Buddha at the Gas Pump

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719. Thomas Legrand Nov 16, 2024

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Thomas Legrand is a wisdom’s seeker, a social scientist and sustainability practitioner. He is the author of the internationally acclaimed book “Politics of Being. Wisdom and Science for a New Development Paradigm” (2022), an invitation to radically rethink our model of development, which received the Grand Prize of the Nautilus Book Award in 2024. His spiritual journey began at the age of 23 with an encounter with native spirituality in Mexico, before embracing the wisdom of a wide range of traditions and practices, including meditation, energetic healing and Tai-chi-chuan. He lives with his wife and their two young daughters near Plum Village, the monastery of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in the South West of France, his country. He is currently the Lead Technical Advisor for the UNDP-convened Conscious Food Systems Alliance. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded November 9, 2024 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction to Thomas Legrand and His Work  00:03:27 Integrating Politics and Spirituality  00:07:32 Radical Restructuring for Humanity’s Survival  00:10:43 Prophecies of Transformation and Enlightenment  00:15:14 Exploring Spiritual Solutions for Society  00:19:22 The Necessity of Consciously Attending to Ethics in Spiritual Practice  00:23:51 Spirituality and Science Collaboration  00:27:12 The Influence of Sri Aurobindo’s Spiritual Work on Global Events  00:31:11 Spiritual Practices and Deep Forces  00:34:53 The Need for Spiritual Transformation  00:39:07 Theory X and Theory Y: Workplace Dynamics  00:43:34 Prisons as Factories of Stress and Recidivism  00:48:32 The Importance of Relationships in Happiness  00:52:40 The Impact of Collective Consciousness  00:56:18 Emerging Sciences for Happiness and Peace  01:00:30 Integrating Wisdom and Science for Unity  01:04:21 Healing Patterns on a Societal Level  01:09:00 Transformation Through Breakdown and Regrowth  01:12:06 Introducing the Concept of a Politics of Being  01:15:30 The Shift Back to Human Dimensions  01:20:37 Implementing Spiritual Solutions in Everyday Life  01:25:51 Economic Inequality as the Root of Social Issues  01:30:39 The Necessity of Change in Society  01:36:22 The Baha’i Vision and Progressive Revelation  01:39:03 Understanding the Soul of a Nation in a Globalized World  01:43:25 The Destiny of Unity and Diversity  01:48:08 Conversations on Conflict and Harmony in Israel  01:50:45 Healing Trauma as a Gateway  01:53:37 Presidential Apology and Indigenous Healing  01:56:00 Navigating Economic Growth and Conscious Transformation  02:00:23 Exploring Our Website Offerings

657. Jeffrey Mishlove Aug 10, 2022

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New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, The PK Man, and Psi Development Systems. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "Parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. Website: newthinkingallowed.org YouTube Channel Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded August 6, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Jeffrey Mishlove 00:04:35 - A Dream of Uncle Harry's Death 00:08:58 - The Paranormal Capabilities of the Human Mind 00:12:49 - Followed a Dream to Pursue My Interests 00:17:00 - Consciousness and the Universe 00:20:51 - The Significance of Parapsychology and Consciousness 00:24:42 - Society with Fundamental Consciousness Understanding 00:28:49 - Believing in the Power of Manifestation 00:32:57 - White Crows and Psychical Research 00:37:16 - The criticism of research with Mrs. Piper and the Dark Age of scientism 00:41:31 - The Rise of the Spiritual but Not Religious Movement 00:45:28 - Potential Capabilities of Humans and Moral Development 00:49:28 - The Cosmic Game of Life and Suffering 00:53:38 - Levels of Creation and the Unknown Mysteries of the Universe 00:58:05 - The Reality of Macro Psychokinetic Phenomena 01:02:12 - Interface between Dreams and the Bardo Planes 01:06:22 - Similarities between mystical and near-death experiences 01:10:49 - The Bardo Planes and Higher Dimensions 01:14:28 - Living Agent Psi and the Afterlife 01:18:20 - The Fisher Hoffman Process and the Dictated Therapy 01:22:10 - Pre-birth Communication 01:26:20 - Electronic communication with the deceased 01:30:18 - Difficulty in Identifying Authentic Psychic Occurrences 01:35:03 - A Game of Chess with a Deceased Chess Master 01:39:16 - Physical Mediumship and Materialization 01:43:20 - Houdini's Attempt to Expose Marjorie the Medium 01:47:45 - The Reality of the Witnessed Experience 01:51:38 - Remembering Dean Brown 01:55:45 - The Fate of the Human Species 02:01:46 - The Possibility of Past Lives 02:02:38 - Closing Remarks

655. Victoria Ukachukwu Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

In 2014, I awakened to the realization that being aware is my true nature. The experience of just being aware without the identity of a person who is aware was at once exhilarating and disorienting. This simple but profound realization transformed my experience of life to one of effortless being. A wonderful result of this awakening is a lasting peace that transcends all experience. In this awakened sense of pure being, the physical body is experienced as an objective sense of being, and the mind is experienced as an objective sense of knowing. There is no longer the need for an individual identity as a person who is living life. There is only awareness and the experience of the objective sense of awareness in various forms of expressions. The illusion of a person being aware of objects dissolved and was replaced with a pervasive sense of joy and freedom. Before 2014, my life was based on the story of a woman named Victoria Ukachukwu who is a trained scientist with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and is a divorced mother of two daughters. All of my experiences derived from this core identity. Over time, this identity became very limiting and questions about God and the nature of reality began to arise. Science offered no satisfactory answers nor did the Catholic religion in which I was raised. In 2010 I discovered the teachings of non-duality. In particular, the teachings of Mooji and Rupert Spira. In 2012, I went to my first retreat with Rupert Spira and came away with more questions. It was not until June 2014 when I went to a second retreat with Rupert Spira that all questions dissolved with the recognition of my true nature. Subsequently, in 2019, I discovered the timeless teaching of Joel Goldsmith which further reaffirmed and expanded my burgeoning understanding of spiritual principles that illuminate the nature of being. In his book, The Master Speaks, Joel Goldsmith reminds us that the Truth of being is eternal regardless of how many different ways it is presented. Consciousness is the creative principle of life. Consciousness is the eternal truth of being. In my experience, being aware or Awareness Itself is our true nature and our only purpose. It is Absolute. Victoria's email address Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded July 16, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:04:36 - Growing up Catholic and questioning belief in God 00:09:15 - The Bookstore Encounter and Meditation Journey 00:13:21 - Being More and Doing Less 00:17:29 - Discovering Rupert Spira 00:22:53 - Exhilaration and a sense of being aware 00:28:01 - The Nature of Being and Pure Awareness 00:33:17 - The simplicity of realizing true nature 00:38:09 - The Secret of Harmonious Living in the Bible 00:42:54 - Unity of All Beings 00:47:18 - The Presence of God and Harmony 00:52:13 - The Power to Overcome 00:56:56 - Right Action and Restoring Peace 01:00:36 - A Near-Drowning Experience 01:04:19 - The Limits of Tools and Identity 01:09:59 - The Personal and Universal Self 01:14:19 - The Illusion of Separation 01:18:00 - The Power of Clarification 01:22:25 - Elevating the Level of Consciousness 01:26:48 - The Release of Identity 01:31:27 - Seeking the Kingdom of God 01:35:43 - The Fear of Contagion and the Vaccine 01:40:34 - The Eternal Nature of Being 01:45:33 - Integration and Belief Systems in Psychology 01:49:39 - The Master-Student Relationship 01:54:25 - Freedom from Negative Emotions 01:59:15 - Addressing from a Place of Power and Compassion 02:03:26 - The Two I's and the Conscious Realization of God 02:08:51 - The Power of Stillness and Self-Realization 02:12:51 - Rupert's Teachings and Intellectual Rigor 02:16:23 - Farewell to the Team

654. Stephen Snyder Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

Stephen Doetsu Snyder began meditating daily in 1976. he has practiced since in the Zen tradition as well as extensive practice in Theravada Buddhism. he is a lineage Zen teacher as well as a lineage Theravada teacher. He was also influenced by Diamond Heart teachings and practices. He combines the ancient Buddhist heart practices with awakening practices of the Zen tradition into a heartfelt journey of realization and embodiment. Books: Demystifying Awakening: A Buddhist Path of Realization, Embodiment, and Freedom Buddha's Heart: Meditation Practice for Developing Well-Being, Love, and Empathy Practicing the Jhanas: Traditional Concentration Meditation as Presented by the Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw Website: awakeningdharma.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded July 10, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:03 - The Importance of Heart Practices in Zen 00:07:34 - Dropping the Sense of Self and Transcending Identity 00:11:16 - The Importance of Stability and Trust in Spiritual Experiences 00:14:43 - The Nature of the Absolute 00:18:25 - The Importance of Direct Experience in Understanding 00:21:47 - Different Teachings on God and Jesus 00:25:08 - Levels of Realization 00:28:37 - The Journey of Self-Realization and Integration 00:31:54 - The Importance of Ethical Behavior in the Spiritual Community 00:35:24 - Addressing Doubts and Hierarchy 00:38:38 - Integrating Spirituality and Law 00:42:00 - The First Awakening: A Satori Experience 00:45:24 - The Progress of Personal Growth 00:48:54 - The Experience of the Absolute 00:52:26 - Overdoing Meditation and the Need for Balance 00:56:11 - Concentration and Jhana Factors 00:59:17 - Releasing Effort and Deepening Meditation 01:02:33 - Exploring Different Paths and Awakening Experiences 01:05:58 - Retreating and Progressive Practices 01:09:25 - Progression of Practice and Integration of Personal Issues 01:12:59 - The Need for Personal Work and Practice 01:16:20 - Difference between prana rising and Kundalini rising 01:19:41 - Resistances to Awakening 01:23:08 - Fear and Shifts in Consciousness 01:26:25 - Balancing Heart Practices and Awakening Practices 01:29:55 - The practice of innate goodness meditation and journaling 01:33:16 - Working with the Inner Critic and Therapist Recommendations 01:36:32 - The Shift in Consciousness 01:39:42 - Retreats and Personal Journey 01:43:03 - Zen Jazz and Life's Improvisations

645. Anoop Kumar May 11, 2022

Show notes

Anoop Kumar communicates a bold, new vision of healing and healthcare based in a more comprehensive understanding of whole human anatomy–a crucial step in the journey of healthcare transformation. He is the founder of Health Revolution, an emergency physician, public speaker, and author of Michelangelo's Medicine: How Redefining the Human Body Will Transform Health and Healthcare and Is This a Dream?: Reflections on the Awakening Mind, and a columnist for Emergency Medicine News. Integrating a deeper understanding of consciousness with our existing medical knowledge is foundational to Anoop's work. To further this, he developed the Three Minds framework–a trans-disciplinary approach that develops and integrates our knowledge of consciousness, mind, body, and the environment. He applies the Three Minds framework to identify unexamined tenets ripe for disruption and rehabilitation in healthcare. By training, Anoop is board-certified in emergency medicine and holds a master's degree in management with a focus in health leadership. Websites: anoopkumar.com healthrevolution.org YouTube Channels: Healing is Possible Beyond Mental Health with Anoop Kumar, MD Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 7, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction with Rick Archer 00:04:39 - An Explosive Experience in the Bedroom 00:08:48 - Remembering Past Lives 00:13:06 - Timeless Experience 00:17:25 - Defining Consciousness and Brahman 00:21:55 - Taking a Scientific Approach to Spiritual Concepts 00:26:23 - The Cleansing of Perception and Integration 00:30:48 - The Three Minds Framework 00:35:49 - The Formation of Identity 00:40:57 - Moving from the Physical to the Mental World 00:45:40 - The Relationship Between the Physical and Mental 00:50:27 - The Three Minds Framework 00:54:59 - The Nature of Light and Perception 00:59:26 - Awareness of the Second Mind 01:03:44 - The Three I's and Existence Across Different Layers of Reality 01:08:36 - The Difference Between Jesus and Hitler 01:13:02 - The Perception of Existence 01:17:46 - Speculation on Unity of Minds 01:22:07 - The Three Minds: Jeeva, Saguna Brahman, and Nirguna Brahman 01:26:53 - Integrating Fields of Knowledge and Society 01:31:53 - Perception and Identity 01:36:45 - The Sense of Identity in Spirituality and Psychosis 01:41:18 - The Power of the Mind and Restructuring through Spirituality 01:45:44 - The Importance of Guidance in Spiritual Practice 01:50:00 - Setting Personal Standards 01:54:19 - The Influence of Culture on Religion 01:58:58 - The Process of Integration 02:03:27 - The Power of Creativity and Connection 02:07:56 - The Role of Intuition in Spiritual Guidance 02:12:14 - Healing and Becoming Whole 02:16:47 - Closing Remarks and Resources

637. Emma Bragdon Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

Emma Bragdon received her Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology in 1987. For more than 40 years she has focused on supporting people awakening spiritually, paying special attention to those in spiritual crisis/ emergency. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Integrative Mental Health for You, IMHU.org, which offers 40+ online courses about effective alternatives to psychiatric medications. Emma has trained 80 Spiritual Emergence Coaches® from 14 countries who are now available through an international online Directory. While intensely studying and participating in Brazilian Spiritism from 2001-2012, she wrote 3 books and co-produced two documentary films about Spiritist treatment of mental disturbance and spiritual emergency. Emma has been recognized for her pioneering work with Spiritually Transformative Experiences as an Honoree on the Spiritual Awakenings International “Circle of Honor” and within the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology’s “Council of Sages”. She was licensed as a Marriage, Family, Child Therapist in 1988. Emma is a member of the Self-realization Fellowship following the yogic philosophy of Paramahansa Yogananda. She’s been a meditator for over 55 years. She also studied with two Native American shamans for 20 years. Currently, she teams with Benjamin Asher, MD in offering Ketamine-Assisted psychotherapy in central Vermont. She is also available by Zoom in her private practice for psychotherapy and integration of spiritual experiences. Websites: imhu.org emmabragdon.com Books: The Call of Spiritual Emergency: From Personal Crisis to Personal Transformation Kardec's Spiritism: A Home for Healing and Spiritual Evolution A Sourcebook for Helping People with Spiritual Problems Spiritism and Mental Health Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded March 6, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:13 - The Sense of a Larger Intelligence 00:07:09 - The Dysfunctional Family and Near-Death Experiences 00:10:58 - Sitting in Meditation at Tassajara 00:14:51 - From Zen Buddhism to Neo-Reichian Psychotherapy 00:19:31 - Exploring Shamanism and Spiritual Awakening 00:23:40 - A Journey into Spiritism 00:26:58 - The Origins of Spiritualism and Spiritism 00:29:40 - Integrative Mental Health: Effective Alternatives 00:32:32 - The Importance of Medication Supervision and Integrative Mental Health 00:35:59 - The Importance of Peaceful and Wise States 00:39:08 - Consciousness independent of the body 00:41:47 - Understanding Spiritual Emergence and Emergency 00:44:47 - Understanding Spiritual Emergencies 00:47:30 - Distinguishing between Psychic Perceptions and Psychosis 00:50:08 - A Disturbing Episode 00:52:59 - Uncovering Traumatic Memories 00:56:02 - Moving into a New Identity 00:59:07 - Understanding Spiritual Experiences and Emergencies 01:01:59 - Shifting the Paradigm in Psychiatry 01:04:38 - Spiritism in Brazil and its Integration in Psychiatry 01:08:05 - Spiritism's Role in Brazilian Society 01:12:21 - The Importance of Supervision and Feedback in Spiritual Practices 01:17:29 - Betrayal of Spiritual Figures 01:24:15 - Controversies in Spiritual Communities 01:30:06 - TRE and Kundalini difficulties 01:34:49 - Meditation and Spiritual Practices Impacting Physical Ailments 01:39:40 - Belief in Reincarnation and its Impact on Diagnosis 01:46:42 - Shamanism and Non-Dual Meditation 01:55:01 - The Importance of Depth in Spiritual Exploration 02:00:02 - Accessing the Directory of Qualified Coaches

636. Joseph Selbie on “The Yugas” Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

Selbie makes the complex and obscure simple and clear. He is known for creating bridges of understanding between the modern evidence-based discoveries of science and the ancient experience-based discoveries of the mystics. A dedicated meditator for nearly fifty years, he has taught yoga, meditation, and universal experiential spirituality throughout the US and Europe. He has also been an avid follower of the unfolding new paradigm of post-materialist science—with groaning bookshelves to show for it. Selbie has authored The Physics of God, a unification of science and religion, and The Yugas, a factual look at India’s tradition of cyclical history. Selbie is a founding member of Ananda—a meditation-based community and spiritual movement inspired by Paramhansa Yogananda. He lives with his wife at Ananda Village near Nevada City, California. Books: The Yugas: Keys to Understanding Our Hidden Past, Emerging Energy Age and Enlightened Future - Today's view of history cannot account for ancient anomalies, such as the Pyramids and advanced knowledge contained in India's Vedas. But in 1894, an Indian sage gave us an explanation not only for our hidden past but for the trends of today and for our future enlightenment - the 24,000-year yuga cycle. The Physics of God: How the Deepest Theories of Science Explain Religion and How the Deepest Truths of Religion Explain Science Website: physicsandgod.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview with Joseph Selbie on "The Physics of God". Interview recorded February 26, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:08 - Blending Western Science with Eastern Spirituality 00:08:21 - The Transcendental Nature of Consciousness 00:11:48 - The Mind as a TV Screen 00:16:15 - The Cycle of Ages and its Impact on Mankind 00:20:49 - The Yugas and Spiritual Awakening 00:25:00 - The Debate over the Length of the Kali Yuga 00:29:26 - "Pillar of Celestial Fire: And the Lost Science of the Ancient Seers" by Robert Cox? 00:33:35 - Searching for the Grand Central Sun 00:37:45 - The procession of the equinoxes and cycles 00:41:50 - The cycles of evolution in the universe 00:45:49 - The Progression of Yugas and Spiritual Evolution 00:49:09 - The Evolution of the Yugas 00:58:31 - The Evolution of Energy and Awareness 01:03:19 - The Four Ages and Levels of Consciousness 01:07:31 - The Awakening of Enlightened Self Interest 01:11:26 - Transformational Experiences 01:14:40 - The Message of Near Death Experiences and Sahaja Yoga 01:18:41 - Gobekli Tepe: The Oldest Manmade Structure 01:23:41 - Ancient Myths and the State of Consciousness 01:28:20 - Evidence of Advanced Civilizations 01:32:11 - The Great Pyramid and its Precise Construction 01:36:26 - Precision of the Great Pyramid 01:40:53 - The Great Pyramid and its Purpose 01:45:04 - Ancient Civilizations and Sanskrit Grammar 01:48:58 - The Mystery of the Ancient Map 01:52:35 - A More Enlightened Age 01:57:03 - The Increasing Basic Human Freedoms 02:00:37 - The Potential Turning Point 02:04:16 - Seeking the Truth and Misinformation 02:07:42 - Love of Conversation

626. Nipun Mehta Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

Nipun Mehta is the founder of ServiceSpace, a global community at the intersection of technology, volunteerism, and the gift economy. Most recently, ServiceSpace's pandemic response has showcased the unique beauty of its global ecosystem. Nipun has catalyzed a global social movement of community builders grounded in their localities and rooted in practices for cultivating love, nonviolence, selfless service, and compassion. The ecosystem has reached millions, attracted thousands of volunteers, and mushroomed into numerous community-based service projects as well as inspiring content portals. ServiceSpace harnesses the collective power of networks and our deeper interconnectedness to create a distributed social movement founded on small, local individual acts of kindness, generosity, and service that ignite shifts in individual and collective consciousness. Nipun was honored as an "unsung hero of compassion" by the Dalai Lama, not long before former U.S. President Obama appointed him to a council for addressing poverty and inequality in the US. Yet the core of what strikes anyone who meets him is the way his life is an attempt to bring smiles in the world and silence in his heart: "I want to live simply, love purely, and give fearlessly. That's me." In his mid-twenties, Nipun quit his job to become a "full-time volunteer". One of his most formative experiences was a walking pilgrimage across India, with his wife of six months, whose profound lessons also became the subject of his widely-read address at UPenn commencement. Over the last twenty years, he has addressed thousands of gatherings around the world, speaking next to wide-ranging leaders from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to author Elizabeth Gilbert to civil rights legend John Lewis. Germany's OOOM magazine named Nipun one of the Top 100 Most Inspiring People of 2020. See links to these ServiceSpace websites at the bottom of their website. And for some of Nipun's talks and articles, visit his personal website. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded December 4, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Nipun Mehta 00:04:52 - An Unexpected Encounter on a Plane 00:08:37 - Reunion with a Compassionate Monk 00:12:00 - Inklings of Deeper Dimensions in Life 00:16:20 - Meeting and Marriage Journey 00:20:39 - The Meeting with Gauri and the Right Path 00:24:51 - The Impermanence of Life and Leaving a Lasting Impact 00:30:10 - Finding Your Inner Vows and Virtues 00:35:13 - Living with Compassion and Inner Transformation 00:40:10 - The Importance of Self-Reflection and Experimentation 00:44:49 - Being an Instrument of the Divine 00:49:33 - Letting Go of Outcome 00:53:56 - Quality of Motivation and its Impact on Outcome 00:58:23 - The Trap of Spiritual Detours 01:02:44 - Sticking to Your Path and Avoiding Spiritual Traps 01:07:25 - Causation vs. Correlation 01:13:18 - Noble Friendships and Resilience 01:18:11 - Functioning from a State of Oneness 01:22:28 - Laughter as a Tool for Transformation 01:26:56 - All Paths Lead to Deep Absorption 01:31:51 - Acting Without an Agenda 01:36:08 - From Websites to Acts of Service 01:40:47 - The Power of Listening and Offering Food 01:44:43 - Karma Kitchen: A Deeper Form of Transaction 01:48:55 - Reframing Transactions and Trust 01:52:33 - Wealth Inequity and the Future of Society 01:58:01 - The Urgent Question of Inequity and Service 02:03:33 - Building a Bigger Heart in Response to the World 02:07:48 - The Story of the Little Sparrow 02:12:21 - Peace and Compassion 02:17:13 - Signing off and looking forward to future interviews

624. Philip Goldberg, 2nd Interview Nov 25, 2021

Show notes

Philip Goldberg has been studying the world’s spiritual traditions for more than 50 years, as a practitioner, teacher, and author. He trained as a Transcendental Meditation teacher with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1970 and later became an ordained Interfaith Minister and spiritual counselor. As a public speaker and workshop leader, he has lectured and taught at major venues throughout the U.S. and India. As a professional writer, his articles and blogs have appeared in numerous print and online publications, and he has authored or co-authored more than 25 books, including an upcoming novel and such celebrated nonfiction as: The Intuitive Edge: Understanding Intuition and Applying it in Everyday Life; Roadsigns: On the Spiritual Path--Living at the Heart of Paradox; the award-winning American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation How Indian Spirituality Changed the West; the seminal biography The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru; and his latest book, the timely Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times: Powerful Tools to Cultivate Calm, Clarity, and Courage. He has produced e-courses for Spirituality & Practice and has taught many online courses, most recently, The Yoga of Intuition and Creativity, Four Pathways to the Divine, How Hindu Dharma Transformed the West, and the forthcoming An Immersive Exploration of the Iconic “Autobiography of a Yogi.” His special 12-part series, Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times, for Unity Online Radio, features interviews with well-known spiritual teachers. He is currently working on two nonfiction books and a sequel to his novel. In addition, he blogs regularly on Elephant Journal and Spirituality & Health, cohosts the popular Spirit Matters podcast and YouTube channel and leads American Veda Tours to India. He serves on the board of the Association for Spiritual Integrity. His website is PhilipGoldberg.com. Interview recorded November 21, 2021. First BatGap interview with Phil. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:51 - Reminiscing with Uncle Phil 00:05:11 - Introduction to Philip Goldberg and his work 00:07:49 - Yogananda's Biography and Autobiography 00:11:24 - Filling the Gaps in Yogananda's Story 00:15:17 - The Rise of Yogananda and Amma 00:19:08 - Mission-Driven Yogis and the Challenges They Faced 00:23:07 - Returning to India: The Journey of a Monk 00:27:37 - Arguments about Yogananda's Alleged Affairs 00:31:05 - The Human Story of Yogananda 00:33:46 - The Indomitable Will of Yogananda 00:37:58 - Yogananda's Spiritual Pursuit and Visions 00:41:58 - Miracles and Wonders in Autobiography of a Yogi 00:46:49 - The Purpose of Miracles and Wonders 00:51:01 - Troubled by Lack of Recognition 00:56:03 - Balancing Consciousness and Action 01:00:35 - The Importance of Service in Spiritual Practice 01:03:28 - Acts of Service in Spiritual Practice 01:07:18 - The Service of Gurus and Spirituality 01:11:19 - The Last Night of the Guru 01:15:28 - Yoga, Cultural Appropriation, and Perennial Philosophy 01:18:58 - Universal Spiritual Experiences 01:24:59 - Transformative Experiences and Global Implications 01:30:00 - The Challenges of Society and the Potential of Consciousness 01:37:09 - Broadening Your Perspective in Spirituality 01:42:22 - The Pragmatic Approach to Spirituality 01:46:47 - Temptations and Fine-tuning the Path 01:51:27 - The Importance of Discernment and Viveka 01:54:42 - Yogananda and Dream Experiences 01:56:53 - The Association for Spiritual Integrity

623. Babaji Bob Kindler Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

Babaji Bob Kindler is the Spiritual Director of the Sarada Ramakrishna Vivekananda (SRV) Associations since 1993 with teaching centers on the Big Island of Hawaii and Portland, Oregon, USA. Babaji teaches Vedanta, Yoga, Sankhya, and other philosophical systems of Truth with an emphasis on learning to live a divine life and the attainment of direct spiritual experience. He holds a twin spiritual heritage via initiation into the Ramakrishna lineage (Vedanta) and Kagyu Tibetan Buddhism. Editor of Nectar of Non-Dual Truth, A Journal of Universal Religious and Philosophical Teachings, he is also the author of over a dozen books on spiritual topics, including Dissolving the Mindstream A Quintessential Yoga Vasishtha Twenty-Four Aspects of Mother Kali Footfalls of the Indian Rishis: Charting the Timeless Wisdom of Mother India Babaji’s spiritual discourses can be found on YouTube, Livestream, and on the official SRV Associations website. Online and residential retreats are listed here. Email subscription and site index. “Our path is mainly a blend of Advaita and Shaktism, with our devotion to Sri Ramakrishna making it Universal, and inclusive of all religions.” Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded November 13, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Babaji Bob Kindler 00:04:43 - Babaji's Spiritual Discourses on YouTube 00:09:17 - Devotion to Shakti in Tantra and Kashmir Shaivism 00:14:03 - The Function of Maya 00:18:42 - Awakening from the Dream 00:22:42 - The Dangers of Jumping to Spiritual Enlightenment 00:26:54 - The Bliss of Meditation 00:30:55 - The State of Advaita Non-Duality 00:35:15 - The Field of All Possibilities 00:39:24 - Reincarnation and the Doctrine of Karma 00:43:24 - Remembering Atman and Buddha Nature 00:47:32 - Duality and Transcendence in Humanity 00:51:37 - The Value of Studying Secular Subjects 00:55:34 - Nonviolence and Money-making 00:59:40 - Kingdoms of Heaven and the Mind 01:03:49 - The Gods Within Us 01:07:56 - Different Levels of Consciousness and the Non-Dual Path 01:11:51 - Direct Path to Enlightenment 01:16:10 - The Forgetfulness of Ignorance and the Cyclic Nature of Time 01:20:09 - The Illusion of Change 01:24:09 - The Nature of Enlightenment 01:28:10 - Following Your Own Calling 01:31:52 - Realizing the Atman, the wasted life, and the refinement of the mind 01:35:35 - The Guru-Disciple Relationship 01:39:48 - The Qualification and Criterion for Sacred Sound 01:43:52 - The Universality of Religions and Swami Vivekananda 01:48:24 - Realizing the Inner Being and Inter-Religious Gatherings 01:52:23 - Deluding Pairs of Opposites and Rising Above 01:57:15 - Dharma and Morality 02:01:16 - Exploring the Cell of Knowledge 02:05:13 - Wrapping Up and Upcoming Interviews

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