Buddha at the Gas Pump

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683. Jeff Carreira May 27, 2023

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Jeff Carreira is a meditation teacher, mystical philosopher and author who works with a growing number of people throughout the world. As a teacher, he offers retreats and courses guiding individuals in a form of meditation he refers to as The Art of Conscious Contentment. Through this simple and effective technique, he has led thousands of people in a journey beyond the confines of fear and self-concern into the expansive liberated awareness that is our true home. As a philosopher, Jeff is interested in defining a new way of being in the world that will move us from our current paradigm of separation and isolation into an emerging paradigm of unity and wholeness. In his books and lectures, he explores revolutionary ideas in the domains of spirituality, consciousness, and human development. He creates courses and programs that encourage people to question their most foundational experience of reality until previously held assumptions fall away leaving space for a dramatically new understanding to emerge. Jeff is passionate about the potential ideas have to shape how we perceive reality and how we live together. His enthusiasm for learning is infectious, and he has taught at colleges and universities throughout the world. Jeff is the author of numerous books including: The Path of Spiritual Breakthrough: From Awakening to Cosmic Awareness American Awakening: Evolutionary Spirituality, Non-Duality, and Free Thinking in the Tradition of American Philosophy Philosophy Is Not a Luxury: Four Reasons to Start Thinking About How You Think The Soul of a New Self: Embracing the Future of Being Human Paradigm Shifting: Guiding Evolution from the Inside The Art of Conscious Contentment Website: jeffcarreira.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded May 20, 2023. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:24 - Discovering Conscious Contentment 00:11:12 - The Influence of Past Experiences 00:18:53 - The Bright, Clear Awareness 00:26:00 - The End of Seeking: Letting Go and Contentment 00:32:29 - Letting go in Meditation 00:40:10 - Overcoming Sleepiness in Meditation 00:45:28 - Lucid Dreaming and Spiritual Experience 00:49:39 - Interpreting Spiritual Experiences 00:54:07 - The Role of Interpretation in Spiritual Progress 01:00:44 - Exploring New Paths and Spiritual Growth 01:04:51 - P.D. Ospensky and Cosmic Consciousness 01:10:53 - Embracing Creative Expression 01:16:32 - Expressing Ourselves and Taking a Break 01:21:24 - "Partners on the Spiritual Path" 01:29:07 - The Effects of "Crazy Wisdom" Teaching 01:34:21 - The End of an Experiment 01:38:12 - Transparency and Spiritual Integrity 01:41:57 - The Intensity of Spiritual Practice 01:46:09 - Spiritual Experiences and Seeking Alone in the Mountains 01:49:01 - Embracing the Opportunities in Your Circumstances 01:54:02 - The Middle Realms of Being 01:58:23 - The Importance of Non-Dual Awakening & the Advaita Tradition 02:02:10 - Higher Realms of the Soul

571. Tricia Barker Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

Tricia Barker experienced a profound near-death experience during her senior year of college, and this experience guided her to teach overseas, in public schools, and at the college level. Her story has been featured on Life to Afterlife: Death and Back, National Geographic Magazine, Women’s World Magazine, Coast to Coast AM, and The Doctor Oz Show. Tricia’s memoir, Angels in the OR: What Dying Taught Me About Healing, Survival, and Transformation is also available through Audible. This book tells a story of her near-death experience, teaching mission, and eventual triumph over childhood trauma. The book focuses on the importance being of service to the world. A screenplay is in the works for her story. Tricia is a graduate of The University of Texas. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Currently, she teaches English and Creative Writing at a beautiful community college in Fort Worth, Texas. She interviews other near-death experiencers, researchers, healers, spiritual teachers, and mediums on her YouTube Channel. Tricia’s poetry and essays have been published in several academic publications. Poems: Loving Narcissus & Sometimes God: Poems The Self, The Other, and God: Poems Website: triciabarkernde.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded October 3, 2020 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to "Buddha at the Gas Pump" with Rick Archer 00:04:19 - Joy in Telling Stories 00:08:15 - Psychic bond between parents and children 00:12:14 - Encountering Light Beings in the Operating Room 00:16:00 - Personal Guardian Angels 00:19:38 - Connecting with Subtle Beings and Angels 00:23:58 - The Role of Practice and Learning in Spiritual Development 00:27:47 - Connecting to an All-Knowing Energy 00:31:24 - Healing Trauma and Awakening 00:35:09 - The Need in Low-Income Schools 00:38:38 - Oneness with Everyone and Messages from the Cosmos 00:42:28 - A Heavenly Encounter with Grandfather and God 00:46:38 - The Personal Form of God and Near-Death Experiences 00:50:37 - The Annoyance of Oneness with Everyone 00:54:34 - Channeling Insight into Helping Students 00:58:41 - Inspiring Healing and Change in Traumatized Students 01:02:41 - The Impact of Trauma on Society 01:06:43 - The Impact of Meditation in Schools 01:10:38 - The Power of Community and Support 01:14:58 - Faith and Near-Death Experiences 01:18:04 - Near-death Experiences and Letting Go 01:21:40 - Using Literature to Analyze Culture 01:25:38 - Themes in Near-Death Experiences 01:29:52 - Connecting to Intuition and Discerning Truth 01:33:34 - Contact with Loved Ones on the Other Side 01:37:35 - Unfairness and Healing Perspectives 01:41:22 - Healing from Contracts and the Virtue of Justice 01:45:12 - Robin Williams' Message of Healing 01:48:55 - Embracing the Gift of Life and Spiritual Connection 01:53:04 - Workshops, Summits, and Readings on YouTube 01:56:30 - Upcoming Interviews and Farewell

421. Vera de Chalambert Oct 13, 2017

Show notes

Vera de Chalambert is a spiritual storyteller and Harvard-educated scholar of comparative religion. She speaks and writes about spiritual culture, mindfulness in the modern world, and the Divine Feminine and has been a speaker at the Science and Nonduality Conference in the US and Europe, Sister Giant in Washington DC, and other gatherings. Vera holds a Master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School where she studied comparative mysticism and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in Religion and Literature. Her work explores the meeting place of creativity, psychology, and spirituality and is informed by insights from both Eastern and Western philosophies. Vera is a graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing and has been a student of Jason Shulman's Nondual Healing work. She is deeply influenced by Buddhist and Kabbalistic lineages. Vera's recent work has been on the topic of Holy Darkness and exploration of the Dark Goddesses associated with transformation and initiation found in the world's great wisdom traditions, the most well-known of whom is the Hindu Goddess Kali. Vera is a mother and a devotee of the Mother. She is working on her first book on the Dark Feminine. Website: healingawakening.com Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded Saturday, October 7, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:59 - Early Trauma and Developmental Gap 00:07:01 - Early Memories and Incarnation 00:11:30 - Feeling responsible for the collapsing world 00:17:42 - Shaped by Elders and Teachers in our Culture 00:24:25 - A Dissociative Experience and the Journey of Integration 00:32:25 - Integration and Descent into Incarnation 00:36:26 - The Integration of the Feminine 00:39:27 - Seeking Perfection and Spiritual Experiences 00:42:44 - The Earring from Kali's Statue 00:46:47 - Dancing with Kali 00:51:40 - The Burning Process 00:55:21 - The Profound Experience of Pain Transcendence 00:59:58 - The Prayer and Transformation 01:03:30 - Embracing the Unknown and Opening Doors 01:06:36 - Unknown Teachers and Mentors 01:10:05 - The Impact of Trump's Election 01:14:03 - Prophecies and Predictions throughout History 01:17:59 - The Dark Feminine in Spirituality 01:22:18 - Union with the Divine 01:26:25 - Facing the Shadow and Collective Reckoning 01:30:35 - The Universal Nature of Suffering 01:34:54 - Kali, the Killer of Demons and Misconceptions 01:39:07 - The Terrifying Beauty of Pure Reality 01:43:12 - Shiva and Shakti in Us 01:47:54 - Resting in a Deeper Calm 01:53:10 - Embracing our Imperfect Humanity 01:57:08 - The Ethics of Enlightenment and the Role of Spiritual Teachers 02:01:23 - The Value of Surrender and Trusting in Deeper Intelligence 02:05:40 - The Pleasure of Attending Conferences 02:08:18 - Finding our Clearing

312. Group Discussion at Sofia University, Part 2 Nov 12, 2015

Show notes

While out in California for the Science and Nonduality Conference, I had some downtime before the conference started, so I decided to tape a long panel discussion with a rather large group of friends, most of them previous guests on Batgap. Sofia University in Palo Alto (where transpersonal psychology was founded by Abraham Maslow and others), generously provided a room and video equipment. I'm especially grateful to Dr. Jeffery Martin, who conducts research there, for offering and organizing this. It was an experiment, and some were skeptical that it would work, but it did! Participants included: Name Other Batgap Interview(s) Website(s) Canela Michelle Meyers 12/18/2011, 9/24/2015 canelamichelle.com Chuck Hillig 7/21/2010 chuckhillig.com Clare Blanchflower clareblanchflower.com Craig Holliday 1/3/2015, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019* craigholliday.com Dana Sawyer 9/29/2010, 2/9/2014*, 3/19/2016 dana-sawyer.com David Buckland 9/25/2015, 10/27/2017* davidya.ca David Ellzey 1/16/2016 davidellzey.com Francis Bennett 8/4/2012, 4/21/2013* 10/26/2013*, 5/24/2014*, 10/23/2014*, 10/21/2016, 10/25/2016* Jeffery Martin 1/25/2017 drjefferymartin.com nonsymbolic.org Kiran Trace 11/2/2013, 09/24/2015 kirantrace.com Kristin Kirk 2/16/2014, 5/24/2014* kristinkirk.com Laurie Moore 7/21/2012, 10/24/2013 counselingscottsvalley.us animiracles.com Mariana Caplan 2/3/2012, 1/6/2013, 10/25/2019* marianacaplan.com Rick Archer 6/5/2010, 3/16/2013, 5/11/2014, 10/23/2015, 10/24/2016, 10/21/2017, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019*, 10/27/2019 You're on it. Susanne Marie 7/7/2013, 10/24/2014*, 10/23/2016* susannemarie.org *In group discussion. Transcript of this discussion Recorded 10/22/2015 Part 1 of this discussion Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Silence and Self-Reflection 00:09:12 - The Sense of Expanded Living 00:16:29 - The Pitfalls of Spiritual Awakening 00:22:43 - The Value of Mainstream Context and Therapist Category 00:30:58 - The Beauty and Service of Pain 00:36:33 - The Blossoming of the Heart and Devotion 00:44:06 - The Importance of Growth and Honesty 00:50:19 - The Exploration of the Human Condition 00:55:50 - Surrender and Humility in the Awakening Process 01:03:34 - Opening to Multiple Worlds and Listening to God 01:09:38 - Channeling Angelic Guidance 01:15:58 - Accessing Universal Energy and True Nature 01:22:55 - Capturing the Fort and Exploring the Territory 01:28:38 - Different Dimensions and Spiritual Ego 01:32:55 - The Importance of Meaningful Conversations 01:39:00 - The Irrelevance of Truth and Reality 01:45:43 - Discussions on various spiritual phenomena and dangers of believing in them blindly 01:50:25 - Discriminating Subtle Beings 01:53:51 - The Variability of Awakening Experiences 01:56:40 - The Six Bhavas in Ayurveda 01:59:52 - The Healing Question and Awakening 02:02:59 - The Importance of Healing and Psychological Maturity after Awakening 02:06:33 - The Pressure of Awakening and Awakening Levels 02:10:22 - Surrendering through Pain, Healing and Awakening 02:13:54 - Awakening and Healing 02:17:12 - Awakening and Healing in the Journey 02:21:29 - Life as a Single Parent and the Shift in Functioning 02:26:33 - Living in a Beautiful Apartment 02:30:23 - Embracing the Human Experience 02:36:19 - Surrendering to the Unknown 02:41:50 - Updates on BatGap Save Save Save

116. Gina Lake Mar 29, 2012

Show notes

In 1986, Gina realized that she could pose a question mentally and receive an answer mentally. This turned her world upside down and required spending several years meditating and doing inner work before she was able to establish a relationship with a wise nonphysical being. This being became her inner teacher, mentor, and healer and was behind the many books she wrote in the 1990s. In 1999, shortly after meeting Adyashanti, Gina had a spiritual awakening, and the focus of her books shifted from astrology and other metaphysical subjects to nonduality and helping people awaken. In 2012, another important spiritual shift and deepening happened, and Gina became aware of a profound connection to the Christian lineage that went back many lifetimes. She began having inner experiences of Mother Mary, Jesus, and a circle of twenty-six other Ascended Masters, who appeared to her in her mind’s eye and spoke to her in words she could clearly hear in her mind. This batgap interview happened early in 2012 before this shift, after which Gina began channeling books from Jesus. Since 2012, she has channeled 14 books from Jesus. These teachings are nondual (Oneness) teachings, based on universal truth, not on any religion. They are messages of love and peace and how to be an expression of that in one’s life. Gina and her husband Nirmala, who is also a nondual spiritual teacher, live in Sedona, Arizona, where they offer Christ Consciousness transmissions on Zoom several times a week. Gina’s website, www.RadicalHappiness.com, offers information about these transmissions, her books, and her online courses. She has more than 250 messages on her YouTube channel: “Gina Lake Channeling Jesus.” She no longer does intensives, astrological readings, or spiritual mentoring. Gina’s books include… The Jesus Trilogy: Choice and Will / Love and Surrender / Beliefs, Emotions, and the Creation of Reality In the World but Not of It: New Teachings from Jesus on Embodying the Divine What Jesus Wants You to Know Today: About Himself, Christianity, God, the World, and Being Human Cycles of the Soul: Life, Death, and Beyond Angels, Masters, and Guides: How to Work with Them to Heal and to Accelerate Your Spiritual Evolution All Grace: New Teachings from Jesus on the Truth About Life Jesus Speaking (series of 5 books) Radical Happiness: A Guide to Awakening From Stress to Stillness: Tools for Inner Peace Transcript of this interview Interview Recorded 3/24/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Gina Lake 00:06:11 - Feeling Like You Don't Belong 00:12:09 - The Awakening of Consciousness through Suffering and Dysfunction 00:17:12 - The Role of Great Souls in Times of Crisis 00:20:59 - Exploring Eastern Knowledge and Catholic Mysticism 00:25:59 - Channeling Experiences and Deception by Astral Beings 00:30:45 - Negative Entities and Closing the Channel 00:35:57 - Connection with a Being from the 6th Dimension 00:41:21 - The Manifestation of Essential Substance in a Dream-like State 00:45:36 - Connecting to the Core of Goodness 00:50:01 - The Delight of Being Present 00:54:18 - The Unfolding of Grace 00:58:29 - Awakening and Beyond 01:01:34 - The Shift in Consciousness 01:05:09 - Falling in Love during Awakening 01:09:11 - Awakening and Self-Images 01:13:26 - Ordinary Awakening and De-Inflating the Ego 01:17:11 - The Inspiration for Writing 01:21:29 - The Blessing of Channeling 01:25:42 - Channeling Higher Intelligence 01:30:42 - Speaking about Metaphysical Realities 01:34:41 - Clearing out the Garbage and Healing Work 01:39:25 - The Importance of Being Curious About Conditioning 01:42:55 - The Gap Getting Bigger 01:47:17 - Integration and Realization After Awakening 01:51:32 - Awakening Within a Busy Culture 01:55:20 - Awakening for a Happier Life 01:59:11 - Finding Alignment with Your True Self 02:02:51 - Finding Purpose in Challenges 02:06:21 - Sedona Experiences 02:08:42 - Farewell

115. Karen Richards – 2nd Interview Mar 19, 2012

Show notes

In February 2008 at the age of thirty-three, Karen experienced a sudden and radical awakening. Prior to this realisation, no teachings or practices were followed – in fact at that time the terms non-duality and awakening were completely unfamiliar. This spontaneous realization presented itself during a period of intense emotional suffering and when demands in life exceeded Karen’s physical capability. Karen attempted to persevere in the face of these challenges, the consequence being a severely debilitating illness that affected physical functioning on every level. Although the illness had a devastating effect on life as it was then known, it seemed to create a space for a deeper reality to be recognized. As her state of health was so poor, Karen was unable to return to work – meaning that she spent a significant amount of time confined to her home. The effect of this period of solitude was profound surrender, allowing the realization to become deeply integrated into daily living. Two and a half years after the initial recognition, someone Karen didn’t know approached her for guidance, which really was the beginning of sharing in a more active way. Karen now shares openly with all those who wish to enquire into the true nature of reality. Following the realization, Karen’s experience of illness – coupled with her extensive experience of healthcare, enabled dis-ease/illness to be seen from a different perspective. Misperception of what we are and the stress that can ensue in direct relation to that misperception means that we are often in a state of persistent resistance to life as it is. This negative state of functioning is the foundation for many of our health challenges. The rediscovery of who we are is fundamental for the transformation of the human life experience. It means that the peace that is already here is recognized and experienced directly, having a potentially profound healing effect on the mind and body. Realization – from a human perspective – means that the unity beyond apparent diversity is remembered. Life can then be embraced fully and authentically – without contamination from the lens of the conditioned mind, bringing relief from all psychological suffering. An inevitable consequence of this recognition is the arising of compassion, love, and respect for life in all of its appearances – having an ever-deepening impact on the human experience. This has the direct consequence of transforming the world we see literally before our eyes, having a powerful healing effect on the planet as a whole. First Interview with Karen Interview recorded 3/18/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Welcome to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:09 - Finding Peace in Sickness 00:08:02 - Letting Go of Control 00:11:18 - Meetings and Genuine Inquiry 00:14:55 - Rich Opportunities and Escaping the Hell 00:18:17 - The Purpose and Cause of Illness 00:22:10 - Discovering a Shift in Perspective 00:25:52 - The Blessing of Illness 00:29:16 - The Process of Deconstruction 00:34:07 - The Imprint of Childhood Trauma 00:38:43 - The Journey of Self-Honesty and Healing 00:43:18 - Serving the One, not Others 00:46:55 - The Complexity of Relationships and Inner Conflict 00:50:49 - The Challenges of Relationship Among Awakened People 00:54:22 - Challenging Experiences and Growth 00:57:57 - Healing Through Relationships 01:01:31 - Mysterious Experiences and Psychic Phenomena 01:05:11 - Seeing Auras and Alternative Realities 01:08:32 - Witnessing Transfiguration and Trance Work 01:11:42 - Strange Experiences and Visions of Ramana 01:14:43 - Life's Mysterious Possibilities 01:18:15 - The Illusion of Form and Non-Dual Understanding 01:22:01- The Infinite Frequency of Perspectives 01:24:57 - The Illusion of Meaning 01:27:51 - Beyond Understanding 01:31:10 - The Integration of Ideas and the Letting Go of Frameworks 01:34:39 - Letting go of the idea of self 01:38:10 - Self-Deception and Seasons of Awakening 01:41:15 - The Simplicity of the Fundamental Awakening 01:44:10 - Availability and Retreats 01:47:24 - Closing Remarks and Farewells

55. Siddhananda Jan 20, 2011

Show notes

Siddhananda's journey began in her teenage years. It wasn't until she was around 30 that her journey and seeking of truth began in earnest. At this time, Spiritual practices were picked up on her own, and Kundalini spontaneously awakened due to a sincere prayer of wanting to be of service to humanity. She was not prepared or had any idea what this awakening would open or where it would lead. With this awakening, many phenomena, shifting states of consciousness and radical mood changes manifested which left her extremely ungrounded and shaken. After a long period of struggling to understand what was taking place and being unsuccessful at coming to any balance or peace within, Siddhananda found her Guru, GuruSwamiG. Siddhananda has been with her Guru for 10 years. Increasing stability, deepening states as well as balance slowly filtered in during this time due to her Guru's grace and guidance. Recently, a profound shift took place in which all sense of separation and individuality suddenly dropped. Spontaneously, a starkly different reality was revealed–an immediate non-dual, pure beingness in which there never existed an "other". This presence (One without a second) has remained and is known without a doubt that it is the truth of what all of humanity truly is at the core. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/18/2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Siddhananda's spiritual journey 00:02:39 - Facing Fears in Graveyards 00:04:31 - The Poetry of Krishnamurti 00:06:01 - Debilitating Experiences and Mystical Insights 00:08:00 - The Pull of Spiritual Awakening 00:10:08 - From Darkness to Light 00:12:33 - Discovering Kundalini Energy 00:14:33 - The Potency and Caution of Spiritual Experiences 00:16:35 - Five Years of Intensity 00:18:58 - Kriyas and Spiritual Awakening 00:21:23 - Connecting with a Kundalini Guide in Seattle 00:23:36 - A Life-changing Encounter in India 00:25:35 - Finding Stability and Balance 00:28:20 - The Importance of a Guru Guide 00:31:14 - The Blessing of Suffering and Desperation for a Guru 00:33:52 - Submitting to a Teacher 00:37:30 - Trusting in the Inherent Intelligence of the Universe 00:40:47 - The Blessing of Guruji 00:43:26 - Vibrating Thoughts and Fluid Consciousness 00:45:49 - Devotional Experiences and the Practice of Mantras 00:49:00 - The Illusion of Seeking Phenomena 00:52:38 - The Experience of Non-Dual Consciousness 00:57:02 - The Dissolution of the Ego 01:01:39 - The Illusion of Separation 01:06:51 - The Revelation of Non-Dual Presence 01:13:28 - The Mystery of Personality and Identity 01:20:43 - The Nature of Ego and Suffering 01:25:45 - Working with Students in the Online Ashram 01:31:32 - The Temporal and Eternal Qualities of the Substratum 01:37:21 - Transmission and Bliss 01:44:34 - Trusting the Universe

47. Dr. Gregory Tucker Nov 26, 2010

Show notes

Dr. Gregory Tucker was a Clinical Psychologist who woke up when he read Wei Wu Wei's "Open Secret," one of eight books Terence Gray wrote between 1958 and 1974. The shift from the lie, right now is real, to the truth, right now is only a Mind generated dream, made him confront the fact "Psychotherapy" is not a people-based event, but only a dreamer-based event, in which the dream features all the problems the dreamer in the dream deals with in the process of defending the fiction it is 'the person' it portrays in the dream. Waking up occurs exactly as fast as the dreamer in the dream surrenders to the fact it can only be a dreamer in this dream, somewhere with that fact, and probably filling time defending the lie it is some kind of a person, and more likely than not, a less than okay person. Seeing 'the truth' prompted Greg to stop working with 'people' to work with the suffering dreamers endure defending the fiction they are people. He calls what he does, "The Recovery Process," which assists dreamers to identify that suffering is a function of defending a lie as if it is a fact. He has never looked back since that 'fateful' day in the dream. Interview recorded November 11, 2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:04:42 - The Nature of Enlightenment and the Evolution of Consciousness 00:10:22 - The Inevitable Growth of Consciousness 00:15:56 - The Perspective of Christ on Suffering 00:20:17 - The Intrigue of the Shift 00:23:58 - The Search for Truth and Reconnecting with Alignment 00:27:39 - The Truth Behind Impersonation and Amnesia 00:30:55 - The Paradox of Working with Invented Selves 00:34:34 - The Dilemma of Working with Clients 00:37:44 - Letting go of the lie of being a person in a dream 00:40:35 - The Dreaming Mind and the Illusion of Being a Person 00:43:52 - The Language of the Dream Mind 00:47:26 - Levels of Delusion and Enlightenment 00:50:50 - The Dreamer and the Dream 00:53:53 - The Illusion of Being a Person 00:57:26 - Using Suffering as Proof of Personhood 01:00:46 - The Relative Nature of Things 01:04:36 - The Levels of Reality 01:07:28 - The Nature of Mind and Consciousness 01:10:55 - Dissolving the Self 01:14:37 - Perspectives in Buddhism and Hinduism 01:18:27 - The Importance of Awakening and Enlightenment 01:22:11 - The Essence of Humor and Waking Up to the Dream 01:25:40 - Seeing Others as Dreamers 01:29:29 - Awakening Beyond the Dream 01:33:46 - Getting Out of Suffering and Articulating the Experience 01:37:40 - Playing the Part of a Loser 01:41:16 - The Fear of Truth in the Prison of Illusion 01:45:11 - Exploring Different Languages of Perception 01:48:36 - Hedging Bets and the End of Time 01:52:11 - Wrapping Up: Next Guest Announcement

30. Chuck Hillig Jul 22, 2010

Show notes

Chuck Hillig is a modern spiritual teacher, author and licensed psychotherapist whose clarity of expression has earned him the admiration and praise of many notable writers and lecturers in this area. Chuck writes personally and directly about the essence of non-dual spirituality and presents its astonishing truths to the average reader in ways that are totally unique, completely accessible and absolutely life-changing. Using his studies in both eastern philosophy and western psychology, Chuck’s five unique books present a world view that shows his readers how to fully live a truly enlightened and authentic life in the 21st Century by waking up to who they really are. His books and interviews about non-dualism have been published in nine languages. Chuck appears in the new Leap 3.0 movie as well as in many recent videos on youtube. Chuck Hillig makes his home in Locust Grove, Virginia, and has one heck of a good time living life. You can contact him at: chuck@chuckhillig.com. Website Chuck Hillig in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Chuck's books: Looking for God: Seeing the Whole in One The Way IT Is, 2nd Edition: Realizing the Truth About Everything Seeds for the Soul: Living as the Source of Who You Are Enlightenment for Beginners, Second Edition: Discovering the Dance of the Divine The Way It Is What Are You Doing in My Universe? The Magic King Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/21/10. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:10 - A Double Life in Catholicism 00:06:10 - Discovering Eastern Philosophy 00:08:58 - A Shift in Consciousness 00:12:09 - The Perfection of Everything 00:15:17 - Simplifying Enlightenment 00:18:16 - From Psychotherapy to Spiritual Awakening 00:21:42 - Integration and Conversation about Awakening Experiences 00:24:00 - Becoming a Parent and a Psychotherapist. 00:26:25 - Exploring Different Paths of Spiritual Awakening 00:28:31 - Embracing the Shifting Spectrum 00:30:55 - Subtle Seeds of Awakening 00:33:27 - The Path to Enlightenment and Supplementary Practices 00:36:01 - The Illusion of Spiritual Practices 00:38:09 - Addressing the Ultimate Primordial Question 00:40:03 - The Ungraspable Nature of Spiritual Awakening 00:42:29 - Transforming Lives through Conversation 00:44:48 - Connecting with Different Paths 00:47:20 - Krishnamurti's Intellectual Style 00:49:53 - Living Life with Humility and Joy 00:52:38 - Life is a Dream, Enjoy the Play 00:54:53 - The Illusion of Separation 01:00:00 - Embracing and Transcending Emotions 01:00:41 - Honoring the Great Drama of Life 01:03:13 - Neo-Advaita and Spiritual One-upmanship 01:05:53 - The Three Types of Aspirants 01:08:16 - Discussions about "Leap 3.0" and Chuck Hillig's DVD 01:10:06 - Daily State of the Industry Update and Personal Hobbies 01:12:03 - Unplanned Wisdom 01:13:43 - Concluding the Interview 01:15:16 - Final Farewells Save

28. Timothy Conway Jul 15, 2010

Show notes

This “insubstantial figure in the dream, pointing to the Divine Dreamer,” has lived and studied the nondual essence of our sacred traditions for 40 years since an utterly life-changing, spontaneous awakening to God or Reality in his 16th year in the hills of Southern California. Fortunately, Timothy met many enlightened masters, especially in Advaita Vedanta (Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Annamalai Swami, and others among Sri Ramana Maharshi’s immediate followers, Amma Amritanandamayi, Anandamayi Ma, Mother Krishnabai, Dadaji of Calcutta, et al.) and various lines of Buddhism (Taungpulu Sayadaw, Shifu Hsuan Hua, H.H. the Dalai Lama, Seung Sahn, et al.), as well as spiritual adepts in Taoism, Sufism, and mystic Christianity and Judaism. Timothy has freely shared the “pathless path” of deep spirituality for over 25 years in satsangs and in free ongoing education classes at Santa Barbara City College. Books: Women of Power & Grace: Nine Astonishing, Inspiring Luminaries of Our Time and the forthcoming India's Sages-- Volume 1, India's Sages: Nondual Wisdom from the Heart of Freedom, which profiles 40 authentic sages from the modern era; the even more massive Volume 2, India's Sages Source Book: Nondual Wisdom from Hindus, Buddhists, Jainas, Tantrics, Sants, Sikhs & Sufis, features over 120 wonderful sages and scriptures from India's "living past." A trilogy of works focusing on nondual spirituality, religion, science, and political justice is also in preparation. Print interview with Timothy can be found at: The Sun magazine, April 2003 cover story See also: Homepage for Timothy's massive website on many aspects of our Sacred Traditions The Nondual Spirituality section of the website For lightening up via humor, includes a link to an illustrated Zen humor page compiled by Timothy Free downloadable audio recordings of Timothy's weekly satsangs Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/14/10. Second BatGap interview with Timothy. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:17 - Tim's Personal Journey and Interest in the Personal 00:08:00 - Struggling with Depression and Identity Crisis 00:11:15 - The Profound Opening 00:15:09 - Divine Intervention and the Transformation 00:19:05 - The Franciscan Way and the Suchness of Being 00:23:33 - A Life-Changing Experience 00:27:05 - A Profound Change in Perception 00:30:55 - The Bedrock Sense of Joy and Maintaining Pure Awareness 00:34:37 - Astrological Background and Opening to Spiritual Vertigo 00:38:26 - The Presence of God and the Separation 00:42:22 - Challenging Non-Mystical Religiosity 00:46:10 - Meeting Dan, the History of Consciousness 00:49:26 - Who are you beyond concepts, beyond self-labels? 00:53:03 - Dan: A Significant Influence 00:56:59 - The Power of Stillness and Letting God Take Over 01:00:45 - The Fascination with God 01:03:48 - A Tragic Loss 01:06:14 - From Burma to India: A Spiritual Journey 01:09:16 - Divine Encounters in the Cave 01:13:10 - Sri Maharaj's Different Aspect 01:19:33 - Multiple facets of Maharaj 01:21:04 - The Struggle with Different Teachings 01:24:35 - The Paradox of Instruction 01:28:29 - The Vitality Meditation and the God of Your World 01:32:57 - The Dangers of One-upmanship in Spiritual Teachings 01:36:43 - Abuse of Power and Loneliness in Spiritual Communities 01:40:33 - The Evolution of Teachers and Their Contributions 01:44:44 - The Reasons for Intense and Painful Situations 01:48:46 - Concluding Remarks and Farewell 01:51:26 - End of Audio

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