Buddha at the Gas Pump

Khen Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan is Abbot of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe, in southern India. He is a Tibetan Buddhist monk from Ladakh, India, who has lived and taught in the United States for more than fifteen years. He began his monastic life at age seven in Stok, his family village. At age thirteen he joined the Stok Monastery to study and memorize Buddhist scriptures. In 1952, when he was sixteen years old, he walked with his father from Ladakh to Shigatse, Tibet, to enter the famous Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. The 800-mile trek took them over two months to complete. Khen Rinpoche Tsetan received his novice monk vows there and studied Buddhist philosophy at the monastery's Skilkhang College with many prominent Tibetan scholars. Once back in the village of his birth, he studied tantric practices and joined the School of Buddhist Philosophy in Choglamsar where he studied for seven years. Due to the fact that the Buddhist tradition in Ladakh is dependent on the Tibetan lineage of teachers to transmit and bestow higher Buddhist degrees, it was necessary for him to leave Ladakh again in 1970 in pursuit of the Geshe training. From 1974-1978 he taught high school in Ladakh. Then he met with a special invitation to come to the United States and teach at the first Tibetan Buddhist learning center in America, Labsum Shedrub Ling, in Washington, New Jersey. He went in hopes of learning English and completing his Geshe degree studies. He accomplished both, and in 1984 he returned to the Drepung Monastery for commencement. Since that time Khen Rinpoche Tsetan has been living and teaching in the United States from October to June and returning to Ladakh during the summer months to oversee activities at the Siddhartha School/Choskor Stok school he founded in 1996. While in the States, he has divided his time between Maine and New York City with additional teaching trips to Amhurst, MA, and other areas of the U.S. His association with the Manjushri Center in Amherst has provided him with extensive teaching positions and lecturing opportunities at a number of schools including Smith, Bowdoin, Amherst, Hampshire, Drew, Maine College of Art, Bangor Theological Seminary, Phillips Exeter Academy, Deerfield Academy, and others. In 1996 shortly after founding the Siddhartha School in Stok, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, appointed then Geshe Tsetan to be the Abbot of the new Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in India. This was a great honor for him, and one that was humbly set aside so that he could devote himself completely to the Siddhartha School. The Dalai Lama gave his blessings and support. His title became Khen Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan, and he has assumed his new responsibilities, over-seeing the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in exile. Since summer 2005 he has worked ceaselessly to fulfill the charge of increasing the number of monks at Tashilhunpo, the poorest of the Tibetan monasteries in exile, and of raising the funds for their support. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/20/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of Ken Rinpoche Tsetan 00:03:37 - Ken Rinpoche Tsetan's Background 00:07:27 - The Christian Tradition and the Buddhist Perspective 00:10:58 - The Illusion of Absolute Existence 00:14:16 - The Analytical and Stabilization Meditation Ways 00:17:16 - Overcoming Anger through Love and Patience 00:20:27 - Removing Blame and Finding Peace through Meditation 00:23:06 - Overcoming the Illusion of Enemies and Friends in the Mind 00:26:41 - Letting Go of Attachments and Anger 00:30:01 - Finding Peace and Love in the World 00:33:09 - Changing Yourself Instead of the World 00:36:16 - Fulfilling Buddha's Wishes 00:39:51 - Attaining Nirvana and Becoming a Buddha 00:43:20 - Enlightenment and Liberation for All 00:47:18 - Evaluating Enlightenment Levels 00:51:07 - The True Master's Inner Development 00:55:31 - Developing Compassion and Wisdom 00:59:20 - Choosing the Right Teacher 01:00:57 - Continuous Interruptions 01:01:41 - Repeated "No" 01:02:25 - Rick's Refusal 01:03:09 - Rick's Rejection of Something 01:03:53 - Repetitive Denials 01:04:37 - Multiple Rejections 01:05:21 - Repeated "No" Responses 01:06:05 - Repeated No Responses 01:06:49 - Rick's Persistent "No" Response 01:07:33 - Repetitive Answering 00:00:00 - Rick's Repeated "No" 01:09:45 - Multiple "No's" from Rick

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

Janet Sussman is a transformational musician, seminar leader, intuitive counselor, and published author. She has given concerts throughout the United States and has created two albums, Bridges and Subtle Bodies. She is known for her ability to use music to create a powerful process of spiritual journeying and awakening. She is also the author of Timeshift: The Experience of Dimensional Change and The Reality of Time, which has been praised by spiritual luminary Dr. Jean Houston as “in the nature of a revelation.” Janet is a specialist in the architecture of the subtle bodies. In her written and musical works, as well as her intuitive counseling, she transmits a consciousness awakening and an opening into celestial light. Students report experiences of unity, of merging with the other while maintaining the core value of the Self. Janet has developed a system of subtle energy balancing called Sunpoint™ which works to enhance the core identity of the individual and bring an experience of transcendent wholeness. Sunpoint can be practiced hands-on or as a long-distance healing methodology. This method can be transferred to individual practitioners for their own use and in the support of others. Janet also utilizes music as a means of relaxation and as a point of departure into a journeying process of the spirit. Her original keyboard improvisations and highly developed vocal skills bring the listener into direct, primary knowledge of the chakras (human energy centers), acting as a core indicator of blockages and anomalies stored in the field. Janet's loving, clear translation of subtle imagery opens the participant to a clear, insightful examination of their inner state. She specializes in researching the movement of energy through the heart chakra. She views this model in terms of "stations" through which primary energetic conduits transfer knowledge from one spiritual chamber of the heart to another. The emphasis is on opening the individual to a deeper experience of receiving from both personal and Divine sources of love. This can then be transferred to the "giving chamber" of the heart which governs the flow of energy to the environment. Website: http://www.timeportalpubs.com/ Interview recorded 11/12/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:13 - Early Comprehension and Cognition 00:08:13 - Childhood and Giftedness 00:11:45 - Unusual Languages and Codes 00:15:12 - Challenging Childhood Experiences 00:17:58 - The Impact of a Wise Teacher 00:20:56 - Pouring Myself into Music and Creative Writing 00:24:02 - Early Inner Wisdom Experiences 00:27:26 - The Human Condition and Multiple Dimensions 00:31:01 - The Importance of Dimensionality 00:35:00 - The Interconnected Collective Consciousness 00:38:13 - Overcoming Skepticism and Proving Abilities 00:43:27 - The Paradox of Consciousness 00:48:19 - The Beauty and Impairment of Religious Notions 00:51:56 - The Presence of Advanced Beings in the Multiverse 00:56:18 - The Limitations of Suffering and the Pursuit of Happiness 00:59:16 - The Awakening of Different Shaktis 01:01:51 - The Importance of Getting Along and Letting Go of Judgments 01:05:26 - Cultural Imprinting and Personal Characteristics 01:10:06 - Characteristics of Enlightenment tribes 01:14:41 - The Beauty of Evolved Humans and Interdimensional Beings 01:18:34 - Interwovenness with Beings from Other Places 01:22:37 - The Universal Essence in Sentient Beings 01:27:01 - The Profoundness of Silence and Intelligence 01:31:01 - The Impact of Skeptics and Ignorance 01:34:20 - Being Fathomed by Love 01:38:33 - Living a Meaningful Life 01:43:54 - The Potentiality of Love 01:49:49 - The Challenge of Allowing Ourselves to Be Cared For 01:55:21 - The Heart Chakra and Multidimensional Consciousness 01:59:43 - A Lifetime of Original Development Save

Leslie Temple-Thurston is a teacher of enlightenment, who since 1988 has wholeheartedly dedicated her life to inspiring and guiding people towards reaching their spiritual awakening at this most important and pivotal moment in humanity’s evolution. Through her books, courses and audio recordings, Leslie has mentored thousands worldwide who are committed to awakening to higher states, guiding them to become conscious of the luminous core of enlightenment within themselves. Vision holder and founder of the non-profit organization CoreLight, Leslie and her partner since 1992, Brad Laughlin, developed CoreLight’s school of transformation, which offers live events and online enlightenment studies. To assist people in their awakening, Leslie pioneered a unique and powerful set of mental-emotional clearing techniques that help release the patterned behavioral states of the ego that block the ability to fulfill one’s potential. This simple yet potent clearing practice can be done alone in the privacy of home. It teaches us that the guru (teacher) is inside—not an outside authority. By examining and releasing the egoic patterning, we achieve higher states of consciousness. Leslie’s dedication to Spirit resulted in a two-year “cave experience,” which culminated in April 1988, when she experienced the dissolution of her old egoic identity and a profound awakening. With this came the gift of being able to share with others a transmission of grace, unconditional love and healing energy, known in the East as shakti, which has uplifting, enduring, and transformational effects on those who receive it. Now fully retired, Leslie’s transmission of shakti comes through her audio recordings, books, and sacred art—all of which are available on CoreLight’s website. Leslie is the author of two books: The Marriage of Spirit—Enlightened Living in Today’s World and Returning to Oneness—The Seven Keys of Ascension. Her extensive teachings are also available through her training courses and as audio recordings, which are available in English and Brazilian Portuguese. Leslie is the founder of the humanitarian aid organization, Seeds of Light, whose mission is to assist with the awakening of the Global Heart, which she perceives to be the interconnectedness of all life through tolerance, forgiveness, love and compassion. Seeds of Light offers services to South Africa’s marginalized communities, including AIDS orphans. Leslie lived in the United States for over 40 years and now resides fulltime in her beloved homeland of South Africa. Leslie’s site Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/26/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Setting in Santa Fe, New Mexico 00:04:22 - Compassionate activism and spiritual awakening 00:11:19 - Apartheid and Reconciliation in South Africa 00:14:56 - Revisiting Spiritual Nature 00:17:34 - Intuitive Painting and the Etheric Body 00:19:57 - Painting in Samadhi 00:22:17 - Communication with Ascended Masters 00:24:16 - Communication with Ascended Masters 00:26:56 - Archangel Michael's Teachings and Transformation 00:29:32 - A Heart Opening Experience 00:33:54 - The Role of Guides in Meditation Journey 00:38:46 - TM Meditations and Life Changes 00:43:35 - Compromising Spiritual Motivations in a Marriage 00:48:29 - The Shifts in Perception 00:52:36 - The Everlasting Shifts in Consciousness 00:57:34 - The Vast Transcendental State 01:02:06 - Encountering the Elohim 01:07:31 - Luminosity and Spirit Walkers 01:11:22 - Duality and Non-Duality 01:15:06 - The Evolution of the Human Race 01:18:09 - The Illusion of the Fall 01:21:15 - Fluctuations and Delusions in the Pursuit of Change 01:25:24 - Altruistic Intentions in the Spiritual Journey 01:29:04 - Quoting Spiritual Teachers and Finding Inner Balance 01:32:18 - The Liberation of Dropping the Ego 01:35:56 - Living a Fully Human Life 01:39:04 - Concern for the World and Activism Projects 01:41:57 - Energetic Realignment and Impact 01:45:01 - Spiritual Teaching and Humanitarian Projects 01:47:29 - Connecting Consciousness to Global Changes 01:51:59 - Building Forts and the Importance of Love and Respect Save

Ishvara was born in 1945 in Missouri USA and raised a fundamentalist Christian. While involved in church ministry at a young age, he became frustrated with the limitations of restricted belief. He began a quest for truth that led him to explore the great scriptures of the world, but he continually found limitations and contradictions in the interpretations of the core truths. In 1987 Ishvara experienced a quantum leap in consciousness, a profound awakening. Ishvara merged with Life, seeing the universe, seeing love, knowing everything without any trace of doubt. Ishvara became aware of his true being and of the significance of his awakening: a new level of existence had taken birth in human form. Ishvara could not relate his experience to anything that was recorded in any book or scripture. Inherent in Ishvara’s awakening was a clear understanding of the tremendous conditions that prevent people from realizing their true nature and living their full potential. It became obvious to him that even spiritual teachings, systems and structures that were designed to bring liberation to the individual no longer served to bring forth the next evolutionary step for humanity. Ishvara’s message is one of radical transformation through letting go of conditional thinking and stepping into the direct experience of Life as it is, moment by moment. Through his awakening Ishvara found that his sole purpose is embodying this new possibility with every fiber of his being. Ishvara is available to people as a living example of what is possible for all of us. Ishvara lives in Albuquerque New Mexico. Through the nonprofit spiritual organization, Alaya, he quietly teaches a small group of students through talks and dialogues. He also leads retreats in Germany, which prove to be extraordinary events that propel individuals into an ever-deepening experience of what Ishvara calls the New Consciousness. Ishvara's two meditation CDs and a book are available via email or phone: 505-294-4911. Website: ishvara.org Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/21/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Small World Department of Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:57 - The Motivation Behind the Interviews 00:06:06 - The Mysterious Dream about Cows 00:08:22 - The Power of Knowing 00:10:51 - Discovering a Different Path 00:13:46 - Taking What You Need and Leaving the Rest 00:16:17 - The Partial Truth of Scriptures and Misleading Information 00:18:01 - A Breaking Point 00:19:46 - A Moment of Grace 00:21:51 - Shifting Language Patterns 00:23:17 - Understanding the Changes 00:25:28 - Authenticating the Space 00:28:03 - The Shift in Perspective and Connection 00:32:09 - Awakening and Shifting Identity 00:35:39 - The Cosmic Self and its Interpretations 00:37:54 - The Unity and Diversity of Cosmic Expression 00:40:55 - Embracing the Diversity of Life 00:43:52 - Embracing Paradox and Ambiguity 00:46:51 - Criticisms and Authority 00:48:50 - Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:50:44 - Embracing Change in Appearance 00:53:02 - Kundalini Awakening Experiences 00:55:48 - Physical Transformation and Health Changes 00:58:22 - Sudden Health Issues 01:00:45 - Balancing the Body and Spirit 01:03:17 - Finding Spiritual Clarity with Enlifement 01:06:00 - Spiritual Journey and Escaping Suffering 01:08:52 - Embracing Your True Self 01:13:18 - The Dance of Life and Creativity 01:17:07 - The Awakening Journey 01:20:02 - Upcoming Interviews and Back to Skype Save

Jackie O'Keeffe was raised in rural Ireland. Wanting to know about God she studied theology and music. After graduating in the 1980's, Jac found her studies had left her disillusioned and a non-believer. Turning her focus to issues of social inequality, she studied adult and community education, and began her career interweaving community development with the arts. In 1997, her life changed dramatically when her sixth sense awakened. Quite spontaneously, she was able to see chakras, energy fields and auras. Moreover, she could communicate with animals and with those who have passed away. A busy practice in healing work developed within a short time, with Jackie offering private sessions and residential retreats. She developed and delivered holistic programmes that focused on viewing depression as a spiritual awakening rather than a bio-chemical disorder. Using a variety of methodologies, her work had the primary focus of raising consciousness. Jackie continued for seven years as a spiritual teacher, before stopping her work in 2006 and leaving Ireland to deepen her own spiritual practice. Her personal quest led to that which is beyond the mind - a transcendence of dualistic thought. Jackie now lives in Ireland and India. She facilitates spiritual gatherings in question-and-answer format, offering clear pointers to spiritual seekers of truth. Jac's Site Interview summary and transcript Interview recorded 10/10/2010 Other BatGap episodes including Jac: Panel discussion at SAND conference with Jac O’Keeffe, Igor Kufayev and Francis Bennett Panel discussions on Ethics and Spiritual Teaching SAND Panel Discussion on Sexual Misconduct, Money, Power, Trauma & Ethics in Spiritual Communities YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:04:32 - Questioning the Meaning of Life 00:07:12 - Exploring Different Paths 00:10:17 - Encountering Transparent Spirits 00:12:55 - Ghostly Encounters 00:15:20 - Exploring the Limits of Reality 00:17:45 - Indigenous Beings in the Woodlands 00:20:13 - Feeling Trapped and Seeking Help 00:22:52 - Connecting through Love 00:25:23 - A Divine Encounter and the Power of Love 00:27:50 - Meeting Master Jose and the Path to Spiritual Awakening 00:30:38 - Becoming a Ghostbuster 00:33:06 - Ghostbusting and Working on the Dead 00:36:06 - The Journey into the New Age 00:38:42 - Wild Experiences with Santo Daime and Ayahuasca 00:41:53 - The Unreality of Belief Systems 00:44:41 - The Myth of Existence 00:47:32 - Personal Healing and Transformation 00:50:13 - Communicating with Amma 00:53:08 - Seeking Silence and Light 00:55:57 - Discovering Yoga and Nonduality 00:58:50 - The Illusion of Individuality and the Movement of Energy 01:02:16 - The Concrete Manifestation of Pain 01:05:28 - The Breaking of the Mind 01:08:58 - Being Chosen by a Higher Intelligence 01:11:27 - Climbing the Mountain of Awakening 01:14:07 - Following the Next Step 01:17:15 - The Importance of Maturity in Spiritual Growth 01:19:44 - Letting Go of the Spiritual Path 01:22:15 - The Role of Spiritual Practices in Enlightenment 01:24:58 - Moving to Residentials

Bill Farber passed away in 2016. He practiced his Life Energy Alignment Processes for over 20 years. His work was internationally known due to his advanced distant healing and intuitive abilities. Bill helped people in all walks of life and of all levels of experience, His work facilitated healing, balance, and advancement of consciousness. He had the privilege of providing energy alignment to people facing challenging diseases such as cancer, MS, chronic fatigue, and depression. He also had particular expertise in working with business and human potential leaders in maximizing their effectiveness and raising their level of awareness during challenging times or circumstances. Bill was also a successful attorney and business executive in downtown Chicago. He was married since 1970 to Rona and had two adult children, Brandon and Tiffany. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/6/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Bill Farber and his Spiritual Journey 00:04:16 - The Decision to Change My Life 00:07:03 - The Power of Meditation and Energy Work 00:09:38 - The Life Energy Alignment Program 00:12:18 - Energy Healing and Connection 00:14:59 - leveraging energy work for healing 00:17:33 - The Experience of Detachment 00:20:16 - Shifts and Breakthroughs in Energy Work 00:22:33 - The Remarkable Experience of Energy 00:24:48 - Delayed Reactions and Hugging Marathons 00:27:02 - The Fluctuation of Individuality 00:29:42 - Firmly Established in the Present Moment 00:32:14 - The Infinite Range of Possibilities 00:35:20 - Finding Quiet in a Noisy World 00:37:34 - The Value of Deep Silence 00:40:08 - Amplifying the Evolutionary Energy 00:43:17 - Skepticism and Evidence 00:46:02 - Using Discretion in Energy Readings 00:48:20 - Intuitive Knowingness and Telepathy 00:50:27 - The Power of Energy Healing and Facilitating Transitions 00:53:27 - Being a Conduit for Energy 00:56:51 - Miracles and Energy Work 00:59:26 - The Power of Consciousness and Intent 01:02:31 - Offering Peaceful and Blissful Transitions 01:04:37 - A Powerful Healing Experience 01:06:37 - A Powerful Experience with Energy Work 01:09:22 - Empathy and Sensations 01:11:49 - Dealing with Physical Discomfort 01:14:30 - Exploring Physical Discomforts and Meditation 01:18:01 - Plans for Fairfield Conference 01:20:39 - Transitioning into Group Energy Work Save Save

Dana Sawyer was born in Jonesport, Maine in 1951. He was a full-time professor of religion and philosophy at the Maine College of Art and an adjunct professor of Asian religions at the Bangor Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous published papers and books, including Aldous Huxley: A Biography, which Laura Huxley described as, "Out of all the biographies written about Aldous, this is the only one he would have actually liked." Sawyer has been involved in fund-raising activities for the Siddhartha School Project in Stak, Ladakh, north India, for more than ten years and is currently vice-president of the Board of Trustees. This project has resulted in the construction of an elementary/ middle school for underprivileged Buddhist children that has been visited twice by the Dalai Lama, who holds it as a model for blending traditional and Western educational ideals. Much of his work for this project has involved translating at lectures for (and teaching with) the school’s founder, Geshe Lobzang Tsetan, who is currently the abbot of the Panchen Lama’s monastery in Mysore, India. Sawyer's interest in the phenomenon of Neo-Hindu and Buddhist groups in America led him to become a popular lecturer on topics of interest to these groups. He has taught at the Kripalu Center (Lenox, MA), the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (Barre, MA), the Vedanta Society of Southern California (Hollywood, CA), the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, and other such venues. This work has also brought him into contact with several interesting and important figures in this field, including Stanislav Grof, Andrew Harvey, Huston Smith, Laura Huxley, Stephen Cope, and Alex Grey. Sawyer has been to India eleven times, most recently while on sabbatical during the winter and spring of 2005, and has traveled extensively throughout the subcontinent: Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Japan. Related to academic work Sawyer has lectured at the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Banaras Hindu University, the University of Riga, Latvia, the Huntington Library, and at colleges and conferences throughout the United States (interview footage of Sawyer from the Riga conference was featured in a British documentary, “Brand New World,” on the dangers of consumer culture). In August, 2005, Sawyer was a participant in the by-invitation-only conference on “Government, Education, and Religion” at the Oxford Roundtable, Lincoln College, Oxford University. He is a member of two academic societies: the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy (SACP) and the International Aldous Huxley Society, centered at the University of Munster in Germany. 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 Other interviews: Dana Sawyer, with Jeffrey Kripal Dana Sawyer in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Dana Sawyer on Huston Smith Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/29/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:04:03 - The Effort to Alter Our Subjective Experience 00:08:02 - Embracing the Mystery 00:12:10 - The Realization of the Need for Growth 00:15:55 - Seeking Certainty in Knowledge 00:19:24 - Embracing the Mystery 00:23:12 - Shifting Perspectives and Cultural Interpretations 00:27:12 - Breaking the Shackles of Routine Work 00:30:55 - The Story of Heaven and Hell 00:34:23 - Embracing Multiple Perspectives 00:38:03 - The Spectrum of Spiritual Teachings 00:41:37 - The Exercising of Esoteric Teachings 00:45:19 - The Growth of Spiritual Interest and Maturity 00:49:11 - Falling into Each Other's Emptiness 00:52:38 - Cultural Misunderstandings in India 00:56:31 - The Mystery and Paradox of India 01:00:07 - Witnessing Astonishing Feats 01:03:44 - Snake Charmer Tricks and Authentic Spiritual Teachers 01:07:23 - The Power of Eye Contact and Samadhi 01:11:21 - The Infinite is Everywhere 01:15:12 - The Relationship between Enlightenment and Spiritual Maturity 01:19:15 - The Paradox of Growth and Presence 01:22:51 - The Disconnect Between Enlightenment and Human Development 01:26:23 - Bringing Enlightenment into Your Life 01:30:16 - The True Meaning of Tantra 01:34:15 - Naga Baba's and Stoned Sadhanas in India 01:38:05 - Enlightenment and Cultural Diversity 01:42:04 - The Sacredness of Compassion 01:46:11 - The Nature of Awakening and Enlightenment 01:50:09 - A Connection Through Language 01:53:22 - Where to Listen or Watch Buddha At The Gas Pump

I simply awoke. I suffered for more than 20 years with depression, fear, guilt, anger, judgment, confusion, a lack of connection and dis-ease. I lost friends and three lovers over 9 years to AIDS and then was diagnosed with cancer and AIDS in 2003 and thought that I was going to die. But upon introspection I realized that I was more than my thoughts because I was being aware of my thoughts. I realized also that I was more than birth and death. With this realization, all fears of being were absolved and a peace enveloped me that revealed that all is in divine order. I went through “the dark night of the soul”. And as layer upon layer of who I thought I was dissolved, I slowly became more and more self-aware. At one moment I remembered that I am more than any created form and so ultimately they have no true effect on me. Now I am here grateful to utilize the gifts of this body to express the one love from which all flowers. Life is not about something else or something other, it is what is happening now. And when our mind calms we then have eyes to "see". I am listening, singing, writing, sharing, and just playing and enjoying the blessings of each moment. Richard's Book, "From Suffering to Soaring" First live-action video for the song Be Here Now, by Richard Schooping Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/22/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - From Suffering to Soaring Through God I Transcended AIDS 00:03:35 - The Burden of the World 00:07:21 - Losing everything and finding music 00:10:23 - From Research to Spiritual Awakening 00:13:30 - Vipassana and Self-Simplification 00:16:12 - The Mummy in the Infirmary 00:18:42 - The Ocean Becomes Conscious of Me 00:21:16 - Embracing Different Spiritual Practices 00:23:46 - Diversity and Intricacy of Life 00:26:11 - Becoming Light and Presence 00:28:09 - Letting go of Attachments 00:30:20 - Transition from Duality to Unity 00:32:06 - The Path of Awareness 00:34:04 - The Shift to a Spiritual Personality 00:36:33 - Finding Joy in Creative Expression 00:38:39 - Love and Relationships 00:40:10 - Resting in the Wholeness of Life 00:42:42 - Experiencing Emotions and Healing 00:44:48 - The Illusion of Creating Heaven 00:46:39 - Letting the Ocean Be 00:48:05 - The Nature of Simplicity and Awareness Awareness 00:50:19 - The Evolution of Communication 00:52:47 - The Simplicity of Life and Resonance 00:55:07 - The Act of Imagining Creates Reality 00:57:56 - Contentment and Awareness 01:00:17 - Allowing the Unfolding of Awareness 01:02:49 - Clarity and Realization of Truth 01:05:06 - Waves and Clinging 01:07:42 - The Dissolution and Unraveling of Beliefs 01:09:57 - Living a Simple Life 01:12:11 - Richard Schuping Interview Save

I was born on June 14,1946 in Elizabeth, NJ and now live in Northwest Jersey. As a child I was aware of a vast stillness each night when I would close my eyes and lay down for sleep. The world seemed to dissolve in a blissful silence each night until waking in the morning. This experience was forgotten until found again while learning Transcendental Meditation. That profound first encounter with meditation set my feet on a path which culminated years later in the realization that our true nature is vast empty stillness that at the same time is full with life. In a very practical sense, this shift in perception has greatly changed reactions to daily life. Every aspect of life is underscored by a spontaneous peaceful acceptance that is beyond intellectual understanding. The world is experienced as arising and dissolving in unconditional knowing. There is no sense of a separate individual struggling or accomplishing anything. Life goes on without anxiety, worry and obsessively mulling over a past that is gone and future that hasn't happened. Seeing life this way allows a freedom to totally embrace experiences as they unfold. Even as the mind continues to judge situations as good or bad there is a deeper knowing that it’s all ok. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/15/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction with Joel Rumbolo 00:03:19 - Childhood Blissful Experience 00:06:49 - From Marijuana to Yoga 00:09:34 - First Initiation Ceremony 00:11:59 - Car Accident in Edison 00:14:40 - Witnessing and the Shift in Perception 00:17:36 - Witnessing and the Ego 00:20:36 - Meeting Nila and Discovering Deep Silence 00:22:55 - Letting Go and Realizing Stillness 00:26:18 - Experiencing the Shift into Silence 00:29:48 - The Peace of Non-Identification 00:32:45 - The Wonder of Life and the Experience of Sleep 00:35:53 - Experiencing Sleep and Awareness 00:38:43 - The Experience of a Unified State 00:41:41 - The Perception of Vastness in Unity 00:44:02 - The Power of Visualization 00:47:26 - Having an Open Mind 00:52:07 - Being Contained and Defined 00:55:53 - The Perception of Silence and Subtle Realities 01:01:53 - The Flow of Life and Coincidental Experiences 01:07:16 - The Illusion of the Individual I 01:12:26 - The Possibility of Taking Questions from the Audience 01:15:59 - The Insanity of the Human Race 01:19:44 - The Wastefulness of Wars and the Path to World Peace 01:23:02 - Awakening to Different Paths 01:25:46 - The Power of Guided Meditation 01:27:58 - Retirement and Hobbies 01:30:19 - Neo-Advaita and the Misconception of Stillness 01:33:40 - The Misleading Nature of Enlightenment Experiences 01:38:21 - The End of Your World and Adyashanti 01:41:23 - Background Music

Takuin Minamoto was born on May 24th, 1973. Despite not having an interest in spiritual seeking, on December 1st, 2006, Takuin exploded into a being devoid of search and searcher. This destructive event ended everything other than what was naturally present. It was an 'accident' beyond the touch of structured teachings. “People have asked about this event and seem to assume that it was a peaceful transition, as if I had cultivated something through time and blissfully 'became the real me,' whatever that means. Still, others think it led to gaining what was desired. But none of that is true. The realization was an explosion that destroyed everything that came before. Nothing was gained, and everything was lost. There were only sensations, and the perception of things happening.” After a short period of re-adjustment, Takuin began writing and exploring words that arose from day to day events and meetings with other people. This led to the eventual creation of Takuin.com - Life Beyond the Image. Today, Takuin spends most of his time meeting with others, either in-person or online. Summary and Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Awakening at the Sound of a Car Horn 00:04:00 - The Experience of the Car Incident 00:07:20 - Loss of Personal Identity 00:10:19 - The Self as a Tightly Compressed Ball 00:13:48 - The Shift to Vastness 00:17:46 - Writing for Clarity and Self-Expression 00:22:35 - Interest in Exploring the Mind 00:27:32 - The Influence of Bruce Lee and Krishnamurti 00:31:58 - The Unique Expression of Spiritual Awakening 00:36:24 - The Unique Offering of Each Individual 00:40:05 - Social Consequences of Speaking Out 00:43:54 - Awareness of Our Own Functioning 00:48:01 - Levels of Consciousness and Spiritual Progress 00:53:03 - The Paradox of Life 00:57:37 - The Different Stages of Awakening 01:01:44 - Embracing Individuality and Personal Growth 01:05:12 - Transitioning from a Spiritual Teacher 01:08:16 - The Joy of Personal Interaction and Spiritual Gatherings 01:11:04 - Seeking the Truth 01:14:34 - The Nature of Seeking 01:18:04 - The Richness of Human Relationships 01:21:31 - The Unusual Experience of Hearing All Sounds 01:25:01 - A Stage of Transition 01:29:05 - The Unnoticed Changes in a Relationship 01:32:34 - Openness and Inclusivity in Spirituality 01:35:35 - Casual Conversations and Connection 01:39:38 - The Fascination of Various Ways of Expressing Awakening 01:43:41 - The Journey of Enlightenment and Continuous Growth 01:48:00 - The Development of Richness in Awakening 01:51:44 - The Flowering of Life and Evolutionary Unfoldment 01:56:22 - Richard Schooping: Recovering from AIDS through Spiritual Awakening Save

Guru Swami-G was born March 24, 1950, and started the search to find God and Truth at a young age. Her journey began in earnest when at the age of 18 while within an esoteric order Kundalini was awakened during the evening prayers blessings. The ongoing journey took numerous twists and turns through everything from new age philosophies - scientology - deep bible study - through a very eclectic scenic unfolding. Life brought visiting Navaho medicine men for ceremonial undertakings to being one of the first initiates receiving the Kalachakra Buddhist empowerments in the west. The name given within the Buddhist traditions is Karma Sonam Wangmo which means one that dedicates all their actions to the good of humanity. There has been an immersion into not only Buddhist but also Hindu traditions such as Bhakti (ISKON) - Tantra - Naga Shaivite and finally the Reality of Advaita. It was a 30 plus year journey from Kundalini Awakening until all imploded under the Guidance and direction of her Sat Guru in India. Guru-G was given the admonition and challenge to go forward as a Guru to aide humanity. As a Kundalini Shaktipat Guru it is imperative to understand the workings of the mind, how to bring balance to kundalini and how to move one forward from fear and phenomena to Realization and liberation. There is much more to being a Shaktipat Guru than simply awakening Kundalini and the way is working one to one so the seekers may go fully forward to Liberation versus teaching how to manifest and be even more caught up in the transient. Guru-G stresses a path that is within the fullness of life i.e.:since you have to breathe, do it in a way to bring balance. The path is about walking the way of Simplicity - Honesty - Integrity and Transparency. Surrendering into the transmission during Darshan. Guru-G has two books currently out Kundalini from Hell to Heaven and also Truth Unbound authors name is listed as Ganga Karmokar. Swami G's website Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/25/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Swami G's Sanskrit Name 00:04:17 - Starting the Spiritual Journey in a Challenging Environment 00:08:24 - Beginnings of the Spiritual Journey 00:12:58 - The Beginning of the Awakening 00:17:04 - Phenomena and Difficulties 00:21:45 - The Uddhava Gita and Krishna's Final Admonitions 00:25:05 - From Jail to the Search for Tantra 00:28:51 - The Spiritual Journey Begins 00:32:12 - The Dark Night of the Soul 00:35:50 - Praying for Death and Intense Suffering 00:39:11 - Insights and Self-Reflection 00:42:57 - The Tantric Connection 00:47:01 - A Turning Point with a Tantric Master 00:50:26 - Progress and Unfoldings 00:53:56 - The Shaivite tradition and the dhuni 00:57:35 - The Devastating Effects of Trauma and PTSD 01:01:11 - Surrendering to the Terror 01:04:24 - The Implosion of the Illusion of Self 01:07:55 - Past Life Trauma and Its Effects 01:10:53 - Insight and Compassion 01:14:49 - The Challenge of Communicating Beyond Speech 01:18:46 - The Limitations of Words and Concepts 01:22:12 - Reading Diaries and Falling Away 01:26:09 - The Naga Baba's Influence 01:29:39 - A Baba's Warning 01:32:51 - Kundalini Experiences 01:36:12 - Living in an Ashram and Connecting with Students 01:39:38 - Layers and Levels of Realization 01:42:51 - The Nature of Emotions in Realization 01:46:12 - Concluding Thoughts 01:49:27 - Upcoming Interview with Musician who Overcame AIDS Save

Richard Quentin 'Rick' Laird was a jazz musician, born on 5 February 1941 and died on July 4, 2021. He was a bass player best known for his place in The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Laird was born in Dublin, Ireland. He played music from a young age and enrolled for guitar and piano lessons. He started playing jazz after moving to New Zealand at the age of 16 with his father. He played guitar in jam bands in New Zealand before buying an upright bass. After extensive touring in New Zealand he moved to Sydney, Australia where he played with many top jazz musicians including Don Burrows. He moved to England in 1962 and became house bassist at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, playing with many greats including the guitarist Wes Montgomery and Sonny Stitt. From 1963-4 Laird then at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was recorded on Sonny Rollins's soundtrack for the movie Alfie and played in The Brian Auger Trinity (July 1963-February 1964) and The Brian Auger Group (Feb-October 1964). His next step was to go to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied arranging, composition, and string bass. He then teamed up with John McLaughlin and The Mahavishnu Orchestra to play electric bass until 1974, when the band broke up. After that, he moved to New York and played with Stan Getz (a tour in 1977) and Chick Corea (a tour the following year). Laird put out one album as a leader, Soft Focus. Today, he is a successful photographer as well as a private bass tutor, and an author of a number of intermediate to advanced-level bass books. In 1962, just before leaving Sydney for London, a friend gave him a copy of J.Krishnamurti’s book “The First and Last Freedom”. This began a long journey as a seeker which included drugs, alcohol, meditation, Scientology, EST, AA, etc. In early 2008, after reading Gangaji’s book “The Diamond in Your Pocket” everything changed, what had always been there became obvious and spontaneously the seeking ended. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/18/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Musical Background 00:03:58 - Discovering Krishnamurti's Book 00:08:29 - Troublemaker in School, Early Experiences with LSD 00:12:22 - Different Perspectives and Seeking 00:16:43 - Joining the Monte Vigne Orchestra in New York 00:21:33 - Life on the Road with Mahavishnu Orchestra 00:25:23 - Samsara in Action 00:28:30 - Personal Demons and Inadequacy 00:31:06 - The Benefits of the e-meter 00:33:33 - The Early Days of Scientology 00:35:10 - Transitioning from Scientology to Photography 00:36:54 - Rediscovering my Passion for Photography 00:39:20 - Discovering a Niche Market 00:41:32 - From Drinking to Spiritual Seeking 00:43:21 - Finding Sobriety and Spiritual Growth 00:45:30 - Seeking Spiritual Teachings, from Osho to Buddhism 00:48:30 - A Profound Time in New York 00:51:55 - The Shock of Realization 00:54:39 - The Immersion in Reality 00:57:00 - The Power of Language and Stories 00:59:48 - Different Approaches to Non-duality 01:02:11 - Qualifying Claims of Awakening 01:05:00 - The Infinite Room for Improvement in Awakening 01:08:05 - Different Strokes for Different Folks 01:10:50 - Something Wonderful is Taking Place 01:13:37 - Evolving Perspective and Less Engagement with Thoughts 01:15:26 - The Journey to Inner Freedom 01:18:09 - The Value of Difficult Experiences 01:21:12 - Ram Dass and the Power of Now 01:24:04 - Humility and Relaxation in Awakening 01:26:59 - Conclusion and Farewell Save

Gary Crowley was born in 1965 and was raised in Massachusetts as a practical-minded New Englander. He graduated from Stanford University in 1987 with degrees in Economics and Political Science. At a young age, he was attracted to Eastern philosophy and spiritual writings that seemed to offer a glimpse of something greater than the life he had known growing up. However, by 2001, Gary finally gave up on all forms of spiritual seeking after decades on the path. He surrendered under the weight of the many well-intended spiritual teachings he'd accumulated over the years. All the study had not caused the shift in awareness that he'd so earnestly sought and had been so often promised. The problem, he then realized, was that he had been simply piling up concepts without addressing the very foundation - his sense of "self" - that was doing the seeking. He discovered that it is only by dismantling our assumptions about "who we are," rather than merely describing a state of being such as oneness or wholeness, that we can bring about a natural opening to a new way of experiencing life. Gary's site: http://garycrowley.com/ Gary's books: Pass the Jelly: Tales of Ordinary Enlightenment From Here to Here: Turning Toward Enlightenment Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/11/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Past the Jelly, Tales of Ordinary Enlightenment 00:03:00 - The Surprising Repetition of the Same Stuff 00:05:44 - Compassion for Ourselves and Others 00:08:32 - The Process of Change 00:11:18 - Insights from the Book 00:13:12 - Exploring Eastern Philosophy and Spiritual Writings 00:16:02 - A Shift in Perspective and Understanding 00:18:36 - The True Nature of Self 00:21:39 - The Experiencing of Living 00:24:51 - Observing the Soup of Life 00:28:06 - The Illusion of Perception 00:30:54 - Quantum Possibilities and Everyday Miracles 00:34:06 - Athletes in the Zone 00:36:59 - The everythingness of experiencing 00:40:00 - The Mystery of the Human Condition 00:42:49 - Perspectives on Politics 00:46:01 - The Illusion of Conscious Will 00:48:48 - Embracing the Actuality of the Human Condition 00:51:48 - Freedom from Illusion 00:55:03 - Helping People in Need 00:57:54 - The Tapping Technique for Change and Healing 01:00:23 - The Diagnosis of a Bone Spur 01:02:24 - Relieving Neck Pain with Body Work 01:05:21 - The Distraction of Physical Pain 01:07:47 - A Shift in Perspective 01:10:03 - The ebb and flow of experiencing everythingness 01:13:04 - The Impact of Stress on Brain Development 01:16:08 - Trading Spiritual Jokes 01:19:06 - The Mantra Meditation Challenge 01:20:26 - Discussing distribution of the interview 01:22:18 - The Error of Premature Claims to Enlightenment

Until I was nine, I lived in one of New York City's "melting pot" neighborhoods, where a wonderful mix of freely mingling cultures, languages and races welcomed me into life on Earth. God, or my conception of God, was always at the center of my life and I conversed freely with the being I had inwardly invented to right wrongs, heal whatever hurt and generally keep the world just and flowing. Facing East I attended college on the West Coast (Portland and San Francisco) in the late sixties, where I discovered many kindred souls seeking deeper meaning and expanded purpose in their lives. Some of these friends turned my attention to teachings from the East—first Zen, and then masters from India. After a focused exploration of some of the life-enhancing modalities available at the time—and there were lots—I learned the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique offered by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Berkeley in 1967. TM's gifts were unmistakable and I started a thirty-year career of devoted service to the Vedic tradition. For many of these years, I taught the TM technique. This work was indescribably rewarding—an act of pure love that took me all around the U.S. and to many parts of Europe and Asia. I also spent a lot of time simply meditating, including seven years in a non-denominational, convent-style setting. This whole period precipitated vast spiritual and personal growth which remains fully integrated into my life, a gift that keeps on giving. Facing West After spending most of my adult life looking East, in about 1996, I began to discover the indigenous traditions of the West, or the Americas. I spent several challenging years working with Chanté Ishta, a Ho-Chunk teacher, who helped me clear many deeply-rooted spiritual and personal belief systems. During that period, I also opened to a profound and intimate relationship with the Earth: her wondrous creative nature, her healing and nourishing gifts and her deep wisdom. I felt like every cell in my body turned around 180 degrees as I learned to embrace life on Earth with a grounded kind of joy and openness that I had never before known. I have also been privileged to know a great Lakota wisdom keeper, Sun Dance leader, healer and teacher, Naça Wa'Anata. Through him, I received a personal pipe, a precious and powerful source of blessing, inspiration, and transformation. Both Wa'Anata's teaching and my personal experience with the pipe and other Lakota sacred ceremonies, especially the Sundance, have saturated every material and non-material aspect of my life with divine light. Eternal Silence I spent five years (2002-2007) living largely in silence in beautiful northern New Mexico, merging with the Earth and ultimately with the infinite Silence that is the reality of creation. Through this process and many others, I was blessed by the unconditional love, wisdom, mentoring, humor and eternal friendship of Bill Bauman, an indescribably special gift from the Infinite in my life and the life of many friends. It is beautiful beyond all words to live in eternal freedom. Website: First Light Transformations Transcript of this interview Second BatGap interview with Cynthia. Interview recorded 8/4/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:04:22 - A Journey of Wisdom and Transformation 00:07:31 - A Shift in Perspective 00:10:16 - Traveling with Maharishi to Austria and the British Isles 00:13:26 - The Inner Reality of Non-doing 00:16:49 - The Experience of Being Everywhere 00:20:31 - The Devata and the Senses 00:23:14 - The Self as a Universal Spirit 00:25:33 - The Experience of Witnessing 00:27:24 - Coming Back to the United States and Teaching 00:30:33 - Difficulties and Challenges 00:32:44 - Embracing Non-Linear Paths 00:35:53 - The Professor's Change of Mind 00:38:32 - Confronting Deep Emotions on Mother Divine 00:40:53 - The Fear Phase 00:43:41 - Rediscovering Myself 00:48:22 - Embracing Uncertainty 00:52:04 - Transition to a Personal Life 00:54:48 - Embracing Change and New Teachings 00:57:52 - Everything Just Is 01:00:41 - First Light Transformations 01:03:39 - Living the Infinitely Inspired Version of Yourself 01:07:19 - The Importance of Integration and the Native American Path 01:10:44 - Clearing Belief Systems and Receiving a Pipe 01:13:48 - Teacher in Des Moines 01:15:36 - Surrendering to God's Gifts 01:18:00 - The Nature of Preferences and Opinions 01:20:59 - Being Present in Life 01:24:32 - Living in the Infinite 01:27:31 - Finding Inspiration in Life's Moments 01:30:00 - How to Subscribe to the RSS Feed Save

The moment for me was instantaneous. The old me died literally, the new “me” emerged. More accurately stated, awakening took over the life of Doc Roberts as if this worldly life was stamped onto the infinite. Absolutely everything changed from that moment, yet all strangely remained just the same as it was. I’ve been a seeker since the age of 5. I knew a profound truth existed just beneath the surface of the everyday, though somehow ever illusive. Thanks to my capital “D”, Dark Night of the Soul, all my years of meditating, researching, attending retreats, listening to enlightened masters and endless self-improvement programs came to an abrupt halt. The bliss of Truth had dawned. I know from my first moment of conscious realization that life is an incredible gift to be relished and played in. I know there is absolutely nothing to fear, including death, for I did have a direct personal experience of this as well. We are bathed in Divine love and grace every moment. Absolutely everything that occurs in life is for the highest good – everything (whether we like it or not). Our job in this life is to simply enjoy what is and the continued unfolding of Divine awakening. My work in the world is internet-based, though I also conduct seminars and counseling. Skiboards.com, my retail winter sports business, is focused on a new form of snow riding – skiboards. I also offer vocational guidance, assisting individuals to get their passions online, and manage a number of other websites. I have a B.S. in Psychology, M.S. in Vocational Counseling, and a PhD. in Human Potential Psychology. My books include Instant Skiing, Instant Fun – Skiboards: the Best Kept Secret on the Slopes, and Discover Your Life’s Work. Upcoming books include Awaken to Your True Vocation and Discover Your Internet Niche – Get your Passion Online. Website: drrichardlroberts.com Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 7/28/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Doc Roberts and his Awakening Journey 00:04:12 - Starting the TM Journey 00:07:37 - Moving to California and meeting my wife 00:09:34 - Skiing and Business Disasters 00:11:20 - A Journey of Loss and Survival 00:14:05 - Dwelling in Eternity 00:16:51 - A Fresh Start 00:19:50 - The Second Dark Night of the Soul 00:22:49 - Letting Go of the Past 00:25:24 - Remembering the Cosmic Joke 00:28:18 - The Experience of Transformation 00:30:22 - The Blessing of Non-Attachment 00:33:46 - The Importance of Non-Attachment and Letting Go 00:36:38 - Letting Go of Ego 00:39:00 - Awakening and Global Consciousness 00:42:18 - Recognizing the Twist in Your Knowledge 00:45:17 - Witnessing Sleep and Grounded Awareness 00:47:26 - The ongoing sense of bliss 00:49:35 - The value of awake people in today's world 00:52:35 - Trusting the Flow of Life 00:55:23 - Recognizing the Right Time 00:57:32 - Relaxing into the Process 01:00:18 - Living in the Present Moment 01:03:05 - Exploring the Impulse to Teach and Share Spirituality 01:06:25 - The Confirmation of Awakening 01:10:47 - Embracing the Mystery of Life 01:14:26 - The Nature of Awakening 01:17:04 - The Illusion of Past Lives 01:20:42 - The Unique Drop in the Ocean 01:23:58 - Speculation on Reincarnation and Belief 01:26:51 - Conclusion and Farewell Save

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

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

In my youth, I was not prone to easy laughter or the common jokes that circulated among human beings. I lived in a world all by myself, thinking, feeling and being led innocently toward a life of relentless spiritual evolution. It would be many years before my spiritual sadhana, or spiritual practices, would reveal the memory of my inherent oneness with the Divine. My parents did not hesitate to inform me that my destiny was to attend “college,” a word they spoke with joy and enthusiasm, emotions that stood out starkly in my young attention, since those emotions were so deeply absent in almost every other part of my childhood. My early religious background was coincidental and predetermined by my parents’ educational choices. I attended Roman Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school, schools selected for their reputation for academic excellence. My fate unfolded several months before my graduation when I was given an early graduation present, instruction in an East Indian form of meditation. In the meditation center, I looked past the sundry forms of decor and what to me were superficial, distracting (and even disturbing) proclamations of the “benefits” of meditation. Nevertheless, I went forward to receive initiation into a unique form of Indian meditation. On April 26, 1975, I learned to meditate with a quiet and eager anticipation for “enlightenment.” It was a day of joy I will never forget. I practiced meditation for over twenty years, adding various asanas (yoga postures) and pranayama (yogic breathing exercises), reading every form of non-dualistic mysticism and scripture I could acquire from Europe, India, Tibet, China and Japan. I also read poetry avidly. Again, and again, I surrendered into psychological/emotional/spiritual dissolution, dying into Consciousness. I was madly in love with oblivion, ecstasy and self-transcendence. While others were busily preparing for a conditioned life in the world, I was ceaselessly going beyond the conditioned mind and its world of disappointments and illusions. I still recall the various forms and flavors of intense spiritual raptures and samadhi (transcendental awakenings) that I experienced in my third year of undergraduate study. The pinnacle of these raptures culminated in the state of nirvikalpa samadhi in March or April of 1980. During this time, I also experienced other forms of exquisite and exalted Transcendental Realizations in my active and meditative life, as well as during sleep. In sleep I tasted intoxicating, ambrosial nectars flowing from my heart to my brain in a cosmic circle. I’d wake up each morning feeling as though I had ascended into the worlds of Gods and Goddesses. It was a time of unspeakable ecstasy in the subtle regions beyond the body-mind. Simultaneously, I began to feel the palpable manifestation of the Primordial Energy of the universe, the Shakti. It was brilliant, active, and sparking. Shakti had simultaneously been born in that Being of Pure Light. Sharing this Radiant Energy and Divine Light became a natural capability: a radiation without circumference, effort or knowledge. A spiritual magnificence, a superabundance of Being, a Transmission of Radiant Awakening–that which has been written about in every religious scripture–was born within that Ultimate Meditation. Primordial Bliss was now free to enjoy Its own spontaneous play in the world. Yet, the Bliss of Perfect Unity in the Self and its ever-present Shakti still needed to migrate more deeply throughout the physical body, toward the outskirts of the flesh, right to the surface of the skin; divinizing and transforming it further. Amrita sahaja samadhi (the nectarous, ambrosial, natural state) dawned, displaying itself as this further evolution: a God-Intoxicated Condition wherein the body became a living host for Devotional Rapture, Kundalini-Shakti, and Divine Light. These qualities revealed a Dynamically-Interactive, Embodied-Form of Ecstatic Bodily-Love. Through my fleshly location, a virtually infinite number of human beings could participate in a passionate and endless relationship with Kali: the expressed, condensed and ferocious form of Adi Para-shakti, the Supreme and Primordial Energy of the Universe. David's main site David's book: Beyond the Place of Laughter and Tears in the Land of Devotion Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/27/10. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to David Spero and his Spiritual Journey 00:03:47 - Catapulted into a Golden Love World 00:06:56 - A State of Bliss and Dissolution 00:10:23 - A False Reality and a Divine Consciousness 00:13:16 - The Dual Nature of My Personality 00:15:38 - Initiation into Meditation Practice 00:18:41 - Maturing in Divine Company 00:22:32 - Yogic Journey and Progression through Sheaths 00:26:50 - Immersing in Spiritual Texts and Influences 00:29:51 - Attending Maharishi International University 00:33:53 - Levels of Development and the Concept of Enlightenment 00

Rahasya is a mystic, physician, spiritual teacher and author who has been working with people for more than 33 years. Meeting his master in 1980 revolutionized his life and led to a deep understanding of his being. Rahasya's teaching is simple, profound and deeply transformative. http://www.livingunity.com/ Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/23/10. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Rahasya 00:02:34 - A Life of Travel and Freedom 00:05:35 - A Journey to India: From France to Nepal 00:08:42 - Encountering Osho and Pune 00:11:26 - Meeting an American Guru in Goa 00:14:13 - Primal Therapy and Childhood Traumas 00:17:03 - Osho's Vision on Therapy and Meditation 00:19:51 - The Moment of Desperation and the Search for Freedom 00:22:50 - Realizing Oneness and Letting Go of the Seeking 00:26:23 - The Illusion of Individual Improvement 00:29:17 - Experiences of Cosmic Super-consciousness 00:32:15 - The Unfolding of Life 00:34:49 - The Flow of Consciousness and Rapid Awakening 00:37:12 - Awakening in Ordinary Lives 00:40:32 - The Energy of Your Participants 00:42:55 - The Danger of Self-Proclaimed Gurus 00:45:13 - Spiritual Powers and the Trap of Self-Identification 00:47:42 - Enlightenment on a Phone Call 00:51:00 - Spreading of Consciousness and Transformation 00:55:23 - Awakening and Degrees of Stability 01:00:07 - Profound Celestial Experiences and Awakening 01:03:56 - Awakening through the Chakras 01:06:37 - Awakening through Different Doors 01:08:59 - The Embodied Experience of Awakening Through Different Chakras 01:11:08 - Unfolding Different Facets of Awakening 01:12:59 - The Meeting of Love and Meditation 01:15:11 - Awakening and Manifestation 01:17:45 - The Spectrum of Experience 01:20:13 - The Dissolution of the Ego Structure 01:22:51 - Embracing Uniqueness and Individuality 01:25:23 - Musical Interlude Save

As a child, I had many experiences of the limitless side of my Being, but perhaps nothing extraordinary. I think most people have such experiences quite naturally. As I grew older, I felt increasingly overwhelmed by my own wounds and by all the separation and denial I felt inside and out. By the time I left grammar school, I was confused and repressed. But I was telling myself and the world I was fine and everything was OK. By the time I’d reached my teens, I was in crisis and I found myself reaching out for something beyond the ordinary world. I began my spiritual search (as did many of my peers) reading books by J. Krishnamurti, Yogananda, Carlos Casteneda, Ram Dass, and Richard Bach. Soon thereafter, I began using hallucinogens as a tool in my self-inquiry process. I glimpsed my future realization in this life, but I also saw that I couldn’t reach it through drugs. At 17, I took initiation into TM and began to practice regularly. After meeting Maharishi, I found myself preparing to become a TM teacher. I took years of training, (over a year in deep meditations and fasting in the Switzerland), spent lots of time with Maharishi, and finally was endowed by him with the knowledge I needed to initiate others. I taught TM to hundreds of seekers, thinking that this simple technique would eventually bring them (and myself) freedom. It was around this time that it became perfectly clear to me that, until I and many others around me had awakened into some fundamental self-recognition and integrity of Being, nothing else was going to make the world any better. Website: trilliumawakening.org Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded June 12, 2010 Batgap interview with Ted Strauss and Carole Griggs YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:34 - The Magical Encounter at the Fair 00:06:09 - Falling in Love and Kissed Feet 00:08:58 - A Friendship Begins 00:12:06 - The Depth of the Heart 00:15:14 - The Tantric Challenge of Coming into the World with Awakened Consciousness 00:18:18 - The Awakening of Consciousness 00:21:30 - Cultivating the Recognition of Consciousness Embodied 00:24:16 - Different Experiences of Awakening 00:27:04 - Beyond the Ultimate Awakening 00:29:36 - Introduction of Samuel Bondar and his role in awakening 00:32:22 - Overcoming Pain and Suffering 00:35:19 - The Avoidance of Duality and Fundamentalism 00:38:13 - The Discomfort of Being Human 00:41:24 - Being with Discomfort 00:44:47 - The Evolution of Human Consciousness 00:48:02 - The Process of Disillusionment and Surrender 00:51:04 - The Rot Out of Illusion 00:54:02 - Evolution and Growth in Spiritual Development 00:56:56 - The Genius of Being is Guiding the Shell 01:00:12 - Evolution of Relationship Dynamics 01:03:30 - Partners in Waking Down 01:05:48 - The Three Components of Waking Down 01:08:44 - The Importance of Awakening in Personal Growth 01:11:25 - Reflections on the Awakening Experience 01:14:34 - The Breakthrough Moment 01:17:25 - Falling Into Embodiment 01:19:59 - Awakening and Centers of Consciousness 01:22:36 - Wrap-up and Final Thoughts 01:24:53 - Embracing Spiritual Variety 01:27:15 - Closing Credits Save Save Save

(Photo taken in front of the American Gothic House in Iowa and is jokingly meant to emulate the famous painting American Gothic. We don't usually dress like that! Or hold pitchforks!) Richard Miller hosts a interview show called Never Not Here. Somehow we connected and he asked to interview me, not necessarily as an awakened being or teacher, but as a fellow spiritual aspirant. In the summer of 1967, when I was 17 years old, I was driving through Westport, CT with three friends in the car. One of them in the back seat was reading from a commentary on the Tibetan Book of the Dead by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (Ram Dass). A quiet but memorable realization dawned in me that there was such a thing as "enlightenment" and that realizing it was life's ultimate goal. I rather recklessly explored that possibility through drugs for a year, then saw the futility of that approach and learned Transcendental Meditation. I taught TM for 25 years and still meditate regularly but am not affiliated with any particular spiritual organization. I respect any of them which seem to offer genuine benefits to their participants. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/5/2010. Other talks by or interviews of Rick on BatGap: SAND 2019 - Knowledge/Reality is Different in Different States of Consciousness 2018 SAND Conference Q&A and Interview by Shakti Caterina Maggi SAND 2017: "The Ethics of Enlightenment" Talk at Berkeley Open Circle Center SAND 2015: Science and Spirituality: Potential Allies in Discovering Truth Interviewed by Fax Gilbert YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Welcome to Never Not Here 00:02:56 - The Growth of Transcendental Meditation in Fairfield 00:05:45 - A Diverse Spiritual Community in Fairfield 00:08:12 - The Blurring of Cultural Boundaries 00:11:23 - The Awakening Moment 00:13:59 - Sincerity and Genuine Practice 00:16:48 - The Profound Effects of Long Meditation 00:19:36 - The Process of Re-Entry from Meditation Retreats 00:22:28 - Unwinding Deep Stresses 00:24:52 - The Benefits of Dissolving Negative Experiences 00:26:35 - The Continuous Practice of Meditation 00:28:26 - The Reflection of Consciousness in the Nervous System 00:30:25 - Becoming a Better Reflector 00:32:21 - The African man's interpretation of the surroundings 00:34:31 - The Correlation of Concept and Experience 00:38:11 - The Presence of Babbling Saints and Articulating Experience 00:41:28 - Different Orientations and Experiences 00:45:27 - The Origins of Spiritual Traditions and Their Relevance Today 00:48:16 - The Qualities of Enlightenment 00:50:06 - Layers of Ignorance and the Essence of Consciousness 00:51:56 - Preferences and Enlightenment 00:54:03 - The Limitations of Conceptual Thinking 00:56:25 - Duality in Concepts: The Positive and Negative 00:58:40 - The Tragedy of Locked Perspectives 01:01:23 - Living in a State of Enlightenment 01:04:27 - Leaving the Incubator and Awakening 01:07:11 - The Illusion of Movement in Enlightenment 01:10:21 - Embracing Further Unfoldments in Education 01:13:33 - The Paradox of Seeking Answers 01:16:05 - Remembering the Nature of Thoughts 01:18:28 - Farewell for this Episode

After thirty years of seeking liberation, James Braha had nearly given up on finding fulfillment. His mind began to change, however, when he encountered the Hindu/Vedic philosophy of non-duality. Upon reading “Sailor” Bob Adamson’s book What’s Wrong with Right Now Unless You Think About It, James immediately invited Bob to come from Australia to share his knowledge with Americans. For five glorious weeks in the summer of 2004, Bob and his wife stayed with the Braha family at their home in Florida. Spiritual talk with arguably the greatest non-duality teacher alive continued from morning till night, as James’ dearest friends and spiritualists from around the country joined the investigations into the truth of reality versus the illusion of appearance. James Braha's Site Sailor Bob's Site Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/19/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:52 - Seeking Spiritual Techniques and Paths 00:07:41 - Understanding Non-duality and True Nature 00:11:51 - The Illusion of the Self 00:14:45 - The Fear of Not Being Here 00:17:04 - Eliminating the Craziness 00:18:50 - Living in the Present Moment 00:20:38 - Freedom and Clarity 00:22:45 - The Search for Enlightenment beyond Experiences 00:25:07 - The Paradox of Reality and Illusion 00:27:53 - The Freedom of Psychological Suffering 00:30:56 - The Illusory Nature of the World 00:33:49 - The Importance of Wanting Enlightenment 00:36:30 - The Illusory Elephant and the Illusory Me 00:39:49 - Maturing Desires and Shifts in Understanding 00:43:34 - The False Reference Point in Enlightenment 00:47:35 - Enlightenment in Prison 00:50:57 - Following Your Dharma 00:53:35 - The Nature of Growth and Deepening 00:56:32 - The Fallacy of Final Understanding 00:59:31 - The Dream and the Laws of Nature 01:01:46 - The Marvel of the Illusion 01:05:11 - The Illusion of Suffering and Existence 01:07:29 - There is No You 01:09:31 - The Role of Desire in Liberation 01:12:17 - Dealing with an Annoying Woman 01:14:50 - The Founder of Advaita 01:17:11 - The Illusion of Duality 01:19:33 - Being Yourself and Embracing Unfoldment 01:22:23 - Letting Go of Past Suffering 01:24:39 - Buddha at the Gas Pump Save

Am a Zoroastrian by birth but a theosophist by inclination; was educated in South India as a civil engineer and worked in Pakistan from 1950. I learned TM in 1974 from an American teacher who introduced it for the first time in the country. Realizing its great value, I traveled to Switzerland in early 1975 and graduated as a teacher of TM under the guidance of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who had popularized its practice in the West. As the only teacher in Pakistan initially, I organized the TM Movement there and was its National Leader for 12 years until my wife and I left in 1987 to settle in the US. Several thousand were taught during this period. In 1981, at Maharishi's invitation, I visited India and graduated as a TM-Sidhi teacher at his ashram in Rishikesh. Have been a member of the Theosophical Society for 44 years and am at present the president of the Houston Lodge, which is 98 years old. The motto of the Society is "There is no religion higher than Truth", to which all seekers would subscribe. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/28/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Fali Engineer and his background 00:05:06 - The Global Ripple Effect of Emotional and Mental Energies 00:09:19 - The Infancy of Consciousness 00:12:54 - Understanding Global Energies and Managing Polarization 00:15:45 - Extreme Polarization and Lack of Understanding 00:18:46 - The Vulnerability of Consciousness 00:22:08 - Strengthening the Etheric Body 00:24:45 - The Influence of Non-Physical Levels 00:27:34 - Shifting Priorities to Diminish Polarization 00:30:36 - Teaching Relaxation in Muslim Countries 00:33:22 - The Power of Mantras and Sufi Masters 00:36:29 - Deeper Reasons for Disharmony 00:39:16 - The Transmission of Traumatized States 00:41:57 - The Impact of Historical Traumas 00:44:00 - Indigo Children and the Egyptian Civilization 00:45:58 - The Transformation and Preparation for Change 00:48:24 - The Flaws of the Two-Party System 00:51:08 - The People's Party and the Voice of the People 00:53:28 - Creating Islands of Peace 00:56:07 - Calming the Nation and Duplicating Peace 00:58:05 - Upgrading the American Dream 01:00:23 - The Price to Pay 01:06:07 - The Arrival of the Ruler 01:08:50 - The Path to Immortality 01:11:26 - The Way of Accumulated Wisdom 01:14:08 - Theosophical Hallmarks and Higher States of Consciousness 01:17:02 - Evolution of Consciousness 01:19:44 - The Limitation of Normal Meditation 01:22:23 - The Process of Evolution and Elevating the Perishable Part 01:25:08 - Batgap.com and other platforms

Igal Moria was infected with the spiritual bug in his teens has no plans of recovering. He joined Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at 19 (in 1973) and was involved with the TM movement for 25 years, working with Maharishi on developing courses and course materials on Maharishi Vedic Science and world religions. He was a member of Andrew Cohen’s core body of students. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/21/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:16 - Leaving the Ashram and Seeking Independence 00:09:42 - A Traumatic Event and Its Aftermath 00:12:44 - The End of an Era 00:16:03 - Introduction to Andrew Cohen and Enlightenment 00:20:17 - A Rekindling of the Spirit 00:24:14 - The Allure of Spiritual Leadership 00:27:46 - The Recognition of a Bigger Reality 00:31:53 - Overcoming Inertia and Embracing Change 00:35:36 - Liberation from Anxiety and Gratitude for Maharishi 00:41:03 - The Meeting of Papaji and Ramana Maharshi 00:45:04 - The Power of Trust and Shifting Consciousness 00:48:13 - The Classical Idea of Enlightenment 00:51:21 - The Origins and Development of Monotheism 00:54:55 - Enlightenment through engagement with others 00:58:49 - The Power of Coming Together Beyond Ego 01:02:04 - Coming together beyond ego 01:05:19 - The Five Tenets of Enlightenment 01:08:08 - Facing What You're Made Of 01:11:23 - The Bigger Picture 01:13:56 - The Eye of the Universe 01:16:25 - The Evolution of Consciousness and the Motivation for the Spiritual Life 01:19:04 - Seriös Arbeit und Entwicklung 01:22:09 - The Value of Meditation for Freedom 01:25:31 - Cultivating Freedom from Mind and Emotions 01:29:06 - Contrasting meditation techniques 01:32:54 - The Three Instructions for Meditation 01:36:54 - Cultivating a Position of Freedom 01:42:32 - Various Perspectives on Spiritual Teachings 01:48:31 - The New Enlightenment: Embracing Inner and Outer Existence 01:55:00 - The Radical Becoming of Enlightenment

Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/7/2010. Interview with George and Mary Foster YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:09 - The Power of Hearing in Consciousness 00:09:44 - The Realization of Being Stuck in the Body 00:13:53 - The Ultimate Connection with All of Existence 00:18:00 - The Experience of "I" in Consciousness 00:21:09 - Awareness of the Self and the World 00:23:20 - The Natural State of Man is Seeking More 00:25:56 - The Persistence of Awareness Beyond the Body 00:28:20 - A New Sensory Experience 00:31:40 - The Expansion of Awareness 00:34:31 - The Power of Meditation and Automatic Progress 00:37:34 - Connecting with the Celestial Realms 00:40:43 - Connecting with the Celestial Realm 00:43:20 - The Connectedness of All Beings 00:45:44 - Celestial Nervous Systems and Consciousness 00:48:48 - The Job of Celestial Beings 00:51:55 - The Experience of Wholeness 00:55:17 - Witnessing the Birth of a Universe 00:57:56 - The Significance of Experiences 00:59:54 - The Roadmap to Enlightenment 01:02:04 - The Experience of Being Awake 01:04:11 - Unfolding the Spiritual Journey 01:06:23 - Differences in Physiology and Consciousness 01:09:09 - The Certainty of an Ongoing Journey 01:11:26 - Near-Death Experiences and Leaving the Physical Body 01:14:07 - The Connectedness of Everything 01:16:19 - The Universe as an Interconnected Arrangement of Beads 01:18:15 - Fine-tuning and Awareness 01:20:04 - Building Spiritual Muscles 01:21:57 - Engaging with batgap.com 01:23:34 - Conversations and Gratitude

John Speer is a spiritual teacher and psychotherapist whose awakening journey is grounded in authenticity, acceptance, and integration. John candidly shares how his deep transformation unfolded—not through seeking exotic states or escaping daily life, but by embracing his full humanity. 🌟 Topics explored include: The nature of spiritual awakening and nonduality How trauma and shadow work support real awakening The danger of spiritual bypassing The value of ordinary experiences on the path The role of therapy in spiritual development How awakening impacts relationships, identity, and daily life This conversation is ideal for seekers interested in integrating spirituality with psychology, working through personal wounding, or navigating life post-awakening with presence and compassion. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/31/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of John Speer 00:03:45 - Questioning Existence and Meaning of Life 00:06:50 - Puzzling Reality and Spiritual Awakening 00:09:23 - The Feeling of Joy and Destiny 00:12:09 - Discovering Maharishi Mahesh Yogi 00:14:41 - A Chance Encounter with Transcendental Meditation 00:17:03 - Introduction to Meditation Journey 00:19:27 - Meeting Elaine and Falling in Love 00:22:14 - A Profound and Loving Experience 00:25:00 - A Profound Sense of Joy and Witnessing Human Emotions 00:28:00 - The Death of Our Son 00:31:05 - The Science of Free Will and Determinism 00:34:06 - Returning to Fairfield 00:36:41 - Resonating with a Spiritual Experience 00:39:25 - Discovering Raja Ram 00:42:01 - Freedom from Belief and Dependency 00:45:00 - The Freedom of Experience 00:47:52 - A Near-Death Experience 00:50:10 - The Dome and TM City Program 00:53:06 - The Experience of Oneness 00:56:29 - The Embodiment of the Universe in Christ 00:59:05 - The Omnipresence of God 01:01:43 - Christ as the Savior for Each Other 01:04:37 - Finding Fulfillment on the Spiritual Path 01:07:39 - Reflecting the Essence of the Soul 01:10:36 - "Light that is one, though the lamps be many" 01:13:00 - The Awakening Moment 01:15:34 - The Essence of Seeking and Finding 01:18:10 - Ramana Maharshi and the Essence of Spiritual Awakening 01:20:42 - The Mahavakya and a Good Stopping Point 01:23:09 - Conclusion and Farewell

I remember having the thought at age 26, “what am I going to do, I will never make it through the second year of graduate school”? Having just completed my first year in training as a psychiatric social worker it was obvious that I felt more like a patient, who needed intense help, than the person charged with helping others. At that moment, I became a seeker. The subsequent initiation into Transcendental Meditation forever set the direction of my life in ways I could not have imagined and it was a blessing that I did not. The road was bumpy quite a bit of the time yet there were always people there to help. Nature was always there giving both challenges and help necessary to see my way through them. Then one day not knowing how it happened or why, silence was now present all the time. Everything had changed yet nothing was different. The change was both ordinary and profound. It was not the end of the journey but a new beginning and way of experiencing it. Life is now spent in the deepening of that silence and removal of the remaining junk. One can indeed know “One’s Self” and yet have much more work to do. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 3/17/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Motivations for creating the show and the different paths to enlightenment 00:03:48 - Awakening and the Impact of Spiritual Practice 00:07:41 - The Impact of TM Meditation on Personal Growth 00:12:23 - The Shift in Consciousness 00:17:19 - The Solvent of Silence 00:21:15 - The Separation of Thinking from Awareness 00:25:33 - Exploring Heart-Oriented Practices 00:29:06 - Gratitude and Appreciation 00:32:49 - The Importance of Development and Meditation in Life 00:36:20 - Meditation as a Vehicle for Growth 00:39:11 - The Value of Seeking Help 00:42:18 - Working through Thoughts and Achieving Peace 00:45:25 - Overcoming Fear and Wrong Thinking 00:47:48 - Recognizing and Accepting Personal Strength 00:50:07 - Dealing with Habits and Tendencies 00:52:32 - The Byron Katie Work and the Journey of Self-Discovery 00:55:20 - The Fulfillment of Silence 00:57:53 - Getting Along Better with People in Silence 01:00:19 - The Value of Peaceful Relationships and Cordiality 01:02:35 - Varieties of Awakened People 01:04:47 - The Similarity of Silence 01:07:33 - The Illusion of Enlightenment 01:10:25 - Overcoming Fear through Faith in God 01:13:44 - Nature's Help in Moving Forward 01:16:28 - Shifting Perspective: From Individual to Ocean 01:19:13 - Life's Supportive Events 01:21:23 - Support and Spontaneity in Doing the Work 01:24:09 - Relaxing into Vastness 01:26:29 - Letting Go of Control and Accepting Life 01:29:09 - The Gift of Fairfield 01:31:44 - Living in Fairfield: A Fascinating Place

A lifelong seeker of spiritual awakening, Sandra has deeply applied and correlated many teachings, methods, disciplines, healings, experiments, adventures, and views of every kind to forge a comprehensive understanding of human identity. She attended the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, an interdisciplinary program, experientially based, and purposed toward personal transformation. Her investigations led her to become a devotee of Adi Da Samraj between 1986 and 1996. She then began studying with Saniel Bonder, founder of Waking Down in Mutuality, with whose guidance she awakened in 1996, to a non-dual conscious embodiment of both her divine and human nature. She is currently a Senior Teacher of Waking Down, participating also in the ongoing creation of dharma, organizational structure, courses, and workshops. Sandra has been in private practice as a transpersonal psychotherapist since 1987. She has been a resident of Fairfield, Iowa since 2004. Her personal web site Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 2/24/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:41 - From Hollow to Spiritual Awakening 00:06:43 - Discovering the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology 00:09:27 - Transition to the Spiritual Path 00:13:14 - Living in the Spiritual Community 00:16:07 - Awakening and Controversy in the Community 00:19:16 - Recognizing Awakening in Sanyal Bondar 00:22:37 - Breaking Free from the Incubator 00:25:37 - Leaving the Communion and Finding a Realizer 00:28:35 - Discovering the Witness Consciousness 00:32:32 - Adi Da's Multidimensional Awakening 00:37:01 - The Mystery and Paradox of Adi Das 00:40:37 - The Paradoxical Nature of Realization 00:44:05 - The Anatomy of the Sinoatrial Node 00:47:35 - Realization and Transformation 00:51:08 - Witness Consciousness Awakening 00:54:23 - Falling in Love and Transformation Journey 00:57:22 - Protecting His Own Life 01:00:56 - Challenging Assumptions and Gratitude for Relationships 01:03:47 - A Ceremony of Resolution 01:06:06 - The Subtle Awareness and Confirmation of Awakening 01:09:20 - The Paradox of Personal Identity 01:12:43 - The Location of Consciousness 01:15:16 - Living in the Present Moment 01:19:12 - Awareness and Self-Reflection 01:22:21 - Contentment and the acceptance of death 01:25:55 - Further Awakening and Progressive Awakening 01:29:29 - Unique Expressions of Awakening 01:33:52 - The Never-Ending Unfoldments of Awakening 01:37:21 - The Upwelling of Consciousness 01:40:26 - Buddha at the Gas Pump

bax (or baxishta if he’s feeling uppity) does not consider himself fully awakened, but knows for sure that he’s recognized glimpses of the self. He says this puts him in an awkward position and insists on starting off with this apology, if what i’ve seen is true then i’m a hypocrite every time i speak about it no better than the man who having awoken briefly from his dream rushes back to tell his friends what he saw “you’re all in my mind” he informs them and they laugh at him twice once for being obviously wrong and once for being right and therefore talking to himself my only defense is that even hypochondriacs do get sick and even hypocrites do awaken briefly bax’s motto is “self is solid”, and he considers himself a student of Ramana Maharshi, whose favorite description of the self was “a dense mass of self-knowledge”. He considers himself a post-new age thinker, and feels that most of what is discussed today goes only halfway to Shankara’s great ‘three laws of self-knowledge’. Specifically, much is said about consciousness but not very much about the self itSelf. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 2/17/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:04:03 - Self-Discovery, Music, and Health Issues 00:07:13 - Fact and Fiction 00:10:43 - Different Dialects for Different Schematic Regions 00:14:01 - A Near-death Experience 00:16:53 - Affective Flatlining 00:19:10 - Coming out of Nothing 00:22:24 - The World Lacks Existence 00:25:02 - The Experience of Solid Existence 00:28:23 - Recognizing the Glimpse of the Real 00:31:19 - Solidness as the Measure of Reality 00:34:34 - Mini-cycles of Seeking and Depressions 00:37:33 - The Evolution of Personal Development 00:41:11 - The Deep Dark Density 00:44:26 - Unpacking Points: Solidness and Intelligence 00:47:50 - The Paradox of Existence 00:51:01 - The Illusion of Consistent Laws 00:54:25 - Brahman as the World 00:57:54 - The Phases of Seeking 00:58:58 - Uncertainty 00:59:45 - The Marvel of Creation and Divine Intelligence 01:04:08 - Embracing Contrarianism 01:07:02 - Being a Trouble-maker 01:10:18 - The Cycle of Thought 01:13:25 - The Scale of a Thought 01:16:53 - The Presence of Self in Contrasting Situations 01:20:10 - The Clarity of Perception 01:23:22 - The Importance of Defining Words with Care 01:26:13 - The Importance of Truth and Half-Truths 01:28:53 - The Beauty of Existence and Non-Existence 01:31:13 - The Urban Guru Café

Pam Keene currently resides in Fairfield, Iowa with her husband Brad. A conscious seeker since the age of nineteen, she has been influenced by a variety of spiritual teachers. However, her sacred marriage of ten years has provided her with the most profound education so far. And she is still learning. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 2/10/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Buddha at the Gas Pump Introduction 00:04:32 - Pam and Brad's Awakening Journey 00:08:54 - Letting go of Transcendental Meditation 00:12:43 - Alcohol, Drugs, and Awakening Journey 00:16:44 - Honeymoon period and drinking/drugs 00:20:19 - The Importance of a Guru in Spiritual Growth 00:23:21 - Dana's Spiritual Journey 00:27:29 - The Power of Desire and Individual Paths 00:30:36 - The Awakening Process and Embracing a Personal God 00:33:35 - The Progression of Awakening 00:36:07 - The Rheostat of Belief 00:39:11 - Holding all Expressions of the Divine in the Heart 00:42:53 - Reconciliation of Opposites in the Wholeness of Self 00:45:59 - The Awakening through Dance 00:48:47 - Kundalini Complete 00:52:11 - The Power of Sexual Experience and Spiritual Practice 00:54:58 - Exploring Different Varieties of Spiritual Practice 00:57:43 - The Experience of Universal Awareness 00:59:44 - Wholeness in the Midst of a Heart Attack 01:01:21 - Near-Death Experience and Divine Awareness 01:03:22 - Reflections on Death and Fear 01:05:38 - Pam's Journey with Dance 01:07:57 - The Healing Power of Dance 01:11:25 - The Evolution of Dance Groups 01:14:13 - Couples and the Mission of Enlightenment 01:17:04 - Sharanalila: The Surrendering Dance 01:19:30 - Contact Information for More Information on Sharanalila 01:21:52 - The Sacred Dance Journey 01:24:35 - Leaving People with Openness to Awakening 01:27:52 - The Misconception of Levitation 01:31:04 - Conclusion and Thank You

Based on this 2010 interview for Buddha at the Gas Pump, Christopher Roberts is a spiritual seeker who experienced a profound awakening around that time. Growing up in Peoria, Illinois, Christopher explored a wide array of religious and spiritual traditions, from paganism and Gnosticism to Zen Buddhism and “A Course in Miracles.” This diverse background shaped a complex belief system focused on enlightenment and spiritual progress. Christopher’s pivotal shift came after reading an interview with “James” from Wingmakers.com, featured on ProjectCamelot.com. The content deeply challenged and ultimately dismantled his previously held beliefs, leaving him without a clear spiritual paradigm. Rather than causing confusion, this abrupt loss of certainty brought Christopher a sense of peace, spontaneity, and heart-centered living. He describes letting go of the intellectual pursuit of enlightenment and embracing a more intuitive, trust-based approach to life, where synchronicities and supportive connections began to appear regularly. At age 26 and as a student at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, Christopher found community among like-minded spiritual explorers. His practices included forgiveness (especially inspired by A Course in Miracles), meditation, and attention to intuition. Christopher’s shift led him from relying on external teachers to accepting full responsibility for his spiritual path. He embraced spontaneity, followed where his intuition led, and trusted that life would support him without the need for constant control or struggle. He emphasizes that his awakening is not a final state of enlightenment but a significant, lasting change in perspective and way of being. He advocates respect for each individual's unique path and stresses the importance of yielding to one’s own readiness for transformation. Christopher embodies a journey of moving from intellect to heart, seeking from external authority to inner guidance, and control to trust and flow. Article mentioned by Christopher, which help trigger his awakening. Transcript of this interview Interview Recorded 2/3/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Spiritual awakenings and shifts with Christopher Roberts 00:02:53 - Questioning Beliefs and Finding Peace in Not Knowing 00:05:21 - The Crumbling of Belief Systems 00:07:35 - Self-Referral and Spiritual Evolution 00:09:43 - Seeking Acceptance and Validation 00:11:59 - Abrupt Shifts and Emotional Turmoil 00:13:52 - Evolving and letting go of struggle 00:15:17 - Synchronicity in Meeting Friends 00:16:53 - An Unexpected Midnight Drive to Chicago 00:18:39 - Spontaneity and Alignment in Life 00:20:49 - Paganism and Eastern Philosophies 00:23:05 - Shifting Reality through Forgiveness and Apology 00:25:21 - Confrontation on the Road 00:27:25 - A Intense Encounter and the Power of Forgiveness 00:29:32 - A Series of Coincidences 00:31:39 - Finding my Spiritual Home at MUM 00:33:49 - Spiritual Development and Literature Appreciation 00:36:03 - The Giant Trust Exercise 00:38:18 - Trusting the Flow of Life 00:40:33 - Trusting Intuition and Feeling Supported 00:42:45 - The Subtle Feeling of Creativity 00:45:07 - The Illusion of Struggle and the Power of Trust 00:47:11 - Letting Go of Control 00:49:31 - Spiritual Practices and Preparation for Transition 00:51:31 - Friction in Imposing Practices 00:53:20 - Spiritual Laziness and Responsibility 00:55:26 - Shifts and Transformations in People's Lives 00:57:27 - The Universal Attributes of Awakening 00:59:13 - Remarkable Inner Shifts 01:01:14 - The Spiritual Renaissance and the Year 2012 01:02:59 - Appreciation and Next Steps

I had been a seeker for most of my life. I began to meditate in 1973 and followed that path for the next 28 years. In 1983 I had a very intense Near Death Experience that left me with a very unattached view on the seriousness of everything. A separation and subsequent divorce in 1991 left me without a reason to continue doing what I had been doing. After visiting Fairfield, Iowa twice a year from 1989, my new wife Cindy and I moved here in 1999, as it was the next obvious thing to do. Our old life had ended and this was a chance to start a new chapter. We jumped right into the group meditation program in the Domes at Maharishi International University but also were fascinated by the fact that Fairfield was Grand Central Station for just about every spiritual teacher on the planet. After sampling the various flavors of all the folks passing thru it seemed obvious that Andy Rymer was the next thing to pay attention to. I found Andy to be a very powerful force and can see his influence on me to finally get that I was awake and had always been awake. From the summer of 2001 through 2010 I kept busy nurturing a group satsang in my home and participating in an informal spiritual discussion group at Revelations Coffee Shop most afternoons as a 12-step program for seekers. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/22/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:25 - The Journey to Fairfield, Iowa and the Practice of Meditation 00:08:02 - The Transformation Begins 00:11:01 - Interviewing People who've never done TM 00:14:32 - A Near-Death Experience and a Shift in Focus 00:18:05 - A Journey into Transcendental Meditation 00:22:07 - A Shifted Perspective 00:25:25 - The Understanding That I Didn't Create This 00:28:57 - The Dark Night of the Soul 00:31:59 - Angels and Laughter 00:34:58 - Expansion of Perception 00:38:23 - A Strange Encounter with a Black Hole 00:41:26 - Various Spiritual Teachers and Their Influence 00:44:38 - The Profound Meditation Experience 00:48:01 - The Level of the Relative and the Absolute 00:51:16 - The Essential Thing 00:55:22 - The Shift to Universal Consciousness 00:59:36 - The Consciousness of Being 01:03:12 - A Divine Encounter in the Chair 01:06:30 - End of Doubt 01:10:21 - The Value of Gathering with Enlightened People 01:13:48 - The Enthralled Caller 01:17:56 - Functioning in the Relative World 01:21:40 - Unexpected Boat Acquisition 01:24:56 - A Heart Attack Experience 01:28:20 - The Heart Attack Experience 01:31:24 - The Presence in Pain and Suffering 01:35:09 - Changing Your Relationship with Awakening 01:38:40 - The Dangling Carrot Attitude 01:42:35 - The Intimacy of Appreciation 01:45:56 - Closing and Future Satsang Questions Save Save

Sue Berkey is a multi-talented artist, spiritual practitioner, and teacher based in Fairfield, Iowa, where she has lived for over 25 years. Sue is recognized for her deep contentment with life in Fairfield, preferring her peaceful and fulfilling routine to travel or seeking excitement elsewhere. Artistic Career: Sue holds an MFA in filmmaking and sculpture, expressing herself primarily through sculpture—her first artistic love—but also through film, painting, and drawing. Locally, she is known for her unique outdoor installation art, such as the hay bale stars displayed near the reservoir, which have attracted online attention. Yoga and Healing Work: A pioneer in her community, Sue was Fairfield’s first full-time Hatha yoga teacher, with over 15 years of teaching experience. Her style involves guiding students to challenge their comfort zones, emphasizing inner growth through sustained poses and deep self-exploration. In addition to yoga, Sue is a “rebirther,” facilitating a specific form of pranayama (breathing exercises) that connect individuals to early formative experiences, even birth, and help process and heal suppressed emotions. She has worked with hundreds of clients, supporting them as they face and integrate their deepest fears and emotional blockages. Spiritual Perspective and Awakening: Sue describes herself as someone who experienced a profound spiritual awakening triggered by a teaching from Adi Da, leading her to a realization of simplicity and personal mastery in life. She lives free of judgment, embracing the full range of human emotions without attachment or repression. For her, spiritual liberation encompasses both the ability to feel deeply and to let go, maintaining wholeness and contentment regardless of external circumstances. Sue’s spiritual life began at a young age, being drawn to church and the search for inner meaning as early as six years old. She considers diverse life experiences—including being a single mother and even cheerleading—as spiritual practices, acknowledging that all aspects of life contribute to her growth. Though familiar with TM (Transcendental Meditation), Sue found greater resonance and joy with yoga and rebirthing. Philosophy and Approach: Sue is passionate about human liberation—not only spiritual but also emotional and economic. She guides others in healing and forgiveness, especially those nearing the end of life, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and cleaning up unfinished relationships. Her approach is practical yet expansive; she believes people should strive to express their gifts and not wait for external circumstances to feel fulfilled. Both ambitious and content, Sue aspires to make more large-scale sculptures internationally, share her teachings, and expand her impact as a healer. She embodies the paradox of inner satisfaction paired with ever-expanding creative goals. Sue’s teaching style is highly interactive, blending physical practice with philosophical and emotional insights. She encourages students to embrace all emotions, resolve interpersonal conflicts, and strive for honesty and direct communication, fostering real freedom and compassion. Sue Berkey’s life and work reflect a blend of artistry, spiritual depth, emotional liberation, and social consciousness. Her story illustrates how awakening can coexist with vibrant personality, ambition, and a passion for service, proving that spiritual realization can be deeply integrated with everyday life, creativity, and community engagement. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/6/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Enlightenment as a Universal Experience 00:02:36 - The Experience of Art in Different Cultures 00:04:40 - Sculpture and the Power of Rebirthing 00:06:37 - The Impact of Caesarian Births 00:08:15 - A Spiritual Awakening 00:10:29 - Living in a Superfluid World 00:12:28 - The Range of Human Feelings and Non-Judgment 00:14:22 - The Tricky Balance Between Spiritual Freedom and Economic Realities 00:15:52 - The Meaning of Freedom in Prison 00:17:43 - Choosing Traumatic Circumstances 00:20:49 - Finding Deep Contentment 00:23:34 - Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone 00:26:06 - Early Spiritual Practices 00:28:45 - TM, Hatha Yoga, and Spiritual Development 00:31:50 - Discussing Death and Transition 00:35:02 - The Importance of Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone 00:37:54 - Fulfillment and Contentment 00:40:34 - Expanding Goals as an Artist, Healer, and Teacher 00:43:23 - The Value of Personality and Emotional Liberation 00:45:40 - Letting Go of Grudges 00:47:40 - The Quest for the Highest Truth 00:49:31 - Profound awakenings through yoga and meditation 00:51:22 - Awakening and Skepticism 00:54:15 - The Subjectivity of Judging Awakening 00:57:08 - The Levels of Awakening 00:59:26 - The Deepening of Compassion 01:02:22 - The Beauty of Being Comfortable with Yourself 01:05:00 - The Transformational Dream 01:07:19 - The Incremental Growth and Different Spiritual Paths 01:09:49 - The

Rev. Winn’s experience is that the Kingdom of Heaven is a state of higher consciousness. He focuses on understanding and experiencing the Christian mystical tradition in terms of the clearly defined states of consciousness found in the Vedic tradition. He was the senior pastor of Unity Church of Fairfield IA for 12 years and for six years has been the senior pastor of the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit. He has worked extensively on the subtle process of overcoming the Three Temptations of Jesus Christ and has been practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique for close to 48 years. He is a successful businessman, married with two children. Website: healingtheheartofamerica.org Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/23/2009. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:46 - The Experience of Feeling Free 00:09:10 - A Cone of Silence 00:11:46 - Awakening of the Being 00:14:43 - The Importance of Bedtime Sync 00:17:33 - The Paradoxical Elements of Silence and Dynamism 00:20:08 - Common Experiences of Enlightenment 00:22:37 - The Silence and the Mind's Habit of Thinking 00:24:36 - The Levels of Consciousness and the Nathaniel State 00:26:37 - Going to Kansas City to Learn to Love 00:28:40 - A Glorious Celestial Experience, Followed by Disappointment 00:31:07 - The Power of Compassion and the Ego in Religion 00:33:47 - Expanding or Destroying the Ego 00:36:15 - The Function of the Ego in Enlightenment 00:38:40 - Letting go of Negative Feelings 00:41:10 - Spiritual Awakening and Shift 00:43:31 - A Connection with Jesus and the Path to Ministry 00:46:14 - The Book of Mormon and a Soldier's Story 00:48:44 - Tolerance and Love in Religion 00:51:17 - The Danger of Doing Nothing 00:53:49 - The power of creating lasting spiritual institutions 00:56:14 - Letting Go of Thoughts for Brahman Consciousness 00:58:59 - The Experience of Freedom and Awakening 01:01:37 - The Role of Spiritual Practice in Awakening 01:04:19 - The Nature of the Soul and the Terrifying Revelation 01:06:44 - Personal Spiritual Experiences 01:09:23 - The Need for Enlightened People 01:11:55 - The Absolute World 01:13:59 - The Desire to Save the World 01:16:17 - The Freedom of Expression and Missionary Motives 01:19:08 - YouTube Channel Announcement Save Save Save

Fax and Sharon Gilbert met on a Transcendental Meditation teachers' course in 1972 in Santa Barbara California and have been teaching together ever since. They’ve administered meditation centers and retreat facilities and inspired and taught thousands of people to meditate throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. They became involved in the Waking Down work in 2002. Several awakenings and dark nights of the soul later they became mentors and then teachers of this work in 2007. They both enjoy the freedom to express this teaching in their own way and marvel at the unique unfolding of each person in this mysterious process of awakening. Fax is also an artist/educator and uses the performance skills of mime, magic, masks and comedy to teach and inspire students of all grade levels. Since 1990 he has presented over 5,000 school assembly programs, residencies, and community concerts, and keynoted many regional educational events. He now splits his time between his Waking Down work and delivering a range of educational and performance programs throughout the Midwest. Fax grew up in Boston and attended Brandeis University. Sharon has been the president of the Waking Down Teachers Assn. for the past six years, is on its governing board and facilitates the monthly teachers meeting. In addition to her teaching and administrative activity she spends her time writing, editing, gardening, reading a wide range of books, and watching cooking shows. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/16/2009. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha in the Gas Pump 00:03:26 - Sharing Artwork and Programming 00:05:46 - Coming into Alignment with Myself 00:08:38 - Finding Purpose in God-Realization and Enlightenment 00:11:56 - Discovering Inner Peace 00:14:55 - Peace as a Component of Being 00:18:45 - Expressing Human Emotions 00:22:29 - Activating Sense of Presence 00:24:34 - Connection between Consciousness and Facts 00:27:18 - Reconnecting with Consciousness and the Fullness of Being 00:30:27 - The Definition of Enlightenment 00:33:48 - Questioning the Doubt 00:36:23 - Self-realization and spiritual growth 00:38:49 - Embracing Uncomfortable Emotions 00:41:48 - The Power of Awareness and Integration 00:44:58 - The Different Stages of Awakening 00:48:07 - The Fullness of Being and the Poignancy of Life 00:51:15 - Appreciating the Polarity of Limitations and Unlimited Aspect 00:54:35 - The Pain of Different Opinions 00:58:58 - The Nature of Awakening and its Effects 01:02:14 - The Recognition of Living Itself 01:05:14 - The Recognition of Who You Are as Consciousness 01:08:04 - The Power of Company in Awakening 01:11:21 - Confidence in Being and Uniqueness of Expression 01:14:02 - The Paradox of Truth 01:16:53 - Questions from Viewers 01:19:35 - The Buddha's Death 01:23:19 - Being Who You Are 01:26:16 - The Value of Meditation 01:30:09 - Awakening and Self-Improvement 01:33:55 - The Courage to Come Forward

We feel like we live a pretty ordinary life, yet in our 54-year marriage and in our working lives (Steve's a retired electrical contractor and Winifred is an artist and poet) grace, challenge and transformation play themselves out in endless variety. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/9/2009. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Definition of Spiritual Awakening 00:05:21 - Commissioned Paintings and Intuitive Portraits 00:09:56 - The Awakening Experience 00:15:16 - The Universal Experience of Enlightenment 00:19:02 - A Journey of Spiritual Seeking 00:24:38 - Discovering Limitless Consciousness 00:30:22 - The Nature of Awakening 00:35:50 - Housecleaning: Waking Down, Shake Down 00:39:27 - Spontaneous Awakening and Personal Growth 00:42:26 - The Spiral of Personalized Wounds 00:44:59 - The Healing of the Core Wound 00:48:01 - Awakening in the Midst of Crisis 00:50:27 - The Perfect Silence of Life 00:52:52 - The Embodied Awakening 00:55:18 - Differences in Awakening Experiences and Mutuality 00:58:10 - Exploring Waking Down Organization 01:01:27 - The Essence of Love and Non-Separateness 01:04:24 - The Sun and the Clouds 01:07:30 - Preparation and Refinement in Spiritual Practice 01:10:13 - Self-Realization and the Desire for Peace 01:13:10 - Raw and Direct Emotions 01:16:13 - Compassion and Vulnerability 01:18:40 - Evolving Priorities and the Desire to Serve 01:20:46 - Meaningful and Deep Conversations with People 01:22:21 - Emotional Reactions to Movies 01:23:34 - The Same Kind of Satisfaction 01:24:21 - The Same Kind of Satisfaction 01:25:08 - The Same Kind of Satisfaction 01:26:27 - Fulfillment and Desire 01:28:47 - Reactions and Trust in Social Situations 01:31:39 - Participate in the Show Save Save

Stan Kendz (Sta) is a popular experiential, motivational, and business coach/mentor who has been guiding advanced personal-achievement seminars at the corporate and individual levels for more than 35 years. He is a published author of numerous audiobooks that enliven intuitive self-development, professional success, and personal fulfillment. In 1994, after a timeless and transformative experience of pure ‘Being’, which he refers to as “our true immortal Nature”, he co-authored a book on consciousness-based natural health care titled: Forever Healthy – An Introduction to Maharishi Ayur Veda. In 2005 Stan enrolled at Maharishi University of Management as a Ph.D. student and has become subjectively and objectively knowledgeable in Vedic Science. He is currently concluding his thesis research on the effects that higher states of consciousness have on an individual’s ability to effortlessly and spontaneously fulfill his/her desires. Website: stankendz.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/2/2009. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and the Meaning of "Buddha at the Gas Pump" 00:02:55 - A Profound Meditation Experience 00:05:34 - The Profound Experience of Sanghita 00:07:37 - The Nature of Being and the Release of Bliss 00:10:02 - The "mahahaha" and the Release from Suffering 00:12:57 - Challenging Times and Spiritual Resolution 00:15:53 - Identification with the Unbounded Being 00:18:25 - Re-engaging and Developing Self-Appreciation 00:20:47 - Oscillating Awareness and Healing 00:23:11 - Reflection and Growth through Deep Affinity 00:25:19 - The Raw Experience 00:27:43 - Falling Away of the Relative Field 00:29:46 - Transformation of Emotions 00:32:11 - Unveiling the Joy of Being On Stage of Myself 00:34:18 - Non-judgment and compassion 00:36:48 - Compassion for Others 00:39:31 - Cherishing the Present Moment 00:41:32 - The Influence of Medical Science on the World 00:43:49 - Perceiving itself 00:46:16 - The Fear of Losing Individuality in Meditation 00:48:43 - The Loss of Innocence 00:52:02 - The Expansion of Consciousness 00:55:20 - Amazing Coincidences and Acts of Nature 00:57:40 - The Evolution of Bliss and Unboundedness 01:00:56 - The Mind of Man and Disorder 01:04:59 - The Integrity of Experience 01:09:03 - The Self and the Knowing 01:12:09 - Seeking Unbounded Love 01:14:33 - Breaking the Bond of Attachment 01:17:02 - Awakening and Letting Go 01:19:25 - Continued Weekly Broadcasts Save

I was born in Germany in 1940 and have lived in France, Greece, India, China, and seven states within the U.S. When I was fifteen, I taught my first class of ESL and, eight years later, began to develop my own approach. I’ve taught Literature, Writing, Creative Writing (publishing a couple of chapbooks of poetry) and have teaching experience at every level of instruction from pre-school to grad school. I’ve also taught History, Linguistics, German, French, and Russian. Two Ph.D.s—one in English, one in Comparative Studies—didn’t turn out to be a career advantage. They made men with only one of them too nervous, but I hear that too much education is no longer a problem for women. Is it true? Spending 28 years in an inter-racial marriage and raising a family was as valuable an education as my stint in academe. I’m still teaching, taking care of teenage boys in my home, and enjoy art in my spare time. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/18/2009. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Shifting Consciousness and Spiritual Awakening 00:03:26 - The First Clear Experience of Witnessing 00:06:46 - Riding Through a Hellish Battle 00:10:37 - The Silent Battle Experience 00:13:22 - The Tone of Silence 00:15:32 - Growing up with Multiple Languages 00:18:38 - The Experience of Different Personalities in Different Languages 00:21:22 - Learning Meditation at a Young Age 00:24:55 - A Man Protected by an Invisible Glass Bell 00:27:42 - Following the Rocks to the Bottom 00:30:43 - Meditation and the Nazis 00:33:42 - Reconnecting with the Past 00:37:00 - Learning Transcendental Meditation 00:39:50 - A Phone Call with Maharishi 00:42:57 - A Celestial Experience and Enameling on Silver 00:46:55 - The Angelic Silver Experience 00:50:16 - Uncomprehended Experiences 00:53:12 - Silent Awareness and Spiritual Experiences 00:56:10 - Discovering the Bhagavad Gita and William Blake 01:00:24 - A Shift in Perspective 01:03:54 - Overcoming Gender Bias in Academia 01:06:52 - Playing the game and asking unconventional questions 01:09:10 - Greece: A Necessary Development and Emotional Trauma 01:12:53 - A Journey Through Emotional Pain and Healing 01:16:45 - Inner Development and the Journey to China 01:20:47 - Lightning Strikes and China Adventures 01:23:49 - The Unexpected Turn of Events 01:26:52 - A Vision for the Future 01:30:01 - Individuality and Universality 01:33:12 - Nourishing Others with a Fulfilling Life 01:36:05 - Future Developments and Contact Information

When I recorded this first interview, my intention was to produce a radio show, so this is the pilot for that. I started this interview by reading a prepared introduction to the series, which at the time I was calling "Awakenings". George Foster: George Foster is a retired book cover designer who spent much of his life in Fairfield, Iowa, both immersed in the local spiritual community and professionally designing covers for authors. Deeply committed to spiritual practice, George experienced a lasting shift in consciousness—what he describes as the realization of infinite, unchanging silence as his fundamental identity. Alongside his involvement in the Transcendental Meditation movement (including belonging to an informal support group, the "Dome Dogs"), George has also played in local bands for many years. Now retired from design work, George enjoys a vibrant second career as a musician, performing bass in "Commotion", a popular Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band. Mary Foster: Mary Foster began her spiritual journey in 1969, learning to meditate at age seventeen in Wisconsin. Her lifelong path included training as a Transcendental Meditation teacher and helping bring meditation courses to Midwestern communities. After moving to Fairfield, Mary’s spiritual aspirations were rekindled upon meeting George. She experienced a profound awakening—a transformative shift in perception—leading to a lasting sense of infinite silence and fulfillment that pervades her daily life. Mary enjoys sharing her wisdom and calm presence, and she is both a mother and grandmother, known for her warmth, clarity, and unwavering spiritual commitment. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/7/2009. Interview with Mary Foster YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Special Community of Fairfield, Iowa and Beyond 00:02:26 - Overcoming Skepticism and Misconceptions of Spiritual Awakening 00:04:23 - Introduction to the Show 00:06:24 - Meeting George and a Spiritual Awakening 00:08:41 - The Dome Dogs and Group Commitment 00:10:28 - Childhood Fascination and Spiritual Awakening 00:12:50 - Attracted to Meditation and the Pursuit of Reality 00:14:28 - The Brightness and Clarity with TM Meditation 00:15:57 - Introduction to "Awakenings" radio show 00:18:15 - Teaching Transcendental Meditation 00:20:27 - Remarkable Experiences along the Way 00:22:05 - Unity Consciousness and the Shift 00:24:15 - The Shift to Silence as Identity 00:25:54 - An Amazing Experience 00:27:30 - The self-defining concept 00:28:25 - The Infinite Consciousness and Labels 00:29:48 - The Moment of Realization 00:31:52 - Accepting All Parts of Myself 00:33:59 - Revealing the Silence Within 00:35:39 - Mary's Awakening Experience 00:38:10 - The Revelation of Ultimate Truth 00:40:12 - The Beautiful Void 00:41:42 - Recognizing the Infinite Silence 00:43:52 - Fulfillment Beyond Accomplishments 00:45:38 - The Quality of Stillness 00:47:16 - The Unshakeable Happiness 00:49:11 - Experiencing Infinite Silence 00:51:11 - The Fourth State of Consciousness 00:53:20 - The Role of Spiritual Practice 00:55:16 - Identifying with the Boat 00:56:47 - Discovering Your True Self