Buddha at the Gas Pump

Dr. Menas Kafatos is The Fletcher Jones Endowed Professor of Computational Physics and Director of Excellence at Chapman University. He received his B.A. in Physics from Cornell University in 1967 and his Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972. After postdoctoral work at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, he joined George Mason University and was University Professor of Interdisciplinary Sciences there from 1984-2008. He has authored and co-authored numerous books including The Conscious Universe, The Non-local Universe, and Principles of Integrative Science. He is a recipient of the Rustum Roy Award from the Chopra Foundation, which “honors individuals whose devotion and commitment to their passion for finding answers in their field is matched only by their commitment to humanity” and the IEEE Orange County Chapter - Outstanding Leadership and Professional Service Award. He has been interviewed numerous times by national and international TV networks, newspapers and radio programs. Chapman University Bio Wikipedia Page Books: The Non-Local Universe: The New Physics and Matters of the Mind The Conscious Universe: Parts and Wholes in Physical Reality Looking In, Seeing Out: Consciousness and Cosmos Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 3/15/2014 Menas Kafatos, in Panel Discussion on Kashmir Shaivism YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Menas Kefatos and his research interests 00:04:03 - The Nature of Consciousness 00:08:33 - The Nature of Emptiness and Conscious Awareness 00:13:09 - Complementarity: Physics and Mysticism 00:17:32 - Perception of the Self in Others 00:22:02 - The Play of Universal Consciousness 00:25:50 - Transformation after Death 00:29:39 - The Collapse of the Quantum World 00:33:43 - Division and Complementarity 00:37:38 - The Evolution of Consciousness and Complementarity 00:41:46 - The Play of Existence 00:45:46 - Consciousness and the Hard Problem 00:49:53 - The Observer and the Act of Observation 00:53:53 - The Conscious Universe 00:57:45 - Quantum Principles Applicable to Everyday Life 01:00:48 - The Principle of Complementarity 01:04:14 - Non-locality and complementarity 01:08:21 - Non-locality and the Infinitely Correlated Nature of Creation 01:11:32 - The Interconnectedness of Principles 01:14:53 - The Emergence of the Pauli Exclusion Principle 01:18:50 - The Awareness of Atoms and Electron Interaction 01:22:48 - Unity in Diversity and the Bigger Picture 01:26:28 - The Conscious Universe and Universal Intelligence 01:30:12 - The Meaning and Purpose of Life 01:34:01 - Consciousness and the Clockwork Universe 01:37:23 - The Many Perspectives of Reality 01:40:57 - The Psi Phenomenon and Scientific Research 01:43:57 - The Debate on Climate Change and Global Warming 01:47:29 - Catastrophic Implications and Irreversible Damage 01:50:07 - The Conflict Between Environmentalism and Fossil Fuel Industry 01:52:45 - The Intelligent Universe

Jack Petranker is the founder and director of CCI and regularly offers programs and online courses. A student of Buddhism since 1973, he is also the director of the Mangalam Research Center for Buddhist Languages and a faculty member at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute. He served as Dean of the Institute in Berkeley from 1988-1991 and as North American Vice-President of the World Fellowship of Buddhists from 1988-1992. He is the author of When It Rains Does Space Get Wet?: Learning to Live the Time-Space-Knowledge Vision (Perspectives on Tsk) (Dharma Publishing 2006), and has written numerous academic articles in consciousness studies, organizational change, political transformation, and the value of work as a spiritual practice. Jack holds a BA from Stanford in political science, an MA from the University of California at Berkeley in political theory, and a JD from Yale Law School. He has been a member of the California Bar since 1971. Other books: Light of Knowledge: Essays on the Interplay of Knowledge, Time. & Space (Perspectives on Time, Space, and Knowledge) New Way of Being New Kind of Knowledge The Center for Creative Inquiry Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/8/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Jack Pertranker and the Center for Creative Inquiry 00:02:26 - Creative Inquiry and the TSK Vision 00:04:33 - The Nyingma Tradition and the Wealth of Practices 00:06:45 - The TSK Vision and the Center for Creative Inquiry 00:08:43 - Fishing in the Same Ocean 00:10:48 - Tapping into a Deeper Source of Creativity 00:13:08 - The Buddha's Dilemma: To Teach or Not to Teach 00:15:02 - Layers of Conceptual Assumptions in Understanding 00:16:47 - The Value of Variations 00:18:34 - Leaving Dry Land 00:20:04 - Introduction to TSK (Time-Space Knowledge) 00:21:22 - The Fundamental Notion of Inquiry 00:23:32 - The Interconnected Nature of Inquiry 00:25:45 - Two-Way Sensing and Questioning Assumptions in Self-Knowledge 00:27:14 - Challenging Assumptions in TSK 00:28:43 - The Life Drain in Routine Work 00:30:41 - Happiness in Occupations 00:34:35 - Living with an Open Heart in the Face of Tragedy 00:39:30 - Expanding the Perspective through Space 00:47:07 - The Earth Does Not Move and the Nature of Experience 00:52:40 - The Possibility of Personal Experience 00:58:05 - TSK: Everyday Teaching and Practices 01:04:07 - Becoming aware of space and questioning its relationship with objects 01:08:17 - Questioning Assumptions about Knowledge and Time 01:12:09 - The Dynamics and Structures of the Self 01:14:32 - Writing Plans and Challenges 01:16:26 - Stretching Capacity to Understand 01:18:18 - Exploring Different Perspectives 01:20:18 - Global Engagement and Language Diversity in TSK 01:22:13 - Concluding Remarks 01:23:47 - Discussion Group, Donation Button, Email Notifications and Audio Podcast Subscription

A. Hameed Ali was born in Kuwait in 1944. At the age of eighteen, he moved to the USA to study at the University of California in Berkeley. Hameed was working on his Ph.D. in physics when he reached a turning point in his life and destiny that led him more and more into inquiring into the psychological and spiritual aspects of human nature. Hameed's interest in the truth of human nature and the true nature of reality resulted in the creation and unfoldment of the Diamond Approach®: “The Diamond Approach is a path of wisdom, an approach to the investigation of Reality and work on oneself that leads to human maturity and liberation. Because of our particular vision of Reality it is not completely accurate to think of this approach as spiritual work, for this work does not separate the spiritual from the psychological, neither does it see these two as separate from the physical everyday life and scientific investigation of the content of perception. However, because we live in a society where the prevailing thought is that of the separated facets of Reality, the closest category recognized in this mentality, to our approach, is that of a spiritual path or exploration.” Some of Hameed's many books: The Power of Divine Eros: The Illuminating Force of Love in Everyday Life The Unfolding Now: Realizing Your True Nature through the Practice of Presence Brilliancy: The Essence of Intelligence (Diamond Body Series) Essence With the Elixir of Enlightenment: The Diamond Approach to Inner Realization Website: ahalmaas.com Transcript of this interview 2nd interview with Hameed. Hameed Ali and Karen Johnson on Nondual Relationships Interview recorded 2/22/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of Hamid Ali 00:05:52 - The Nature of Spiritual Experience 00:10:53 - The Importance of Cultivating Fine Discrimination 00:15:01 - The Multifaceted Nature of Spiritual Development 00:19:15 - The Manifestation of Being 00:24:11 - The Different Paths of Experiencing Being 00:28:55 - Differences in Spiritual Teachings and Approaches 00:33:05 - Multi-dimensional spirituality and the nature of reality 00:37:32 - The Manifestation of Intelligence 00:42:04 - The Intelligence of Being 00:46:36 - Self-realization and God realization 00:51:16 - The Nature of Manifestation 00:55:44 - The Concept of Separateness vs Non-Separateness 01:00:17 - Experiencing Vastness & Radical Non-Locality 01:04:57 - The Maturity of the Individual 01:09:17 - The Totality of Being 01:13:27 - Moving through Obscuration, Vastness Becomes Liquid 01:18:03 - The Manifestation of Being 01:22:30 - The Experience of Emptiness 01:27:01 - The Taste and Sensation of Music 01:30:59 - The Illusory Nature of Individual Consciousness 01:35:00 - The Continuation of Practice 01:39:08 - The Practice of Inquiry and Spiritual Qualities 01:43:37 - Dzogchen and the Self-Destructing Practice 01:47:53 - Evolution and Communication Beyond the Body 01:52:07 - The Importance of Training and Guidance 01:56:05 - Finding Fulfillment in Work 02:00:07 - The Incompleteness of Being 02:04:23 - The Endless Potential of Knowledge 02:08:28 - The Connection of Hearts 02:12:29 - Weekly Discussion and Q&A

Kristin Kirk experienced an initial awakening in 2003 which revealed healing gifts, subtle workings of consciousness and radically transformed her experience of reality. Since then, Kristin has supported self-realization, embodied awakening and multidimensional functioning for individuals and groups through classes, healing sessions, meditation retreats and awakening journeys. Kristin is available in person, by phone and live video stream and travels by invitation. Interview recorded 2/16/2014 http://kristinkirk.com Transcript of this interview. Previous BatGap events involving Kristin: Kristin Kirk, in Panel Discussion on Refined Perception Kristin Kirk in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Spiritual Awakening and Childhood Experiences 00:05:02 - Divine Being Experience 00:09:21 - Awakening and Communication with Nature 00:13:29 - Shifting from fear to trust 00:18:04 - Awakening to the Universal Ground of Being 00:23:13 - Levels of Awakening and Integration in Consciousness 00:27:40 - 24/7 Communication with Spirit Guides 00:32:31 - The potential difficulties for people in lower consciousness as the planet awakens 00:37:20 - The Unfolding of Painful Imbalance 00:43:01 - The drive for completeness within 00:48:05 - The Levels and Dimensions of Consciousness 00:53:02 - Opening to Different Dimensions and Shifting Awareness 00:57:26 - The Divine Game of Oneness 01:02:16 - Deconstructing Structures of Experience 01:07:48 - Seeking Deeper Truths 01:12:04 - Exploring Different Dimensions of Consciousness 01:16:40 - Dissolving the Substance of Identification 01:21:33 - Dissolving Story Identification 01:26:24 - Unity and Consciousness in Different Dimensions 01:31:22 - Cultivating the Worthiness for Spiritual Experiences 01:35:33 - A Journey through Different Dimensions 01:42:07 - The Dance Between Individual Experience and Oneness 01:46:57 - The Healing Process and Consciousness 01:51:28 - Resonating on Different Floors 01:55:25 - Hands-on Work and Physical Support 01:59:53 - Teaching in Between Lifetimes 02:04:46 - The Awakening of Consciousness 02:09:10 - Experiencing Love and Appreciation 02:13:46 - The Power of Consciousness in Kauai 02:20:30 - The Anatomy of Consciousness 02:25:11 - Meditation Retreats on Kauai

Jeffrey J. Kripal holds the J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice University, where he chaired the Department of Religious Studies for nine years and helped create the GEM Program, a doctoral concentration in the study of Gnosticism, Esotericism, and Mysticism that is the largest program of its kind in the world. Jeff is the author of seven books, including Comparing Religions: Coming to Terms, Mutants and Mystics: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal, and Authors of the Impossible: The Paranormal and the Sacred. He specializes in the comparative study and analysis of extreme religious states from the ancient world to today. His full body of work can be seen at http://kripal.rice.edu/. Dana Sawyer is a professor of religion and philosophy at the Maine College of Art and a lecturer on world religions for the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine. His expertise is in Hindu and Buddhist systems of philosophy, and he has a professional interest in exploring the appeal of Asian religions on the Western mind. In that regard, he has written a critically acclaimed biography of Aldous Huxley and has just finished writing the authorized biography of Huston Smith, the renowned scholar of world religions. Books: The Perennial Philosophy Reloaded: A Guide for the Mystically Inclined Aldous Huxley: A Biography Huston Smith: Wisdomkeeper: Living The World’s Religions: The Authorized Biography of a 21st Century Spiritual Giant Website Transcript of this interview Other BatGap interviews with Dana: Individual interview With Khen Rinpoche Tsetan Dana Sawyer in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Dana Sawyer on Huston Smith Interview recorded 2/9/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Jeffrey J. Kripal and his work 00:03:14 - Background and Interest in Religious Belief and Behavior 00:06:17 - Jeffrey's Openness to Metaphysical Ideas in Academia 00:09:39 - Revisiting the Paranormal and Psychic Abilities 00:12:52 - The Dominance of Materialism in Western Science 00:16:23 - The Incompleteness of the Materialistic Worldview 00:19:32 - Psychic Experiences and Spiritual Practice 00:23:04 - The Noetic Potential and Deep Philosophical Implications of Psychic Functioning 00:26:04 - The Power of Fiction and Imagination in Paranormal Experiences 00:29:20 - Living in a Sliver of Reality 00:31:50 - Authorization as a Paranormal Ability 00:35:04 - The Importance of Personal Experience in Religious Understandings 00:37:39 - Coming to Terms with Religious Pluralism 00:40:46 - Mystics and cultural influence 00:44:31 - The Controversy of Near-Death Experiences 00:47:41 - The Unmappability of Our Gnostic Potential 00:51:06 - The Celebration of the Physical and Metaphysical 00:54:26 - Double Messages in Religious Symbolism 00:57:56 - The Power of the Imagination 01:01:16 - The Power of the Imagination 01:04:03 - The Power of Imagery and Archetypes 01:06:57 - Art as a Channel for Deeper Intelligence 01:09:52 - Whitley Strieber's Perspective on Abduction Events 01:13:13 - Science fiction as a machine version of spirituality 01:16:16 - Prophetic Synchronicities and Divine Play 01:19:15 - The Intelligence of Machines and Consciousness 01:21:51 - Heresy and Mysticism 01:24:33 - Finding Meaning in Our Work 01:27:31 - The Importance of Diverse Perspectives and Making Up Your Own Mind 01:30:42 - Envisioning the Future and Societal Phase Transitions 01:32:53 - Music

Jan passed away on July 5, 2025. Jan Esmann, born 1960, is an "enlightened kundalinī shaktipāt master" living in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he teaches, transmits and gives shaktipāt. The highest teachings are transmitted in silence during meditation or afterward. Jan is not part of any tradition or represents a lineage. He has been giving shaktipāt since the mid-1980s but did not fully emerge as a teacher until after 2006. He has an MA in History of Modern Culture from Copenhagen University, and a B.Sc in Art-restoration from the Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen. He earns his living as an artist, a writer, and a software developer. Books: Lovebliss: The Essence of Self-Realization Enlightenment 101: From Ignorance to Grace Kundalini Tantra: Song of Liberation Website: shaktipat.one Transcript of this interview First BatGap interview with Jan. Interview recorded 2/1/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Spiritual Journey 00:04:51 - Awakening versus Self-realization 00:09:14 - The Journey to Self-Realization 00:13:42 - The Distinction Between Enlightenment and Awakening 00:18:44 - Witnessing Consciousness and Self-Realization 00:23:11 - Awakening vs Self-realization 00:27:29 - The Mechanism of Self-realization 00:32:35 - The Dark Night of the Soul and Depression 00:37:12 - Witnessing Sleep and Dream 00:41:53 - Witnessing and Self-Realization 00:46:34 - Dissolving the Kundalini and Liberation 00:51:24 - Remembering Past Lives 00:55:51 - The Value of Understanding 01:00:20 - Bliss in God-Consciousness 01:05:52 - Pure Self-Realization and God-Consciousness 01:10:39 - A Divine Encounter 01:15:44 - Self-realization as a baby 01:20:28 - The Soul and Kundalini 01:25:59 - Kundalini awakening and Shaktipat 01:31:08 - Endless Journey of Enlightenment 01:37:07 - Advaita Vedanta and Ramanuja's Point of View 01:41:27 - The Opening and Expansion of the Crown Chakra 01:46:09 - The Significance of Profound Experiences 01:51:00 - Zen Practice and Enlightenment 01:55:11 - The Effectiveness of In-Person Interaction 02:00:00 - The Recognition of Bliss 02:05:25 - Sahaja Samadhi and the Variations of Experience 02:09:59 - The Power of Shaktipat 02:14:55 - The Mechanics of Meditation and Shaktipat 02:20:33 - Self-Realization and Para-Bhakti 02:26:09 - Meditation Practices and Contact Information

Dr. Elisabet Sahtouris is an internationally known evolution biologist and futurist living in Spain. Her post-doctoral degree was at the American Museum of Natural History, she taught at MIT and the University of Massachusetts, contributed to the NOVA-Horizon TV series, is a fellow of the World Business Academy with an honorary Chair in Living Economies, and is an advisor to Ethical Markets. She convened international symposia on Foundations of Science in Hokkaido and Kuala Lumpur. Her books include EarthDance: Living Systems in Evolution. Website: sahtouris.com Wikipedia page Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/25/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Elizabeth Sartoris: Evolution Biologist and Futurist 00:03:26 - The Interconnectedness of Nature and Cultural Assumptions 00:06:35 - Failure of our Education Systems 00:09:53 - The Need for a Global Consortium of Sciences 00:13:21 - The Multidimensional Nature of Consciousness 00:16:55 - Intelligence as the number of levels 00:20:05 - The Opposition to Change 00:23:19 - The Role of Crisis in Evolution and Human Cooperation 00:26:22 - Being Prepared for a Hot Age 00:28:54 - The Balance Between Individuation and Community 00:31:45 - The Wisdom of the Body and Negotiating Levels 00:35:16 - The Interplay of Matter and Spirit 00:38:27 - The Evolution of Transparency 00:42:02 - The Existence of God and the Mechanistic Universe 00:44:49 - The Origins of the Mechanical Universe 00:48:04 - The Taoist Understanding of the Universe 00:51:20 - The Maturation Cycle of Evolution 00:54:45 - Building Real Community 00:58:03 - Creating the Future You Want 01:01:09 - Awakening to Corporate Wrongdoings 01:03:50 - The Power of Collective Change 01:06:34 - Accelerating Change and the Future 01:09:30 - Harmony with Nature for a Sustainable Future 01:11:58 - Integrating Technology and Nature 01:15:02 - Questioning the Validity of Darwinism 01:18:15 - Perspectives on Creation and God 01:20:43 - The Omnipresence of God 01:23:39 - Taking Back the Power to Coin Money 01:26:15 - The Tipping Point and the Need for Maturity 01:29:22 - Voluntary Participation in the Physical World 01:32:03 - Sign up for email notifications

David Alsobrook is now deceased. His father was a Nazarene pastor and David received a “new birth experience” at age 15. He devoured the Bible from cover to cover and went much deeper into exhaustive, detailed studies of Scriptures for years after that. He devoted the first 3 hours of the day in private prayer as well, hungering and seeking for more of God in his life. He began traveling and speaking in a wide assortment of churches and special events, ministering in more than 2000 speaking events in 49 states and 5 provinces in North America and in other countries. He wrote more than 40 books of varied sizes which were translated in more than 30 languages and distributed in no fewer than 50 nations. In 2005 David experienced a crushing life blow and put aside everything for a season of seeking God more intimately, desperate for healing from his own brokenness. In July 2008 his prayers were answered when he was sitting on a large rock in a nature preserve. Time stopped, mind stopped, while everything around him shone with Light and Life. His sense of “personhood” dissolved as he experienced himself as Being. Since then his life has been largely one of almost uninterrupted peace, bliss, and serenity as a result of what he now calls a “transformation”. Books: You Can Be Free from Your Self: The Grace of Soul Transformation Learning to love Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/18/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of David Alsobrook 00:03:02 - The Anomaly of Spiritual Awakening 00:05:42 - Spirit and Soul Transformation 00:08:18 - Embracing Different Spiritual Expressions 00:11:04 - The Transformation and Dissolution of Ego 00:13:37 - Temporary Relief of Pain 00:16:36 - Seeking the Kingdom of God 00:19:12 - Returning to the Sermon on the Mount 00:22:01 - Contradictions within Christendom 00:24:46 - A Resonance in Nature 00:27:51 - A Life-Changing Experience 00:30:26 - The Significance of a Flat Rock 00:33:15 - Appreciating the Christian Terminology 00:36:13 - The Pain and the Ego 00:38:56 - Backsliding and Suffering on the Cross 00:41:33 - The Awakening and the Transition 00:44:15 - The Flip in the Garage 00:47:31 - Awakening to a new perspective 00:50:14 - The Eternal Christ and True Teaching 00:52:55 - Interpreting Mystical Statements 00:55:54 - Transformation and the Divine Intelligence 00:58:48 - Profound Awakening and Universal Truth 01:01:38 - The Importance of Stillness 01:04:40 - The Torment of Inner Noise 01:07:27 - The Importance of Coping Mechanisms 01:10:35 - The Noise of Emotionalism 01:13:48 - The Place of Different Practices 01:18:33 - The Experience of Stillness and Presence 01:24:19 - Observing the Mind and Finding Stillness 01:30:03 - Many Paths to Spiritual Awareness 01:33:46 - Donate Button and Upcoming Schedule

John Hagelin, Ph.D., is a world-renowned quantum physicist, educator, author, and leading proponent of peace. Dr. Hagelin has conducted pioneering research at CERN (the European Center for Particle Physics) and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. He is responsible for the development of a highly successful grand unified field theory based on the superstring—a theory that was featured in a cover story of Discover magazine. In addition, Dr. Hagelin has spent much of the past quarter century leading a scientific investigation into the foundations of human consciousness. He is one of the world’s pre-eminent researchers on the effects of meditation on brain development, and the use of collective meditation to defuse societal stress and to reduce crime and social violence. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Dr. Hagelin was named winner of the prestigious Kilby Award, which recognizes scientists who have made “major contributions to society through their applied research in the fields of science and technology.” The award recognized Dr. Hagelin as “a scientist in the tradition of Einstein, Jeans, Bohr and Eddington.” Dr. Hagelin was featured in the hit movies What the Bleep Do We Know!? and The Secret for his cutting-edge research in physics, higher states of consciousness; and the peace-promoting effects of large meditation groups. Dr. Hagelin has appeared many times on ABC’s Nightline, NBC’s Meet the Press, CNN’s Larry King Live! and Inside Politics, CNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, and others. He has also been regularly featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and other major metropolitan newspapers. Dr. Hagelin received his A.B. summa cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1975 and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1981. He is currently director of the Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy, Professor of physics at Maharishi University of Management, President of the Global Union of Scientists for Peace, President of the David Lynch Foundation, and Director of the Maharishi Foundation USA, which overseas the teaching of Transcendental Meditation in the United States. Book: Manual for a Perfect Government: How to Harness the Laws of Nature to Bring Maximum Success to Governmental Administration Interview recorded 1/12/2014 Transcript of this interview. Panel discussion with John Hagelin, Igor Kufayev and Mark McCooey at SAND Conference YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of Dr. John Hagelin 00:03:07 - The Journey of Consciousness in Physics 00:06:17 - The Unified Field Theory and Superstring Theory 00:09:48 - The Essence of Pure Consciousness 00:12:28 - The Illusion of Solidity and Subatomic Reality 00:15:46 - The Consistency of the Universe 00:19:13 - The Collapse of Quantum Superposition 00:22:27 - Levels of Consciousness and Self-Awareness 00:26:08 - Reflections on Cosmology and Manifestation 00:29:25 - The Dynamic Nature of the Universal Field 00:32:46 - Bubble Universes and the Origin of the Big Bang 00:35:56 - The Nature of Intelligence 00:38:32 - Quantum Cosmology and the Bubbling of Universes 00:41:51 - The Inefficiency and Intelligence of the Universe 00:44:59 - Consciousness in Ancient Cultures and the Human Nervous System 00:48:40 - Evolution and Enlightenment 00:52:13 - Evolution of the Human Brain 00:54:31 - The Search for a Quantum Theory of Gravity 00:57:53 - The Concept of Time in Physics and Consciousness 01:01:13 - Time and Relativity 01:04:30 - The Diversity of Perception 01:07:58 - Perceiving Subtle Realms 01:11:49 - Electromagnetic Influence and Hidden Sector Matter 01:15:01 - Entities in the Physical World 01:18:12 - Levels of Unfoldment after Cosmic Consciousness 01:21:19 - Sharing Profound Experiences 01:24:09 - Possibility of New Age Technologies and Extraterrestrial Technologies 01:26:57 - The Future of Space Travel and Energy Generation 01:30:46 - Possibility of Civilizations Millions of Years Older Than Ours 01:34:18 - The Timing of Collective Consciousness 01:37:11 - Outro and Important Links

Lama Surya Das, whom the Dalai Lama affectionately calls the “American lama”, has spent over forty years studying with the great spiritual masters of Asia. He is an authorized lama in the Tibetan Buddhist order and the founder of the Dzogchen Center. Surya Das is the author of the international bestseller Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World and twelve other books, including his latest release, Buddha Standard Time: Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now. His blog “Ask the Lama” can be found at askthelama.com. To see Surya's lecture and retreat schedule please visit surya.org. Other Books: Buddha Is as Buddha Does: The Ten Original Practices for Enlightened Living Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss, and Spiritual Transformation Awakening to the Sacred: Creating a Personal Spiritual Life Awakening the Buddha Within: Eight Steps to Enlightenment Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning, and Connection into Every Part of Your Life The Snow Lion's Turquoise Mane Natural Radiance: Awakening to Your Great Perfection Natural Meditation: A Tibetan Buddhist Practice for Clearing the Mind and Opening to Effortless Awarness The Big Questions: How to Find Your Own Answers to Life's Essential Mysteries Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/5/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Lama Surya Das on Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:41 - From Drugs to Meditation, A Journey of Transformation 00:05:33 - Importance of Enlightenment 00:07:52 - The Meaning of Enlightenment 00:11:04 - Being There While Getting There: The Path to Enlightenment 00:14:25 - The Four Steps on the Path to Enlightenment 00:17:50 - The Powers of Enlightenment 00:20:57 - The Importance of Clear Understanding in Spiritual Engagement 00:24:08 - The Names of God and the Spectrum of Wisdom 00:27:26 - Swooping Down and Climbing Up 00:30:46 - The Inner Light and Ultimate Reality 00:34:07 - Swoopers and Climbers 00:37:04 - The Balancing Act of Life in Duality 00:39:58 - Cultivating a Sane, Mindful, Unselfish Life 00:43:25 - Cultivating Mindful and Ethical Relationships 00:46:11 - Mindfulness and Meditation in Schools and Prisons 00:49:28 - Integrating Eastern Thought Traditions into Daily Life 00:53:31 - Building Blocks of a Spiritual Life 00:57:04 - Enlightenment through Sweeping 01:00:00 - Buddha's Perspective on God 01:02:22 - Buddha's Enlightenment and the Concept of God 01:04:17 - Hinduism and the Concept of God 01:06:06 - The Presence of God in Buddhism 01:08:25 - God's Transparent Eyeball and Cosmic Consciousness 01:10:04 - The Inner Power in Buddhism 01:11:31 - The State of Consciousness 01:13:04 - The Journey of Enlightenment 01:14:25 - Finding Freedom in Imprisonment 01:16:12 - Harmony in the Slum 01:17:34 - Details about BatGap.com 01:19:35 - Lamp of Enlightenment

With Chris Bache, Ph.D., Jeffrey and Cielle Backstrom, Talat Jonathan Phillips, and Rak Razam Chris Bache, Ph.D., is professor emeritus in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University where he taught for over 30 years in the psychology of religion, transpersonal studies, Buddhism, and world religions. He is also an adjunct professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and for two years was the Director of Transformative Learning at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, CA. An award-winning teacher and international speaker, his work explores the philosophical implications of deep non-ordinary states of consciousness, especially psychedelic states. He has written a pioneering book in psychedelic philosophy and collective consciousness, Dark Night, Early Dawn: Steps to a Deep Ecology of Mind. In addition, he has written Lifecycles: Reincarnation and the Web of Life, a comprehensive study of reincarnation and karma in light of new information emerging in contemporary consciousness research. In his book The Living Classroom: Teaching and Collective Consciousness, Chris presents his revolutionary ideas concerning the transpersonal dimensions of teaching. In addition to working with sacred medicines, Chris has been a Buddhist practitioner for many years. Website Christopher Bache at SkyBlue Symposia - Pt 1 of 2 Christopher Bache at SkyBlue Symposia - Pt 2 of 2 BatGap interview with Chris Bache and Michael Pollan Jeffrey and Cielle Backstrom call their work "Stepping Into Freedom", explaining that "with each step we release or transcend old, limiting patterns of being-seeing-acting... and open to the beings our souls are calling us here to become." They offer shamanic healing work and deep practices to facilitate embodied awakening and opening to the soul's calling. In the past several years, Jeffrey and Cielle have studied with indigenous medicine workers and teachers in the Andes and the Amazon basin, who represent ancient traditions grounded in the Sacred Feminine and Mother Earth. Since 2009 they've been welcoming their students to accompany them to experience these connections for themselves. Websites: ciellebackstrom.com steppingintofreedom.com Talat Jonathan Phillips is a co-founder of the cutting edge web-magazine Reality Sandwich and The Evolver Network and is a well-regarded life coach and Bioenergetic healer who has been practicing for over a decade. His memoir, The Electric Jesus: The Healing Journey of a Contemporary Gnostic, has become one of the must-read books of the new consciousness movement for its honest portrayal of life on the emerging edge of the transformational culture. He is the creator of The Ayahuasca Monologues: Tales of the Spirit Vine, a religion blogger for the Huffington Post, a Reiki Master and Bioenergetic Healer who does Skype sessions for clients around the world and in his San Francisco office. Individual BatGap interview with Talat Rak Razam is the author of two books: Aya: a Shamanic Odyssey, a travel-memoir of his time with shamans in the Peruvian Amazon. His film AYA: Awakenings is a documentary journey into the world and visions of Amazonian shamanism adapted from this book. The Ayahuasca Sessions: Conversations with Amazonian Curanderos and Western Shamans, published by Icaro. In 2006 he visited Peru on a feature magazine assignment to see what the almost mythical archetype of the shaman was really like in the 21st century. Excerpts from AYA, A Shamanic Odyssey have been published in Australian Penthouse (Sept 2006); High Times (Aug 2007); and Filmmaker magazine online (Oct 2007). He was also interviewed and appears in the CBC’s 2007 audio documentary In Search of the Divine Vegetal talking about his Ayahuasca experiences, which has been broadcast twice due to special demand to millions of people throughout North America. A founding editor of Undergrowth, Australia’s leading counterculture arts and literature magazine, Razam is an “experiential journalist” that participates in the experiences he writes about, giving his global audience an intimate familiarity with his subjects. For more information visit www.rakrazam.com. "Like" Aya Awakenings on Facebook. Summary and Transcript of this discussion Discussion recorded 12/28/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Ayahuasca and Psychedelics: Exploring Consciousness and Facilitating Awakening 00:04:37 - Traditional Practices with Sacred Plants in Healing and Transformation 00:09:26 - The Thirst for Connection to Spirit 00:13:26 - Deep Sincerity and Purposefulness in Approaching Psychedelic Experiences 00:17:50 - Healing in the Jungle 00:21:59 - The Effects and Influences of Meditation and Drugs 00:26:07 - Ayahuasca: a Pathway to Healing and Integration 00:30:13 - The Purging and Cleanliness in Ayahuasca Ceremony 00:34:40 - Safety and Regulation in Psychedelic Healing 00:39:47 - Energetic Realities and Integration 00:44:03 - The Collective Psyche and P

Miranda Macpherson is a spiritual teacher, counselor, and author of 'Boundless love'. Known for her depth of presence and refined capacity as a guide into direct experience of the sacred, Miranda teaches and transmits a powerful synthesis of self-inquiry, depth psychology, devotion, and meditation. Inspired by Ramana Maharshi, A Course in Miracles, and extensive study into the world's wisdom traditions, Miranda has over twenty years of teaching experience internationally. In 1996 she founded the groundbreaking 'Interfaith Foundation' in London, and during her 10 years as spiritual director, she trained and ordained over 600 ministers and spiritual counselors. She is now based in the San Fransisco Bay Area, and leads retreats and ongoing programs internationally for those wanting to substantially deepen their practice. Miranda offers an integrated and feminine approach to non-dual realization oriented at facilitating direct spiritual experience while providing a practical foundation for authentic transformation. Her clarity and love offer a deep holding in which to rest undefended in the present, taste deeper levels of consciousness and discover how to embody wisdom in daily life. Books: The Way of Grace - The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation (Book) Boundless Love: Transforming Your Life with Grace and Inspiration CDs: The Way of Grace - The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation (CD) Meditations on Boundless Love 'The Heart of Being' - Mantra CD 'Awakening the Soul' - Meditation CD Website: http://mirandamacpherson.com Second BatGap interview with Miranda. Miranda in SAND Panel Discussion on Sexual Misconduct, Money, Power, Trauma & Ethics in Spiritual Communities Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded 12/21/2013 Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Miranda Macpherson 00:03:04 - The Presence of God and Confusion with Religion 00:05:53 - Awakening to Boundless Love 00:09:03 - Formative Awakening and Spiritual Evolution 00:11:42 - The Interaction of the Soul with the Universe 00:14:43 - Soulful Spiritual Development and Healing Wounds 00:17:40 - Serving the Unchurched People 00:20:28 - An Encounter with Ramana Maharshi 00:24:12 - The Process of Integration and Identity Transformation 00:27:10 - Standing on the Edge of the Void 00:29:37 - Integration and Cultivating Trust 00:32:39 - Trusting the Beneficent Force 00:35:32 - Awakening in the Midst of Everyday Life 00:38:29 - The Elements of Devotion and Embodiment Practices 00:41:17 - Cultivating the Virtues 00:44:23 - The Power of Curiosity and Open-Mindedness 00:47:23 - Non-attack and the Ego 00:50:13 - Disengaging from the Ego 00:52:51 - The Ego as a Form of Thievery and Compassion 00:55:28 - The Relationship between Ultimate Reality and the Relative 00:57:57 - The Fullness and Diversity of Experience 01:00:21 - Walking with Great Suffering 01:03:19 - Genuine Spiritual Practice and Personal Choice 01:05:59 - The Importance of Spiritual Practice 01:08:28 - Gentle Effort and Mantras as a Way of Being 01:11:03 - Awareness during sleep and expanded perception 01:13:25 - Nectar-like Experiences in the Wilderness and the Presence of Deities 01:16:13 - A Nuanced Understanding of Possibilities 01:18:56 - Connections and Collaborations 01:21:14 - Building a Strong Foundation for Realization 01:23:45 - Where to Find More Content

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and New York Times best-selling author. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom and on the Advisory Board of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, he’s been an invited speaker at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. An authority on self-directed neuroplasticity, Dr. Hanson’s work has been featured on the BBC, NPR, CBC, FoxBusiness, Consumer Reports Health, U.S. News and World Report, and O Magazine, and his articles have appeared in Tricycle Magazine, Insight Journal, and Inquiring Mind. He has several audio programs with Sounds True, he edits the Wise Brain Bulletin, and his weekly e-newsletter – Just One Thing – has over 100,000 subscribers, and also appears on Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and other major websites. A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA, Dr. Hanson has been a trustee of Saybrook University, and he served on the board of Spirit Rock Meditation Center for nine years and was President of the Board of FamilyWorks, a community agency. He began meditating in 1974, trained in several traditions, and leads a weekly meditation gathering in San Rafael, California. He enjoys rock climbing and taking a break from emails. He and his wife have two adult children. Books and other media: Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence (in 4 languages), Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom (in 25 languages), Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time (in 12 languages), and Mother Nurture: A Mother's Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relationships Stress-Proof Your Brain Meditations to Change Your Brain The Enlightened Brain Meditations for Happiness Self-Directed Brain Change Letting Go: A Key to Lasting Happiness Steadying Your Mind Awaken Your Brain For more information, please see his full profile at rickhanson.com. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 12/14/2013. Second BatGap interview with Rick Hanson. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Rick Hanson and the Mind-Brain Connection 00:03:11 - The Brain's Bias towards Over-learning from Negative Experiences 00:06:11 - The Mystery of Brain Transformation 00:08:45 - The Root of Suffering and the End of Craving 00:11:23 - The Nature of Heartfelt Emotions 00:13:54 - Changing the Conditioning of the Mind 00:17:07 - Overcoming Aversion and Grasping 00:19:32 - The Brain of a Buddha 00:22:42 - The Ultimate Truth and Brainwaves 00:25:32 - The Nature of Consciousness and the Transcendental 00:28:25 - The Thicket of Views and the Woo-Woo Stuff 00:31:10 - Exploring the Transcendental State 00:33:45 - The Stable Shift of Awakening 00:35:59 - Installing Wholesome States of Mind 00:38:38 - The Art of Receptive Learning 00:41:30 - Internalizing the Mind of No Grasping 00:43:53 - Neurobhavana: Mo' Bettah 00:46:31 - Cultivating Positive Experiences 00:49:08 - Factors for Enriching Experiences 00:51:31 - Cultivating Inner Strengths for Healing and Awakening 00:53:58 - Overcoming the Stone Age Negativity Bias 00:57:05 - The Negativity Bias and its Impact on Well-being 00:59:19 - Mindfulness Programs for Prisoners and PTSD Sufferers 01:02:05 - Adapting Practice and Dealing with Negative Experiences 01:04:27 - The Impact of Negative Experiences 01:07:07 - The Power of Fear and Disgust 01:09:48 - The Possibility of a Utopian Planet 01:12:12 - The Tipping Point: From Frustration to Contentment 01:14:46 - Letting the Good Sink In 01:17:14 - Physiological Correlates of Higher States 01:19:35 - Music interlude

Fred Davis studied and practiced Eastern wisdom for twenty-five years prior to 2006 when his seeking ended, and his true awakening commenced. He is the creator and editor of Awakening Clarity Now and the founder of The Living Method of Awakening. He is also the author of The Book of Undoing: Direct Pointing to Nondual Awareness Beyond Recovery: Nonduality and the Twelve Steps Awakening Clarity: A Spiritual Sampler The Living Method of Awakening is an extraordinarily successful process of direct pointing that encourages immediate recognition of our shared True Nature. Hundreds of people on five continents have found the door to freedom using The Living Method. His work has appeared on Advaita Vision, Nonduality Living, Meeting Truth, ONE: The Magazine, and it shows up frequently in Nondual Highlights. He is happily married, deeply loves animals, and lives as a chiefly ignored, urban hermit in Columbia, South Carolina. It has recently come to public attention that Fred was convicted in 2006 for sex offenses he committed as a teenager, in the 1960s. He addresses the issue on his blog. Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 12/1/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Fred Davis 00:05:43 - Awakening in the Insane Asylum 00:09:24 - My Journey with Zen Meditation and Self-Inquiry 00:13:33 - Knocking Your Head Against the Walls Spirituality 00:18:45 - Losing it All, Finding Sobriety, and Seeking True Nature 00:23:51 - Finding Freedom through Surrender 00:28:38 - The Mysterious Collapsing Flower Pots 00:32:15 - Struggles and Finding Relief 00:35:26 - The Awakening Experience 00:39:12 - The Real Deal Breaker 00:42:38 - A Unique Jail Experience 00:46:00 - The Journey of Suffering and Awakening 00:50:45 - A Shift in Perspective and Awakening 00:55:45 - The Mind Wants Either/Or 00:58:46 - The Unfolding Process of Enlightenment 01:03:26 - The Mind's Either/Or Dilemma 01:08:00 - Starting Awakening Clarity 01:10:57 - Surprise Awakening and Egoic Pleasure 01:14:42 - The Awakening Process and Sharing Insights 01:18:48 - Awakening and the Importance of Context 01:23:05 - Clarity about the I Am 01:27:43 - Discovering Oneness 01:32:05 - The possibility of anyone becoming a spiritual teacher 01:35:27 - The Drive Towards Self-Recognition 01:39:28 - The Subtleties of Non-Duality to Guide Awakening 01:42:58 - Stabilizing and Refining the Mind 01:46:29 - Beliefs, Opinions, and Positions 01:51:10 - The Difficulty of Getting Out of Bed 01:55:37 - Continuous Thinning of Conditioning 02:02:53 - Challenges of On-Camera Sessions 02:08:52 - Signing up for the iTunes podcast

Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society (where he is one of the resident guiding teachers) and the Barre Center for Buddhist studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts. He is the author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening, A Heart Full of Peace, One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism, Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom, and The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation (Shambhala Dragon Editions). He has also coauthored books with Sharon Salzberg and Jack Kornfield. Joseph has studied and practiced meditation since 1967 under the guidance of eminent teachers from India, Burma, and Tibet and he leads Insight Meditation retreats around the world. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/23/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Joseph Goldstein: Insight Meditation and the Enlightened Mind 00:03:22 - The Nature of the Mind 00:06:25 - The Purpose of Skillful Means 00:09:08 - The Hindu View of Enlightenment 00:12:15 - Stages of Awakening and Mistaking Preliminary Enlightenment 00:15:31 - The Reassurance of Being Done with Spiritual Practice 00:18:13 - Levels of Ignorance and Obstructive Forces 00:21:10 - The Effort and Investigation of Awakening 00:23:45 - The Importance of a Teacher and Study in Spiritual Practice 00:26:55 - Recognition and examination of the mind 00:30:08 - The Role of Monastics in Deepening Practice 00:32:57 - The Manifestation of Awakening in Behavior 00:35:22 - The Importance of Traits and States of Consciousness 00:38:06 - The Universal Experience of Enlightenment 00:41:13 - The Correlation Between Ethical Behavior and Enlightenment 00:44:08 - Wrathful Compassion and Ethical Grey Areas 00:46:27 - Manifestation of Compassion in Different Ways 00:49:28 - The Power of Mindfulness 00:51:49 - What is Mindfulness? 00:54:31 - Mindfulness as an Ethical Dimension 00:56:54 - The Analogy of the Changing Images 00:59:37 - The Unmanifest Quality 01:02:51 - The Purpose of Mindfulness 01:05:39 - The Effort and Nature of Mindfulness 01:07:45 - Mindfulness and the Effortless Approach 01:09:40 - Balancing Effort and Relaxation 01:12:18 - The Buddha Boy and the Atman-Anatman Debate 01:14:35 - Tathagata and Tattvamasi: Exploring the Difference 01:17:26 - Compassion as the Manifestation of Non-Clinging 01:20:34 - The Power of Bodhicitta and Awakening for the Benefit of All 01:23:23 - Conclusion and Next Week's Interview

Stewart Cubley is founder of The Institute for Art & Living, dba The Painting Experience. His work has carried him throughout the world to work with groups in a process of inner exploration using the tool of expressive painting to access the potential within the human heart and imagination. For more than three decades he has taught his unique approach to literally thousands of people at growth centers such as Esalen and Omega Institutes, multinational corporations, programs in prisons and countless other public forums. Stewart lives in Fairfax, CA. He is co-author of Life, Paint & Passion, Reclaiming the Magic of Spontaneous Expression, Tarcher/Putnam 1996. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/16/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Retreat in Alaska 00:03:58 - Early Spiritual Interests 00:08:07 - Obsessiveness and Yoga in Solitude 00:11:44 - The Compelling Force and Higher Purpose 00:15:33 - Recognizing the Potential in Approaching Painting 00:20:27 - In the Presence of Truth 00:23:56 - Exploring the Nature of Self and True Being through Painting 00:28:38 - Artistic Expression and Authority 00:32:14 - The Importance of Spontaneous Creation and Non-authority 00:36:25 - Creating Freedom in Art and Spirituality 00:41:25 - Embracing Confusion and Being Lost in the Creative Process 00:46:11 - Getting Out of Your Own Way 00:50:04 - Embracing Chaos in Art and Life 00:54:19 - The Authenticity of Being Yourself 00:59:42 - Attaining an Experience of the Self 01:04:41 - The Power of Community and Working with Difficulty 01:08:52 - The Space of Freedom 01:12:35 - Stabilizing in a More Expanded State 01:15:55 - The Evolution of Artistic Expression 01:20:39 - Wendell Berry and Deep Connectedness to the Earth 01:24:02 - The Development of Refinement 01:28:28 - Standing in Fear: Expressing and Overcoming Judgement 01:32:27 - The Importance of Emphasizing Authenticity 01:36:40 - Apprenticeship and the Power of Individual Expression 01:40:56 - Nurturing the Sadness Through Painting 01:44:46 - Dealing with Edgy Moments in Art Therapy 01:48:27 - The Influence of a Suffering Artist 01:52:22 - The Holiness of the Heart's Affections and the Truth of the Imagination 01:56:21 - Tapping into Imagination and Energy 02:00:32 - Perceiving through the Lens of Feeling 02:04:07 - Conclusion and Next Interview Announcement

Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee Ph.D. is a Sufi teacher and author. Born in London he moved to Northern California in 1991 and founded the Golden Sufi Center, (goldensufi.org). In recent years the focus of his writing and teaching has been on spiritual responsibility in our present time of global crisis, and an awakening global consciousness of oneness (workingwithoneness.org) (Working with Oneness). More recently he has written about the feminine (The Return of the Feminine and the World Soul), and the emerging subject of Spiritual Ecology (emergencemagazine.org) He has been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on Super Soul Sunday and featured on the Global Spirit Series shown on PBS. His most recent book is Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth. Much of this interview focused on the topic of that book. Other books: Darkening of the Light: Witnessing the End of an Era Fragments of a Love Story: Reflections on the Life of a Mystic Prayer of the Heart in Christian and Sufi Mysticism Sufism: The Transformation of the Heart Alchemy of Light: Working with the Primal Energies of Life Love Is a Fire: The Sufi's Mystical Journey Home Catching the Thread: Sufism, Dreamwork, and Jungian Psychology Spiritual Power: How It Works The Signs of God The Face Before I Was Born: A Spiritual Autobiography The Bond with the Beloved: The Inner Relationship of the Lover and the Beloved Travelling the Path of Love: Sayings of Sufi Masters Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/10/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Llewellyn Vaughan- Lee and his work 00:02:23 - The Key to a Different World 00:04:57 - The Beginning of My Spiritual Journey 00:07:04 - The beginning of my spiritual journey above Mrs. Tweedie 00:08:53 - The Decision to Go to America 00:10:37 - Spiritual Freedom in California 00:12:37 - Learning from a Spiritual Teacher 00:14:52 - A State of Pure Light and Bliss 00:16:32 - Oneness and Shattered Ego 00:18:48 - Reconstituting the ego around a different center of consciousness 00:20:58 - "Abiding after Passing Away" 00:23:44 - The Compilation of Essays 00:26:47 - Our Responsibility Towards Creation 00:29:41 - Becoming Responsible spiritual citizens of the world 00:32:09 - The Next Step: Servanthood 00:34:18 - The Contribution of Spiritual People 00:36:25 - The Listening of the Heart 00:38:13 - The Forgotten Spiritual Body of the Earth 00:40:23 - Sustainability and the Responsibility to Creation 00:42:48 - The Great Chain of Being and the Ecological Crisis 00:45:13 - The Quest for the Grail 00:48:19 - The Awakening and Service to the Whole 00:48:41 - Keeping Integrity Amidst Commercialization 00:50:50 - Embracing the responsibility of awakening 00:53:00 - Connecting through the Web of Light 00:55:11 - Beneficial and Less Beneficial Forces in the World 00:57:22 - Censored from an Awareness of Inner Beings 00:59:29 - The Inclusiveness of Oneness 01:01:32 - Prayer for the Earth and Spiritual Intimacy 01:03:55 - A Connection between People and the World 01:06:10 - Music

Kiran Trace is an internationally known spiritual teacher and author. She died of massive spontaneous awakening into her true nature, then eight years later, and at the encouragement of Moni Vangolen, Thomas Stubbs, Adyashanti, and others, she began to talk and teach. Because she spontaneously awoke, with no prior spiritual background, orientation or understanding, she is known for her unique point of view. Folks often call her teachings “fresh” because she doesn't have any spiritual language or point to any lineage. She sees primarily from vast stillness and embodies "the world" from an "inside-outside" point of view. Seeing the coding of the universe in order to see the universe, it’s very “matrix” like. Visit more of her works and teachings at kirantrace.com, or visit her YouTube channel. Interview recorded 11/2/2013 Transcript of this interview. Kiran's 2nd Batgap interview. Kiran Trace in Batgap Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Kiran's Name and Background 00:04:44 - Awakening into Your True Nature 00:09:31 - The Relationship Between Spiritual Practice and Awakening 00:13:54 - Distortions in Spiritual Teachings 00:18:58 - Disillusionment with Traditional Teaching Methods and Distorted Interpretations 00:23:46 - The Experience of Oneness and Expanded Perception 00:27:59 - Picking up on Different Frequencies 00:31:53 - Awakening in Sleep 00:35:53 - Narrow Definition of Awakening 00:40:23 - The Beauty of Your Own Present Moment 00:44:41 - The Movement of Love and Creativity 00:49:39 - The Creative Power of Joy and Pain 00:54:20 - Effortlessness and True Nature 00:58:56 - Effortlessness and Awakening into True Nature 01:03:26 - The Effortless Approach to Welcoming What Arises 01:07:53 - Cultivating a State of Love and Compassion 01:12:25 - Cultivating Awareness; Beginning the Unwinding 01:16:49 - The Effortlessness of Love 01:21:34 - Touching Pain with Love: The Alchemy of Healing 01:26:03 - Different Teachers on the Planet 01:30:11 - Following Your Authentic Yes 01:34:47 - Trusting Life's Provision 01:38:54 - Awakening and Oneness Experience, Part 2 01:43:20 - The Night of Beauty and Bliss 01:48:01 - The Mess After the Rapture 01:51:53 - Awakening and Accessing Vast Fields of Information 01:56:43 - The Healing Journey 02:01:04 - The E-Word: Embodied with Projections 02:05:46 - The Liberation of Love and Honesty 02:09:51 - Gratitude and Friendship 02:13:39 - Continuing to Grow and Evolve Save Save

Rick's mic malfunctioned, so his voice is muffled, but intelligible. Laurie Moore, LMFT, CHT, Intuitive Human and Animal Reader/Coach Laurie is in private practice as an LMFT, doctor of expressive psychology, hypnotherapist, IFS, somatic, cognitive re-scripting, expressive arts and EMDR practitioner, previous graduate and undergraduate psych teacher at San Fran State and Chico State, Author of Healing and Awakening the Heart; Animal Wisdom for Humans, Appeared on BATGAP, FOX NEWS, NBC, CBS, CNN.com, Species Link, John Burgos Beyond the Ordinary, Santa Cruz Sentinel Women in Biz Key Note Speech, founded and ran an The Miracle Ground Spiritual Satsangs and The Love Climate Seminars. Loves Jesus Christ, her family and friends, hiking, singing, writing songs, stars in the sky, laughing, yoga and cats as well as much else! 831-477-7007 or [email protected] to receive a no fee initial consult about entering counseling or coaching to heal from trauma. Websites: GlaurieChrista.com CounselingScottsValley.us Animiracles.com Animiracles.com/new DrLaurieMoore.com Books: Animal Communication Course: Heart-to-Heart Telepathy with Animals The Cat's Reincarnation: Transformative Encounters with Animals Success Love NOW: A Formula for Living in Love and Success Now Healing & Awakening the Heart: Animal Wisdom for Humans Creative Intimacy: A Practical Guide to Better Relationships 111 Messages to Humanity: From Jessie Justin Joy, a Cat Intelligent Love: Choosing a Lifemate Wisely Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/24/2013 at the Science and Nonduality Conference, San Jose, California. 1st Batgap Interview Laurie Moore in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Evolving Perspectives on Consciousness 00:02:22 - The Unmanifest and Manifest Qualities 00:04:13 - The Pragmatic Application of Spirituality 00:06:06 - The Goal of Deepening and Bringing It Out into the World 00:07:55 - Finding Solutions by Returning to a Deeper State 00:09:38 - Balancing Spirituality and Practicality 00:11:30 - States of Consciousness and Levels of Being 00:13:20 - Non-duality and the Foundation of Oneness 00:15:22 - Using Prayer to Stay in a Deepening Place of Peace 00:17:14 - Praying from the Deeper Levels of the Mind 00:19:05 - Surrendering to the Unknown 00:21:00 - The Multiverse Theory and the Existence of Intelligence 00:22:56 - The Impact of Recognizing the Universe's Intelligence 00:24:49 - The Gift of Life and Intelligence 00:26:45 - Social changes and the power of energy 00:28:34 - The Power of Joining Together for Change 00:30:18 - The Power of Meditation and Collective Energy 00:31:59 - The Tipping Point for Global Change 00:33:51 - Achieving World Peace 00:35:36 - The Reflection of Obama and Collective Consciousness 00:37:22 - The Connection Between Thoughts, Feelings, and Physical Sensations 00:39:08 - Shifting Consciousness for Physical and Emotional Health 00:40:53 - The Instrument of Biofeedback 00:43:01 - The Pre-Trans Fallacy and Trans-Rational Development 00:44:57 - The Evolving Consciousness of Animals 00:46:54 - The Intelligence of Animals 00:48:28 - The Mysterious Nature of Choice 00:50:04 - Instrument refinement and consciousness 00:51:51 - Perspectives on Vegetarianism and the Circle of Life 00:53:56 - Conclusion and Resources 00:55:58 - Fixing the Discussion Registration Issue

At the 2013 Science and Non-Duality Conference in San Jose, I moderated a panel with Igor Kufayev, Jac O'Keeffe, and Francis Bennett as participants. We decided to videotape a discussion the night before in which we could develop and refine what we would discuss in the conference presentation. We had begun doing that in a hotel meeting room, when we were informed that due to contractual agreements between conference organizers and the hotel, the room had to be vacated and locked. So we took our discussion outside where it became a much more informal dialog. It was taped on an iPhone, with background music for the first several minutes, jets flying overhead, etc. So the audio quality isn't ideal, but many in the audience which gathered felt it was a very useful discussion which deserved a wider audience. So I'm posting it here, in audio only. Here's the published abstract of the panel discussion. This "pre-panel" discussion covers a lot more ground: Is Awakening, as it’s commonly understood, merely the realization of the Absolute, non-dual reality, or is it a stage or stepping stone to a much more mature development – a larger wholeness, inclusive of both absolute and relative? Francis Bennett, Jac O'Keeffe, and Igor Kufayev will posit that the latter is the case, and discuss the necessity of integrating absolute and relative after awakening, including practical methodologies to facilitate it. They will discuss how a more holistic path before awakening as found in Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian traditions, leads to smoother integration after awakening. These traditions include moral, meditative/contemplative, and wisdom strands designed to develop a "human vehicle" capable of skillfully and effortlessly containing the non-dual wisdom in a relative, human existence. The neglect of this insight has caused many to become stranded on the "island" of unhealthy "spiritual dissociative disorder". This integration does not pertain merely to being able to function in practical life. It is a critical foundation for a vast range of potential development that may unfold after the sort of awakening many mistake as final or ultimate. Perception, appreciation, emotions, and intellect can be refined far beyond what is generally regarded as “normal” or even optimal. Recorded 10/26/2013 Other BatGap interviews with these participants: Francis Francis Bennett Francis Bennett & Adyashanti on "Resurrecting Jesus" Francis Bennett, in Panel Discussion on Refined Perception Francis Bennett, with John Mark Stroud Francis Bennett in Batgap Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Francis Bennett and Adyashanti on "The Embrace of Jesus and Buddha" Francis Bennett in panel discussion:: “Emptiness is also Form” Igor Igor Kufayev with David Loy Igor Kufayev, in Panel Discussion with John Hagelin and Mark McCooey Igor Kufayev, in Panel Discussion on Kashmir Shaivism A Touch of Grace – (Short Film) Wikipedia Page Jac Jac O’Keeffe Panel discussions on ethics and spiritual teaching SAND Panel Discussion on Sexual Misconduct, Money, Power, Trauma & Ethics in Spiritual Communities Audio below and as a Podcast. No video recording. Save

Jerry Freeman has been practicing Transcendental Meditation, the advanced techniques of TM, and the TM Sidhis program beginning shortly before turning nineteen, over 40 years ago. He was trained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as a teacher of Transcendental Meditation the following year, lived for some years in the semi-monastic program Maharishi founded, and has continued to study Maharishi’s teachings to this day. He writes about Maharishi’s insights into the development of higher major states of consciousness, as they relate to today’s discussions of Advaita, Vedanta, awakening, Self-realization and enlightenment. He is presently working on a book on this subject, tentatively titled: The Enlightenment Puzzle: what everyone should know about awakening. In the book’s introduction, he states, “What I have to say here is not my own invention. … What I will say here is not an official presentation of Maharishi’s teaching, as it includes numerous observations and conclusions that are my own. However, the great insights about awakening, human consciousness, enlightenment, etc. are not mine. They are Maharishi’s Jerry supports a family of adopted children, working as a musical instrument maker. His penny whistles are recommended by many Irish music instructors for their students, as they are affordable and very high quality, and they are played in performance and recordings by many of the most renowned performers of Irish music. Jerry's Facebook page www.tm.org www.davidlynchfoundation.org what Jerry’s whistles sound like Jerry's essay, "Why There are no Perfect Teachers" Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/19/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Childhood days 00:02:59 - Searching for Deeper Meaning 00:06:36 - Influenced by Ramana Maharshi 00:10:28 - Laziness and Resistance to Meditation 00:14:00 - Starting Transcendental Meditation and Meeting Maharishi 00:18:17 - Taming the Monkey Mind 00:22:09 - The Quicksand of the Mind 00:25:43 - The Benefits of TM and Open-mindedness to other Teachings 00:29:15 - Building the Maharishi Patanjali Golden Dome of Pure Knowledge 00:33:04 - The Unified Field and Universal Consciousness 00:36:46 - The Significance of Maharishi's Teachings 00:40:15 - Finding Identity Beyond Purusha 00:43:54 - The Complexity of States of Consciousness 00:47:53 - Gradual Unfolding of States of Consciousness 00:51:42 - Unfoldment of Human Consciousness 00:55:32 - The Three Common States of Consciousness 00:58:58 - Awakening the Inner Silence 01:04:00 - The First Permanent Awakening 01:08:30 - Witnessing Sleep and Awakening 01:12:31 - Awakening and the Progression to Subtle Perception 01:16:45 - The Development of Devotion and Unity Consciousness 01:21:25 - Unity Consciousness in Brahman Consciousness 01:25:52 - The Nature of Brahman Consciousness 01:30:16 - The Faint Remains of Ignorance 01:34:10 - The Faint Remains of Ignorance 01:37:59 - The Mind and Ego 01:41:35 - The Power of Atma-vichara to Destroy the Mind 01:45:17 - Awakening to the Subtle Ego 01:47:56 - Description of God Consciousness 01:50:36 - Wrapping it up and links to further information 01:53:20 - End Credits

David Godman has lived in India since 1976, mostly in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. He spent his time there studying and practicing the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi. His anthology of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings, Be As You Are, is probably the most widely read book on Sri Ramana’s teachings. During his fourteen-year stay at Ramanasramam (1978-92), he managed the ashram’s library, cataloged its archives, and recorded the stories and experiences of devotees who had had direct contact with Sri Ramana. David is the authorized biographer of two devotees of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Lakshmana Swamy and Papaji) who realized the Self in Sri Ramana’s presence and who later went on to become gurus themselves. He has written and published several other books that contain first-person accounts of devotees who moved closely with Sri Ramana Maharshi and who were transformed by his power and presence. In collaboration with two Tamil scholars, T. V. Venkatasubramanian and Robert Butler, he translated and edited several Tamil texts including two authoritative collections of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings that were originally recorded in Tamil verse. The three of them joined forces to bring out David’s most recent book, Sorupa Saram, a translation of a poem in which a 15th-century Tamil saint and Guru, Sorupananda, speaks authoritatively of his experience of the Self. In the 1970s David frequented Nisargadatta Maharaj’s satsangs in Mumbai. In the 1980s he was a regular visitor to the ashram of Lakshmana Swamy and Saradamma in Andhra Pradesh. When they moved to Tiruvannamalai in the early 1990s, he helped them to establish and landscape their new property at the foot of Arunachala, the holy mountain where Sri Ramana Maharshi spent all his adult life. For four years in the 1990s, he lived with Papaji in Lucknow and ended up writing or editing five books about him. In recent years he has written several long articles on Tamil saints, particularly those whose lives and works were often cited by Sri Ramana Maharshi. He is also engaged in a book-length project to bring out the biography and poetry of Guhai Namasivaya, a 16th century Tamil saint who lived on Arunachala and wrote extensively about its power and greatness. David Godman is married to Miri Albahari, a philosophy lecturer who teaches in Perth, Australia. He is based in India, but nowadays spends part of the year with Miri in Australia. Books: Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Compass) No mind, I am the self: The lives and teachings of Sri Lakshmana Swamy and Mathru Sri Sarada Living By the Words of Bhagavan Papaji: Interviews Nothing Ever Happened (three volumes): a 1,200-page biography of H. W. L. Poonja, also known as ‘Papaji’. Annamalai Swami Final Talks- teaching dialogues between Annamalai Swami and visitors to his ashram, recorded in the last six months of his life. The Power of the Presence -Transforming Encounters with Sri Ramana (Vol1) (three volumes): chapter-long accounts by devotees of Sri Ramana Maharshi that record their experiences of living with and being transformed him. The Power of the Presence (Part Two) The Power of the Presence (Part Three) Padamalai: Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi: Recorded by Muruganar Ramana Puranam- an edited and annotated 540-line poem that was jointly composed by Ramana Maharshi and Muruganar. The Fire of Freedom, Satsang with Papaji (The Fire of Freedom, Volume 1)- dialogues between Papaji and visitors that took place in his Lucknow home in 1991. Guru Vachaka Kovai (The Garland of Guru's Sayings)- a translation of 1,254 verses, recorded in Tamil by Muruganar, that record Ramana Maharshi’s teachings. Website: www.davidgodman.org Blog: http://sri-ramana-maharshi.blogspot.com YouTube channel Transcript of this interview. Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group Second BatGap interview with David. Interview recorded October 12, 2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of Buddha at the Gas Station 00:04:19 - The importance of personal experience 00:08:04 - The ardent desire to pursue Lord Krishna 00:11:30 - Exploring the potential of Ramana’s existence 00:15:38 - The importance of not giving up on work and family 00:19:44 - A long road. 00:23:57 - "Real meditation" 00:27:53 - Don't expect one person to do someone else's job, it won't happen. 00:31:16 - The self that fulfills its mission 00:35:27 - The nature of happiness and self-exploration 00:39:55 - Obsessed with seeing visions of God 00:43:56 - His Topic: Qualifications to Become a Guru 00:47:53 - Definition of Guru 00:51:55 - The natural state of Ramana 00:58:08 - The Role of a True Guru 00:59:58 - The issue of high standards of enlightened beings and direct lineage 01:04:02 - Rick and David's discussion 01:08:28 - Behavior rooted in the Self 01:12:45 - Addiction beyond the body 01:16:55 - Differentiating Habits: Bandha and Bhoga 01:21:01 - Story: Judgment and characterization of truly enlightened people 01:25:32 - Your u

Swami Khecaranatha has been teaching Kundalini Sadhana since 1972. With a mastery etched from five decades of inner practice and selfless service, he is an authentic adept of Tantric Shaivism and an initiated carrier in the Shakti Transmission Lineage of Bhagavan Nityananda and Swami Rudrananda (Rudi). Khecaranatha is the spiritual leader of Heart of Consciousness, which is based at Nityakash, his retreat center on Maui, Hawaii. Swami Khecaranatha was not born to privilege or in a spiritual environment, but to an American family in circumstances comparable to those of most of his readers. While living in an ashram for thirty years he also held several “real-world” jobs, including that of CEO of a multimillion-dollar publishing/consulting business. This personal experience has strengthened Swami Khecaranatha's conviction that it is possible to live fully in the world while developing and maintaining one's conscious connection with the Divinity within. From this platform, he is able to discuss spiritual growth in language that is relevant to students' daily lives, giving them specific tools to actualize the radical transformation of consciousness that is available to anyone willing to work in-depth, over time. Books: Merging With The Divine: One Day at a Time Depth Over Time: Kundalini MahaYoga: A Path of Transformation and Liberation The Heart of Recognition: The Wisdom and Practices of the Pratyabhijna Hrdayam Shiva's Trident: The Consciousness of Freedom and the Means to Liberation Website: heartofc.org Transcript of this interview Interview recorded October 5, 2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Swami Khecaranatha (Nathaji) 00:03:29 - From Disbelief to Spiritual Awakening 00:07:12 - The Grace of Meeting Rudi 00:11:39 - Rudi's Break from Muktananda 00:15:14 - The Kundalini Awakening and Meditation Techniques 00:19:18 - Kundalini Yoga: Becoming aware of energy frequencies 00:22:44 - The Transmission of Shaktipat 00:26:26 - The Initiation from Rudi 00:30:28 - Kundalini Awakening and the Potential Dangers 00:34:17 - The Intensity of Kundalini Awakening 00:38:02 - Burning with Emotions 00:41:35 - The Divine Force that Created Us 00:45:25 - The Zoomed-In Microscope and God's Plan 00:48:53 - The Four Upayas 00:52:29 - Rudi's Accelerated Growth 00:55:45 - The Intensity After Rudi's Passing 00:59:02 - Siddhis and Enlightenment 01:02:34 - Finding Joy in Life 01:06:01 - The Seduction of Enlightenment 01:09:44 - The Challenge of Describing Enlightenment 01:13:46 - The Origins and Development of Shaivism 01:17:15 - Awakening the Psychic Body and Ascending Consciousness 01:21:15 - The Ultimate Reality within Ourselves 01:24:01 - Tantra as a Practice in Kashmir Shaivism 01:27:59 - The Journey to Becoming a Swami 01:31:42 - Rudi's Teaching and Tantric Shaivism 01:35:21 - Swami's Personal Life and the Levels of Sannyas 01:39:09 - Surrendering to God and the creation of Rudramandir 01:42:43 - Thriving Amidst Challenges and Authenticity 01:45:57 - Concluding Remarks and Next Episode Preview 01:48:19 - End credits

Peter Francis Dziuban (pronounced Joobin) is a writer and speaker on awareness and spirituality. His first book, Consciousness Is All: Now Life Is Completely New, has helped thousands enjoy greater happiness, freedom, and clarity in Life. Peter has just completed his second book, Simply Notice: Clear Awareness Is the Key To Happiness, Love and Freedom. Simply Notice is intended to be a series of books, designed to make the deeper points of Awareness clear and accessible to the general public. Peter's work benefits so many because it is not tied to any one teaching or religion. He has studied this field for over 40 years, since attending the University of Notre Dame; he also worked many years in corporate America. Now residing in Arizona, Peter enjoys the outdoors. Peter is available for workshops, webinars, and consultations. Please visit: consciousnessisall.com. Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 9/28/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:20 - The Peace and Ease of Infinite Reality 00:10:27 - The Formlessness of Reality 00:14:47 - The Appearance of Separation but the Oneness of Consciousness 00:19:03 - Incorporating the Paradox of Consciousness 00:22:43 - Life is not on Earth 00:26:19 - Shifting Perspectives on Life and Consciousness 00:29:56 - The Vastness of Consciousness and Perception 00:33:03 - The Illusion of Separate Consciousness 00:37:16 - The Oneness and Manyness of Existence 00:40:57 - The Dream Universe 00:44:10 - The Illusion of Control in Daily Life 00:47:56 - The Manifestation of Reality is Mental 00:51:34 - The Illusion of Time and Separateness 00:54:40 - The Paradoxes of Dreams and Reality 00:58:02 - The Illusion of Substantiality 01:01:23 - The Illusion of Time and the Present Moment 01:04:59 - The Newness and Freshness of Life 01:08:20 - The Nature of Time and Space 01:11:23 - The Illusion of Continuity 01:15:20 - The Simultaneity of Everything 01:18:50 - The Manifestation of Consciousness 01:22:13 - The Dissipation of the Dream 01:26:00 - Maintaining Unbounded Awareness 01:29:22 - The Unlimitedness of Consciousness 01:32:47 - The Horror Movie Switches to Cheerios 01:36:01 - Working with Teachers and Practices 01:39:06 - Gentle Effort and Seeing the Whole 01:42:23 - The All-Embracing Awareness 01:45:51 - The All-Pervading God 01:49:04 - Additional Resources and Upcoming Interviews

The defining moment of my life came when I was a 21-year-old college student. I had the undeniable experience that I am one with God, one with all that is. This experience has never left me. The rest of my life has been dedicated to going deeper into that experience and all its ramifications. As I looked deeply and honestly within my self, Divine qualities were revealed. First, Divine Light appeared, then the nurturing quality of Divine Love manifested. Other Divine qualities emerged. I discovered that these Divine qualities could be called upon to improve my daily life and the lives of my family and friends. As I worked with the Divine qualities, I began to receive guidance and knowledge from a Divine Presence. At first, it came from Jesus. Later, Mother God made her self known to me and offered a great wealth of Divine wisdom. In time I began working with people outside my own family. The situations and challenges they presented brought forth from me a depth of divine wisdom to guide and transform their lives. It is this Divine Knowledge that I want to bring to as many people as possible. I have developed a personal relationship with Divine Mother. I converse with Her all of the time. It is the most powerful, passionate and loving experience I have ever known. I want to help others develop this Divine Relationship. I have created simple tools and techniques to help you enter into your own very personal relationship with Divine Mother. I now live in Fairfield, Iowa with my husband. We have 2 children. I’m also an Ordained Minister. The verbal vibrational healing tools that I developed to get to know Divine Mother are called Transformational Prayer®. Since 1999 I have been teaching energy healing classes and giving private consultations in partnership with Divine Mother, bringing her transforming wisdom and guidance to thousands of people. divinemotheronline.net Transcript of this interview. Interview conducted 9/14/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Connie Huebner: A Spiritual Journey Begins 00:04:02 - The Experience of Oneness 00:07:52 - Seeking Others with the Oneness Experience 00:12:31 - Meeting of Consciousness 00:17:19 - Experiencing the Oneness with Maharishi 00:21:56 - Yearning for a Personal Relationship with God 00:26:09 - The Search for God Within 00:29:58 - Searching for the Kingdom of Heaven 00:33:46 - Discovering the Power of Inner Light and Vibrational Tools 00:38:41 - Discovering the Divine Light 00:43:03 - Conversations with Jesus 00:48:04 - Resolving Disagreements and Finding Personal Peace 00:52:25 - Telling Light what to do 00:55:45 - Accessing Higher Consciousness and Vibrational Tools 01:00:01 - Softening and Moving Towards Unboundedness 01:04:07 - Paying Attention to the Subtle Levels 01:08:59 - Moving into the Heart 01:12:59 - Breathing into the Heart 01:15:49 - Awakening the True Self in the Heart 01:20:45 - Connecting with Divine Beings 01:24:30 - The Presence of Divine Mother 01:29:18 - Divine Mother's Message: Profound Love for Humanity 01:33:56 - Connecting with Divine Mother 01:38:38 - Connecting with Divine Mother 01:43:39 - The Connection with the Divine 01:47:37 - Staying Grounded and Practical 01:52:15 - Working for the Shift 01:56:40 - Healing Mother Earth 02:02:58 - The Power of Love in Evolution 02:08:20 - How to Connect with Divine Mother 02:11:48 - Podcast and Discussion Group

Catherine Ingram is an international dharma teacher with communities in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Since 1992 she has led Dharma Dialogues, which are public events that focus on directing awareness toward greater wellbeing in an ethical and happy life. Catherine also leads numerous silent retreats each year in conjunction with Dharma Dialogues. She is president of Living Dharma, an educational non-profit organization founded in 1995. A former journalist specializing in issues of consciousness and activism, Catherine Ingram is the author of two books of nonfiction, which are published in numerous languages: In the Footsteps of Gandhi: Conversations with Spiritual Social Activists (Parallax Press, 1990) and Passionate Presence: Seven Qualities of Awakened Awareness (Penguin Putnam, 2003); and one novel, A Crack in Everything (Diamond Books, 2006). Over a fifteen-year period beginning in 1982, Catherine published approximately 100 articles on issues of consciousness and activism and served on the editorial staffs of New Age Journal, East West Journal, and Yoga Journal. For four years she wrote the Life Advice column for Alternatives Magazine based in Oregon. For the past thirty five years, Catherine has helped organize and direct institutions dedicated to meditation and self-inquiry and, more recently, human and animal rights. She is a co-founder of Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts (1976). She also co-founded the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) in The Hague, Netherlands (1991) and is a member of the Committee of 100 for Tibet. For six years (1988-1994), Catherine also served as a board director for The Burma Project, dedicated to raising international awareness about the struggle for democracy in Burma. She is currently serving on the board of Global Animal Foundation, which works on behalf of the world’s animals. catherineingram.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview Recorded 9/7/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Catherine Ingram's Journey 00:04:07 - Finding Meaning in Life 00:08:16 - Mind Exploration and Drug Use 00:11:13 - The Embodiment and the Physical System 00:14:33 - Knowing When to Move On 00:17:23 - Qualities that Emerge in the Simplicity of Being 00:20:05 - Holy Yearning and the Relaxation of Seeking 00:23:06 - The Inner Awakening in His Presence 00:25:55 - The Role of the Spiritual Community in the Coming Years 00:29:27 - Inner Qualities: Contentment and Empathy 00:32:30 - The Suffering of Animals and Spiritual Hypocrisy 00:35:23 - Finding Solutions to Global Problems 00:38:18 - The Complexity of Moral Certainty 00:40:39 - The Commitment to Goodness and Letting Go 00:43:35 - Letting Go and the Power of a Broken Heart 00:46:16 - The Fluidity of Emotions 00:48:48 - The Journey Back to the Marketplace 00:51:09 - The Falling Away of Beliefs 00:53:17 - Dwelling in Eternity and Transitoriness 00:56:07 - Recognizing the Shift to Being That Silence and Eternity 00:58:34 - The Importance of Participating and Caring 01:00:28 - The Depth of Inner Reality 01:02:46 - Being Like an Ocean 01:05:08 - The Emergence of Qualities in People 01:08:22 - Being Like an Awake Animal 01:12:07 - The Deluge of Information in Modern Life 01:15:41 - The Power of Simplifying and Finding Elegant Solutions 01:19:10 - The Tipping Point and Survival 01:21:43 - The Importance of Taking Action and Staying Steady 01:24:50 - Embracing Change and Potential Disruptions 01:29:23 - End of Interview and Invitation to Subscribe

Kosi is a spiritual teacher and author who offers a simple invitation to stop and discover the freedom that you are. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech and had a successful career in computer software sales, but was surprised that her financial success offered no lasting happiness or fulfillment and her spiritual search began in 1996. In June of 2001, after spending time with several of the world's most renowned spiritual teachers and traditions, she reached a point of profound disillusionment and prayed for an enlightened master. Fourteen days later in she was introduced to Gangaji and the life-changing teaching of Ramana Maharshi. Kosi immediately recognized Gangaji as the master she prayed for and with Gangaji's sublime guidance and support, she realized the freedom of being—indescribable happiness and fulfillment. Since her very first meeting with Gangaji, Kosi felt that she was her true and final teacher, but this unexpectedly changed with the mysterious appearance of her Holiness Sri Amma Karunamayi who is recognized throughout India and the world as a living saint—an Avatar—one who is born enlightened as the embodiment of the Divine Mother. Kosi views the purity of Ramana Maharshi's silence and self-inquiry combined with Amma's indescribable omniscience, as well as the continuous and long-term support that she received from Gangaji, as the teaching and transmission that offers true Liberation. She is the author of Absence of Doubt: When the Search for Enlightenment Stops (Includes and Interview with Gangaji), The Secret Teaching of Jesus Christ, and Arunachala Siva – Heart of Ramana. Website: kosi.org Transcript of this interview 2nd BatGap interview with Kosi Interview recorded 8/31/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Name Kosi and its Spiritual Significance 00:04:48 - Mysterious Name and Mystical Experiences 00:09:03 - Crucified with Christ 00:12:31 - The Profound Love Experience 00:16:34 - Mysterious Voice and Profound Love 00:20:55 - Profound Mystical Experiences and Meeting Gurus 00:26:03 - Introduction to Advaita with Guru Maya 00:30:41 - The Razor's Edge: Walking the Path of Self-Realization 00:34:57 - Meeting Guru Mai and the Search for Enlightenment 00:38:35 - A Profound Relationship with Gangaji 00:42:22 - The Holy Moment of Release 00:46:16 - Jerusalem Calling 00:50:10 - Searching for the Cross in the Church 00:53:36 - The Vision of the Risen Christ and Profound Experiences 00:57:59 - The Great Mystery 01:02:34 - Doubt the Doubter 01:06:28 - Following the Longing 01:10:02 - True Awareness 01:14:11 - Clarity of Presence and Happiness 01:18:00 - The Divine Mother and Silent Teaching 01:21:50 - Learning to Ride a Bicycle 01:25:25 - Awakening and Compassion 01:30:13 - The Neo-Advaita Trap 01:34:42 - The Profound Revelations of Shiva 01:38:56 - Atma-vichara: An Inquiry into the Self 01:44:09 - The Shift in Planetary Alignment and its Impact on Consciousness 01:50:01 - Trauma and the Global Connection 01:54:21 - The purpose of discovering the Atman 01:57:40 - Papaji's Miraculous Journey to Save His Family 02:01:29 - The Importance of Choosing a Path 02:05:00 - Exciting Discoveries and Farewell

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. thomashuebl.com Interview recorded 8/18/2013 Transcript of this interview. Second interview with Thomas. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Thomas Hubl 00:03:46 - Following Inner Guidance 00:07:14 - The Fundamental Opening 00:10:56 - Changes in Life and Relationships 00:14:07 - Deep Meditation in Teaching and Individual Work 00:17:30 - Overview of Teaching and Spiritual Development 00:21:06 - Developing for the Greater Context 00:24:52 - Integration of Shadow Aspects in Practice 00:28:30 - Simultaneous Inner and Outer Directedness in Spiritual Practice 00:31:57 - The Dangers of Saying "The World Is an Illusion" 00:35:15 - The Paradox of Existence 00:38:28 - The Fullness of Creation and Stillness 00:41:43 - Aligning with Cosmic Flows 00:45:15 - Overcoming Conditioned Reality 00:48:59 - The Balance Between Monastic Life and Culture 00:52:31 - The Challenges of Conditioning and Freedom 00:56:12 - The Importance of Meditation in Awakening 00:59:49 - Awakening Intelligence in All Expressions 01:03:22 - Embracing Complexity and Human Excellence 01:06:45 - The Fusion of Scientific and Mystical Realizations 01:13:21 - Healing the Shadow of the Holocaust 01:16:52 - Healing the Collective Unconsciousness in Europe 01:20:23 - Creating a Massive Impact with a Group 01:23:46 - The Importance of Cracks in Society 01:27:19 - Reaching through the Ceiling of Consciousness 01:30:45 - Signs of Healthy Spiritual Development 01:34:16 - The Influence of Collective Consciousness on Leadership 01:37:39 - Beings of Pure Light 01:40:57 - Inner and Outer Competencies for Global Challenges 01:44:18 - Introduction to Thomas H-you-ble

Between 1976 and 1985 Michael James studied the teachings of Sri Ramana under the clear guidance of one of his foremost disciples, Sri Sadhu Om. Together they translated into English all the original Tamil writings of Sri Ramana, and also Guru Vachaka Kovai (The Garland of Guru's Sayings) (the most profound, comprehensive, and reliable collection of the sayings of Sri Ramana, recorded in 1255 Tamil verses composed by Sri Muruganar, with an additional 42 verses composed by Sri Ramana) and various works of Sri Sadhu Om such as A Light on the Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi: The Essence of Spiritual Practice Michael’s principal interest is the philosophy and practice of self-investigation (ātma-vicāra, ‘self-inquiry’) as taught by Sri Ramana, and he has written a detailed book on this subject: Happiness and the Art of Being: An introduction to the philosophy and practice of the spiritual teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana (Second Edition). Michael's website Transcript of this interview Chinese transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/10/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Michael James and his study of Sri Ramana 00:04:14 - Experiencing Happiness from External Objects 00:07:42 - Happiness and Peace 00:11:27 - The Indubitable Existence of "I Am" 00:15:02 - The Doctrine of No-Self 00:19:56 - Going Beyond Differences and Illusions 00:23:33 - The Power of Attention 00:26:53 - The Tendency towards Outer-directed Attention 00:30:24 - The Illusion of Self 00:33:38 - The Collaborative Process of Transformation 00:37:08 - Self-Attention and Effortless Effort 00:40:38 - The Power of Devotion to Krishna 00:43:53 - Seeking Happiness and the Experience of the Self 00:46:54 - The Compatibility of Self-Enquiry with Daily Activities 00:50:06 - Certain Lifestyles and Self-Enquiry 00:53:44 - The Happiness Within 00:57:07 - The Search for Happiness 01:00:30 - The Teachings of Arunachala 01:04:23 - The Different Stages of Spiritual Practice 01:07:20 - The Effort Towards Self-Inquiry 01:10:51 - The Mechanics of Self-Enquiry and Self-Attention 01:14:00 - Discovering Self-Attention and Self-Knowledge 01:17:07 - The Appeal of Enquiring Minds 01:20:28 - Starting with "What Is Happiness?" 01:23:34 - Understanding the States of Consciousness 01:27:18 - Sleep as a State of Consciousness 01:30:25 - The Dream State and the Waking State 01:33:55 - The Difference Between Waking and Dream States 01:37:49 - The Projection of the World 01:41:17 - Wrapping Up and Concluding Remarks 01:44:00 - Exclusive Interview with Michael

Eric Isen has undergraduate degrees from Harvard University, the University of Paris, France and a Masters Degree in Spiritual Development from Maharishi European Research University. He spent 35 years as a Vedic Monk in the Transcendental Meditation Movement and has been totally focused on spiritual growth for himself and the world for over 45 years. He is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and medical intuitive by profession and has been passionately involved in the Oneness Movement since 2005. He was initiated as a Oneness Meditator in the Oneness Temple in May of 2012. In December 2012, through the Divine Grace of Sri AmmaBhagavan, Eric was blessed with Awakening. Websites: ayurvedicintuitive.com Livestream Facebook Transcript of this interview. Interview conducted 8/10/2013 BatGap’s intention is to inspire and inform. We are not in a position to endorse any of our guests’ teachings, practices, healings, etc. We encourage you to discriminate carefully and make your own decisions before signing up for any retreats, sessions, or healings. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Interview with Eric Isen 00:05:09 - Adventures and Peak Experiences 00:09:34 - The Story of the Incarnations of Vishnu 00:13:45 - Transformation through Divine Blessing 00:17:49 - The Limitations of the System in Maharishi's Group 00:21:51 - Breaking Boundaries Through the TM Movement 00:25:36 - Spiritual Growth through Subtraction 00:29:48 - Blessing of Triggered Emotions 00:34:09 - Completing Experiences with Awareness 00:38:19 - Facing Yourself in the Oneness Movement 00:41:57 - Facing and Dissolving Fear 00:46:14 - The Passageway of Grief and Sorrow 00:50:01 - Awakening and the Process of Growth 00:54:32 - Divine Encounter and Missed Opportunity 00:58:55 - Awakening and Divine Grace 01:03:11 - Overcoming Fear During Oneness Meditation 01:07:13 - Selection of Oneness Meditators 01:11:18 - Settling into the Senses 01:14:57 - Avatars and Divine Realms 01:19:10 - Embracing Bliss and Awakening Experiences 01:23:10 - The Devotion to Lakshman Joo 01:27:32 - Thyroid health and dietary recommendations 01:32:20 - The Layers of Manifestation 01:36:28 - Healing abilities and the shift from personhood 01:40:26 - The Experiential Aspect of Awakening 01:44:13 - Living the Awakening in Spiritual Movements 01:48:00 - Awakening at Different Stages of Development 01:51:43 - Distinguishing Perception Levels 01:55:41 - The Mega Gatherings at Amma's Place 01:59:46 - State of the Industry Update and Oneness Meditation 02:03:27 - Namaste Everybody

Tom Catton has been in long-term recovery since October 20, 1971. His story appears in a twelve-step fellowship text with more than seven million copies in circulation around the world. Tom is invited to speak in the US and internationally several times a year at twelve-step conventions in front of audiences ranging from 500 to 10,000 people. He has been taking twelve-step meetings into the prison system in Hawaii since 1984. He has been active in service positions over the years, including serving on a committee that met for over three years to write a recovery text for a twelve-step fellowship. Tom is author of The Mindful Addict: A Memoir of the Awakening of a Spirit Tom is on the advisory board of the Buddhist Recovery Network, and is also trained in Tibetan singing bowl therapy. He leads a Buddhist recovery meditation group that meets twice a month in Hawaii. Trained in MBSR Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; also initiated in several schools of meditation and has practiced daily for 40 years. Tom's Facebook page. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview conducted 7/27/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Tom Catton: A Journey of Awakening 00:02:55 - Volunteering for Addiction, Becoming a Guide 00:06:15 - Addiction as a Gift 00:09:34 - The Possibilities of Expanded Consciousness 00:12:02 - Addiction and the Search for Fulfillment 00:15:01 - The Journey of Self-Discovery 00:18:11 - The Strange allure of addiction 00:20:36 - The Birth of the 12-Steps 00:23:25 - Seeking Something Different 00:26:06 - A Guided Journey to Recovery 00:28:29 - The Profound Intuition of a Wise Woman 00:31:23 - Following Intuition and Guidance 00:34:29 - Finding Guidance in Recovery and Meditation 00:37:29 - The Cessation of the Thought Process 00:39:58 - The Twelve Steps of Recovery 00:43:04 - Freedom from Suffering: Handing Over to a Higher Power 00:45:41 - Recovery and the Role of a Sponsor 00:47:54 - Enlightenment through Service 00:50:49 - Spreading Love in India 00:53:24 - Becoming a Conduit for Love 00:55:59 - Dark Nights of the Soul 00:58:43 - The Illusion of Self and the Planet's Need for Help 01:01:13 - The Bodhisattva's Vow and the Limitlessness of Enlightenment 01:04:20 - The Beauty of the 12 Steps and the Dharma 01:07:03 - Still Climbing the Ladders 01:09:38 - The Importance of Spiritual Practice in Daily Life 01:12:30 - Finding Strength in Weakness 01:15:12 - Positive Obsessions for Recovery and Meditation 01:18:00 - Learning to Write by Writing 01:20:29 - Concluding Remarks 01:22:57 - Upcoming Interview with Eric at my House

This speaker known as Robin Pandey or being or energy whatever you want to call it, experienced something that is extraordinary in 2009 for an extended period of time, so after the experiencing or so-called awakening what is left here is Moksha Mukti. So, who is Moksha Mukti? It is a being, a natural being that is free from the attachments of all conditioning-collection since the beginning of man if such a thing occurred. So, why this Being is here? This being or energy or let’s just say speaker in terms to express in the language, is simply interested in expressing how it is functioning essentially, fundamentally and naturally and this functioning involves thoughts, feelings, emotions, lust anger, pain, suffering, love, hate, fear, and so on. This speaker sees these elements of life as illusion since they all arise from the one source and that is the Reality, and accepting the Reality is the path to experiencing extraordinary happiness, love, and peace, but that is not the real awakening or whatever everyone is seeking in the spiritual community. So, you may accept what this speaker is speaking or reject or stay in the neutral is not my concern. This speaker is simply singing a tune, or expressing its expressions. So, if someone is interested I will express this expression through speaking, writing, and so on in their presence, if not this speaker will continue expressing in on another modus operandi that is available. Books: Waves Metamorphosing into Revelation EVER PERPETUATING PRESENT MOMENT Website YouTube Channel Transcript of this interview Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/21/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Origin of the Name "Moksha Mukti" 00:04:05 - The Limitations of Thought Structure 00:07:21 - The repetition of thoughts and the usefulness of relative knowledge 00:10:57 - The Falsehood of Theories 00:14:34 - Recognizing Illusory Realities: Separateness 00:17:41 - The Interpretation of the Mind and the Illusory Nature of the Universe 00:20:16 - Beyond the Reality of Perception 00:23:16 - The Limitations of Words 00:25:35 - Unity and Intimacy with all Life 00:28:20 - The Illusion of Attachment 00:31:13 - The Painful Experience of Transformation 00:33:25 - The Correlation Between Spiritual Practice and Awakening 00:36:10 - The Real Enlightenment and Liberation 00:38:23 - Communicating Beyond Levels of Understanding 00:40:31 - Language of Spirituality 00:43:00 - Thought: The Dynamic Interaction of Energy 00:45:27 - From Linear to Dynamic Thought 00:48:04 - The Illusion of Something Other Than This 00:50:35 - Enlightenment without restrictions 00:53:10 - The Natural Expression of Thought 00:55:37 - The Illusion of Reality 00:58:08 - Desire for Material vs Spiritual Goals 01:00:54 - The Wave Function of Thought 01:03:24 - The Functioning of the Living Organism 01:05:50 - Enlightenment and the Company We Keep 01:08:16 - Practical Advice for Enlightenment 01:10:26 - Causal Relationships and Choosing Wisely 01:12:44 - Singing Our Own Tunes and Discovering the Truth 01:14:36 - The Garden of God: Embracing Diversity 01:16:17 - Conversation with Moksha Mukti 01:17:50 - Exploring the Website Features

In Who’s Driving the Dreambus? filmmakers Boris and Claire Jansch go on a personal journey to unravel what it means to be alive. This radical and challenging documentary ventures into the heart of the mystery of identity, flipping the idea of spiritual endeavor on its head, revealing a message so profound and yet so simple that it might just end the search. Who’s Driving the Dreambus? LIVE was a two-day conference held in London in August 2013. This is a conversation with two of the speakers at that conference. Tim Freke is the standup philosopher – a concept he developed from the ancient idea of a philosopher as a traveling ‘spiritual entertainer’ who transformed people’s consciousness. He is pioneering an accessible new way to experience a profound spiritual awakening, which fully embraces our tender, vulnerable, flawed humanity. He has spent his life exploring the awakened state he often simply calls the ‘mystery experience’ and is able to guide others directly to it. Other interviews with Tim here, here, and here. Lisa Cairns talks worldwide with people about non-duality. Oneness. The aliveness that always is – no matter what is imagined in it – subject/object, good/bad, right/wrong, beauty/ugly, me/you. It has always been this – life undivided – with a bittersweet daydream of separation. She points to the illusory dream of “I” which seems to give the energetic appearance of separation from life itself, and to the boundless freedom that has always been here – that never left and was never lost. Summary and transcript of this conversation Interview conducted 7/21/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to "Who's Driving the Dream Bus?" 00:04:40 - Perspectives on the Film and the Illusion of Choice 00:10:46 - The Dreamer and the Dream 00:13:09 - The initiatory process and the mystical marriage 00:15:19 - Explorers of the Mystery 00:17:40 - The Illusion of Interpretation 00:20:06 - The Articulation of Consciousness 00:22:01 - The Experience of Consciousness 00:24:11 - Different Perspectives and Consciousness 00:26:16 - The Spectrum of Non-Duality 00:28:59 - The Nature of Reality 00:31:21 - The Flow of Love and the Manyness of Things 00:33:47 - The Paradox of Boundaries and Unboundedness 00:36:10 - Intrinsic Fascination with Colors and Light 00:38:49 - The Illusion of Separation and Oneness 00:40:59 - The Spontaneous Process of Recognition in Everyday Life 00:42:55 - The Importance of Unconscious Competence 00:44:55 - The Paradoxical Nature of Thought 00:47:19 - The Dynamic Universe 00:50:09 - The Mystery of Individuated Complexity 00:52:40 - Simplicity and Fulfillment 00:55:27 - The Significance of Love and Oneness 00:59:07 - The Practical Significance of Spirituality 01:02:38 - The Impersonal Nature of Love 01:05:06 - The Indistinguishability of Better or Worse 01:07:21 - The Symphony of Life 01:09:48 - The Illusion of Good and Bad Actions 01:11:50 - The Illusion of Hot and Cold 01:14:21 - The Revelation of Love and Personal Connection 01:17:30 - Conference Information on batgap.com Save Save Save

The author was raised in a devout Methodist home and through early adolescence was involved in religious affairs, giving annual religious talks. From early adolescence until his late twenties, he went through a secular life with marriage, two children, undergraduate school, military service, and then graduate school. Following a near-death experience in the military, he became intent on deeply exploring what was possible to bring understanding to life, to personally experience “enlightenment”, and to end the mental turmoil and suffering he experienced and saw in those around him. One day, reading what turned out to be a famous Zen poem that he had happened upon “by accident”, the normal world fell away and he was in a state never before experienced and beyond any context, he knew. After some time the state passed, but he was left with a burning desire to return to whatever it was that he had experienced. He went deeply into Zen meditation, and then various yogas, first so that he could sit for longer periods and then to work with the body to further inquiry. This process continued for over 25 years through a series of jobs in different industrial companies eventually reaching the senior executive level of a major company with 1000 folk, 4 research laboratories and a budget of $260M; children were raised, went off to college, etc. During this time, there were many experiences and “enlightenments”, but nothing that was lasting, that really touched the core of reality or that ended the suffering brought about by thought. One day, after having consciously surrendered every attachment, and given up completely on being able to reach the final understanding “by his efforts”, doing an asana done thousands of times before, a complete shift in consciousness occurred in which self-referential thought fell away and all that happened, happened in stillness and presence. He realized that he was not this body, nor these thoughts, but the undying consciousness behind them. He saw that everything was perfect as it was and that all was somehow within him, and that simultaneously everything was God. This shift was so complete and radical that he soon left his executive position, did many silent retreats and visits to Zen masters, and yoga teachers in the U.S. and India to confirm and deepen his understanding. To further test his understanding, and to see if it was possible to function successfully from an awakened state, he took other complex, high responsibility, upper-level management positions in fields in which he had no previous experience, and was successful. Since then, he has taught, authored two books, a blog, several articles, numerous videos, interviews, and presentations on nonduality and neuroscience at various conferences and universities. He has been a subject and/or collaborator in cognitive neuroscience and meditation studies at Baumann Institute, IONS, CSNSC, Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Penn State. Books: Happiness Beyond Thought: A Practical Guide to Awakening Dancing Beyond Thought: Bhagavad Gita Verses and Dialogues on Awakening Website: Awakening Beyond Thought Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/13/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:44 - Pursuing self-inquiry 00:09:37 - The Importance of Practice and Change 00:12:46 - Letting Go of Attachments 00:16:39 - The Presence of Stillness 00:20:41 - Levels of Thought and Mind 00:26:15 - Nipping Thoughts in the Bud 00:30:58 - The Wise Know that I do Nothing at All 00:35:30 - "The Emptiness Dance" and Recognizing the Dance 00:39:21 - Letting Go of Attachments 00:43:33 - Being Present for Others 00:48:31 - The Mistake of the Intellect and Surrendering to the Divine Dance 00:53:38 - The Sweetness of Empty Fullness 00:57:40 - Reconnecting with the Infinite 01:02:14 - The Sweet Space Within Us 01:06:34 - The Importance of Practice and Training 01:10:13 - The Importance of Practice 01:13:29 - The Importance of Sustained Non-Dual Experience 01:16:40 - The Benefits of Meditation Practice and Endless Enlargement 01:20:41 - The Beauty and Power of Sanskrit Chanting 01:24:46 - The Brain's Capacity for Development and Exploration 01:28:20 - Conversations with Spiritual Masters 01:31:50 - Not having control over the fruits of action 01:35:01 - Collaborating with Scientists on Meditation Research 01:38:21 - Defining Awakening in a Secular and Scientific Way 01:42:16 - The Ultimate Scientific Tool: The Nervous System 01:46:31 - Changing Consciousnesss with Psychedelics 01:49:54 - Fulfillment of Desires and Letting Go 01:53:06 - Serendipitous Moments of Life's Confirmation 01:56:28 - The Power of Desire and Attention 02:00:02 - Closing Music

~Love always returns for itself. Nothing is left behind, and when the return is done here, it continues to unite itself as others, because it is seen that there are no others.~ A lifelong spiritual explorer, Susanne Marie offers teachings in support of freedom, meeting in sacred mutuality, and celebrating our common essence of Love and Unity with all life. Her work is transformational and empowering, as she points to the remembering of That which we have always been, allowing truth to become ever more conscious of Itself through a human life. Susanne, the parent of two teenagers, lives in Northern California and works with individuals and groups, offering spiritual mentoring to those who feel called to work with her. She is available for Skype and phone sessions as well as open to invitations to share with groups. “Life is our ultimate teacher. While it’s true that being stripped naked of imagination by life’s challenging lessons can be a difficult pill to swallow, it’s equally true that it can be a major catalyst to healing and awakening. Life can be both beautiful and difficult, and accepting this contradiction without drawing a line between them or attempting to push the difficulties away becomes a means of embodying new possibility. Each new challenge that arises is an opportunity to turn what we once perceived as adversity into true living beauty. This opens us to a life that is constantly and creatively revealing itself, never remaining any one thing, as the awakened consciousness is always fluid and in motion.” Please feel free to contact Susanne Marie: Website YouTube Channel Check out my Reality Bites Interview recorded 7/7/2013 Transcript of this interview. Other interviews with Susanne Marie: In panel discussion: Birthing Radiant Being into Our Humanity In Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 In conversation with Adyashanti on the Falling Away of Self YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Unity as a Child 00:03:50 - Remembering Childhood Connections 00:06:57 - Childhood Awareness and Perception 00:09:40 - The Experience of Childhood and Enlightenment 00:13:03 - Moments of Relief and Recognition 00:16:13 - Levels of Spiritual Development 00:19:21 - Following the Inner Compass 00:22:18 - Childhood Discoveries and Connecting with Other Realms 00:25:32 - Beings in the Room 00:28:53 - Stepping out of the stream of attachment 00:32:15 - Being Let Down and Facing Reality 00:35:23 - Stripping away Beliefs and Assumptions 00:38:55 - The Rubik's Cube of the Mind 00:42:24 - A Glimpse into Death and Beyond 00:45:33 - The Return of Meaning and Substance 00:48:50 - A Beautiful Experience in Point Reyes 00:52:21 - Embracing the Role of a Container 00:55:32 - The Power of Amma's Reflections 00:59:05 - Establishing Pack Leadership 01:02:07 - A Job Opportunity Arises 01:05:03 - Individuation and Bliss 01:08:18 - The Evolutionary Force of Expansion and Unity 01:11:29 - Contemplating the Vastness of the Universe 01:14:37 - Awakening and Return to Source 01:18:01 - The Intuitive and Organic Approach 01:21:13 - Cooperation with Cosmic Intelligence 01:24:08 - Seeking and the Longing to Return Home 01:27:12 - Intensity of Seeking and Penetrating Maya 01:30:34 - Trusting Your Inner Guidance 01:33:40 - Returning to Itself 01:36:36 - How to Get in Touch with Susanne and Updates about BATGAP Save Save

Puran and Susanna are successors to Hazrat Inayat Khan and Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan in the lineage of Universal Sufism: the mysticism independent of any religious tradition and the essence of all. They are one of the few married couples who teach together in the field of personal development and social change. IAM is celebrating its 22nd year! In the last four years, Puran and Susanna have led 30 to 40 seminars a year, reaching thousands of people a year. They are frequent presenters at conferences on the heart, sound, subtle energy, healing, psychology, relationships, business development and sustainable futures. They have been teaching for 35 years and have directly influenced tens of thousands, who have in turn gone on to spread the techniques and principles of the heart to many more. IAM began in 1988 when Pir Vilayat Khan asked Puran and Susanna to start a new school to bring the message of the heart to the public through a professional and scientific approach. This message, as taught by Hazrat Inayat Khan, includes the unity of all religious ideals, the one single family of humankind, the divinity of the human being, the unending progress toward perfection, and the fulfillment of every person's unique purpose. The message of the heart integrates the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of self; the heart is the regulator of the body, the seat of emotions and the temple of the soul. Website Books: Living From The Heart Energize Your Heart Follow Your Heart Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/22/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Levels of Understanding and Spiritual Growth 00:05:11 - The Path to Peace: Emptiness and Wholeness 00:09:28 - Progress on the Path of the Heart 00:13:55 - Sustaining ourselves on light 00:18:00 - Experiencing the Divine Within 00:22:31 - The Method of Samadhi and the Heart's Role 00:26:48 - The Awakening Process: Steps to Stay Grounded 00:31:21 - Finding and Pursuing What You Love 00:34:53 - The Awakening of Collective Consciousness 00:38:43 - Reason for Optimism and the Exciting Shift in the World 00:42:53 - Exploring Different Perspectives 00:46:35 - Nourishing Different Expressions of Spirituality 00:50:30 - Leading by Example 00:54:39 - Recognizing Steps on the Path of Life 00:59:17 - The Three Stages of Behavior and Connection 01:03:32 - The Cleveland Experiment and Crime Reduction 01:07:09 - The Mind-Body Connection 01:10:57 - The Effects of Meditation on Crime Rates in Cleveland 01:15:53 - The Power of the Heart in Shifting Behaviors 01:19:59 - Searching for Something More in Life 01:24:05 - The Nine Steps of Spiritual Development 01:28:16 - The Five Steps of Self-Development and the Power of the Heart 01:32:51 - The Dark Night of the Soul and the Power of the Heart 01:37:24 - Themes of Alien Encounters 01:41:50 - Chasing the High and the Temptation to Meditate 01:46:25 - Communication with the Universe 01:50:10 - Making Light for Those in Need 01:53:55 - The Nine Steps of Service 01:58:05 - Becoming an Instrument for a Larger Purpose 02:02:28 - Developing Health Relationships and Accomplishments 02:06:33 - Thank You for Your Work

Steve Taylor is a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Metropolitan University and the author of several best-selling books on psychology and spirituality. For the last several years he has been included in Watkin's list of the '100 most spiritually influential living people.' His books have been published in 16 languages, while his articles and essays have been published in over 40 academic journals, magazines, and newspapers. Eckhart Tolle has described his work as ‘an important contribution to the shift in consciousness which is happening on our planet at present.’ Andrew Harvey has said of his work, ‘Its importance for our menacing times and for the transformation being birthed by them cannot be exaggerated.’ Steve is also a poet; his first book of poems and spiritual reflections, The Meaning, has just been published. Steve lives in Manchester, England with his wife and three young children Books: Waking From Sleep: Why Awakening Experiences Occur and How to Make Them Permanent The Fall: The Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of A New Era Out of the Darkness: From Turmoil to Transformation Back To Sanity: Healing the Madness of Our Minds The Meaning Steve's website Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/15/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Steve Taylor and his Work 00:03:10 - Healing the Pathology of the Human Psyche and Moving Towards Harmony and Enlightenment 00:06:44 - The Ego Explosion and the Development of Individuality 00:10:28 - The Shift to Male Domination and Exploitation of the Natural World 00:14:10 - The Expansion of Consciousness and the Rise of Empathy 00:17:49 - Jean Gebser's Theory of Evolution 00:21:25 - The True Nature of our Being and Increasing Collective Harmony 00:25:17 - Awakening in the Midst of Suffering 00:28:28 - Shifting into a Different Appreciation of Life 00:31:46 - Transformation and Inner Well-Being 00:35:20 - Surrender and Transformation 00:38:57 - Bliss and the Return Journey 00:43:16 - Awakening to the Radiance of the Universe 00:47:24 - Regaining Awareness of Spirit Force, Identity, and Individuality 00:51:05 - Fear and Separateness 00:54:11 - Awakening and Integration 00:57:37 - The Search for Understanding and Integration 01:00:57 - Parenthood and Spiritual Development 01:04:13 - Awakening to a Larger Reality 01:08:06 - The Role of the 'I' in Decision-Making 01:11:46 - The Role of the Ego in Spiritual Awakening 01:15:14 - Spiritual Awakening and Psychosis 01:18:17 - Signs of Awakening and the Restructuring of Consciousness 01:22:01 - The Emergence of the Higher Self 01:25:37 - Inner Harmony for World Peace 01:28:45 - Detachment and Awakening 01:32:44 - Letting go of Attachments and Beliefs 01:38:57 - Letting Go of Attachments 01:45:10 - Bringing Yourself Back to Now 01:49:29 - The Power of Reading Poetry Aloud 01:52:29 - Updates and Future Plans

HALE DWOSKIN, New York Times Best-Selling author of The Sedona Method who is featured in the Letting Go movie, is the CEO and Director of Training of Sedona Training Associates, an organization that teaches courses based on the emotional releasing techniques inspired by his mentor, Lester Levenson. Hale is an international speaker and featured faculty member at Esalen and the Omega Institute. He is also one of the 24 featured teachers of the book and movie phenomenon, “The Secret,” as well as a founding member of The Transformational Leadership Council. For over three decades, he has regularly been teaching The Sedona Method to individuals and corporations throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, and leading coach trainings and advanced retreats since the early 1990s. He is also the co-author with Lester Levenson of Happiness Is Free: And It’s Easier than You Think (a five-book series). Sedona Training Associates is an educational training organization that was created to continue fulfilling Lester Levenson’s wish to share the practical and powerful methods he discovered for removing an individual’s personal blocks to abundance, health, happiness, and success. Many thousands of people from all walks of life worldwide have benefited from this work during the thirty-plus year history of The Sedona Method Course. Sedona Training Associates currently offers seminars throughout the US, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Eastern and Western Europe, and Japan. It also publishes audio programs that are distributed worldwide. Sedona Training Associates is dedicated to bringing lasting positive change to the planet through education and supporting the transformation of the world consciousness to bring about lasting inner and outer peace, environmental sustainability and social justice for all. Books & DVDs: The Sedona Method: Your Key to Lasting Happiness, Success, Peace and Emotional Well-Being Letting Go: Transform Your Life - Transform the World Happiness Is Free, and It's Easier Than You Think! The Sedona Method Compilation Album Letting Go! The Truth About The Sedona Method: How To Rise To The Top Of Any Situation - The Hale Dwoskin Interview For more information please visit: www.Sedona.com Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/8/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Hale Dwoskin and the Sedona Method 00:05:55 - Letting go of Inertia and Compulsive Doingness 00:10:09 - Pretending to be in Acceptance and Peace 00:14:05 - The Illusion of Differences in Spiritual Realization 00:18:09 - Cooking the Seeds: Maintaining the Non-Dual State 00:22:22 - Letting go and living life open 00:26:00 - Living in a Soap Bubble 00:29:17 - Letting Go and Nonduality 00:32:43 - Balancing Nonduality and Life 00:37:27 - The Full Catastrophe of Life 00:42:36 - The Difficulty of Non-Duality 00:47:28 - The Natural Process of Dissolution 00:51:25 - The movie analogy and the limitations of analogies 00:55:09 - Dealing with Samskaras and Vasanas 00:57:53 - The Grieving Process and Allowing for Experience 01:01:30 - Healing Trauma and Letting Go 01:05:15 - The Importance of True Teachers 01:08:59 - Meeting Lester Webinson 01:13:38 - Finding Peace in Non-Duality 01:17:37 - The Analogy of Accumulating Vasanas and Impressions 01:21:46 - The School of Thought on Reincarnation 01:25:40 - Turning Rocks into Sand 01:29:07 - Recognizing Our Limitations and Embracing What We Are 01:31:54 - Beginnings in New York City 01:35:39 - Receiving the Teachings of Sedona Method 01:39:49 - Growth through Challenging Experiences 01:43:43 - Integration of Energetic Systems 01:47:12 - Exploring a New Modality 01:52:01 - Teaching from the Heart 01:56:14 - Following Your Heart to Achieve Freedom from Suffering 02:00:11 - Conclusion and Farewell

DISCOVERING OUR NATURAL WELL-BEING. As the name suggests, well-being is natural – that is, it’s a normal condition (if not an average one for most of humanity) and not just in the domain of some sages and saints. Our real shared nature is one of goodness, balance and harmony, where suffering is not imagined or dwelt upon. In truth, in nature, there is no such thing as “suffering”. There is, of course, pain, when an injury is inflicted, and grief in unnatural circumstances or when a loved one passes, but there is no necessary attachment of mind-made suffering to that pain in nature. Our natural well-being finds its foundation in truth, reality, and love. Taken together, they form the ground of all our human and divine experience of life. And this grace of living in peace and contentment is what it means to be naturally “happy”. By “contentment” we mean contentment with the content of now – whatever that might be in the moment –confusion, anger, pleasure, pain, fear…bills! All this is mirrored and embraced in the aware silence of innate well-being. James Waite is a writer, designer, and businessman in Berkeley, CA. He discovers and shares this natural well-being in daily aware living at www.nondualityliving.com. He is the author of two books: “Real, Whole, Here, and Happy!” (Free @ NDL) and “Fading in the Light”. A new book, “LIVING HERE…Discovering our Natural Well-Being” is emerging. He meets weekly with friends in the San Francisco Bay area to explore aware living and you are invited to contact him (see below). He invites your inquiries at [email protected]. or [email protected]. James' blog Summary and transcript of this interview Interview conducted 6/1/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Non-Duality Insights 00:04:55 - A Journey of Awakening 00:09:12 - The Beginning of the Spiritual Journey 00:13:16 - Seeking Structure and Method 00:17:17 - Meeting Adyashanti and the Awakening Experience 00:20:43 - Recognizing the Forever Nature 00:24:50 - The Innocent Misplacement of Identity 00:29:02 - Hatred Towards God 00:33:52 - Blossoming of the Heart 00:37:36 - Love without Ego 00:42:08 - Perceptions and the Stuff of Our Being 00:46:22 - Resting in Awareness 00:50:21 - The Practice of Self-Remembering 00:54:45 - Paradoxical Nature of Levels and Stages 00:58:22 - Recognition of Body-Mind Experience 01:03:13 - Belief in Reincarnation 01:08:06 - The Mystery of Absolute Truth 01:11:54 - Interpenetration of the Absolute and the Relative 01:16:16 - The Fear Born of Duality 01:20:17 - The Illusion of Leaving and Doing 01:24:24 - The Value of Monastic Life 01:28:45 - The value of suffering and the intelligence of life 01:32:57 - The King and the Minister's Wisdom 01:35:40 - The Meaning of Life and the Cosmic Unfolding 01:39:36 - Exploring Life and Death with Michel de Montaigne 01:42:40 - Embracing the Reality of Death 01:46:08 - The Treasure of Knowing Reality 01:50:04 - The Path of Relieving Suffering 01:53:54 - The Well-being of the Boomer Generation and the Future of Humanity 01:58:07 - Ending Remarks and Contact Information 02:01:19 - Sign up for Email Notifications

Louis Brawley was born in Ohio and lived and worked in New York, where he met UG Krishnamurti in 2002. Louis traveled in the USA, India, and Europe with UG for the following five years, acting as an informal caregiver as UG’s health deteriorated. Louis works as an artist, photographer and freelance art handler worldwide – occupations that fund his travels around the world writing and recording accounts and impressions from friends of the "Raging Sage." UG from the book cover..."Goner will teach you the meaning of the phrase 'paradoxical truth'. UG Krishnamurti gave up everything for truth, but delighted in ridiculous fabrications: he was a teacher who refused to teach; a man who mocked do-gooders but was deeply kind; he was chaste but foul-mouthed, he was a man who decried the supernatural ... yet there were strange coincidences around him. Louis Brawley doesn't use honeyed platitudes to tell the story of a sage and his devoted follower; instead, he tells an often unflattering story of his own struggles and shortcomings and the dynamic uncertainties of life with a man who "tore apart everything human beings have built up inside and out for centuries." Books and links: Goner: The Final Travels of UG Krishnamurti A good book of UG’s talks: The Courage to Stand Alone: Conversations with U.G. Krishnamurti Louis' Website Louis' blog Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/25/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Louis Brawley and U.G. Krishnamurti 00:05:16 - The Effect of Yuji's Words 00:10:12 - Meeting Yuji and the Influence of Jiddu Krishnamurti 00:14:29 - The Ordinary Language of Yuji 00:18:44 - Acknowledging Spontaneity and Naturalness 00:22:10 - Yuji's Encounter with Ramana Maharshi and the Central Question 00:26:01 - Yuji's Troubled Family Life 00:29:44 - Traveling through Eastern Bloc Countries 00:33:45 - The Pursuit and Loss of Yuji's Life 00:37:08 - The Question that Stopped 00:40:47 - The Body and Thought 00:44:35 - Awakening and Spiritual Practices 00:48:34 - Profound Shift and Continued Unfoldment 00:53:16 - Recognition of Oneness and Enlightenment 00:57:46 - The Influence of Gurus and Classic Hindu Scriptures 01:02:19 - The Evolutionary Force in the Universe 01:06:26 - Contradictions and Judgments 01:11:11 - Comparing Different Spiritual Teachers 01:15:23 - The Transformative Effect of Words 01:19:18 - Challenging Conventional Ideas 01:23:20 - Integration in the World and Inner Experience 01:28:00 - The Influence of UG Krishnamurti 01:31:43 - The Vatican and Obscene Wealth 01:35:05 - A Peculiar and Perfect Relationship 01:38:45 - The Impact of Recognition 01:41:31 - Parallels and Ironies 01:44:36 - Transformation and Disillusionment 01:47:48 - Reflections on a Life-changing Experience 01:50:42 - Explaining the Spiritual Journey 01:54:16 - The Enigma of Yuji Krishnamurti 01:56:52 - Conclusion and Next Steps

Alon has practiced Awareness Meditation for years and works with individuals and groups worldwide. Alon shares knowledge with anyone who wants to be awakened. Anyone who wants to awaken from the dream is welcome to contact Alon. Email YouTube Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/18/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Biography 00:04:37 - The Organic Growth of My Teaching Journey 00:07:55 - The Illusion of Helping Others 00:10:46 - Discrimination and Illusions 00:13:32 - The Illusion of the World 00:16:45 - Inquiry into the Mind's Nature 00:20:15 - The Disappearance of the Mind 00:22:55 - The Mind's Reactivity and Conflict 00:25:43 - The Illusion of Thoughts and the Reality of Pure Consciousness 00:28:10 - The Illusion of Thought and Identification 00:31:08 - The Illusion of Interacting with People 00:34:01 - The Illusion of the Ego 00:37:43 - The Illusion of Identity 00:40:10 - The Mind's Preferences vs. the Body's Preferences 00:42:47 - The Burning Desire to Be Free 00:45:17 - Integration of the Absolute and the Relative in Life 00:48:07 - Burning of Vasanas 00:50:13 - The Pointers of Truth and Universal Obstacles 00:52:30 - The Conceptual Image of Ramana 00:54:55 - Degrees of Identification 00:57:15 - Degrees of Enlightenment 01:00:45 - Losing Everything for the Truth 01:03:53 - Facing Internal Pain and Finding Liberation 01:07:38 - Exploring Silence and Realignment with the Tao 01:10:59 - The Illusion of the External Universe 01:13:14 - Recognizing the Unreality of Things 01:15:06 - The Illusion of Being a Human Being 01:16:54 - The Illusion of Physical Form 01:19:52 - Waking Up from the Dream 01:22:57 - The Power of Silence 01:26:06 - Contacting through Facebook and other platforms

PANEL: The Three Simultaneously True Levels of Nondual Reality; Don't Mistake Understanding for Realization, Don't Mistake Realization for Liberation. Reports of spiritual awakenings, once rare, have become commonplace. Modern seekers often find an intuitive understanding of the ultimate non-dual reality or the illusory nature of the world to be so liberating that they conclude they have reached the goal, and that seeking should be renounced. Ancient traditions caution that such an understanding may be merely a preliminary stage of development. Moreover, an experiential realization, beyond the merely conceptual, may feel so complete that one might conclude that "This is it". Some insist that once the non-dual nature of the Self is realized, one has arrived, and it is meaningless to speak of further degrees of growth or levels of realization. Others hold that Self-realization is an important milestone, but that spiritual development never ends. Can we reconcile the injunction to live in the present moment with the understanding that there is much development yet to undergo? Are there criteria by which Enlightenment can be measured or certified? John Hagelin, Ph.D., is a world-renowned quantum physicist, educator, public policy expert, and leading proponent of peace. Dr. Hagelin received his A.B. summa cum laude from Dartmouth College and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University and conducted pioneering research at CERN (the European Center for Particle Physics) and SLAC (the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center). His scientific contributions in the fields of electroweak unification, grand unification, super-symmetry, and cosmology include some of the most cited references in the physical sciences. He is also responsible for the development of a highly successful Grand Unified Field Theory based on the Superstring. But Dr. Hagelin is unique among scientists in being the first to apply this most advanced knowledge for the practical benefit of humankind. He has pioneered the use of Unified Field-based technologies proven to reduce crime, violence, terrorism, and war and to promote peace throughout society—technologies derived from the ancient Vedic science of consciousness. hagelin.org Maharishi International University David Lynch Foundation BatGap interview with Dr. Hagelin Igor Kufayev Website: igorkufayev.com Wikipedia page Other BatGap events with Igor Kufayev: Igor Kufayev with David Loy Igor Kufayev with Jac O’Keeffe, and Francis Bennett Igor Kufayev, in Panel Discussion on Kashmir Shaivism Mark McCooey is a businessman and has been a teacher of Transcendental Meditation for over 30 years. He and his family live in Vancouver, Canada. Recorded at the Science and Nonduality Conference, 10/28/2012, San Rafael, California. Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast. Transcript of this discussion YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Purpose of the Presentation 00:02:10 - Dr. Hagelin's Background and Contributions 00:04:02 - Non-dual Being and Development 00:05:49 - The Physiology of Enlightenment 00:07:22 - The Three Components of Reality 00:10:09 - The Distinctive State of Experience 00:12:58 - The Paradox of Perfection and Addressing the World's Problems 00:14:31 - Mistaking Intellectual Understanding 00:16:40 - The Tricky Nature of Language and Knowledge 00:18:55 - The Gradual Transition to Expanded Awareness 00:20:56 - The Three States of Consciousness 00:22:58 - Realizing the Nature of the Self 00:24:46 - The Experience of Life and Universal Consciousness 00:26:25 - Resonating with the Universal Being 00:27:43 - The State of Consciousness in Sleep and Anesthesia 00:29:00 - The Adventure Begins 00:30:38 - The Ocean's Self-Sufficiency 00:31:57 - Reverence for the Fine Structure of Nature 00:33:26 - The Ocean Moving the Wave 00:35:23 - The Tricky State of Self-Realization 00:37:14 - The Limits of Describing Enlightenment 00:38:45 - The Melting of Higher States of Consciousness 00:40:42 - Awakening to Deeper Levels of Reality 00:42:35 - Expanding in Awakened Consciousness 00:44:46 - The Importance of Repeated Samadhi Experience 00:47:21 - The Essence of Pranayama and the Space between the Breath 00:49:11 - Dynamic Challenging Situations 00:51:08 - Finding the Simplest Way to Slip Into Samadhi 00:52:43 - The Fluctuations on the Surface of Consciousness 00:54:41 - Consciousness and Infinity 00:56:12 - Ramana Maharshi and the Power of Silence

Dr. Gersten practices integrative psychiatry and nutritional medicine out of his office in Encinitas, California. In this interview we discuss his book Are You Getting Enlightened Or Losing Your Mind? A Psychiatrist's Guide for Mastering Paranormal and Spiritual Experience. Dr. Gersten writes from his personal experience, his work with patients, and the wisdom of the ages. He is the author of The POW Survival Guide (dedicated to the Allied Troops of Operation Desert Storm), mental imagery consultant to Rodale Press on 18 books, columnist on Alternative Medicine for The Life Connection, publisher of Atlantis the Imagery Newsletter, and author of more than 300 published articles. He has consulted with the White House on alternative medicine. Dr. Gersten is also an accomplished musician and composer of 2200 songs and 7 symphonic works. Being half doctor/healer and half artist/musician allows him to bring a wide breadth of experience to his work with patients. While psychiatry tends to focus on what's wrong, Dr. Gersten strives to place as much emphasis on “what's right,” helping through his clinical work, personal experience, and writings, to help people deepen their spiritual connection, find their purpose or mission and remove the obstacles to their dreams. He has worked in most aspects of psychiatry, from suicidal, homicidal, and psychotic hospitalized patients...to out-patient strategic psychotherapy...to state psychiatric hospitals...to peak performance, training LPGA and high-level amateur golfers in the mental game. His expertise in mental imagery has created the possibility to help people beyond the scope of traditional psychiatry. Dr. Gersten's site Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/12/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Overview 00:04:24 - Synchronicities and the merging of the self and the absolute 00:08:22 - The Seen and Unseen Universe 00:12:36 - The Death Rate in Med School 00:17:07 - The Evolution of Psychiatry 00:22:16 - The Energy of Others 00:25:56 - Thunder Before Leaving 00:29:33 - The Devoid of Conscience Question 00:34:03 - Attunement to our essence as a measure of sanity 00:38:38 - Contrasting a Mystic and a Schizophrenic 00:43:34 - Spiritual Insights and Delusions 00:48:56 - Auras and Psychotic Symptoms 00:53:08 - Reaching a Breaking Point 00:56:37 - Kundalini Awakening Experience 01:00:28 - The Radiant Vision of Michelangelo's David 01:04:32 - Kundalini Awakenings and the Challenges They Pose 01:07:47 - The overlap between mania and kundalini 01:11:19 - Spiritual therapy and the risks of natural therapies 01:15:04 - The Paradoxical Case of Rapid Healing in Schizophrenia 01:18:55 - The Importance of Stability and Foundation 01:24:15 - The Alibi of Crazy Wisdom and Inappropriate Behavior 01:29:39 - The Swastika Symbol in India 01:33:59 - A Psychic Encounter with Colonel Diaz and Noriega 01:38:19 - The Dark Side of Paranormal Experiences 01:42:09 - Entities and Vulnerability 01:46:01 - Confronting the Unwanted Visitor 01:49:35 - The Journey of Inner Rearrangement and Stabilization 01:54:10 - Inner Awakening and Alignment 01:59:39 - Unity in Trinidad and Tobago 02:03:22 - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up Save

Alice Grist is the author of three books. Her first book was The High Heeled Guide to Enlightenment, which saw Alice explore alternative spirituality from her modern day, fun loving perspective. The second is Prediction Magazine Award Winning (Best Book 2012) The High Heeled Guide to Spiritual Living. Following Alice's dabbling with different faiths, she decided to forget all of them, and simply live spiritually. This book is a fiery and funny account of just what she learned! Alice's third book, Dear Poppyseed: A Soulful Momma's Pregnancy Journal, which is a personal, spiritual (and very human) account of her first pregnancy is to be published early 2013. All three books are published by Soul Rocks and have attracted much reader and reviewer acclaim. Alice is a frequent contributor to many magazines and online lifestyle sites including regular articles on Huffington Post, Natural Health (The Soul Diva), Hello Giggles and The Conversation writing about spirituality and soulful living in her own quirky, accessible and fierce style. Follow her on Twitter. Soul Rocks Publisher Alice Grist is the Publisher of new John Hunt Publishing Imprint - Soul Rocks Books. Soul Rocks publishes soulful and spiritual books for a new generation. Alice also gets down and dirty with the book details, involving herself in editing, proofreading and PR too. Personal Alice is a Northerner who now lives in the middle of the UK with her husband James, baby daughter Ivy and two cats Molly and Jimi. Alice's website Interview recorded 5/11/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Alice Grist and her books 00:02:49 - Inner Awareness during Sleep and Wakefulness 00:05:27 - Childhood Influences and Spiritual Exploration 00:08:11 - Finding Spirituality in Everyday Life 00:10:45 - The Difficulty of Stepping Away from Society's Expectations 00:13:45 - Accessible Spirituality in a Difficult World 00:16:41 - Awakening to the Source 00:19:53 - Creating Change and Overcoming Powerful Forces 00:22:48 - Shaky Industries in an Enlightened World 00:25:41 - Understanding God and the Human Experience 00:29:02 - The High Heel Guide to Enlightenment 00:31:40 - The High Heel Guide to Spiritual Living 00:34:35 - Rearranging Surface Stuff 00:37:09 - Unexpected Journey to Motherhood 00:39:34 - Motherhood as a Spiritual Path and the Power of Love 00:41:44 - The Importance of Motherhood 00:43:52 - A New Perspective on Life and Career 00:46:20 - Being Itself and Human Experiences 00:49:23 - Trusting the Flow of Life 00:51:54 - Manifesting and Letting Go 00:54:26 - Surrendering to the Flow of Life 00:56:45 - The Shift in Priorities 00:58:44 - Changing Paths and the Power of Motherhood 01:00:56 - A Dream of Devotion 01:02:55 - A Conversation with the Soul 01:05:14 - Influencing Lives for a Difference 01:07:21 - Connecting with the Unborn Child's Spirit 01:09:35 - Knowing I Was Pregnant 01:11:46 - The Transformation of Pregnancy 01:13:42 - The Joys and Challenges of Motherhood 01:16:35 - Discussion and Notification Options

Anne Sermons Gillis started her spiritual pilgrimage at the age of four. She explored multiple avenues for self-realization and even though she experienced the mystical, traveled the world, lived her life’s calling and created an abundant physical world, she always returned to the doorstep of suffering. Through the use of metaphysics, she achieved her material goals by the age of 24 and found herself living the empty life of the American Dream. She renounced much of the material world and found that renunciation brought no better rewards than achievement. In her quest to alleviate human suffering she delved beneath the traditional ideas of happiness and spirituality to the core of reality. At age 49 she awakened to that which is beyond suffering. Along the way, in 1984, she co-founded Connection Church (Center for Spiritual Growth) in Memphis, TN and served as the senior spiritual guide until 1998. She moved to Houston, Texas as a result of a strong inner urging. She met her mate two weeks after arriving and they married five years layer. They continue to live in the Houston area. Gillis is the founder of the EZosophy movement. Thousands continue to benefit from the principles of EZosophy. Her humor and frivolity set her aside from many teachers. She is sincere, but not serious. Gillis contends that life is not as hard as we make it; it is time to lighten up and enjoy life. “Our work and lives are an expression of love, not a chance to punish ourselves with relentless doing.” Gillis is the foremost expert on ease. She is an international speaker, minister, author, breath worker, and personal growth coach. Anne’s wisdom, humor, and exuberant presentation style make learning fun. Armed with years of experience in human dynamics, Gillis consistently delivers more than promised. She teaches people how to have accomplishment without struggle by presenting refreshing material that is immediately accessible. “Life is not meant to be a series of to-do lists punctuated by eating and sleeping,” says Gillis. Her approach to nondualism is called Radical Presence. Anne's books: Standing In The Dark EZosophy: The Art and Wisdom of Easy or at Least Easier Living Offbeat Prayers for the Modern Mystic: Making Life Easier Through Innovative Prayer Anne's website Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 4/27/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Awakening to the Beyond of Suffering 00:04:03 - The Ever-Deepening Awakening Journey 00:07:36 - Authenticity and Integrity in Spiritual Teaching 00:11:13 - Observing and Dissolving the Observer 00:15:07 - Expanding Consciousness and Ultimate Power 00:19:05 - The Continuing Development of Awakening 00:22:41 - Incremental Awakening 00:26:26 - The Battle with Insanity and Emotional Collapse 00:30:04 - The Importance of Emotional Support and Authenticity 00:33:17 - The Art of Breakups and Authentic Responses 00:36:39 - Dealing with Relationship Addiction 00:40:05 - The Continual Journey of Enlightenment 00:43:33 - Cosmic Awareness and States of Consciousness 00:47:02 - Increasing Sensory Awareness 00:50:28 - Exploring Mindscapes 00:54:21 - The Concept of Infinity 00:57:43 - Surrendering to the Flow 01:01:25 - Life as a Struggle and the Possibility of Letting Go 01:04:42 - Levels of Pain and Suffering 01:08:03 - Awareness of Suffering in the World 01:11:26 - Finding Balance in Life 01:14:48 - The Luxury of Being a Writer 01:18:01 - Finding Comfort in Prayer 01:21:44 - The Profoundness of Reality 01:25:16 - Standing in the Dark: Embracing Spiritual Challenges 01:28:46 - Afraid of Our Greatness 01:32:19 - Connecting with Others through the Internet 01:35:58 - The Internet as a Reflection of Consciousness 01:39:15 - The Power of Now 01:42:45 - The Essence of Reality and Presence 01:45:50 - Speaking to Authentic Groups and Wrapping Up

Francis Bennett entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemane in 1981 and in the 90's subsequently lived at a "daughter house" of Gethsemane in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Until recently, he was living in a small urban monastery in Montreal Quebec. He has been a "spiritual seeker" during all those years, practicing in the Christian mystical/contemplative Tradition and working deeply with teachers in both the Vipassana and Zen Traditions as well. In 2010 he experienced a profound perceptual "shift" in which he realized the ever-present presence of pure Awareness, which some would call, the Presence of God.He has worked in the field of Spiritual Care in Parish Communities and with the sick and dying in Hospice and Hospital settings. He has led retreats, offered spiritual talks and has accompanied many on their spiritual journey. He graduated from the Pontifical College Josephinum with a BA in Philosophy and completed a two year chaplaincy residency with Ohio Health Hospital system.Francis' forthcoming book, to be published by Non-Duality Press, is entitled "I Am That I Am - Discovering the love, peace, joy and stability of the True Self". Francis' book: I Am That I Am First BatGap interview with Francis. Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on “Resurrecting Jesus” Francis Bennett, in Panel Discussion on Refined Perception Francis Bennett, with Jac O’Keeffe and Igor Kufayev Francis Bennett in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on "The Embrace of Jesus and Buddha" Francis Bennett in panel discussion: “Emptiness is also Form” A single unexpected moment in John Mark Stroud's mid 20’s left him with a vast and dark sense of emptiness. He would spend the next 15 years immersed in feverish worldly activity, trying in vain to fill this emptiness. His “normal” life of businessman, husband, and father had all the hallmarks of great success. But finally, in 2007, he was compelled by some greater force to sell his business and begin the inward search for the peace and happiness that had always eluded him. Almost immediately he was swept up in a tidal wave of Grace. For a man used to control and responsibility, it was particularly unsettling that these miracles began to move and direct his life into uncharted waters. In 2009, he was guided to “A Course in Miracles”. Instinctively, he knew this was what he had been searching for. It was as though it had been written just for him. The Course in Miracles led him to the direct experience of God’s limitless Love and Peace. That experience of Awakening from the dream of separation to the ever present, perfect awareness of God finally brought the causeless Joy and eternal Happiness for which John Mark sought. With great Joy, he now shares that Limitless Love with all as One. John Mark's website Transcript of this conversation Interview recorded 4/21/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:10 - Discerning the Voice of Love 00:14:45 - The Journey to Christ-likeness 00:21:02 - The Historical Jesus and Archetypal Symbols 00:26:15 - The Transformative Power of a Relationship with Jesus 00:30:52 - The I Am Within You 00:34:24 - Innocence on Every Floor 00:37:32 - The Infinite Expansion of Spiritual Growth 00:40:47 - The Insecurity of Chasing Others' Experiences 00:43:55 - The Truth Needs No Defense 00:47:39 - The Christ Awakening in Everyone 00:51:00 - Awakening to the Truth 00:53:59 - The Purpose of Practice and Awakening 00:57:34 - The Evolution of Consciousness 01:00:47 - The Wonder of Existence 01:04:19 - The Depth of Appreciation and Infinite Intimacy 01:08:21 - Direct Seeing and Knowing 01:11:33 - Exploring the Mystery of Experience 01:14:16 - A Vision of the World at the Tipping Point 01:18:00 - Playing Devil's Advocate 01:21:53 - The Shakers and the Second Coming of Christ 01:26:00 - The Speed of Technological Development 01:28:48 - The End of Time 01:31:28 - The Illusion of Reality 01:34:46 - The Power of Group Meditation and Presence 01:37:58 - Waking Up to the Movies 01:40:29 - Movies as Channels for Higher Intelligence 01:44:50 - Wake up and Find Grace at the Center 01:47:39 - Transitioning to Full-Time Work in the Industry 01:49:52 - Batman and Robin 01:52:45 - Conclusion and Farewell

Eli Jaxon-Bear was born Elliot J. Zeldow in Brooklyn, New York, in 1947. His eighteen-year spiritual path started in 1971, when he was a federal fugitive during the Vietnam war. In 1978, Kalu Rinpoche appointed him the president of the first Kagyu dharma center in Marin County. In 1982, he was presented with a Zen Teaching Fan at ChoShoJi Zen Temple in Japan. After a search took him around the world and into many traditions and practices, his path and his search ended when he was pulled to India in 1990, where he met his final teacher, Sri H.W.L. Poonja. Confirming Eli's realization, his teacher sent him back into the world to share his unique psychological insights into the nature of egoic suffering in support of self-realization. Eli infuses the teaching with his teacher’s living transmission of silence. He presents a unique map of egoic identification as a vehicle for ruthless self-inquiry and final realization of true freedom. He dedicates his life to passing on the transmission of his teacher. Eli currently meets people and teaches through the Leela Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to world peace and freedom through universal self-realization. He is the author of Sudden Awakening into Direct Realization, (New World Library), The Enneagram of Liberation: From Fixation to Freedom, (Gangaji Foundation Press), and he is the editor of Wake Up and Roar: Satsang with H.W.L. Poonja, (Sounds True). Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/14/2013 First BatGap interview with Eli. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Interview with Eli Jaxon-Bear 00:04:20 - The One Cosmic Being 00:06:49 - Lovemaking and the Mystery of Consciousness 00:09:21 - The Truth of Self-Identification 00:11:21 - The All-Pervading Intelligence 00:13:34 - The Consciousness Before the Big Bang 00:16:15 - Being Present Before Perception 00:18:39 - The Permanent Realization 00:20:58 - Using Crisis to See Deeper 00:23:14 - The Capacity of Emotions 00:25:33 - The Fall of the Roshi 00:27:40 - Spiritual Names and Practices 00:29:49 - The Usefulness of Spiritual Practices 00:32:02 - Dissolving the Ego and Individuality through Meditation 00:34:22 - Finding the Balance Between Enlightenment and Normal Life 00:36:53 - The Middle Way and the Eightfold Path 00:39:03 - Trusting the Universe's Support for Awakening 00:41:11 - Letting Go and Letting God 00:44:04 - The Wounding of the Egoic Shell 00:47:06 - The Insanity of the Ego 00:49:48 - The Search for Truth 00:51:37 - The Mystery of Traveling 00:53:46 - The Significance of Devotion and Higher Beings 00:56:24 - Meeting Siva at the Banks of the Ganga 00:59:00 - The Importance of a Final Teacher 01:00:59 - The Psychedelic Experience and Ayahuasca 01:02:41 - LSD and Awakening 01:04:47 - The Mystery of Freedom and Love 01:06:45 - People Waking Up 01:08:22 - A Global Awakening 01:10:13 - Introduction to batgap.com

Yukio ‘Ramana,’ MA, CCHT, started his study of meditation and psychology in 1967 with Zen meditation and Gestalt Therapy. His studies continued through the 1970’s with a Taoist Master, Chu Fong Chu in Berkeley, California, where he continued his studies in Psychology and Taoist philosophy. In 1977, he was certified as a biofeedback therapist and maintained a private practice and lectured on biofeedback in Berkeley, California. He pioneered a Rolfing/Biofeedback study which confirmed in 1977 that the Rolfing work was stabilized with Biofeedback. In the early 1980’s, he co-founded the Fellowship of Awakening along with Shakti Gawain (author of 'Creative Visualization'), Tolly Burkan (firewalking teacher to Tony Robbins) and Mark Allen (publisher of Ekhart Tolle's, 'The Power of Now') , teaching creative visualization, affirmation, rebirthing, biofeedback and principles of clearing consciousness. He then obtained Master’s degree is in Psychology and Transpersonal Studies from Norwich University, New Hampshire. In 1990, Ramana co-founded and was the Education Director of the Transpersonal Hypnotherapy Institute. Here, he brought his skills as a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an NLP Master Practitioner Trainer’s Trainer, an Ericksonian Hypnosis Master Practitioner, a Certified Biofeedback Therapist to help make the training institute one of (then) top three hypnosis and hypnotherapy professional training schools in the United States. In 1993, Ramana studied with a great Indian saint, Hari Lal Pooja (affectionately known as ‘Papaji’) in the Punjabi district of India. Papaji was a direct disciple of one of India’s greatest saints, Sri Ramana Maharshi. In turn, before Papaji passed, gave Yukio the name ‘Ramana’, after his own beloved master Ramana Maharshi, and encouraged him to carry the message of truth to groups and individuals. In 1997, Ramana combined his years as a Transpersonal psychotherapist, hypnosis, NLP, biofeedback, Taoist philosophy, creative visualization with his studies of ancient Indian teachings (from masters throughout India) to create “Radical Awakening and the Opening to Heart Consciousness’ which precipitates an opening into the true self of Being. He has found that when Being is in alignment with the true self, the space of unbounded of love and energy emerges, which sometimes opens deep healings at a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. Ramana has been teaching and maintaining a private psychotherapy and healing arts practice since 1978. He now resides in both New York and India. Since 1997, he has traveled full-time throughout the United States, Canada and the East sharing his work, Radical Awakening and the Opening to Heart Consciousness, and has trained hundreds of practitioners to continue his work. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/6/2013 Ramana's website YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Ramana, the Diverse Teacher 00:03:41 - Questioning the Natural State 00:07:37 - Looking Back and Finding the Perceiver 00:11:39 - Ramana Maharshi's Teachings 00:15:08 - The Focus of the Radical Awakening Work 00:19:31 - The Function of a Guru 00:23:39 - Power Spots and Energy Signatures 00:29:13 - The Net of Grace 00:32:46 - The Paradox of Multidimensionality of Life 00:36:42 - Shiva, the Destroyer of Dreams 00:41:25 - The Flipping of Primary Identification 00:45:51 - No More Practices 00:49:55 - The Story Behind My Name 00:53:39 - The Significance of Getting a New Name 00:56:18 - The Power of Hindu Names 00:59:23 - The name Yukio Ramana and the story of Hemuna's encounter with Yogi Ram Saratkumar 01:02:40 - Reflections and Karaoke Names 01:06:54 - The Enneagram Workshop and Satsang with Papaji 01:11:07 - The Messenger's Ultimate Function 01:14:53 - Different Approaches to Self-Inquiry 01:19:27 - Influencing States with Words 01:23:15 - The Origin of "Radical Awakening" 01:26:37 - The Opening to the Heart of Consciousness 01:31:04 - Throwing Away the Black Bag 01:35:22 - The Invitation to Stay 01:38:20 - A True Fall from Whatever 01:43:04 - Moments of Grace and Self-realization 01:48:11 - The Spark of Presence in Horrific Circumstances 01:52:48 - The Feminine Aspect and Multidimensional Existence 01:58:11 - The Heart Meditation 02:02:00 - Various Ways to Support the Channel

Mercedes Kirkel is an author and channel for Mary Magdalene and other beings of light. In July of 2010, Mary Magdalene began coming to Mercedes daily, giving extraordinary messages for humanity's evolution and spiritual growth. That was the birth of the book, Mary Magdalene Beckons: Join the River of Love, which contains the full series of Mary’s heart-opening and mind-expanding messages, along with Mercedes’s illuminating commentary. Mercedes offers workshops and privates sessions—in-person and long-distance by phone or Skype. Her work includes Akashic Record Readings, Channeling Beings of Light, Spiritual Guidance, Emotional Healing using Mary Magdalene’s Instructions, and Sacred Sexuality Instruction. To learn more about Mercedes and her work, visit www.mercedeskirkel.com and www.marymagdalenebeckons.com. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview conducted 3/30/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:07:12 - Finding Growth in a Spiritual Community 00:11:23 - The Paradox of Spiritual Power 00:16:13 - The Progression of Awakening 00:20:58 - Awakening to the Witness Consciousness 00:25:21 - The Second Stage of the Awakening 00:29:41 - The Shift in Perception and Unity 00:33:56 - Integration and the Awakening Process 00:37:39 - The Spectrum of Emotions in the Fourth Dimension 00:41:06 - Messages and Directives 00:44:27 - Memories of Egypt and the Temple of Isis 00:47:19 - Following the Message of Spirit 00:50:25 - The Voice of Mary Magdalene 00:53:38 - Addressing Doubts and Coloration in Channeling 00:57:20 - Connecting with a Higher Being 01:00:45 - The Completion and the Call to Action 01:05:18 - The Role of Mary Magdalene in the World's Readiness 01:10:14 - Relating to Pain and Union with God 01:15:52 - Inquiring into the Source of Anger 01:21:47 - Dealing with Ongoing Difficult Situations 01:26:16 - The Balance of the Heart and Mind 01:30:05 - The Second Book on Sacred Sexuality 01:33:31 - Acting from the Heart 01:37:43 - The Misunderstanding of Jesus and His Crucifixion 01:42:16 - Divine Guidance and Higher Beings 01:47:11 - Channeling Different Entities 01:51:15 - Channeling and Consciousness 01:55:11 - Qualities of the Fourth Dimension 01:59:51 - The Earth's Ascension and Universal Support 02:04:46 - The Role of Belief and Experience 02:09:14 - Conclusion and Next Steps

Amoda Maa is a contemporary spiritual teacher, author, and speaker. After years of spiritual seeking, meditation, and immersion in psychospiritual practices, an experience of the dark night of the soul led her to a profound inner awakening. Then, after a long period of integration, she began speaking from silence in small gatherings. Today she offers meetings and retreats, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and events, attracting spiritual seekers and people looking for peace and fulfillment in an increasingly chaotic world. Her teachings are free of religion and tradition, and she brings to them a deep understanding of the human journey, born out of her own experience. She is the author of Radical Awakening (originally released as How to Find God in Everything) and Change Your Life, Change Your World: Ten Spiritual Lessons for a New Way of Being and Living. Both books were written shortly after her awakening and before she began to speak in public. Her new book Embodied Enlightenment — written 15 years after her awakening — is based on the many conversations at the cutting edge of spiritual inquiry in her meetings with people from all around the world, and addresses many of the questions relevant to today’s seeker. It has been acclaimed as “a beautiful and precious gift to an emerging new humanity.” Amoda lives with her husband and beloved, Kavi, in California. Website: amodamaa.com Amoda Maa in panel discussion: Birthing Radiant Being into Our Humanity Second interview with Amoda Maa Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/23/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Amoda Maa Jeevan 00:04:53 - Childhood Dreams and Academic Struggles 00:07:37 - The Loss and Opening of Self 00:11:47 - Surrendering to Life and Opening to Love 00:16:09 - A Dark Night of the Soul 00:20:10 - Embracing the Darkness and Gratitude 00:25:17 - The Birth of the Christ Consciousness 00:28:30 - The Essence of the Experience 00:32:08 - Finding My Path 00:35:22 - Awakening and Enlightenment 00:39:13 - The Capacity to Accept and the Misunderstanding 00:43:13 - The Potential of Suffering as a Doorway 00:46:45 - Awakening to the Divine Co-Creative Force 00:49:33 - Embracing the Dark and Painful Parts Within Ourselves 00:53:01 - The Cycle of Abuse and Re-Triggering 00:56:35 - Accepting and Processing Harmful Situations 00:59:54 - Investigating Vulnerability and Fear 01:03:43 - Facing the Abyss: The Power of Present Awareness 01:07:20 - The Importance of Reminding and Supporting Each Other 01:10:28 - The Paradox of Meditation Practice 01:13:40 - Authenticity and Continuous Unfoldment 01:17:09 - The Concept of God and Awakeness 01:20:01 - The Profound Intelligence in Creation 01:23:54 - Seeing the God in Everything 01:27:20 - The Evolution of Awakening and Embodiment of Enlightenment 01:30:14 - The Contradiction of "Nothing New Under the Sun" and "Only a New Seed can Yield a New Crop" 01:33:28 - Embracing the Body and the World 01:36:26 - The Teachings of the Heavenly Father and Earthly Mother 01:39:40 - The Paradox of Optimism 01:43:20 - The Transition and Contribution of Spiritual Teachers 01:46:06 - Links and Contact Info Save Save Save Save Save