and Grace 00:38:12 - The Physiology of Spiritual Practice 00:42:25 - The Benefits of Regular Meditation Practice 00:46:51 - Levels of Existence: The Energy and Mind 00:52:07 - The Illusion of Self 00:57:06 - The Persecution of Galileo and the Search for Truth 01:02:30 - The Profound Intelligence of Creation 01:07:19 - The Value of Ruthless Honesty 01:12:24 - Experiencing Reality in Different Ways 01:17:19 - The Ineffability of Spiritual Experience 01:21:34 - The Proliferation of Ancient Esoteric Teachings 01:26:18 - The Importance of Experiencing Life for Energetic Growth 01:31:27 - Finding Freedom: Breaking Conditioned Patterns 01:35:11 - A Beer and the Awakening 01:39:15 - The Self-Organizing Aspect of Existence 01:43:51 - The Unfathomable Intelligence 01:48:41 - Alignment with Awareness and Dancing the Dance 01:53:11 - Playing with our True Nature 01:58:03 - Daily Meditation Practice and Dropping Mind Patterns 02:02:38 - Sharing and Learning on the Spiritual Path 02:07:06 - Yoga, Meditation, and Chainsaw Healing 02:11:40 - Healing through Diet and Skepticism 02:14:57 - Meditation Retreats and Self-Directed Practice 02:18:55 - Closing Remarks

497. Peter Panagore Apr 09, 2019

Show notes

Rev. Peter Panagore, M.Div (Yale) has had two near-death experiences, the first while ice climbing in 1980 and the second in 2015 due to a heart attack. He recounts these in his book Heaven Is Beautiful: How Dying Taught Me That Death Is Just the Beginning, an Audible Best Seller available globally in nine editions. His best-selling second book, Two Minutes for God: Quick Fixes for the Spirit, is a collection of original inspirational devotional stories, many of which he told for 15 years on a daily TV show reaching 30 million viewers annually in Maine and New Hampshire. Previously, he served as a United Church of Christ minister and pastor in Maine and Connecticut. He published 150 sermons and many prayers in Homiletics, a leading clergy journal. He now runs a global spiritual counseling service for "closet mystics" and travels nationally as a public and inspirational speaker and teacher. He has been practicing Zazen/Centering Prayer and Kundalini/KriyaYoga for forty years. Website: peterpanagore.love Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded April 6, 2019. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:31 - Communicating with Deceased Loved Ones 00:09:07 - Meeting the Telepathic Elephant 00:13:54 - Meeting the Little Elephant and Journeying through the Night Sky 00:18:40 - Born with a Mystic Talent 00:23:21 - A Spiritual Experience on the Appalachian Trail 00:28:38 - Near-death experiences and the monastery's fire vision 00:33:00 - Angels, Elephants, and Divine Experiences 00:37:48 - Connecting to the Divine and Mysticism 00:42:22 - Ice Climbing Mishap 00:46:34 - A Desperate Descent 00:51:04 - The Ascenders Hitch and a Close Call 00:55:16 - Facing Death on the Edge 01:00:02 - The Infinite Darkness and Consciousness 01:04:47 - A Glimpse of the Infinite 01:09:37 - The Shame and Love in My Experience 01:14:24 - A Moment of Oneness and Absorption 01:19:43 - Coming Back to Life 01:24:17 - A Near-Death Experience and Its Aftermath 01:29:01 - Discovering Kindness 01:34:09 - Living in a Duality 01:39:03 - Seeking the Oneness Inside Myself 01:44:20 - Divine Experiences and the Oneness of Being 01:49:01 - The Perfection and Imperfection of Existence 01:54:16 - Seeing the Divine Presence in Everyday Life 01:58:42 - The Journey Within Multiple Levels of Heaven 02:03:10 - The Choice to Incarnate on Earth 02:08:17 - The Treasure of Love as the Reason 02:12:33 - The Role of Love in the Divine Experience 02:17:12 - Love as a Path to the Divine 02:21:12 - The Global Movement of Spiritually Transformed People

493. Rev. Bill McDonald Feb 27, 2019

Show notes

Rev. Bill’s life has been a spiritual journey, spanning slightly over 7 decades. His whole life has been a mystical trip in search of gurus, the paranormal, and self-discovery. He has written about his many spiritually transformative experiences and “near-death-experiences” including supernatural events during his combat tour of duty in the Vietnam War. In his books, he has shared some incredible spiritual events that are beyond both common understanding or explanation. His autobiography “Warrior: A Spiritual Odyssey” takes us on a life quest for love, understanding, forgiveness, and enlightenment. His follow-up book “Alchemy of a Warrior's Heart" continues that mystical journey including four trips to India for even more profound experiences with holy men, miracles and his personal relationship with the Divine. What he knows for sure after all these years is that the only thing that is truly real is LOVE. He is an author, an award-winning poet, international motivational speaker, artist, film advisor, veteran advocate, a Vietnam War veteran (Distinguished Flying Cross, The Bronze Star, The Purple Heart Medal, 14 Air Medals, The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, etc.). He has spoken around the world including Germany, England, Wales, Bolivia, and India. He has been involved with a dozen films and documentaries. (Such as: “In the Shadow of the Blade”- showed on the History Network and “The Art of Healing” shown on PBS TV) Rev. Bill has been on over 800 radio and TV shows over the last 18 years and has stories about his life featured in over a dozen books by other authors and in hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles. He has had articles in such diverse publications as “Parade Sunday Magazine” and “The Self-Realization Fellowship Magazine” as well as military magazines and new age magazines. His YouTube Channel has over 70 videos and had gotten over 550,000 views in its first 18 months. He speaks publicly about the need to forgive and power of love. His mission in life is to inspire others to seek the Divine and he does that through his personal stories of his own life experiences. He is a seeker but not just for himself. His “mission” is to allow others to experience his journey through his stories. He has had many near-death and near-death-like experiences and encounters with the supernatural. He is a friend to many - including famous celebrities and people in power positions in life but he treats everyone the same whether they are homeless or the President or a CEO. His beliefs are simple: There is but ONE GOD – and our only mission is to LOVE & SERVE ALL. Rev. Bill McDonald was born In San Francisco and raised in California, Oregon, and Hawaii. He graduated from San Jose City College with an AA Degree in Labor Management and later from The University of San Francisco with a BA degree in Public Service Administration. He spent over 30 years working for the federal government and retired in 2001. He has spent his time since then working for 5 different non-profit organizations helping veterans while serving the purpose of world peace. He works with PTSD veterans and is an unpaid lobbyist for veteran issues in California. Has also has worked as a volunteer chaplain in Folsom Prison and worked for a time answering phone calls for The National Suicide Hotline. His life is filled with service. He has been married to his high school sweetheart Carol, since 1970. He has been living in Elk Grove, California since 1979. Additional books by William “Rev. Bill” McDonald: A Spiritual Warrior's Journey: The Inspiring Life Story of a Mystical Warrior – 2003 Purple Hearts: Poetry of The Vietnam War – 2003 Sacred Eye: Poetry In Search Of The Divine – 2004 Bill's guru, Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath Bill's Website Bill's email Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded March 2, 2019. Second BatGap interview with Bill McDonald. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:07:27 - The Power of Love and Unity 00:14:22 - Spiritual Development and the Equality of All 00:21:17 - The Search for the Scrolls 00:26:54 - The Mystery of the Antique Paper 00:32:12 - The Right Time for a Suggestion 00:37:41 - Revelation of Past Life Sins and the Curse on the Mind 00:43:26 - A Near-Death-Like Experience 00:49:05 - A Spiritual Experience and a Journey to India 00:54:31 - Blissful Experience in Another Realm 01:00:29 - A Near-Death Experience 01:06:26 - Otherworldly Beings and Lost Time 01:11:41 - Interdimensional Beings and Personal Experiences 01:17:28 - Surrender to the Universe: A Serendipitous Encounter 01:22:39 - A Story of Compassion and Miracles 01:28:17 - The Spirituality of Veterans 01:33:56 - A Near Mutiny Situation 01:39:28 - The Power of Listening, The Impact of Moral Choices, and Spiritual Transformation 01:44:55 - The Premonition of a Tragic Accident 01:50:19 - The Mysterious Helicopter Crash 01:55:50 - Encountering a UFO in Vietnam 02:01:47 - The Philosophy of Pain and Suffering 02:07:17 - Pain and suffering revisited 02:12:33 - Major Surgery 02:18:06 - A Painful Trip to the Doctor's Office 02:23:08 - An Illuminated Room and a Healing Hand 02:29:00 - Mysterious Encounters and Explosions 02:34:52 - The Rainbow Body Journey 02:41:21 - Profound Changes and Higher Levels of Creation 02:46:56 - The Reflection Upon the Devotee 02:52:18 - Conclusion and Farewell

457. Lynn Marie Lumiere Jun 04, 2018

Show notes

Lynn Marie Lumiere, MFT is a nondual psychotherapist and author who is dedicated to awakening consciousness and meeting life’s challenges as doorways to greater freedom. Her work is sourced in over 40 years of dedicated spiritual and psychological exploration as well as almost 30 years of marriage and practicing psychotherapy. This experience has led her to the understanding that no matter what the problem, healing and freedom from suffering is possible when we tap into our infinite and ever-present true nature. She has been especially interested in applying this understanding to healing relationships and trauma. Lynn Marie is one of the pioneers in the exploration of nondual wisdom and psychotherapy and is a contributing author to "Sacred Mirror: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy (Omega Book)" (2003). She is also the author of "Awakened Relating: A Guide to Embodying Undivided Love in Intimate Relationships" to be published July 1, 2018 by New Harbinger. Her primary spiritual teacher is Adyashanti and she has studied with many teachers from nondual, Buddhist and Hindu traditions. She lives in Grass Valley, California. Books: Awakened Relating: A Guide to Embodying Undivided Love in Intimate Relationships The Awakening West : Evidence of a Spreading Enlightenment Website: lynnmarielumiere.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded June 2, 2018 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:51 - The Paradox of Awakening in Relationships 00:07:23 - The Impact of Spiritual Practice 00:10:51 - Meeting Life with Awakened Consciousness 00:14:26 - Recognition of Non-Dual Awareness 00:17:44 - Resting in Nondual Awareness 00:21:28 - The Availability of Awakening 00:24:51 - The Love We Seek from Others 00:28:36 - The Role of Relationship in Awakening 00:32:05 - The Pattern of Repeated Marriages 00:35:34 - The Advantages of a Non-Dual Understanding in Therapy 00:39:18 - Healing Trauma through Meditation 00:42:52 - The Importance of Addressing the Root Cause 00:46:40 - The Evolutionary Imperative and the Survival of the Species 00:50:15 - Evolving from Self-Absorption to Awakened Activism 00:53:53 - Moving Beyond Activism and Division 00:57:27 - Awakened Activism and the Power of Individual Expression 01:01:19 - The Solution to Harmonization 01:04:55 - The Three Rs of Awakened Relating 01:08:44 - Returning to Direct Being 01:12:20 - Mind Training for Direct Awareness 01:15:48 - The Scientific Method and Spiritual Beliefs 01:19:17 - Taking Responsibility and the Love of Truth 01:22:37 - Being Truthful in Relationships 01:26:19 - Resolving Trauma with Awakened Awareness 01:29:59 - The Inequity of Wealth and Privilege 01:33:17 - The Collapse of Empires and the Importance of Taking Care of Each Other 01:36:38 - The Possibility of Unnecessary Deaths in the Future 01:39:59 - The Paradox of Doing and Non-Doing 01:43:30 - Devoting Yourself to Awareness 01:47:08 - Engaging with the Author

411. Hans Laurentius Aug 05, 2017

Show notes

Trained in the 90’s as a teacher in spiritual therapy. The search stopped, among other ‘things’, mainly through the confrontation with Nisargadatta’s I am That, and Ramana Maharshi’s glare and words and the spontaneous recognition of Awareness (Consciousness) as reality. ‘After’ that awakening the ‘I Am/Consciousness’ was recognized to be the first identification. Since ’98 Hans has led hundreds of satsangs, retreats and private sessions. He published eight books and a booklet, many many articles and columns, YouTube satsang video’s (one in English) and seven homemade music cd’s. Hans is sometimes judged as being too confrontational or direct, or, more kindly, as very clear. On the other hand people credit him for his creativity and patience. Funny, right? Website: hanslaurentius.nl English section of website. Private Skype Sessions with Hans (in English) will become available in September 2017 for those outside The Netherlands and Belgium. Please check the ‘English’ Section on the website for details. Transcript of this interview. Discussion of this in interview in the BatGap Community Facebook group. Interview recorded 8/5/2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:20 - Childhood Experiences 00:08:12 - Awakening to the Paradox 00:12:19 - The Concept of Compassion 00:15:47 - Confronting Hiding and Judgments 00:20:03 - Confronting Fears and Beliefs 00:24:02 - The Shocking Element of Spirituality 00:28:32 - The Silence Already Here 00:32:13 - The Value of Persistence and Authenticity 00:36:27 - The Illusion of Separateness 00:40:23 - Kundalini Experiences and the Dangers Involved 00:43:49 - Investigating the Fear of Being Present 00:48:12 - Looking and Feeling Without Judgment 00:52:02 - The Trouble in the Mind 00:56:26 - The Illusion of Awakening 01:00:13 - The Crystal Clear Flipping and Unripe Mangoes 01:04:22 - An Incredible Journey: Relying on Nature and Strangers 01:08:13 - Grumpiness vs. Happiness 01:12:00 - Love and Separateness 01:15:37 - Feeling Through and Letting Go 01:20:13 - Caring for the Environment: Taking Action 01:23:53 - Reflections on the future of humanity 01:27:18 - The State of Being and Letting Go 01:31:19 - The Link between Humility and Creativity 01:35:46 - Music and Creative Energy 01:39:21 - Evidence for Reincarnation 01:43:30 - Living by Beliefs 01:47:09 - The Illusion of Individuality and Learning 01:51:07 - The Illusion of Free Will 01:54:07 - The Illusion of Free Will and Ownership of Thoughts 01:57:58 - Conclusion and Next Episode Announcement Save Save Save

257. Panel Discussion on Kashmir Shaivism Nov 02, 2014

Show notes

With Sally Kempton, Igor Kufayev, and Menas Kafatos. Sally Kempton is a deeply practiced teacher of meditation and spiritual philosophy, and the author of the books Meditation for the Love of It and Awakening Shakti: as well as the audio course Doorways to the Infinite, recently put out by Sounds True. A former swami in the Saraswati order of India, she has been practicing and teaching devotional contemplative tantra for more than 40 years. Her teaching is powerfully sourced in the eastern meditative traditions of yoga and Kashmir Shaivism, yet highly contemporary in her focus on evolutionary practice. She offers a powerful transmission of meditative experience. Books: Meditation for the Love of It Beginning Meditation Meditation for the Love of It Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga Shakti Meditations Doorways to the Infinite: The Art and Practice of Tantric Meditation (audio program) Website: sallykempton.com 1st BatGap interview with Sally 2nd BatGap interview with Sally Dr. Menas Kafatos is The Fletcher Jones Endowed Professor of Computational Physics and Director of Excellence at Chapman University. He received his B.A. in Physics from Cornell University in 1967 and his Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972. After postdoctoral work at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, he joined George Mason University and was University Professor of Interdisciplinary Sciences there from 1984-2008. He has authored and co-authored numerous books including The Conscious Universe, The Non-local Universe, and Principles of Integrative Science. He is a recipient of the Rustum Roy Award from the Chopra Foundation, which “honors individuals whose devotion and commitment to their passion for finding answers in their field is matched only by their commitment to humanity” and the IEEE Orange County Chapter – Outstanding Leadership and Professional Service Award. He has been interviewed numerous times by national and international TV networks, newspapers and radio programs. Bio Wikipedia page Books: The Non-Local Universe: The New Physics and Matters of the Mind The Conscious Universe: Parts and Wholes in Physical Reality Looking In, Seeing Out: Consciousness and Cosmos BatGap interview with Menas Igor Kufayev was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In his childhood, he had many episodes associated with awakening. At the age of thirty-six, Igor underwent a radical transformation of consciousness which subsequently blossomed into spontaneous unfoldment of Grace. Since April 2011, Igor and his family have been based in Costa Rica. He continues working with those who require guidance using various forms of communication. Website: igorkufayev.com Wikipedia page YouTube Channel: Flowing Wakefulness Other BatGap events with Igor: Igor Kufayev with David Loy Igor Kufayev with Jac O’Keeffe, and Francis Bennett Igor Kufayev, in Panel Discussion with John Hagelin and Mark McCooey Transcript of this discussion Discussion recorded 10/24/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Exploring the Ultimate Reality in Kashmir Shaivism 00:03:04 - Non-dual contemplative devotional tantra 00:06:43 - Mathematics and Universal Consciousness 00:09:40 - The Veiling Principle in Shaivism and Quantum Physics 00:12:45 - The Limitation of Words and Perception 00:15:23 - The Veiling of Maya and the Principle of Vibration 00:17:53 - The Quantum Science of Consciousness 00:20:05 - The Continuum of the Quantum Field 00:22:29 - The Veiling Power of Language 00:24:53 - The Rhythmic Movement of Wholeness 00:27:03 - The Physical World Explanation of Subtle Realities in Physics 00:28:51 - Questions and Explanations 00:31:04 - One Mind, One Reality 00:32:49 - Levels of Sound from Para to Vicari 00:35:12 - The Unapologetic View of Indian Spirituality 00:38:12 - The Golden Age and the Loss of Language 00:41:00 - Exploring Subtle Experiences and Personal Truth 00:44:46 - The Self-Recursive Oneness and Shiva-Shakti 00:48:18 - The Primacy of Individual Consciousness in Shaivism 00:51:25 - The Fabric of Consciousness in Kashmir Shaivism 00:55:06 - Levels of Consciousness in Shaivism 00:58:18 - The Steerings of Consciousness 01:01:21 - The Levels of Manifestation 01:04:43 - Experiential Illustration of a Primordial Energy 01:08:05 - The Divinity in Nature and Scientists' Views on God 01:11:07 - The Divine Intelligence within Everything 01:14:20 - The Devastating Realization 01:17:23 - The Humble Realization 01:20:33 - The Sanskrit terms for consciousness 01:22:55 - The Role of Shakti in Spiritual Awakening

162. Jan Frazier Mar 02, 2013

Show notes

Until the summer of her fiftieth year, Jan Frazier lived a life typical for a well-educated, middle-class American woman. A divorced mother of two teenagers, she was making a modest living writing and teaching writing. Following a Catholic childhood in Miami in the 1960s, she had studied English in college and graduate school. In her late twenties, longing for hills and snow, she moved to New England, where she was active in the peace movement. But the inner peace she sought always eluded her. Then, in August 2003, she experienced a radical transformation of consciousness. Fear fell away from her, and she was immersed in a state of causeless joy that has never left her. While she has continued her life as writer, teacher, and mother, she has discovered it is possible to live a richly human life free of suffering. Her wish now is to communicate the truth that within every person is a pool of calm well-being that waits patiently to be stirred to life. When Fear Falls Away: The Story of a Sudden Awakening (Weiser Books, 2007) is Jan’s day-by-day account of the shift in consciousness and its alteration of her life. The Freedom of Being: At Ease with What Is (Weiser Books, 2012) looks at the nature of suffering and explores ways beyond it. Opening the Door: Jan Frazier Teachings On Awakening (eBookIt, 2012) is an eBook collection of essays. It opens the reader’s awareness to the possibility of a richly human life, beyond what appears possible to the ego and the mind. Jan’s poetry and prose have appeared widely in literary journals and anthologies. Her poetry collection, Greatest Hits, was published by Pudding House, and she has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She has been inspired by Gurumayi, Krishnamurti, and Eckhart Tolle, but the joy she lives in belongs to no particular tradition, and is available to all. Jan lives in southern Vermont. Jan's website Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview Recorded 2/17/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Jan Frazier and Her Books 00:04:02 - Overcoming the Fear of Death 00:07:47 - The Clinging to Certain Outcomes 00:11:10 - The Influence of Spiritual Involvement 00:14:53 - The Transformative Nature of Daily Life 00:18:30 - The Illusion of Choice and Volition 00:22:08 - Non-attachment and Motivations 00:25:14 - Appreciation for Readers and Teachers 00:28:46 - The Role of Teachers and Gurus 00:34:07 - The Evolving Sense of Self 00:37:53 - Indifference and Neutrality Towards Suffering 00:41:30 - Diving into the World's Realities 00:44:55 - Taking Moments to Pause and Reflect 00:48:39 - The Experience of Silent Mind during Nighttime Bathroom Trips 00:51:50 - Being in the Moment, Spontaneous Right Action 00:54:54 - The Relaxing of Constant Attentiveness 00:58:02 - Facing Fear and Stress 01:00:45 - The two modes of awareness 01:04:23 - The Faint Remains of Ignorance 01:08:36 - Awareness during Sleep 01:11:50 - Glimpses of Spirituality 01:16:06 - The Relationship Between Thought and Life 01:19:53 - Questioning Egoic Thoughts 01:24:08 - The Continuum of Awareness and Identification 01:27:34 - The Loss of Self-Referral and the Manifestation of the Universe 01:32:45 - The Mechanics of the World and the Similarities Between Humans and Animals 01:37:25 - The Difference Between Feeling and Emotion 01:41:31 - Staying with Initial Feelings 01:45:21 - Increasing the Capacity for Truthfulness 01:49:50 - The Genuine Experience 01:55:12 - Conclusion and Thanks

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