Buddha at the Gas Pump

Andrew B. Newberg, M.D. is currently the Associate Director in Charge of Research at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital in Philadelphia. He is also a Professor in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Radiology at Thomas Jefferson University and he is adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Newberg has been particularly involved in the study of mystical and religious experiences, a field referred to as “neurotheology”. He has also studied the more general mind/body relationship in both the clinical and research aspects of his career including understanding the physiological correlates of acupuncture therapy, meditation, and other types of alternative therapies. He has published over 200 peer reviewed articles and chapters on brain function, brain imaging, and the study of religious and mystical experiences. Books: He is the author of the new book entitled, "Neurotheology: How Science Can Enlighten Us About Spirituality" and is also the co-author of “How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain: The New Science of Transformation”. He is the co-author of the best selling books, “How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist” (Ballantine) and, “Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief” (Ballantine). And he is the author of several academic books including, “The Metaphysical Mind: Probing the Biology of Philosophical Thought”; “Principles of Neurotheology (Routledge Science and Religion Series)” (Ashgate); and co-author of “The Metaphysical Mind: Probing the Biology of Philosophical Thought” (Fortress Press). The latter book received the 2000 award for Outstanding Books in Theology and the Natural Sciences presented by the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences. He has also produced a 24 lecture video program entitled, “The Spiritual Brain,” for The Teaching Company. He has presented his work at scientific and religious meetings throughout the world and has appeared on Dr. Oz, Good Morning America, Nightline, 20/20, CNN, ABC World News Tonight as well as in nationally distributed movies: “What the Bleep Do We Know!?”; Bill Maher’s “Religulous”; and “AWAKE: The Life of Yogananda”. His work has been featured in a number of media articles including in Newsweek, Time, National Geographic, Discover, O Magazine, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, London Observer, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Readers Digest. Additional information regarding books and research can be found at www.andrewnewberg.com. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded March 31, 2018 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Andrew B. Newberg's Background and Expertise 00:03:38 - The Nature of Reality and Questioning Beliefs 00:06:43 - The Path of Knowledge 00:09:49 - The Journey of Inquiry and Infinite Doubt 00:12:54 - The Practical Side of Science and Its Probabilities 00:15:55 - Exploring Intense Experiences with Neurotheology 00:18:54 - Escaping the Prison of the Brain 00:22:05 - The Mystery of Consciousness and the Universe 00:25:13 - Exploring the Relationship Between Consciousness and Matter 00:28:27 - Exploring Science and Spirituality 00:31:36 - Defining Consciousness 00:35:09 - Integrating Science and Spirituality 00:38:42 - The Power of Compassion and Understanding 00:42:19 - The Arrogance of Scientists and the Resistance to Change 00:45:19 - Evaluating Ideas and Beliefs 00:48:09 - The Human Nervous System as a Scientific Instrument 00:51:34 - The Importance of Subjective Measures in Brain Scans 00:55:00 - The Impossibility of Knowing Thought and Consciousness 00:57:58 - Exploring Higher States of Consciousness 01:01:12 - Exploring the Mystical Experience 01:04:05 - The Nature of Spiritual Experiences 01:07:32 - The Experience of Brazilian Mediums 01:10:29 - The Spiritual Experiment: Progress and Determination of Enlightenment 01:13:40 - Comparing Natural and Drug-Induced Enlightenment 01:17:17 - The Evolution of Understanding Spiritual Experience 01:20:22 - The Brain's Radical Change 01:23:22 - The Nature of Free Will 01:26:26 - Levels of Consciousness and Free Will 01:29:05 - The Relationship Between Brain Activity and Moral Decision Making 01:31:42 - Exploring the Questions of Reality and Understanding It 01:35:05 - Can the Founders of Religions be Held Accountable?

Lama Tsomo is an American lama, author, and co-founder of the Namchak Foundation. She followed a path of spiritual inquiry and study that ultimately led to her ordination as one of the few American lamas in Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Tsomo learned Tibetan to study with her teacher Tulku Sangak Rinpoche, and now shares the teachings of the Namchak lineage in the US and abroad. Lama Tsomo holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and is the author of the award winning Why Is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? An Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice. She is passionate about reaching young people and supporting those working for positive social change. Website: namchak.org Books: Ancient Wisdom for Our Times Tibetan Buddhist Practice Why Is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling?: A Westerner's Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice The Lotus & the Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript and summary of this interview Interview recorded March 25, 2018 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:53 - Becoming a Lama and the Responsibilities 00:08:24 - A Journey in Spiritual Exploration 00:13:06 - The Insubstantiality of Matter 00:17:29 - Conversations on Reincarnation and Mindstream 00:22:00 - The Three Bodies in Tibetan Buddhist Practice 00:26:37 - Parallels in Different Traditions and the Holographic Quality of the Universe 00:31:18 - Joining with the Whole Ocean 00:36:23 - The difference between anger and acting violently 00:40:14 - The Five Afflictive Emotions and Enlightenment 00:44:47 - Total Awareness Beyond the Nervous System 00:49:38 - The Subtle Body and Enlightenment in Buddhism 00:54:01 - The Antidote to the Three Poisons 00:59:03 - Different Branches of Buddhism 01:02:55 - Finding What Works and the Power of Sangha 01:07:29 - The Power of Connection and Community 01:11:21 - Starting Learning Circles and Traveling for Teachings 01:15:11 - The Importance of Live Instruction in Meditation 01:19:30 - Visualization and Familiarity 01:23:44 - The Mud Pit and Cleaning the Windshield 01:27:12 - The Importance of Guru Yoga 01:31:35 - The Purpose of Birth and Evolution 01:35:40 - Major Shifts in Spiritual Development 01:40:29 - Mother Nature's Wrath 01:43:58 - Exploring Self-Realization and the Use of Drugs 01:47:38 - Gamma Waves and Enlightenment 01:52:11 - Enlightenment and the Afterlife 01:56:12 - The complexity of the universe's intelligence 02:00:25 - The Two Truths in Buddhism 02:04:50 - Accessible Meditations and Additional Resources 02:08:43 - Conclusion and Farewell

Swami Sarvapriyananda has been Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York since January 6, 2017. Prior to this, he served as assistant minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California for 13 months, beginning on December 3, 2015. Swami joined the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1994 and received Sannyas in 2004. Before being posted to the VSSC’s Hollywood Temple, Swami served as an acharya (teacher) of the monastic probationers’ training center at Belur Math. He has served the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in various capacities including being the Vice Principal of the Deoghar Vidyapith Higher Secondary School, Principal of the Shikshana Mandira Teacher Education College at Belur Math, and the first Registrar of the Vivekananda University at Belur Math. Website: vedantany.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcripts of this interview: English Chinese Finnish Second BatGap interview with Swami Sarvapriyananda Swami Sarvapriyananda on the Ethical Foundations of Nondual Spirituality Interview recorded March 3, 2018. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:51 - Upanishads and Vedanta 00:07:54 - The Philosophy of Non-Duality 00:12:07 - The Expression of Ultimate Truth in Hinduism 00:16:27 - The Duality of Bliss and Reality 00:20:21 - The Comparison between Vedanta and Particle Physics 00:24:43 - Panentheism and the Nature of Reality 00:28:51 - Advaita Vedanta as Maximally Supporting Religion 00:33:04 - Two distinct approaches to religion 00:37:34 - Overcoming Limitations with Advaita Philosophy 00:41:09 - The Cyclical Nature of Knowledge 00:44:39 - The Value of Sharing Between Science and Religion 00:48:36 - The Conflict Between Science and Religion 00:52:49 - Contributions of Advaita and Madhyamaka Buddhism 00:57:07 - The Complexity of Standardizing Instrumental Procedures 01:01:24 - Path to Enlightenment through Different Religions 01:04:55 - The Realization of Pure Essential Nature 01:08:56 - Serving Society in Vedantic Philosophy 01:12:37 - The Perspectives of Enlightened Beings 01:16:44 - The Three Stages of Spiritual Awakening 01:20:38 - The Importance of Practices and Ethical Life in Advaita Vedanta 01:25:08 - The Importance of Bhakti Yoga and Meditation 01:28:45 - The Bliss Amidst Suffering 01:32:52 - The Conduits of Spiritual Wisdom 01:36:45 - The Truth about Enlightenment and Past Karma 01:40:42 - The Three Tiers of Reality 01:44:33 - Experiencing World and Brahman Together 01:48:07 - The Differences between Kashmir Shaivism and Advaita Vedanta 01:52:24 - The Beauty and Intricacy of the World 01:56:21 - Divine Presence in You 01:59:46 - Farewell

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

Shakti Caterina Maggi has been sharing a message of awakening to our true nature as One Consciousness since 2003, with workshops and meetings held in Italy, Europe, and around the world. Although in the vein of the Advaita and non dual tantric tradition, Shakti shares a very contemporary approach to self-realization and reveals the real possibility of seeing what we are and embodying it in our everyday life with clarity, wisdom and humor. The first glimpses and non-definitive openings to the Self and the true nature of reality began to occur for her at a very early age. At around 27, these temporary windows of our true nature brought her to a state of great inner openness, without having the cognition that what was happening was called “awakening” or “enlightenment” in other cultures. In January 2003, while working as a financial reporter in Milan, she had the first experience of kundalini awakening. “Everything vibrated from its infinite nature: my body, the room, the bed I was on were all a unique vibration of love that expanded and dissolved itself in a space without borders. I was myself and at the same time I was no longer me, Existence itself was my nature. After about two hours everything disappeared into nothingness and I was surprised to wake up in the morning still alive. Honestly, I was certain I was going to die that night. Now there was something vast and completely silent that looked at a funny little me, acting like a cartoon character, moving but also loving. “ For the first time, she realized she needed a spiritual guide. Knowing that all this had occurred without her conscious desire or intentional action, she simply waited for life itself to deliver someone able to clarify what was unfolding. Four months later, she met Bodhi Avasa in a satsang in Milan, and after only five days she encountered a definitive experience of self-recognition. “I suddenly realized that Caterina had never existed. It was just a thought of My Mind, and that My Mind was the Divine Mind. No separate identity existed, but only a single Self, empty and aware, from which Existence itself was born as in a dream. “ It took a few months for this quantum leap to stabilize, as mind and body were traversed by profound and transformational understandings. Encouraged by Avasa, she soon thereafter started to share her experience, although it was only in 2011 that she began to hold true satsang. The process of integration of the awakening, and purification from what Ramana Maharshi referred to as vāsanas (latent tendencies), required several years, allowing her to develop a deep understanding of the path that takes place after awakening and its integration into daily life. Website: Website Facebook YouTube Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded February 15, 2018. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Shakti Katarina Maggi 00:04:25 - The Power of Synchronicity 00:08:46 - Early Experiences and Love for God 00:13:39 - Insights Before Sleep 00:18:07 - Meeting the Teacher 00:22:41 - Dissolving Identification and Conditioning 00:27:38 - The Delightfulness of Being Human 00:31:54 - Acting without Attachment to Results 00:36:15 - Awakening to Truth 00:40:11 - Appreciating the Glory of Life 00:44:58 - Life's Unexpected Paths 00:48:57 - Embracing the Darkness and Discovering the Beauty 00:53:03 - Love and Relationships in Awakening 00:57:46 - Awakening in the Heart 01:02:52 - The Illusion of Separation and Duality 01:05:53 - The Experience of Teaching from the Heart Level 01:09:55 - Meeting Darkness and Light in Neutrality 01:15:22 - The Attitude of a Beginner 01:19:56 - Embodying Awakening 01:24:51 - Living Life in Awareness 01:29:02 - Integrating Words and Consciousness 01:33:00 - Life as the Guru 01:37:06 - The Appearance of Beingness 01:41:05 - The Experience of Life 01:44:57 - The Individual Expression of Being 01:48:48 - Contradictions and Paradoxes in Oneness 01:53:46 - The Joy of Seeing the Perfection of it 01:58:05 - Spiritual Connection with Whales and Consciousness 02:02:39 - The experience of Kundalini and its significance 02:06:45 - A Delightful Conversation 02:10:00 - Radiating Information for Registration

Paul Selig is considered to be one of the foremost spiritual channels working today. In his breakthrough works of channeled literature author and medium Paul Selig has recorded an extraordinary program for personal and planetary evolution as humankind awakens to its own divine nature. Paul was born in New York City and received his master’s degree from Yale. A spiritual experience in 1987 left him clairvoyant. As a way to gain a context for what he was beginning to experience he studied a form of energy healing and began to “hear” for his clients. Described as “a medium for the living,” Paul’s unique abilities have been featured on ABC News Nightline, Fox News, the Biography Channel series The UneXplained, Gaiam TV’s Beyond Belief and the documentary film Paul & The Word. Paul offers channeled workshops internationally. He serves on the faculty of The Omega Institute, The Kripalu Center and the Esalen Institute. Also a noted playwright and educator, he served on the faculty of NYU for over 25 years. He directed the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Goddard College for many years, and he now serves on the college’s Board of Trustees. He lives in New York City where he maintains a private practice as an intuitive and conducts frequent livestream seminars. Books: I Am the Word: A Guide to the Consciousness of Man's Self in a Transitioning Time The Book of Love and Creation: A Channeled Text - Audio version The Book of Knowing and Worth: A Channeled Text The Book of Mastery: The Mastery Trilogy: Book I The Book of Truth: The Mastery Trilogy: Book II Website: paulselig.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript and summary of this interview Interview recorded February 9, 2018 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:53 - The Process of Channeling and Receiving Messages 00:07:24 - A Soul Awakening Experience 00:10:43 - The Beginning of a Journey 00:14:16 - Developing Quietly 00:17:42 - A Life-Changing Moment 00:21:01 - Childhood Experiences and Divine Orchestration 00:24:19 - Beings in Subtler Realms 00:27:41 - Accountability and Consciousness 00:30:53 - Realization of the Divine in Form 00:34:20 - The Incredible Intelligence of the Human Body 00:36:58 - The Story Behind the Book 00:39:29 - The Effects of Channeling Sessions 00:42:06 - The Exhilaration of Channeling 00:45:05 - Over-identification and interruptions 00:47:44 - The Agenda of Realization 00:50:24 - The Cost of Re-identifying Who We Are 00:53:00 - Alignment and Vibrational Accord 00:55:28 - The Power of Human Consciousness 00:57:59 - The Existence of the Universe 01:00:40 - The Language of Science and Truth 01:03:23 - Curiosity about Other Beings 01:07:07 - Channelling Archangel Gabriel 01:11:55 - The Experience of Channeling 01:16:34 - The Experience of Channeling 01:20:45 - The Gift of Qualifications in Channeling 01:25:14 - Dealing with Sensitivity to the Energy of Others 01:30:52 - The Energetic Sensitivity 01:36:04 - The Book of Truth and the Surfacing of Hidden Things 01:40:53 - Paving the Way for the Future 01:46:04 - Closing Remarks

Sadhviji was raised in an American family in Hollywood, California and graduated from Stanford University. She was completing her Ph.D. when she left America in 1996 to come and live permanently at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India. She has been living there for the last twenty-one years, engaged in spiritual practice and dedicated service.She was officially initiated into the order of Sanyas (monastic renunciation) in the year 2000, by her Guru, His Holiness Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji. Sadhviji is a renowned speaker who gives keynote addresses at large forums, on a wide variety of topics ranging from conscious business to science and spirituality to sustainable development to the keys of happiness and peace in life to all aspects of yoga. She has also been a featured speaker at the United Nations, Parliament of World Religions and many international conferences and summits. Her talks blend the knowledge and logic of the West with the insights, spirituality and wisdom of the East, and she is renowned as a spiritual bridge between the two cultures. At Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, where Sadhviji lives most of the year, she gives daily spiritual discourses and satsang, teaches meditation, provides counseling and oversees myriad charitable and humanitarian projects and activities. Sadhviji is: Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, an international interfaithorganization dedicated to bringing clean water, sanitation & hygiene to the children of theworld. President of Divine Shakti Foundation, a foundation dedicated to bringing education and empowerment to women and children which runs free schools, vocational training programs and empowerment programs. Director of the annual world-famous International Yoga Festival at Parmarth which has been covered in Time Magazine, CNN, New York Times, Le Monde and other prestigious publications. Sadhviji has a Ph.D in Psychology and was the Managing Editor for the monumental project of the 11-volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism. 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... Book: Vegetarianism: For Our Bodies, Our Minds, Our Souls & Our Planet Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded February 6, 2018. Second BatGap interview with Sadhvi. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:22 - A Trip to India for Vegetarian Food 00:08:12 - A Shift in Beliefs 00:12:17 - A Swinging Footbridge and a Vision of Truth 00:16:37 - A Profound Spiritual Awakening on the Banks of the Ganga River 00:20:51 - A Call to Stay in the Ashram 00:24:49 - The Inner Voice and Following Your Vow 00:28:26 - Seeking Permission to Stay at the Ashram 00:32:11 - The Phantom Higher Authority 00:36:18 - The Presence of Divinity 00:40:39 - A Mysterious Phenomenon 00:44:42 - A Confusing Journey in the Ashram 00:48:57 - The Importance of the Guru-Disciple Relationship 00:53:07 - Ego Development and Self-Identification 00:57:39 - The Ego's Desire for Spiritual Superiority 01:01:49 - The Role of a Guru and Discernment in Choosing a Genuine Guru 01:05:44 - The Nature of Guru's Offerings 01:09:47 - How to Identify a Genuine Guru 01:13:44 - Feeling the Presence of the Guru 01:17:42 - The Power of a Guru's Presence 01:21:24 - Providing Medical Care and Sanitation in India 01:25:23 - Service as Spiritual Practice 01:29:29 - Seva: Serving Your Way to Enlightenment 01:33:15 - The Importance of Sadhana in Spiritual Practice 01:36:43 - Falling in Love with Spirituality 01:40:17 - Witnessing Hatha Yoga as a Path to Divinity 01:43:43 - The Feminine Energy of Creation 01:48:19 - Objectification and Self-Worth 01:52:13 - The Unity of all Beings and the Divine Nature 01:56:28 - Parmarth Niketan's Facebook Livestream 01:59:21 - End of Conversation

One night in 1997 Richard Schoeller thought he was dying because he found himself surrounded by both sets of deceased grandparents. They reassured him that it wasn’t his time to join them in the afterlife and that their visit was to help him understand that he could now "see them." Who could ignore a visit like that? Richard had to learn more about what had just happened, so he began taking classes and researching the ability to communicate with those who have passed into spirit. Richard is now an ordained Spiritualist minister, Certified Medium, Commissioned Spiritualist Healer. Aside from being a member of the Lily Dale Assembly, he served on the Board of the National Spiritualist Association of Churches (NSAC) for six years, and he is currently the Vice President of the International Spiritualist Federation and a Director and Teacher with the Inner Spiritual Center in Wayne, New Jersey. Richard has taught classes and demonstrated mediumship in England, Holland, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland and Germany as well as served a number of Spiritualist churches and centers throughout the United States. It gives him great pleasure to be of service and to provide information to his clients that help them to come to and understanding that life and love continue after the change known as death. Website: sacredmessages.com Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group Transcript of this interview Interview conducted February 4, 2018. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Conversations with Spiritually Awakening People 00:03:47 - Helping Others Find Understanding 00:07:09 - A Family Secret Revealed 00:10:25 - A Visit from the Spirit Realm 00:13:37 - The Awakening of Psychic Abilities 00:16:33 - Communication with the Other Side 00:20:27 - Healing and Reconciliation in Relationships 00:23:15 - Our True Nature and Evolution of Being 00:26:51 - Exploring Reincarnation 00:29:41 - A Funeral Director's Experience 00:32:31 - Emotional Connections at Funerals 00:35:49 - Communicating with Departed Loved Ones 00:38:46 - The Higher Rate of Vibration in the Spiritual Realm 00:42:03 - Reasons for the absence of communication from deceased loved ones 00:45:09 - Reincarnation and the Soul 00:48:35 - Gaining a Wider Perspective in the Spiritual Realm 00:51:47 - Souls hanging around the cemetery 00:55:27 - Relating to automatic functions and serving a useful purpose 00:58:37 - Children's Sensitivity to the Spiritual Realm 01:01:56 - Awakening Children's Abilities 01:05:15 - Everyone's Ability to Connect with Spirit 01:08:50 - Communicating with Departed Loved Ones 01:12:08 - Dying experiences based on belief and circumstance 01:15:32 - Conscious Dying and the Departure from Life 01:18:57 - Meeting the Beatles 01:22:07.000 - Personal Work and Mediumistic Growth 01:25:05 - Channeling and Spiritual Teachers 01:28:48 - Physical Mediumship Phenomena 01:32:14 - Communication from the Spiritual Realm 01:35:10 - Psychic Readings and Testimonials 01:37:53 - Interruption and Technical Difficulties

When I was 11 years old our school took a bus trip to the local library. While most of the children were off exploring the mysteries of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, for some reason I found myself in the row of books called Philosophy and Religion. I recall pulling a hardbound book off the shelf and directly opening it to an old black and white photograph of the Portola Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. At that moment, it was as if all my breath was sucked out of me and my mind went totally quiet. Somewhere in the depth of my being, I knew I was looking at a very familiar place, one that I may once have called home. I stood there for a very long time just staring at that photograph. That book changed my life. At the time, I took the descriptions of a world rarely seen to be real mysticism. With great determination and passion, I began reading everything I could get my hands on about Tibet, its culture, and spiritual teachings. Thus, began a lifelong pursuit for of spiritual insight and knowledge mystical experience. In my youthful naivety, I also began what I deduced as a meditation practice from stories in the book. This practice was quite complex and involved sitting quietly in the lotus posture with my spine perfectly straight while emptying my mind of everything. Then, with eyes closed, the idea was to develop a specific color spot in my field of vision at, what one might imagine to be, an arm’s length away, and then start spinning it into other colors, all while keeping all thoughts at bay. As you might imagine it was a difficult exercise, however, for short periods of time, I began to experience gaps in my thought pattern. Then it happened. After about four years of practicing my meditation, one day I was sitting quietly and deep into it, when the bottom dropped out. No mind, no thought—just a great expanse. When the experience ended, I felt the most amazing deep sense of happiness bliss. This bliss we might describe as “the peace which passeth understanding”. The problem was my meditation practice was extremely difficult and required great effort and time to achieve the effortless state. I began to search for something easier. My best friend had gone off college and suggested that I leave my job with the Forest Service and continue my education. When I arrived on campus to find Maharishi Mahesh Yogi teaching a course about meditation and training young men and woman like me how to teach Transcendental Meditation, a mantra-based meditation practice. I went to ask Maharishi if he would personally teach me. Maharishi was rarely on time anywhere and I waited outside his door a long time for him to emerge. When he finally came out the door there were a number of people waiting like me, some to ask a question, some pay their respects. With about a dozen people ahead of me in the line I waited for my turn, but then I had the thought that I shouldn’t take his time, that I should instead dedicate myself to freeing his time so he could bring this knowledge of meditation and its philosophy to as many as possible, that I should work to serve him selflessly without regard to my own needs and desires. In that moment, I took the Bodhisattva vow and walked away to learn Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation from one of his teachers. I knew I had found what I was looking for in my first meditation. Upon learning I experienced quite easily that state of mindlessness I had been struggling so hard for. I knew for certain that TM worked for me when I was walking down the street feeling the perfect bliss within yet realizing that nothing what so ever had happened in my life save for meditation to make it so. After many years of practice, I had a classical awakening into higher consciousness. Now living in non-duality or as Maharishi described it "living 200%, the fullness of the absolute and the relative lived completely and utterly together". Website: michael-lovelightlaughter.org Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group Transcript of this interview Interview recorded January 27, 2018. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:25 - Discovering Meditation as a Child 00:10:08 - A Chance Encounter with Franklin Merrill Wolfe in the Sierras 00:15:14 - A Powerful Experience in the Mountains 00:20:14 - Taking the Bodhisattva Vow 00:25:49 - Different Experiences of Awakening 00:30:39 - Surrendering and Shift in Perception 00:35:00 - The Awakening and Infinite Growth 00:38:50 - Understanding the Bhagavad Gita and Knowledge 00:42:34 - The Compatibility of Absolute and Relative Realities 00:46:01 - Cultural Conditioning and Beliefs 00:49:44 - Shared Understanding of Religious Figures 00:53:17 - Thoughts and Awareness 00:56:57 - The Mechanism of Witnessing 01:00:39 - Perception of Subtle Phenomena 01:04:22 - The Unusual Marriage Story 01:07:48 - Unexpected Intuitions 01:11:22 - The Power of Higher State of Consciousness 01:14:53 - Healing Stories 01:18:17 - The Journey to Amma

Kavitha Chinnaiyan, MD, is a cardiologist, meditation teacher and tantrika. She became drawn to the Direct Path through the teachings of Greg Goode and Sri Atmananda Krishna Menon, and has studied yoga, Sri Vidya Sadhana, Vedanta and Tantra through the teachings of Chinmaya Mission, Sri Premananda, Sally Kempton, Paul Muller-Ortega and Sri Chaitanyananda Natha Saraswati. She blends her expertise in cardiology with her knowledge of Ayurveda, yoga, Vedanta, Tantra, and the Direct Path in her approach to healing, enabling patients to discover bliss amid chronic illness. She is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, MI. She is the author of Shakti Rising: Embracing Shadow and Light on the Goddess Path to Wholeness (2017) and The Heart of Wellness: Bridging Western and Eastern Medicine to Transform Your Relationship with Habits, Lifestyle, and Health (2018). Website: Svatantra Institute Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group Transcript of this interview Interview recorded January 20, 2018 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:34 - The Direct Path vs Progressive Path 00:08:27 - The Direct Path and Neo-Vedanta 00:12:05 - Witnessing in Tantra 00:16:25 - Discovering the Unobservable through Spiritual Path 00:21:18 - Redefining Gender Roles and the Divine Feminine 00:26:15 - The Mahavidyas: Goddesses of Darkness and Light 00:30:14 - Reconciling Ahimsa with the Reality of the Universe 00:33:55 - The Intelligent Universe and the Mahavidyas 00:38:26 - Shiva and Shakti: The Creative Power 00:42:53 - The Misunderstanding of Kali 00:47:42 - The Black Goddess Kali and the I-Self 00:51:36 - Refinement of the Sense of Self in Tantra 00:55:19 - Tantric Philosophy and Rewiring the Body-Mind 00:58:52 - The Role of Nadis in Kundalini Awakening 01:02:50 - Differences between Vedanta and Tantra 01:07:14 - Sri Yantra and Sri Vidya 01:11:33 - The Power of Bija Mantras in Consciousness 01:15:00 - The Use of Aum Mantra 01:18:36 - Tara's Shadow and Light Aspects 01:22:54 - Chinnamasta: The Concealing and Revealing Power of the Divine 01:27:05 - Stories of Delusion and Awakening in Hinduism 01:31:38 - The Ashrama System and the Four Stages of Life 01:36:08 - Elements of the Path of the Mahavidyas 01:39:20 - The Ethics of Tantra 01:43:54 - The Path of Tantra and Work in Progress 01:48:26 - Cultivating Discernment and Discrimination 01:52:39 - The Divine Feminine and the Shadow Side 01:57:37 - Surrendering in Softness and Sweetness 02:01:11 - Exploring Wellness through Ayurveda and Yoga 02:04:10 - Music Introduction

Natalie Sudman is an author, artist and psychic intuitive. Natalie worked as an archeologist in the Great Basin states for 16 years before accepting a position managing construction contracts in Iraq. In 2007 Natalie was injured by a roadside bomb. During this incident, she had a near-death experience that she details in her book Application of Impossible Things. After recovering from her injuries, Natalie retired from government service to concentrate on art and writing, both long-time passions. Raised in Minnesota, Natalie has lived most of her adult life in eastern Oregon, Montana, and South Dakota. She now lives in southern Arizona. Facebook Page Book: Application of Impossible Things: A Near-Death Experience in Iraq Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded January 14, 2018 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:48 - Psychic Abilities and Childhood Experiences 00:07:49 - The Spiritual Nature of Doing 00:11:12 - Downloading Information on the Stage 00:14:30 - The Perception of Time in the Non-Physical Realm 00:18:10 - Leaving Room for Uncertainty 00:21:33 - The Multi-Dimensional Nature of Life 00:25:22 - Communing with Beings in a Stadium-like Setup 00:29:46 - Regaining Consciousness and Memories 00:32:55 - The Functions of Different Beings 00:37:38 - Expanded Awareness 00:41:53 - Handling Perception and Concentration 00:45:29 - Cultivating Focus in Sports 00:48:46 - Playing with Possibilities 00:52:28 - Finding Value in Difficult Experiences 00:56:27 - Trusting the Reasons for Choosing 01:00:19 - Enhanced Confidence in Psychic Readings 01:04:28 - The Influence of Consciousness in Reality 01:08:49 - The Value of Consciousness and Perspectives 01:12:11 - Choosing Injuries for a Purpose 01:15:40 - A New Perspective on the World 01:19:14 - The Change in Relationship with Entities 01:23:23 - The Power of Individual Influence 01:26:55 - The Value of Challenging Experiences 01:31:09 - Cultivating Balance and Peace 01:35:06 - Non-attachment and the Erasure of Fear 01:38:40 - Fear of Life and a Broad Perspective 01:42:47 - Pondering the Universe and Free Will 01:46:37 - The Nature of Knowledge and Awareness 01:50:28 - Cultivating Abilities and Application of Impossible Things 01:53:47 - Farewell and Thanks to Natalie Sudman

A completely spontaneous, life-altering experience of satori or enlightenment shook Lesley Skylar’s world at about age 9 or 10. Everything, in every facet, shifted unimaginably - nothing was ever the same again. This set her on a life course dedicated to understanding, honoring and living what had been revealed. Lesley has spent years as a renunciate, living in ashrams and working deeply with direct teachings of enlightenment, in both the East and West. She has studied and practiced Zen Buddhism, Dzogchen and the Nonduality teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj. She has a Degree in Psychology, has counseled, and worked in numerous non-profit, peace and human rights endeavors. Lesley is a teacher of spiritual awakening. The approach and teaching she shares comes directly from her extensive experience and was developed and refined through her own realization. It is based on decades of integration and rigorous work with liberation teachings and realized teachers. Her teaching offers individual or small group guidance for awakening, and also focuses specifically on the post-awakening terrain. Many are confused or struggle after awakening as they don’t realize that awakening is a beginning – it is not stabilized and abiding, involves a coming and going of clarity and higher states, a persistent self-sense, and incomplete seeing or depth. She helps people to move beyond the initial phases of awakening, to clarify and resolve sticking points, subtle aspects of identification, shadow, unconscious beliefs and so on. This creates a deepening, integrating and embodying, which allows liberation and enlightened living to unfold. She has traveled extensively and lived in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. She is currently based in Vancouver, Canada. Lesley offers private sessions worldwide, via Skype/ online video or in person. Learn more about Lesley and her work: Website: lesleyskylar.com Facebook: facebook.com/lesley.skylar facebook.com/From.Awakening.To.True.Liberation Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded December 30, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - A Life-Altering Experience at Age 9 00:04:27 - A Deep Homecoming 00:08:02 - Leaving Everything behind 00:11:14 - A Life in Ashrams: Seeking Truth and Learning from Contradictions 00:14:58 - Personal Growth and Shadow Work 00:18:59 - The Magnification of Ego in Spiritual Contexts 00:22:20 - The Journey of Awakening and Deepening 00:25:58 - The Rockets Taking Off into Space 00:29:57 - Deep Purification and Holistic Transformation in Spiritual Practice 00:33:33 - Accessing Deeper States of Consciousness 00:37:40 - Living Outside the Bubble of the Self 00:41:30 - The Importance of Experience and Physiology in Spiritual Practice 00:44:46 - Surrendering to Your True Nature and Rewiring the Being 00:48:23 - The Importance of Coaching and Feedback in Practice 00:52:24 - The Joy of Practice and Self-Inquiry 00:56:10 - The Marvel of the Human Mind and Nervous System 01:00:35 - The Mystery of Being 01:05:22 - The Illusion of Selfhood 01:10:30 - The Illusion of Identity 01:15:01 - The Illusion of Self 01:19:51 - Questions from Tim in Canada 01:24:50 - Sticking around after enlightenment 01:30:00 - Expanding Awareness and Letting Go of Patterns 01:35:12 - Overcoming Boredom and Restlessness 01:39:59 - Resting in the Depth of the Ocean 01:45:04 - Overcoming the Egoic Patterning 01:49:10 - Practical Tips for Meditation 01:53:25 - The Clues in Your Point of View 01:58:27 - Engaging with Cosmic Intelligence 02:03:13 - Anyone Can Do It, Stick with It 02:07:42 - Ongoing Series: Explore the menus on batgap.com

Joi was aware of the unseen magic of Presence at a very early age. She remembers being more drawn to this mystery than anything else. This led her to delve into many traditions of spirituality. After a spontaneous awakening at age 28, Joi spent two years on a blissful honeymoon of Spirit before plunging into a deep period of emotional purging and healing. Among her healers were a powerful Lakota medicine man, with whom she traveled for two years, and a group of Yogananda disciples who had developed a powerful way of unlocking unconscious beliefs using kinesiology. She worked with them 3x/week for two years. During this period that the formless aspect of the Divine Mother appeared to Joi and she began a very intense journey. Joi met Amma in 1993, and she realized that Amma was the same Mother that had captured her heart and soul. Joi spent nine years in Amma's Indian Ashram, and then two years in Tiruvannamalai at Ramana's Ashram. When Joi came home from India, she was completely exhausted, and her "seeker drive" fell away. She began sitting with Adyashanti, who helped her understand all that had taken place within her being. Joi began teaching in 2006, with Amma's and Adya's blessings. Joi continues to be inspired and moved toward what Life could be if we let go to our inner potential, which is the ultimate intelligence of all creation. Joi's Website Books: Embodying the Infinite and the Dissolution of the Separate self: Stories, Transmissions and Ancient Vedic Knowledge for the Complete Liberation of Source Consciousness Unpredictable Grace: My Adventure Recovering from Chronic Pain through Neuroscience and Quantum Mechanics Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview First BatGap interview with Joi Interview recorded Dec. 17, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:43 - The Importance of Devotion and the Nervous System 00:07:11 - The Evolution of Devotion 00:11:15 - The Value and Sweetness of Devotion 00:15:38 - The Importance of Devotion and Inspiration 00:19:47 - The Deeper Intelligence Within Us 00:23:41 - The Validity of Wanting Awakening 00:27:52 - Discovering the Capacity for Devotion 00:32:11 - Radical Transformation through Association with Presence 00:36:10 - Neuroplasticity and the Transformation of the Brain 00:39:48 - Recognizing Presence within Ourselves 00:44:01 - Physiological Transformation Through Being 00:48:05 - The Capacity of Clarity 00:52:58 - Using Clarity to Purify and Heal 00:57:31 - The Subtle Beings Within Us 01:01:42 - The Evolution of My Relationship with Amma 01:06:15 - The Role of Teachers and Dependency 01:09:55 - Finding Clarity and Resonance 01:14:02 - Cultivating Discernment 01:18:06 - Strengthening the Muscle of Discernment 01:22:46 - The Importance of Openness and Personal Experience 01:26:53 - The Freedom of Not Having a Place to Rest Our Head 01:31:11 - The Integration of Form and Consciousness 01:35:33 - Moving towards a collective consciousness 01:39:33 - The Shift to a Many-to-Many Model 01:43:17 - The Satisfaction of Working with People 01:46:33 - The Gifts and Ordinary Life 01:50:55 - Importance of Solitude and Integration 01:54:50 - The Importance of Integration and Engagement 01:58:57 - Finding Intimacy Everywhere 02:02:22 - Farewell and Happy Holidays

When John Samsen first contacted us several months ago, he said, "I'm 90 years old, I've had both my feet amputated, and I've never been happier". We soon learned that John designed the Ford Thunderbird, Plymouth Barracuda, and other "muscle cars", and later had a profound and abiding spiritual awakening. Over a course of many decades, John Samsen followed a quest to understand the “big questions” of Life; why are we here, what is Life all about, and who am I, really? Along with careers in Aerospace Engineering and car designing, John studied the sciences, mythologies, religions, philosophies, and psychologies, to expand his understandings. A pattern of paranormal experiences opened his mind to areas of experience beyond the paradigms of Science. In 1970, he embarked on a quest of Self Discovery, participating in hundreds of hours of intensive consciousness exploration with such noted researchers as Drs. Jean Houston and Robert Masters, Dr. Lawrence LeShan, Robert Monroe, and others involved in the “human potentials” movements of the 1970s. After a series of traumatic events in his life, John experienced a “metanoia”, what some call a transformation or “awakening”. John's quest ended, and in the years since, he has been enjoying Life, knowing peace of mind, “unconditional love” of self and world, and freedom from fear and anxiety. John has been working on a verbal description of his experiences that does not rely on traditional metaphysical or religious ideas but is consistent with modern scientific concepts of space, time, matter, and energy. He believes that a dramatic experience of “awakening”, which is rare and very difficult to achieve, is not necessary for enlightened living; that with proper guidance and consistent effort, most people can achieve that state of being. His Book: A Journey to Metanoia: My Life Transformed You may email John. More about John's automotive design career here and here. Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded December 9, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:07 - From Airplanes to Car Design 00:05:29 - Terrifying Experiences in the Realm of Geometric Principles 00:07:54 - Trance States and Otherworldly Experiences 00:10:22 - A Strange Flying Object 00:12:27 - Mysterious Events and Poltergeist Activity 00:14:59 - The Little Man in the Restroom 00:17:36 - The Encounter with the Weird Man 00:20:00 - The Breakdown and Regeneration of Belief Systems 00:23:08 - The Illusion of Reality 00:25:39 - A Blissful Awakening 00:28:15 - Happiness in the Face of Pain and Resistance 00:30:42 - A Shift in Perspective 00:33:19 - Trading Commodities and Design Work 00:35:30 - The Impact of Jean Houston's Workshops 00:38:09 - The Preciousness of Life and Growing Older 00:40:49 - The Decision of Euthanasia and Following a Deeper Mind 00:43:22 - A Vision of Love Energy 00:46:14 - The Evolutionary Trajectory of the Universe 00:48:45 - The Interaction of the Divine Intelligence 00:51:10 - The Nature of Opposites 00:53:17 - Embracing Diversity and the totality of existence 00:55:19 - Fear of Death and Valuing Life 00:57:30 - The Earth as a Host 00:59:56 - The Drive Behind Human Activities 01:02:13 - The Potential End of Human Life by the End of the Century 01:04:45 - The Possibility of Metanoia and an Enlightened World 01:07:07 - Motivation to Contribute 01:09:17 - Ordinary Spiritually Awakening People 01:11:26 - Journey to Metanoia 01:13:31 - Getting to Know the Guest Speaker

Paul was born in 1961 and lived most of life in the coastal county of Pembrokeshire, UK. He always loved the sea and aspired to be a professional football (soccer) player. One day, at the age of 15, while playing football, unbounded awareness dawned. Everything was the "ocean". He didn't know what this was, or whether anyone else had experienced it, but later on he discovered the Upanishads in a bookstore, which led to his joining a Vedanta Monastery for five years. For a time after that, he lived a hermit-like life. One day in meditation, a woman's name came to him. He had never heard of her, nor did he even know whether she existed, but he knew he would marry her. He later did, opened a gallery and had two boys. He now spends his time supporting the boys and their business and chatting about the ocean. Facebook Page Email Paul. Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded December 3, 2017. Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:31 - Changing Sense of Identity 00:10:17 - Kundalini and Energetic Experiences 00:15:04 - The Beauty of Human Experience 00:20:02 - Assimilation and Adjustment Challenges 00:24:42 - Falling in Love with the Ocean and Finding Books 00:29:34 - An Old Monk's Experiences 00:34:02 - Shake-up of Central Structures of Authority 00:38:32 - The Limitations of Words and Language 00:42:25 - Non-verbal communication and the limitations of language 00:46:24 - Insecurity in Identity 00:50:21 - The Paradox of Movement 00:54:19 - The Process of Creative Intelligence 00:57:53 - The Importance of Individual Paths 01:01:37 - The Wholeness of Everything 01:05:36 - A Journey of Awakening 01:09:06 - The Power and Intoxication of Authority 01:12:58 - Power and Abuse in Spiritual Circles 01:16:28 - The Role of Teachers and Students 01:20:13 - The Power of Humility 01:24:29 - An Unexpected Journey 01:28:30 - The Nature of Reality in Words 01:32:03 - Conversations and Tea 01:36:02 - Chatting and Helping People with Awakening 01:39:45 - Unsettling Experiences and Fear 01:43:52 - Dancing in the Bedroom 01:47:47 - The Presence of Subtle Beings. 01:51:49 - The Paradox of Existence 01:55:52 - A Delightful Virtual Tea and the Dance of Words 02:00:04 - The form and the formless 02:03:41 - John Sampson: A Life of Fascinating Experiences

Kabir Helminski is a Shaikh in the lineage of Rumi, and co-director of The Threshold Society. His translations of Rumi and books on spirituality, Living Presence and The Knowing Heart, have been published in at least eight languages. In 2009 and subsequent years Kabir was named as one of the "500 Most Influential Muslims in the World" by the Royal Strategic Studies Center (Jordan). He has toured North America as Shaikh with the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey bringing Sufi culture to more than 100,000 people. His latest book is Holistic Islam: Sufism, Transformation, and the Needs of Our Time. Other books: Love's Ripening: Rumi on the Heart's Journey The Rumi Daybook: 365 Poems and Teachings from the Beloved Sufi Master Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded November 28, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:11 - Inspiration and Exploration in the 60s 00:10:06 - Working with Contemplative Teachers 00:15:31 - Sufism and Islam: Distinguishing Between the Two 00:20:47 - Sufism and its Practices 00:25:49 - The Prophet Muhammad's Revelation and the Quranic Language 00:31:26 - Sufism and the Value of a Teacher 00:36:17 - Embodiment of Non-Dual Reality 00:41:05 - The Growing Awareness of Embodied Enlightenment 00:44:32 - The Knowing Heart and Spiritual Development 00:48:16 - Transformation through Love and Acceptance 00:51:50 - The Healing Power of Whirling 00:55:46 - The Whirling Dervishes: A Profound Spiritual Practice 00:59:24 - The Power of Spiritual Energies 01:03:03 - The Whirling Ceremony and the Revelation in the Sufi Tradition 01:06:58 - Self-awareness and servanthood 01:14:09 - The Stupidity of Spending a Year Doing Worthless Things 01:17:34 - Finding Mercy in Pain and Suffering 01:25:17 - The Assimilation of Deeper Reality 01:29:03 - The Essential Self and the Personality Self 01:33:01 - Plugging into the Divine Energy 01:36:21 - The Qualitative Development of the Human Being 01:39:50 - The Beauty of the Ritual 01:43:02 - Disorganizing Higher Energies 01:46:39 - The Beauty of Islam's Rejection of Idols 01:50:14 - The Love and Strictness of a Parent 01:53:37 - The Presence Within Us 01:57:16 - The Nearness to God 02:00:19 - Concluding Remarks and Farewell

Matthew Fox is a spiritual theologian, an Episcopal priest, and an activist. As a spiritual theologian he has written 34 books that have been translated into over 60 languages. Among them are Original Blessing, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, A Spirituality Named Compassion, The Reinvention of Work, The Hidden Spirituality of Men, Christian Mystics, and The Pope's War. He has contributed much to the rediscovery of Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart and Thomas Aquinas as pre-modern mystics and prophets. Fox holds a doctorate in the history and theology of spirituality from the Institut Catholique de Paris. The founder of the University of Creation Spirituality in California, he conducts dozens of workshops each year and is a visiting scholar at the Academy for the Love of Learning in Santa Fe, NM. In joining the Episcopal church over 20 years ago, Fox has been working with young people to reinvent forms of worship by bringing elements of rave such as dance, dj, vj and more into the Western Liturgy. The Cosmic Mass has been celebrated over 100 times and in dozens of cities in North America. Fox is recipient of the Abbey Courage of Conscience Peace Award (other recipients being the Dali Lama, Mother Teresa, Ernesto Cardenal and Rosa Parks), the Gandhi King Ikeda Award, the Tikkun National Ethics Award and other awards. His latest books are Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action; Stations of the Cosmic Christ; and A Way to God: Thomas Merton's Creation Spirituality Journey. He teaches regularly at the Fox Institute for Creation Spirituality in Boulder, CO and resides in Vallejo, CA. Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded November 11, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:07 - The Everyday Buddha 00:08:31 - Democratizing the Mystical Experience and Contemplative Wisdom 00:13:09 - Taming the Reptilian Brain 00:17:28 - Celebrating Love as a Theophany 00:25:39 - Shifting Human Consciousness and its Impact on the Planet 00:30:08 - Laudato Si and the Destruction of Coral Reefs 00:33:59 - The Environmental Crisis 00:38:25 - The Impact of War and Peace 00:42:27 - Becoming an Episcopal Priest 00:46:14 - The Difference Between Spirituality and Religion 00:50:37 - The Beginnings of the Creation Tradition 00:55:17 - Creation Spirituality and the Cosmic Christ 00:59:15 - Cosmic Imagery in Religious Teachings 01:03:05 - The Immensity of Intelligence in Creation 01:06:56 - The Relationship Between Enlightenment and Compassion 01:11:00 - The Power of Denial and Its Consequences 01:14:50 - Chosen Ignorance 01:19:02 - The Four Paths of Spiritual Journey 01:23:06 - The Power of Compassion and Healing 01:26:50 - A Doctorate in Spirituality 01:30:35 - The Murder of Thomas Merton 01:34:18 - Merton's Mystical Experience in Downtown Louisville 01:38:15 - Reality and Metaphysics 01:43:03 - Joy and Consciousness in the Universe 01:47:06 - Sat-chit-ananda and the Joy of Creating 01:51:09 - Accessing the Inner Joy and Happiness 01:55:25 - The Intellect and Values 01:58:37 - Invitation to All Lifestyles and Traditions 02:01:42 - Thinking outside the box

Amoda Maa is a contemporary spiritual teacher, author, and speaker. After years of spiritual seeking, meditation, and immersion in psychospiritual practices, an experience of the dark night of the soul led her to a profound inner awakening. Then, after a long period of integration, she began speaking from silence in small gatherings. Today she offers meetings and retreats, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and events, attracting spiritual seekers and people looking for peace and fulfillment in an increasingly chaotic world. Her teachings are free of religion and tradition, and she brings to them a deep understanding of the human journey, born out of her own experience. She is the author of Radical Awakening (originally released as How to Find God in Everything) and Change Your Life, Change Your World: Ten Spiritual Lessons for a New Way of Being and Living. Both books were written shortly after her awakening and before she began to speak in public. Her new book Embodied Enlightenment — written 15 years after her awakening — is based on the many conversations at the cutting edge of spiritual inquiry in her meetings with people from all around the world, and addresses many of the questions relevant to today’s seeker. It has been acclaimed as “a beautiful and precious gift to an emerging new humanity.” Amoda lives with her husband and beloved, Kavi, in New Mexico. Website: amodamaa.com Previous BatGap interviews with Amoda: First Interview Amoda Maa in panel discussion: Birthing Radiant Being into Our Humanity Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded November 5, 2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:36 - Recognizing Spiritual Maturity 00:06:54 - The Maturation of Awakening 00:12:11 - The Natural State of the Nervous System 00:16:40 - The Ongoingness of Awakening 00:20:56 - The Impact of Awakening on Humanity 00:25:32 - The Passing on of Spiritual Awakening 00:29:16 - The Importance of Integrating Inner Divisions 00:33:49 - Returning to the Human Heartbreak 00:38:11 - The Wound of Aloneness 00:41:46 - Fear of Separation and Oneness 00:46:08 - Breaking Free from Victimhood in Relationships 00:49:53 - The Permeability of Boundaries in Oneness and Love 00:54:38 - Intimacy in Every Moment of Life 00:58:24 - The Energy of the Sexual Act 01:02:28 - The Art of Listening 01:06:08 - The Manifestation of Oneness in the Relative 01:10:21 - Becoming a Servant of Cosmic Intelligence 01:13:57 - The Maturation Process and the realization of no-self 01:18:43 - Integration of the Self and the No-Self 01:22:39 - Navigating the Tricky Inner Terrain 01:26:43 - Opening Spirituality to a Wider Audience 01:30:51 - Concepts and Intrinsic Reality 01:34:01 - The End of Division and the Catalyst for Change 01:38:03 - The Divine Feminine and the Infusion of Love 01:42:19 - Non-violence towards our inner experience 01:47:01 - Tenderness towards Loss 01:51:36 - The Clinging to Loss 01:56:07 - The Illusion of Punishment 01:59:17 - The Power of Direct Experience and Belief 02:02:48 - Conclusion and Thank You

Kittisaro and Thanissara have been married since 1992. They spent 7 years as guiding teachers of the Buddhist Retreat Centre KwaZulu S. Africa and then went on to found Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat on the border of Lesotho and South Africa. They co-founded several HIV/Aids Outreach Programs and currently support Kuluingile Project, a home for children left vulnerable due to HIV/Aids run by Sister Abegail Ntleko, award winner of the Dalai Lama Unsung Hero Award. They lead retreats in S.Africa, UK, U.S.A and Israel and regularly host one to three-month retreats at Dharmagiri. They currently reside in Sebastopol, CA. Kittisaro is from Tennessee, USA. He graduated from Princeton as a Rhodes Scholar. He ordained with Ajahn Chah in 1976 in the Thai Forest Tradition. He was a monk for 15 years and helped found several monasteries in the UK. His practice has also been informed by the Chinese school of Master Hua since 1980. Kittisaro completed two one year silent self retreats and is co-author of 'Listening to the Heart.' He has taught extensively since the 1980's and is a core teacher at Insight Meditation Society, MA, founding teacher of Chattanooga Insight, TN and affiliated teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA. Thanissara is from an Anglo-Irish family in London. She started Buddhist practice in the Burmese school in 1975. She spent 12 years as a Buddhist nun in the Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah where she was a founding member of Chithurst Monastery and Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in the UK. Thanissara has an MA in Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy Practice from the UK. She has taught extensively since the late 1980's, is the author of several books, including two poetry books. Her latest is Time to Stand Up: An Engaged Buddhist Manifesto for Our Earth. Books: Listening to the Heart: A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism Time to Stand Up: An Engaged Buddhist Manifesto for Our Earth -- The Buddha's Life and Message through Feminine Eyes (Sacred Activism) Empty Hands, A Memoir: One Woman's Journey to Save Children Orphaned by AIDS in South Africa (Sacred Activism) The Heart Of The Bitter Almond Hedge Sutra Website: dharmagiri.org Discussion of this video in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded Oct. 28, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Kittisaro and Thanissara 00:04:27 - Background and Experiences 00:07:52 - Setting up a non-profit and training programs for the planetary emergency 00:11:29 - Bringing the Buddhist Community on Board 00:14:47 - Profound Impact on Consciousness Shifts 00:18:44 - Mandela's Courageous Act 00:22:27 - The Tipping Point and Profound Shifts 00:25:29 - Overcoming Overwhelm and Finding Balance 00:29:21 - Unlocking the Power of Deep Intelligence 00:32:28 - Standing Rock and the Energy Revolution 00:36:00 - Reducing Consumption and Shifting to Plant-Based Diets 00:39:53 - Mindsets and Awareness 00:43:21 - Surrendering to Sickness and Opening to the Teaching 00:47:11 - Lying Down Meditation and Letting Go 00:50:35 - Permission to Die 00:54:02 - The Power of Different Meditation Techniques 00:57:21 - The Shift from Warrior to Lover Archetype 01:01:05 - The Living and Responsive Universe 01:04:33 - Being Embodied in the Web of Life 01:08:01 - Universal Love and Compassion 01:11:12 - Challenges of Spiritual Upbringing in the West 01:14:27 - The Importance of Calling Out Inappropriate Behavior 01:17:33 - Breaking the Silence, Revealing the Shadow 01:20:58 - The Importance of Impeccable Awareness 01:24:29 - Returning to Primary Patterning 01:27:48 - The Role of Spiritual Practice in Emotional Suppression 01:31:24 - The Balance of Male and Female 01:34:53 - Embracing the Both And Paradox 01:38:16 - Buddha as a Human Being 01:41:38 - A Profound Inner Awakening 01:45:00 - Thank You and Goodbye

Recorded at the Science and Nonduality Conference. There is a perennial debate in spiritual traditions regarding whether realization is direct (sudden) or progressive (gradual). But is this a false distinction? Realization is often sudden, no matter how many years of practice may have led up to it, and even after realization, most people find that refinement, clarification, and the working out of personal shortcomings continue indefinitely. Who wouldn’t prefer direct realization to years of purification and practice? But how many examples of purely direct realization can we find? Can a path be both direct and progressive? Is it possible to have a taste of our true nature from the outset, and then spend a lifetime clarifying and embodying it? Also, is there one watershed breakthrough which can be universally agreed upon as final “Realization”, or are there many degrees and stages of realization, each of them important stepping stones in a never-ending journey? Proponents of the direct path sometimes argue that if we regard spiritual development as progressive, we will forever be anticipating, never arriving. But some spiritual seekers, not appreciating the distinction between understanding and experience, mistake intellectual understanding with enlightenment, and consider themselves “finished” when they are just getting started. Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D. is the Founding Director of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream, a school for consciousness studies in Berkeley, CA. Isa is also the creator of the spiritual counseling model, Depth Hypnosis, and author of two books, Coming to Peace and Return to the Great Mother. In addition to her teaching schedule that includes teaching classes in Applied Buddhist Psychology, Applied Shamanism, Integrated Energy Medicine and Depth Hypnosis, she has active practices in Depth Hypnosis and Applied Shamanic Counseling in San Francisco, CA. For more information, please see sacredstream.org. Batgap interview with Isa and Robert Thurman. David F. Buckland has a graduate degree in Vedic Science and researches and writes on subjects related to the approach, shift, integration, and embodiment of the stages of enlightenment. This reflects a 40 year unfolding that has been prominent for much of his life. But with a more recent series of profound shifts, the exploration became the life itself. Under the pen name Davidya, he brings ancient teachings into modern life. After many years of research, he published the book Our Natural Potential: Beyond Personal Development, The Stages of Enlightenment in 2017. Previous Batgap discussions with David: Individual interview Panel Discussion at Sofia University, Part 1 Panel Discussion at Sofia University, Part 2 Michael Rodriguez - Drawing always from his direct experience, Michael speaks with great clarity and compassion about the undivided nature of Life or Consciousness, pointing to reality in a way that is free from dogma, ritual, or adherence to any particular tradition. He also draws skillfully from the world's wisdom traditions and integrates Jungian psychology, literature, music, and art into his work to address the full range of human potential. He offers meetings, retreats, and private sessions here in the United States and abroad. Book--Boundless Awareness: A Loving Path to Spiritual Awakening and Freedom from Suffering Previous Batgap discussion with Michael Discussion of this video in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Recorded October 22, 2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Sudden or Gradual? Two Paths to Realisation 00:04:33 - Understanding the Direct Path 00:09:16 - The Both/And Path of Integration 00:14:10 - The Experience of Self on a Soul Level and Relative Level 00:19:16 - Holding Dual Perspectives in the Awakening Process 00:23:46 - The Continuous Process of Unfolding 00:28:04 - The Momentum of the Old Way 00:32:08 - Dissolution of the Self and Healing 00:36:02 - Genuine Insight vs Mechanical Statements 00:40:36 - The Importance of Healing and Clarity 00:45:00 - Embracing Residual Traumas and Awakening 00:50:25 - Accessing the Core Wound 00:54:27 - The Illusion of Separation 00:58:07 - Resolving the Core Wound of Separation 01:03:00 - Audience Questions 01:05:12 - The Challenge of Embracing the Concept of "No Self" 01:09:37 - The Inability to Grasp the Concept of No Self 01:13:53 - Exploring Different Perspectives 01:17:09 - Clearing Thought Processes and Genuine Expression 01:21:36 - When the Spiritual Path is of No Use 01:26:00 - The Importance of Resonance and Finding the Right Teacher 01:28:44 - The Unified Field of Attaining Enlightenment 01:32:58 - The Beauty of Non-Progression 01:36:49 - An Integration Process of Years 01:41:32 - Sharing Perspectives on Vedic and Buddhist Thought 01:45:31 - The Consciousness of Black Oaks 01:49:30 - A Path of Gradual and Sudden Shifts 01:53:18 - Maintaining the Lightness 01:57:03 - The Journey of Self-Realization and Shifting Realities 02:01:

Presentation at the Science and Nonduality Conference. Many well-known spiritual teachers and gurus have been accused, credibly, of sexual, financial, and behavioral abuse, despite their own spiritual attainment having seemed significant, and their teachings beneficial. As a result, some people have concluded that higher consciousness and ethical behavior are not correlated, that we are governed by our genetics and conditioning, or by "nature", and that we have no free will and thus no control over or responsibility for our actions. That logic has been used as an alibi by some misbehaving spiritual teachers. Others have become cynical about the motives of all gurus and teachers, and some have even lost faith in spirituality altogether. Yet, every spiritual tradition includes codes of ethics that apply to both teachers and students. Ethical behavior has been regarded not only as a reflection of spiritual development but as a prerequisite to it. To some extent, ethical values vary from culture to culture. But perhaps the contemporary spiritual community can agree upon some universal values. Can we agree that it's not all right to misrepresent ourselves? If we claim or imply that we have realized our true nature, and are offering to help others do the same, is it consistent for us to behave deceitfully, perversely, selfishly, or cruelly? Is it possible to be an enlightened scoundrel? Are purity and saintliness characteristic of higher levels of spiritual development, or unrelated to them? These are important questions. Because we need spiritual teachers and teachings in this critical time in humanity's maturation, we need to understand what genuine spiritual attainment should look like, irrespective of personality differences. If such understanding were more commonplace, most abusive teachers and cults would be unable to get much traction. Discussion about this talk in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Other talks by or interviews of Rick on BatGap: SAND 2019 - Knowledge/Reality is Different in Different States of Consciousness 2018 SAND Conference Q&A and Interview by Shakti Caterina Maggi Talk at Berkeley Open Circle Center Talk at SAND 2015 Interviewed by Fax Gilbert Interviewed by Richard Miller Recorded October 21, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Ethics of Enlightenment 00:01:20 - The Ethics of Enlightenment 00:02:33 - Understanding Ethical Behavior 00:03:50 - Relativism and Ethical Standards 00:04:56 - Female genital mutilation and ethical behavior 00:06:08 - The inclusive perspective in enlightenment 00:07:12 - Shocking Behavior and Misunderstanding of Maya 00:08:26 - Different Perspectives on the World 00:09:25 - Spontaneous Right Action and Ethical Moorings 00:10:55 - Questioning Hypocrisy 00:12:09 - Ethics and Regulations in Ayahuasca Practices 00:13:09 - Evaluating and Enforcing Teacher Behavior 00:14:15 - The correlation between higher consciousness and ethical behavior 00:15:53 - The Continuous Journey of Self-Realization 00:17:07 - Development and Awakening 00:18:10 - The Illusion of Enlightenment and the Asura Titan Syndrome 00:19:15 - The Deflected Rising of Kundalini 00:20:21 - The Search for a Teacher of Supreme Truth 00:21:36 - Enlightened behavior and discernment 00:22:45 - Compassion and Confronting Wrongdoing 00:23:47 - Challenges of Assuming the Role of a Spiritual Teacher 00:24:44 - Thich Nhat Hanh and his Teaching Philosophies 00:25:57 - Holy Fools and Crazy Wisdom 00:27:07 - Living Nonduality and Ethical Guidelines 00:28:23 - Observations on Higher State of Consciousness and Unethical Behavior 00:29:09 - The Holistic Development of Enlightenment 00:30:25 - Unintentional Harm in Enlightenment 00:31:38 - Skillful Action with Harmlessness 00:32:50 - Shifting into a Persistent Nondual State 00:34:08 - Authentic Choices and Spiritual Alignment 00:35:21 - Cultivating Inner Alignment

T!M FREKE is a pioneering philosopher, Gnostic scholar and spiritual guide who speaks and runs ‘Deep Awakening’ retreats internationally. He is the author of 35 books, translated into more than 15 languages, including The Jesus Mysteries on Gnostic Christianity, which was a top 10 bestseller in the USA and UK, and 'Book of the Year' in the UK Daily Telegraph. Over the last 15 years, Tim has been articulating a revolutionary approach to spiritual awakening, which is life-affirming, heart-opening and intellectually robust. In his recent book Deep Awake, he suggests that to wake up to oneness we need to embrace, rather than deny, our individuality, because ‘the ego is the hero not the villain of the spiritual adventure’. In his latest book Soul Story, Tim offers an inspiring new vision of the nature of reality and the deep purpose of existence. He suggests we need a radical shift in our understanding of both science and spirituality, so we can bring these different perspectives together. Tim’s new worldview, which he calls ‘Emergent Spirituality’, does this by combining an innovative perspective on the theory of evolution with a fresh understanding of esoteric ideas such as the immortality of the soul. Tim has been exploring spirituality since a spontaneous awakening when he was 12 years old and now guides others directly to the 'deep awake' state. He has been pioneering soul-to-soul partner meditations such as ‘gazing’ for more than fifteen years, as a powerful practice to transform consciousness. Tim is a passionate and playful communicator with a contagious enthusiasm for life, who has often been featured in the global media, such as the BBC and the History Channel. He lives with his family in Glastonbury, England. Website: timfreke.com The most recent of Tim's many books: Soul Story: Evolution and the Purpose of Life Deep Awake: Wake Up To Oneness and Celebrate Your Individuality Lucid Living: Experience Your Life Like a Lucid Dream Interview recorded October 20, 2017 at the Science and Nonduality Conference. 1st Batgap interview with Tim 2nd BatGap interview with Tim Tim Freke with Lisa Cairns Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Buddha at the Gas Pump and the Science and Non-Duality Conference 00:04:06 - The Importance of the New Book 00:07:39 - The Debate Between Subject and Object 00:10:43 - The Moon and Perception 00:13:36 - Bringing Values and Stories Together 00:17:25 - The Emergence of Consciousness 00:20:29 - The Nature of Time 00:24:03 - The Nature of Time and Emergence 00:27:03 - The Emergence of Deeper Potentialities 00:30:21 - The Evolution of Soul and Consciousness 00:33:57 - The Emergence of Consciousness and Soul 00:37:04 - The Evolving Experience of Death 00:40:15 - Exploring the Mystery of Meaning and Immortality 00:44:09 - The Paradox of the Soul's Evolution 00:46:25 - Evolution and the Problem of God 00:49:34 - The Problem of Evil and Absurdity 00:52:54 - Realizing and Experiencing Potentiality 00:56:22 - Levels of Evolution and Awakening 00:59:40 - The Emergence of Love 01:02:35 - The Evolution of Human Culture 01:05:38 - The Evolution of Social Issues 01:08:34 - Engaging with the Evolutionary Process 01:12:06 - Moving Towards the Greater Good 01:15:14 - The Integration of Science and Spirituality 01:18:12 - The Realm of Imagination and Deep Understanding 01:21:31 - The Emergent View: Physics as the First Level 01:24:14 - Complexity of the Psyche and its Emergence 01:27:08 - Individuation and Soul Formation 01:30:23 - Spirituality as a Significance Process 01:33:35 - Different Perspectives and Inclusiveness 01:36:43 - Spiritual Maturity and Ambiguity Save Save

Robert A.F. Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University, President of the Tibet House U.S., a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tibetan civilization, and President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, a non-profit affiliated with the Center for Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and dedicated to the publication of translations of important artistic and scientific treatises from the Tibetan Tengyur. TIME Magazine chose Professor Thurman as one of its 25 most influential Americans in 1997, describing him as a “larger than life scholar-activist destined to convey the Dharma, the precious teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, from Asia to America.” The New York Times recently said Thurman “is considered the leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism.” In this interview, we discuss Thurman's latest book: Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Thurman is known as a talented popularizer of the Buddha’s teachings. He is a riveting speaker and an author of many books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics, and culture, including: The Central Philosophy of Tibet Circling the Sacred Mountain: A Spiritual Adventure Through the Himalayas Essential Tibetan Buddhism The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Liberation Through Understanding in the Between Wisdom and Compassion The Sacred Art of Tibet Inner Revolution Infinite Life: Awakening to Bliss Within The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the World With Sharon Salzberg, Love Your Enemies: How to Break the Anger Habit & Be a Whole Lot Happier Website: bobthurman.com Podcast YouTube Channel Previous Batgap interview with Robert Thurman. Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D. is the Founding Director of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream, a school for consciousness studies in Berkeley, CA. Isa is also the creator of the spiritual counseling model, Depth Hypnosis. In addition to her teaching schedule that includes teaching classes in Applied Buddhist Psychology, Applied Shamanism, Integrated Energy Medicine and Depth Hypnosis, she has active practices in Depth Hypnosis and Applied Shamanic Counseling in San Francisco, CA. In this interview, we discuss Isa's latest book: Coming to Peace: Resolving Conflict Within Ourselves and With Others Other books: Return to the Great Mother The Four Immeasurables Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Recorded October 19, 2017, at the Science and Nonduality Conference. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to "Buddha at the Gas Pump" 00:04:05 - The Burden of Staying in the Hundreds 00:06:47 - The Dalai Lama's Development and Growth 00:09:45 - The Heroism of His Holiness the Dalai Lama 00:12:41 - The Dalai Lama's Approval 00:16:30 - The Circle of Communication 00:20:47 - Reconciling Conflicting Parts of the Self 00:25:27 - The Need for Wisdom alongside Meditation 00:28:40 - The Turbulence of Enlightenment 00:31:42 - Cross-fertilization of Knowledge 00:34:21 - The Power of Nonviolent Resistance and Peaceful Dialogue 00:37:23 - Shamanic Practice and Helping Spirits 00:40:47 - Connecting with Inner Guidance 00:44:47 - The Power of the Shamanic Journey 00:47:37 - A Conflict between Practitioner, Soldier, and Red Ball 00:50:43 - Resolving Conflict and Taking Care of Oneself 00:53:31 - Buddhism's role in world peace and vulnerability 00:56:17 - The Choice of Vulnerability and Peace 01:00:00 - Creating Outer Peace 01:02:25 - A Funny Story About the Dalai Lama 01:05:35 - The Vicious Circle Stops 01:08:38 - Finding Equilibrium within the Mind 01:13:28 - The Unity of Self and Others 01:17:02 - Bringing Peace in Conflict 01:20:44 - Inner Resistance and Self-forgiveness 01:24:45 - The Difference in Society and Gender Roles 01:28:21 - The Dualistic View of Brahmins vs. Buddhists 01:31:57 - Reincarnation as a Social Institution in Tibet 01:36:20 - The Geopolitical Power Play in Tibet 01:39:49 - Building Cults and Exiles 01:42:31 - Thank You for Listening Save Save

John Lockley is a traditionally trained African Shaman known as a Sangoma from Nelson Mandela's tribe, the Xhosa nation. He also has a background in Zen Buddhism and was a student of the late Zen Master Su Bong from South Korea. He holds an honors degree in Clinical Psychology and specialized in health psychology with an interest in trauma and how people recover from life-threatening illnesses like cancer. For the last 10 years, he has been running 'Ubuntu' (humanity) retreats worldwide helping people to reconnect to their essential humanity; their bones (ancestors), dreams, and ultimately, life purpose. His mission in the Western world could be summed up in the Xhosa word 'Masiyembo' - involving a profound remembering of the human spirit. As John says, "when people can remember their dreams and connect to their life purpose, then their true vocation surfaces; namely being in service and acting as guardians to our planet". Book: Leopard Warrior: A Journey into the African Teachings of Ancestry, Instinct, and Dreams Audio: The Way of the Leopard: Meditations and Shamanic Practices from the Heart of Africa Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded October 15, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:00 - A Calling to Africa and the Birth of a Prosa Sangoma 00:10:07 - Joining the Medical Corps in the Army 00:14:31 - Witnessing Death on the Neurology Ward 00:18:33 - Becoming a Sangha and the Powerful Dream 00:22:53 - Connecting with the Soul of Life through Dreams 00:26:54 - Soulful Conscious Dreams and Connecting with Our Dreams 00:30:57 - The Depth of Twaza Illness 00:34:51 - Becoming an African Monk in South Africa 00:38:55 - Acceptance into the Xhosa Tradition 00:43:04 - The Action of Helping the Community 00:47:16 - The Importance of Honoring Ancestors 00:51:30 - Honoring the Consciousness of Ancestors 00:55:34 - The Power of Sacred Plants 00:59:35 - Searching for the Sacred Plant 01:03:57 - The Power of Divination 01:08:09 - The Sacredness of Divination and Family Healing 01:12:19 - Protecting Yourself in Dreams with Spiritual Practice 01:16:35 - Connecting with the Great Spirit 01:21:01 - Sangama Training and African Chanting Monks 01:25:02 - Sangomas and Community 01:29:19 - Ubuntu and Healing One Another 01:33:40 - Opening the Heart and Embracing Vulnerability 01:37:53 - The Role of Emotions 01:41:46 - Chaos and Transformation 01:45:49 - Kundalini and Transformation 01:50:13 - Saint Francis and Transformation through Illness 01:54:00 - Compassion under the Tree 01:58:17 - The Path to Becoming a Sangama in South Africa 02:02:17 - How to Avail My Offerings 02:06:20 - Updates and upcoming interviews Save

Vera de Chalambert is a spiritual storyteller and Harvard-educated scholar of comparative religion. She speaks and writes about spiritual culture, mindfulness in the modern world, and the Divine Feminine and has been a speaker at the Science and Nonduality Conference in the US and Europe, Sister Giant in Washington DC, and other gatherings. Vera holds a Master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School where she studied comparative mysticism and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in Religion and Literature. Her work explores the meeting place of creativity, psychology, and spirituality and is informed by insights from both Eastern and Western philosophies. Vera is a graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing and has been a student of Jason Shulman's Nondual Healing work. She is deeply influenced by Buddhist and Kabbalistic lineages. Vera's recent work has been on the topic of Holy Darkness and exploration of the Dark Goddesses associated with transformation and initiation found in the world's great wisdom traditions, the most well-known of whom is the Hindu Goddess Kali. Vera is a mother and a devotee of the Mother. She is working on her first book on the Dark Feminine. Website: healingawakening.com Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded Saturday, October 7, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:59 - Early Trauma and Developmental Gap 00:07:01 - Early Memories and Incarnation 00:11:30 - Feeling responsible for the collapsing world 00:17:42 - Shaped by Elders and Teachers in our Culture 00:24:25 - A Dissociative Experience and the Journey of Integration 00:32:25 - Integration and Descent into Incarnation 00:36:26 - The Integration of the Feminine 00:39:27 - Seeking Perfection and Spiritual Experiences 00:42:44 - The Earring from Kali's Statue 00:46:47 - Dancing with Kali 00:51:40 - The Burning Process 00:55:21 - The Profound Experience of Pain Transcendence 00:59:58 - The Prayer and Transformation 01:03:30 - Embracing the Unknown and Opening Doors 01:06:36 - Unknown Teachers and Mentors 01:10:05 - The Impact of Trump's Election 01:14:03 - Prophecies and Predictions throughout History 01:17:59 - The Dark Feminine in Spirituality 01:22:18 - Union with the Divine 01:26:25 - Facing the Shadow and Collective Reckoning 01:30:35 - The Universal Nature of Suffering 01:34:54 - Kali, the Killer of Demons and Misconceptions 01:39:07 - The Terrifying Beauty of Pure Reality 01:43:12 - Shiva and Shakti in Us 01:47:54 - Resting in a Deeper Calm 01:53:10 - Embracing our Imperfect Humanity 01:57:08 - The Ethics of Enlightenment and the Role of Spiritual Teachers 02:01:23 - The Value of Surrender and Trusting in Deeper Intelligence 02:05:40 - The Pleasure of Attending Conferences 02:08:18 - Finding our Clearing

The Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, Ph.D., is an Episcopal priest, teacher, writer, and internationally acclaimed retreat leader. A student of Fr. Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, Beatrice Bruteau, and the Gurdjieff Work, she has made her mark exploring Wisdom Christianity and the often overlooked lineage of Christian nonduality. Founding Director of the Contemplative Society in Victoria BC and the Aspen Wisdom School, she now serves as one of the core faculty, together with Richard Rohr, OFM, and James Finley, of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM. When not teaching internationally, she resides in her seaside hermitage on Eagle Island, Maine. Websites: cynthiabourgeault.org wisdomwayofknowing.org Books: Eye of the Heart: A Spiritual Journey into the Imaginal Realm The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind--A New Perspective on Christ and His Message The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three: Discovering the Radical Truth at the Heart of Christianity Love is Stronger than Death: The Mystical Union of Two Souls Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. 2nd BatGap interview with Cynthia. Interview recorded Sept. 30, 2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:50 - Religious Thought and Spiritual Questions 00:09:22 - The Consciousness of Jesus and Its Distortion 00:13:47 - Finding the Right Path and Listening to the Heart of Hearts 00:18:09 - A Journey Towards Self-Discovery 00:23:02 - Three Centered Awareness and the Criticism of Divided Attention 00:27:25 - Witnessing and the Gurdjieff Work 00:32:07 - The Origins of Centering Prayer 00:36:46 - Origins of Centering Prayer 00:41:14 - Understanding Katha Fatik and Apophatic Prayer 00:45:51 - Surrender into Silence 00:50:06 - The Natural Process of Thoughts Emerging 00:54:28 - The Influence of a Book on Meditation 00:58:39 - Deepening the Sense of Connectedness 01:03:29 - Deep inspiration and insight 01:07:41 - The Importance of All Sacred Traditions 01:12:02 - Reincarnation and Remembering Past Lives 01:17:01 - Thought-form climates and responsible manifestation 01:21:41 - The Purpose of Meditation 01:26:00 - The Importance of a Healthy Neurophysiology and Overcoming Fear 01:30:48 - The Limitless Nature of Divine Love 01:35:27 - Levels of Consciousness and Non-Duality 01:40:28 - The Non-dual Level of Christianity 01:45:17 - Non-duality and the Living Experience 01:49:58 - Embracing Technology and Skillful Action 01:54:42 - Devotion and the Heart 01:59:14 - The Embodied Heart 02:04:12 - The Heart as Mediator between the Individual and the Universal 02:08:50 - Letting go and returning the heart to its pure state 02:13:37 - The Fear of Falling and Being Human 02:17:49 - Concluding Remarks and Next Guest Save

Carole Griggs, Ph.D. is the founder/CEO of Carole Griggs Enterprises LLC. Dr. Griggs is a professional coach and consultant, university professor, international speaker, author/writer, and pioneer and leader in the areas of Conscious Human Development, and Integrative Wellness and Nutrition. Carole has a PhD. in Professional Coaching and Human Development, a Master’s degree in Education and Teaching, and a Bachelor’s degree in Science. Carole is co-founder and developer of iConscious: accelerating human development and the iConscious Human Development Model, a comprehensive and integrative meta-framework created to accelerate the process of reducing human suffering and maximizing full human potential both individually and collectively. Carole (and her colleague, Ted Strauss) has been applying her experience in an important Artificial Intelligence project that is part of the IBM Watson X-Prize Competition. Carole is a professor at John F. Kennedy University for the Masters in Consciousness and Transformative Studies department, where she co-developed and teaches Human Development and the Evolution of Consciousness. She also developed and teaches courses at National University for the Masters of Science in the Complementary and Integrative Healthcare department. Carole has worked with thousands of individuals and company leaders worldwide. She has extensive experience in personal and professional coaching, teaching, training, and facilitating groups and individuals, personally and interpersonally. Carole brings a depth and breadth of experience and expertise in the evolution and expansion of human consciousness and potential, personal and interpersonal development, awakening self-awareness, empowerment from oneness, clear communication, leadership development, and various modalities of embodiment and wellness. Carole’s mission is to help streamline and accelerate conscious human development for the evolution of humanity’s full potential, and create various educational platforms and technology tools to help scale this process to where we live in a world in which awakening - in all domains - is the new normal. Ted Strauss is co-founder of iConscious and has been a writer and teacher of awakening for over 40 years. Over the past 19 years, he was instrumental in building the foundations of the Waking Down work, including designing and presenting core dharma workshops and the mentor and teacher training programs. During that time, he worked very personally with thousands of students to assist their iConscious realization and further awakening process. Through this experience, Ted has discovered ways to streamline personal and interpersonal development, enabling most aspirants to experience major shifts in days or months instead of years or lifetimes. Recently, Ted has been applying his experience in an important Artificial Intelligence project that is part of the IBM Watson X-Prize competition. Website: iconscious.global Previous Batgap interview with Ted Strauss and Hillary Davis 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 00:05:09 - Awakening and Human Development 00:09:27 - Patterns and Similarities in the Process 00:13:49 - Levels and Stages of Development in Non-Duality 00:18:13 - Awakening to Personal Self and Integration 00:22:13 - The Importance of Integration and Development 00:26:25 - Awakening in Different Domains 00:30:08 - Distinct Types of Awakening 00:33:38 - Laying out the Whole Picture 00:37:18 - Updating Belief Systems and the Realization of Unity 00:40:49 - The Unfolding of Consciousness in Different Individuals 00:44:23 - The Journey of Self-Discovery 00:47:51 - Integration and Development of Consciousness 00:51:23 - Understanding the Results of the Guided Self-Assessment 00:54:47 - Exploring Different Chapters of Development 00:58:16 - Introduction to the Daily State of the Industry Update 01:01:39 - Awakening and Fluidity in Consciousness 01:05:21 - Various States of Consciousness 01:08:26 - High Resolution Images and Neurophysiological Correlates 01:11:59 - Awakening through Artificial Intelligence 01:15:30 - Human Support Still in Demand 01:18:33 - Interactivity on iConscious.global 01:21:48 - Comparing Levels of Awakening 01:25:13 - The Importance of Honoring Your Own Journey 01:28:37 - The Evolution of the Seeking Impulse 01:32:09 - Finding the Right Teacher at the Right Time 01:35:27 - Individualized Teaching and Moving On 01:38:50 - The Different Forms of Teaching Awakening 01:42:00 - Collaborating with Jeffrey and potential collaboration projects 01:45:14 - Transcend and Include 01:48:41 - The Expertise of Cynthia Bourgeot in Centering Prayer Save Save Save Save Save Save

Dean Radin, PhD, is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) and Associated Distinguished Professor of Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). He occasionally gives lectures in the Department of Psychology at Sonoma State University and has served on doctoral dissertation committees at Saybrook University and CIIS. His original career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering, magna cum laude with honors in physics, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then an MS in electrical engineering and a PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a decade he worked on advanced telecommunications R&D at AT&T Bell Laboratories and GTE Laboratories. For three decades he has been engaged in frontiers research on the nature of consciousness. Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, he held appointments at Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, University of Nevada, Interval Research Corporation, and SRI International. He is author or coauthor of hundreds of scientific, technical, and popular articles, three dozen book chapters, and three popular books including the award-winning and bestselling The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena (HarperOne, 1997), Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality (Simon & Schuster, 2006), a 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Supernormal: Science, Yoga, and the Evidence for Extraordinary Psychic Abilities (Random House, 2013), and Real Magic: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science, and a Guide to the Secret Power of the Universe (Penguin Random House). These books have been translated into 14 foreign languages, so far. His technical articles have appeared in journals including Foundations of Physics and Physics Essays to Psychological Bulletin and Journal of Consciousness Studies; he was featured in a New York Times Magazine article; and he has appeared on dozens of television shows ranging from the BBC’s Horizon to PBS's Closer to Truth. He has given over 400 interviews and talks, including presentations at Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge, Princeton, Virginia Tech, the Sorbonne, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Minnesota, for industries including Google, Johnson & Johnson, Rabobank, and for various government organizations including the US Navy, DARPA, and the National Academy of Sciences. In 2010, he spent a month lecturing in India as the National Visiting Professor of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, a program sponsored by India's Ministry of Human Resource Development. In 2013 and 2014, he gave invited lectures in Kuala Lumpur at the International Center for Leadership and Governance, an organization supported by the Central Bank of Malaysia. In 2015 he spoke at the Australian Leadership Retreat, a confidential program of briefings and discussions for Australian government, business, education, and military leaders. Website: deanradin.com Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded Sept. 9, 2017 Second BatGap interview with Dean Radin. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:27 - Writing Papers and the Men in Black 00:07:37 - The Interest in Special Powers and Abilities 00:11:43 - The Fundamental Disagreement about Consciousness 00:15:58 - Idealism and Panpsychism 00:19:26 - The Fundamental Nature of Consciousness 00:22:56 - The Taboo of Psychic Phenomena Discussion 00:27:00 - The Holistic Nature of Consciousness 00:31:01 - The Nature of Reality and Purpose 00:35:21 - Presentiment and Anticipating Danger 00:39:32 - The Unconscious Response to Future Events 00:43:01 - Expanding Conscious Capacity 00:46:33 - The Intelligence that Governs Nature 00:50:20 - Safeguarding Latent Abilities and the Ethics of Enlightenment 00:54:22 - Using Psychic Ability for Extraterrestrial Communication 00:58:09 - The Meaning of Entanglement and its Connection to Coherence in Living Systems 01:01:55 - Subjectivity and the Brain 01:05:39 - Questioning Prior Beliefs and Embracing Mystery 01:09:13 - Supernormal Abilities and Siddhis 01:12:43 - Yogic Flying and Levitation in Siddha Yoga 01:15:34 - Changes in Physical Reality due to Large-Scale Attention 01:19:20 - Statistical Analysis of Events 01:23:13 - The Influence of Consciousness on Random Number Generators 01:26:46 - The Möbius Strip Metaphor 01:30:08 - Brain Responses to Future Events 01:33:25 - Exploring Esoteric Traditions and the Idea of Magic 01:36:59 - The Three Categories of Magic 01:41:06 - The Future of Science and Spirituality 01:44:48 - The Interface between Consciousness and Machines 01:48:56 - The Challenge of Expressing Abstraction Save Save

Paul Muller-Ortega, Ph.D., the founder of Blue Throat Yoga, is an internationally recognized meditation teacher, and one of the world’s most highly respected academic scholars in the field of Indian Religion and Hindu Tantra. Paul is passionate and devoted to teaching students how to access their truest Self, and to offer the knowledge base to understand and support that experience. He has led hundreds of meditation retreats, offered a vast array of study courses, translated and provided commentary on many of the most inspired sacred texts of the Śaiva-Śākta tradition, and has personally trained over 40 Ācāryas as Authorized Teachers of Neelakantha Meditation. Paul is uniquely qualified to offer these potent teachings, drawing upon the synergy of his long career as an academic scholar, his particular capacity to translate complex ideas and concepts into easily accessible and comprehensible understanding, and a personal history of deep meditation and extensive practice in the Śaiva-Śākta Tantra tradition. Paul Muller-Ortega is the author of the highly acclaimed book, The Triadic Heart of Siva: Kaula Tantricism of Abhinavagupta in the Non-Dual Shaivism of Kashmir (Suny Series, Shaiva Traditions of Kashmir), in which he examines the “Heart” as the mystical core of Consciousness. He is also one of the co-authors of "Meditation Revolution", as well as numerous scholarly articles on aspects of Tantric Studies. Website: bluethroatyoga.com Another book: The Philosophy of Sadhana (SUNY Series in Contemporary Continental Philosophy) Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded September 16, 2017 2nd BatGap interview with Paul. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:45 - Symbolic forms of goddesses 00:08:59 - The Origins and Influences of Nilakanta Meditation 00:13:22 - The Meaning of Mantra 00:17:25 - The Chalice of the Mantra 00:21:53 - Vibratory Frequencies and Higher Consciousness 00:26:18 - The Power of Mantra in Meditation 00:36:03 - The Shaiva Tradition and the Malas 00:40:35 - The Appearance and Relative Reality in the Shaiva Shakta Tradition 00:44:53 - The Purpose of Creation and the Value of Evolution 00:49:59 - Different Mantras for Household and Renunciate 00:54:05 - Encounters with Ramana Maharshi 00:58:12 - The Wave of Freedom and Transformation 01:02:18 - The Awakening Process and Transformation Levels 01:06:33 - Liberation without Practice 01:10:38 - The Fourth State of Consciousness and Beyond 01:15:24 - Celestial Perception and Stages of Enlightenment 01:19:35 - The Role of Substandard Teachers in Spiritual Circles 01:23:31 - The Curious Cherishing and Denouncing of Knowledge 01:27:38 - Understanding the concept of "madhya" 01:31:39 - The Krama Tradition and Sequential Manifestation 01:36:24 - The Yoga Vasishta's Philosophical Outlook 01:41:58 - The Rush to Act from Knowingness 01:44:50 - Understanding the Planetary Phenomenon 01:49:15 - The Transformation of Spirituality 01:53:37 - The Ocean of Milk and the Poison 01:57:45 - Making the Maximum Use of Time 02:01:34 - The Mandukya Upanishad and Aum as a mantra 02:05:30 - The Subtle Level of Understanding 02:08:56 - Being an Instrument in the Transition to Higher Consciousness Save

Raphael Cushnir is a leading voice in the world of emotional connection and present moment awareness. He has shared his unique approach to personal and professional development with millions of readers in O, The Oprah Magazine, Beliefnet, Spirituality and Health, Psychology Today, and The Huffington Post. He is the author of six books, lectures worldwide, and is a faculty member of the Esalen Institute and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. In addition, he coaches individuals and couples, as well as organizations and their teams. Raphael’s own heart was opened by an experience of profound grief. Website: cushnir.com Books: The One Thing Holding You Back: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Connection Surfing Your Inner Sea: Essential Lessons for Lasting Serenity Setting Your Heart on Fire: Seven Invitations to Liberate Your Life How Now: 100 Ways to Celebrate the Present Moment Unconditional Bliss: Finding Happiness in the Face of Hardship Interview recorded September 3, 2017 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 00:04:58 - The Emotional Realm and Awakening 00:09:43 - The Skepticism of Spiritual Teachers and Authenticity 00:14:42 - Genuine Humility and Blind Spots in Spiritual Teachers 00:19:36 - The Intersection of Psychology and Spirituality 00:24:25 - Honoring the depth of a container 00:29:37 - "Choosing Connection and Presence" 00:34:56 - The Need for Spiritual Crisis Support 00:39:41 - The Transition to Surrendering Control 00:44:27 - The Unpredictability of Kundalini Awakening 00:48:59 - Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 00:53:40 - Integration of Different Aspects of Being 00:57:40 - The Power of Integration 01:01:55 - The Heart Opening and Expansion of Consciousness 01:06:03 - Trusting Intuition and Being Open 01:09:59 - The Authentic Expression of Teachers 01:16:06 - The Container of the Self 01:18:03 - Strengthening the Ego and the Dance of Shiva and Shakti 01:22:11 - Techniques for Processing Trauma 01:26:12 - Emotions as Inner Touch 01:30:12 - Surfing Your Emotions 01:34:06 - Healing Through Practice 01:37:49 - Ramana Maharshi and the Radically Different Consciousness 01:41:48 - Embracing Resistance and Finding Freedom 01:45:49 - Neediness and Self-Identification 01:49:51 - The Value of Ongoing Support 01:53:40 - Growing in Ease and Acceptance 01:57:22 - The Sacred Journey of Seeking 02:01:10 - Following Your Curiosity and Trusting Your Heart 02:05:29 - Wrapping Up with Raphael Cushnir 02:09:10 - Sign up for the newsletter Save

Christina Donnell, Ph.D. is best known as a spiritual teacher, mystic and author. She is the Director of The Winds of Change Association, an educational organization dedicated to offering programs that tend our evolving human consciousness. In her book, Transcendent Dreaming: Stepping into Our Human Potential, she chronicles quantum states of awareness in which the participatory nature of perception impacts our visible world. It is a deep foray into truths about our human potential—a new distribution of our resources, and a way to know unity consciousness and be its agent in the world. Transcendent Dreaming won multiple awards for its timely and relevant message which urges us all to tap into the hidden potential within us. Christina conveys a simple yet profound message: Through deepening receptive awareness the participatory nature of perception unfolds and the transfiguration of our consciousness occurs. She is a natural born, pragmatic, mystic and teacher who shares her message worldwide via public lectures, teaching, keynote addresses, and wisdom talks. Many of which benefit independent spiritual centers. The fusion of her unique lyrical prose style with her transmission of the unseen brings a sense of discovery to all audiences. Christina was initiated as a medicine woman by the Q’ero Indians of the High Andes and has worked closely with them for 25 years. Inspired by the cultural shifts and changing human values on a planetary scale, she is dedicated to cultivating and awakening the potency of the human spirit. Christina maintains a small consultation practice along with her teaching commitments. Websites: christinadonnell.com For discussion of this interview, click here. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded August 26, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:40 - Comfort in African-American Spirituals 00:08:25 - The Innate Capacity to Tune into Quantum Levels of Reality 00:12:13 - Awakening to Expanded States of Awareness 00:16:08 - Merging into the Energy of Dreams 00:20:12 - The Power of Dreaming and Consciousness 00:24:01 - Settling the Mind and Greater Charm 00:28:14 - Accessing the Pocket of Silence 00:32:16 - The Dream of the Andes 00:36:07 - The Quero: Keys to Our Future 00:39:54 - Learning through Energetic Transmission 00:44:17 - Transcendent Dreaming and the Essence of North America 00:48:24 - The Power of Silence and Nervous System Transformation 00:52:33 - The Beginning of an Opening 00:56:25 - The Journey to Silence and Emptiness 01:00:16 - The Endless Awakening Process 01:04:36 - Expansion of Consciousness through Dreaming 01:08:27 - A Transcendent Dream and Spiritual Guidance 01:12:29 - Transcendent Dreaming: A Connection Beyond Awareness 01:16:22 - The Tragedy of Awareness and Expanding our Awareness 01:19:58 - Living in the Deeper Reality 01:23:49 - Expanded States of Awareness and Seeking 01:27:29 - Transcendent Dreaming and Expansion of Consciousness 01:31:38 - Reconfiguring Energy and Dialogue with Jesus 01:35:45 - Being a conduit for the unseen 01:39:29 - Awakening and the Evolution of Consciousness 01:43:11 - Humanity's Future and Accessing Silence 01:47:10 - The Organic Unfolding of Consciousness 01:51:18 - Surrendering into Silence and Dynamism 01:55:48 - The Unit of Life Audio Series and Global Community 01:59:40 - Updates and Appreciation Save Save

Gloria Agrelius, (Gloriji), had been a bartender for more than 25 years and owned a blues biker bar. In 1999 her brother died of an overdose. Upon hearing the news, her mother died of a heart attack the following day. Gloriji closed the bar, went home, and fell apart. She writes, “It felt like I was dropping through a dark space, feet first -- rapidly dropping. I couldn't find anything to hold onto. It felt like I was being stripped of everything that made me me. It was all gone.” While on her knees crying out for help, the room she was in filled with radiant light and she recognized herself as that light. An overwhelming sense that all is well filled her being. She told the light that while she didn't know what this was, she would dedicate the rest of her life to finding out. A thirst for truth filled her heart and gave her strength to step more deeply into the unknown. She spent the next decade deepening and healing. While on retreat with Adyashanti, after hearing of her awakening experiences, Adya encouraged her to share herself with others. Adya’s encouragement helped her to trust the strange new territory of teacher, mentor, healer... all held lightly in the open hand and heart that knows there is no other than the Supreme Reality... the Mystery she has come to Love. For discussion of this interview, click here. Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:31 - Insecurities and Nightmares 00:06:59 - Battling Addiction & Personal Tragedy 00:10:31 - The Bar Closure and Personal Struggles 00:13:54 - Compassion and Evolutionary Impulse in Intelligence 00:18:08 - The Blueprint of Life and Deep Inquiries 00:22:09 - Thirst for Understanding 00:25:42 - Discovering the Beauty of the World 00:28:50 - Natural Contemplation and Meditation 00:31:56 - Discovering a Spiritual Community 00:34:27 - From Scars to Stars 00:38:07 - The Freedom of Meeting Each Other in Truth 00:42:03 - Surrendering into Something Greater 00:46:02 - Holding Things Lightly 00:49:52 - The Power of Inquiry and Self-Exploration 00:53:44 - The Process of Deepening and Letting Go 00:57:07 - Breadcrumbs to the Source 01:00:36 - Witnessing the Unfolding 01:04:28 - Embracing the Wholeness Within 01:09:09 - The Healing Power of the Human Heart 01:12:18 - Following the Call of the Heart 01:15:28 - Awakening Within the Dream 01:19:38 - Finding Balance in Creativity and Knowledge 01:23:48 - Exploring the Fort 01:27:03 - Trusting Your Inner Wisdom 01:30:31 - Embracing Authenticity and Being Yourself 01:34:00 - Supporting the Community through Love Offerings 01:36:43 - Opening to the Wisdom of Mother Earth 01:40:14 - Reconnecting with the Earth 01:43:52 - Reluctance to Be a Spiritual Teacher Save Save

James Wood works with groups and individuals to discover the fundamental Reality of our essential nature. Having awakened in 2002 after years of study, he began to express a spontaneous teaching whose form continues to evolve. His message is that awakening is possible for anyone committed to finding Truth. Originally, James studied philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin and transformational studies with Richard Moss, M.D. He has combined his education and experience to express a modern, integrated vehicle for others to use as a means of growth in consciousness leading to awakening. He is dedicated to communicating the essence of the true Teaching to those who are ready to receive it. Book: Ten Paths to Freedom: Awakening Made Simple Website: wakeuptoreality.org YouTube Channel Discussion of this in interview in the BatGap Community Facebook group. Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:12 - The Illusion of Self and World 00:11:25 - Embracing the Reality of Suffering 00:16:53 - The Dharmakaya, Nirmanakaya, and Sambhogakaya 00:21:53 - Hiding out in the transcendent 00:25:55 - Growth in Consciousness and Working with a True Teacher 00:30:15 - Being Careful with Teachers 00:34:41 - Finding balance and authenticity 00:38:54 - Awakening and Clarity 00:43:06 - The Mystery of Awakening and Realization 00:47:24 - Richard's Journey with Energy and Healing 00:51:23 - Awakening and Maintaining Physiological Purity 00:55:14 - The Source of Happiness 00:59:36 - The Zen Monk's Enlightenment Experience 01:03:53 - The Power of Oceanic Consciousness 01:07:53 - The Importance of Honesty 01:11:58 - The Reflection of Ego 01:15:47 - Following Intuition and Being Honest 01:19:55 - The Role of Study and Instruction 01:23:56 - The Inner Teacher and Awakening 01:28:03 - Embracing the Journey 01:32:01 - The Paradox of Doership and Non-Doership 01:35:42 - The Attitude of a Beginner 01:39:42 - The Nature of Awakening and Behavior 01:44:10 - Awakening and the Purpose of Existence 01:48:16 - The Complexity of Human Actions 01:52:23 - Spirituality as an Alibi 01:56:14 - Contrasting Perspectives on the Body 02:00:22 - Devotion and the End of the Nightmare 02:04:34 - Ego Death and Faith 02:08:42 - Signing up for Interview Notifications Save Save

Trained in the 90’s as a teacher in spiritual therapy. The search stopped, among other ‘things’, mainly through the confrontation with Nisargadatta’s I am That, and Ramana Maharshi’s glare and words and the spontaneous recognition of Awareness (Consciousness) as reality. ‘After’ that awakening the ‘I Am/Consciousness’ was recognized to be the first identification. Since ’98 Hans has led hundreds of satsangs, retreats and private sessions. He published eight books and a booklet, many many articles and columns, YouTube satsang video’s (one in English) and seven homemade music cd’s. Hans is sometimes judged as being too confrontational or direct, or, more kindly, as very clear. On the other hand people credit him for his creativity and patience. Funny, right? Website: hanslaurentius.nl English section of website. Private Skype Sessions with Hans (in English) will become available in September 2017 for those outside The Netherlands and Belgium. Please check the ‘English’ Section on the website for details. Transcript of this interview. Discussion of this in interview in the BatGap Community Facebook group. Interview recorded 8/5/2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:20 - Childhood Experiences 00:08:12 - Awakening to the Paradox 00:12:19 - The Concept of Compassion 00:15:47 - Confronting Hiding and Judgments 00:20:03 - Confronting Fears and Beliefs 00:24:02 - The Shocking Element of Spirituality 00:28:32 - The Silence Already Here 00:32:13 - The Value of Persistence and Authenticity 00:36:27 - The Illusion of Separateness 00:40:23 - Kundalini Experiences and the Dangers Involved 00:43:49 - Investigating the Fear of Being Present 00:48:12 - Looking and Feeling Without Judgment 00:52:02 - The Trouble in the Mind 00:56:26 - The Illusion of Awakening 01:00:13 - The Crystal Clear Flipping and Unripe Mangoes 01:04:22 - An Incredible Journey: Relying on Nature and Strangers 01:08:13 - Grumpiness vs. Happiness 01:12:00 - Love and Separateness 01:15:37 - Feeling Through and Letting Go 01:20:13 - Caring for the Environment: Taking Action 01:23:53 - Reflections on the future of humanity 01:27:18 - The State of Being and Letting Go 01:31:19 - The Link between Humility and Creativity 01:35:46 - Music and Creative Energy 01:39:21 - Evidence for Reincarnation 01:43:30 - Living by Beliefs 01:47:09 - The Illusion of Individuality and Learning 01:51:07 - The Illusion of Free Will 01:54:07 - The Illusion of Free Will and Ownership of Thoughts 01:57:58 - Conclusion and Next Episode Announcement Save Save Save

Sri M - spiritual guide, social reformer and educationist – was born into a Muslim family on November 6, 1949 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His transformational journey, from a young boy to a living yogi, is a fascinating story symbolized by single-minded discipline and dedication. Entranced by mystical stories of Sufi saints and a brief encounter with a numinous Swami at a relatively young age, he was not only drawn to the ‘truth’ but also the compelling landscape of the snow-clad Himalayas. At the age of nine, his spiritual transformation was initiated by his future Master, Babaji (also known as Maheshwarnath Babaji), who miraculously appeared under a jackfruit tree in the compound of his house in Thiruvananthapuram. Though only fleeting, this meeting definitively set the stage for their future reunion in the Himalayas at Sri M’s age of nineteen. The next three and half years, he lived and travelled extensively through the Himalayas with his Master. Maheshwarnath Babaji guided him right through his initiation, his Kundalini awakening, the grueling journey to Tholingmutt and, the eventual meeting with the Grand Master, Sri Guru Babaji also known as Sri Mahavatar Babaji. A few years after his Master passed away, he received the spiritual go-ahead to commence his mission. In 1998, he started his teachings, eventually leading to formation of the Satsang Foundation. In response to a query on the spiritual progress of a person and the path to that evolution, he responds, “Though, my parampara is kriya yoga, I don’t think it suits all aspirants. I propound satsang even between two people. It cuts across barriers of caste and creed. Spiritual evolution is not diverse from regular living. Intervals of solitude are necessary but you cannot shut yourself totally. The world around you is your touchstone to spiritual practice.” Conversant with teachings of most major religions, Sri M says: “Go to the core. Theories are of no use.” His message seeks to transcend the outer-shell of all religions, by exploring their mystical core to nurture the innate goodness in every human being. Website: satsang-foundation.org Books: Journey Continues: A Sequel To Apprenticed To A Himalayan Master Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: A Yogi's Autobiography Wisdom of the Rishis: The Three Upanishads: Ishavasya, Kena & Mandukya Jewel in the Lotus: Deeper Aspects of Hinduism The Little Guide To Greater Glory And A Happier Life First Batgap interview with Sri M. Discussion of this in interview in the BatGap Community Facebook group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/30/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 00:04:47 - The Beginning of the Journey with Babaji 00:09:25 - Continual Growth and Evolution 00:13:22 - Possibility of Evolved Beings on Other Planets 00:17:44 - The Importance of Having a Guru 00:21:31 - The Significance of Initiation 00:26:21 - Recalling Past Lives 00:30:48 - From Krishna to the Life of a Prostitute 00:35:05 - A Touching Experience with Nisargadatta Maharaj 00:39:39 - Spiritual Integrity in a World of Lies and Deceit 00:43:43 - Meditating in College 00:48:16 - The Importance of Siddhis in Spiritual Growth 00:53:10 - Mind over Physical Phenomenon 00:56:59 - The Slap from Nityananda of Ganeshpuri 01:01:45 - Extraordinary Capacities and Divine Association 01:06:00 - Free will and the capacity for change 01:10:00 - Exploring Deeper Consciousness 01:14:37 - The Shadow of the Bodhisattva 01:18:57 - The Power of Spiritual Armor 01:23:12 - Grounding and balancing spiritual experiences 01:27:15 - The Possibility of Astral Projection 01:31:25 - Spiritual Experiences and Extraterrestrial Encounters 01:35:28 - The Hidden Secrets of the Natural Rock Formation 01:39:37 - The Importance of Physical Health in Spiritual Practice 01:44:11 - The Power of Chanting Aum 01:48:25 - Effortless Absorption in Music 01:53:02 - Avadhootas and the Spiritual State of Mind 01:57:34 - The Textbooks of Gorakhnath and the Nath Sampradaya 02:01:53 - The Importance of Ego and Understanding in Leading a Householder's Life 02:06:15 - Humility and Compromise in Spiritual Development 02:10:00 - Farewell and GratitudeSaveSaveSave

Stephen D'Amico is a spiritual teacher, mystical poet, and author. At age 22, Stephen went through a profound spiritual transformation that culminated in a permanent realization of his true nature. Since then his life has been devoted to understanding the spiritual path from an evolutionary perspective and helping others reconnect with their true nature to help bring about a global awakening in human consciousness. The main way he does this is through the direct transmission of the enlightened state of being, which connects others with their own true nature. In the past, Stephen has worked in the field of conflict resolution and restorative justice as a mediator, facilitator, trainer, and project leader for youth social action groups. He has also taught at both the elementary and high school levels, focusing on the special needs of students with learning disabilities. Currently, he and his wife, Aniko, run Millwood Melt, a lively grilled cheese restaurant in their beloved community of Leaside, in Toronto. Customers and students playfully refer to Stephen as "the grilled cheese guru." When not feeding bodies, Stephen lives and breathes to feed souls. He currently hosts transformational gatherings/satsang and offers individuals enlightened guidance and support via phone, Skype, or in person. He is the author of two books: The Incredible State of Absolute Nothingness: A Personal Account of Spiritual Enlightenment Heaven on Earth: A Guide to Enlightenment & Human Unity. Website: stephendamico.com Facebook Page Discussion of this in interview in the BatGap Community Facebook page. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/23/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:04 - Losing Connection to True Nature 00:10:06 - Lucid dreaming and maintaining awareness 00:14:39 - Childhood Spiritual Experiences 00:19:42 - The Practice of Witnessing 00:24:18 - Witnessing and Subtle Beings 00:28:52 - Beings from the Intermediate Realm 00:33:32 - Transitioning into teenage years 00:37:47 - Exploring Human Sexuality and Selfless Service 00:41:10 - Providing for Others 00:45:31 - The Perennial Search for Happiness 00:49:05 - Dissolving into the Voidness 00:53:41 - The Immersion in Bliss and Realizations 00:58:03 - A Radical Self-Change 01:01:45 - Detached State during Physical Work, Ascending and Descending 01:05:08 - Taking on Cosmic Stress 01:08:36 - The Perspective of Choice and Free Will 01:12:28 - Evolution and Freedom of Choice 01:16:07 - The Desire to Escape from the Body 01:19:22 - The Importance of Sentience and Reverence for Food 01:22:58 - The Process of Discovering the Ability to Channel Energies 01:26:51 - The Mechanics of Enlightenment 01:29:56 - The Maturing Soul and Outward Behavior 01:34:08 - The Transformation into the Non-Dual State 01:38:35 - The Transformation of Self 01:41:54 - The Net of Indra and Interconnectivity 01:46:27 - Agreement on the Mystery of Existence 01:50:35 - Distinguishing True Realized Beings from Fake Gurus 01:54:26 - Scrutinizing and Challenging Facades 01:57:42 - A Dream Come True 02:00:43 - Subscribe and Stay Updated Save

Hoksila Lakota, commonly known as Lakota John is a Native American whose heritage comes from Oklahoma and the Great Plains of North America. Many generations ago his people lived in harmony with all things Universal, "uni" meaning One and "verse" being Song. When a system came in that crippled the people, making them dependent, some stayed and accepted the system, and some left seeking broader horizons. Rejecting the life of poverty and struggle he was born into, as a young man Lakota John fully embraced the illusion of glamour, bright lights, and the fast pace of a big city. Trading in his cultural identity and the ways of his ancestors - a way of prayer and Spirit - he was lured by the seductive power of the city’s underworld, chasing the counterfeit lifestyle of money and self-gain. After traveling down many dead-end roads in a reckless disregard for life, the light finally dawned, and Lakota awakened to the prompting of Spirit and ancient ancestors calling him back to the Red Road of Sobriety. Finding his innocence, or inner sense, by working through his past, he began to walk the straight and narrow path that leads to the sacred Tree of Life and reunion with the Highest Good, God or Wakan Tanka. The impact his own restoration had on his life moved him to reach out to others, and ever since he has been involved in the mental health sector and working with keepers of the sacred pathways and knowledge for over twenty years. Through the lifestyle he once lived he is able to recognize the unseen enemy that binds and captivates the soul of man and woman through separation, suppression, and sedation. Using the time-tested spiritual wisdom of his ancestors he helps guide others back from the dark world that he himself used to live in; the world of illusion, delusion, and separation. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/10/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - A Conversation with Lakota John 00:04:18 - Traumatic Events and the Betrayal of the Inner Self 00:08:36 - The Power of Connecting with the Sacred Feminine 00:12:26 - The Sacredness of Trees and the Unseen Enemy 00:16:35 - The Split Tongue: Speaking from the Heart 00:20:11 - The Degeneration of Indigenous Cultures 00:23:45 - A Rough Journey for the Indigenous People 00:27:18 - Connecting with Ancestors and the Unseen World 00:30:36 - Healing Through Accessing the Vertical 00:34:01 - The Mind's Influence on the Soul and Spirit 00:37:51 - Helping Special Souls in a Transition 00:41:09 - The Importance of Self-Knowledge and Connecting with Spirituality 00:44:41 - The Inner Self and Knowledge 00:48:34 - Healing Traumatic Events 00:51:52 - Native American Culture and Healing 00:54:50 - Sublimating Energy and Living from the Heart Chakra 00:57:37 - The Proposal, Engagement, Marriage, and Reception 01:01:05 - Healing and Wellness through Native American Traditions 01:04:23 - Holistic Therapies and Cultural Integration 01:07:36 - Mending the Nets 01:11:13 - The Importance of Water and Protecting the Environment 01:14:22 - The Future of Governance 01:18:01 - Embracing Unity and Overcoming Historical Struggles 01:21:35 - Being attuned to unseen intelligences 01:25:33 - Cousins in Culture and Intermarriage 01:28:54 - Peeling the Onion on Traumatic Events 01:32:31 - The Importance of Spiritual Awakening in the East 01:35:56 - Genetic Manipulation and Control of the Food Industry 01:42:49 - Clearing Genetic Lines for Healing 01:46:21 - Four Winds Wellness Organization

Jude Currivan, Ph.D., is a cosmologist, futurist, planetary healer, author, member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, and previously one of the most senior business women in the UK. She has a master’s degree in physics from Oxford University specializing in quantum physics and cosmology and a doctorate in archaeology from the University of Reading researching ancient cosmologies. She has travelled extensively, worked with wisdom keepers from many traditions and is a life-long researcher into the nature of reality and consciousness. She is the author of seven books, most recently The Cosmic Hologram (2017), and The Story of Gaia: The Big Breath and the Evolutionary Journey of Our Conscious Planet (2022) and is co-founder of WholeWorld-View. Websites: wholeworld-view.org judecurrivan.com Earlier books: CosMos: A Co-creator's Guide to the Whole World The 13th Step: A Global Journey in Search of Our Cosmic Destiny The 8th Chakra: What It Is and How It Can Transform Your Life The Wave : A Life Changing Journey into the Heart and Mind of the Cosmos Transcript of this interview. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Second BatGap interview with Jude Interview recorded July 1, 2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Jude Currivan 00:04:13 - Multidimensional Experiences and Communication with Thoth 00:07:54 - Validating Subtle Reality 00:11:48 - Engaging Multidimensionally and Consciousness Activation 00:15:41 - Inner Journeys and Divine Initiations 00:19:13 - Kundalini Experience and Siddhis 00:23:06 - Experiencing the Ordinary in the Extraordinary 00:27:00 - The Nature of Reality: Information as Fundamental 00:31:14 - The Nature of Physical Reality 00:35:03 - The Universal Algorithms of Existence and Evolution 00:39:00 - The Origins of Thermodynamics and Entropy 00:43:00 - The Individuation of Information Entropy 00:47:13 - The Evolving Universe and Cosmic Mind 00:51:14 - Healing Our Fragmented Perspectives 00:55:12 - The Need for a Holistic Understanding 00:59:03 - The Three Books of Unified Reality and Holograms 01:02:49 - The Holographic Principle and the Pixilation of Space-Time 01:06:50 - The Consciousness of the Universe 01:10:49 - The Relationship Between Earthquakes and Human Conflicts 01:15:05 - Manipulating Attention and the Power of Thoughts 01:19:03 - Harnessing the Impulses of Intelligence 01:23:17 - The Multidimensionality of Realities and Attractor Basins 01:27:24 - The Cosmic Intelligence and the Holographic Worldview 01:31:20 - Supernormal Phenomena and the Holographic Nature of the Universe 01:35:08 - The Universe Observing Itself 01:38:30 - The Simplicity of the Universe 01:41:51 - Effortlessness and Going with the Flow 01:45:24 - The Purpose of the Universe and the Existence of Life 01:49:23 - The Choice to Breakdown or Breakthrough 01:53:11 - The Flickering of the Old and New Systems 01:57:03 - Wrapping Up with Jude Save

Together, Bill & Patricia support you to build a foundation, providing tools for strength in the emotional and spiritual domain, yielding flow and freedom to be who you have come here to be. A life of awakening is not one in which we never fall into a dark valley, it is one in which when we fall, we have learned how to move through it. We develop emotional muscle in order to rise. This is the inner work of the soul. Bill & Patricia guide you to that which is unhealed, exposing how these hurts and emotions rule our lives. You are able to face yourself, learn to untangle from these aspects that have a powerful impact and influence. In the discovery of new awareness and integration you begin to experience wholeness. Embrace all emotion, letting go of resistance and live in the present moment. With sensitivity, strength and skill, Bill and Patricia facilitate working through levels of trauma, pain, grief and anger in order to guide people to their own divine nature. As these wounds heal, you are able to discover the depths of self-acceptance and forgiveness. Website: evolutionoftheheart.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/25/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:24 - The Ripple Effect of Retreat and Opening to New Ways of Being 00:10:29 - Healing and Transmuting the Unconscious Mind 00:13:46 - Self-Care and Spiritual Teaching 00:16:39 - Accessing Inner Strength and Self-Sufficiency 00:19:50 - The Practices for Grounding and Solidifying Emotions 00:23:30 - Moving Beyond Victimhood and Healing the Emotional Body 00:27:00 - Moving Beyond Fear and Grief 00:29:47 - Resolving Emotions through Physiological Awareness 00:33:01 - Dissolving the Mud in the Cup 00:36:37 - Acts of Kindness in Everyday Life 00:39:10 - The Ripple Effect of Awakening Hearts 00:43:15 - The Medicine of Pain 00:46:32 - Evolving into Emotional Maturity and Depth of Healing 00:50:12 - The Loneliness of Separation 00:53:41 - Exploring Emotions and Possibilities 00:56:32 - Belief, trust, and getting to know oneself 00:59:34 - Deepening the Connection with Divine Consciousness 01:03:08 - Connecting and Building Communities 01:06:27 - The Power of Connection in Relationships 01:09:49 - The Importance of Healing and Deep Connection in Relationships 01:13:04 - The Evolution of Our Work Together 01:15:31 - Finding Balance Between Expressing and Discerning 01:18:33 - Opening to Loving Curiosity 01:21:27 - Bridging the Gap: Reconnecting with Visitors 01:24:38 - Being Instruments of Divine Intelligence 01:27:57 - Teaching Activities and Future Adventures 01:30:34 - The Importance of Inclusion and Support 01:33:12 - Webinars, Meditations, and Virtual Calls 01:35:56 - Upcoming Interviews Save

Tony Samara, author of ‘Shaman's Wisdom,’ ‘The Simplicity of Love Meditation,’ ‘Different Yet the Same,’ ‘Discover Your Inner Buddha’ and 10 other titles, spent his early years in England, Egypt and also in Norway, where he discovered the Zen Buddhist philosophy. This discovery eventually led him to the Mount Baldy Zen Centre in California, USA, where he received the spiritual teachings of Roshi Sasaki. His first spiritual teacher, at the age of 12, was the question - Who Am I? - and for a few years, he immersed himself more deeply into this question. He had the curiosity to explore further the essence of spirituality and ventured to many different countries, learning much about the various spiritual traditions and cultures, in a non-dualistic and open-minded way. Whilst making pilgrimages to numerous sacred sites in India and other parts of the world, Tony was able to dwell deeply upon the ancient Vedic and Jain philosophies and various mystical practices and work profoundly with the essence of these teachings. Tony Samara believes that: “The vast majority of people go through life without directly experiencing the depth of their true self or understanding their connection to life or their relationship to others and to the world at large. We are often taught to only relate to the world through our senses. We think, we reason, we feel - but we do not know from our hearts what it means to be connected to what is beyond the senses.” He recognizes that direct experiences have the potential to radically transform an individual and his or her life, as well as promote a profound and effortless letting go of past emotional, mental and physical pain and suffering. Tony Samara teaches with humour, humility and with infinite patience, empowering the individual with courage, trust and inner strength to continue on this journey back into wholeness, a path that leads towards real freedom. Website: tonysamara.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/18/2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:30 - A Different Way of Perceiving 00:06:22 - Sensitivity to the Environment 00:09:24 - The Transformative Power of Pain and Initiation 00:12:10 - A Child's Influence on Vegetarianism 00:15:20 - The Complexity of Being Human 00:18:18 - Starting the Journey of Meditation 00:21:26 - The Joy of Meditation and the Search for Awakening 00:24:34 - The Joy of Sitting in Meditation 00:27:42 - The Importance of Internal Positivity in Meditation 00:30:43 - The Quality of Experience 00:33:48 - The Mind's Role in Confusion and Happiness 00:36:56 - The Positive Effects of Meditation 00:39:49 - The Benefits of Morning and Evening Meditation 00:42:28 - Leaving the Zen Monastery 00:45:32 - Adapting to Change and Exploring India 00:48:48 - Nonverbal Transmission in Spiritual Practice 00:51:55 - Multi-dimensionality and the Expression of Reality 00:54:50 - Spirituality as Diving into a Deep Ocean 00:58:07 - Shifting into a Different Dimension 01:01:26 - Awakening and Gradual Transformation 01:04:42 - The Importance of Cultivating Consciousness 01:07:40 - The Use of Psychedelics in Spiritual Practice 01:10:40 - Importance of Diet for Meditation 01:13:48 - The Importance of Transformative Food and Exercise 01:16:50 - The Correlation between Happiness in the Body and Mind 01:19:45 - Spiritual Awakening and Adjusting to Change 01:22:41 - The Intense Energy of the World and Manifestation Opportunities 01:25:37 - Opportunities in Crisis 01:28:34 - Accessing Consciousness in Challenging Moments 01:31:21 - Connecting to Transmission and Intuition

During Suzanne’s first interview we discussed general philosophical points about her journey and the nature of her work. Since her work involves communication with the other side, we felt that a second interview highlighting evidence that this communication actually occurs would be a good follow up. Suzanne relays numerous accounts from her readings that beautifully illustrate and demonstrate evidence of genuine communication with loved ones who have departed. Suzanne Giesemann, M.A., is a spiritual teacher, an evidence-based medium, and the author of eleven books, including Messages of Hope and Wolf’s Message. She is a former U.S. Navy Commander who served as a commanding officer, special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations, and as aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Suzanne’s gift of communication with those on the other side provides stunning evidence of life after death and of our connection with the greater reality. She brings messages of hope, healing, and love that go straight to the heart. Her work has been recognized as highly credible by afterlife researcher Dr. Gary Schwartz, Ph.D., and best-selling author Dr. Wayne Dyer. For more about Suzanne’s work, visit SuzanneGiesemann.com. Some of Suzanne’s other books and DVDs: In the Silence: 365 Days of Inspiration from Spirit “Let Your Spirit S.O.A.R. – the Four Keys to Your Personal Breakthrough” – 6 DVD set with workbook The Priest and the Medium: The Amazing True Story of Psychic Medium B. Anne Gehman and Her Husband, Former Jesuit Priest Wayne Knoll, Ph.D. First BatGap interview with Suzanne Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 6/4/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:10 - Laughter and Joy in Marriage 00:07:34 - Connecting with the Soul in a Coma 00:11:37 - Connecting with the Soul in a Coma 00:15:18 - Communication with the Comatose Woman 00:18:49 - Providing Solace to Those on the Other Side 00:22:21 - Evidence from a Spirit Reading 00:25:06 - The Dog Food Incident 00:28:22 - A Surprise Visit from the Spirit of a Young Girl in a Bunny Suit 00:31:57 - A Beautiful Message from Shana 00:35:35 - Live interaction and communication from the other side 00:38:55 - A Message from the Other Side 00:41:49 - The Healing Power of Helping Parents Heal 00:45:41 - The Stellated Dodecahedron and the Christ Consciousness Grid 00:49:30 - Validation of the Rainbow Connection 00:52:38 - Messages from Beyond 00:56:06 - Communication with the Spirit World 00:59:27 - Communications from the Other Side 01:02:45 - Carly's Messages from the Spirit World 01:06:16 - Rudy's Spirit Sight 01:09:14 - Connecting with Spirits and Finding Balance 01:12:34 - A Reading with Tracy and Her Son 01:16:01 - Miracles and Healing on the Other Side 01:19:42 - Miscommunication and Clarity in Spirit Communication 01:23:17 - Connecting with Loved Ones in Spirit 01:27:04 - Letting go of the Need for Perfection in Readings 01:31:05 - The Spirit World as Part of the Duality 01:35:15 - A Surprise Spirit Guide Appearance 01:38:15 - Synchronicity and the Intelligence of the Universe 01:41:54 - Connecting with Loved Ones through Mediumship 01:45:04 - Concluding Remarks and Upcoming Interviews Save Save Save

Jeannie Zandi is the director of Living as Love, a nonprofit organization dedicated to seeding a culture of the Heart on the planet, inspiring, teaching and supporting people to live from their essence as Love. A year before the birth of her daughter, Jeannie was plunged into a dark night of the soul that culminated in a radical shift of consciousness. She is known for her fearless clarity, tender mercy toward humanness, and a juicy, poetic and often humorous style that draws from Advaita Vedanta, Sufism, Christian mysticism and the ongoing revelation of fully engaged living. Residing in Colorado, she travels widely in the US, bringing a down-to-earth embodied teaching of living as love. Website: jeanniezandi.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 5/27/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Jeanne Zandi 00:02:53 - Jeanne's Focus on Serving Love 00:06:09 - The Invitation out of the Mind 00:09:17 - Gangaji and Non-Duality 00:12:32 - Dualities in Spiritual Beliefs 00:15:00 - Embodiment of Divinity and Self-Transformation 00:18:24 - Exploring Different Spiritual Practices 00:21:39 - A Child's Questioning of Conditioning 00:24:22 - The Moment of Liberation from the Mind 00:26:33 - The Being and the Cleanup Crew 00:28:57 - Finding Support and Reflection in Satsang 00:31:19 - Finding Support and Guidance in Spiritual Teachers 00:34:02 - Interdependence and Cross-Fertilization 00:36:04 - The Breaking of the Will 00:39:11 - The Dark Night of the Soul 00:42:28 - The Beauty of Embracing Emptiness and Becoming a Servant to Perfection 00:46:45 - Not Being in the Same State as Ramana 00:54:55 - "Not in the Same State as Ramana" 00:56:05 - Not Being in the Same State as Ramana 00:57:15 - Clearing away the Guck 01:00:05 - The Mystery of the Dark Night of the Soul 01:03:40 - The Danger of Seeking a Dark Night 01:08:38 - Understanding the Element of Mystery in Spiritual Development 01:15:54 - Restoring a Healthy Relationship with Energy 01:22:54 - The Beauty of an Inquisitive Mind 01:29:16 - Facing the Dark Knight Experience 01:34:32 - Cultivating Transformational Energy and Healthy Containment 01:41:22 - The Curiosity of Children and the Healing Power of Humor 01:45:41 - Speaking about the Unspeakable 01:49:57 - The Dance of "Hi" and the Oneness 01:56:16 - Access to Genie Zandi for Senior Students and Online Participants Save

After connecting with Joel Goldsmiths' teachings in 1987, Pernilla had a life-changing awakening, realizing Love is All there is. After the initial three months' free Bliss ride, she went straight from heaven to hell for the next many months. This started her journey back Home, learning step-by-step how to arrive with all parts intact - none left behind - with her Heart as her Teacher. This journey Home includes teachers like Joel S. Goldsmith, Barry Long, the Ayahuasca plant, Gangaji, Adyashanti, The Hakomi training, Deeksha, and Dr. Joe Dispenza. All these wonderful teachers helped her get more stabilized as Presence and realize the healing and transforming power of Self Love, dissolving the misperceived duality into embodied Oneness. Out of this journey emerged the simple 'how-to' steps, which are incorporated in her life and work. Pernilla is a certified Hakomi Practitioner with a private practice in the Santa Cruz mountains. She is a meditation teacher at UCSC and founder of 'Women Standing For Love/Young Women Empowerment Circle.' She calls herself a Self Love Mystic & Mentor and loves to support her clients bridging the gap between who they truly are and who they think they are or - should be. Website: divinefeminineflow.com Books: Imagine Being Kind to Yourself -- Inner Peace at Last 5 Steps To Dive Into The Divine Feminine Flow (free) Women Standing For Love (free) Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/20/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:58 - The Journey to Find a Book 00:09:17 - Confusion and Control 00:12:48 - Regaining My Spine and Finding My Bearings 00:16:17 - Trusting Our Inner Wisdom 00:19:23 - The Importance of the Company You Keep 00:22:44 - Embracing Your True Self 00:26:10 - Living in Oneness with Myself 00:29:26 - The Journey of Self-Discovery and Healing 00:32:51 - Embodying the True Nature 00:36:28 - Finding Balance and Integration 00:39:49 - The Energy of Resistance 00:43:10 - Kindness and Non-Dual Teachings 00:46:30 - Finding the Ground of our Being 00:49:34 - Awakening to a New Perspective 00:53:00 - Exploring Different Awakenings and Satsang Teachers 00:56:16 - Bees in the Garden 00:59:32 - Following the Divine Path 01:02:37 - Surfing the Waves of Self-Love 01:06:14 - The Power of Allowing and Resisting 01:09:39 - Troubling Issues with Spiritual Teachers 01:12:55 - What Enlightenment Should Look Like 01:16:22 - Finding Enlightenment in Everyday Interactions 01:19:27 - Dealing with Anger 01:22:56 - Making Space for Anxiety 01:26:07 - Unresolved Trauma and Personal Growth 01:29:13 - Creating Community and Self-Love in the New Energy 01:32:34 - Embracing Our Weirdness 01:35:43 - The Power of Authenticity 01:39:04 - Embracing Higher Consciousness 01:42:28 - Upcoming Guests and Support Options Save

Ivan Rados (Atma) is a meditation master who was born in Former Yugoslavia. At the age of 42 he experienced a profound inner awakening that changed his perception of himself and the reality, after which Atma was devoted to integrating his knowing into his being, marking the beginning of a movement towards the inner point, which he calls The Middle Point. He started teaching meditation regularly from his healing studio in Vancouver. As a healer, Atma is a true master of both himself and his life. Ivan asserts that he heals no one but simply helps people heal themselves through the power of Consciousness. His journey reads like a book of miracles, which he modestly labels “ordinarinesses.” The wisdom he shares comes from his deep roots in the One-Self, the source of everything. Atma has assisted thousands in reconnecting with their state of health, in personal, group and long-distance sessions. Atma is not associated with any particular spiritual movement, religion or tradition. Atma's deep and authentic rooting in the unknown provides him the insight and ability to be of great service to the evolution of Consciousness in these most transformative of times. Ivan travels extensively, taking his knowingness throughout the world, facilitating meditation classes, talks, intensives, and retreats. ivanrados.com middlepointpublishing.com facebook.com/ivanradosart twitter.com/ivanrados issuu.com/ivanrados Books: Transform Your Life Through Sacred Geometry Health: It's All About Consciousness The Middle Point Create Yourself - Secrets of Self Discovery and Healing with Sacred Geometry Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 5/13/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:43 - Leaving Yugoslavia and Cutting Off the Past 00:07:41 - Seeking Guidance from Grandma 00:10:54 - The Experience of Blankness and Failure 00:14:59 - The Collapse and Breakthrough 00:18:53 - The Illusion of the Mind 00:22:45 - The Path of Least Action 00:25:56 - The Relationship between Mind, Energy, and Wholeness 00:30:06 - The Unconscious Creation of the Mind 00:33:21 - The Hollow Tube of Consciousness 00:37:22 - Getting Out of the Mind 00:41:04 - The Illusion of Climbing the Mountain 00:45:22 - Moving from Concepts to Experience 00:48:41 - Teaching Individuals through Meditation 00:52:42 - The Power of Mantras 00:56:18 - Being Fully Present in the Moment 01:00:04 - The Battle Between Good and Evil 01:04:05 - The Power of Words and Art 01:08:14 - Looking at the Mind and Yantras 01:12:47 - The Power of Yantras in Meditation 01:16:55 - Freedom within constraints 01:20:29 - Understanding the Master-Disciple Relationship 01:24:22 - You are the Center of the Universe 01:27:50 - Starting from the Beginning 01:31:31 - The Theory of Big Bang and Anxiety 01:35:03 - The Course of Existence 01:38:43 - The Universe's Constant Expansion and Contraction 01:42:04 - The Holographic Universe and Consciousness 01:45:53 - The Holographic Nature of Reality 01:49:54 - The Stillness and Tranquility Within 01:53:15 - Invitation to Explore the Website Save

Mike Jenkins trained as an actor and has worked in theatres in London and around the UK. He later worked as a performing arts teacher and customer services trainer and now creates and manages websites to help people connect with their audience. He has written two stage plays, a growing collection of poetry, and has always been drawn to expressing his own perception and perspectives and exploring those of others, through the creative arts. Mike loves to talk, sing, walk, read, write, cook, eat, sleep, and to help others feel and know the deep joy, grace, and peace at the centre of all life. After many years of mental and emotional distress in his 20's and a diagnosis of cancer at the age of 29, Mike began an intense spiritual search that led him to teachings on nonduality that sparked a series of awakenings and set him on a journey to integrate those shifts into everyday life. Website: heartofpresence.co.uk Books: The Nonduality Diary: A journal of awakening happening The Escape Artist's Handbook: Re-discovering the simple joy of being Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/6/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:59 - Series of Awakenings 00:09:19 - Awakening and Dissolving of Concepts 00:13:54 - The Intense Longing 00:18:24 - Making Peace with Death 00:22:55 - The Freedom of Letting Go 00:26:54 - The Toll on Mental Health and the Path to Spirituality 00:30:37 - The Horrific Record of Organized Religion and the Catholic Church 00:34:29 - Sexuality and Understanding 00:38:07 - Dealing with personal issues through awakening 00:41:46 - Stereotypes and Misconceptions about Sexuality and Spirituality 00:45:29 - Stereotypes and Misconceptions about Being Gay in Society 00:49:01 - Redefining Gender Identity 00:52:46 - The Power of Imagination and Meeting Others in Absolute Reality 00:56:43 - Freedom from Labels in Identity 01:00:20 - Living a Life of Peace and Joy 01:04:07 - Experiencing the Essence 01:07:50 - Stories of Instant Awakening 01:11:15 - Finding Light in the Darkness 01:14:55 - The End of Feeling Unfulfilled 01:18:27 - Being in the World or Creating 01:21:58 - The Unfolding Layers of Truth 01:25:44 - Thoughts and Conclusion 01:29:22 - Less Investment in Thoughts and Opinions 01:32:55 - Awakening and Surrendering in Creativity 01:36:15 - Living in an Awakened Space 01:40:06 - Balancing Being and Action 01:43:32 - The Creative Capacity 01:47:10 - Divine Intelligence in the World 01:50:51 - A Conversation with Mike Jenkins 01:54:41 - Farewell and Gratitude Save Save

His teachings are simple, but profound: You have forgotten your Real Self. You are that abode of Supreme Peace. Through meditation, devotion and selfless service this illusory ego can be removed, and your true immortal nature of Supreme Peace and Permanent Happiness realized. His Holiness Shri Shivarudra Balayogi (affectionately known as Baba Maharaj) is a Self Realized Yogi - one who has completed the path of Yoga and attained union with the Supreme Consciousness. A direct disciple of Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj, He entered His Guru's service at the age of 19 and was later initiated into Sanyas, a monastic life of pure devotion and service. He was placed in charge of the Dehra Dun Ashram where He spent 20 years absorbed in intense spiritual practice, combining selfless service, devotion to His Guru and deep meditation. Following the Mahasamadhi (the passing from this world's physical form) of His Guru in 1994, Shri Shivarudra Balayogi was initiated into the spiritual practice of Tapas, in which He meditated for an average of 20 hours a day continually for the next 5 years. The culmination of this was the attainment of the goal of all spirituality - Self Realization, the permanent union of the mind with the Supreme Peace of Infinite Pure Consciousness. He now travels the world carrying on His Guru's mission of teaching dhyana meditation, true devotion and selfless service. Baba Maharaj is the embodiment of gentleness and compassion. His life itself is His teaching: devotion, selfless service to humanity and unrelenting effort in striving for spiritual perfection. Shri Babaji offers initiation, freely and without obligation, into the technique of dhyana meditation which He used to achieve Self Realization. He engages audiences worldwide with His profound spiritual insight, drawn from deep personal experience rather than scriptural study. His teachings are the purest form of the sublime philosophy of Self Realization taught by the ancient Sages of India. Website: shivarudrabalayogi.org Books: His Master's Grace: The Tapas Experiences of Shri Shiva Rudra Balayogi Maharaj The Peace Within Viveka Choodamani: The Crest-Jewel of Discrimination Shiva Hara Gurudeva The Path Supreme Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 5/1/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Baba Maharaj 00:03:45 - The Guru and the Yogi 00:07:44 - The Beginning of Spiritual Inquiry 00:11:39 - Meeting Guru Shivabalayogi 00:15:28 - Joining the Bangalore ashram 00:19:19 - Divine Experiences and the Role of the Guru 00:23:00 - The Value of a Self-Realized Guru 00:27:07 - The Guru-Disciple Relationship 00:31:12 - Finding the Right Guru 00:35:10 - Kanakadasa's Test of Faith 00:38:47 - Tapas: Burning the Habits of the Mind 00:42:39 - The Meaning of Tapas 00:46:31 - The Guru's Manifestation 00:50:09 - The Three Stages of Manifestation 00:54:08 - Surrendering to Swamiji's Blessings 00:57:36 - Retaining an Ego after Enlightenment 01:01:20 - The Divine's Intelligent Work 01:04:55 - Tapas and Detachment 01:08:54 - Gradual Shift of Attention to Your Own Self 01:12:42 - The Importance of Practice 01:16:19 - The Mechanics of Jangama Dhyana 01:20:02 - Watching the Mind 01:23:48 - The Awareness of the Self 01:27:42 - Fixing the Gaze on the Tip of the Nose 01:31:33 - The Usefulness of Samadhi for Spiritual Bypassing 01:35:11 - Overcoming the Past and Planning for the Future 01:38:48 - Becoming a Self-Realized Soul 01:42:09 - Finding Balance Between Surrender and Determination 01:45:35 - The Role of Spiritual Teachers in Self-Realization 01:49:32 - Cultivating the Mind and Practicing Spirituality 01:53:06 - Expressing Gratitude and Well Wishes

David Robert Loy is a professor, writer, and Zen teacher in the Sanbo Kyodan tradition of Japanese Zen Buddhism. He is a prolific author, whose essays and books have been translated into many languages. His articles appear regularly in the pages of major journals and Buddhist magazines. He is on the editorial or advisory boards of the journals Cultural Dynamics, Worldviews, Contemporary Buddhism, Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, and World Fellowship of Buddhists Review. He is also on the advisory boards of Buddhist Global Relief, the Clear View Project, Zen Peacemakers, and the Ernest Becker Foundation.” For more details about his teachings, visit his website or his YouTube channel. He also has an extensive audio/video library on his website. Books: A New Buddhist Path: Enlightenment, Evolution, and Ethics in the Modern World The World Is Made of Stories Lack and Transcendence: The Problem of Death and Life in Psychotherapy, Existentialism, and Buddhism Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution Nonduality: A Study in Comparative Philosophy The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory Awareness Bound and Unbound: Buddhist Essays A Buddhist History of the West (Suny Series in Religious Studies) A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency Transcript of this interview Previous Batgap discussion involving David. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:58 - A Spiritual Journey from Zen Monasteries to the US 00:07:55 - Integration and Embodiment in Spiritual Practice 00:11:22 - The Buddhist Concept of Not-Self and Indra's Net 00:15:03 - Evolution and Understanding God from a Buddhist Perspective 00:19:00 - The Deeper Meaning of Myth and the Cosmos as an Organism 00:22:59 - The Cosmos as a Self-Organizing Organism 00:26:51 - The Mystery of the Universe 00:30:29 - The Devaluation of the Material World 00:34:35 - The Tension Between Cosmological Dualism and Non-dualism 00:38:16 - Letting go and Opening up 00:42:05 - The stages of awakening and glimpses 00:45:51 - Glimpsing the Tree in the Fog 00:49:37 - The Feedback Loop of Karma 00:53:23 - Structural and Institutional Forces 00:57:16 - The Environmental Crisis and Self-Destruction 01:01:11 - Integration of Spiritual Practice with Engagement in the World 01:04:46 - Tapping into Intelligence and Creativity 01:08:28 - A Turning Point in Human History 01:12:05 - Galvanizing the Buddhist Community 01:15:47 - The Three Poisons and Institutionalized Greed 01:19:35 - The Need for Wars and Bombing 01:23:44 - A Turning, an Awakening, a Shift 01:27:26 - The Thinning Membrane and the Connection Between Activism and Spirituality 01:31:20 - The Tension Between Cosmological Dualism and Non-Dualism in Buddhism and the Need for Clarification 01:35:07 - Transcendence and Motivational Shifts 01:38:59 - Experiencing the World as a Manifestation 01:42:53 - Relating to the Biosphere 01:46:21 - The Spiritual Crisis and Its Solutions 01:49:57 - Radical Transformation in Buddhism 01:53:41 - Website and YouTube Notifications Save

Jacqueline Maria Longstaff began having peak experiences at an early age. She held her first spiritual service - for kids - at age 7. She had a huge heart opening at age 19, but not knowing where to go with this, became a Catholic for a few years and taught in Africa. However, soon she was drawn towards the teachings of the East. The need for religion of any kind dropped after an awakening at the Osho ashram in 1979. 1980 saw the beginning of some powerful connections with inter-dimensional beings as preparation for her future work. She was officially an Osho sannyasin for almost 4 years, but her real guru was Swami Devadas, one of Osho's earliest disciples. She began guiding others in 1979 and has held courses, retreats, and satsangs in many countries. She has been a speaker at conferences in several countries throughout the last 25 years. In 2003 she began creating an Ashram near the sacred hill Arunachala in South India. She has held three fifteen-month Cosmic Airport training courses - mainly in Scandinavia - training people to assist with conscious birthing, dying, transformation and transcendence. Her education includes a teaching degree, astrological and esoteric studies, astro- psychology and spiritual psychology studies, and much more. Website: cosmicairport.com Books: The Cosmic Airport - A vision whose time has come The Last Waltz: The Enlightened Consciousness Embracing the Collective Shadow Relationship as a Spiritual Pathway: Moving from RelationSHIT to true RelationSHIP Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/15/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:38 - Overcoming Emotional Reactions in Relationships 00:09:01 - A Heart Opening and the Catholic Church 00:13:20 - Awakening of the Heart Chakra 00:16:58 - The Experimentation and Awakening in Osho's Ashram 00:21:09 - Powerful Connections with Interdimensional Beings 00:24:45 - Contacted by Higher Beings 00:28:26 - Profound Moments of Awakening 00:32:40 - Leaving Osho's Ashram 00:36:54 - The Silence in the Center of the Heart 00:44:37 - Caution with Sacred Plant Medicines 00:48:55 - The Benefits and Carefulness of Ayahuasca 00:52:54 - The Benefits of Meditation with a Guide 00:57:28 - Group Energy and Meditation 01:01:36 - Moving upwards in spirals 01:05:03 - The Cosmic Airport 01:09:30 - The Role of Doctors and Nurses in the Project 01:12:51 - The Fear of Death and the Concept of Reincarnation 01:17:00 - Real Meditation and the Awakened Death 01:21:14 - Ashram and Work in India 01:24:39 - Systems Busters with Hearts 01:28:15 - The Conspiracy Theory Sacred Cow 01:32:40 - Cultivating Spontaneity and Witnessing Consciousness 01:37:08 - Embracing the Collective Shadow 01:41:11 - Dismantling the Control System on the Planet 01:44:43 - Finding Peace in the Search for Self-realization 01:48:55 - The Reality of the Awakening Experience 01:52:56 - The Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow 01:56:38 - Cultivating a Heart That Sings 02:00:09 - Concluding Remarks Save Save

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

There is some controversy surrounding Culadasa. Here's a message from the organization he headed: Important Message from the Dharma Treasure Board of Directors His 33-page response and much discussion can be found on this Reddit board. Culadasa (John Yates, Ph.D.) was the director of Dharma Treasure Buddhist Sangha in Tucson, Arizona and author of The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness. A meditation master with over four decades of experience in the Tibetan and Theravadin Buddhist traditions, Culadasa also taught physiology and neuroscience for many years. He combines the original teachings of the Buddha with an emerging, scientific understanding of the mind to give students a rich and rare opportunity for rapid progress and profound insight. Website YouTube Channel Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 4/1/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Interview with Culadasa (John Yates) 00:03:36 - The Path of a Truth-Seeker 00:08:21 - From Catholicism to Eastern Religions 00:13:32 - Ananda Bodhi and the Recognition of Tulku 00:18:23 - Traditional vs Modern Meditation Techniques 00:22:44 - The Mechanics of Meditation 00:27:44 - The Two Ways of Knowing 00:32:29 - Focusing during Meditation and Alluring Objects of Attention 00:36:46 - Training the Mind's Attention 00:40:18 - Unifying the Mind through Meditation 00:44:02 - The Blissful State of Samatha 00:48:34 - The Neurophysiology of Meditation 00:52:51 - The Radical View of Consciousness 00:57:17 - The Unique Information Exchange in the Mind 01:01:31 - Accessing the Field of Consciousness 01:05:27 - The Continuation of Spiritual Evolution 01:10:10 - Tapping into Collective Wisdom and Past Lives 01:13:46 - The Mistake of Choosing the Wrong Child 01:18:04 - Subtle Extensions of Consciousness 01:21:50 - The Rigpa and the Clear Light of the Mind 01:26:15 - Fallen Awakened Teachers and the Mind System Theory 01:30:02 - Awakening and Changes in Behavior 01:33:48 - The Relationship Between Compassion and Wisdom 01:37:36 - Neurological Transformation and Compassion 01:41:11 - Buddhism's View on God and Atheism 01:46:24 - The Mystery of Existence 01:49:44 - Vertical Dimensionality of Creation 01:53:52 - The Importance of Openly Communicating Attainments and Enlightenment 01:58:04 - Theoretical Possibility of EEG Test Development 02:01:55 - Exploring the Mind and Teaching Offerings 02:05:37 - Thanking Culadasa Save Save