Buddha at the Gas Pump

Stephen Doetsu Snyder began meditating daily in 1976. he has practiced since in the Zen tradition as well as extensive practice in Theravada Buddhism. he is a lineage Zen teacher as well as a lineage Theravada teacher. He was also influenced by Diamond Heart teachings and practices. He combines the ancient Buddhist heart practices with awakening practices of the Zen tradition into a heartfelt journey of realization and embodiment. Books: Demystifying Awakening: A Buddhist Path of Realization, Embodiment, and Freedom Buddha's Heart: Meditation Practice for Developing Well-Being, Love, and Empathy Practicing the Jhanas: Traditional Concentration Meditation as Presented by the Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw Website: awakeningdharma.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded July 10, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:03 - The Importance of Heart Practices in Zen 00:07:34 - Dropping the Sense of Self and Transcending Identity 00:11:16 - The Importance of Stability and Trust in Spiritual Experiences 00:14:43 - The Nature of the Absolute 00:18:25 - The Importance of Direct Experience in Understanding 00:21:47 - Different Teachings on God and Jesus 00:25:08 - Levels of Realization 00:28:37 - The Journey of Self-Realization and Integration 00:31:54 - The Importance of Ethical Behavior in the Spiritual Community 00:35:24 - Addressing Doubts and Hierarchy 00:38:38 - Integrating Spirituality and Law 00:42:00 - The First Awakening: A Satori Experience 00:45:24 - The Progress of Personal Growth 00:48:54 - The Experience of the Absolute 00:52:26 - Overdoing Meditation and the Need for Balance 00:56:11 - Concentration and Jhana Factors 00:59:17 - Releasing Effort and Deepening Meditation 01:02:33 - Exploring Different Paths and Awakening Experiences 01:05:58 - Retreating and Progressive Practices 01:09:25 - Progression of Practice and Integration of Personal Issues 01:12:59 - The Need for Personal Work and Practice 01:16:20 - Difference between prana rising and Kundalini rising 01:19:41 - Resistances to Awakening 01:23:08 - Fear and Shifts in Consciousness 01:26:25 - Balancing Heart Practices and Awakening Practices 01:29:55 - The practice of innate goodness meditation and journaling 01:33:16 - Working with the Inner Critic and Therapist Recommendations 01:36:32 - The Shift in Consciousness 01:39:42 - Retreats and Personal Journey 01:43:03 - Zen Jazz and Life's Improvisations

Clare Goldsberry has been a life-long student of religion and spiritual traditions. Having been reared Protestant Christian, her goal was to study for the ministry after completing her BA in Journalism at Arizona State University. However, a few semesters into those studies in a cooperative study program with Claremont School of Theology (Claremont, CA), she was called away into the study of Buddhism. For the past 27 years, she has been engaged in the practice of Buddhism, as well as the study of Hinduism, Gnosticism, Theosophy, philosophy (from the ancients to modern philosophers), and modern Christian religions. She has even added the study of Quantum physics to the mix after noticing that modern quantum ideas parallel those of Buddhism as the science of mind. She has always followed her inner voice, as it is that call that is the true call on her path. She teaches classes on all of those topics and tries to encourage people to follow their inner light/voice and not to be led astray. The questions are always more important than the answers, as she tells her students. Website: claregoldsberry.com Books: The Illusion of Life and Death: Mind, Consciousness, and Eternal Being The Teacher Within: Finding and Living Your Personal Truth: Finding and Living Your Personal Truth A Stranger in Zion Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded July 2, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Clare Goldsberry 00:03:41 - Learning from Brent's Illness 00:07:51 - Remembering Death 00:11:30 - The Mystery of Different Opportunities 00:15:21 - The Meaning and Purpose of Karma 00:19:23 - The Intelligence of the Universe 00:23:24 - Guardian Angels and Grace in Life 00:27:06 - The Search for Answers Outside Oneself 00:30:31 - Believing in Leaders and Having All the Answers 00:34:24 - Excommunicated from the Church 00:38:01 - The Importance of Discernment in Beliefs and Truth 00:41:34 - Reincarnation in the Judeo-Christian Tradition 00:45:24 - Making Choices in Life 00:49:14 - Embracing the Twists and Turns in Life 00:52:56 - The Chinese Farmer Story and Embracing All Perspectives 00:56:12 - Why We Don't Know How to Die 01:00:00 - Attachment and the Fear of Death 01:03:21 - Reincarnation and Beliefs in India 01:07:27 - Quantum Physics and Creating Reality 01:10:46 - Making a Difference in Your Practice 01:14:13 - The Possibility of Transcending Suffering 01:17:47 - Non-attachment and Letting Go 01:21:34 - Grief to Growth and Finding Meaning 01:25:02 - A Shift in the World 01:28:42 - The Buddha's Awakening 01:32:25 - The Dying Process and Embracing Death 01:36:14 - Loving without Attachment 01:40:04 - Letting Go of Attachments and Embracing Fulfillment 01:43:42 - Living Life on Your Own Terms for the Time You Have 01:47:12 - Reflections on Aging and Death 01:50:03 - Farewell in Phoenix

Penny Sartori became interested in death and dying early in her nursing career after a connection she developed while caring for a dying patient in the ICU. That event motivated Penny to question what happens when we die and this led to Penny undertaking a long-term study to investigate the near-death experiences of patients in ICU. Penny worked as a nurse for 21 years and currently lectures at the nursing department of Swansea University. Website: drpennysartori.com YouTube Channel Books: The Wisdom of Near-Death Experiences: How Understanding NDEs Can Help Us to Live More Fully The Transformative Power of Near-Death Experiences: How the Messages of NDEs Can Positively Impact the World Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded Sunday, June 26, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Dr. Penny Sartori 00:03:50 - Reflections on Death and Near-Death Experiences 00:07:09 - The Disconnection from Nature and Primal Selves 00:10:38 - Long-term Impacts of Near-Death Experiences 00:14:00 - Impact of Near-Death Experiences 00:17:23 - The Purpose of Near-Death Experiences 00:20:36 - Beings from Higher Dimensions 00:23:58 - Medications and Near-Death Experiences 00:27:01 - The Importance of Understanding Near-Death Experiences 00:30:10 - After Effects of Near-Death Experiences 00:33:34 - Unexplainable Experiences during Near Death Experience 00:36:39 - Heightened State of Awareness during Unconsciousness 00:39:51 - Profound healing experiences through altered state of consciousness 00:42:57 - A Profound Understanding of Quantum Physics 00:46:11 - Consciousness as a Transmitter or Receiver 00:49:30 - Different Experiences of Consciousness 00:52:57 - Out-of-body experiences and consciousness after death 00:55:48 - Wisdom of Ancient Traditions 00:58:56 - Experiencing the Life Review 01:01:53 - The Profound Effect of Actions on Individuals 01:05:00 - Tactile and Auditory Experiences in NDEs 01:07:59 - The Challenges of Verifying Out-of-Body Experiences 01:11:03 - Near-Death Experiences and Perspective Shifts 01:13:49 - Distressing Near-Death Experiences 01:17:08 - Heavenly and Hellish Realms 01:20:32 - Pleasant Experiences of Dying 01:24:22 - Visited by Deceased Loved Ones During the Dying Process 01:28:20 - The Transformative Potential of Near-Death Experiences 01:32:28 - Transformative Experiences and Helping Others 01:36:29 - Messages and Symbols After Death 01:39:57 - Near-Death Experience and Empowering Communities

Shambhavi is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula, a nonprofit organization offering opportunities to learn and practice in the traditions of Trika Shaivism and the Dzogchen. She has also studied meditation with teachers in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. Her root Guru is Anandamayi Ma. Shambhavi emphasizes direct encounters with the wisdom of the heart through the more explicitly devotional teachings and practices of Trika Shaivism and Dzogchen. In addition to offering teachings in spiritual practice and view, Shambhavi is a trained jyotishi and diviner. At one time, Shambhavi taught at Northwestern University. She left academia in 2004 in order to devote herself to practice, writing, and teaching in her spiritual traditions. Websites: jayakula.org timemedicine.org Bio Site Facebook group where people can get the Zoom log in info for Thursday and Sunday satsangs. Books (Author page on Amazon) Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded June 20, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump and Jaya Kula 00:03:39 - Esoteric Connections and Studying Different Traditions 00:07:39 - Meeting Anandamayi Ma 00:11:55 - Encountering Divine Intelligence 00:16:35 - The Artistry of Limitation and Release from Suffering 00:21:13 - The Intimate Relationship with a Teacher 00:25:27 - The Role of a Teacher in Spiritual Practice 00:29:08 - The Friend: A Guiding Wisdom 00:33:04 - The Round World vs the Flat World 00:37:09 - Continuous Learning and Refinement in Wisdom Traditions 00:41:24 - The Direct Path vs the Progressive Path 00:45:34 - Sticking with a Spiritual Practice 00:49:33 - The Misunderstanding of Instant Enlightenment 00:53:38 - Contentment and Yearning 00:57:06 - The Privilege of Spiritual Practice (feat. Shambhavi) 01:01:11 - The Nature of Self and God 01:04:54 - Vrittis: Patterns of the Mind 01:08:34 - Shaktipat and Transmission of Enlightenment 01:12:38 - Science Fiction and Channeling Experiences 01:16:36 - The Revelation of Devotion and Integration 01:20:52 - Exploring the realms of science and spirituality 01:24:41 - The Intersection of Science and Spirituality 01:28:18 - The Journey to Spiritual Awakening 01:32:22 - The Connection between the Cosmic Heart and the Individual Heart 01:36:29 - Satsang and the Grand City of Manifest Life 01:40:23 - Living Without View 01:44:38 - The Nature of Reality in Trika Philosophy 01:48:19 - The Nuanced View of Illusion in Advaita Vedanta 01:52:11 - The Immanence of the Divine 01:55:57 - The Surprises of Spiritual Practice 01:59:46 - The Reality of the Experience

Suresh Ramaswamy is a transformational teacher and visionary entrepreneur passionate about igniting and catalyzing the transformation of humanity. He is the author of Just Be: Transform Your Life and Live as Infinity, the recipient of many awards, including the Nautilus book award and the International Soul-Bridge Body-Mind-Spirit award. With his background as an electrical engineer and technology executive, Suresh brings an inspired yet pragmatic approach to elevating consciousness on our planet. Held in high regard by people around the world, Suresh’s light-filled presence, and guidance awakens them to their innermost essence. Websites: sureshramaswamy.org radiantfield.org YouTube Channel Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded June 12, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:24 - Lucid Dreams and Patterns of Light 00:08:46 - Crystal Clear Bliss 00:12:55 - Vibratory Connection and Devotion 00:17:13 - Exploring Action and Inaction 00:21:13 - Recognizing the Tendencies Within Us 00:25:29 - The Experience of Lightning Consciousness 00:29:41 - The Beauty of Subtle Awakening 00:33:56 - Conversations with Ordinary Spiritually Awakening People 00:38:01 - Cultivating Higher Consciousness and the Experience of Light 00:42:22 - Different Descriptions of Enlightenment 00:46:28 - The Multidimensional Nature of Light 00:49:58 - Beingness and the Field of Pure Silence 00:53:29 - Action in Inaction 00:57:01 - Beings of Light 01:00:58 - The Integration of Outer and Inner Perception 01:05:05 - Fluidity and Mobility 01:09:17 - The Role of Practices in Spiritual Growth 01:13:38 - Recognition and Respect for Various Practices in Vedanta 01:17:59 - Striving vs Surrender in Meditation 01:21:53 - The Importance of Balancing the Inner Circuit 01:26:30 - The Universal Nature of Grace and Perception 01:30:36 - Melting into the Soft, Energetic Field 01:35:10 - The Danger of Chasing Altered States 01:39:18 - Overcoming Impediments and Asking for Grace 01:43:39 - The Journey of Evolution and Desires 01:48:12 - The Journey of Evolution 01:52:20 - Reconnecting with Infinity and Relationships 01:56:57 - Letting Go and Expanding Consciousness 02:01:31 - Seizing the Opportunity for Progress 02:05:36 - Wrapping Up and Upcoming Interviews

Duane Elgin is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and social visionary. He has an MBA in business and an MA in economic history He has worked as a senior staff member of the Presidential Commission on the American Future, and a senior social scientist co-authoring numerous studies of the long-range future for clients such as the President’s Science Advisor; the National Science Foundation; and others. Duane has also co-founded three non-profit organizations working for media accountability and citizen empowerment. He received the Peace Prize of Japan, the Goi Award, in recognition of his contribution to a global “vision, consciousness, and lifestyle” that fosters a “more sustainable and spiritual culture.” Duane is the Co-director of the Choosing Earth Project. His books include: Choosing Earth: Humanity's Journey of Initiation Through Breakdown and Collapse to Mature Planetary Community "The Living Universe: Where Are We? Who Are We? Where Are We Going?"; "Promise Ahead: A Vision of Hope and Action for Humanity's Future"; "Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich"; and "Awakening Earth: Exploring the Evolution of Human Culture and Consciousness" (Also available as a free download on Duane's site.) He co-authored the book "Changing Images of Man" with Joseph Campbell and other scholars. In addition, Duane has contributed chapters to twenty-three books and has published more than a hundred major articles. Websites: choosingearth.org duaneelgin.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview First interview with Duane Interview recorded June 4, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Duane Elgin 00:04:06 - The Time of Profound Transition 00:08:03 - The Top Environmental Problems: Selfishness, Greed, and Apathy 00:11:49 - Three Pathways for the Future 00:16:31 - A Time of Great Transition 00:20:54 - The Opportunity of This Time 00:25:20 - The Invitation of Transformation and Transition 00:29:20 - The Ecology of Consciousness 00:34:05 - The Aliveness of the Universe 00:38:03 - The Extraordinary Journey of Living in a Living Universe 00:42:09 - The Zooming Powers of 10 and our Connection to the Universe 00:45:29 - The Aliveness of the Universe: A Transition in Perception 00:49:23 - The Function of the United Nations 00:53:35 - The Power and Consequences of Social Media 00:57:18 - Mobilizing Our Capacities for Transformation 01:01:05 - The Devastating Times Ahead 01:04:57 - A Rush of Migration and Learning from Trauma 01:09:03 - Progression and Resistance 01:12:47 - Tapping into our Inner Resources 01:16:16 - The Miracles of Life, Consciousness, and Communication 01:20:30 - The Importance of Curiosity and Understanding Others 01:24:07 - Reconciliation and the Right to Life 01:27:58 - The Power of Recontextualization and Communication 01:32:21 - Averting the Danger of Lack of Conscious Attention 01:35:38 - The Importance of Community 01:39:36 - The Economic Hurricane and the Unraveling 01:43:30 - The Potential Consequences and Preparation for Disruptions 01:47:10 - The Shift towards Vegetarianism 01:50:56 - Finding Your True Gifts 01:54:12 - The Unraveling of Big Structures and Systems 01:57:34 - Setting Reminders for Upcoming Interviews on BatGap

Karen V. Johnson is a graduate of Georgetown Law Center (J.D.), a former Fulbright Scholar in Afghanistan, and holds Masters Degrees in Public Health and Public and International Affairs (MPH, MPIA). Karen is a retired federal administrative law judge who practiced criminal and energy law for more than 30 years. She also is a former U.S. Army officer, Major, USAR (inactive). Karen was personally trained by Alberto Villoldo, and is faculty at the Four Winds Society and a Master Practitioner of Energy Medicine. She has trained extensively in the techniques of Illumination, Soul Retrieval, Extractions of Energies and Entities, Divination, and Death Rites. Living Grieving: Using Energy Medicine to Alchemize Grief and Loss is her first book. Website: karenjohnson.net Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 28, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:21 - Finding Comfort in Belief of Life After Death 00:09:08 - Life After Death 00:13:05 - Communicating with Subtle Beings 00:16:51 - The Old Man in the Basement and Childhood Experiences+ 00:20:32 - Orchestrating the Unfolding of Events 00:24:17 - The Journey of Grief 00:28:36 - Providing Help in Grief and Isolation 00:32:15 - Ceremony and Healing Practices 00:36:38 - Finding Meaning in Regrets and Life Experiences 00:41:25 - The Journey of Ben's Difficulties 00:44:59 - Struggles and Loss 00:48:14 - Awakening to Other Realms 00:51:48 - Beings on the Other Side 00:55:38 - The Significance of Dream Time 01:00:08 - The Dangers of Isolation and Conspirituality 01:03:45 - The Eternal Self and the Purpose of Death 01:06:44 - The Revelations of Time 01:11:15 - The Science and Spirituality Interface 01:15:32 - Traveling the World and Pursuing Different Traditions 01:19:53 - Metaphors of Journey and Healing 01:23:57 - Working with Luminous Energy Fields 01:27:06 - Discovering a Path for Change 01:30:12 - The Feeling of Being Invisible 01:33:38 - Finding Your Personal Path to Meditation 01:37:05 - Embracing Diversity in Spirituality 01:40:24 - The Beauty and Complexity of the World 01:43:13 - Closet Believers in Woo Woo 01:46:54 - The Importance of Practicing Beauty 01:51:05 - The Beauty and Joy of Life 01:54:42 - Upcoming Interview with Delayed Author

Moshe Gersht is a sought out spiritual teacher in Jerusalem. A student of Torah, Kaballah, and Chasidus, he shares ancient mystical and philosophical wisdom in a way that is practical, relatable, and enjoyable. For nearly a decade Moshe toured the states as the singer and songwriter for a popular Los Angeles-based rock band. Only two years after signing a record deal, Moshe had a spiritual awakening that sent him journeying to Jerusalem. The next fourteen years were spent in the deep spiritual practice and in-depth study of Torah. Today, Moshe seamlessly connects and expresses these fundamental spiritual ideas with universal principles of psychology, spirituality, and self-development. He understands the true nature of the human mind and our collective struggles and has devoted his life to helping people align with their purpose, peace, and inner joy. In 2021 Moshe released his Wall Street Journal bestselling spiritual book titled It's All The Same To Me: A Torah Guide To Inner Peace and Love of Life, which Deepak Chopra has called "a contribution to the world's enlightenment." A free sample of his book can be downloaded from his website: moshegersht.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 22, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:29 - In Theory and YouTube's Popularity 00:06:21 - A Deep Success Beyond Externalities 00:09:54 - A Shift in Life's Direction 00:12:37 - The Oneness and Duality of Existence 00:18:04 - The Opportunity of Life 00:23:20 - The Trajectory of Positive Human Evolution 00:26:19 - Shakespeare and the Contrast of Comedies and Tragedies 00:28:55 - Finding Peace in Any Circumstance 00:31:54 - The Teen Years and the Search for Connection 00:34:12 - Finding the Goodness in Humanity 00:36:53 - The Clarity and Truth of Life Before Birth 00:39:27 - The Ne-ra-nkha-i and the Five Elements of the Soul 00:42:48 - The Integration of Science and Spirituality 00:45:51 - The Marriage of Science and Spirituality 00:49:02 - The Potential of Turning Around and Returning to Greatness 00:52:27 - Contemplating the Vastness of Space and the Significance of the Small 00:56:47 - Reflection and Peaceful Perspective 01:03:02 - The Profundity of Amma's Atmosphere 01:08:59 - Discovering the Intellectual Side of Torah 01:14:56 - Deep Meditation and Kabbalistic Practices 01:21:08 - Juggling Work and Family Life 01:24:18 - The Shift and the Desire to Understand and Share Life's Depth 01:27:55 - Teaching and the Physiology of Flow 01:31:21 - Robin Williams and Humor 01:34:58 - The Teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov 01:41:00 - The Power of Appreciation and Meditation 01:46:15 - Teaching on All Levels 01:52:01 - Meditating on the Water Within You 01:59:59 - Finding Awakening in Special Places 02:08:21 - Sources for Further Reading

Sharon Hewitt Rawlette is a philosopher and writer who studies extraordinary experiences and what they have to tell us about consciousness and the deeper nature of the world we live in. She has a Ph.D. in philosophy from New York University and taught for two years at Brandeis University before leaving academia in 2010 for a career as an independent writer and researcher. Her foray into the realm of extraordinary experience began with synchronicities, and her first non-academic book was The Source and Significance of Coincidences, published in 2019. In 2020, she published a memoir about her personal spiritual journey—The Supreme Victory of the Heart—and then in November 2021, she was named a runner-up in the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies essay contest for her essay “Beyond Death,” on the best evidence for the survival of human consciousness after death. She has also contributed to a forthcoming collaborative volume on “deep weird” and a French collective work on the role of the Trickster in paranormal phenomena. Another book, (forward by Thomas Nagel): The Feeling of Value: Moral Realism Grounded in Phenomenal Consciousness Website: sharonrawlette.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 14, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:40 - A Difficult Transition out of Religion 00:09:18 - A Serendipitous Encounter in Brittany 00:13:37 - Stories of Synchronicity 00:17:06 - A Mysterious Phone Call 00:21:00 - The Invisible Network of Consciousness 00:25:28 - The Intelligence and Gravity Connection 00:29:47 - The Evolution of Inhabitants of a Planet 00:34:06 - The Emergence of Consciousness and the Illusion of a Continuous Physical World 00:38:26 - The Mechanics of Observation and Consciousness 00:42:24 - The Paradoxes of the Universe 00:46:48 - Welcoming Anomalies and Going Beyond the Party Line 00:50:51 - The Impact of Specialization on Progress and Perspective 00:55:26 - The Intrinsic Value of Consciousness 01:00:17 - Ethical Boundaries and Unity of Consciousness 01:04:25 - Consciousness and the Holographic Nature of the Universe 01:08:27 - The Universe as a Playpen 01:12:33 - The Importance of Looking in the Mirror to Prevent Accidents 01:15:57 - Guardian Angels and Divine Interventions 01:20:11 - Higher Levels of Consciousness and Celestial Beings 01:24:13 - Imaginative capacities and renewal 01:28:35 - Overcoming Fear and Promoting Flourishing Consciousness 01:32:45 - The Power of Making Unpopular Decisions 01:36:42 - Between Consciousness and the Body 01:40:51 - Memories of Previous Lives and Afterlife Communications 01:45:10 - The Soul's Entry into the Body 01:49:03 - Memories of Past Lives and Reincarnation 01:53:13 - The Value of Positive Consciousness and the Cycle of Life 01:57:17 - The Ethics of Abortion and the Soul 02:01:41 - The Possibility of Life after Death 02:05:20 - Organizing Content on batgap.com

Anoop Kumar communicates a bold, new vision of healing and healthcare based in a more comprehensive understanding of whole human anatomy–a crucial step in the journey of healthcare transformation. He is the founder of Health Revolution, an emergency physician, public speaker, and author of Michelangelo's Medicine: How Redefining the Human Body Will Transform Health and Healthcare and Is This a Dream?: Reflections on the Awakening Mind, and a columnist for Emergency Medicine News. Integrating a deeper understanding of consciousness with our existing medical knowledge is foundational to Anoop's work. To further this, he developed the Three Minds framework–a trans-disciplinary approach that develops and integrates our knowledge of consciousness, mind, body, and the environment. He applies the Three Minds framework to identify unexamined tenets ripe for disruption and rehabilitation in healthcare. By training, Anoop is board-certified in emergency medicine and holds a master's degree in management with a focus in health leadership. Websites: anoopkumar.com healthrevolution.org YouTube Channels: Healing is Possible Beyond Mental Health with Anoop Kumar, MD Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 7, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction with Rick Archer 00:04:39 - An Explosive Experience in the Bedroom 00:08:48 - Remembering Past Lives 00:13:06 - Timeless Experience 00:17:25 - Defining Consciousness and Brahman 00:21:55 - Taking a Scientific Approach to Spiritual Concepts 00:26:23 - The Cleansing of Perception and Integration 00:30:48 - The Three Minds Framework 00:35:49 - The Formation of Identity 00:40:57 - Moving from the Physical to the Mental World 00:45:40 - The Relationship Between the Physical and Mental 00:50:27 - The Three Minds Framework 00:54:59 - The Nature of Light and Perception 00:59:26 - Awareness of the Second Mind 01:03:44 - The Three I's and Existence Across Different Layers of Reality 01:08:36 - The Difference Between Jesus and Hitler 01:13:02 - The Perception of Existence 01:17:46 - Speculation on Unity of Minds 01:22:07 - The Three Minds: Jeeva, Saguna Brahman, and Nirguna Brahman 01:26:53 - Integrating Fields of Knowledge and Society 01:31:53 - Perception and Identity 01:36:45 - The Sense of Identity in Spirituality and Psychosis 01:41:18 - The Power of the Mind and Restructuring through Spirituality 01:45:44 - The Importance of Guidance in Spiritual Practice 01:50:00 - Setting Personal Standards 01:54:19 - The Influence of Culture on Religion 01:58:58 - The Process of Integration 02:03:27 - The Power of Creativity and Connection 02:07:56 - The Role of Intuition in Spiritual Guidance 02:12:14 - Healing and Becoming Whole 02:16:47 - Closing Remarks and Resources

Pravrajika Divyanandaprana is a monastic member of Sri Sarada Math and is currently the Editor of the English journal Samvit published in New Delhi. She has been Principal of Nivedita Vidya Mandir School from 2014 to 2019. She specializes in Yoga-Vedanta. In addition to studying the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature, she has extensively studied the Yoga-Vedanta texts based on these twin philosophies which include the Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Raja Yoga, Upanishads, and the Prakarana Granthas (auxiliary scriptures of Vedanta like Vedantasara, Vivekachudamani, etc.) along with their commentaries. A gold medallist and topper, Pravrajika Divyanandaprana has a unique combination of knowledge in the conventional sciences and traditional Yogic and Vedantic texts. Pravrajika Divyanandaprana has been lecturing all over India since 2010, including at the Indian Institute of Technology campuses in Madras, Delhi (she has spoken many times at Vivekananda Study Circle of IIT-Delhi), Kharagpur, Mumbai, and Kanpur; Indian Institute of Science Bangalore; Delhi University; Vivekananda International Centre; Ramakrishna Mission; Engineering and Medical Colleges in Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata; and sometimes in schools. She offers courses on Yoga-Vedanta every semester at IIT Delhi. The courses are available on YouTube at IIT’s official channel: NRCVEE IIT Delhi. She has traveled to hold classes or deliver lectures in South Africa at Cape Town, Durban, Ladysmith, and Kwa Zulu Natal University among other places. Subsequently, she traveled to Ireland, Great Britain, UAE, and recently to Canada for talks, lectures, and scriptural discussions. She has spoken at Imperial College and Logan Hall, London University in 2013. In May 2018, she was in Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, and Nova Scotia where she gave a number of talks on Self-Knowledge, exploring the Subjective Sciences, and finding the interface between Subjective-Objective Sciences. She has extensively traveled in the US and addressed Vedanta Societies of Iowa, Washington DC, and so on. Purdue University hosted her talk on Mind Management recently. LinkedIn Page "Eternal Truth" YouTube channel with many videos, including the Upanishads classes mentioned in the interview. If you subscribe to the channel, you'll be notified when classes resume. VivekaVani YouTube channel with many more videos. Books: Science of Happiness (Amazon India) Self-Discovery (Amazon India) U.S. Book Contact - (Ask to be notified when books become available.) Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 1, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:06 - The Importance of Method and Sadhana 00:11:18 - Samskaras: The Building Blocks of Character and Behavior 00:16:12 - Importance of Manana and Dwelling on Scripture 00:21:02 - Becoming Intensely Aware 00:25:39 - Intensified Awareness and Conscious Knowledge 00:30:43 - The Significance of Being and Becoming 00:36:01 - The Science of Happiness and its Connection to Awareness and Advaita Vedanta 00:41:32 - The Source of Awareness 00:46:50 - High Energy Output and Engagement in Activity 00:51:54 - The Power of the Spirit and the Meissner Effect 00:57:21 - Universal Values of Ethics and the Mind 01:02:42 - Ending Mental Afflictions with Ashtanga Yoga 01:08:04 - Mediums and Psychics in Vedantic Perspective 01:13:22 - Engaging in Various Yogas 01:18:36 - Developing Vairagya 01:23:57 - The Ramakrishna Math and Mission 01:29:00 - Renouncing the Essential Bliss of Life 01:34:21 - Finding Happiness Within 01:39:33 - Distinguishing between different types of happiness 01:44:33 - Understanding the Factors of Happiness 01:50:07 - Experiencing Bliss in Samadhi 01:55:31 - Peace within the Radius of the Realized Being 02:00:58 - The Five Sheaths and Self-Awareness 02:06:03 - The Experience of Absence during Sleep 02:11:27 - The long dream of ignorance 02:16:23 - Experiences of Expanded Consciousness 02:21:30 - The Importance of Yogic Life and Samskaras 02:26:42 - The Importance of Inner-Outer Purity 02:31:49 - The Concept of Worship and Praising God 02:36:56 - Wrapping up and future plans

Shelly Tygielski is the author of Sit Down to Rise Up and founder of the global grassroots mutual aid organization Pandemic of Love. Her work has been featured by over 100 media outlets, including CNN Heroes, The Tamron Hall Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS This Morning, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. A trauma-mindfulness teacher and a Garrison Institute Fellow, she has been called one of the “12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement” By Mindful.org and teaches self-care and resilience at organizations around the world. Visit her online at shellytygielski.com. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded April 16, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:02 - A Life of Compassion and Service 00:06:37 - Women and Children in Need 00:10:18 - Collaborating with Other Organizations 00:14:33 - Embracing Discomfort in Meditation 00:18:40 - Confronting our Shadow Side 00:21:58 - Healing and Connection between Israelis and Palestinians 00:27:19 - The Connection Between Inner Work and the Outer World 00:31:44 - Loving Kindness Practice and Difficult People 00:35:16 - Sending Metta to World Leaders 00:40:48 - The Freedom to Explore Different Paths 00:44:30 - The Intersection of Faith: Jew and the Lotus, Boojews, and Hin-Jews 00:51:20 - The Power of Agency and a Good Samaritan 1:00:39 - The Power of Simple Gestures 01:08:58 - Embracing the Gift of Life 01:12:29 - Building a Meditation Community on the Beach 01:15:25 - Building Community Through Meditation 01:19:15 - Showing Up and Making a Difference 01:25:42 - Supporting Communities and Creating Change 01:29:39 - Becoming a Community Organizer 01:35:26 - Stories of Compassion and Judgment 01:42:37 - The Practice of RAIN 01:46:57 - The Global Impact of Pandemic of Love 01:49:24 - The Relationship between Financial Abundance and Spiritual Awakening 01:51:55 - The Intention Behind Material Wealth Acquisition and the Role of Self-Awareness in Spiritual Growth 01:54:20 - The Power of Self-Awareness in Meditation and Decision Making 01:56:43 - The Fortunate Access to Technology 01:58:37 - Learning from Traumas 02:00:27 - Optimism and the Power of Technology 02:02:52 - Connecting Inner Work to the Outer World 02:05:00 - Farewell and Closing Remarks

Sebastián Blaksley is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1968 he was born into a large traditional Catholic family. He attended the Colegio del Salvador, a Jesuit school of which the headmaster was Jorge Bergoglio, the current Pope Francis. Sebastian enjoyed sport in his youth, particularly Rugby football, a game that a number of his family have a long involvement with in Argentina. Although he wanted to be a monk as a young man, his family did not consider it acceptable, and the inner voice that he always followed let him know that: “You must be in the world, without being of the world.” He studied Business Administration in Buenos Aires and completed his postgraduate studies in the United States and Argentina. He also undertook further studies in England. He held several highly responsible positions in well-known international corporations, living and working in the USA, England, China, and Panama. He then founded his own corporate consulting firm in Argentina which he led for over 10 years. He has willingly given the company he owned to employees who wanted to continue the business. Sebastián has two daughters with his former wife. At the age of six, Sebastián was involved in a near-fatal accident during which he heard a voice, which later identified itself as Jesus. Ever since he has continued to hear that voice. Sebastián says: “Since I can remember, I have felt the call of Jesus and Mary to live abandoned to their will so that despite my various activities, I always put spiritual and religious reality at the center. I am devoted to my faith.” In 2013, he began to record messages from his mystical experiences. In 2016, he miraculously discovered the books comprising A Course of Love (“received” from Jesus by Mari Perron) and felt the call to devote himself to bringing the course to the Spanish-speaking world. More recently Sebastian receives, transcribes, and shares what the voice of Christ—the voice of love—mystically dictates to him. Most recently he has “received” an astonishing, and most beautiful and uplifting series of messages from Heaven resulting in the Choose Only Love series of seven books, the first of which was published in October, 2019. The seventh and final book was published in March 2022. Sebastian is living on a small island in the Tigre Delta waterways on the outskirts of Buenos Aires; overseeing the building of a retreat property called, at the suggestion of Mother Mary, the Refuge of Divine Love. People from around the world are warmly invited to spend time here in this tranquil and verdant haven covering some 23 secluded acres, to “live the books” in the company of Sebastian as a welcoming host. Sebastián is president of the nonprofit charity Fundación Amor Vivo, through which he shares A Course of Love, as well as the sublime channeled angelic messages which found their home in the Choose Only Love books and audios. The angels lovingly refer to him as “a pencil in the hands of God.” Websites: fundacionamorvivo.org Choose Only Love Books: Choose Only Love (7 book series) - English Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summaries and Transcripts of this interview: English Spanish Interview recorded April 10, 2022 First BatGap interview with Sebastián. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:37 - Receiving Messages from Celestial Beings 00:08:54 - Receiving Communications from God 00:13:27 - Universal Love and Recognition of Divine Beings 00:18:07 - Jesus' Appearance and Artistic Representations 00:22:22 - The Essence of Angelic Beings and Love 00:26:37 - Becoming One with God 00:31:04 - The Universal Connection and Divine Dialogue 00:35:13 - Making the Choice for Love 00:39:36 - Communication without Words 00:43:21 - The New Understanding of Prophets and the Second Advent 00:47:51 - The New Earthly Kingdom 00:51:46 - The Choice between Love and Fear in Times of Transformation 00:56:04 - Understanding the True Identity of Others 01:00:00 - Acting out of Love 01:04:16 - The Union of Mind and Heart 01:08:44 - Return to Unity with the Divine Source 01:13:10 - Remain in me, remain in peace 01:17:49 - The Interconnected Universe 01:21:52 - The Pale Blue Dot and Our Cosmic Existence 01:26:14 - Integrating our Humanity with our Divine Aspects 01:30:02 - The Role of Holy Spirit in Relation to Jesus, Mary, and Archangels 01:33:52 - Not participating in the chain of fear 01:37:46 - The Importance of Higher Consciousness 01:41:39 - Longing for Spiritual Awakening 01:45:20 - Achieving Inner Congruence 01:48:58 - The Debate and the Growing Love and Truth 01:53:11 - The Healing Power of Consciousness 01:57:28 - Unity with God and Consciousness after Death 02:01:36 - Near-Death Experiences and the Undying Nature of the Self 02:04:59 - Love in Action

At the age of 24, after years of intense internal suffering and an intuition that something about the way we interact with our thoughts causes a lot of unnecessary suffering, Angelo had a fundamental shift in the way he experiences reality. This was a pervasive transformation and was life-altering at every level. It suddenly became clear that thoughts, and the way they "paint" our experience of ourselves, time, and space, are essentially unreal, something like ghosts. What replaced this world of thought, struggle, and suffering, was boundless clarity and intimacy with all immediate textures of phenomena. It became clear that this is simply the natural state of things and that it is true for everyone, even if there is some distortion in experience caused by thoughts. It became exquisitely clear that suffering is unnecessary among humans and that any human being who has a genuine yearning to wake up to their true nature has the capacity to wake up to this boundless (non-separation) living truth. This led to the writing of the book, "Awake: It's Your Turn." The book is a combination of practical advice to help anyone who is on this pathless path, practice pointers and inquiry tips, and direct pointing (transmission) through language. Book: Awake: It's Your Turn Simply Always Awake YouTube channel Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded April 2, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:38 - The Shift in Perception: From Suffering to Enlightenment 00:10:20 - Becoming Home 00:14:56 - Suffering and Awakening 00:19:21 - The Paradox of Authenticity 00:23:32 - Finding the Gap in Thoughts 00:28:07 - The Structure of the Mind and Perception 00:32:54 - The Unbound Consciousness 00:37:27 - The Natural State of Mind 00:41:59 - Embracing Pain and Sensory Input 00:46:51 - Overwhelming Sensory Experience 00:51:43 - The Nature of Experience 00:56:39 - The Dance of Nature and the Nature of "Ocean-ness" 01:01:06 - The non-dualistic nature of perception 01:05:29 - The Subtlety of the Spiritual Journey 01:10:39 - Shifting Gears, Changing Expectations and Enjoying the Moment 01:15:30 - The Meaning of Awakening 01:19:44 - Attuning to Your Instincts and Embracing Your Awakening 01:24:05 - Investigating the Relational Self 01:29:08 - Escaping Suffering and Dissolving into Reality 01:33:47 - Dissolving Boundaries of Perception 01:38:00 - The Importance of Focus while Driving 01:42:12 - Love for All Beings 01:47:04 - The Paradox of Enlightenment 01:51:51 - Trusting Yourself and the Unborn 01:56:26 - The Length of the Book 02:00:41 - Uncovering and holding discomfort in the body 02:05:12 - Going into the Contracted Area and Feeling Helplessness 02:09:47 - Investigating God, Death, and Reincarnation 02:14:12 - Energetic Realizations and Past Lives 02:18:34 - Wrapping Up the Conversation

Andrew Holecek has completed the traditional three-year Buddhist meditation retreat and teaches internationally on meditation, dream yoga, and the art of dying. He is the author of six books, and many articles, including scientific papers on lucid dreaming. Dr. Holecek is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a concert pianist, with degrees in music, biology, and a doctorate in dental surgery. He is the co-founder of Global Dental Relief, which serves impoverished children in six developing countries; the founder of the online platform Night Club, which supports the nocturnal meditations, and the founder of the Preparing to Die Institute, a nine-month spiritual and practical training program to help with the end of life. Books: Dream Yoga: Illuminating Your Life Through Lucid Dreaming and the Tibetan Yogas of Sleep Dreams of Light: The Profound Daytime Practice of Lucid Dreaming Preparing to Die: Practical Advice and Spiritual Wisdom from the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition The Power and the Pain: Transforming Spiritual Hardship into Joy Website: andrewholecek.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded March 27, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of Andrew Holecek 00:04:45 - The Three-Year Meditation Retreat 00:09:08 - The Difficulties of Retreat and Detox Process 00:13:18 - The Tricky Topic of Crazy Wisdom Lineage 00:17:36 - The Ethics of Enlightenment 00:22:14 - The Importance of Morality and Ethics in Meditation 00:26:43 - The Delicate Dance of Balancing Relative and Absolute Vectors 00:30:51 - Digging deep with multiple tools 00:35:04 - Finding Opportunities in Obstacles 00:39:16 - Finding Teachings in Life's Challenges 00:43:47 - The Relativity of Reality and the Burden of Compassion 00:48:11 - Working with Complexity and Reductionism in Life 00:52:13 - The Irreducible Principles of Life 00:56:28 - The Utter Immediacy of Enlightenment 01:00:57 - Balancing Both/And Perspective 01:05:01 - Skillful Means for Different Levels of Identity 01:09:26 - Maintaining Lucidity in Sleep and Dreaming 01:13:36 - Lucid dreaming and its transformative power 01:18:08 - Lucidity and the Power of Light 01:22:45 - The Stages of Dream Yoga 01:27:21 - The Fruition of States: Turiya and Beyond 01:31:52 - The Addiction to Transcendent States 01:35:48 - The Integration of Science and Spirituality 01:40:06 - The Balance of Spiritual Experiences 01:45:00 - The Importance of Taking it Slow and Seeking Support 01:49:17 - The Golden Chain of Spirituality 01:53:34 - The Ripple Effect of Thoughts on Reality 01:57:58 - The Presence of Kundun, the Dalai Lama's name in Tibetan 02:02:30 - The Difference Between a Lucid Dream and the Waking State 02:06:29 - Similarities between Advaita Vedanta and Mahamudra & Dzogchen 02:10:40 - Guest Suggestions and Closing the Topic

I was born 11-11-69 into a nonpracticing Jewish family where the subject of spirituality never came up. So when I discovered an intense spiritual yearning within myself at the age of nineteen, I was completely on my own. After graduating from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Philosophy in 1994, I had become an avid practitioner of meditation and contemplation of the nature of Reality. As a solitary practitioner, I found my path to be an oscillation of understanding the Nondual view of Dzogchen and experiencing nonordinary events that expanded my understanding of the classic out-of-body experience, astral realm, and the Bardos. The first book of the Trilogy titled "Reality Explained" centers on the peak period of my spiritual journey just after returning home from a weeklong meditation retreat at the world-renowned ‘Monroe Institute’. I had been home less than a week after attending one of their advanced programs when without warning I began to have profound Visions while living out my day-to-day life. I could be taking a walk with my wife and daughter or going about my daily routine at work when I would find myself spontaneously thrust into a vastly more expansive perspective that placed my entire world in a wholly new context. These Visions were progressive in nature as they clearly and pointedly demonstrated the Grand Design of Reality. Some of these Visions were existentially devastating and some were downright terrifying, as they exposed the true nature of the ‘self’. Others were so blissful that they could only be tolerated for brief moments. Ultimately, they coalesced to reveal a model of Reality that is as elegant in its simplicity as it is mind-blowing in its implications. In the first book, I outline a play-by-play account of how four of these Visions shaped a new understanding regarding the true architecture of Reality and how this understanding resolves one of our greatest philosophical paradoxes, the relationship between mind and matter or God and the world. Given the universal nature of these experiences, you will be able to verify each truth for yourself. I wrote this book to demystify the subject of Spiritual Awakening. There are already many excellent books on this subject otherwise known as ‘Nondual Wisdom’ however, what I found to be missing was a book that chronicles the day to day, month to month, and year to year unfolding of the Self in detail. This book is a very personal account of an incredibly impersonal process broken down step by step and presented almost in slow motion. The reader is invited on a journey that chronicles each step along the path to Spiritual Awakening. The details of the climactic experience itself and the final understanding that results from undergoing such a radical and permanent shift in perspective is where I intend to lead you. It is also my hope that this book will serve to demonstrate how the experience of Spiritual Awakening is not something mythical or a fable belonging to some other time or place but an actual shift in perspective that is available right here and now to anyone that is curious enough to explore the true nature of ‘being’. I speak to you from the point of view that we are all sharing the human experience and when we explore the depths of our minds we find the same treasure awaits us all. The fact that I am a husband and a father with a full-time career stands as proof that you don’t have to choose between worldly life and Spiritual Awakening. Books (Reality Explained Trilogy: Enlightenment: Behind the Scenes Being, While Knowing That You Are Not: Surrendering to the sadness and madness of life A Triunistic Model of Reality: What It Is, Does and Emerges As Jed McKenna & The Suicide Letters: Our time together prior to the Invisible Guru Website: thisawarespace.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded March 20, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump conversation 00:04:32 - The Ordinariness of Experience 00:09:07 - Awareness and Encompassing 00:13:13 - The Balance of Lucidity and Dreaming 00:17:10 - The Illusory Nature of the Waking State 00:21:07 - Questioning the Nature of Existence 00:24:50 - Exploring the Mind and Tools: Monroe Institute, Hemi-sync, OBEs, Salvia, Lucid Dreaming 00:28:48 - Tibetan Buddhism and the Monroe Institute 00:32:36 - Experiencing the True Self 00:36:44 - The Nature of Oneness and Individuation 00:40:16 - Understanding Transactional Reality 00:44:01 - The Inseparability of Awareness and Space 00:48:17 - The Triune of Awareness: The Emergence of a Third Thing 00:52:43 - The Rainbow and the Oneness 00:56:38 - Longing for God and the Void Behind 01:00:51 - The Void and the Stickman 01:04:51 - Recognizing the Mind in Death and the Bardos 01:08:45 - The Concept of Awakening 01:12:27 - The Bodhisattva Vow and Sharing Enlightenment 01:15:59 - The Cycl

At the early age of eight, Irma Francis experienced what she now calls a soul remembrance. In this experience, a loving presence spoke. “You have a choice to remember your connection to your true self; if you choose not to remember, you will come to believe the persona of a conditioned self and how the world will try to define you. Whatever you choose will decide your destiny in this lifetime.” She chose to remember. Even though life has continually challenged her to forget, she has remained committed to that choice. Irma continued to have transcendent experiences that were not sought but came as spontaneously and naturally as her first awakening. It took her a lifetime to integrate the absolute truth that she understood via her soul remembrance with the relative facts commonly experienced by humanity. Today, Irma understands there are no spiritual bypasses; we are all affected by the human condition and must find ways to merge our psychological selves with our spiritual selves. Her journey has been mystical and transformational, bringing her to a stable equanimity and wholeness of being. Following is a short excerpt from Irma’s forthcoming book, Front Porch View: Memoir of a Young Girl’s Spiritual Awakening. “To borrow the words of the legendary Joni Mitchell, ‘I’ve looked at life from both sides now’ and discovered a seamless existence. There are no sides. There is no separation. There is only oneness. I am an ordinary person having spiritual experiences. I hope to inspire and encourage others to share their spiritual awakenings as we accompany each other on the road less traveled. We are all teachers and students.” Website: irmafrancis.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded March 12, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:26 - A Divine Experience on the Front Porch 00:09:26 - Divine Intervention and Heavenly Presence 00:13:30 - The Awakening of Consciousness 00:17:43 - Fearlessness in the Midst of Violence 00:22:01 - The Pied Piper and Raising Vibrations 00:26:26 - Honoring the Oneness 00:30:38 - An Extreme Passion for Truth 00:35:08 - The Validity of Different Perspectives 00:39:05 - Susceptibility to Misinformation 00:43:01 - Embracing Unconditional Love 00:47:09 - Following Intuition and Psychic Experiences 00:51:36 - Teaching the Akashic records and feeling alone in spiritual experiences 00:56:25 - The Desire for Spiritual Reunion 01:00:32 - A Connection with Yogananda and Past Life Experiences 01:04:47 - Reincarnation and Deep Impressions 01:09:05 - The Ability to Tap into the Akashic Records 01:13:23 - Navigating Life and Connecting to Your True Self 01:18:14 - The Power of Unconditional Love 01:22:51 - The Intersection of Science and Spirituality 01:26:43 - The Importance of Unconditional Love and Connection 01:30:55 - Trusting Your Intuition 01:34:52 - Aligning with an Intelligence beyond our own 01:39:07 - The Dependency on Teachers and Mirroring Experiences 01:43:17 - Shifting into other dimensions with John 01:49:00 - The Power of Group Coherence and Connection 01:53:17 - Accessing Higher Consciousness 01:57:27 - Imagining a Radically Different Future 02:01:11 - Amplifying the Grace of God 02:05:11 - Allowing Your Intuition 02:08:42 - Using MailChimp for Email Lists

Emma Bragdon received her Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology in 1987. For more than 40 years she has focused on supporting people awakening spiritually, paying special attention to those in spiritual crisis/ emergency. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Integrative Mental Health for You, IMHU.org, which offers 40+ online courses about effective alternatives to psychiatric medications. Emma has trained 80 Spiritual Emergence Coaches® from 14 countries who are now available through an international online Directory. While intensely studying and participating in Brazilian Spiritism from 2001-2012, she wrote 3 books and co-produced two documentary films about Spiritist treatment of mental disturbance and spiritual emergency. Emma has been recognized for her pioneering work with Spiritually Transformative Experiences as an Honoree on the Spiritual Awakenings International “Circle of Honor” and within the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology’s “Council of Sages”. She was licensed as a Marriage, Family, Child Therapist in 1988. Emma is a member of the Self-realization Fellowship following the yogic philosophy of Paramahansa Yogananda. She’s been a meditator for over 55 years. She also studied with two Native American shamans for 20 years. Currently, she teams with Benjamin Asher, MD in offering Ketamine-Assisted psychotherapy in central Vermont. She is also available by Zoom in her private practice for psychotherapy and integration of spiritual experiences. Websites: imhu.org emmabragdon.com Books: The Call of Spiritual Emergency: From Personal Crisis to Personal Transformation Kardec's Spiritism: A Home for Healing and Spiritual Evolution A Sourcebook for Helping People with Spiritual Problems Spiritism and Mental Health Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded March 6, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:13 - The Sense of a Larger Intelligence 00:07:09 - The Dysfunctional Family and Near-Death Experiences 00:10:58 - Sitting in Meditation at Tassajara 00:14:51 - From Zen Buddhism to Neo-Reichian Psychotherapy 00:19:31 - Exploring Shamanism and Spiritual Awakening 00:23:40 - A Journey into Spiritism 00:26:58 - The Origins of Spiritualism and Spiritism 00:29:40 - Integrative Mental Health: Effective Alternatives 00:32:32 - The Importance of Medication Supervision and Integrative Mental Health 00:35:59 - The Importance of Peaceful and Wise States 00:39:08 - Consciousness independent of the body 00:41:47 - Understanding Spiritual Emergence and Emergency 00:44:47 - Understanding Spiritual Emergencies 00:47:30 - Distinguishing between Psychic Perceptions and Psychosis 00:50:08 - A Disturbing Episode 00:52:59 - Uncovering Traumatic Memories 00:56:02 - Moving into a New Identity 00:59:07 - Understanding Spiritual Experiences and Emergencies 01:01:59 - Shifting the Paradigm in Psychiatry 01:04:38 - Spiritism in Brazil and its Integration in Psychiatry 01:08:05 - Spiritism's Role in Brazilian Society 01:12:21 - The Importance of Supervision and Feedback in Spiritual Practices 01:17:29 - Betrayal of Spiritual Figures 01:24:15 - Controversies in Spiritual Communities 01:30:06 - TRE and Kundalini difficulties 01:34:49 - Meditation and Spiritual Practices Impacting Physical Ailments 01:39:40 - Belief in Reincarnation and its Impact on Diagnosis 01:46:42 - Shamanism and Non-Dual Meditation 01:55:01 - The Importance of Depth in Spiritual Exploration 02:00:02 - Accessing the Directory of Qualified Coaches

Selbie makes the complex and obscure simple and clear. He is known for creating bridges of understanding between the modern evidence-based discoveries of science and the ancient experience-based discoveries of the mystics. A dedicated meditator for nearly fifty years, he has taught yoga, meditation, and universal experiential spirituality throughout the US and Europe. He has also been an avid follower of the unfolding new paradigm of post-materialist science—with groaning bookshelves to show for it. Selbie has authored The Physics of God, a unification of science and religion, and The Yugas, a factual look at India’s tradition of cyclical history. Selbie is a founding member of Ananda—a meditation-based community and spiritual movement inspired by Paramhansa Yogananda. He lives with his wife at Ananda Village near Nevada City, California. Books: The Yugas: Keys to Understanding Our Hidden Past, Emerging Energy Age and Enlightened Future - Today's view of history cannot account for ancient anomalies, such as the Pyramids and advanced knowledge contained in India's Vedas. But in 1894, an Indian sage gave us an explanation not only for our hidden past but for the trends of today and for our future enlightenment - the 24,000-year yuga cycle. The Physics of God: How the Deepest Theories of Science Explain Religion and How the Deepest Truths of Religion Explain Science Website: physicsandgod.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview with Joseph Selbie on "The Physics of God". Interview recorded February 26, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:08 - Blending Western Science with Eastern Spirituality 00:08:21 - The Transcendental Nature of Consciousness 00:11:48 - The Mind as a TV Screen 00:16:15 - The Cycle of Ages and its Impact on Mankind 00:20:49 - The Yugas and Spiritual Awakening 00:25:00 - The Debate over the Length of the Kali Yuga 00:29:26 - "Pillar of Celestial Fire: And the Lost Science of the Ancient Seers" by Robert Cox? 00:33:35 - Searching for the Grand Central Sun 00:37:45 - The procession of the equinoxes and cycles 00:41:50 - The cycles of evolution in the universe 00:45:49 - The Progression of Yugas and Spiritual Evolution 00:49:09 - The Evolution of the Yugas 00:58:31 - The Evolution of Energy and Awareness 01:03:19 - The Four Ages and Levels of Consciousness 01:07:31 - The Awakening of Enlightened Self Interest 01:11:26 - Transformational Experiences 01:14:40 - The Message of Near Death Experiences and Sahaja Yoga 01:18:41 - Gobekli Tepe: The Oldest Manmade Structure 01:23:41 - Ancient Myths and the State of Consciousness 01:28:20 - Evidence of Advanced Civilizations 01:32:11 - The Great Pyramid and its Precise Construction 01:36:26 - Precision of the Great Pyramid 01:40:53 - The Great Pyramid and its Purpose 01:45:04 - Ancient Civilizations and Sanskrit Grammar 01:48:58 - The Mystery of the Ancient Map 01:52:35 - A More Enlightened Age 01:57:03 - The Increasing Basic Human Freedoms 02:00:37 - The Potential Turning Point 02:04:16 - Seeking the Truth and Misinformation 02:07:42 - Love of Conversation

Selbie makes the complex and obscure simple and clear. He is known for creating bridges of understanding between the modern evidence-based discoveries of science and the ancient experience-based discoveries of the mystics. A dedicated meditator for nearly fifty years, he has taught yoga, meditation, and universal experiential spirituality throughout the US and Europe. He has also been an avid follower of the unfolding new paradigm of post-materialist science—with groaning bookshelves to show for it. Selbie has authored The Physics of God, a unification of science and religion, and The Yugas, a factual look at India’s tradition of cyclical history. Selbie is a founding member of Ananda—a meditation-based community and spiritual movement inspired by Paramhansa Yogananda. He lives with his wife at Ananda Village near Nevada City, California. Books: The Physics of God: How the Deepest Theories of Science Explain Religion and How the Deepest Truths of Religion Explain Science - "The explanations of transcendent phenomena given by saints, sages, and near-death experiencers—miracles, immortality, heaven, God, and transcendent awareness—are fully congruent with scientific discoveries in the fields of relativity, quantum physics, medicine, M-theory, neuroscience, and quantum biology. The Physics of God describes the intersections of science and religion with colorful, easy-to-understand metaphors, making abstruse subjects within both science and religion easily accessible to the layman—no math, no dogma." The Yugas: Keys to Understanding Our Hidden Past, Emerging Energy Age and Enlightened Future Website: physicsandgod.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview with Joseph on "The Yugas". Interview recorded February 26, 2022 Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:33 - A Shift Towards Philosophy and Spirituality 00:07:38 - From Science to Spirituality 00:11:11 - Comparing Science and Religion 00:14:41 - The Interpretation of Science and Religion 00:18:46 - Unity between Science and Religion 00:22:07 - The convergence of science and spirituality 00:25:30 - Bridging Science and Spirituality 00:29:31 - Incorporating Spirituality in Science 00:33:09 - The Challenges of Applying Scientific Experimentation to Spirituality 00:36:32 - The Nature of Matter and Energy 00:40:35 - The Intelligent Organization of Energy 00:44:57 - Flatland and Two Dimensional Reality 00:48:46 - The Intersection of Science and Spirituality 00:52:15 - The Complexity of the Universe 00:56:02 - The creation of multiple universes and promissory materialism 00:59:35 - The Mathematical Language of Consciousness 01:03:20 - The Challenges of Bridging the Gap in scientific research 01:06:43 - The Power of Consciousness and Responsibility 01:10:24 - Mind-blowing Mystical Experiences 01:13:32 - The Origin of Consciousness and the Role of the Observer 01:17:37 - Challenging Fundamental Truths 01:21:18 - Einstein's View on Quantum Physics 01:24:53 - Nonlocality and the Existence of Multiple Universes 01:28:58 - The Intelligent Power of the Universe 01:32:33 - Currents of Intelligence and the Manifestation of Gods and Demons 01:36:08 - The Role of Freewill in Shaping our Reality 01:39:51 - The Future of Science and the Flip 01:43:01 - Wrapping up and defining God 01:46:40 - The Oneness with God 01:49:36 - Life is What Happens

I came across the writings of a well-known Indian guru in my early twenties and thus began a twenty-five-year odyssey that would uproot me from my normal life and see me living in ashrams and committed spiritual communities around the world. The answers I sought were not easy to find, however, and the promises made by the teachers in whom I placed my trust were rarely kept. Exhausted and disillusioned I left my last teacher and abandoned spiritual life in 2004, and during the intense and all-consuming crisis that followed I finally realized the truth of my own unchanging nature beyond the personal identity. The questions that had haunted me for so long dissolved and I was astonished to find that all seeking had ceased. Over time the shift of identity stabilized and became normalized and permanent. Grateful and content with what I saw as a private internal matter I rarely spoke or thought about spirituality and for the next fifteen or so years focused instead on my long-neglected art career. I began to establish myself as a visual artist exhibiting firstly in the UK and later internationally. I now collaborate with my partner, scientist Dr. Jesse Shore, producing artworks as Sweet+Shore, as well as my individual work as Anne Penman Sweet. About eighteen months ago I confided in my friend, author, and researcher Amir Freimann about what had happened, and he immediately invited me to participate in his research project Living Transcendence: a Phenomenological Study of Spiritual Exemplars. I was very surprised as I had no sense of knowing anything or of having arrived anywhere in particular. However, over the course of a dozen or more formal interviews skillfully conducted by him, I experienced an outpouring of spiritual insights and understandings that I had no idea I contained. It was revelatory and transformative and since then I have spoken freely and publicly about these matters. Not long after, I started to feel a deep inner prompting to begin sharing what I had learned and understood, not as a teacher but as a friend and advisor. I created the End of Seeking website as a free resource to help simplify and demystify the spiritual search for others and to give seekers the tools and knowledge they may need to independently navigate the often confusing and at times hazardous terrain of the contemporary spiritual marketplace. I am currently working on a book of spiritual insights illustrated with Sweet+Shore artworks which I hope to publish by the end of the year. Website: theendofseeking.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Recorded February 12, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:04:46 - The Beginning 00:16:42 - Cautionary Note on Opening Ourselves Up 00:20:53 - Severe Consequences of Authenticity 00:24:55 - Leaving the Scene and Moving On 00:29:28 - Finding Stability through Meditation 00:34:10 - Choosing Transformation over Seeking 00:38:02 - Rediscovering Spiritual Truths 00:42:01 - Discovering My Understanding 00:46:22 - The Awakening 00:50:19 - The Importance of Enlightenment and Self-Examination 00:54:58 - Responsibility and Vulnerability in the Teacher Role 00:59:24 - The Emergence of Peer-to-Peer Spirituality 01:03:34 - New Approaches to Enlightenment and Psychoactive Drugs 01:20:25 - The Contextualization of Experience and the Limitations of Vedanta 01:24:45 - The Definition and Evolution of Enlightenment 01:29:27 - Exploring Further Dimensions 01:33:51 - Equanimity and Inner Fullness 01:37:53 - Dissolution of the Self 01:42:31 - Embracing Pain and Suffering 01:46:59 - The Writing Process and Learning through Expression 01:50:51 - Still Learning and Discovering 01:54:53 - Understanding Creation and Divinity 01:59:08 - The Importance of Ethics in Spiritual Teaching 02:02:56 - Contacting Anne Sweet and Getting in Touch for Questions

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

Lauren Robertson is a lifelong psychic medium who has conducted over 15,000 sittings and public demonstrations globally in a career spanning two decades. She is the author of The Medium in Manolos: A Life-Affirming Guide to Modern Mediumship, published by Hay House, and The Art and Science of Mediumship on Substack. Lauren graduated with honors from the University of Glasgow where she studied English Literature and Philosophy specializing in consciousness studies. Website: laurenrobertson.co.uk The Art and Science of Mediumship Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded January 29, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump with Rick Archer 00:04:29 - Differentiating Psychic and Mediumistic Work 00:08:45 - Finding a Job as a Medium 00:12:30 - Overcoming Adversity and Pursuing Education 00:16:09 - Rethinking Selfhood and Relationships 00:20:40 - A Holistic View of Existence 00:24:51 - Reconnecting with Gran and the Dream 00:28:51 - Implications of Viewing Consciousness as Primary Focus 00:33:09 - The Constant Movement of Existence 00:37:04 - Opening our Minds to a Different Perspective of the World 00:41:07 - Healing from Stress and Trauma through Connection and Loving Practices 00:45:39 - Communication in the Spirit World 00:50:10 - Perception and Communication Beyond the Body 00:54:19 - Telepathic Communication and Mind-to-Mind Bond 00:58:23 - Refuting Explanations of Mediumship 01:03:27 - Mediumship and the Future of Psi Research 01:07:30 - The Distinction between Mediumship and Psi Tasks 01:11:14 - Morphic Field and Communication with the Deceased 01:15:30 - The Shaping of Consciousness 01:19:56 - Love and Healing in the Spirit World 01:24:05 - Communication in the Spirit World 01:28:01 - The Purpose of the Book 01:32:25 - Entities and Spiritual Experiences 01:36:38 - The Upside-Down of the Donut 01:40:52 - The Complexity of Time 01:44:42 - Mediumship and Psychic Abilities in Scotland 01:49:02 - Communicating with Loved Ones in the Spirit World 01:52:50 - Communicating Through Objects and Memories 01:56:57 - Understanding Mediumship and Capturing the Essence 02:00:58 - Connecting With Lauren Robertson 02:04:28 - Conclusion and Farewell

EDWARD F. KELLY is currently a Professor in the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) at the University of Virginia. He received his Ph.D. in psycholinguistics and cognitive science from Harvard in 1971, and spent the next 15-plus years working mainly in parapsychology, initially at J. B. Rhine’s Institute for Parapsychology, then for ten years through the Department of Electrical Engineering at Duke, and finally through a private research institute in Chapel Hill. Between 1988 and 2002 he worked with a large neuroscience group at UNC-Chapel Hill, mainly carrying out EEG and fMRI studies of human somatosensory cortical adaptation to natural tactile stimuli. He returned full-time to psychical research in 2002, serving as lead author of Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century (2007), Beyond Physicalism: Toward Reconciliation of Science and Spirituality (2015), and Consciousness Unbound: Liberating Mind from the Tyranny of Materialism - (2021), all published by Rowman & Littlefield. He is now returning to his central long-term research interest – the application of modern functional neuroimaging methods to intensive psychophysiological studies of psi and ASCs in exceptional subjects. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded January 22, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:31 - Overhauling Our Worldview 00:08:31 - The Center for Theory and Research at Esalen 00:12:46 - Anomalies in Conventional Ideas 00:16:49 - Mrs. Piper and the Existence of PSI Phenomena 00:21:00 - Maternal Impression Cases and Vivid Imagination 00:24:59 - Intense and Transformative Experiences 00:28:57 - The Astonishing Abilities of Child Prodigies 00:33:19 - The Neglect of Mystical Experiences in Contemporary Science 00:37:40 - Alfred North Whitehead's Metaphysics and Process Philosophy 00:42:17 - Jung and Pauli's Interaction 00:47:04 - Secondary Personalities and Centers of Consciousness 00:51:21 - The Presence of God in All Things 00:55:55 - Differences between Myers and Jung 01:00:35 - The Changing Culture and Challenges to Physicalist Viewpoint 01:04:52 - The Effect of Psilocybin on Brain Activity 01:09:02 - The Connection Between Consciousness and Global Issues 01:13:25 - Enriching Consciousness and the Whole Field 01:17:36 - The Introverted Mystical Experience 01:22:04 - Exploring Mystical and Psi Phenomena 01:26:22 - The Nature of Reality and Consciousness 01:30:35 - Mystical experiences and scientific justification 01:35:16 - The Stealth Worldview of Evolutionary Pantheism 01:39:47 - The Intersection of Science and Mysticism 01:44:21 - Incorporating Quantum Mechanics in the Study of Consciousness 01:49:06 - Marvels of Functioning Atoms and the Intelligence Factor 01:53:38 - Tapping into our Full Potential 01:57:36 - ESP Performance and EEG Methods 02:02:11 - Levitation and the Laws of Nature 02:06:10 - Levitation and Mystical Ecstasy 02:10:06 - Additional Topics Covered

Gail Brenner, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author, speaker, and lover of the nondual teaching with a fire that burns brightly. She is an expert in healing from early trauma and brings to this work years of experience with individuals and groups. Her work lovingly illuminates our everyday humanness with the deepest spiritual truths, and she is known for creating the safe space needed for inner exploration. Gail has special expertise working with older adults and their families in the transitions of aging, death, and dying. She was an assistant clinical professor at the University of California San Francisco where she trained physicians and maintained a clinical practice. She has published numerous professional articles on coping with stress and chronic medical illness and is the author of the award-winning The End of Self-Help: Discovering Peace and Happiness Right at the Heart of Your Messy, Scary, Brilliant Life and Suffering Is Optional: A Spiritual Guide to Freedom from Self-Judgment and Feelings of Inadequacy. She loves exploring different cultures through international volunteering. First BatGap interview with Gail Website: gailbrenner.com Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded January 16, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:53 - Personal and Professional Growth 00:07:54 - Tapping into the Beyond 00:11:40 - The Release of Old Patterns and Conditioning 00:15:33 - Embracing Openness and Compassion 00:19:00 - Exploring the Nature of True Self and the Overshadowing of Experience 00:22:41 - The Separation of Identity 00:26:00 - The Impact of Unmet Needs and Coping Strategies 00:29:37 - The Healing Power of Meditation 00:33:11 - The Healing Power of Meditation 00:36:39 - The Power of Attention 00:40:07 - The Importance of Paying Attention and Self-Scrutiny 00:43:38 - Numbing out to avoid discomfort 00:47:15 - Investigating conditioned patterns and healing trauma 00:50:54 - The Neurophysiology of Trauma and Healing 00:55:13 - Tools for Relaxation and Rest 00:58:32 - Inner Awakening and House Cleaning 01:02:09 - The Recognition of Timeless Being 01:06:01 - Healing and Growth in a Nurturing Environment 01:09:27 - Living in Bigger Questions and Non-Duality 01:12:28 - Letting go of control and being present 01:15:38 - Listening Deeply and Bringing Compassion 01:19:30 - Being Present with What Arises 01:22:57 - Working with Unworthiness Issues 01:27:05 - The Power of Being with Emotions 01:30:51 - Beyond Limitations and Identification 01:34:48 - The Profoundness of Being Together in Unity 01:38:19 - Contemplating People 01:41:58 - Finding Meaning and Satisfaction in Life 01:45:28 - Going Deeper and Discovering Meaning 01:49:00 - Thank you for Listening

In January 2015, my mind experienced a huge shift, where I perceived everything as God. In that experience, I had what felt like, a download of knowledge or understanding of the truth. I also felt an inner voice telling me that there was more to be revealed and understood, so I continued to give time to silence so that more could be illuminated. Over the following six months, my mind experienced many deeper understandings, and the teachings of A Course in Miracles were linked up in my mind in a way that I could express them to other students, which seemed to be helpful. From that inner illumination, I have kept vigilance to ensure that no false ideas enter my mind and distort truth to any student. I was guided to start an online group and share what was illuminated, to anyone that would like to hear. My main teaching is that our brother is holy and innocent... and in that perception, our mind heals of its belief in sin, guilt, and fear. I teach others how to apply this "Christ Blessing" to all brothers as a way to a clear and happy peaceful mind. What ACIM calls... The Mind of God. Website: categrieves.com Facebook page YouTube channel Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded January 8, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:46 - A Desperate Search for Truth and Healing 00:09:59 - Devoting Myself to Self-Improvement 00:15:10 - Revelatory Experience of Peace 00:20:08 - Awakening to the Illusion of Self 00:25:33 - The Tiny Mad Idea of Separation 00:30:59 - Asking for Help and Shifting Perception 00:35:41 - Surrender and Letting go of Attachments 00:39:58 - Letting go of identity with the body 00:44:52 - Rediscovering the Inner Center 00:49:38 - The importance of personal time for inner connection 00:54:26 - Overcoming the Obstacle of Death 00:59:16 - A Transformational Experience 01:03:42 - The Origin of A Course in Miracles 01:07:45 - Struggling with the Course in Miracles teachings 01:11:42 - Advancements in Spiritual Journey 01:16:10 - Recalling Past Lives 01:20:21 - The Song with God 01:25:09 - Being a Newbie on the Block 01:29:18 - Healing the Body with the Mind 01:34:08 - Being the One Christ Mind in the World 01:38:45 - Anchoring in Peace and Love 01:43:35 - Speaking from Love 01:47:25 - Finding Joy in Painting and Being Present with Love 01:52:19 - Experiencing Grief and Seeking Comfort 01:56:28 - Allowing Emotions to Flow 02:00:43 - The Beauty of Iambic Pentameter and the Course in Miracles 02:05:05 - Finding Your Own Spiritual Path 02:09:18 - Finding Hope in Times of Desperation 02:13:39 - Finding Meaning and Seeking the Truth 02:17:46 - Farewell and Future Communication

Dr. Betty J. Kovacs’ understanding of consciousness and spirituality is based on both scholarly research and symbolic, visionary experience. In fact, she has written two books concerning these subjects. Her first book is about her family’s profound visionary experiences surrounding multiple deaths in their family. Her second book relates to our ancestors’ experience of a vaster consciousness, Cosmic/Christ Consciousness. Within a three-year period, Dr. Kovacs experienced the deaths of her mother, her son, and her husband in separate automobile accidents. While she had studied shamanism before her son’s accident, she and her husband actually experienced their son’s consciousness after his death for an extended period of time. These experiences completely changed their lives. Her first book, The Miracle of Death: There Is Nothing But Life, is about these altered states of consciousness. After her retirement, she began an intensified period of research into our ancestors’ experience of a vaster consciousness, Cosmic/Christ Consciousness, which she relates in her new book, Merchants of Light: The Consciousness That Is Changing the World, winner of the Nautilus Silver Book Award and The Scientific & Medical Network 2019 Book Prize. Dr. Kovacs’ extensive research tracked the existence of a shamanic-mystic-scientist culture from at least 40,000 BCE. Our ancestors had developed symbolic language and various shamanic techniques to trigger altered states of consciousness. Some of these ancestors achieved great skill as visionaries, mystics, and scientists, while others, it is not known how many, achieved the ability to experience Cosmic Consciousness. The consistent suppression of this ancient wisdom is the root cause of our current planetary crisis. And it can only be healed through the consciousness of the heart that births a just and feeling world. This same tradition, on which our survival now depends, has once again emerged today—and it can change the world. Website: kamlak.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded December 19, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:09 - The Search for Meaning and Belief 00:07:58 - The Ancient Wisdom of Shamanism 00:12:11 - Uncovering Ancient Wisdom 00:16:28 - Suppression of the Sacred Feminine 00:20:47 - Living with the Tao and the Awakening 00:24:48 - The Distorted Story of the Tree 00:28:47 - The Hidden Tradition of Christianity and the Gnostic Experience 00:33:03 - The Church's Resistance to Scientific Exploration 00:37:30 - A Journey of Search and Freedom 00:41:36 - The Power of the Feminine and the Importance of Listening 00:45:05 - Plans Being Made for Us 00:49:13 - The Hidden Tradition within the Church 00:53:25 - The Dangers of Manipulating Human Nature 00:57:18 - Unfolding our Full Inner Potential 01:01:09 - The Wholeness of Mind Experience 01:05:14 - Ancient Wisdom and Indigenous Cultures 01:09:43 - The Deep Spiritual River 01:14:00 - A Father's Vision 01:18:04 - Decaying and Transforming Darkness into Light 01:22:15 - The Earth's Longing for Love 01:26:36 - Interactions with Higher Forms of Life 01:30:31 - Integration of Cosmic Consciousness 01:34:56 - The Relevance of Connecting to Vast Intelligence 01:39:30 - The Power of Creativity and Love 01:43:41 - True Stories and Organizing Principles 01:47:33 - The Wisdom of Integration 01:51:59 - Finding Purpose Despite Circumstances 01:55:45 - Finding Fulfillment and Inner Peace on the Spiritual Path 01:59:24 - The Power of Lighting a Candle

Father Nathan Castle graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio and entered the Dominican order in 1979. He received MA and MDiv degrees from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California. He was Director of the Catholic Communities at Stanford University and Arizona State University. He believes the Holy Spirit has given him a “night job” of helping souls who died suddenly and violently find afterlife peace. He is the author of: And Toto, Too:: The Wizard of Oz as a Spiritual Adventure Afterlife, Interrupted: Helping Stuck Souls Cross Over—A Catholic Priest Explores the Interrupted Death Experience Afterlife, Interrupted Book Two: Helping Souls Cross Over Website: nathan-castle.com Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded December 11, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview 00:04:32 - A Horrible Piece of Art 00:08:28 - Pre-life Planning and Purgatory Journey 00:12:30 - The Encounter and Prayer Start 00:16:25 - Communication with the Other Side 00:20:05 - Helping a Spirit Greet His Dying Wife 00:24:13 - The Healthcare Continuum 00:28:13 - Healing from Heartbreak and Guilt 00:32:06 - Discipline and Punishment 00:35:52 - Finding Dignity in Teaching and Learning 00:39:36 - Leaving Behind the Catholic Upbringing 00:43:42 - The Meaning of "Catholic" 00:48:02 - The Importance of Paradoxical Perspectives in Truth 00:51:29 - The Truth in the Middle 00:55:48 - A Visit from Jesus in the Afterlife 00:59:50 - Walking with Einstein 01:04:09 - Being in more than one place at the same time 01:07:48 - Symbolic Objects in the Afterlife 01:11:40 - Buddy's Experience and the Ball of Light 01:15:33 - Holding Hands and Childhood Games 01:19:11 - Post-death Experiences 01:22:48 - Afterlife Experiences 01:26:44 - Interaction with Angelic Beings 01:30:47 - Different Kinds of Divine and Angelic Persons 01:34:43 - Angelic Experiences and Guardian Angels 01:38:32 - Jake from State Farm and Angelic Assistance 01:42:00 - Encountering Shadow Figures and Beings of Light 01:46:19 - Assisting Others with Benign Presence 01:50:44 - Joyful Experiences to Counterbalance Dark Memories 01:54:43 - The Lion's Transformation 01:58:33 - Audio Podcast Subscription

Nipun Mehta is the founder of ServiceSpace, a global community at the intersection of technology, volunteerism, and the gift economy. Most recently, ServiceSpace's pandemic response has showcased the unique beauty of its global ecosystem. Nipun has catalyzed a global social movement of community builders grounded in their localities and rooted in practices for cultivating love, nonviolence, selfless service, and compassion. The ecosystem has reached millions, attracted thousands of volunteers, and mushroomed into numerous community-based service projects as well as inspiring content portals. ServiceSpace harnesses the collective power of networks and our deeper interconnectedness to create a distributed social movement founded on small, local individual acts of kindness, generosity, and service that ignite shifts in individual and collective consciousness. Nipun was honored as an "unsung hero of compassion" by the Dalai Lama, not long before former U.S. President Obama appointed him to a council for addressing poverty and inequality in the US. Yet the core of what strikes anyone who meets him is the way his life is an attempt to bring smiles in the world and silence in his heart: "I want to live simply, love purely, and give fearlessly. That's me." In his mid-twenties, Nipun quit his job to become a "full-time volunteer". One of his most formative experiences was a walking pilgrimage across India, with his wife of six months, whose profound lessons also became the subject of his widely-read address at UPenn commencement. Over the last twenty years, he has addressed thousands of gatherings around the world, speaking next to wide-ranging leaders from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to author Elizabeth Gilbert to civil rights legend John Lewis. Germany's OOOM magazine named Nipun one of the Top 100 Most Inspiring People of 2020. See links to these ServiceSpace websites at the bottom of their website. And for some of Nipun's talks and articles, visit his personal website. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded December 4, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Nipun Mehta 00:04:52 - An Unexpected Encounter on a Plane 00:08:37 - Reunion with a Compassionate Monk 00:12:00 - Inklings of Deeper Dimensions in Life 00:16:20 - Meeting and Marriage Journey 00:20:39 - The Meeting with Gauri and the Right Path 00:24:51 - The Impermanence of Life and Leaving a Lasting Impact 00:30:10 - Finding Your Inner Vows and Virtues 00:35:13 - Living with Compassion and Inner Transformation 00:40:10 - The Importance of Self-Reflection and Experimentation 00:44:49 - Being an Instrument of the Divine 00:49:33 - Letting Go of Outcome 00:53:56 - Quality of Motivation and its Impact on Outcome 00:58:23 - The Trap of Spiritual Detours 01:02:44 - Sticking to Your Path and Avoiding Spiritual Traps 01:07:25 - Causation vs. Correlation 01:13:18 - Noble Friendships and Resilience 01:18:11 - Functioning from a State of Oneness 01:22:28 - Laughter as a Tool for Transformation 01:26:56 - All Paths Lead to Deep Absorption 01:31:51 - Acting Without an Agenda 01:36:08 - From Websites to Acts of Service 01:40:47 - The Power of Listening and Offering Food 01:44:43 - Karma Kitchen: A Deeper Form of Transaction 01:48:55 - Reframing Transactions and Trust 01:52:33 - Wealth Inequity and the Future of Society 01:58:01 - The Urgent Question of Inequity and Service 02:03:33 - Building a Bigger Heart in Response to the World 02:07:48 - The Story of the Little Sparrow 02:12:21 - Peace and Compassion 02:17:13 - Signing off and looking forward to future interviews

Colin was born in a staunch protestant family into the war-torn east end of London in the aftermath of WWII, where austerity and food-rationing were the norms. At the age of 11 he was sent to a Methodist boarding school and from there went to Sheffield University. So, by his early twenties finding himself in Earls Court, West London, in the late 60s when the ‘hippie revolution' was in full swing he was fully ready to break out of the narrow confines that had dogged his life up until then. He discovered the power of high dose LSD to break the barrier between the subconscious and conscious allowing decades of religious (and social) conditioning to pour out, leaving him feeling totally cleansed as if his brain had been truly washed! He also experimented with mescalin having read Aldous Huxley’s ‘The Doors of Perception’ and had many experiences which felt deeply spiritual in nature including ‘sitting’ above his body for hours and observing the world (and the body itself) from this vantage point. It was this that gave him glimpses as to what could be achieved by natural means which raised one’s consciousness to a ‘higher level’. He was reading Ouspensky at the time and could see that many of these experiences tallied with those that he described. He was fully convinced that Awakening was the purpose of life, but Ouspensky made the whole process sound so onerous that Colin decided to postpone the attempt and enjoy life while he was young and living in such a vibrant environment. About ten years later his wife Janet persuaded him to accompany her to a yoga class given by an ex-Jesuit priest. who inspired us by quoting passages from the Upanishads, Dhammapada, and other scriptures during the class. He also emphasized the importance of relaxation and meditation. There followed a few years of investigating various spiritual paths including a prolonged dalliance with the Brahma Kumaris (Raja Yoga) whose meditations were wonderful, but whose dogma he found very hard to take. They then moved into the country to start a pottery and immersed themselves in Satyananda Yoga, an organization that had no dogma but taught a wide range of yogic practices. They were both initiated into karma sannyas by Swami Satyananda and adopted a yogic lifestyle consisting of asanas, pranayama, yoga nidra, meditation, kirtan, and vegetarianism. During this time Colin was at a silent retreat when he happened to pick up a volume entitled The Gospel of Ramakrishna which introduced him to this amazing being who practiced many spiritual paths, within Hinduism and also Islam and Christianity, discovering that they all lead to the same result, and was then approached by many devotees from these various paths all of whom he was able to teach in their own path, whilst emphasizing the harmony of religions. After ten years of meditating on Ramakrishna, having been initiated by a nun of that order, he encountered a disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi, Gangaji, who said ‘Stop! Be still, you are already That’. The message being that the effort and search were masking that which is always present; all that was required was to ‘stop’ and see what is always here. After many years of struggle and effort this news came like a breath of fresh air and he glimpsed the essence, that undeniable ever-present reality. This was followed by a seven-day silent retreat, in 1996, which resulted in his first ‘Awakening’, and in an ecstasy that slowly faded over the following year. During this time, he began to be aware of the utter simplicity of the process, especially as it became more established through repeated self-inquiry. The realization that one is the Pure Awareness that underlies the whole of life, and in fact all things, became startlingly obvious; so much so that he became increasingly disillusioned by most spiritual writings which seemed to mystify this whole subject. This created the desire to put the matter in the simplest, most straightforward, way so that anyone could understand it … and through repeated inquiry (or investigation) ‘get it’. At the time he was writing the occasional article for his email group and it was the collection of these plus a few new ones that became his first book ‘Beyond the Separate Self’. He also completed an honours double-major degree in Comparative Religion and Philosophy and his honours thesis, which considered self-identity in the world’s major religions became the basis of his second book ‘Humanity – Our Place in The Universe’. Since then, answers to questions, interpretations of spiritual writings from all traditions, and new insights gained during meditation/contemplation have been compiled and published in another fourteen books. All of these are ‘stand-alone guides’ to Awakening as they all rely on the same ‘investigation into this moment of direct experience’ which is included in them all and is explained in full in each introduction. They have all also been converted into books of poems, one per chapter. For the full lis

Philip Goldberg has been studying the world’s spiritual traditions for more than 50 years, as a practitioner, teacher, and author. He trained as a Transcendental Meditation teacher with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1970 and later became an ordained Interfaith Minister and spiritual counselor. As a public speaker and workshop leader, he has lectured and taught at major venues throughout the U.S. and India. As a professional writer, his articles and blogs have appeared in numerous print and online publications, and he has authored or co-authored more than 25 books, including an upcoming novel and such celebrated nonfiction as: The Intuitive Edge: Understanding Intuition and Applying it in Everyday Life; Roadsigns: On the Spiritual Path--Living at the Heart of Paradox; the award-winning American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation How Indian Spirituality Changed the West; the seminal biography The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru; and his latest book, the timely Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times: Powerful Tools to Cultivate Calm, Clarity, and Courage. He has produced e-courses for Spirituality & Practice and has taught many online courses, most recently, The Yoga of Intuition and Creativity, Four Pathways to the Divine, How Hindu Dharma Transformed the West, and the forthcoming An Immersive Exploration of the Iconic “Autobiography of a Yogi.” His special 12-part series, Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times, for Unity Online Radio, features interviews with well-known spiritual teachers. He is currently working on two nonfiction books and a sequel to his novel. In addition, he blogs regularly on Elephant Journal and Spirituality & Health, cohosts the popular Spirit Matters podcast and YouTube channel and leads American Veda Tours to India. He serves on the board of the Association for Spiritual Integrity. His website is PhilipGoldberg.com. Interview recorded November 21, 2021. First BatGap interview with Phil. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:51 - Reminiscing with Uncle Phil 00:05:11 - Introduction to Philip Goldberg and his work 00:07:49 - Yogananda's Biography and Autobiography 00:11:24 - Filling the Gaps in Yogananda's Story 00:15:17 - The Rise of Yogananda and Amma 00:19:08 - Mission-Driven Yogis and the Challenges They Faced 00:23:07 - Returning to India: The Journey of a Monk 00:27:37 - Arguments about Yogananda's Alleged Affairs 00:31:05 - The Human Story of Yogananda 00:33:46 - The Indomitable Will of Yogananda 00:37:58 - Yogananda's Spiritual Pursuit and Visions 00:41:58 - Miracles and Wonders in Autobiography of a Yogi 00:46:49 - The Purpose of Miracles and Wonders 00:51:01 - Troubled by Lack of Recognition 00:56:03 - Balancing Consciousness and Action 01:00:35 - The Importance of Service in Spiritual Practice 01:03:28 - Acts of Service in Spiritual Practice 01:07:18 - The Service of Gurus and Spirituality 01:11:19 - The Last Night of the Guru 01:15:28 - Yoga, Cultural Appropriation, and Perennial Philosophy 01:18:58 - Universal Spiritual Experiences 01:24:59 - Transformative Experiences and Global Implications 01:30:00 - The Challenges of Society and the Potential of Consciousness 01:37:09 - Broadening Your Perspective in Spirituality 01:42:22 - The Pragmatic Approach to Spirituality 01:46:47 - Temptations and Fine-tuning the Path 01:51:27 - The Importance of Discernment and Viveka 01:54:42 - Yogananda and Dream Experiences 01:56:53 - The Association for Spiritual Integrity

Babaji Bob Kindler is the Spiritual Director of the Sarada Ramakrishna Vivekananda (SRV) Associations since 1993 with teaching centers on the Big Island of Hawaii and Portland, Oregon, USA. Babaji teaches Vedanta, Yoga, Sankhya, and other philosophical systems of Truth with an emphasis on learning to live a divine life and the attainment of direct spiritual experience. He holds a twin spiritual heritage via initiation into the Ramakrishna lineage (Vedanta) and Kagyu Tibetan Buddhism. Editor of Nectar of Non-Dual Truth, A Journal of Universal Religious and Philosophical Teachings, he is also the author of over a dozen books on spiritual topics, including Dissolving the Mindstream A Quintessential Yoga Vasishtha Twenty-Four Aspects of Mother Kali Footfalls of the Indian Rishis: Charting the Timeless Wisdom of Mother India Babaji’s spiritual discourses can be found on YouTube, Livestream, and on the official SRV Associations website. Online and residential retreats are listed here. Email subscription and site index. “Our path is mainly a blend of Advaita and Shaktism, with our devotion to Sri Ramakrishna making it Universal, and inclusive of all religions.” Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded November 13, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Babaji Bob Kindler 00:04:43 - Babaji's Spiritual Discourses on YouTube 00:09:17 - Devotion to Shakti in Tantra and Kashmir Shaivism 00:14:03 - The Function of Maya 00:18:42 - Awakening from the Dream 00:22:42 - The Dangers of Jumping to Spiritual Enlightenment 00:26:54 - The Bliss of Meditation 00:30:55 - The State of Advaita Non-Duality 00:35:15 - The Field of All Possibilities 00:39:24 - Reincarnation and the Doctrine of Karma 00:43:24 - Remembering Atman and Buddha Nature 00:47:32 - Duality and Transcendence in Humanity 00:51:37 - The Value of Studying Secular Subjects 00:55:34 - Nonviolence and Money-making 00:59:40 - Kingdoms of Heaven and the Mind 01:03:49 - The Gods Within Us 01:07:56 - Different Levels of Consciousness and the Non-Dual Path 01:11:51 - Direct Path to Enlightenment 01:16:10 - The Forgetfulness of Ignorance and the Cyclic Nature of Time 01:20:09 - The Illusion of Change 01:24:09 - The Nature of Enlightenment 01:28:10 - Following Your Own Calling 01:31:52 - Realizing the Atman, the wasted life, and the refinement of the mind 01:35:35 - The Guru-Disciple Relationship 01:39:48 - The Qualification and Criterion for Sacred Sound 01:43:52 - The Universality of Religions and Swami Vivekananda 01:48:24 - Realizing the Inner Being and Inter-Religious Gatherings 01:52:23 - Deluding Pairs of Opposites and Rising Above 01:57:15 - Dharma and Morality 02:01:16 - Exploring the Cell of Knowledge 02:05:13 - Wrapping Up and Upcoming Interviews

Rhonda Byrne is the creator of The Secret, a documentary film that swept the world in 2006, changing millions of lives and igniting a global movement. Her follow-up book, also entitled The Secret, became a worldwide bestseller, translated into more than 50 languages. Rhonda has since released another five bestselling books covering such topics as the power of love, gratitude, the law of attraction, and the hero’s journey to success. Her latest and most important book to date, The Greatest Secret, is a quantum leap that takes the reader beyond the material and helps them discover who they truly are. Rhonda also served as a producer on the inspirational 2020 family movie, The Secret: Dare to Dream, based on her book The Secret. The film stars Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas, and Jerry O’Connell. For more information on Rhonda and her work, visit thesecret.tv. Rhonda holds live Q&As from time to time on Facebook and Instagram. Past ones are archived here. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded November 6, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:03 - The Power of Dreams and Discovering Purpose 00:08:24 - The Difficult Year and Opening the Mind 00:12:34 - The Journey of Making "The Secret" and Going Against the Norm 00:16:44 - Breaking the Limits of the Mind 00:20:08 - The End of the Search and the Awakening 00:24:20 - The Search Comes to an End 00:28:43 - The Adventure Continues 00:33:09 - Different Perspectives on the Path 00:37:07 - Encouraging seekers to go to the third level 00:41:02 - The Perceptiveness of a Teacher 00:44:48 - The Refinement of Consciousness 00:49:14 - The Fallibility of Investing in a Teacher 00:53:57 - The Teacher and The Wonder 00:57:57 - The Great Resignation and Questioning Society 01:02:11 - Using the Law of Attraction After Awakening 01:07:06 - Manifestation and the Power of Desires 01:11:00 - The Mechanics of Divine Timing 01:15:27 - Becoming a Hollow Bamboo 01:20:23 - The Power of a Settled Mind 01:24:30 - Discovering the Presence Within 01:29:11 - The Main Problem: Dog Pee 01:34:02 - The Power of Meditation and Mindfulness 01:38:28 - Letting Go and the Power of Non-Resistance 01:42:47 - Overcoming Mind Thoughts 01:46:59 - The Attachment to Desire 01:51:11 - The Fleeting Nature of Happiness 01:55:12 - Happiness as the Ultimate Purpose 01:58:58 - The Impact of Teachers on the Journey 02:03:17 - Global Enlightenment through Communication 02:06:52 - Thank you for having me

Connie Zweig, Ph.D., is a retired therapist, co-author of Meeting the Shadow: The Hidden Power of the Dark Side of Human Nature and Romancing the Shadow: A Guide to Soul Work for a Vital, Authentic Life, author of Meeting the Shadow of Spirituality, and a novel, A Moth to the Flame: The Story of the Great Sufi Poet Rumi. Her new book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul, extends shadow-work into late life and teaches aging as a spiritual practice. Connie has been doing contemplative practices for 50 years. She is a wife and grandmother and was initiated as an Elder by Sage-ing International in 2017. After investing in all these roles, she is practicing the shift from role to soul. Website: conniezweig.com Email: [email protected] Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded October 22, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:59 - The Different Stages of My Life 00:07:38 - The Already Enlightened Governors of the Age of Enlightenment 00:10:58 - The Urgency of Enlightenment 00:14:30 - Understanding Enlightenment and Charismatic Teachers 00:17:46 - Spiritual Development at Every Stage of Life 00:21:21 - Transition in Identity 00:25:10 - Late Life Identity Crisis 00:29:38 - The Challenge of Finding Time for Everything 00:33:07 - The Unconscious and the Shadow in Conscious Aging Movement 00:37:25 - Witnessing and Shadow Work 00:40:54 - The Contents of Consciousness Spilled Out 00:44:35 - The Importance of Awareness and Mortality 00:48:43 - Ageism and Shifting Identity 00:52:50 - The Inner Work of Aging 00:56:42 - Unfinished Spiritual Business 01:00:44 - Unfinished Business in the Spiritual Journey 01:05:12 - Finding Guidance in Inner Work 01:08:56 - The Shift from Hero to Elder 01:13:06 - Finding Refuge in Spiritual Practice 01:16:49 - Completing the Ego Story 01:21:17 - The Orientation Towards Life and Death 01:24:32 - The Importance of Discernment on the Spiritual Path 01:28:24 - Cultivating Self-awareness for Contribution to the Common Good 01:32:25 - Improving the Level of Consciousness 01:36:13 - Preventing Mental Decline and Memory Loss 01:40:03 - Astonishing Moments in Deathbed Experiences 01:44:03 - Awakening Practices and Life Completion 01:47:32 - Expanding the Frame of Reference 01:51:05 - The Soul's Longing for Transcendence 01:54:36 - Farewell to Rick Archer

Stephen Wright works as a spiritual director and trustee for the Sacred Space Foundation (SSF). Before this, he had a long and distinguished nursing career in the National Health Service and academia, the Royal College of Nursing, and as a consultant to the WHO. He gathered a few glittering prizes along the way. Then his personal and professional life took an about-turn over 35 years ago through a series of life-changing spiritual experiences. Consequently, he developed an interest in spiritual matters and the connection with wellbeing, and cofounded the SSF, to support those in spiritual crisis. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Cumbria in 2013 for his work connecting spirituality and health. Three books explore the nature of healing relationships: Therapeutic Touch: Theory and Practice; Sacred Space: Right Relationship and Spirituality in Healthcare; and Reflections on Spirituality and Health. Coming Home: Notes for the Journey is a personal and scholarly account of spiritual awakening and support. A new documentary from the Sacred Space Foundation: Fugue for a Spiritual Life Stephen has received significant development in spirituality and spiritual direction in the presence of several renowned spiritual teachers, most especially his mentor Ram Dass, at the Interfaith Seminary, and in the depth of his relationship with his fellow trustee and SSF cofounder Jean Sayre-Adams. He works with individuals seeking spiritual guidance and organizations developing the practice of healing, spiritual care, conflict resolution, staff support, compassion, and leadership. He is a supporter of and an activist in several environmental movements. As an ordained interfaith minister, he brings a rich experience of spiritual practice from many faiths to his work, as well as being a member of the Iona Community. He is a trustee of TheWEL, a charity based in Scotland offering groundbreaking approaches to wellbeing. With the support of the Diocese of Carlisle (in 2021 he was made a member of the Synod), Stephen established the St. Kentigern School for Contemplatives in 2018. His other recently published works include Burnout: a spiritual crisis: from stress to transformation; Contemplation: words and silence for the Way Home; The Kentigern Way: A life and Lakeland pilgrimage; A Grasmere pilgrimage; Heartfullness: The Way of Contemplation: 12 steps to freedom, awakening and the Beloved completes a quartet of related books on spiritual awakening and is a deep, experiential ‘course’ in liberation from addiction to the ego-self, opening to the way of contemplation, and becoming receptive to the Beloved and a path of service. He lives with his partner in the English Lake District, deepening service and spiritual practice, participating in his local church community, taking care of his organic garden, and enjoying grandfatherhood. Summary Transcript of this interview. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded October 16, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and State of the Industry Update 00:04:25 - Reflections on receiving an honor 00:08:12 - Spiritual Crisis and Burnout 00:11:49 - A Spiritual Shift in Society 00:15:32 - The Pandemic as a Forced Spiritual Retreat 00:19:21 - Discovering the Inner Dimension 00:27:39 - Immunocompromised by Fear 00:31:58 - The Contemplative Way and Healing the World 00:35:12 - Finding your Path of Service in the World 00:39:01 - The Opening of the Heart 00:42:48 - Tapping into the Ground of Being 00:46:25 - Connecting and Integrating Levels of Reality 00:49:28 - Awakening and Service in the World 00:52:57 - Life-changing Spiritual Experiences 00:56:30 - Profound Personal Presence 01:00:08 - Shifting through Mental Blockages 01:03:55 - Creating a Mystical Experience 01:07:54 - The Shift in Perspective and Permanent Change 01:11:47 - Meeting Ram Dass 01:15:19 - The Blessings of a Spiritual Teacher 01:19:21 - Finding Acceptance in a Religious Tradition 01:22:41 - Living in Constant Uncertainty 01:26:23 - The Corrupted Nature of Religious and Atheist Traditions 01:30:45 - Awakening to Something Greater 01:34:31 - The Shift in Consciousness 01:38:09 - Finding Your Way Home in the English Countryside 01:41:33 - Retreat Houses and Volunteer Finances 01:44:42 - The Pandemic of Awakening 01:48:18 - Participating in the Awakening 01:51:49 - Music Intro

Lucy was raised in a low socioeconomic household and neighborhood, by a young single mother in New Zealand in the early 1980s. The lack of resources available in childhood resulted in a shrinking of her outer world to what she thought of – years later - as a kind of welfare-child ashram. Within the home, and outside of it, there were few distractions or ability to go anywhere else, and significant trauma – all forcing her to go within to what she thought of as “the deep stillness and light inside” to rest, find nourishment, solace, and strength. At 19 she experienced her first shift, seeing through the personality, and subtle perceptions revealing themselves. She never thought much of it, there had already been so much light inside, and she was so thrilled to be in the world finally so she simply went on with living. Lucy spent 15 years in Europe and New Zealand working for international humanitarian aid agencies. On return to NZ at age 31, she suddenly became extremely ill. For six months, she was mostly bedridden. Doctors, both natural and traditional, could not find the source of the illness. Over the next few years, she had to work to earn an income but there was no strength for much else. The pain in her body was ever-present, and the fear of not knowing if this was her life forever now, was sometimes crippling. She was forced to exist in a kind of in-between world again - of much aloneness and silence, aside from work. After a few years of significant illness, she recovered strength enough to live a semi-normal life. But any time she tried to do too much, she was knocked back into illness. By 35 she was in a leadership role at a non-profit, married, with a baby on the way, just surviving day-to-day with the pressure on her physical body. On becoming a mother, she was plunged into a level of blackness that was completely shocking and previously unknown. For more than two years she descended into complete separation and couldn’t hear the guidance that had always accompanied her in her life. For the first time ever she couldn’t feel God. In 2018, after more than two years of immense struggle, an unexplainable and absolute surrender took place within, in a moment, as her two-year-old cried and reached for her. Within two months she had left the career she loved to rest in what she thought of as silence. For around a year and a half, she couldn't do much else. Lucy had never been exposed to spirituality, nor did she know anything about its concepts or traditions. She thought meditation was for “those hippy people.” Because there had been no conscious spiritual search, she had no context for what was happening. Often it was so beautiful and joyful – she didn’t need to know. There was an innate sense of trust and recognition that went beyond what needed to be seen or understood with the mind. When the need to understand did arise - some online searches helped a little, but often it all felt overwhelming, and she preferred sitting in silence to hear from within. Guidance and teaching were always present and given through hearing and images. Despite this, when particularly strange things would occur the need for the mind to understand would return. One night in 2019, before sleep, in heartfelt prayer she asked for help to cut through all the online noise and finally really grasp what was going on. There was a felt sense of need for community. As she was awakening in the morning, she heard the words “Buddha at the Gas Pump”. Lucy says, "I was stumped. I had no idea what that meant, but Googled it and found BatGap. As a result, my life has changed. Over the years BatGap has supported me deeply in the process – nurturing trust and allowing everything to unfold as it wants to." From then until now, Lucy has been called over and over into deeper surrender. She has had further shifts and many clearings. Her career of 15 years, husband/partner of 16 years, many friends, and her home – all things she loved dearly - have fallen away. She has never had a teacher and has read very little. She makes no claim to know anything. It seems to her that there is nothing to know, or that can be known. There is no one way and no right way. There is only your way, to be honoured and cherished and fallen into more and more deeply in every breath. Book: This Untameable Light Website Bi-Weekly Online Sangha Facebook page Email address Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded October 9, 2021. Second interview with Lucy YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:28 - Childhood Darkness and Inner Light 00:10:39 - Childhood Connection with God 00:15:32 - Feeling a Presence and Being Guided in Life 00:20:35 - The Big Awakening of 2018 00:25:21 - A Shift in Perspective and Seeing Spirits 00:31:00 - Conversations with Spiritual Beings and Divine Guidance 00:35:49 - Making Tough Career Choices 00:40:26 - Trauma and Hea

Thom Krystofiak holds a B.A. from Harvard (magna cum laude) and an M.A. from Cambridge University, where he was a Knox Fellow. A trained teacher of Transcendental Meditation, he joined an intentional community in Fairfield, Iowa in 1983, where he and his wife continue to live. There he encountered a cornucopia of spiritual seekers. A rigorous and thoroughgoing skeptic surrounded by ready believers, he has developed unique perspectives on the eternal yet ever-new contest of doubt versus belief. Website: krystofiak.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded October 2, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introducing Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:49 - Extraordinary Beliefs and Skepticism 00:09:04 - Nurturing Skepticism and Exploring Extraordinary Beliefs 00:13:31 - Dangerous Beliefs and their Implications 00:17:42 - Strange Beliefs and the Link to Spirituality 00:21:57 - The Spectrum of Belief 00:26:25 - Perceiving the Unseen 00:30:36 - The Complementarity of Science and Spirituality 00:35:00 - Spiritual Experiences and Remarkable Coincidences 00:38:57 - Exploring Extraordinary Beliefs 00:43:39 - Encouragement of the Irrational 00:47:56 - The Allure of Hidden Knowledge 00:51:58 - The Manipulation of Beliefs by Powerful Industries 00:56:20 - Bucking science and climate denial 01:00:02 - Einstein's View on God 01:03:53 - The Nature of Consciousness and Embodied State 01:08:30 - Recognizing the Essential Nature 01:13:13 - The Profoundness of Self-Realization 01:17:14 - The Nature of Consciousness 01:21:16 - The Value of Skepticism and Certainty 01:25:32 - Anecdotes of Out-of-Body Experiences during Surgery 01:29:26 - Unexplained Phenomena at Dinner 01:33:12 - The Connection between Fascination with the Paranormal and Social Issues 01:37:26 - The Seductive Power of Claims About Truth 01:41:22 - Peer-Reviewed Science vs. Scientist Claims 01:45:16 - The Importance of Scientific Consensus 01:49:42 - The Consensus of Spiritual Experiences 01:54:04 - The Motivation and Benefits of Spiritual Practices 01:58:03 - The Cognition of Deeper Mechanics of Nature 02:01:48 - Yogic Flying and Levitation 02:05:53 - The Positive Reception of the Book

Lynne Twist is the founder of the Soul of Money Institute and author of the best-selling, award-winning books: "The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life”, and Living a Committed Life: Finding Freedom and Fulfillment in a Purpose Larger Than Yourself Over the past 40 years, Lynne has worked with over 100,000 people in 50 countries in the arenas of fundraising with integrity, conscious philanthropy, strategic visioning, and having a healthy relationship with money. Her clients include Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble, the International Unity Church, Charles Schwab, United Way, The National Black Theater of Harlem, Harvard University, and others. A sought-after speaker, she has presented for the United Nations Beijing Women’s Conference, State of the World Forum, Synthesis Dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the Governor’s Conference on California Women, among others. A recognized global visionary, Ms. Twist has been an advisor to the Desmond Tutu Foundation, and The Nobel Women’s Initiative. Lynne is the recipient of numerous prestigious honors, including the "Woman of Distinction" award from the United Nations. Lynne is a co-founder of The Pachamama Alliance — a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest to preserve their lands and culture. In addition, Lynne serves on a number of nonprofit boards including the Fetzer Institute, The Institute of Noetic Sciences, Bioneers, Conscious Capitalism, and Women’s Earth Alliance. From working with Mother Teresa in Calcutta to the refugee camps in Ethiopia and the threatened rainforests of the Amazon, Lynne’s on-the-ground work has brought her a deep understanding of the social tapestry of the world and the historical landscape of the times we are living in. Websites: soulofmoney.org pachamama.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded September 28, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:25 - Being an Instrument of Something Larger than Yourself 00:06:29 - Listening to the Power of the Amazon 00:09:38 - Journey with the Mayan Shaman 00:13:19 - Faces in the Forest 00:16:28 - A Mysterious Encounter in Ecuador 00:19:28 - The Mysterious Faces in the Rainforest 00:22:28 - Connection and Communication 00:25:18 - The Prophecy of the Eagle and Condor People 00:28:14 - The Pandemic as an Announcement 00:31:29 - The Caterpillar's Transformation 00:34:43 - Transforming the Brown Caterpillar into an Exquisite Butterfly 00:37:37 - The Prophecy of the Bird of Humanity 00:40:50 - Rise of the Feminine Values 00:44:20 - A Kinder Gentler World 00:47:44 - Humanity's Threshold 00:50:27 - The Paradigm of Enough 00:53:36 - The Source of The Hunger Project 00:56:27 - Transformation in Business and Society 00:59:44 - Paying Attention to Progress 01:02:50 - Taking Action in Your Community 01:05:48 - The Scarcity Mindset and Inequality 01:08:53 - Shifting the Mindset and Building Caring Communities 01:11:45 - The Two Branches of Gratitude 01:14:54 - Turning Attention to What You Have 01:17:58 - Finding Fulfillment and Overcoming Scarcity 01:21:05 - Amending the Constitution 01:24:04 - Miracles and Progress in Our Lifetime 01:26:50 - Connecting with the Spirit World 01:30:10 - Mountains, Sun, Earth, and Everything: The Interconnectedness of Life 01:33:04 - Enriching Conversations with Lynne Twist

Nancy Rynes is an inspirational speaker, artist, and author of "Awakenings from the Light: 12 Life Lessons from a Near Death Experience", "Messages from Heaven", and "Walking in the Light: A Daily Guidebook for Enhancing Peace, Love, and Connection", books detailing the lessons she learned from two near-death experiences (NDEs). She is a spiritual explorer, making the path to a peace-filled life clearer for seekers all over the world. Nancy is also a leading voice for bringing eternal, spiritual wisdom into our lives on Earth, developing our heart-centered intuition, and living a life of inspired creativity. Known for her fun, lighthearted, girl-next-door demeanor, Nancy loves teaching others how to live a more purposeful, joyful, creative, and spiritually-inspired life. For more information on Nancy and her current classes, workshops, and events, see NancyRynes.com. Her artwork is available at: NancyRynesStudio.com. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded September 18, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to "Awakenings from the Light" with Nancy Rynes 00:03:59 - Transition from Atheism to Open-Mindedness in Science 00:08:08 - The Quantum Effects on the Macro Scale 00:13:16 - Consciousness is Fundamental and Non-Duality 00:18:19 - In the Path of an Oncoming Vehicle 00:22:20 - The Accident and Out-of-Body Experience 00:27:36 - Consciousness outside of the body 00:32:18 - A Brush with Death 00:36:52 - A Beautiful Meadow in the Mountains 00:40:47 - Meeting my Spiritual Guide 00:45:14 - Spiritual Growth Through Hard Knocks 00:51:11 - The Impact of Words and Actions 00:56:35 - The Spiritual Echo of Words and Actions 01:01:29 - Embracing Self-Love and Love for the Earth 01:05:13 - Individual Lessons Learned 01:08:37 - Communication with the Other Side 01:12:08 - Remembering Under Anesthesia 01:16:24 - The Intersection of Science and Spirituality 01:20:25 - Trusting Your Intuition 01:23:55 - A Connection with the Past 01:27:28 - A Supernatural Encounter 01:30:44 - The Sound of Interconnectedness 01:33:58 - The Unearthly Beauty of Music 01:37:34 - Seeing the Energy in Nature 01:43:07 - Feeling Disconnected and Finding Connection with Spirits 01:47:35 - A Spooky Encounter 01:51:12 - Memories of Other Lives 01:55:09 - Gratitude, Love, and Appreciation 01:59:25 - Letting Go of Negativity and Moving On 02:03:23 - A Positive Change 02:05:48 - Indigenous Tribes and Environmental Preservation

Jeff Vander Clute is a spiritual coach and mentor, and an adviser to love-based businesses and organizations. He is committed to realizing a healed and transformed world through nondual awakening to and as the source of life. Guided by deep listening and a sensitivity to Truth, Jeff helps people to navigate the complexity of these times and discover awakened pathways and possibilities. Every conversation unfolds in a field of loving presence that accelerates spiritual development and the flowering of one’s gifts – in service and in joy. Those who are drawn to this work are committed to peace, unity, and enlightenment, and to sharing their gifts as an act of devotion. Clients include: Professionals bringing spiritual insights into their work Visionaries and change agents Leaders in social transformation and humanitarian aid Artists and authors Executives transforming their businesses and industries Technologists addressing the challenges of humanity Healers of the body, mind, and soul Jeff co-founded Enlightening Journeys and Expeditions and Sourcing The Way, and he is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders, the Global Compassion Council of Charter for Compassion International, and the Association for Spiritual Integrity. He serves on the board of directors for Alliance for the Earth and Garden of Light, and was previously the board chair of the Source of Synergy Foundation. Jeff graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Mathematics from Williams College in 1995. Subsequently, he went on to help build or co-found a number of ventures, including a top-10 Internet service, a pioneering social media company, a consulting enterprise that serves awakened and awakening businesses, and several companies that are working to regenerate nature and uplift communities. Website: jeffvanderclute.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded September 12, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:27 - Flowing in Conscious Movement 00:10:04 - Living in Accord with the Yes and No 00:14:51 - Trusting and Following Wisdom in India 00:19:45 - The Lamp at the Door and Bi-Directional Illumination 00:24:39 - Experiencing the Multilevel Journey 00:30:06 - The Healing Power of Meditation 00:35:00 - Grounding in Soul Energy Systems 00:39:33 - The Power of Collective Consciousness 00:44:27 - Thriving on Restoring and Regenerating Nature 00:49:10 - The Wisdom of Crowds and Collective Conversation 00:53:42 - Transitioning to an Enlightened Society 00:58:44 - Coherence in Physics and Biology 01:03:35 - The Will to Use Technology: A Collective Effort 01:08:32 - The Neo-Advaita Phase 01:13:09 - The Shift from Intellect to Intuition 01:17:47 - Embracing the Whole: Integrating Primitive and Enlightened Civilizations 01:22:47 - Exploring Subjectivity and Consciousness 01:27:39 - A Hybrid of Subjective and Objective Experiences 01:32:29 - Perceiving Other Civilizations 01:37:06 - Exploring Consciousness and Other Beings 01:41:52 - Exploring the Territory by Owning the Fort 01:46:30 - Expanding Perceptual Abilities 01:51:22 - The Presence of God in Everything 01:56:22 - The Infinity and Complexity of the Universe 02:01:12 - Exploring Scientific and Spiritual Paradigms 02:05:51 - Living as if the End is Near 02:10:53 - Spiritual Integrity and Collective Evolution 02:15:30 - Becoming a Spiritually Awakened Collective 02:20:01 - Homecoming: A Seven-week Adventure of Awakening

Clay Lomakayu Miller lives in Cottonwood, Arizona, just outside of Sedona, where he has been serving clients from all over the world to assist them in living at the center of the circle of who they are. Medicine of One is the outcome of this service. It is a nondual shamanic path that has formed from his work with clients for 25 years and his time in the Ancient sacred land of the Southwest. He uses a unique form of healing called Soul Dreaming to help free people from the stories from their past so they may gift the world their true presence. He is also the creator of Primordial Movements for trauma and emotional integration. He considers his primary service as the sharing of Medicine of One. At his side are his Wolf-Dog Helpers assisting people with their presence and love. Medicine of One is summed up in the One Noble truth, which is to live at the center where, from true being, comes our true doing. The first action is the True Action of self Love. Website: medicineofone.com YouTube channel Email address: [email protected] Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded September 4, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:26 - Connection and Mistakes in the Creative Process 00:06:35 - Living at the Center of the Circle 00:10:00 - The Medicine of One and the Circle 00:13:09 - The Power of Vibrations and Soul Dreaming 00:16:22 - Empowering Personal Growth through Emotional Release 00:19:43 - The Warrior's Disconnect from Emotion and Powerlessness 00:23:09 - The Transformation Process 00:26:30 - The Power of Hand Mudras in Expressive Dance 00:29:44 - The Role of Dogs in my Life 00:33:05 - The Connection Between Dogs and Consciousness 00:36:26 - Bartending in San Francisco and New York 00:39:47 - The Aftermath of the Car Accident 00:42:52 - Channeling Talent and Creativity 00:46:26 - Nisargadatta's Unique Style of Teaching 00:49:56 - Creating Sacred Power Spots 00:52:58 - The Healing Power of Objects 00:56:07 - Releasing Shame and Rage through Vibrational Healing 00:59:30 - Resistance to Engagement 01:02:22 - Softness towards oneself in camping trips and emotions 01:05:54 - Numbing out and avoiding discomfort 01:09:32 - Finding Worth and Value 01:13:06 - Helping Women Find Their Worth and Purpose 01:16:23 - Embodying the Spine of Your Life 01:19:45 - Flowing Without Resistance 01:23:02 - Reading the Stream and Staying in Balance 01:25:51 - The Stability of the Colorado Plateau 01:28:56 - Finding Inner Peace and Balance 01:32:36 - Bringing in the Vibration 01:35:47 - The Journey to Self-Love 01:38:39 - Conclusion and Farewell

When Christian Sundberg was a young child, he remembered his existence before coming to Earth. While that memory left him completely for his early adult life, it spontaneously returned at the age of 30 as Christian took up a meditation practice and went through a personal awakening journey. He also began to have Out of Body Experiences (OBEs). Christian has worked for over 15 years as a professional project manager for complex nuclear pump and valve manufacturing projects. Christian has also presented at over 80 public speaking events, as he now seeks to remind others in at least a small part of who we all really are beneath the human “play". Book: A Walk in the Physical: Understanding the Human Experience Within the Larger Spiritual Context A Walk in the Physical (Free online version) Website: awalkinthephysical.com Email Christian at: [email protected] Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded August 28, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:56 - Transcending Physical Reality 00:09:03 - The Challenge of Expressing Subtle Experiences 00:13:12 - A Deep Healing Experience 00:17:27 - Meeting a Highly Evolved Being and Past Lives 00:21:41 - Integrating Fear for Expansion 00:25:58 - The Fear of Being Unable to Escape Pain 00:30:28 - The Evolutionary Purpose of Challenges 00:34:57 - The Plunge into Physical Existence 00:39:21 - The Flowchart of Life Possibilities 00:43:30 - A Holy Moment of Connectedness 00:47:23 - Remembering Our True Existence 00:51:38 - The Experience of Different Realities 00:55:40 - Perspectives on Reincarnation in Different Traditions 00:59:42 - Experiential Learning and the Purpose of Veiling 01:04:03 - The Purpose of Every Experience 01:08:44 - The Play is Not Scripted 01:12:59 - Organizing and Collaborating on the Other Side 01:16:52 - The Evolving Soul and the Imperfect Government 01:21:23 - Evolution and the Manifestation of Love and Joy 01:25:54 - The Curiosity of Creation 01:30:16 - Unbounded Awareness and Unique Experiences 01:34:21 - Investigating Consciousness with Meditation 01:38:45 - Living in a Dense Dimension: An Opportunity for Evolution 01:43:22 - Unconditional Love and Personal Responsibility 01:48:06 - The Thickness of the Veil 01:52:39 - Letting go of the story and rising up to the surface 01:56:57 - Connecting with Inner Reality 02:01:10 - Effect on Closest Relationships 02:05:26 - The Importance of Making Distance 02:09:23 - One-on-One Consultations and Webinars

Eva Natanya is Co-Founder and Resident Teacher at the Center for Contemplative Research at Miyo Samten Ling. A scholar of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, Christian theology, and comparative religion, Dr. Natanya has served in many capacities as a spiritual teacher, academic lecturer, translator, and editor of Tibetan texts, writer, and retreat leader. Following a nine-year career as a professional ballet dancer with both the New York City Ballet and the Royal Ballet of England, she earned an MA in Christian Systematic Theology at the Graduate Theological Union and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia. Her dissertation examined the complex interactions of Madhyamaka, Yogācāra, and Abhidharma teachings as they underlie the Vajrayāna philosophy of Je Tsongkhapa. She has worked closely with Dr. B. Alan Wallace on his translations for several books, including Open Mind: View and Meditation in the Lineage of Lerab Lingpa and Fathoming the Mind: Inquiry and Insight in Dudjom Lingpa's Vajra Essence, and has co-taught meditation retreats with Dr. Wallace around the world. In a Christian context, she co-authored Living Resurrected Lives: What It Means and Why It Matters with Veronica Mary Rolf. She has spent more than three years in solitary meditation retreat, and remains in residence at Miyo Samten Ling in Crestone, Colorado, guiding fellow retreatants in the details of contemplative training. Her website is: evanatanya.com. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded August 21, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:22 - Mystical Longing and Spiritual Quest 00:09:59 - The Discipline and Demands of Rehearsal and Performance 00:14:11 - Transition to Deep Education and Meditation 00:18:22 - Preparation for Solitary Retreat 00:23:26 - Challenges of Long-term Retreat Practice 00:27:50 - The connection between mind and pr??ic system 00:32:00 - Sensations of Pr??a and the Inner Body 00:36:14 - The Dangers of Kundalini and Inner-body Practices 00:40:35 - The Proper Meditation Posture and Settling the Mind 00:45:25 - The Process of Settling the Mind 00:49:54 - Integrating Meditation with Daily Life 00:54:20 - The Depths of Loving-Kindness 00:58:30 - Meditation and the Transformation of Worldview 01:02:51 - The Notion of a Person as a Temporary Conglomerate 01:08:02 - The karmic cause of suffering and purification possibilities 01:12:21 - Reincarnation and Hypotheses of Past Lives 01:16:16 - Dream Lives and Illusion of Self 01:20:56 - Pratityasamutpada and the Two Realities 01:25:34 - The Illusory Nature of Things 01:29:51 - The Trinity in Christian Theology and Buddhism 01:35:06 - The Divine Light and Celestial Perception 01:39:40 - The Manifestation of Divinity in Every Little Thing 01:44:55 - The True Nature and Buddha Nature 01:50:25 - The transcendence of death in different cultures 01:55:27 - The Vastness of Awareness in Buddhism 01:59:28 - Finding a Path and Authentic Teachers 02:04:15 - Authenticity and Discernment in Choosing a Teacher 02:08:53 - Unconventional Behavior in the Name of Crazy Wisdom 02:13:19 - The Concept of Enlightenment 02:17:51 - Taking a Step towards Enlightenment

Peter Russell is a leading thinker on consciousness and contemporary spirituality. He coined the term "global brain" with his 1980s bestseller of the same name in which he predicted the Internet and the impact it would have on humanity. His new book, Letting Go of Nothing: Relax Your Mind and Discover the Wonder of Your True Nature, is published this August. He is the author of ten other books, including Waking Up in Time: Finding Inner Peace in Times of Accelerating Change and From Science to God: A Physicist’s Journey into the Mystery of Consciousness. He studied theoretical physics, experimental psychology, and computer science at the University of Cambridge, and pioneered the introduction of personal growth programs to corporations, running courses for senior management on creativity, stress management, and sustainable development. His mission is to distill the essential wisdom on human consciousness found in the world’s various spiritual traditions and to disseminate their teachings on self-liberation in contemporary and compelling ways. Peter's website: peterrussell.com Peter's YouTube channel Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. First BatGap interview with Peter. Interview recorded August 14, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:22 - Exploring Intelligent Design and Nature's Orchestration 00:07:34 - The Release of Letting Go 00:11:19 - Letting Go of Attachments through Body Awareness 00:16:56 - The Fundamental Motivation 00:21:56 - The Search for Inner Peace 00:26:06 - The Natural Mind 00:31:36 - Falling and Finding Contentment 00:41:50 - Distractions and Inner Quietness 00:47:37 - The Limitations of Books on the Spiritual Path 00:51:40 - Starting with Simple Meditation Techniques 00:55:08 - The Effects of Technological Acceleration 00:58:24 - The Innovative Power of Humans 01:01:18 - The Potential Limits of Technological Acceleration 01:04:20 - The Unsustainability of our Civilization 01:07:09 - Understanding the Trajectory 01:10:03 - The Importance of Becoming Better Human Beings 01:13:14 - The Importance of Confidence and Speculation 01:16:11 - The Power of Now 01:19:01 - The Two Aspects of Emotions 01:22:12 - Letting Go and Moving On 01:25:19 - The Doer and the Divine 01:29:07 - Synchronicity and Nature's Favor 01:32:37 - Attuning to Divine Intelligence 01:36:11 - The Natural Tendency of the Mind 01:39:32 - Letting Go: The Essence of Forgiveness 01:42:31 - Letting go of Judgments and Grievances 01:45:46 - The Vicious Circle of Attack and Defense 01:48:55 - The Power of Apologizing and Being Kind 01:52:01 - Mindfulness of Being Webinars 01:54:41 - Reflecting on the Talk with Peter

Julie Beischel, Ph.D., is the co-founder and Director of Research at the Windbridge Research Center. She received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology with a minor in Microbiology and Immunology. Her current research mainly focuses on mediums: individuals who experience communication with the deceased. Dr. Beischel has published research examining mediums’ accuracy and their experiences, psychology, and physiology, and the potential therapeutic application of mediumship readings during bereavement. Her research interests also include spontaneous, facilitated, assisted, and requested after-death communication experiences. She lives in Arizona with her husband and research partner, Mark Boccuzzi, and their two dogs. Books: Investigating Mediums: A Windbridge Institute Collection Among Mediums: A Scientist's Quest for Answers Meaningful Messages: Making the Most of Your Mediumship Reading From the Mouths of Mediums Vol. 1: Experiencing Communication (From the Mouths of Mediums: Conversations with Windbridge Certified Research Mediums) Website: windbridge.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded August 7, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:42 - The Afterlife and Mediumship 00:05:08 - Exploring Mediumship and the Afterlife 00:07:24 - Fear of Death and Its Impact on Psychology and Worldviews 00:09:53 - Investigating Medium Readings 00:12:31 - Medium Screening and Certification Procedure 00:15:37 - Disproving the Hypothesis of Medium Fraudulent Behavior 00:18:33 - Mediumship and Psychic Abilities 00:21:16 - Paradigms and Scientific Closed-Mindedness 00:26:37 - The Limitations of Medium Abilities 00:32:35 - Psychic Abilities and Predicting the Future 00:35:40 - The Continuation of Consciousness After Death 00:38:54 - The Possibility of an Afterlife 00:41:59 - Communication with Deceased Spirits 00:45:04 - The Five People Involved in the Protocol 00:47:58 - Autoimmune Diseases and Mediumship 00:51:01 - The Connection Between Mediumship and Autoimmune Diseases 00:54:06 - Different Levels of Trance Consciousness in Mediumship 00:57:10 - Physical Mediumship and Table Tipping 01:00:25 - Emotional Impact of Animal Loss 01:03:49 - Normalizing After-Death Communication Experiences 01:09:16 - Incorporating Afterlife Beliefs into Mental Health Practices 01:13:36 - The Fascination with Non-Local Consciousness 01:16:23 - The interconnectedness of the universe 01:19:10 - Quality of Life over Quantity of Days 01:21:48 - Terminal Lucidity and Mediumship 01:24:30 - Alleviating Suffering through Mediumship 01:28:14 - Studying Mediumship in its Natural Environment 01:31:13 - Peer-reviewed papers and replication difficulties 01:33:57 - Mediumship Readings and Being Open-Minded 01:36:10 - Farewell and Thanks

Dr. Jim Tucker is the Bonner-Lowry Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia. He is Director of the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies, where he is continuing the work of Ian Stevenson with children who report memories of previous lives. He is the author of Before: Children's Memories of Previous Lives, a new 2-in-1 edition of his books Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children's Memories of Previous Lives and Return to Life: Extraordinary Cases of Children Who Remember Past Lives, which together have been translated into twenty languages. Websites: jimbtucker.com Division of Perceptual Studies Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded July 31, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:48 - Motivation for Research 00:05:44 - Challenging the Physical Understanding of Reality 00:10:10 - The Evolution of Spiritual Beings 00:14:57 - The Middle Ages and Beliefs 00:22:17 - The Fascinating Case of James Houston 00:25:50 - Paradigm Shift and Understanding the Deeper Nature of Reality 00:29:37 - The Value of Consciousness and Past Life Memories 00:34:09 - Hypnotic Regression and Past Lives Experiences 00:38:17 - Reincarnation stories and choosing parents 00:43:14 - Children's Memories of Past and Future Lives 00:47:06 - Indicators of Past Life Skills 00:50:24 - Birthmarks and Reincarnation 00:53:56 - The Five Sheaths in Sanskrit Tradition 00:57:10 - Hypnotic Regression and Dr. Brian Weiss's Work 01:00:11 - The Potential for Harm and Benefit in Past Life Research 01:03:21 - Disincarnate Entities and Incarnation 01:06:35 - Recent Lives and Intact Memories 01:09:22 - Unfinished Business and Emotional Ties 01:11:59 - Skepticism and Debating Past Life Cases 01:15:08 - Unusual Behaviors in Children with Past Life Memories 01:18:13 - Impact of Past Lives on Gender Development 01:21:25 - Reincarnation and Transmigration across Species 01:24:13 - The Possibility of Consciousness on Other Planets 01:27:51 - The Hollywood Case and Past Life Memories 01:31:21 - Verifying Ryan's Statements and the Impacts of Past Life Memories 01:34:54 - Possibilities of Past Lives and Sequential Reincarnation 01:38:16 - The Malleability of Time 01:41:39 - The Pursuit of Inner Happiness 01:45:56 - A Potential Shift Ahead 01:48:11 - Next episode preview and introduction

This interview centered around Sadhvi's new book, Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Ph.D. is a renowned spiritual leader, author, and motivational speaker based in Rishikesh, India. Originally from Los Angeles and a graduate of Stanford University, Sadhviji has been ordained into the sacred order of Sanyas by her guru HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and has been living at Parmarth Niketan Ashram for the past twenty-five years. She is the Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, an international interfaith organization dedicated to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; president of Divine Shakti Foundation, a foundation that runs free schools, vocational training programs, and empowerment programs; and director of the world-famous International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh—which has been covered in Time, CNN, the New York Times and other prestigious publications and has been addressed by both the Prime Minister and Vice President of India. She serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on Religion and on the steering committees of the International Partnership for Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) and the Moral Imperative to End Extreme Poverty, a campaign by the United Nations and World Bank. She was also the Managing Editor for the monumental project of the 11-volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism. She oversees a variety of humanitarian projects, teaches meditation, lectures, writes, counsels individuals and families, and serves as a unique female voice of spiritual leadership throughout India and the world. Websites: Sadhviji.org (personal site) Sadhviji's TED talk @SadhviBhagawatiSaraswati (Sadhviji's Facebook page with announcements of events, videos, etc.) @ParmarthNiketan (Parmarth's Facebook page where they stream Sadhviji's satsangs live daily when she is in town.) Youtube channel with all of the videos of Sadhviji's lectures (and also a lot of other good stuff...) Twitter: @SadhviBhagawati Book: Vegetarianism: For Our Bodies, Our Minds, Our Souls & Our Planet Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. First BatGap interview with Sadhvi. Interview recorded July 25, 2021. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump interview 00:03:30 - Honesty and Humaneness in Spiritual Awakening 00:07:49 - Bridging the Gap: Hollywood to the Himalayas 00:11:38 - The Shift in Perception 00:15:15 - A Sudden Knowing in Rishikesh 00:19:19 - A Profound Spiritual Experience on the Banks of Ganga 00:23:52 - Swarg Ashram: The Heavenly Abode 00:27:41 - The Beauty of Being Non-Verbal 00:31:29 - Living in the Deepest Level of Awareness 00:34:52 - Shame and Authenticity 00:38:01 - The Humility of an Enlightened Master 00:41:14 - The Qualities of the Guru 00:44:41 - The Light of the Guru 00:48:02 - The Garden and its Animals 00:51:03 - The Story of the Sleeves and the Cat 00:54:17 - Emptying the Cup and Finding the Guru 00:57:46 - Overcoming Unconscious Patterns with Mindfulness 01:01:24 - Being Present in Daily Life 01:04:39 - Productivity in Moments of Freedom 01:07:10 - The Experience of Grace without Spiritual Practice 01:10:43 - A Transformational Experience 01:14:11 - Renunciation and Transformation 01:17:36 - The Biological Urge for a Baby 01:21:01 - The Journey of Forgiveness 01:24:25 - The Power of Forgiveness 01:27:47 - The Stain on Our Hearts 01:30:53 - Letting Go with Forgiveness 01:34:05 - Understanding Dis-ease and Harm towards Others 01:37:10 - The Transformation and Healing Journey 01:40:39 - Sharing and Appreciation 01:43:26 - The Spiritual Path

Stephan Bodian is a teacher in the nondual wisdom tradition of Zen, Dzogchen, and Advaita Vedanta and the founder and director of the annual School for Awakening, an intensive six-month program of exploration and study. His offerings are noted for their humor, warmth, spontaneity, and intimacy and combine direct pointers, lively dialogues, silent sitting, and guided self-inquiry. He’s the author of several books, including Wake Up Now: A Guide to the Journey of Spiritual Awakening and Beyond Mindfulness: The Direct Approach to Lasting Peace, Happiness, and Love. Stephan spent a decade practicing Zen intensively as a monk but left the monastery because he sensed that the rigorous practice of meditation was obscuring the truth he was seeking. After studying Dzogchen for several years, he met his guru, Jean Klein, a European teacher of Advaita Vedanta, who told him to stop meditating and instead discover the meditator. Shortly after meeting Jean, he had a profound awakening to his true identity as timeless presence. After Jean’s death, Stephan met Adyashanti, and in 2001 Adya gave him Dharma transmission and invited him to teach. Trained as a psychotherapist, Stephan also offers individual spiritual counseling and mentoring sessions to people throughout the world. His approach blends direct, experiential, nondual wisdom with the insights of Western psychology to support students in realizing who they really are while inquiring into the stories and patterns of thinking and behaving that continue to cause suffering. Website: stephanbodian.org Other books: Meditation For Dummies, w/Audio CD (Also available in various languages.) Timeless Visions, Healing Voices: Conversations with Men & Women of the Spirit Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. First BatGap interview with Stephan. Interview recorded July 11, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:20 - A Shift in the Locus of Identity 00:10:00 - The Vastness and Dream States 00:15:05 - Roshi's Uninhibited Behavior and the Fall of the Center 00:20:18 - Bodhidharma's Precepts and Acting in Integrity 00:25:13 - The Ugly Truth and Confrontational Behavior 00:30:15 - Dealing with the Shadow and Integrity 00:35:01 - Narcissism in Spiritual Teachers and the Direct Path 00:39:53 - Awakening and the Role of the Teacher 00:44:51 - The Role of Teachers and the Need for Discernment 00:49:48 - The Impressionability of the Mind 00:54:19 - The Interface Between Science and Spirituality 00:57:59 - The Direct Meeting and Potential for Transmission 01:01:23 - The Pitfalls of Spiritual Teachers and Sex 01:05:31 - Boundary-crossing and predatory behavior 01:09:01 - Spiritual Teachers and Dark Triad Qualities 01:12:56 - The Importance of Care in Spiritual Evolution 01:16:34 - Relationships and Higher Callings 01:19:59 - The Literary Invention of Crazy Wisdom 01:23:47 - Compassionate Being and True Crazy Wisdom 01:27:12 - Starting a New University 01:30:43 - The Strange Fit Between Narcissists and Spiritual Teachers 01:34:16 - Embracing Human Relationships 01:37:51 - Giving Power Away and Seeking Enlightenment 01:41:49 - Being Your Own Authority 01:45:11 - The Horse and the Whip 01:48:28 - Different Spiritual Teachers and their Teachings 01:51:57 - The True Guru Within 01:55:49 - The Awakening Journey 01:59:32 - The Role of a Spiritual Teacher 02:03:10 - School for Awakening

Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. Meyer is author of the New York Times bestseller Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design and Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design, a (London) Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year. In 2004, Meyer ignited a firestorm of media and scientific controversy when a biology journal at the Smithsonian Institution published his peer-reviewed scientific article advancing intelligent design. Meyer has been featured on national television and radio programs, including The Jim Lehrer News Hour, CBS Sunday Morning, NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, Good Morning America, Nightline, FOX News Live, Paula Zahn Now (CNN), and the Tavis Smiley Show on PBS. He has also been featured in two New York Times front-page stories and has garnered attention in other top national media. Latest Book: Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe Website: stephencmeyer.org Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded July 9, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:42 - Introduction to Stephen's Work and Book 00:07:28 - The Intelligent Cause of DNA Information 00:10:29 - The Complexity of Natural Processes and Intelligent Design 00:13:23 - The Fine-tuning of the Laws of Physics 00:16:31 - The Fine-tuned Universe and Intelligent Design 00:19:38 - The Multiverse Hypothesis and Fine-Tuning 00:22:29 - Fine-tuning and Intelligent Agency 00:25:52 - The Shift from Religion to Materialism 00:29:04 - Different Views on the Nature of God 00:32:14 - Exploring Different Philosophical Conceptions 00:35:12 - The Power of Divine Agency 00:38:28 - God's Imminence and Transcendence 00:42:10 - Theistic and Pantheistic Versions of Eastern Religions 00:45:46 - Waves on the Ocean of Intelligence 00:49:59 - The Importance of Intelligent Design 00:54:57 - The Search for Meaning and Existence 01:02:02 - Storing and Reconstituting Information 01:07:28 - Near-Death Experiences and the Survival of the Soul 01:14:29 - The Existence of God through Logical Reasoning and Personal Experience 01:21:19 - The Combination of Rationality and Empiricism 01:26:45 - The Scientific Attitude in Spirituality 01:31:33 - The Role of Faith in Knowledge and Science 01:36:08 - Belief in the Unseen: Quarks, Electrons, and God 01:39:53 - Miracles and the Laws of Nature 01:46:20 - Intelligent Design and Limited Creative Power 01:52:28 - Mathematical Platonism and the Applicability of Maths to the Physical World 01:58:50 - Evaluation of Pantheism and Advaita 02:03:13 - The Challenges of Teaching Intelligent Design in Public Schools 02:08:52 - Belief in Intelligent Design across different religions 02:14:16 - Links to Stephen's Books and Audible Availability

Chelan Harkin has been channeling ecstatic poetry for years and has now published two books in the past seven months, Susceptible to Light and Let Us Dance!: The Stumble and Whirl With The Beloved. Her publishing journey has been mystical and transformational and filled with "prayer experiments" gone right. Chelan has regularly been compared to the great mystic poets, Rumi, Hafiz, and Rilke. She lives in a geographically spectacular region of Washington State, The Columbia Gorge, with her husband and two small children. In her poetry and in her life, Chelan continually invites the fumbling, suffering parts of our nature and our divinity to meet for tea in the heart, to have a great laugh, and share a big hug. Website: chelanharkin.com Facebook page Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded July 3, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:59 - Connecting with Hafez: Inspiring Poetry and Publishing Success 00:09:55 - The Spontaneous Poem 00:14:14 - The Feeling of a Coming Poem 00:17:55 - Unleashing Our Inner Genius 00:21:48 - The Birth of Creativity 00:26:12 - Healing through Hypnotherapy 00:30:33 - Reframing and Reclaiming "I'm Too Much" 00:35:15 - Inspiration from Night Walks 00:39:32 - The Humility of Relationships 00:43:15 - The Worst Thing We Ever Did 00:47:36 - Opening Up to Vulnerability 00:52:09 - The Strength in Sensitivity 00:56:56 - The Essence of Infinity and Connection 01:01:11 - A Serendipitous Connection with Daniel 01:05:35 - Summoning Poetry with Hafez 01:09:32 - Chelan's Spiritual Upbringing 01:13:31 - A Sacred Experience in Bahala's Prison Cell 01:17:04 - Chelan's Aneurysm Journey 01:20:33 - The Impact of Diet and Social Media on Channeling Abilities 01:24:39 - The Thirst for Intellectual Knowledge 01:28:52 - The Potency of Embodied Spirituality 01:33:28 - The Power of Prayer 01:37:34 - Finding Joy in Work 01:41:18 - The God Who Made the Octopus 01:45:28 - The Cosmic Wallop and Cosmic Timing 01:49:19 - Discovering the Poet Within 01:52:33 - The Power of Language 01:56:21 - Living an Authentic Truth 01:59:41 - Openness to Opportunities 02:03:11 - Farewell and Good Wishes