Buddha at the Gas Pump

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633. William Peters Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

William Peters, MFT, is the founder of the Shared Crossing Project whose mission is to positively transform relationships to death and dying through education and raising awareness about shared crossings and their healing benefits. As the director of the Shared Crossing Research Initiative (SCRI), William and his team collect and study extraordinary end-of-life experiences (shared crossings). William is a global leader in shared death studies and end-of-life phenomena. He has developed methods to facilitate the shared death experience and to assist experiencers in meaningfully integrating their experiences. William is a psychotherapist at the Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara where he specializes in end-of-life counseling as a means toward psycho-spiritual evolution. He served as a hospice worker with Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco. His work is informed by his two NDEs and a variety of shared crossings. William has presented at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine’s Annual Conference. His research has been published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and is approved and awaiting publication in Omega - Journal of Death Studies. Book: At Heaven's Door: What Shared Journeys to the Afterlife Teach About Dying Well and Living Better. For more information on William go to SharedCrossing.com. Shared Crossing's Story Library contains videos of shared death experiences. Viewers may share their spiritual end-of-life experiences with Shared Crossing's research team. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded February 5, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:35 - The Spiritual Relevance of the Shared-Death Experience 00:09:02 - The Overmedicalization of Death 00:13:32 - The Purpose of Hospice and Palliative Care 00:17:48 - Physician's Orders for Life Sustaining Treatments 00:21:36 - Returning from the Light 00:25:55 - A State-specific Experience 00:30:12 - A Profound Encounter with Underprivileged People 00:34:43 - Encountering the Homeless Community 00:38:57 - Near-Death Experience and Re-Embodiment 00:43:36 - A Parallel Universe Above the Bed 00:48:12 - The Shared-Death Experience 00:52:38 - Remote Shared-Death Experience 00:57:05 - Sensory Experiences After Death 01:00:59 - A Mother's Premonition 01:04:52 - A Beautiful Being in a Hurry 01:08:53 - Phenomenon of the Soul Spirit Leaving the Body 01:13:49 - Witnessing the Departure 01:18:27 - Different modes of participation in near-death experiences 01:23:14 - The Conductor and Coordinating Human Death 01:27:15 - Cultural Experiences of the End of Life 01:31:28 - The Resistance to Studying Spiritual Experiences 01:35:36 - Science and Spirituality 01:39:56 - The Shared-Death Experience 01:43:51 - Facilitating Mystical Experiences at the End of Life 01:47:54 - Reflection on Suicide and Death 01:52:06 - Premonitions of Death 01:55:59 - Transition into the Afterlife 02:00:11 - Spiritual Aspects of Dying and the Need for Change 02:04:29 - Major Influencers and the Shared-Death Experience 02:08:25 - A New Paradigm for Death and Dying

562. James Finley Aug 04, 2020

Show notes

As a contemplative practitioner and clinical psychologist, James Finley helps seekers who desire to live a contemplative, whole life. Drawing from his experience as a former monk and spiritual directee of Thomas Merton, Jim offers trustworthy guidance for the spiritual journey through his website, online courses, occasional retreats, and the Center for Action and Contemplation where he serves as a core faculty member of The Living School for Action and Contemplation with Cynthia Bourgeault and Richard Rohr. Jim is the author of several books, including: Merton's Palace of Nowhere, The Contemplative Heart, and Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God. James's podcast, Turning to the Mystics is for people searching for something more meaningful, intimate, and richly present in the divine gift of their lives. A clinical psychologist, James offers a modern take on the historical contemplative practices of Christian mystics like Teresa of Avila and Thomas Merton. Leaning into their experiences can become a gateway to hope, healing, and oneness. In each episode, Jim reads an excerpt from a mystical text, unpacks the meaning and symbolism, and then concludes with meditation and prayer. Together with Kirsten Oates from the Center for Action and Contemplation, they explore listener questions and examine their own paths as modern contemplatives in this beautiful and broken world. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded August 1, 2020. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:41 - Thomas Merton: A Contemplative Life 00:09:00 - The Solitude of Thomas Merton 00:12:26 - Leaving the Monastery: Trauma and Abuse 00:15:25 - Unitive Experiences and Fragility in Spiritual Traditions 00:19:26 - Ascending to Higher States of Consciousness 00:22:53 - The Brokenness Within Oneself 00:26:45 - Abusive Relationships and Healing Processes 00:30:41 - Mystics and Enlightenment in Christianity 00:34:56 - Different Perspectives on Religion and Mysticism 00:38:44 - Awakening and the Path of Transformation 00:42:42 - The Endless Nature of Mysticism 00:46:53 - The Center for Action and Contemplation 00:50:28 - Finding a Healthy Balance 00:54:00 - God's Transcendence and Presence 00:58:32 - The Ocean of Reality and the Religious Experience 01:02:12 - The Play and Display of Divine Intelligence 01:09:28 - The Deathless Beauty of the Beloved 01:13:27 - The Unexpected Nearness of God 01:17:21 - Respecting the Physiology and the Path to Awakening 01:20:49 - The Asceticism of Dying and Letting Go 01:24:37 - Understanding the Crucifixion and Resurrection 01:28:46 - The Mystery of Faith and Resurrection 01:32:24 - The Mystery of the Trinity and God's Self-Expression 01:36:12 - Mystical Consciousness 01:40:05 - Sensitizing ourselves to the beating heart 01:44:18 - The Frustration of Spiritual Practice 01:48:18 - Teaching and Engagement Opportunities with James Finley 01:52:04 - Finding Your Practice and Community 01:55:44 - Farewell and Thanks

553. Dorothy Hunt, 2nd Interview Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

Dorothy Hunt serves as Spiritual Director of Moon Mountain Sangha, teaching at the request of Adyashanti. She is the founder of the San Francisco Center for Meditation and Psychotherapy and has practiced psychotherapy since 1967. She is the author of Leaves from Moon Mountain, Only This!, and Ending the Search: From Spiritual Ambition to the Heart of Awareness. A contributing author to The Sacred Mirror, and Listening from the Heart of Silence: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy, Dorothy is also a featured spiritual teacher in the book, Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Wisdom: The Feminine Face of Awakening. Dorothy has a long and deep connection to the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and the path of Self-Inquiry, as well as the nondual teachings of Zen, Advaita, and the Christian mystics. In meeting Adyashanti, she was invited beyond identification with either the absolute or relative, finding freedom in what is awake in each of us regardless of the changing faces of experience. Dorothy offers satsang, retreats, and private meetings in the San Francisco Bay area and elsewhere by invitation. For more information, visit www.dorothyhunt.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. First BatGap interview with Dorothy Hunt. This interview was recorded May 11, 2020, as part of an online conference offered by the Science and Nonduality Conference, held May 17-23, entitled Wisdom in Times of Crisis. The conference has finished, but you may sign up to access all of its content. Summary and transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:19 - "Ending the Search, From Spiritual Ambition to the Heart of Awareness" 00:03:52 - Trying New Things and Keeping the Brain Lively 00:05:17 - Accepting Our Humanness 00:07:09 - Seeing the World as Yourself 00:09:01 - Transformation on a Global Level 00:10:26 - Awakening to True Nature 00:12:19 - Embracing the Shadow Places 00:13:52 - Embracing Growth and Continuous Improvement 00:15:33 - The Power of the Story 00:17:16 - Connecting to the Deepest Dimension 00:18:43 - Finding Balance Amidst Fear and Anxiety 00:20:37 - Finding Peace in the Midst of a Storm 00:22:11 - The temporary clearing of the environment 00:23:48 - The Uncertainty of the Future 00:25:27 - Embracing Impermanence and Paradox 00:27:07 - The Intensity of Dreams and Collective Consciousness 00:28:52 - A Time of Forced Retreat and Contemplation 00:30:41 - Reflections on a Different Experience 00:32:18 - The Power of Silence and Deep Peace 00:33:56 - Grounding in Inner Peace and Collective Consciousness 00:35:43 - Making Spiritual Progress 00:37:25 - Shifting attention to the deeper dimensions 00:39:05 - Experiencing True Nature 00:40:40 - Connecting to Spirit through Different Practices 00:42:26 - "Do the Next Obvious Thing": Embracing Natural Meditation 00:43:52 - The Silence in the Midst of Noise 00:45:18 - Exploring the Inner Silence 00:47:05 - The Fear of Being Nobody 00:48:51 - Motherhood of the Divine 00:50:53 - Wrapping Up the Talk

500. Dani Antman May 02, 2019

Show notes

Dani Antman is an internationally known energy healer and interfaith minister in Santa Barbara, CA. She has been at the forefront of energy medicine and healing since 1992 when she graduated from the Barbara Brennan School of Healing. Dani is a graduate of The School for Nondual Healing and Awakening, where she taught for over nine years. She has led workshops at the Esalen Institute, La Casa de Maria, and The Lionheart Institute for Transpersonal Energy Healing. She is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and helps people recover from the effects of trauma and PTSD. She has received spiritual direction and assistance for over 17 years from Patanjali Kundalini Yoga Care (see BatGap interview with Joan Shivarpita Harrigan). Through this consistent guidance, she completed a challenging Kundalini process related to her Jewish past. She is dedicated to guiding others on their spiritual path. Silvia Eberl is the new lineage holder of Patanjali Kundalini Yoga Care, as designated by Swami Chandrasekharanand. She is working in Austria and Rishikesh, India. Her contact info is: bharatpkyc@yahoo.com. Websites: German version English version Dani's website: daniantman.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded April 27, 2019 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:59 - The Misleading Nature of Spiritual Purification 00:07:07 - Early Life and Tumultuous Times 00:11:27 - The Zen of Art and Focus during All-nighters 00:14:53 - Discovering Healing and Self-Transformation 00:18:57 - The Existence of a Subtle Body 00:22:57 - Distance Healing Mechanisms and Limitations 00:26:57 - Wholeness and Integrated Perception 00:30:59 - Seduction and Deception in Spiritual Teachers 00:35:30 - The Dark Side of Spiritual Teachers 00:39:38 - The Living Tradition of Kabbalah 00:44:00 - The Living Tradition of Enlightened Sages 00:47:46 - The Importance of Spiritual Activism and Seva 00:51:57 - The Sex Rising and its Effects 00:56:15 - A Rising in Spiritual Seekers 00:59:48 - Kundalini Awakening and Progressions 01:03:50 - Kundalini Awakening Journey 01:08:17 - Addressing the Root of the Problem 01:11:56 - Milestones in Spiritual Awakening 01:15:45 - Kundalini Awakening and Brain Support 01:19:23 - Repairing the Chakra System 01:22:50 - Kundalini Yoga and the Advaita Vedanta 01:26:21 - Loss and Grief, Near Death Experience 01:31:03 - Grounding into the Body, Running and Returning 01:35:06 - Surrendering to Grace 01:38:48 - The Power of Sincere Intentions and Desires 01:42:17 - Near Death Experience 01:46:24 - A Life-Changing Experience and Fearlessness 01:50:10 - Returning to the Jewish Lineage 01:53:57 - Connecting with Dani Antman 01:57:42 - Preserve the Teachings of Jesus

483. Thomas Hübl, 2nd Interview Dec 27, 2018

Show notes

Thomas Hübl is a modern mystic, spiritual teacher, author, and systems-thinker. His work integrates the essence of the great wisdom traditions, scientific knowledge, and his own personal experience. Thomas offers a unique approach to life as a ‘mystic in the marketplace’ and helps people to attain a deeper level of self-awareness and personal relationship and to transcend a ‘culture of the personal’ and a self-centered worldview. Through his work, people from all walks of life learn how to become a living expression of spirit and how to participate in ‘we cultures’ through an embodied inner and outer connection. His teachings combine transformation through the integration of trauma, somatic sensitization, advanced meditative practice, and a deepening understanding of cultural processes. Since 2004, Thomas’ leading-edge work has spread worldwide through workshops, multi-year training programs, and online courses. The non-profit ‘Celebrate Life Festival‘ brings together more than 1,200 people every year and has showcased a wide network of experts in various disciplines, through dialogue and exchange. In 2008 Thomas founded the ‘Academy of Inner Science’. This provided a framework for dialogue between the inner science of consciousness and the external scientific-academic exploration of life. Over the years Thomas has also organized several major healing events, aimed at healing the Holocaust’s cultural shadows. Thousands of Germans and Israelis have been brought together through these processes. In 2016 Thomas and his wife Yehudit founded the non-profit ‘Pocket Project‘, with the aim of exploring collective trauma and shadow work and integrating this through large-scale group processes. A global organization has been launched, intended to research and explore specific aspects of local traumatization. This applies both to past traumas and also to current conflict zones. Thomas was born in Austria in 1971 and now lives in Tel Aviv, Israel, with his wife, the Israeli artist Yehudit Sasportas and their daughter Eliya. Website: thomashuebl.com First BatGap interview with Thomas. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded October 27, 2018. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:40 - Spiritual Practice and Shadow Work 00:07:08 - The Importance of Supervision and Shadow Work 00:10:09 - The Expansion of Self Awareness 00:13:50 - The Crystallization of Shadow Language 00:17:06 - Healing Trauma and Developing Sensitivity 00:20:36 - Healing Generational Trauma 00:24:00 - Meditation and Trauma Healing 00:27:17 - The Path through the Fire 00:30:25 - The Absorbing Nature of the World 00:33:38 - Digesting Life Through Meditation 00:36:52 - Flowing with the Path of Least Action 00:39:58 - Understanding the Relationship Between Weakness and Trauma 00:43:31 - Trauma and Dysregulation in Addiction 00:46:44 - Trauma and the Nervous System 00:49:40 - The Collective Field and the Debt of Karma 00:53:26 - Trauma, Epigenetics, and Reincarnation 00:56:30 - The Interconnectedness of Reality 01:00:00 - Process Awareness and Symptom Analysis 01:03:04 - Unconscious Polarization 01:06:28 - Turbulence and the Awakening of Collective Consciousness 01:10:02 - The Interconnectedness of Pollution and Human Health 01:13:21 - The Earth's Immune System and the Spiritual Awakening 01:17:00 - The Fluidity of Life's Challenges and Solutions 01:20:20 - Inner and Outer Science 01:23:41 - Healing Spiritual Trauma 01:27:08 - Spiritual Trauma and Self-scrutiny 01:30:34 - The Beauty of Individuality and Non-Duality 01:34:08 - Living a Multidimensional Life 01:37:39 - The Power of Resonance and Thought-Provoking Conversations 01:40:43 - Dealing with Collective Trauma

444. Kimberly Braun Mar 07, 2018

Show notes

Kimberly Braun, Minister, M.A., CSP and Meditation Coach has been impelled from and within her contemplative experiences from the age of 5, with over ten of her years spent as a Carmelite monastic nun. Her Masters in theology was completed in 2001 in Washington D.C., and is concentrated upon the adult spiritual journey. As a CSP, keynote presentations are a primary tool in her personal mission to inspire others to live from the power and wisdom within them. Her style is playful, deeply inquiring, and intelligent in the synthesis of not only how to access this part of ourselves, but how to live from that place more consistently. She is a retreat and workshop facilitator, TEDx speaker, meditation faculty at the renowned Omega Institute, and fellow seeker on the path to living freely. She has three CDs and a book now available about her time as a nun, Love Calls: Insights of a Former Carmelite Nun. She is just launching into the online world with her World Meditation for Happiness project, new online courses, and a FREE online spiritual community. Kimberly is now available for private sessions, keynotes, and retreats. Stay in touch by visiting: www.kimberlybraun.com. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded Feb. 24, 2018 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction with Rick and Kimberly 00:02:56 - Early Spiritual Experiences 00:06:13 - The Path to Enlightenment and Life After Death 00:10:07 - The Unknown Leading to Atheism 00:14:10 - Embracing the Unknown in our Spiritual Journey 00:18:11 - From Passion to Confusion 00:22:34 - Surrendering to Spiritual Experiences 00:26:34 - A Mysterious Encounter 00:29:47 - Rising Energetic Constructs and Consciousness 00:33:21 - Expanding into Universal Essence and Non-dual Tantra 00:37:29 - Living Life Fully 00:42:04 - The Dancing Shiva and Free Will 00:45:48 - The Perception of Separation and the Nature of God 00:50:11 - Deepening our understanding of God 00:54:19 - Achieving a Connection with Spirit 00:58:23 - The Observer in Meditation 01:02:29 - The Power of Observing and Allowing 01:06:45 - Living in a Monastery 01:10:11 - The Honeymoon Years 01:13:34 - A Journey of Transformation and Service 01:17:37 - Leaving the Monastery and Grieving 01:20:48 - A Container for the Ineffable 01:25:07 - A Magical Autumn Experience 01:28:41 - The Journey of Healing and Growth 01:32:16 - Tasting the Brilliance Within 01:35:53 - Exploring Higher Realms 01:39:58 - The Never-Ending Mystic Adventure 01:43:55 - The Irrelevance of Having an End Point 01:48:13 - The Mayavadins and the Vaishnavites 01:51:43 - Continuing the Journey with Kimberly Bronn 01:54:42 - Farewell and Gratitude

369. Michael A. Rodriguez Nov 03, 2016

Show notes

Michael A. Rodriguez is a spiritual teacher who works with people in meetings, retreats, and private sessions on a full-time basis in the United States and abroad. He holds four academic degrees, including a master's degree in comparative religion from Harvard and a Ph.D. in English literature from Florida State University; taught at the university level for well over a decade; and has lived long-term in two monasteries. Drawing always from his direct experience, Michael illuminates the undivided nature of Life or Consciousness with great clarity and compassion, pointing to reality in a way that is free from dogma, ritual, or adherence to any particular tradition. Michael draws skillfully from the world's wisdom traditions and also integrates Jungian psychology, literature, music, and art into his work to address the full range of human potential. His book--Boundless Awareness: A Loving Path to Spiritual Awakening and Freedom from Suffering--distills the essence of his teaching and is now available on Amazon. Website: BoundlessAwareness.org Book: Boundless Awareness: A Loving Path to Spiritual Awakening and Freedom from Suffering YouTube Channel Michael in a panel discussion on the direct vs. progressive paths. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/20/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:44 - The Glimmer 00:06:58 - The Depths of Literary Texts 00:10:16 - The Path of Literature and Teaching 00:13:38 - The Source of Absolute Knowledge 00:17:09 - Zen and Spiritual Teachings in Academia 00:20:33 - Literature and Spirituality 00:23:29 - The Limitations of Academic Education 00:26:31 - The Disconnect Between Education and Spiritual Development 00:29:48 - Rediscovering Wonder and Imagination 00:32:37 - Finding Moments of Stillness in Daily Life 00:35:51 - The Importance of Effective Practice 00:38:57 - Becoming More Earnest About Spirituality 00:41:48 - Facing Fears and Following Your Truth 00:45:00 - Being True and its Impact on Society 00:48:29 - The Societal Implications of Understanding Conscious Presence 00:52:11 - The Aliveness of Consciousness 00:55:59 - The Non-Dual Awareness of Jesus and "Do unto others" 00:59:33 - Marinating in the Felt Sense of Being 01:02:31 - The Gift of Sitting with Conscious Beings 01:05:55 - The Invitation of Suffering 01:09:26 - Being Consciousness, Not Conscious 01:12:46 - Seeking Abiding Contentment 01:15:40 - The Shift to Pure Awareness 01:19:11 - Returning to the Natural State 01:22:13 - Embracing the Perfection of the Moment 01:25:45 - The Relaxed Journey of Awakening 01:29:04 - The Flow of Experience and Consciousness 01:32:11 - Influential Teachers in the Journey of Self-Realization 01:35:28 - A Journey of Self-Awareness 01:38:34 - Enhancing the Spiritual Resource Save Save

293. Wayne Wirs May 25, 2015

Show notes

Wayne took his own life on August 31, 2017. Discussion in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Eulogy written for Wayne by Jerry Freeman. Putting his words in the past tense, Wayne Wirs was a transparent, rational, nondual mystic. Wayne blogged about his day-to-day life as a semi-homeless, van-dwelling drifter and had been doing so before, during, and after his awakening experience in 2009. Wayne considered himself more of a spiritual explorer than teacher, so his "teachings" tended toward first-hand, real-world experiences (open-ended, integral, mystical and evidence-based) rather than academic hard and fast truths. Unlike many nondual teachers who focus on an all-or-nothing approach to awakening, Wayne advocated a simple yet integral fading of the ego based on key qualities: Eternal (soul, practical), Radiance (love, emotional), Emptiness (awareness, rational), and Intimate (mystical experience). He called this dynamic, flowing, magical way of living Mystical Oneness. Wayne had two key sayings which best describe his message: "The less there is of you, the more there is of the Divine." "The smart have their books. The wise have their scars." Website: waynewirs.com Books: Mystical Oneness and the Nine Aspects of Being: A step-by-step guide to enlightenment and beyond Fading Toward Enlightenment A Mystic's Journal: The Dilemma of Divine Surrender A Simple Explanation For Everything Seeing Clearly Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/23/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:02 - Living a Nomadic Lifestyle 00:07:36 - A Stern Confrontation 00:16:03 - The Journey to Teacher Mode 00:22:16 - Detaching from Thoughts and the Thread of Existence 00:27:31 - The Divine Interaction in My Life 00:33:58 - The Limitations of Personal Experience and Concepts in Enlightenment 00:40:18 - The Wisdom of Scars 00:45:15 - A Beautiful Encounter with a Mentally Slow Man 00:49:00 - The Experience of the Flowing Self 00:53:18 - The Importance of Living the Experience 00:58:16 - The Practice of Living True and Karmic Implications 01:02:36 - The Challenges of Swearing and Fading into Enlightenment 01:06:38 - Communion with God and Nature 01:11:16 - The Four Stages of Spiritual Awakening 01:15:57 - The Hardest One: Emptiness and Thoughts 01:20:28 - Surrendering to Her Will 01:23:56 - Facing Fear in the Dark 01:27:02 - Setting Boundaries and Taking Action 01:30:10 - Balancing Flow with Individual Intention 01:33:52 - Going with the Flow and Divine Intelligence 01:37:24 - Evidence of God and the Denial of Atheism 01:40:10 - Awakening and Becoming a Mystic 01:43:31 - The Concept of Opposites and Polarities 01:47:00 - The Perspective on Death 01:50:21 - The Illusion of Fixed Identity 01:53:52 - Living from the Heart 01:56:47 - Charging for Skype Conversations 02:01:18 - Wrap-Up and Appreciation for Wayne Save Save Save Save

239. Marlies Cocheret de la Morinière Jul 10, 2014

Show notes

Marlies Cocheret de la Morinière brings a potent invitation into the deep Silence that we are. She has been offering satsang and retreat since 2000 when her root teacher, Adyashanti, asked her to teach. Marlies is trained as a psychologist in The Netherlands and works as a certified Hakomi practitioner and a certified Tantric educator. She invites all seekers to live as the Divine in the body. She brings together Sensuality and the Silence of our Being. With love, directness and humor Marlies creates a safe place for seekers to discover and deepen into the Stillness and Love that is our True Nature. She works internationally and lives in Santa Cruz, California. Marlies' website: marliescocheret.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/5/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Struggling with Pronunciation 00:04:51 - Discovering Osho and Going to India 00:08:44 - The Human Side of Gurus 00:12:52 - A Transformative Experience with Osho 00:16:20 - The Deep Silence of Adya 00:20:20 - The Power of Transmission and Silence 00:24:47 - Discovering Stillness and Silence 00:28:44 - The Importance of Practice 00:33:08 - The Solvent of Realizing True Nature 00:37:00 - Realizing Something Beyond the Human 00:40:07 - The Awakening Process and the Power of Stillness 00:44:35 - A Journey of Healing and Self-Discovery 00:48:43 - The Deepening Process of Awakening 00:53:05 - The Beauty of Beginner's Mind 00:57:00 - The Challenge of Calming the Nervous System 01:00:32 - Exploring Tantra with Sri M 01:04:33 - Sexuality and Tantra 01:09:06 - Shankara's Divine Intervention 01:12:56 - Sacred Sexuality and Healing 01:16:54 - Healing and Awakening 01:21:27 - Total Inclusiveness and Following Orders 01:24:38 - The Method of Realms Therapy and Mindfulness Experiments 01:27:36 - Studying with Sharon Lentrit and a Week-Long Retreat 01:30:55 - A new ingredient in the soup 01:34:44 - Embracing the Essence of All That Is 01:38:47 - Being Authentic as a Teacher 01:42:58 - Understanding Enlightenment 01:46:32 - Liberation and Enlightenment 01:49:52 - Overflowing Generosity and Gratitude 01:53:12 - Interview with Marlies Cocheret de la Mourinière 01:55:49 - Traveling Europe, UK, and Ireland

121. Sundance Burke May 08, 2012

Show notes

Sundance Burke, Spiritual Teacher and Author, was born in Seattle, Washington under the given name, Donald Russell Burke III. He is a graduate of the University of Washington and the Gonzaga School of Law. Sundance is a former lawyer and businessman. He is the father of two children and the grandfather of three. Sundance Burke is the author of Free Spirit: A Guide to Enlightened Being, published in 2008. He offers public talks, meditation gatherings, video recordings, private meetings, intensive workshops and retreats for those who long to awaken from the fearful dream of human separation and suffering. While traveling for law business in 1982, Sundance was graced with the profound spiritual experience of being the loving witness to the mind’s dream of personal existence. This awareness of impersonal being completely shattered his former understanding of self-identity and the nature of his world. In the years that followed, he found himself undertaking an intense inward journey into the heart of this realization. In 1988, he met his future wife and teaching partner, Katie Davis, who had similarly experienced the miracle of Self-liberation. In 2004, Sundance and Katie moved to Maui to marry and write the realization of Beloved Being. Sitting side by side, their books took form and expression. Currently, they are again residing in the Seattle area and they continue to point to our True Presence, as conscious freedom and causeless joy. Katie Davis is the author of Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment. Interviews with Sundance and Katie about awakening are included in the recently published book, Conversations on Non-Duality; Twenty-six Awakenings. The AWAKE SPIRIT TEACHINGS of Sundance and Katie have helped many people throughout the world to find inner peace, wise love and greater fulfillment in their lives. At the core of this teaching is a spiritual awakening that transcends the ego-based state of consciousness into the harmony and unity of pure awareness, a field of infinite possibility and the sacred heart of all Being. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/5/2012. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Sundance Burke's Spiritual Journey 00:05:06 - The Paradox of Outer Life and Inner Unhappiness 00:10:44 - A Mysterious Encounter with Satoshi 00:14:31 - Siddhis and their potential effects 00:18:18 - Losing Everything, Starting Over with Stand-Up Comedy 00:22:50 - Miracles and Enlightenment 00:26:05 - Exploring Spiritual Texts 00:29:25 - Awakening to Self-Realization 00:33:22 - Understanding the Power of Attention 00:36:59 - Establishing Presence 00:40:20 - Breakthrough and Burning Desire 00:44:08 - A Shift in Self-Reflection 00:47:46 - The End of Longing 00:51:26 - Being Honest and Present 00:54:47 - The Fire of Presence 00:58:23 - The Path of Devotion 01:01:31 - The Two Paths to Freedom: Self-Inquiry and Presence 01:04:44 - Self-Inquiry and Presence 01:08:10 - The False Self and Identification 01:11:09 - The Ego as a Tool 01:14:40 - Dissolving the Ego and Finding True Self 01:18:01 - The Nature of Consciousness 01:21:59 - The Power of Silence and Stillness 01:25:59 - Different Strokes for Different Folks 01:29:10 - The Power of Witnessing and Harmonizing 01:33:14 - Collective Awakening and Changing Paradigms 01:38:09 - Turning to love, the future of service 01:42:15 - Overcoming the Ego Inside and Outside 01:46:42 - The Power of Love and Inspiration 01:50:09 - The Name "Sundance" 01:52:49 - How to Stay Updated with "Buddha at the Gas Pump"

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