Buddha at the Gas Pump

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659. Jessica Eve Aug 24, 2022

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After years of radical liberation in my own absence eventually became another kind of prison, I found freedom from "Enlightenment" in the freedom to live a richly human bittersweet life, in a new way, the way of transimmanence, in which the spiritual and the material are unified, and everything including suffering is a sacred expression of the divine. Discovering how many other people have been harmed by modern adaptations of liberation via self-negation teachings, I've become a Spiritual Emergence Coach, and run peer support groups for people experiencing spiritual crisis, especially related to Neo-Advaita. Website: thegloriousbothand.com Subscribe to monthly newsletter YouTube Channel Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded August 21, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:02 - Childhood Panic Attacks and Existential Thoughts 00:07:49 - Dissolution of the Sense of Self 00:11:20 - The Beginnings of Pure OOCD and Existential Thoughts 00:15:26 - Awakening Beyond Thought and Self 00:19:43 - The Path of Jnana Yoga 00:23:34 - Exploring the Demise of Ego and Boundaries 00:27:20 - The Dark Side of Radical Contentment 00:31:35 - Concerns about Neo-Advaita in Self-Help Books 00:35:20 - The Relief of Realizing Nothing Matters 00:39:45 - The Fear of Death and Martyr Complex 00:44:23 - Embracing Paradox in Spiritual Awareness 00:47:58 - The Erosion of Language and Relationships 00:51:59 - The Pitfall of the Spiritual Ego 00:55:35 - The Shift into Depersonalization 00:59:26 - The Value of Going through Different Phases 01:03:32 - Exploring New Paradigms of Reality 01:07:40 - The Illusion of Selflessness and Awakening 01:11:09 - The challenge of Neo-Advaita spiritual teachings 01:14:48 - The Non-permanence of Flashy Experiences and the Misunderstanding of Realization 01:18:32 - Interpretations of the Ultimate Truth 01:22:24 - Embracing Fear and the Process of Rebirth 01:26:02 - Realization of the larger aspect of one's nature 01:29:25 - Dissolution of Physicality and Meditation Process 01:32:59 - Kundalini Awakenings and the Dangers of Neo-Advaita 01:36:27 - The Nothing Conference 01:40:17 - The Oneness of Individuals 01:43:30 - Eye Gazing and Unividuality 01:47:23 - The Severe Consequences of Toxic Teachings 01:50:52 - Living in Boundlessness and Boundaries 01:54:18 - Subscriber Notification System

395. Pamela Wilson, 2nd Interview Apr 13, 2017

Show notes

Pamela Wilson celebrates 20 years of being on the road worldwide sharing Truth, Clarity, Love and the Joy of Being. Her new book The Golden Retriever's Guide to Joy is a distillation of everything she has noticed within, reading the Book of Life, within Stillness. She delights in getting to the Heart of the Matter, literally, finding the intelligent presence within all form and function. And then showing it its true nature.So, that emotion, sensation, the body and the mind can also return and stabilize as balanced rooted spaciousness. Join the fun, Life is simple within its complexity! Website Previous interview with Pamela Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/11/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Buddha at the Gas Pump Introduction 00:04:20 - Living in Rooted Spaciousness 00:07:35 - Joy in Heaven 00:10:59 - The Universal Language of Respect 00:14:21 - Noticing the Felt Sense 00:17:32 - The Value of Being Grounded and Established 00:21:02 - The Enlightenment of Dogs 00:24:03 - Experiencing Spiritual Evolution 00:27:48 - Liberating the Mind 00:31:09 - Stillness and Conditioning 00:34:18 - The Mysterious Nature of the Body 00:38:03 - The Basis of Activity and Rest 00:41:30 - The Intelligence of Life 00:44:33 - The Illusion of Control 00:47:33 - The Sense of Personal Self 00:51:02 - The Nature of Consciousness 00:54:20 - The Grace of Exhaustion 00:57:26 - The Role of Serotonin in Mood Regulation 01:00:46 - The Path of Least Action 01:04:07 - The Eternal Nature of Life 01:07:50 - The Quibble about Reincarnation 01:10:53 - Strength and Vulnerability 01:14:14 - Natural Retreats and Divine Beings 01:17:34 - The Power of Love and Respect 01:21:13 - The Language of the Heart 01:24:40 - The Art of Dismantling Defenses 01:27:55 - Divine Qualities and their Opposites 01:31:31 - Yudhishtira's Test by Lord Shiva 01:34:40 - Falling apart to make room for the new story 01:38:08 - Introduction to Pamela Wilson’s Offerings 01:41:08 - Music Save Save

329. Andrew Harvey Jan 31, 2016

Show notes

Andrew Harvey is an author, speaker and founder/director of the Institute of Sacred Activism, an international organization focused on inviting concerned people to take up the challenge of our contemporary global crises by becoming inspired, effective and practical agents of institutional and systemic change, in order to create peace and sustainability. Andrew Harvey has taught at Oxford University, Cornell University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, The California Institute of Integral Studies, and the University of Creation Spirituality as well as at various spiritual centers throughout the U.S. He was the subject of the 1993 BBC film documentary The Making of a Modern Mystic and appears also in Rumi Turning Ecstatic and The Consciousness Of The Christ: Reclaiming Jesus for a New Humanity. He has also worked with the great Iranian Sufi dancer, Banafsheh Sayyad, in producing a film, In the Fire of Grace, which marries Sufi inspired dances to the stages of Rumi’s understanding of the path of Divine love. He has written and edited over 30 books and received many awards, including the Benjamin Franklin Award and the Mind Body Spirit Award. Website: andrewharvey.net Some of Andrew's many books: Savage Grace: Living Resiliently in the Dark Night of the Globe The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism Radical Passion: Sacred Love and Wisdom in Action Light the Flame: 365 Days of Prayer Movie referred to during the interview: A Human Search: The Life of Father Bede Griffiths (1993) Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/25/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 00:04:48 - Returning to the Sources of My Childhood 00:08:24 - Mystical Experiences and Life Changes 00:11:34 - The Purpose of Our Souls' Work 00:14:54 - The Transforming Power of Love 00:18:22 - The Dark Night: A Process of Divinization 00:21:27 - Embracing the Depths of the Shadow 00:24:44 - The Urgency of Preparing for Evolutionary Shattering 00:29:39 - The Marriage of Opposites 00:35:12 - The Marriage of Mission and Heart 00:39:34 - The Power of Love in the World 00:43:37 - Networks of Grace and Radical Social Work 00:48:43 - The Paradigm of Deep Cooperation and Collaboration 00:53:56 - Creating an Alternate Reality 00:59:03 - The Transformation of Birthing the Divine in the Human 01:03:43 - The Power of Unconditional Forgiveness 01:08:24 - Changing the World Through Collective Action 01:13:20 - The Process of Transformation through Divine Self 01:18:55 - The Price of Spiritual Awakening 01:23:36 - Gratitude and Appreciation for a Difficult Breakup 01:27:46 - Abusive Power in Spiritual Circles 01:31:08 - The Modulation of Softness and Flexibility 01:34:36 - Mystical Christianity and Hinduism-Buddhism Integration 01:38:21 - Finding Grace in Everyday Joys 01:42:23 - The Endless Evolution of Enlightenment 01:46:38 - Enlightenment and the Sacrifice of Ramana Maharshi 01:49:30 - Cultivating Humility through Practices 01:53:00 - The Dance Between Light and Dark 01:56:39 - The Primordial Love Relationship 01:59:24 - Life well-lived in progress 02:02:28 - Free resources and ongoing project Save

125. Nirmala Jun 04, 2012

Show notes

After a lifetime of spiritual seeking, Nirmala met his teacher, Neelam, a devotee of H.W.L. Poonja (Papaji). She convinced him that seeking wasn't necessary; and after experiencing a profound spiritual awakening in India, he began offering satsang and Nondual Spiritual Mentoring with Neelam's blessing. This tradition of spiritual wisdom has been most profoundly disseminated by Ramana Maharshi, a revered Indian saint, who was Papaji's teacher. Nirmala's perspective was also profoundly expanded by his friend and teacher Adyashanti. Nirmala offers satsang in gratitude for the love and grace that flow through his teachers, Neelam and Adyashanti, and for the Truth brought to this world by Ramana Maharshi and H.W.L. Poonja. Advaita satsang is offered as a celebration of the possibility, in every moment, of recognizing the truth of who we are. Nirmala offers a unique vision and a gentle, compassionate approach, which adds to this rich tradition of inquiry into the truth of Being. Nirmala lives in Sedona, Arizona with his wife, Gina, and their two dogs, Rafi and Rumi. Contact Nirmala by using the contact form here. Read an interview with Nirmala here. More information about Gina and her books, including Radical Happiness: A Guide to Awakening, is available on radicalhappiness.com. More of Nirmala's books: Everything Is Included: Essays About Truth, Love, and Awareness That Is That: Essays About True Nature Gifts With No Giver: A Love Affair With Truth Living From The Heart Meeting the Mystery: Exploring the Aware Presence at the Heart of All Life Referred to during the interview: Video of Andromeda Galaxy colliding with ours in 8.5 billion years. Bill Moyers and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt talk about the psychological underpinnings of our contentious culture, why we can’t trust our own opinions, and the demonizing of our adversaries. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/2/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Nirmala and his teachings 00:04:09 - The Measurement of Truth 00:07:47 - Focusing on Desires and Sense of Self 00:11:01 - The Geographic Cure and Conditioning 00:14:20 - Focusing and Expanding 00:17:49 - The Illusion of Reality 00:21:15 - The Fundamental Quality of Space 00:24:52 - The Space Within and Without 00:27:53 - Contemplating the Existence of Intelligence in Everything 00:31:46 - The Illusion of Thoughts and Political Perspectives 00:35:33 - The Role of Spirituality in Politics and Morality 00:40:02 - Functioning in Vastness and Discriminating Truth 00:44:11 - The Ordinary Experience of Being the Boss 00:48:07 - Discrimination and Heart Wisdom 00:52:12 - The Concept of Better and Worse in Experience 00:56:38 - The Illusion of "Better" Sound 01:00:27 - The Small Truth of Money and Happiness 01:04:31 - The Journey of Self-Discovery 01:08:58 - An Unexpected Journey towards Awakening 01:13:19 - Letting go of the desire to awaken 01:17:52 - Following the Heart 01:21:36 - Oneness with the Ganges River 01:26:14 - The Invitation to Give Satsang 01:29:54 - Trust in Physical Reality 01:33:37 - The Sacredness of Reality 01:37:23 - Finding Balance with Sweets 01:41:23 - The Experience of Consciousness and Meditation 01:45:26 - The Definition of Jnanis and Yogis 01:49:36 - The Infinite Possibilities of Consciousness 01:54:00 - Levels of Consciousness beyond a Thousand 01:57:19 - Wrapping Up and Thank You

124. Scott Kiloby, 2nd Interview May 28, 2012

Show notes

Scott Kiloby is an author and international speaker on mindfulness and addiction recovery. Scott is also the founder and director of the Kiloby Center for Recovery. After twenty years of addiction to drugs and alcohol, Scott began to develop Natural Rest for Addiction which has helped people all over the world confront the root of their addiction, anxiety, and depression. Scott was the COO of MyLife Recovery which held the patent on the naltrexone implant. Scott also developed an app that acts as an interface between pain management doctors and their patients to decrease the likelihood of addiction. The app also protects doctors legally from claims of negligence arising out of opiate overdoses. Along with his work at the Kiloby Center, Scott is also the director and co-owner of the Natural Rest House, a detox and residential addiction treatment center located in La Quinta, California. In addition to Natural Rest for Addiction: A Radical Approach to Recovery Through Mindfulness and Awareness, Scott is the author of the following books which can be found on Amazon: Living Realization: A Simple, Plain-English Guide to Non-Duality The Unfindable Inquiry: One Simple Tool to Overcome Feelings of Unworthiness and Find Inner Peace Reflections of the One Life: Daily Pointers to Enlightenment Doorway to Total Liberation: Conversations with What Is Love's Quiet Revolution: The End Of The Spiritual Search Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded 5/26/2012. 1st interview with Scott 3rd interview with Scott YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:09 - The Significance of Non-Dual Realization 00:07:04 - Seeking Validation in Relationships 00:09:26 - Inquiry into Self-Worth and Inadequacy 00:11:54 - The Velcro Effect: Letting Go of Negative Thoughts 00:13:45 - Overcoming the "I'm unlovable" story in relationships 00:15:53 - The Transformative Power of Relationship 00:18:04 - The Rewiring of Physiology for Realization 00:20:32 - The Dangers of Non-Seeking 00:23:17 - The Present Exploration 00:26:31 - The Unfindable Self 00:29:24 - The Unfindability of Personal Perspectives 00:32:26 - The Unfindable Self 00:34:40 - The Deficient Self 00:37:13 - The Inquiry and Self-Perception 00:39:44 - The Pursuit of Perfection 00:42:25 - The Suffering of Ambition 00:44:25 - Harnessing Authentic Ambitions 00:46:38 - Energetically Different Approach to Music Creation 00:49:03 - Performing One's Own Dharma 00:51:29 - The Mirror of Bullying 00:54:06 - Overcompensating and Awakening 00:56:46 - Awakening and Ego Aggrandizement 00:58:51 - The Recognition of Something Unchanging 01:01:11 - Being True to Yourself in Non-Dual Awakening 01:03:35 - Peacemaking and the Avoidance of Conflict 01:05:45 - The Readiness to Look 01:08:00 - The Connection Between Self and the World 01:10:25 - Finding Facilitators on livingrealization.org 01:12:13 - Wrapping Up and Next Week's Interview with Nirmala 01:13:53 - The Conversation Continues

123. Yogi Amrit Desai May 23, 2012

Show notes

Yogi Amrit Desai is internationally recognized for carrying the deeper meaning and experience of yoga to people around the globe. He has been teaching since 1960 and is the author of many writings on the profound depth and transformational power of yoga as it relates to health, personal growth, and interpersonal relationships. He is the originator of Kripalu Yoga and the Integrative Amrit Methods® (IAM) of Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Quantum Breath Meditation practiced and taught by thousands worldwide. His teachings are universal, experiential and easily adaptable by anyone, regardless of religious or cultural tradition. Book about Yogi Amrit Desai: Gurudev: The Life of Yogi Amrit Desai Books by Yogi Amrit Desai: A Yogic Perspective on the 12 Steps Love & Bliss: Meditations on the Art of Living Amrit Yoga and the Yoga Sutras The Yoga of Relationships: A Practical Guide for Loving Yourself and Others Amrit Yoga: Explore, Expand, Experience the Spiritual Depth of Yoga MP3 Download: Working miracles of love: A collection of teachings CD: Ecstatic Chanting Yogi Desai's website: amrityoga.org Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/20/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Yogi Amrit Desai 00:02:55 - The Inspirational Guru and the Beginnings of Yoga Teaching 00:06:36 - The Growth of Yoga in the 70s 00:09:37 - The Experiential Teachings of Yoga and Kundalini Awakening 00:11:54 - Kundalini Yoga and Shaktipat 00:14:58 - Actionless Action 00:18:01 - Accessing Pranic Intelligence 00:21:04 - Connecting with the Higher Power 00:24:22 - The Conflict of Polarity and Duality 00:27:22 - Turning reaction into response 00:30:00 - Seeing through Consciousness 00:32:27 - The Evolution of "I Am" and the Union of Male and Female 00:35:26 - Animals and Human Relationships 00:37:41 - The Shore of Oneness 00:40:20 - Possibility of Further Unfoldment 00:43:20 - The Phenomenon of Walk-Ins and Guru Lineage 00:46:06 - Questions about the Subtle Manifestation of the Ocean 00:48:27 - The Third Dimension and the Miraculous 00:50:58 - Integrative Action and Yogic Philosophy 00:53:47 - Yoga as a Holistic Practice 00:56:31 - Siddhis as Signposts in Yoga Practice 00:59:30 - The Power of Resolves and Affirmations in Yoga Nidra 01:02:42 - Overcoming Addictions through Inner Stress Resolution 01:05:39 - Living in Light and Darkness 01:08:37 - Enlightenment and the Remnants of Individuality 01:11:16 - Managing Sexual Energy and the Misconceptions about Yogis 01:14:20 - Marriage and Expectations 01:17:38 - Devotion and Self-Realization 01:19:54 - Bridging Science and Spirituality 01:22:08 - Supporting and Enriching Different Traditions in Yoga 01:24:25 - Farewell and Future Meetings

102. Canela Michelle Meyers Dec 21, 2011

Show notes

The journey for Canela Michelle towards this realization was happening long before she had heard of the potential of consciously living in the stateless state of Being. Once she heard that this was possible in 1995, the path was lit up and speedy until she ended up in Satsang with Isaac Shapiro in February 1998. By this time her inner and outer explorations were deep and subtle yet her explorations of what she perceived seemed to only serve to expand all of that even more…so she simply asked Isaac: ‘Is it beyond perception?’ He answered ‘Yes’ and in that moment, what was there previously as some sort of structure fell away, leaving only ‘What Is’ at play and Awareness being aware of That. Canela Michelle is an expression of Awareness in each moment…just like everyone else is whether they recognize it yet or not (as is all that appears – air, body, thought, chair, taste, etc.). Her love is in supporting people to relax open to this Truth. Supporting them to allow themselves to not only recognize Love but to experience That; simply as it is, dependant on nothing at all. Awareness is the constant in the midst of the play of events. What rises, or appears in each moment might feel or look like an obstacle to Love, yet when a person opens to directly experiencing whatever that is, it shifts, changes and merges with all that is…no longer appearing as if it were an obstacle. There is nowhere to get to, you are already ‘Here’; it’s simply a matter of ‘meeting’ whatever might be appearing, right here, right now, in each moment. Once explored, it is recognized only as an invitation, from your Self to your Self…Love beckoning you hither. The support is offered in Satsang Meditation gatherings, individual & couple Satsang Sessions in person or by phone, and in her first book: Right Here, Right Now Meditations: Satsang Invitations for Expanding Awareness (Volume 1) Canela's website. 2nd interview with Canela Canela in BatGap panel discussion at Sofia University Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/18/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Canella Michelle Myers and her spiritual awakening journey 00:04:20 - Opening to Psychic Information 00:07:48 - Psychic Detective Work 00:11:58 - Overcoming Addiction through Awareness 00:16:14 - Exploring the Spiritual Search 00:19:43 - The Experience of Emotions and Being with Others 00:22:39 - Dissolving the Belief in a Separate Self 00:25:42 - Embracing Self-Care and Love Within 00:29:08 - Finding Comfort in Being Held 00:32:38 - Meeting Your Own Longings 00:35:52 - Falling and Being with the Moments 00:39:57 - The Solid Part that's Not Solid 00:44:23 - Learning Empathy and Caring from Church 00:48:49 - Healing from Childhood Anger and Guilt 00:52:39 - A Shift into White Light 00:55:38 - A Profound Sensitivity 00:59:10 - The attunement and initiation process 01:02:02 - Paul Lowe and the Invitation to Explore Fear and Attraction 01:04:38 - Exploring Boundaries and Uncovering Phobias 01:07:48 - Letting Go of My Life 01:10:23 - Letting Go and Following the Call Inside 01:12:41 - The Power of Renunciation 01:15:24 - The Transition to North Vancouver 01:20:17 - The Awakening and the Big Kahuna 01:22:24 - Opening Doors of Awareness 01:24:41 - The Endless Exploration 01:27:54 - Angels Holding Me Close 01:30:02 - Following the Call of the Heart 01:32:46 - The Dance of Absolute and Relative Perspectives 01:36:32 - The Expression of God through Instruments

101. Bob Nickel Dec 20, 2011

Show notes

Satsang with Bob Nickel was a great opportunity to be with someone who points to the pure truth of Awakening in a simple and clear way. One of the recent attendees at Bob's satsang wrote, "I was deeply moved by Bob’s blissful presence as well as the clear insight he is able to share with everyone into the deeper truths of life and ourselves. I could feel that Bob speaks from his own personal experience, those same truths shared through the ages by many of the great sages." Bob has been freely sharing in the non-dual Advaita tradition since 2004. He experienced his first spiritual epiphany at the age of nineteen, followed later by other special experiences. In recent years it has become clear to Bob that all experiences, which by nature come and go, have nothing whatsoever to do with the Truth that one essentially Is. His satsangs are dedicated solely to making Ramana Maharshi’s invitation to Self-Inquiry available to everyone, as a direct and immediate means to Self Knowledge, inviting all to simply abide effortlessly as That which one is, right here and right now. Cancer has returned to Bob's body. When he left for India in late April, 2011, his doctors said he was cancer-free. That has changed. In early September his physicians gave him about six months. Rather than just rest, Bob’s desire is to spend his final days sharing Ramana Maharshi's Invitation to Self Inquiry to all who wish to hear it. Bob's website. (Bob passed on August 17, 2012) Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/18/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Bob Nickel and his Spiritual Odyssey 00:04:10 - The Beginning of Self-Inquiry 00:06:59 - The fleeting nature of peak experiences 00:09:11 - Ramana's Teachings on Being Still and Self-Inquiry 00:11:14 - The Explosive Moment of Self-Inquiry 00:13:09 - The Half Step Back Into Yourself 00:15:06 - Awakening despite physical challenges 00:17:56 - The Limitations of Words and Concepts 00:20:56 - Living Life as a Question 00:24:33 - The Inner Guru and Outer Guru 00:27:12 - A Missed Opportunity to Thank Her 00:29:19 - Gratitude and the Connection Between Individuals 00:31:34 - Living in the Present Moment 00:34:00 - The Depth of the Ocean beyond the Waves 00:35:44 - The Wake-Up Call and the Presence of Mark 00:37:30 - Young People Giving Satsang 00:39:07 - The Importance of Self-inquiry in Education 00:40:51 - Arguments among Non-Dualists 00:43:10 - The Formation of Orthodoxy and Heresy 00:45:03 - "Be Who You Are" and Effort in Self-Inquiry 00:47:12 - The Unshakable Knowingness 00:49:26 - The Dissipation of "Yeah, Buts" in Satsang 00:51:32 - The Importance of Taking Action 00:53:35 - The Value of Diverse Spiritual Experiences 00:55:59 - The Mind's Love for Drama 00:57:49 - The Marvelous Orchestra of Intelligence 00:59:33 - The Mystery of "I Am" 01:01:42 - The Mysterious Intelligence of "I am" 01:04:15 - Concluding Remarks 01:06:06 - Interact with the Interview

087. Krishna Gauci Sep 21, 2011

Show notes

Krishna can be a catalyst for the awakening transformation of your life. He also appears to be a pretty ordinary guy. For most of his life, he has been driven by a desire to know the power that moves the universe. In this mad quest for authentic spiritual realization, he has been blessed to come across the right people at the right time. Besides working as a spiritual coach and teacher and being trained in hypnotherapy, he has also been a cabinetmaker, an auto assembly line worker, a New York City taxi cab driver, and a bus driver. He has lived real life as a down to earth human being and knows that the truth of spirituality is always tested there. His experience is that you will never have exactly what you want and that you are already what you're looking for. His sense is that you don't need to be taught as much as you need to be understood and heard. He is well versed in several spiritual maps but he knows that who you are is beyond any map. You are changeless and you are always changing, and he relates to you as both. Since you are what you're looking for, he is only always pointing you to a deep trust in your own deepest life: Being itself. He does this in one on one sessions and in groups through talks, guided meditation, questions, and answers, gazing transmission and silent sitting. His presence enlivens that which is guiding you from within and calls you into your own life. He welcomes you into an awakening that is totally yours, and totally beyond you. Krishna invites everyone to roll up their sleeves and celebrate the paradox of being both Infinite and finite simultaneously. His sleeves are rolled up too. Krishna's website trilliumawakening.org Interview recorded 9/17/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Krishna Gauci and Waking Down 00:04:10 - Discovering the Dimension of Ourselves 00:09:09 - Duality in Non-duality 00:12:37 - The Sense of Personhood 00:16:08 - The Core Wound and the Intuition of Being More 00:19:23 - The Paradox of Freedom and Bondage 00:22:09 - The Core Wound and Consciousness 00:26:01 - The experience of fundamental well-being 00:28:57 - The Wound of Consciousness and the Goddess Kuan Yin 00:32:14 - Expressing the Infinite Intelligence 00:35:37 - The Limitations of Perception 00:38:50 - Falling in love with the unique manifestation 00:41:41 - Many Paths to Spiritual Beliefs 00:44:24 - The Feeling of Offness and Core Wounds 00:47:21 - Expanding Sense of Self 00:50:41 - Levels of Understanding and Communication 00:53:03 - The Role of Devotion in Spiritual Teachings 00:56:05 - Devotion to the Mountain 00:59:25 - The Movement of Divine Love 01:04:00 - The Paradox of Resting in Conscious Nature and Seeking 01:09:27 - The Personalness of the Unmanifest 01:14:07 - Personal Love and Universal Love 01:16:54 - The Unofficial Lineage of Ramana Maharshi and Papaji 01:18:37 - Teaching approach of Ramana and Papaji 01:21:03 - Cultivating Equanimity in Life 01:23:45 - Teaching Consciousness to the Peasants 01:26:02 - Development of Consciousness and Moral Values 01:28:16 - The Importance of Accountability 01:31:04 - The Equality of Teacher and Student 01:33:57 - Trusting Your Own Being 01:36:53 - Join the Discussion Group

078. Jan Esmann Jul 15, 2011

Show notes

Jan passed away on July 5, 2025. Jan was born 1960 and grew up in Bury, England. His parents were Danish. In 1967 the family moved to Denmark. Jan’s dad is an engineer and there was no spiritual influence from either parent. Yet Jan showed strong spiritual yearnings since an early age. Jan trained as an artist under the Danish painter Niels Hermann Wamberg; he also studied art restoration at the Royal Academy in order to learn the traditional craft. Jan also studied at the university and acquired an MA in history of modern culture. Today Jan works as a full-time professional artist and also has a software company developing photo retouching plug-ins for Photoshop. After doing Transcendental Meditation and the TM Siddhi Programme for six years, Jan felt the need for a guru and found Gururaj Ananda Yogi whom he stayed with for three years. Then Jan’s Kundalini was so active, that he did not need any other guidance than what the Shakti gave, so he gave up on gurus and meditated by observing the inner Shakti’s workings. Following this, Jan began to be contagious and the Kundalini might spontaneously awaken in those that meditated with him. After some years, Jan met Amma and related to her as a spiritual master for about ten years. But again the Shakti guided Jan to meditate on his own and follow the inner guidance of the Shakti. Today Jan would describe his spirituality as being grabbed by Mother’s grace. The Divine Mother who resides in everybody as Kundalini Shakti and patiently waits to unfold as a vibrating field of love, bliss, and grace. Interview recorded 7/10/2011. Jan's sites: Spirituality Art Software Development Books: Lovebliss: The Essence of Self-Realization Enlightenment 101: From Ignorance to Grace Kundalini Tantra: Song of Liberation Transcript of this interview 2nd interview with Jan YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Jan Esmann and his Spiritual Journey 00:04:59 - Out of Body Experiences and Blissful Samadhis 00:08:13 - The Blue Pearl and the Blue Being 00:11:15 - An Encounter with God 00:14:54 - Saturated with intelligence and consciousness 00:17:30 - The God Consciousness and the Blue Being 00:20:06 - An Interesting Experience on a Meditation Week 00:22:37 - Glimpses of Past Lives 00:25:59 - Past Life Memories 00:28:41 - Pure Being 00:32:23 - The Paradox of Bliss and Meaninglessness 00:35:05 - Meditation and Kundalini Awakening Journey 00:38:17 - A Spiritual Connection with Amma 00:41:03 - Kundalini Awakening Journey 00:43:39 - Work in Meditation 00:46:28 - Shaktipat and Blissful Meditation 00:50:02 - The Bliss Transmission 00:52:41 - Awakening of the Crown Chakra and Self-realization 00:56:47 - Recognition of Pure Being in Others 00:59:32 - The State of Passive Awareness 01:02:24 - Progression of Consciousness: From Cosmic Consciousness to Unity Consciousness 01:05:35 - Understanding, Realization, and Liberation 01:09:15 - The Maturation of Spiritual Teachers 01:12:28 - The Transition from Duality to Unity Consciousness 01:15:40 - Awakening Spiritual Growth 01:18:01 - The Nature of Bliss 01:21:15 - Levels of Awareness vs Levels of Experience 01:25:25 - Kundalini: Unfolding Ignorance into Enlightenment 01:29:15 - Kundalini and Shaktipat 01:32:59 - Expansion of Unity Consciousness 01:35:56 - Interview with a Local Phenomenon in Copenhagen

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