Buddha at the Gas Pump

Charles Eisenstein is a speaker and writer focusing on themes of human culture and identity. He is the author of several books, most recently Sacred Economics and The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible. His background includes a degree in mathematics and philosophy from Yale, a decade in Taiwan as a translator, and stints as a college instructor, a yoga teacher, and a construction worker. He currently writes and speaks full-time. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and four children. Websites: charleseisenstein.org sacred-economics.com "More Beautiful World" Facebook page Other Books: The Ascent of Humanity: Civilization and the Human Sense of Self (Related website and free book online.) The Yoga of Eating: Transcending Diets and Dogma to Nourish the Natural Self Transformational Weight Loss Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/25/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:49 - Living an Ordinary Life 00:09:04 - The Baggage of the Old Story 00:13:09 - The Crisis and Opportunity 00:17:47 - The Habit of Needing to Know Everything 00:22:20 - The Endless Cycle of Creating Problems 00:26:37 - The Emperor's New Clothes and the Games People Play 00:30:33 - The Displacement of Desire 00:34:57 - Finding Fulfillment Within Oneself 00:39:17 - The Search for Meaning and Effort 00:43:08 - The Gift of Willpower 00:47:24 - The Ripple Effects of Our Actions 00:51:54 - The Intelligence of Nature 00:56:10 - The Unity of Beings within Nature 01:00:22 - The Mythology of Separation and Domination 01:04:42 - The Power of Gifting Society 01:08:55 - The Increasing Competitiveness of the World 01:13:36 - The Relationship between Health and Responsibility 01:17:51 - The Story of Separation and Changing the Mythology 01:21:47 - Transmission through Myth and Archetype 01:26:45 - The Ordeal of Identity Shattering 01:31:14 - The Shattering of Collective Reality 01:35:54 - Raising Bottom Through Acts of Love 01:41:03 - Disrupting the Story 01:45:18 - The Value of Unpredictable Moments 01:49:41 - Relying on Nature's Intelligence 01:54:04 - Following the More Beautiful World 01:58:38 - Investing in Generosity in Times of Crisis 02:03:13 - The Importance of Preparing to Exercise Compassion 02:07:18 - Shifting the Cause 02:11:31 - Music Introduction Save

Gabor is a spirited coach who frees people from thought addiction, allowing consciousness to awaken and to become the real guide. Gabor nearly lost his life escaping from communist Hungary at the age of 18. He arrived in Canada with a single-minded and insatiable thirst for his first love - power and material wealth. At the age of 30, he was already a multi-millionaire, had his black belt in Hap-Kido, and had degrees in business and engineering. However, he was not at all happy. And so, Gabor turned to his 2nd love - spirituality. He resided with and was initiated by a Shaman in Ecuador, lived in a forest in the U.S., all the while, attending Ramtha's School of Enlightenment. He also studied with teachers such as Burt Harding and Bob Proctor, and took every new age seminar within shooting distance. All these served as soul searching pacifiers with an occasional glimmer of "What a great experience! If only I could hang on to it a bit longer." Finally, at the age of 40, Gabor found his true Master - suffering. His suffering came in the forms of heartbreak, the loss of his family and his entire fortune, and suicidal depression. Through the grace of this newfound master, Gabor was now able to surrender to his third and ultimate love - Presence, the silence of nothing, where the capitulated mind takes a back seat and becomes the servant. Having deepened his presence and integrating it into his life, Gabor developed many techniques and the ability to teach the indescribable. For the past 10 years, he has been offering seminars and private sessions, online and in several countries around the globe. In these sessions, Gabor not only guides people and teaches the techniques he has developed, but he also helps them deal with the mind’s onslaughts by proxy. Website: gaborharsanyi.com Facebook page Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/18/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction with Rick Archer 00:04:23 - Escaping to Find Freedom 00:08:00 - Overcoming Fear and Trusting Others During a Refugee Journey 00:10:48 - Responsibility as a parent 00:13:22 - Achieving Success without Knowing the Limits 00:16:28 - Losing Everything in the Real Estate Crash 00:19:02 - Brutal and Barbaric Physical and Mental Exercises 00:21:22 - The Value of Past Spiritual Experiences 00:24:42 - Emphasizing Spirituality for Everyone 00:29:00 - The Mystical Perspective of Awakening 00:32:54 - The Feeling of Oneness and Unity 00:36:17 - The Toughest Period 00:38:51 - Drunkenness and Control 00:42:09 - Building Stress and Depression 00:46:54 - Learning from the Indigenous Community 00:53:10 - The Ayahuasca Experience 00:57:53 - Accessing Presence through Difficulties 01:02:59 - The Dolphin Technique for Interrupting the Mind 01:06:47 - Maintaining Expanded Awareness and Avoiding Emotional Blows 01:11:56 - The Problem with Meditation Techniques 01:15:57 - The Complexity of Meditation 01:18:45 - The Complexity of Life and Cultural Breakthroughs 01:22:27 - Finding Simplicity Within Complexity 01:26:12 - Convergence and Resoluteness 01:28:41 - Surrendering to Universal Intelligence 01:31:01 - Becoming Second Nature 01:33:49 - The Body's Intelligence and Universal Intelligence 01:37:04 - Dissolving the Trinity in Unity 01:40:32 - Learning and Practical Applications 01:43:38 - Simplicity and Inner Practice. 01:45:19 - Live Streaming Interviews on YouTube Save Save

Six years after the suicide of her father, in one moment her own intense suffering was swapped for mind-blowing joy, altering her life permanently. Happiness and peace became her predominant states. Laughter exploded at the simplicity and power of the shift, and tears of gratitude flowed. Understandings began to come about how we have been living backwards, how we have mistaken the outside for the inside, and how we have tethered ourselves to the uncontrollable winds of change in the midst of freedom—and how we can return to truth, sanity, and peace. She dropped everything she was doing to show people how to feel good no matter what because when you shift your state, problems dissolve, villains become victims, and compassion kicks in. So much gratitude came with this revelation, she began helping people awaken love and joy in their lives. Months after discovering joy, one day in the woods she was knocked to her knees by an explosion of love that ended the imaginary separation of self and other, speech fell away, and all she could do was laugh and cry at the cosmic joke. Forty years of self baggage suddenly fell away. The thinker and speaker she thought she was, was gone. Yet the Self remained. Cindy is writing about that “direct seeing” of Self in a third book she is working on. She is the author of Alchemy - How to Feel Good No Matter What, and The Happiness Lie: What Generations Have Been Told That Makes You Unhappy. Website: alchemylovejoy.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/11/2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:17 - The Shift to Joy 00:08:06 - Letting go of Attachments and the Happiness Lie 00:12:07 - Shifting Attention and Finding Joy 00:15:56 - Shifting States and Experiencing Bliss 00:20:00 - The Source of Happiness 00:23:41 - Shifting from Conceptuality to Experience 00:27:52 - The Illusion of Separation 00:32:29 - The End of Duality 00:36:50 - Dismantling the False Separate Self 00:41:38 - The Shift to Seeing Everything in Terms of the Self 00:46:19 - Falling in Love with Love 00:50:40 - Intensifying the Desire for Love and Realization 00:54:37 - Finding the Joy Within 00:58:48 - Narrowing and Opening the Power of Attention 01:02:42 - Deepening Awareness through Meditation 01:07:14 - The Universal Experience of Mind Wandering whilst Driving 01:11:17 - The End of Questioning 01:15:42 - Rewriting and Integration 01:19:49 - The Transition Phase and Settling Down 01:24:07 - The Evolution of Awareness 01:28:03 - The Power of Attention and Interest 01:31:49 - The Power of Discernment and the Dream of Suffering 01:36:01 - The Power of Authority 01:39:56 - Letting go of the idea that someone is hurting you 01:43:12 - The Importance of Reframing Experiences 01:46:32 - Humanity's purpose and the joy of self-realization 01:49:50 - The Importance of Self-Realization 01:52:44 - The Freedom and Spaciousness of Being "Natural" 01:55:49 - Upcoming Programs and Contact Information 01:59:13 - Music Save

Spiritual midwife, evolutionary, healer, author, and artist, Peter Cutler had a profound awakening experience at the tender age of twenty-two. Ten days after it began, he promptly fell back into the dream state most us consider our lives. Not having a clue what had happened, he began a spiritual search that took him through many spiritual teachers, practices, and traditions, finally flowering as this great light of profound peace, unconditional love, freedom, and contentment. As he first discovered at twenty-two, the radiance of this awake being seems to have a profound effect on people, often leading to remarkable healings. This made it crystal clear that we don't awaken for ourselves alone. As a spiritual midwife, for those who are ready, he assists in the birth of the awakened nature that lies within each of us. He offers weekly teachings, healing, Living Awake groups, retreats, and private sessions at his spiritual center in Sedona, Arizona (The Sedona Zendo of the Awakened Heart) or online. His first book The Zen of Love: Discover Your Own Awakened Heart is available on Amazon. Free digital download of the book. Learn more about Peter and his work at His website Art to Enlighten You The Enlightened Way YouTube channel Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/4/2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:55 - The Falling in Love Phase 00:11:07 - Direct realization of love and no separation 00:16:35 - Childhood Innocence and Vulnerability 00:21:51 - Connection with the Surroundings 00:27:13 - The Awakening of Love and Light 00:32:20 - The Glimpse of Reality and the Path to Finding It 00:37:49 - Surrendering to Life's Perfection 00:42:41 - The Gradual Progression of Functioning 00:47:37 - The Inner Awakening 00:52:56 - Surrendering to the Guru 00:58:19 - Love as an Opportunity 01:03:35 - Concentrated Universal Love 01:08:55 - Surrendering to the Kundalini Crisis 01:13:58 - The Purpose of Relationships and Lessons Learned 01:19:04 - Lessons from Relationships 01:24:15 - A Traumatic Past Life Experience 01:28:45 - Remembering Past Lives 01:33:19 - The Inner Voice and Going Against It 01:37:40 - The Awakening 01:41:52 - Surrendering the Ego 01:45:50 - Transformation and Radiance 01:49:53 - The Simplicity of Life 01:53:58 - Degrees of Awakening 01:58:16 - The Dissolution of the "You" 02:02:35 - Unpredictability and Lessons from Abuse 02:07:00 - The Evolution of Human Consciousness 02:11:26 - Accessing Infinite Knowing 02:15:37 - Embracing the Energy of Feelings 02:19:52 - Taking Care of Your Body 02:23:49 - Podcast Subscription and Free Book Available Save

Brian Yosef Schachter-Brooks is a Jewish spiritual teacher, musician, and founder of Torah of Awakening (2006). He has taught this Jewish Path of Presence to hundreds of students around the world through workshops, retreats, and his on-line program. He also served as clergy and sacred music director at Chochmat HaLev synagogue in Berkeley, California (2000- 2016). He received s'micha (ordination) as Minister of Sacred Music from Reb Zalman Schachter Shalomi z"l (2013), Spiritual Teacher from Rabbi SaraLeya Schley and Shaykh Ibrahim Baba Farajaje (2013), Jewish Meditation Teacher from Dr. Avram Davis (2004) and holds a Bachelor in Music from the Eastman School of Music (1991). He lives in Tucson, Arizona with wife Lisa and their two children. Website: torahofawakening.com Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 2/26/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:20 - The Early Years of Spiritual Exploration 00:12:12 - A Shared Awakening 00:17:56 - The Potential for Enlightened Consciousness 00:22:37 - Meditative Practices and Spiritual Education 00:26:42 - Connecting deeply to the present moment 00:31:00 - Dislodging Scabs of Anger 00:35:02 - The Vulnerability of Spiritual Awakening 00:39:15 - The balance of strength and sensitivity in relationships 00:42:52 - Divinity Revealed in Hiddenness 00:47:06 - The Nature of God and the Relational Experience 00:50:54 - The Connotation of God 00:54:49 - The Duality of Prayer and God's Response 00:59:30 - Recognizing the Oneness of God and Reality 01:03:53 - Practices for Deepening Presence in Judaism 01:07:53 - Integral Jewish Meditation and Daily Practice 01:12:24 - The Baal Shem Tov's Call for Accessible Spirituality 01:16:08 - The Power of Sacred Language 01:20:10 - Hebrew and Vedic Language Connection 01:24:29 - The Purpose of Incarnations and Fulfilling Roles 01:28:43 - The Meaning of "Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad" 01:33:20 - The Miracle of Our Consciousness 01:38:03 - Awareness and the Field of Experience 01:42:10 - The Implication of "That" and "This" in Non-Duality 01:46:04 - Global Spiritual Awakening 01:50:13 - The Influence of Indian Spiritual Teachers on Jewish Culture 01:53:56 - The Universal Wound in the Jewish Psyche 01:59:00 - The Judaism of the Mind 02:03:16 - The Jewish Meditation Center and the Power of Music 02:07:03 - Torah of Awakening Resources Save

Duane Elgin is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and social visionary. He has an MBA in business and an MA in economic history He has worked as a senior staff member of the Presidential Commission on the American Future, and a senior social scientist co-authoring numerous studies of the long-range future for clients such as the President’s Science Advisor; the National Science Foundation; and others. Duane has also co-founded three non-profit organizations working for media accountability and citizen empowerment. He received the Peace Prize of Japan, the Goi Award, in recognition of his contribution to a global “vision, consciousness, and lifestyle” that fosters a “more sustainable and spiritual culture.” Duane is the Co-director of the Choosing Earth Project. His books include: Choosing Earth: Humanity's Journey of Initiation Through Breakdown and Collapse to Mature Planetary Community "The Living Universe: Where Are We? Who Are We? Where Are We Going?"; "Promise Ahead: A Vision of Hope and Action for Humanity's Future"; "Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich"; "Awakening Earth: Exploring the Evolution of Human Culture and Consciousness" (Also available as a free download on Duane's site.) He co-authored the book "Changing Images of Man" with Joseph Campbell and other scholars. Websites: choosingearth.org duaneelgin.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview 2nd interview with Duane Interview recorded 2/18/2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:52 - Duane Elgin's Background and Accomplishments 00:05:26 - The Awakening Earth: A Profound Spiritual Experience 00:09:04 - A Part of a Larger Aliveness 00:11:29 - The Living Wholeness of the Universe 00:14:18 - The Wholeness of the Universe 00:17:22 - Debating the Existence of a Living Universe 00:19:54 - The Miracle of Existence 00:23:00 - The Complexity and Sophistication of Creation 00:25:30 - The Consciousness of the Cosmos 00:28:49 - Acceleration of Outmoded Ways of Thinking 00:32:08 - Stepping up to the Game 00:35:19 - The Relevance of Human Existence in a Changing World 00:38:35 - Do we have to hit bottom? 00:41:16 - The Life Stage of the Human Family 00:44:05 - Moving from Adolescence to Adulthood 00:46:44 - The Awakening of the Global Brain and Heart 00:50:10 - The Power of Social Media and the Internet 00:53:00 - The Prospects of Making It Through 00:55:20 - The Stages of Awakening and Acceptance 00:58:12 - Observing Other Intelligences and Demonstrating Maturity 01:01:38 - The Three Miracles of Existence 01:04:33 - Profound Intelligence Orchestrating the Universe 01:07:31 - God as Pure Intelligence 01:11:13 - The constancy of the speed of light 01:13:39 - Beings of Light 01:16:43 - Nonlocality in the Quantum Realm 01:19:31 - Awakening to Reflective Consciousness 01:23:00 - Developing Multiple Skill Sets for a Sustainable Future 01:25:55 - The Value of a Spiritual Practice 01:28:03 - Science and Non Duality Conference Save

On 10/21/2016 at the Science and Nonduality Conference, Loch Kelly, Mukti, and Francis Bennett discuss the paradoxical understanding reflected in the famous Heart Sutra’s saying, "Form is emptiness and emptiness is form. Form is none other than emptiness and emptiness is none other than form.” They have noticed that many people get caught halfway after an initial awakening in a kind of spiritual bypass: stuck in stillness, spaced-out, blissed-in, or attached to the conceptual belief that “I am nobody." What are the pointers and supports to realize the already manifest life arising out of the unmanifest awareness? They give examples of the fullness of waking up from a limited sense of self to pure awareness, then also waking in to our bodies and waking out to relating and creating in the world. Loch, Mukti, and Francis discuss the importance of the dancing emptiness of embodiment and how to live from open-hearted awareness. Mukti, whose name means “liberation”, is a teacher in the lineage of Adyashanti, her husband. Together they founded Open Gate Sangha in 1996 to cultivate the awakening of consciousness in those who yearn for truth, peace, and freedom. In teaching, Mukti brings flavors of feminine quietude and nurturing as well as kinesthetic, visual, and precise pointers to Truth. Many speak of her being particularly gifted in her offering of guided meditations. Her keen interest as a teacher is in the revelation of consciousness touching and transforming human experience. She is licensed in acupuncture and certified in yoga instruction. For sample teachings, audio clips and downloads, and further information, visit muktisource.org. AudioBook: The Self in Full Bloom Previous BatGap interview with Mukti Francis Bennett entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemane in 1981 and in the ’90s subsequently lived at a “daughter house” of Gethsemane in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Until recently, he was living in a small urban monastery in Montreal Quebec. He has been a “spiritual seeker” during all those years, practicing in the Christian mystical/contemplative Tradition and working deeply with teachers in both the Vipassana and Zen Traditions as well. In 2010 he experienced a profound perceptual “shift” in which he realized the ever-present presence of pure Awareness, which some would call, the Presence of God. Francis’ book: “I Am That I Am: Discovering the Love, Peace, Joy, and Stability of the True Self“. Previous BatGap interviews involving Francis: With John Mark Stroud With Adyashanti on “Resurrecting Jesus” In Panel Discussion on Refined Perception With Jac O’Keeffe and Igor Kufayev at the SAND conference In Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 With Adyashanti on "The Embrace of Jesus and Buddha" Loch Kelly, M.Div., LCSW is the author of, Shift into Freedom: The Science and Practice of Open-Hearted Awareness. He is an educator, licensed psychotherapist, and recognized leader in the field of nondual meditation who was asked to teach Sutra Mahamudra by Mingyur Rinpoche and nondual meditation by Adyashanti. Loch has worked in community mental health, established homeless shelters, and counseled family members of 9/11. He is the founder of the non-profit Open-Hearted Awareness Institute. Loch collaborates with neuroscientists at Yale, UPenn, and NYU to study how awareness training can enhance compassion and well-being. For more information, visit lochkelly.org. Previous BatGap interview with Loch. Transcript of this discussion YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:57 - Introduction to the Discussion 00:03:31 - The Mystery of Our Existence 00:05:34 - The Divine in this Manifest World 00:07:40 - Awakening to Emptiness and Embracing Form 00:09:29 - The Second Operating System of Awake Awareness 00:11:11 - Understanding the Context and Content 00:12:43 - The Interplay Between Form and Emptiness 00:14:07 - Finding the Middle Path and Comprehensive Awakening 00:15:47 - The Process of Integration 00:18:04 - Awakening to the Present Moment 00:20:22 - The Presence of Knowingness 00:22:11 - The Unchanging Presence 00:24:11 - The Fabric of Dancing and Pervasive Awareness 00:26:00 - Awakening to Who We Are 00:27:25 - The Dance of God: Yoga in Action 00:28:44 - Shining the Light of Awareness 00:30:44 - Human Consciousness and Capital C Consciousness 00:32:07 - Anticipation and Suffering in Human Experience 00:33:51 - Form and Emptiness: Identity and Non-Duality 00:35:52 - The Concept of Emptiness in Physics and Spirituality 00:37:21 - The Interconnectedness of All Things 00:39:11 - Different Paths of Awakening 00:41:14 - The Path of Spiritual Practice 00:42:52 - The Three Paths to Awakening 00:44:12 - Touching into our True Nature 00:45:30 - Unlocking our Potential 00:46:48 - Fullness in Divine Intelligence 00:48:30 - Opposites Collapsing 00:50:24 - The Tightrope of Self and No Self 00:51:38 - Locke's Presentation

Nicola Amadora Ph.D. traveled far on her search for the truth of life and real love. The fire was burning strong, as her upbringing had been fraught with intense abuse and horrors. When 18 years old, she worked with Mother Theresa in Calcutta, studied with Tibetan Monks, meditated in Hindu Ashrams, and lived with the indigenous people in the Amazon. She learnt from living saints, nature and people on the street. Later she became a Dharma teacher in the Vipassana Tradition, an Interfaith Minister, a Transpersonal Psychologist and Hakomi Therapist. As a single mother she raised a daughter and led an educational center, which united spirituality with our humanity, leadership, relationship and activism. Her life and work is a rich banquet, one which includes many facets of life. Nicola’s awakenings occurred alone in the wilderness and on busy city roads, always with the call to integrate and embody it in daily life. On her journey she experienced immense wonders and terrors, held in an ever-growing sense of love. But one day, when literally everything in her life was ruthlessly stripped away, in sheer despair and finally surrender, she felt a deep merging and all came rushing home. Human and divine was not separated, but one in the heart of life. Nicola speaks from the juicy voice of the feminine, she does not claim to be enlightened, but rather walks her talk as a mystic in ordinary life. She teaches from deep love and alive presence - one that embraces the muck and beauty of this life and dares to stand and act in this world to make a difference. Nicola offers spiritual retreats, professional trainings, individual sessions, and public talks. She writes and supports people to come home and embody who we are - in the world and with each other - to let love live us, in the midst of the whole enchilada, no matter what is going on. Website: nicolaamadora.com Book: Nothing but Love: Poetry CD's: Meditations for Life Return to the Heart Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 2/11/2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:38 - Meeting a Spiritual Teacher 00:08:05 - Meeting Mother Teresa 00:11:59 - Recognizing the Divinity in Everyone 00:15:53 - An Enlightening Experience 00:19:22 - Finding Gentleness with Thich Nhat Hanh 00:23:30 - Exploring the Jungle and Learning from Indigenous People 00:26:43 - Journey into the Jungle 00:30:35 - Conquering Fear: The Magical Encounter with an Anaconda 00:33:34 - Connection with the Wilderness 00:37:46 - Discovering my Purpose in the Wilderness 00:41:33 - A Powerful Awakening in Nature 00:44:51 - The Voice Within and Divine Guidance 00:48:54 - Discerning Authenticity in Channeling 00:53:29 - Attuning to the Source 00:57:59 - The Dance of Devotion and Awareness 01:02:14 - Effort and Surrender: Walking up the Mountain 01:06:11 - Findhorn and the Training 01:10:16 - Surrender and Awakening 01:14:30 - Living in the Light 01:17:01 - Working Toward Healing and Collaboration 01:21:15 - Rise of Global Threats and Deep Insights 01:25:22 - The awakening caused by the one who should not be named 01:30:07 - The Two Wings of the Bird 01:34:52 - The Oneness of Humanity 01:39:23 - Cultivating Openness and Vulnerability 01:43:39 - Cultivating Vulnerability and True Nature 01:48:02 - Embracing the Pain and Opening to Love 01:51:37 - Connecting with Nicola Amadora 01:54:55 - Upcoming Interviews and Site Features 01:58:12 - Upcoming Videos and Thank You Save Save

Mari Perron tells us she’s delighted that A Course of Love has granted her a voice in the new dialogue that has opened about who we are as human and divine beings. She feels that the wisdom of the heart—a major focus of A Course of Love—has at times been missing from the conversation, and loves being able to speak for both the heart and the “human.” A question asked within A Course of Love is this: Doesn’t it make sense that the only error possible is that of not being who you are? Mari is called the “first receiver” of this Course that was given as an extension of what was begun in A Course in Miracles. A Course in Miracles was recorded by Helen Schucman in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Helen was called a scribe of the words of Jesus which, since that time, have gone out to millions of people all over the world. A Course in Miracles was stated to be a course in thought reversal and mind training. Within A Course of Love, which Mari received between 1998 and 2001, Jesus calls Mari its “first” receiver and says that each person who lets it enter their heart is a receiver as well. Its stated purpose is a return to a true identity that existed prior to the time of learning, and it calls for learning to end. Mari feels that in a world that has told us everything we need to know can be known with our minds and/or learned from teachers, experts and gurus, we’ve often felt discouraged from listening to our hearts or trusting our inner knowing. A Course of Love offers a new way of knowing and invites us to enter dialogue and become creators of the new. Originally published as three separate books, A Course of Love has now been combined into one volume, which includes The Course, The Treatises, and The Dialogues. Since this new publication a few years ago, it has found acceptance with many in the ACIM community, and, like A Course in Miracles, begun to inspire people around the world. Mari lives in St. Paul, Minnesota where she is a writer and contemplative as well as an engaged mother and grandmother. Websites: acourseoflove.org centerforacourseoflove.org Books: A Course of Love: Combined Volume A Course of Love: The Course A Course of Love: An Overview Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 2/4/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview 00:04:02 - A Feeling of Being Known 00:08:22 - Jesus and the Cosmic Context 00:12:27 - The Potential for God Consciousness in All 00:16:43 - Embodying our Divinity on Earth 00:20:58 - Love, Joy, and Creation 00:24:42 - Union within and relationship with the world 00:28:14 - The End of Learning and Inner Knowing 00:32:04 - Awakening and Living in the Gap 00:36:12 - The Ego and Self-Identity 00:40:02 - Connecting with the Angelic Realm 00:44:11 - Searching for Purpose in Work 00:48:04 - Trusting in God 00:51:50 - A Powerful Experience 00:55:02 - Mysticism and Writing 00:58:15 - Wholeheartedness and Being True to Love and Yourself 01:01:38 - The Beginning of Creating a New World 01:05:01 - Embracing Human Feelings and Personhood 01:08:00 - The Incarnational Side of Things 01:11:02 - Creating a New State of Being 01:14:05 - The Effects of Financial Decline and Unaffordable Healthcare 01:17:11 - The Suffering of Others and the Need for Remedy 01:20:21 - The Authenticity of Channeling 01:23:29 - The Effects of Spiritual Transformation 01:26:49 - A Love for Dialogue and Sharing 01:29:45 - Combining "A Course in Miracles" and "A Course of Love" 01:33:03 - Mysticism and the Natural Mystic 01:36:12 - A Spiritual Orientation 01:38:59 - Translations and Final Thoughts 01:42:11 - Staying in Touch and Finding the Book 01:45:15 - Interviews and Index of Guests Save Save Save

ShantiMayi has been, what she calls 'mirroring' … for well over two decades. American born, living in France and India, she has traveled the world to remind those who are remembering, who wonder and are drawn by their heart to the ancient wisdom of Self Realization. She had the rare and unusual opportunity to sequester herself for many years in India at the feet of her Master. There she learned, unlearned and experienced directly, her Master's directives. In that awe inspiring atmosphere, her work had its inception and has gone full throttle ever since. She carries the Sacha Linage to the world and does not consider herself a Hindu. Yet, she grew in awareness, love and wisdom in the rich and fertile furrows of India's venerable spiritual heritage. Websites: wanderingstarrs.com shantimayi.com Book: In Our Hearts We Know Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 1/28/2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:12 - Understanding Lineage and Its Significance 00:06:13 - Subtle Energies between Master and Disciple 00:08:36 - Diversity in Realization and Personal Experience 00:10:51 - The Simple Man and his Guru 00:13:56 - Leaving This World 00:16:57 - The Importance of Compassion 00:19:22 - The Journey of Spiritual Enlightenment 00:22:00 - The Illusion of Finality and Completion 00:25:38 - The Nature of Language and Thought 00:28:42 - The Beauty of Meditation 00:31:40 - The Practice of Meditation 00:34:28 - Cultivating Enlightenment 00:37:09 - The State of Awe and Wonder 00:39:52 - The Miracle of Existence 00:43:12 - Fearlessness and Embracing the Unknown 00:46:33 - Fear of Being Wrong 00:49:07 - The Illusion of Conditioning and Unraveling the Self 00:52:18 - Impressions and Conditioning 00:54:46 - The Fine Line of Enlightenment 00:57:32 - The Story of Bodhidharma 01:00:08 - The Totality of Perfection 01:02:49 - The Quality or Intelligence that Governs Everything 01:06:01 - Exploring Saintliness 01:09:01 - Consequences and Compassion in Behavior 01:11:37 - Finding Confidence Within Yourself 01:14:37 - Conversations with Prajnaparamita 01:18:04 - An Enlightened Experience 01:20:44 - Observing as a Way of Life 01:23:09 - The Sense of Individuality 01:26:19 - No Separation 01:28:57 - Grateful Farewells Save Save

Marianne Williamson is an internationally acclaimed spiritual author and lecturer. Marianne has been a popular guest on television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Good Morning America, Charlie Rose & Bill Maher. Seven of her twelve published books have been New York Times Best Sellers. Four of these have been #1. The mega best seller A Return to Love is considered a must-read of The New Spirituality. A paragraph from that book, beginning “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…” is considered an anthem for a contemporary generation of seekers. Marianne is the founder of Sister Giant, an annual conference dedicated to forging a deeper conversation about what is happening in America today – and what we can do to change it. Speakers have included Senator Bernie Sanders, Thom Hartmann, Jean Houston, Robert Thurman, and many more. The event is livestreamed. Marianne’s other books include: The Law of Divine Compensation: On Work, Money, and Miracles Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife Everyday Grace: Having Hope, Finding Forgiveness, and Making Miracles A Woman's Worth Illuminata: A Return to Prayer Healing the Soul of America: Reclaiming Our Voices as Spiritual Citizens A Course in Weight Loss: 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for Living Your Best Life A Year of Miracles: Daily Devotions and Reflections Tears to Triumph: The Spiritual Journey from Suffering to Enlightenment Marianne is a native of Houston, Texas. In 1989, she founded Project Angel Food, a meals-on-wheels program that serves homebound people with AIDS in the Los Angeles area. To date, Project Angel Food has served over 10 million meals. Marianne also co-founded the Peace Alliance. And she serves on the Board of Directors of the RESULTS organization, working to end the worst ravages of hunger and poverty throughout the world. Website: marianne.com Marianne gives weekly talks in New York City, based on A Course in Miracles … every Tuesday night at 7:30pm, at Marble Collegiate Church, Fifth Avenue and West 29th Street. The talks are Live Streamed and so are available to everyone, everywhere. Register at marianne.com. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded January 7, 2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:59 - Marianne's View on Politics and Spirituality 00:05:50 - The Symbolic Three Days and Forty Years 00:08:30 - Addressing the Suffering of Other Sentient Beings 00:11:12 - The Path of the Heart 00:13:30 - Correlation of Spirituality with Politics 00:16:02 - The Mistake Hillary Made 00:18:42 - Navigating the Dark Night of the Soul 00:21:03 - The Spiritual Responsibility to Heal the Nation and the World 00:23:43 - The Need for Change and Persistence 00:26:13 - The Impact of the Healing Crisis 00:28:31 - Love and Leadership in the Spiritual Community 00:31:06 - The Power of Love and Political Activism 00:33:36 - Inner Work and Public Engagement 00:36:17 - Collaboration and the Great Resistance 00:38:44 - The Game of Economic Disparity 00:41:44 - The Desire for Entrepreneurship and Capitalism Among College Students 00:44:20 - Tapping into Our Inner Resource 00:46:51 - Emotional Discipline in Great Athletes 00:49:41 - Hope and Optimism in a Troubled World 00:52:06 - The Fall of Empires and Depletion of Resources 00:54:50 - The Possibility of Bernie Winning 00:57:24 - The Transition to an Enlightened Society 01:00:01 - Responding to Exxon and the Need for Action 01:02:49 - Psychotherapy's Failure to Provide Comfort and Inspiration 01:05:30 - The Desensitization to Suffering 01:07:59 - Connecting with Inner Happiness through Meditation 01:10:33 - The Power of Meditation and Eclectic Practices 01:13:10 - Dwelling within the Darkness 01:15:43 - Embracing the Possibility 01:18:14 - J.P. Sears and Ultra-Spirituality Save

I was hesitant to put this up because there's more than enough of me on this site, but a few kind friends encouraged me to, so here it is. I gave this talk at the Open Circle Center in Berkeley, California on October 24, 2016. Other talks by or interviews of Rick on BatGap: SAND 2019 - Knowledge/Reality is Different in Different States of Consciousness 2018 SAND Conference Q&A and Interview by Shakti Caterina Maggi SAND 2017: "The Ethics of Enlightenment" Talk at SAND 2015 Interviewed by Fax Gilbert Interviewed by Richard Miller Transcript of this talk YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - My Role in the Spiritual Community 00:03:46 - The Role of Spirituality in the Age of Science 00:06:30 - The Ramifications of Meddling with Nature 00:08:42 - The Potential of a Transcendent Society 00:10:42 - The Possibility of Countless Advanced Civilizations 00:13:03 - Science and Spirituality: Working Hypotheses 00:15:36 - Distorted Teachings of Religion and the Importance of Understanding 00:18:19 - Finding Inner Happiness 00:21:10 - Clarifying the Meaning of Awakening and Spirituality 00:23:31 - The True Nature of Identity and Awareness 00:25:57 - The concept of "awakening" 00:27:43 - Exploring the Unknown Territory 00:29:51 - The Full Nature of Reality 00:32:32 - The Variations of the Spiritual Realm 00:35:06 - Spiritual Enlightenment and Historical Figures 00:37:19 - The Threefold Paradox of Reality 00:39:21 - The Full Range of Creation in Living 00:42:32 - The Predominant Subjective Experience of Christ 00:46:33 - The Endless Evolution of the Self 00:51:04 - The Marvelous Creation and the Divine Intelligence 00:55:25 - The All-Pervading Intelligence 00:58:36 - The Universe's Fine-Tuned Nature 01:01:19 - The Evolution of the Universe and the Awakening of Humanity 01:04:53 - The Awakening of Consciousness 01:08:08 - The Purificatory Mechanism 01:11:13 - The Natural Cycle of Imbalance and Balance 01:13:42 - The Concept of Mistakes 01:17:02 - Sharing a Unified Intelligence as a Species 01:22:51 - Harmonizing with Subtle Realms and Collaborating with Beings 01:26:07 - Embracing Corporations and Politics in Creating Change 01:28:44 - The Unity of All Beings Save

Lawrence Edwards, PhD has practiced and taught meditation for over 50 years. He is the Founder and Director of Anam Cara Meditation, dedicated to making meditative practices from a variety of traditions freely available to all. Lawrence has offered thousands of free meditation programs at universities, hospitals, churches, meditation centers, yoga centers, hospice groups, prisons and more. Dr. Edwards works with people interested in spiritual growth, dream work and Kundalini processes. He served as President of the Kundalini Research Network for over 20 years and is recognized around the world for his wisdom and skill in working with Kundalini. Dr. Edwards has studied and practiced in the Kundalini yoga tradition, Tibetan Buddhist and Huichol Indian shamanic traditions. These rich reservoirs of wisdom have expanded and deepened the transpersonal and Jungian psychological perspectives of his professional training. His mystical experiences began as a young child and have continued throughout his life. They have been the real guiding force behind his studies and training. His profound experience of the Divine present in everyone, at all times, and in all places has led him to a life of service in teaching and supporting others on their journeys into the Divine. Websites: The Soul's Journey Anam Cara Meditation Optimal Mind Chants and meditations archived on YouTube. Books: Awakening Kundalini - The Path to Radical Freedom Awakening Kundalini - The Path to Radical Freedom (Audio Book) The Soul's Journey: Guidance from the Divine Within Kali's Bazaar Om Namah Shivaya(Meditation CD) Transcript of this interview. Interview conducted 12/17/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:53 - The Thunderstorm Experience 00:08:01 - The Great Goddess and Kundalini 00:12:11 - Divine Intervention and Dedication to Service 00:15:31 - The Symbolism of Kundalini and Shakti 00:19:48 - Shiva and Shakti: Physics and Cosmology 00:23:54 - The Body and Consciousness 00:27:49 - The Involution of Consciousness 00:32:02 - The Evolution of Consciousness 00:36:08 - The Fulfillment of Longing 00:40:05 - Kundalini Unfolded and Becoming the Living Reality 00:44:22 - Kundalini Awakening and Lifetimes of Evolution 00:48:36 - The Nature of the Body 00:52:33 - The Vision of Goddess Kundalini 00:56:31 - The Indivisible Unity of Consciousness 01:00:41 - The Role of Shaktipat in Liberation 01:04:39 - The Black Void and the Causal State of Consciousness 01:08:39 - Kundalini Energy and Kriyas 01:12:47 - Letting Go and Opening the Door to Life 01:16:41 - Support and Medication in Kundalini Awakening 01:20:25 - Unfolding and Expansiveness of Consciousness 01:24:07 - Accessing Universal Consciousness through Kundalini 01:27:38 - Riding the Bubbles of Thought and the Unfolding of Consciousness 01:31:29 - Different perspectives on the Divine 01:34:49 - The Call to Go Further in Spiritual Practice 01:38:35 - The Challenge of Fulfilling the Dharma as a Teacher 01:42:38 - Dealing with Disillusionment in Spiritual Teachers 01:47:00 - The Face of the Infinite 01:50:49 - The Power of Kundalini Shakti and the Inner Guru 01:54:52 - Poetry and Pretenses 01:58:40 - Spiritual Emergency Network and Kundalini Resources Save Save Save Save

Regina Dawn Akers has been sharing spiritual teachings, organizing retreats and leading pilgrimages to holy sites in Israel and India since 2005. She’s published two books: “Holy Spirit's Interpretation of the New Testament: A Course in Understanding and Acceptance” (NTI) and “The Teachings of Inner Ramana”. Her third book “Thoughts of Awakening: 365 Thoughts for Daily Contemplation” is provided as a free e-book. Each of these books came to Regina from within through her willingness to be their scribe, student and teacher. She is a living model of their teachings and a clear channel of the deeper meaning that lies hidden beyond the written word. Regina shares insightful and consistent clarity using a variety of spiritual teachings as pointers. She is the founder of Awakening Together, a worldwide online spiritual assembly dedicated to helping people become self-reliant with inner spiritual wisdom. Awakening Together uses the teachings of many spiritual traditions to point toward one truth, one true Self, which lies peacefully within each of us. Regina is the author of Awakening Together’s 2-year Minister Preparation Program (MPP), which is a contemplative study of Truth through teachings from Hinduism, Buddhism, Sufism, Kabbalah, the Tao Te Ching, A Course in Miracles, the New Testament, and contemporary masters including Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj. When she is not traveling, Regina lives a quiet life in Pueblo, Colorado. She enjoys spending time with her family, her dog and a few close friends. Regina invites everyone to enjoy the inspiration and online spiritual community provided through awakening-together.org. Written Books Holy Spirit's Interpretation of the New Testament: A Course in Understanding and Acceptance” (NTI) L'Interpretation Du Nouveau Testament Par Le Saint-Esprit (French Edition) The Teachings of Inner Ramana “Thoughts of Awakening: 365 Thoughts for Daily Contemplation” (free e-book) Les Enseignements de l'Esprit (French Edition) Audio Books HOLY SPIRIT'S INTERPRETATION OF The NEW TESTAMENT - DVD Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/10/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:23 - Dancing and Religious Beliefs 00:09:27 - Awakening and One's Own Path to Truth 00:13:37 - Seeking the Truth in the Bible 00:17:53 - Discovering the True Self and Adoption from China 00:22:20 - Entitlement to Miracles 00:25:12 - Different Types of Awakening 00:29:30 - The Teacher of God 00:32:53 - The Message in the Movie 00:37:31 - Recognizing My True Self 00:41:41 - The Form of Divine Intelligence 00:45:25 - Moving for My Daughter's Happiness 00:48:45 - Following the Inner Voice 00:54:10 - Reading the Bible & The Guiding Light 00:58:27 - The Beginning of a Challenging Relationship 01:02:32 - The Healing Opportunity in a Relationship 01:07:58 - The Natural Wisdom of the Universe 01:12:34 - Healing from Rejection 01:16:10 - Lessons in Healing and Love 01:20:08 - Learning Self-Inquiry from Inner Ramana 01:23:03 - The Three States of Mind 01:26:32 - Tools for Self-Realization 01:31:04 - The Possibility of No World and No Mind 01:34:30 - Enlightenment of an Apple 01:39:37 - Living in the Now 01:43:28 - Introduction and Lack of Questions 01:47:42 - Joining an Online Sanctuary 01:51:15 - Financial Support and Fees 01:54:25 - Joining Awakening Together to Find Inspiration and Community 02:01:58 - The Power of Group Collaboration and Support 02:02:00 - Useful Tools on the Website

Vera Helleman is an inspiring and well-established speaker, popular in The Netherlands and Belgium. After being a psychotherapist for a while, Vera awoke into oneness and was gifted with the full understanding of the functioning of the human mind, the essence of who we are, and the role which we play in creation. Seeing from an energetic, non-dual perspective, she lovingly confronts people with their misconceptions about who they truly are and how this reality functions. Married, a mother of four, and fully engaged in daily life, people find her life an inspiring example. Though her teaching-style is clear and penetrating, she is playful and humble in her interaction with others. Interactions are thus based on equality and mutuality. Vera is author of the book ‘Effortlessly being yourSelf’, which is a step-by-step guide from an egoic orientation, based on fear and greed, to spiritual maturity, based on self-expression and growth. In her book, she encourages readers to take full responsibility for the role they play in their lives, and the path they follow. (More titles will follow soon.) In all of her teachings, Vera strives to provide insight and tools, enabling the shift to a more congruent life, and increasing understanding and enjoyment of what one attracts in one’s life. Website: verahelleman.com Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 12/3/2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:08 - The Awakening into Oneness 00:10:40 - The Uniqueness of Personal Stories and Experiences 00:16:10 - Connecting Beyond Time and Space 00:21:24 - The Experience of Oneness and Bubbles of Information 00:27:30 - Reincarnation and the Continuing Evolution 00:31:46 - The Paradoxical Levels of Existence 00:35:43 - Changing the World from Within 00:39:44 - Confronting Fears and Following Intuition 00:44:08 - Challenges and Growth 00:48:11 - The Opening of the Heart 00:52:27 - Teaching Children to Trust Their Intuition 00:56:58 - The Impact of Spirituality on Children 01:01:14 - The Limitations of Human Perception 01:05:01 - Tuning into Emotions 01:08:54 - The Choice Between Freedom and Encagement 01:12:39 - Breaking Free from the "Poor Me" Role 01:17:09 - The Unconscious Playing of Roles 01:21:15 - The Importance of Self-Reflection and Awareness 01:25:35 - Anger as a Necessary Tool 01:29:41 - Evolving from Intense Feelings of Suffering 01:34:08 - Healing from Trauma and Self-Protection Mechanisms 01:38:20 - Healing Environments in the Prison System 01:42:27 - Being Your Ordinary Self in the Field of Unity 01:46:43 - Finding Purpose in Life 01:50:38 - Being There for Others, Changing Beliefs, and Picking Up Energies 01:54:43 - Acceptance and Compassion 01:58:37 - The Meaning of Life and Consciousness 02:02:52 - The Joy of the Present Moment 02:06:54 - Voting and Government in the Netherlands 02:11:02 - Getting in Touch with the Speaker Save

Shinzen Young is an American mindfulness teacher and neuroscience research consultant. His systematic approach to categorizing, adapting, and teaching meditation has resulted in collaborations with Harvard Medical School, Carnegie-Mellon University, and the University of Vermont in the burgeoning field of contemplative neuroscience. Shinzen’s interest in Asia began at the age of 14 when he decided to attend a Japanese ethnic school in his native city of Los Angeles. After majoring in Asian languages at UCLA, he entered a Ph.D. program in Buddhist Studies at the University of Wisconsin. As a part of his thesis research, he lived as a Shingon (Japanese Vajrayana) monk for three years at Mount Koya, Japan. It was then that he received the name Shinzen (真善). Also during that time, he became friends with Father William Johnston (author of Christian Zen). Fr. Johnston helped broaden Shinzen’s interests to include comparative world mysticism and the scientific study of meditative states. Upon returning to the United States, his academic interests shifted to the dialogue between Eastern meditation and Western science. Shinzen is known for his interactive, algorithmic approach to mindfulness, and often uses mathematical metaphors to illustrate meditative phenomena. Shinzen leads residential retreats throughout North America. In 2006, he created the Home Practice Program. These phone-based mini-retreats are designed to make deep meditation practice accessible to anyone in the world regardless of their location, health situation, and time or financial constraints. Websites: basicmindfulness.com (Phone-based retreats and classes) shinzen.org (Articles, CDs, onsite retreats) YouTube.com/user/expandcontract (Video talks) YouTube.com/user/ShinzenInterviews (Interviews with Shinzen) Blog Facebook Twitter Books: The Science of Enlightenment Science of Enlightenment CD series Natural Pain Relief The Five Ways to Know Yourself (Basic Mindfulness Practice Manual – Free PDF) What Is Mindfulness? – A Comprehensive Overview (Free PDF) And many more Transcript of this interview First BatGap interview with Shinzen. Interview recorded 11/26/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:16 - Introduction to Shinzen's Work 00:07:04 - The Scientific Method: Breaking Down the Basic Elements 00:11:24 - The Sword and the Book in Buddhism 00:16:21 - Vivid Experiences and the Laws of Physics 00:22:19 - Analyzing the Dimensions of Mindfulness 00:31:49 - The Potential of New Discoveries 00:41:08 - The Marriage of Spirituality and Technology 00:50:01 - Different fields of the same elephant 00:55:19 - The Effortlessness of Concentration 00:58:49 - Elevating Concentration without Effort 01:03:06 - Who or what becomes enlightened? 01:07:29 - The Circuits of Meditation 01:12:54 - Enlightenment and Phenomenal Experience 01:18:56 - The Oneness of Experience 01:23:50 - Navigating the Power Realms and Surrendering to the Formless Source 01:33:07 - Balancing Effort and Surrender in Practice 01:38:49 - Equanimity and Surrender 01:41:48 - Developing a Fully Modern Delivery System 01:45:58 - Enhancing Enlightenment with Brain Hacks 01:52:59 - Suspending the Obstacles to Primordial Perfection 01:57:23 - Experiment and Hypotheses 02:02:31 - Exploring the Possibilities of Virtual Lesions for Enlightenment 02:06:58 - Exploring Neurological Conditions and Enlightenment 02:10:52 - The State of Absolute No-Self 02:15:27 - Basal Ganglia System and Thymormic Syndrome 02:20:51 - The Model Disease 02:25:12 - Industrial Strength Brain Technology 02:29:29 - Awakening Coma Patients with Ultrasound Technology 02:32:57 - The Marriage of the Century 02:35:08 - Wrap-Up and Gratitude

Jim Tolles is a spiritual teacher who helps people to grow, heal, and embrace their spiritual paths. Jim had a spiritual awakening in August 2007 and has been through an inner roller coaster ride of healing and spiritual growth, dropping away issues as he has moved more deeply into peace and love. The greatest of the shifts came in the 4th, 5th, and 6th years after awakening and truly consumed his life during those times. The intensity of the energy has since subsided into a more relaxed inner flow. Jim continues to grow and be guided by the divine flow while also relaxing into the beautiful oneness and perfection of each moment. Jim teaches his students that we all have our truth and love within us by pointing students towards their innate divine oneness. He offers tools to help people cut away their lies and misconceptions so that they can be more firmly rooted in truth and love. He works with students on an individual basis via Skype, as well as offering free online talks via livestreaming on YouTube. Book: Everyday Spirituality: Cultivating an Awakening Website: spiritualawakeningprocess.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/19/2016. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:41 - Finding Innate Wisdom and Obsoleting the Teacher 00:06:33 - Defining Spiritual Awakening 00:09:29 - A Moment of Peace and Fear Processing 00:12:18 - Silent Wounds and Childhood Trauma 00:15:27 - Breaking Down Pride and Making Space 00:18:19 - The Journey of Self-Discovery and Teaching 00:21:33 - The Road of Hard Knocks in Teaching Spiritualism 00:24:38 - Shifting and Changing 00:27:50 - Trusting Your Intuition 00:30:50 - The Self-Cleaning System 00:33:48 - The Messiness of Growth and Healing 00:37:05 - The Path to Healing and Realization 00:39:58 - Action and relaxation in spiritual practice 00:42:41 - Moving Beyond the Reptilian Brain 00:45:24 - Overcoming Trauma and its Impact on Thinking Abilities 00:48:35 - Healing from Trauma 00:51:32 - The Power of Faith in Difficult Times 00:54:23 - Transmission and Attunement in Conversations 00:57:26 - Embracing the Present Moment 01:00:19 - Processing Fear and Triggered Reactions 01:03:32 - Life After Spiritual Death and Truly Living 01:06:38 - The Wildness of the River 01:09:32 - Calming Down the Noise 01:12:36 - The Importance of Processing Pain 01:15:38 - The Positive Sides of Being Highly Sensitive 01:18:33 - Being Highly Sensitive 01:21:26 - The Ripple Effect of Personal Evolution 01:24:46 - Empowering the Next Generation 01:27:32 - Connections and Consciousness

Adyashanti and Francis Bennett in a public dialog about the parallels and differences between Jesus and the Buddha, as two complementary yet very different models of awakening. Where the Buddha emphasized inner peace and the transcendence of samsara, Christ emphasized embodying divine humanity in the midst of samsara, embracing the human condition in order to serve those who are lost in ignorance. Adya came to a deeper appreciation of Jesus by way of his study of Zen, while Francis ─ a former Trappist monk turned non-dual teacher ─ came to Buddhism by way of immersion in mystical Christianity. Adyashanti, is an American-born spiritual teacher and author devoted to serving the awakening of all beings. His teachings are an open invitation to stop, inquire, and recognize what is true and liberating at the core of all existence. Asked to teach in 1996 by his Zen teacher of 14 years, Adyashanti offers teachings that are free of any tradition or ideology. “The Truth I point to is not confined within any religious point of view, belief system, or doctrine, but is open to all and found within all.” He teaches throughout North America and Europe, offering satsangs, weekend intensives, silent retreats, a live internet radio broadcast, and a podcast called Being Unlimited. Previous BatGap posts involving Adyashanti: First interview with Adyashanti Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on "Resurrecting Jesus" Adyashanti and Susanne Marie on the Falling Away of Self Website: adyashanti.org Francis Bennett entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemane in 1981 and in the ’90s subsequently lived at a “daughter house” of Gethsemane in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Until recently, he was living in a small urban monastery in Montreal Quebec. He has been a “spiritual seeker” during all those years, practicing in the Christian mystical/contemplative Tradition and working deeply with teachers in both the Vipassana and Zen Traditions as well. In 2010 he experienced a profound perceptual “shift” in which he realized the ever-present presence of pure Awareness, which some would call, the Presence of God. Francis’ book: “I Am That I Am: Discovering the Love, Peace, Joy, and Stability of the True Self“. Previous BatGap interviews involving Francis: With John Mark Stroud With Adyashanti on “Resurrecting Jesus” In Panel Discussion on Refined Perception With Jac O’Keeffe and Igor Kufayev at SAND conference In Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Francis Bennett in a panel discussion:: “Emptiness is also Form” Transcript of this discussion Recorded 10/25/2016 at the Santa Cruz Open Circle. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of the Speakers 00:03:33 - Homage to the Enlightened One 00:07:38 - The Full Circle of Awakening 00:11:30 - Embracing the Sorrows of the World 00:14:59 - The Journey of Truth and Unfolding 00:18:23 - The Myth of Suffering and Liberation 00:21:45 - The Meaning of Realization and Freedom 00:25:00 - Finding Truth in Suffering 00:27:58 - Embracing Pain and Sorrow 00:31:43 - Similarities and Differences in Religious Teachings 00:36:01 - Embracing Different Spiritual Perspectives 00:39:47 - The Balancing Act of Masculine and Feminine Energies 00:43:55 - Sheila-ism and the danger of creating your own religion 00:47:40 - The Importance of Earnestness in the Hero's Journey 00:51:14 - Autonomous Freedom and Authenticity 00:55:15 - The Buddha's Silence on God 00:59:50 - The Nature of Truth in Buddhism and Christianity 01:02:52 - Importance of Miracles and Siddhis 01:06:59 - Awakening and the Side Effects 01:11:23 - The Importance of Facing Life 01:16:17 - Intimacy with a Dead Saint 01:20:32 - The Role of Guilt in Christianity and Spirituality 01:24:29 - The Role of Guilt and Conscience 01:29:06 - The Illusion of Remaining the Sole Repository of Truth 01:33:37 - Choosing to End Suffering 01:38:02 - Approaching Discomfort with Curiosity 01:42:17 - The Fluctuating Experience of Grace and Selflessness 01:46:11 - The Highlighted Elements of Reality 01:50:58 - A Loss of Personal Relationship with God 01:55:26 - The Evolutionary Nature of God and Denying an End Point 01:59:36 - Vita Dulce Do Et Spes Nostra Salve Save Save Save

Harri’s descriptions soar from the mundane to the sublime and explain the intimate details, understanding, and experience of the awakened state in an entirely fresh way. He shows us how this life of ours can be naturally transformed into the delightful liveliness of expanded consciousness even within the activity of daily life. Harri has worked as a fine artist/designer, a businessman, and a meditation teacher for his whole life. Throughout these very busy years, his experiences of refined states of consciousness and perception have expanded greatly. He shares his insights in his book, The Landscape of Enlightenment: With Doors and Windows to Our World, which includes his amazing life story from early childhood to the present with very personal, simple stories, works of art and inspired understanding that will uplift your awareness and stir the onset awakening. Websites: http://harriaalto.com http://aaltodesign.com Other interviews: 1st BatGap interview with Harri 2nd BatGap interview with Harri Harri Aalto, in Panel Discussion on Refined Perception Transcript of this interview. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded 11/12/2016. Recent note from Harri: Discussion Group Invitation I've been hosting consciousness discussion groups for several years and invite you to join. Learn more on my Facebook or website. These groups uniquely blend people experiencing realized states with seekers at various stages, accelerating everyone's growth. I've observed that simply discussing these experiences creates immediate positive shifts in participants' awareness. What makes our groups effective is the multi-perspective discussions that foster rich exchanges between participants. Participant Feedback: "The discussions have gradually opened me into both a felt sense and ever-deepening understanding of the eternal oneness." —RL "I feel more awake, alive and curious... increased power and stability in my Presence." —JB "I now appreciate that self-realization is not only natural and simple, but I have had this experience for quite some time and just didn't know it." —WH "I have recognized that I am in this surrounding love all the time in various degrees of clarity." —LVT "My primary insight was that I, and many seekers, have already realized the experience of the Self without being aware of it." —ATL For more content, visit my YouTube channel. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - BATGAP Interview # 372 Harri Aalto 00:05:09 - Major Shifts in Consciousness 00:09:21 - A Finnish Joke and Being Outgoing 00:13:00 - The Experience of Being Always Awake 00:17:12 - Experiencing Pure Consciousness 00:21:25 - The Illusion of Going Away 00:25:54 - The Different Experiences of Awakening 00:30:31 - The Experience of Contentment and Equanimity 00:35:20 - Enlightenment as a Walking, Talking, Everyday Living 00:40:24 - The Challenges and Transformation in Artistic Process 00:45:05 - The Artistic Process and Poetry 00:50:31 - Explaining the State of Consciousness 00:55:41 - The Forms of Intelligence Beyond the Physical 01:00:28 - Opening to Subtle Dimensions 01:05:13 - The Feeling of Wanting to Meet Others with Similar Experiences 01:09:09 - Swimming in Pure Consciousness 01:14:49 - Wholeness and Divine Consciousness 01:19:45 - The Relationship Between Human Consciousness and Universal Consciousness 01:23:30 - Experiencing the Beauty of Venice and the Panorama of Enlightenment 01:27:27 - The Unified Experience of God and Self-Realization in Everyday Life 01:32:29 - The Obstacle of a Job 01:36:45 - The Illusion of Reality 01:41:44 - Enlivening Facets of Enrichment 01:46:14 - Life Beyond Death 01:50:00 - The Vibration of Consciousness 01:54:25 - Perceiving Existence 01:59:13 - Experiencing the Landscape of the Absolute 02:04:18 - The Log Toboggan Incident 02:08:38 - Life is a Precious Gift 02:14:02 - The Impact of Spiritual Unfoldment 02:18:08 - Rick and Harri Conversation Save

Join Susanne Marie and Adyashanti in an exploration of an often misunderstood subject. Beyond the traditional landing places that mind creates (commonly discussed in non-dual circles), lies an indescribable landscape of living as pure, direct experiencing. Prior to this opening, the habitual subjective filter creates a veil of separation of which one is not even aware. This is true even within expanded, unified states of consciousness. Once this filter falls away, life is experienced directly, as itself, without an intermediary. Adyashanti is an American-born spiritual teacher and author devoted to serving the awakening of all beings. His teachings are an open invitation to stop, inquire, and recognize what is true and liberating at the core of all existence. Asked to teach in 1996 by his Zen teacher of 14 years, Adyashanti offers teachings that are free of any tradition or ideology. “The Truth I point to is not confined within any religious point of view, belief system, or doctrine, but is open to all and found within all.” He teaches throughout North America and Europe, offering satsangs, weekend intensives, silent retreats, and a live internet radio broadcast. Adya's podcast, "Being Unlimited". Previous BatGap posts involving Adyashanti: First interview with Adyashanti Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on "Resurrecting Jesus" Adyashanti and Francis Bennett – “The Embrace of Jesus and Buddha” Website: adyashanti.org A lifelong spiritual explorer, Susanne Marie offers teachings in support of freedom, meeting in sacred mutuality, and celebrating our common essence of Love and Unity with all life. Her work is transformational and empowering, as she points to the remembering of That which we have always been, allowing truth to become ever more conscious of Itself through a human life. Susanne, the mother of two teenagers, lives in Northern California and works with individuals and groups, offering spiritual mentoring to those who feel called to work with her. She is available for Skype and phone sessions as well as open to invitations to share with groups. Website: susannemarie.org Previous BatGap posts involving Susanne Marie: Individual BatGap interview Birthing Radiant Being into Our Humanity - Panel Discussion at SAND Conference Susanne Marie in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Transcript of this discussion. Interview recorded October 23, 2016. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview 00:04:40 - The Expansion of Unity and Perception 00:08:44 - A Shift in Perception 00:13:11 - The Journey from Unity Consciousness to No-Self 00:17:46 - The Mistranslation of Experience 00:21:44 - Being Forces of Nature 00:26:15 - The Falling Away of the Sense of Self 00:29:53 - The Sense of Self and Localization 00:33:00 - The Fear of No-Self and Unbuffered Consciousness 00:36:30 - The Premonition of the End 00:40:36 - Recognizing Differentiation 00:44:38 - The Experience of Perception 00:48:37 - The Perceiver in Us All 00:52:17 - The Spiritual Search 00:56:00 - Consciousness in All Things 01:00:12 - Transition and Integration in the Journey to No-Self 01:03:40 - The Awakening of Divine Will 01:07:34 - Divine Will and Personal Will 01:11:10 - The Evolution of Human Consciousness 01:15:19 - Awakening to the True Nature of Being 01:18:53 - The All-pervading Intelligence 01:21:46 - The Importance of Terminology in Spiritual Culture 01:25:32 - Unconceptualizing Ourselves and Letting Go 01:29:21 - The nature of Saguna and Nirguna Brahman 01:33:11 - The Different States of Being 01:37:12 - The End of Life and Constant Evolution 01:40:50 - Closing Thoughts and the Continuation of Development 01:44:50 - Realizing No-Self: Saints and Jerks 01:48:19 - Waking Up, Cleaning Up, and Growing Up 01:51:40 - Sharing Personal Experiences and Understanding Others 01:55:05 - Thank You and Theme Music Save Save

Thomas Beck, Ph.D. has helped people for 25 years to integrate transformational experience—a radical restructuring of the psyche on a higher level of functioning. As a result of his own neurophysiological restructuring, his meditation practice & interactions with an otherworldly being ("Cosmic Mother"), Thomas is now helping people heal from a wide range of physical illnesses. He believes we all have the ability to heal, and to spiritually awaken through the unconditional love of the Almighty Spirit. Janet Elizabeth Colli, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist in the Pacific Northwest specializing in integrating trauma with spiritual awakening. With expertise in both Clinical and Transpersonal Psychology, she bridges psychology with the extraordinary, and the mystical. She presents at the professional conferences of the American Center for the Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences (ACISTE). Catalyzed by a spiritually transformative experience (STE) during cancer treatment, she now provides psycho-spiritual support for a full range of processes, including for those who have been psychiatrically hospitalized during STEs. She facilitates Spiritual Emergence Seattle—a consultation service integrating psycho-spiritual, physiological & community support. Janet lives on Whidbey Island and swims with wild dolphins in Hawaii. Website: sacredencounters.com Books: The End of Homo Sapiens: And The Birth of a New Species The Dark Face of Heaven: True Stories of Transcendence Through Trauma Sacred Encounters Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/5/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:43 - The Legitimacy of Woo-Woo Stuff 00:07:39 - A Traumatic Hospitalization 00:13:28 - From Trauma to Transformation 00:20:40 - The Transformative Power of Brain States 00:25:23 - Trauma and Awakening 00:35:26 - Awakening through Traumatic Experiences 00:43:33 - The Phenomenon of Phase Transitions 00:46:26 - Encountering an Otherworldly Being 00:57:38 - Phase transitions and the nature of consciousness 01:01:02 - The Experience of Subtle Realms and Beings 01:04:32 - The Vertical Dimension of Subtle Realms 01:07:37 - Coherence and Phase Transition 01:10:35 - Technologies of the Spirit 01:14:10 - The Impact of Corroboration and Sharing Experiences 01:17:26 - The Fear of Awakening 01:20:05 - Beings in the Cosmos 01:22:47 - The Power of Prayer in a Hellish Realm 01:26:06 - Sharing Our Enlightenment Process 01:29:18 - No one is alien to Sri Ma 01:32:28 - The Human Nervous System as the Ultimate Tool 01:35:50 - Exploring Subtle Realms and Hyper Technologies 01:38:53 - The Nature of Genetic Engineering and Alien Experiences 01:42:37 - Genetically Engineered by Extraterrestrial Beings 01:45:39 - Remaining Open-Minded 01:48:23 - Accelerated Asymptotic Curve 01:51:36 - Siddhis: Abilities and Possibilities 01:54:59 - Kundalini Process 01:57:37 - Intense Kundalini Processes 01:59:47 - A Thank You to Johanna 02:02:36 - Upcoming Interviews and California Trip Summary

Michael A. Rodriguez is a spiritual teacher who works with people in meetings, retreats, and private sessions on a full-time basis in the United States and abroad. He holds four academic degrees, including a master's degree in comparative religion from Harvard and a Ph.D. in English literature from Florida State University; taught at the university level for well over a decade; and has lived long-term in two monasteries. Drawing always from his direct experience, Michael illuminates the undivided nature of Life or Consciousness with great clarity and compassion, pointing to reality in a way that is free from dogma, ritual, or adherence to any particular tradition. Michael draws skillfully from the world's wisdom traditions and also integrates Jungian psychology, literature, music, and art into his work to address the full range of human potential. His book--Boundless Awareness: A Loving Path to Spiritual Awakening and Freedom from Suffering--distills the essence of his teaching and is now available on Amazon. Website: BoundlessAwareness.org Book: Boundless Awareness: A Loving Path to Spiritual Awakening and Freedom from Suffering YouTube Channel Michael in a panel discussion on the direct vs. progressive paths. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/20/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:44 - The Glimmer 00:06:58 - The Depths of Literary Texts 00:10:16 - The Path of Literature and Teaching 00:13:38 - The Source of Absolute Knowledge 00:17:09 - Zen and Spiritual Teachings in Academia 00:20:33 - Literature and Spirituality 00:23:29 - The Limitations of Academic Education 00:26:31 - The Disconnect Between Education and Spiritual Development 00:29:48 - Rediscovering Wonder and Imagination 00:32:37 - Finding Moments of Stillness in Daily Life 00:35:51 - The Importance of Effective Practice 00:38:57 - Becoming More Earnest About Spirituality 00:41:48 - Facing Fears and Following Your Truth 00:45:00 - Being True and its Impact on Society 00:48:29 - The Societal Implications of Understanding Conscious Presence 00:52:11 - The Aliveness of Consciousness 00:55:59 - The Non-Dual Awareness of Jesus and "Do unto others" 00:59:33 - Marinating in the Felt Sense of Being 01:02:31 - The Gift of Sitting with Conscious Beings 01:05:55 - The Invitation of Suffering 01:09:26 - Being Consciousness, Not Conscious 01:12:46 - Seeking Abiding Contentment 01:15:40 - The Shift to Pure Awareness 01:19:11 - Returning to the Natural State 01:22:13 - Embracing the Perfection of the Moment 01:25:45 - The Relaxed Journey of Awakening 01:29:04 - The Flow of Experience and Consciousness 01:32:11 - Influential Teachers in the Journey of Self-Realization 01:35:28 - A Journey of Self-Awareness 01:38:34 - Enhancing the Spiritual Resource Save Save

Ted Zeff, Ph.D was the author of The Highly Sensitive Person's Survival Guide, The The Highly Sensitive Person's Companion, The Strong, Sensitive Boy, and The Power of Sensitivity. Elaine Aron, Ph.D., author of The Highly Sensitive Person, has written the forwards to his books about sensitive people. Dr. Zeff’s books have sold more than 75,000 copies and have been translated into 8 languages. He has more than 25 years’ experience counseling sensitive children and adults. Dr. Zeff has also written Raise an Emotionally Healthy Boy: Save Your Son From the Violent Boy Culture, Searching for God Part I and II and Amma: Inspiring Experiences with the Divine Mother. Dr. Zeff currently teaches workshops and consults internationally on coping strategies for highly sensitive children and adults. He has given presentations in Denmark, Holland, Norway, Israel, and throughout the United States. He has been interviewed about the trait of high sensitivity in the media, such as NBC TV, PBS radio, Psychology Today and the Huffington Post (which received 1.2 million likes). Books: The Highly Sensitive Person's Survival Guide: Essential Skills for Living Well in an Overstimulating World (Step-By-Step Guides) The Highly Sensitive Person's Companion: Daily Exercises for Calming Your Senses in an Overstimulating World by Zeff, Ted (2007) Paperback The Strong, Sensitive Boy The Power of Sensitivity Raise an Emotionally Healthy Boy: Save Your Son From the Violent Boy Culture Amma: Inspiring Experiences with the Divine Mother Transcript of this interview Interview with Ted Zeff about Amma Interview recorded 10/29/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:45 - Dealing with High Sensitivity 00:05:02 - The Highly Sensitive Person 00:07:13 - Highly Sensitive Traits 00:09:25 - Highly Sensitive People and Their Strengths 00:12:08 - The Advantages and Challenges of Sensitivity in Different Cultures 00:14:39 - Cultural Differences in Sensitivity and Discrimination 00:16:58 - The Importance of High Sensitivity in Society 00:19:03 - The Traits of High Sensitivity 00:21:33 - Building Resilience without Losing Sensitivity 00:23:49 - Embracing Sensitivity 00:26:00 - The Meissner effect and sensitivity levels 00:28:30 - Raised in an Overstimulating Environment 00:31:00 - The Value of Compromise and Negotiation 00:33:19 - Coping with Strong Emotions from Others 00:35:33 - The Importance of Downtime for Highly Sensitive People 00:37:52 - The Importance of Retreats in Nature for Sensitivity 00:40:17 - Coping with High Sensitivity and Insomnia 00:42:40 - High Sensitivity and Spirituality 00:44:52 - Ayurvedic Approaches for Highly Sensitive People 00:46:59 - The Impact of Sensitivity on Health 00:49:15 - Exercise and Sports for Sensitive People 00:51:27 - Highly Sensitive Children 00:53:35 - The Power of Sensitivity in Childhood 00:55:45 - The Importance of Recognizing and Supporting Individuals' True Nature 00:58:06 - Misdiagnosis and Medication for Highly Sensitive Individuals 01:00:25 - Self-Employment for Sensitive People 01:02:57 - Teaching Self-Defense to Sensitive Children 01:05:19 - Sensitivity and Spiritual Evolution 01:07:26 - Sensitivity as the New Hero 01:09:31 - Discussing High Sensitivity with Ted Zeff, PhD

Ted Zeff (Dayalu) met Amma, the "hugging saint" from India, in 1988 and has lived in her ashram in California for 20 years and her ashram in Chicago for one year. Dayalu has written three books about Amma: "Searching for God Part I" in 1996, "Searching for God Part II" in 2002 and "Amma: Inspiring Experiences with the Divine Mother" in 2016. Dayalu has a Ph.D. in integral counseling and psychotherapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and has studied ayurveda and vedic astrology. Ted Zeff Dayalu has also given talks about the books he has written about Amma throughout the United Sates, Israel, Denmark and Holland. Amma's website: amma.org Book: Amma: Inspiring Experiences with the Divine Mother Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/29/2016 Interview with Ted Zeff about highly sensitive people. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:02:26 - Meeting Amma 00:04:22 - Amma's Miraculous Abilities 00:06:14 - The Profound Connection with Amma 00:08:03 - Awakening the Divine Within 00:10:15 - The Profound Effect of Living in Amma's Ashram 00:12:08 - The Divine Mother and the Feminine Form of God 00:14:01 - The Divine Mother's Love and Connection 00:16:01 - Seva and Bhakti Yoga 00:18:01 - Amma's Charitable Work 00:19:48 - The Inspiring Factory Owner 00:21:31 - The Importance of a Spiritual Teacher 00:23:20 - Meeting People Where They're At 00:25:26 - Amma's Adaptability and Presence 00:27:13 - The Boundless Compassion of Amma 00:29:07 - Amma's Ability to Understand Pain 00:31:00 - Miraculous Stories from Amma's Devotees 00:32:39 - Divine Play in Native Languages 00:34:39 - Miracles and Healings 00:36:24 - Accidental Savants and Vast Potentials of the Mind 00:38:11 - Amma's Omniscience and Connection with Others 00:40:02 - Coordinating Prasad at Devi Bhava 00:42:05 - Seva and Amma's Darshan 00:44:56 - Amma's Detachment and Acceptance 00:49:51 - The Journey of Writing a Book 00:54:59 - A Journey of Fearlessness and Protection 00:59:24 - Praying to Amma and Personal Decisions 01:03:24 - Healing Emotions 01:07:48 - The Cancelled Check of the Past 01:11:54 - Tuning in to the Divine Energy of Amma 01:15:04 - See you then.

David Spangler has been a teacher of spiritual potentials since 1964. From 1970 to 1973 he was co-director of the Findhorn Foundation Community. He is a Fellow of the Lindisfarne Association. He is a co-founder of the Lorian Association, a spiritual educational foundation, and a director of the Lorian Center for Incarnational Spirituality. His work involves enabling individuals to embody the innate spirituality of their incarnations. He is the author of over 30 books, including Journey Into Fire Apprenticed To Spirit: The Education of a Soul Subtle Worlds: An Explorer's Field Notes Facing the Future He writes a free monthly email essay called “David’s Desk”. He also writes a quarterly esoteric journal of his work and explorations with the subtle worlds titled Views from the Borderland. In recent years, this work has brought him into contact with the Sidhe, the “Elven” cousins of Humanity. He describes his experiences in a book Conversations with the Sidhe and through a special card deck—Card Deck of the Sidhe, which he created with Jeremy Berg with inspiration and guidance from their Sidhe contacts. Information about his journal, David’s Desk, online courses, books, and workshops can be found at Lorian.org. David is happily married with four adult children. Interview conducted 10/15/2016. Discussion about this interview in the Batgap Community Forum. Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:36 - Exploring Subtle Realms and Beings 00:08:53 - Subtle Perception and Spiritual Development 00:14:41 - The Incarnational Process 00:20:10 - The Challenges of Incarnation and Soul Individuality 00:25:05 - The Multidimensionality of the Soul 00:29:24 - The Soul's Sphere of Activity 00:34:17 - Exploring the Subtle Realms Through Peer Review 00:39:57 - Exploring the Reality of Subtle Realms 00:43:48 - Perception and Belief 00:47:40 - Paradigm Shifts: From Flat-Earthers to Subtle Worlds 00:51:54 - The Need for Animal Protein 00:55:28 - A Vision of Incarnate Spirituality 01:00:03 - The Appearance of John, a Subtle Being 01:05:15 - The Sacredness of Incarnation and the Subtle Worlds 01:10:03 - Collaboration and Diversity in Working Groups 01:12:52 - Collaboration with Evolved Beings 01:15:35 - Horizontal versus Vertical Spirituality 01:18:13 - Misunderstandings and Tension on the Psychic Visit 01:21:05 - Honoring Higher Beings 01:24:18 - Senior and Radiant Beings 01:27:30 - Devic Beings and Human Gatherings 01:31:09 - The Influence of Angels on Energy Fields 01:34:46 - Planetary Deva and Ensouling Life 01:39:38 - The Potential for Change within Negative Organizations 01:46:40 - Creating Blowback and Immunity 01:51:05 - The Cleansing Effect of Meditating Together 01:55:49 - The Paper Towel Theory of Creation 02:01:17 - Cultivating Subtle Awareness 02:06:16 - Receiving Information from the Subtle Worlds 02:11:37 - Mr. Potato Head Save

Whilst growing up James had a deep sense that something about life didn’t add up. Unsure about what exactly that something was he tried to ‘fit in’ and graduated in Maths from Oxford University. It didn’t work. He then began seeking a resolution to a lingering sense of unfulfillment by writing songs, singing and playing in bands, then as an actor, then as a school teacher, but that didn’t work either. On recognising that no matter what his outer circumstances were the feeling of longing and dissatisfaction still remained, the nature of seeking turned inward and James found himself following a variety of spiritual and therapeutic paths. Despite providing many insights along the way these too ultimately failed to satisfy. He felt drawn more and more to the question that no one seemed to be asking: “Who is doing all this?” Finally James came across the Non-Dual message with which there was an instant resonance. He met with many different teachers and seeking came to an end when the true nature of reality was clearly seen. James now holds meetings and retreats in the UK and abroad, and lives in Totnes with his partner and two sons. Website: jameseaton.org Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/8/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:39 - Finding solace in music and guitar 00:09:08 - Music and Acting Journey 00:12:43 - A Journey into Drama School and Beyond 00:16:03 - Bringing Math to Life 00:19:15 - The Golden Ratio and Spirals 00:22:47 - Involving Students in Learning 00:26:08 - Spiritual Groups and Personal Experiences 00:29:10 - A Bombshell Discovery 00:32:26 - The Presence of Non-Duality and the Journey Towards Awareness 00:35:47 - The Misappropriation of Experience 00:38:54 - The Tricky Art of Teaching in a Group Setting 00:42:11 - The Beauty of Genuine Friendship 00:45:31 - The Nature of Thoughts and Free Will 00:48:37 - The Origin of Thoughts 00:51:50 - The illusion of separateness 00:55:01 - The Illusion of Physical Reality 00:57:59 - The Philosophy of Reality 01:01:14 - Perception is a Perceptual Cocktail 01:04:36 - The Indivisibility Between Knowing and Sound 01:08:50 - The Movement of Experience 01:12:05 - The Power of Realization 01:17:13 - The Paradox of Losing It All 01:22:04 - The Frustration of Children's Reactions 01:26:12 - The Cycle of Craving and Discontent 01:32:52 - Exploring Sense Doorways 01:39:32 - The Drive and Devastation of Awakening 01:45:19 - The Process of Awakening 01:51:56 - The Beauty of Direct Experience 01:59:39 - Wrapping up with a song 02:09:06 - Conclusion and Farewell

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. For the next three and half years, he lived and traveled 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. 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 the 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 the 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 Transcript of this interview. Second Batgap interview with Sri M. Interview recorded 10/6/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:07 - The Sufi Man and the Lesson of Ego 00:10:05 - Cautionary Notes for Spiritual Teachers 00:14:38 - Judging What to Say 00:18:45 - The Limitations of Human Knowledge 00:23:25 - Ramana's Compassion 00:27:50 - The Encounter with Maheshwar Babaji 00:32:07 - The Search for Great Beings in the Himalayas 00:36:13 - A humorous encounter with Babaji 00:40:16 - The Limitless Potential of Spiritual Development 00:44:00 - The Potential for Spiritual Evolution 00:48:38 - Rishabhadeva and the Aim of Life 00:53:25 - Encounter with the Yeti 00:57:54 - Taken to a Mysterious Room 01:02:39 - The Possibility of Life beyond Earth 01:06:45 - Encounter with a Blue Serpent 01:11:35 - Conditions for Teaching Kriya Yoga 01:16:19 - The Mysterious Location of Mauni Baba's Cave 01:21:27 - The Neurological Basis of Mystical Experience 01:25:16 - The Circuit of Energies 01:29:10 - Swadharma and Self-Discovery 01:33:53 - Losing Friends on the Spiritual Path 01:38:06 - Disconnecting from the External World 01:42:39 - The Conundrum of Enlightenment 01:47:32 - The Importance of Spiritual Inclination 01:51:45 - Nourishing Diversity in Life 01:55:44 - Different Schools of Thought on Enlightenment 02:00:28 - Different Angles on the Truth 02:04:23 - The Basic Theory of Kriya Yoga 02:09:15 - Simple Meditation Technique 02:12:49 - Greetings Save Save

Sheerly by Divine Grace, in 1971 Timothy woke up to nondual Reality, the Divine Reality or Self that is doing everything and being everybody. He has gratefully served ever since then as a simple “spiritual friend” (kalyana mitra) and since the 1980s as a satsang leader, counselor, healer, and author of over one hundred essays, as well as the book Women of Power & Grace: Nine Astonishing, Inspiring Luminaries of Our Time and forthcoming books (The Liberating Zen Sourcebook, the enormous 2-volume India’s Sages, and other works). His website Enlightened-Spirituality.org is a major resource on spiritual awakening, nondual wisdom and nondual devotion, engaged spirituality, illustrious sages, and world religions, spiritual humor, and much more. After residing in the Santa Barbara region of the Great Dream from 1988 to mid-2016, Timothy and his wife Laura are residing in Vistancia, Arizona, for at least a year to be close to her family. Timothy continues to hold free satsangs and classes on a variety of spiritual topics and also sees clients for psychological counseling services. His basic message: Your unborn TRUE IDENTITY is already complete, whole, and full as Absolute Awareness-Aliveness, and by the Grace-full Power of this Supra-personal Reality the personal consciousness “instrument” can be suffused with all sorts of beautiful Divine virtues. Timothy's email address. Interview recorded 9/10/2016 Transcript of this interview First interview with Timothy Free downloadable audio recordings of Timothy's weekly satsangs YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:58 - Understanding the Meaning and Value of Life 00:10:06 - The Power of Personal Consciousnesses 00:15:26 - The Unity of Sages and Their Enjoyment of Differences 00:20:46 - The Non-Duality of Behavior 00:25:38 - Ramana Maharshi's Stubbornness 00:30:29 - Amma's Mystical Tendencies and Troubled Past 00:35:19 - The Odds of a Blind Turtle 00:40:57 - The Paradox of Unenlightenment 00:45:47 - The Seduction of Spiritual Cults 00:50:40 - Egalitarian Nature of Clear-Light Awareness and Transmission Models 00:55:26 - Non-dual devotion and the pitfalls of praise 01:00:08 - The Life of a Teacher 01:04:58 - The Presence of Divine Virtues 01:08:58 - The Racket of Lobbyists and Defense Contractors 01:12:36 - Absolute Language and Transcendence 01:16:41 - Souls and the Intrinsic Perfection 01:20:50 - The Divine Perfection in the Laws of Nature 01:24:51 - Innocent Souls and Complicated Conditioning 01:29:03 - Letting go of Seeking 01:33:11 - The Activities of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas 01:37:25 - Unity in Diversity 01:41:22 - The Role of Consciousness in Animal Rights and Climate Change Awareness 01:45:26 - Letting Go of Samskaras 01:49:28 - Ramana's Enlightenment Journey 01:53:15 - The Value of Deep Dreamless Sleep 01:56:41 - The Three Gunas and Yogic States 02:00:41 - Awakening to Our True Absolute Host Nature 02:04:39 - The Gradual Cultivation of Buddha-like Qualities 02:08:27 - Owls Singing 02:12:04 - Music

David passed away from a malignant brain tumor on April 18, 2024. David Newman was an author, inspirational teacher, world-renowned devotional singer, songwriter and recording artist. He traveled extensively sharing his music, and teachings on the path of love as a vehicle for spiritual awakening. David was also the creator of the The Stay Strong Project and the founder of Yoga On Main. He has been featured on NPR, and in The Washington Post and Yoga Journal among many others. David, also known as Durga Das, lived with his wife Mira and daughter Tulsi just outside of Philadelphia, USA. Website: davidnewmanmusic.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/31/2016. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:07:12 - From Tennis to Yoga to Kirtan Singing 00:13:16 - Introduction to Kirtan and Neem Kurali Baba 00:20:41 - The agenda of a great being 00:28:22 - Medication and Mental Health among Youth 00:35:10 - Stay Strong, Keep Your Faith Alive 00:46:16 - The Dance between Nondual Awakening and Bhakti Path 00:54:16 - The Intensity of the Moment 01:00:49 - The Nature of Seeking and the Shift Away from Seeking 01:07:46 - The Power of Devotion and Self-Knowledge 01:15:12 - The Expression of Bhakti 01:24:12 - Bhakti Yoga and the Higher Paradigm 01:29:35 - A Shift in Progress 01:31:10 - Feeling a Shift 01:32:45 - A Shift in Energy 01:34:20 - A Shift in Perception 01:35:55 - Shift 01:37:30 - Feeling a Shift 01:39:05 - A Shift is Felt 01:40:40 - A Shift in the Atmosphere 01:42:15 - A Shift in Perspective 01:43:50 - A Shift in the Atmosphere 01:45:25 - Feeling a Shift 01:47:00 - A Shift in Energy 01:48:35 - Shift 01:50:10 - Shift in Perspective 01:51:45 - Feeling the Shift 01:53:20 - A Shift in Consciousness 01:55:48 - Irene Recommends an Interview with David Shapiro 02:04:29 - Music

From an early age I recall a natural inquisitiveness towards the nature and mechanics of all sorts of things. I was constantly observing and theorizing. Fortunately, throughout life, the denser and more persistent forms of suffering were not something I was particularly familiar with. Life unfolded quite smoothly on an inner and outer level. Although there was already a strong spiritual bent, it wasn't until my late twenties that life introduced the notion of enlightenment and the underlying non-dual nature of life. When this happened all the cells in my body shouted ‘yes’ and there was an unexplainable faith that trusted what had been read. From that point, everything else faded into insignificance next to the quest that had been ignited. This was the beginning of a wonderful phase which spontaneously started some 15 years back and spanning 5 years miraculously didn't stop until what was initially pointed at became lived on an unwavering basis. What was most amazing about the process was that from very early on the concept that everything is a 'happening' and not 'my doing' was introduced – that everything is unfolding exactly as it is meant to, not according to my will but according to God's Will. This notion immediately resonated deeply and in a short time the ingrained contrary beliefs dissolved and the conviction flowered into an experiential way of being that so perfectly embodied this pointer. This magically intricate process unfolded with this heart attitude present throughout, making it known directly to be a divinely orchestrated plan delivering everything that was needed in exactly the right proportions and at exactly the right time. I have been known to say "that if any of this process was actually up to 'me', I would have messed it up on day one!". And yet the paradox, but not contradiction, is that it was Roger who was the one contemplating, reading, meditating and so forth. From then I had a deep experiential conviction that everything in life happens the same way "according to God's Will" from the beginning of time to the end of time. This deepened and led to a radical insight about the nature of Source in its most primordial. From here the underlying oneness of life became obvious far more than just intellectually and an unbroken connection to Source was established from where peace of heart in daily living stems. I always speak from my own direct experience, however many who knew the great teachings of my beloved Guru Sri Ramesh Balsekar will recognize the content often comes through in much the same vein as what he shared with seekers for more than 25 years in Mumbai, India. Jai Ramesh Guru. The teachings of Jesus, A Course in Miracles, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi, among others, were all precious gifts which were instrumental in what happened. Humbled and in gratitude I bow. Website: rogercastillo.org YouTube Channel Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/20/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:01 - Recognizing the Paradox of Life 00:08:09 - The Experience of Duality and Oneness 00:13:14 - The Three Simultaneously True Levels of Non-Dual Reality 00:17:24 - Smooth Life and Intense Teachings 00:21:38 - Practical Daily Living and Approaching Enlightenment 00:26:12 - A Magical Process of Insight and Contemplation 00:30:38 - Degrees of Spiritual Maturity and Reincarnation 00:35:15 - The Existence of Self 00:40:01 - The Deepening of Understanding in Daily Life 00:45:08 - Certainty about Death 00:49:32 - Life Carrying On 00:54:21 - Life after Death 00:58:23 - The Non-Physicality of Reality 01:03:33 - Surrendering to the Divine's Instruction 01:08:28 - Different Teachings for Different Levels of Development 01:12:57 - Understanding the Evolution of Relationship to Thoughts 01:17:55 - Consciousness and Creativity 01:22:19 - Understanding the Experience of Life 01:27:13 - Finding Peace and Happiness in Daily Living 01:31:17 - The Attitude of Non-Doership 01:34:27 - The Diminishment of Personal Doership 01:39:27 - Witnessing and Non-Doership 01:43:47 - Understanding Witnessing and Integration 01:47:55 - The Influence of Genes and Conditioning 01:52:08 - Acting according to your level of consciousness 01:56:49 - Living without a sense of personal doership 02:01:25 - Dissolving the Sense of Personal Doership 02:05:40 - The Manifestation of Duality and the Nature of Poverty 02:10:25 - Finding a Teacher and Allowing Life to Flow 02:14:53 - Conclusion & Thank You

Anette Carlström is an internationally recognized speaker, author and teacher in development in consciousness living in Helsingborg, Sweden. Her focus and specialty is guiding the individual and in groups toward finding your inner compass to discover your full potential and true nature. Anette also has a strong presence in chanting Sacred Mantras, offering mantra concerts as well as having recorded several CD's carrying the transmission of Divine Grace through the Oneness Blessing, easily accessed by simply listening. She is the author of two acclaimed books. In her first – From the Heart - Discovering and Living the Oneness Blessing– she shares her bumpy journey of conscious Awakening and natural transformation as well as answering sensitive and profound questions. Her second book – Namaste, Awakening The Power of Presence is a road map and extraordinary guide, exploring the sacred truths that are hidden in our everyday life. It is filled with wonderful guided meditations and anecdotal stories. Each word of her books permeates the reader into the Power of Presence. Anette is Founder of Diamond Life Foundation, an alternative health practice and meditation center in southern Sweden, where she gives weekly programs, courses and guided meditations as well as giving Cranio Sacral Treatments. Since 2003 she has been traveling around Europe and the World sharing her story, teaching and singing. When she chants and speaks, there is a natural transfer of Grace that is received either in person or over the phone. She is initiated to give the Oneness Meditation (OM) which is a Sacred Transmission of energies that accelerate Awakening to the Intelligence of the Heart. She offers on-line Oneness Meditations every Tuesday evening Swedish time on her free Livestream channel. Website: anettecarlstrom.com YouTube channel Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/13/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to "Buddha at the Gas Pump" with Annette Karlström 00:04:12 - The Longing for Uniting with the Presence Within 00:08:30 - A Life-Changing Experience in Hollywood 00:12:51 - Pursuing Acting and Singing in Hollywood 00:17:12 - Finding Fulfillment in Chanting and Meditation 00:21:12 - The Darkest Before the Dawn 00:26:02 - Meeting with Light Beings 00:29:57 - Profound Shift in Consciousness 00:34:07 - A Life-Turning Event 00:38:28 - Meeting Inner Suffering 00:42:54 - Meeting Inner Suffering 00:46:50 - Discovering the Magic Key 00:51:04 - Starting with something simple 00:55:10 - The Energy Transfer Moment 00:59:25 - Profound Shift in Consciousness 01:03:22 - Seeking Help from a Doctor 01:07:21 - The Power of Antaryamin 01:11:30 - The process and effectiveness of Diksha 01:15:53 - The Three Components of Deeksha 01:19:50 - The Magic Temple with No Pillars 01:23:43 - Staying at Shambhala and the Oneness University 01:27:37 - Mystical Experiences in Campus 3 01:31:45 - Levels of Awakening 01:35:33 - Levels of Consciousness and Processing the Suffering of Humanity 01:39:23 - Experiencing the Suffering of the World 01:43:42 - Enjoying the Ride and Awakening to Divine Consciousness 01:47:57 - The Groundswell of Awakening 01:51:46 - Connecting with Your Inner Self 01:55:24 - The Importance of Regular Practice 02:00:30 - Chant of Gratitude 02:05:16 - Exploring the Menus on BatGap

Adam Chacksfield is a nondual spiritual teacher whose retreats and private sessions are known for their transformative power and love-saturated depth. He devotedly serves the alive field of awareness as it unfolds, reveals, and liberates, rather than any fixed philosophy. Adam first turned toward spirituality and meditation after a series of profound psychedelic-assisted openings led him to experience the truth that lies beyond all philosophies. At age 33 he left his career as a university professor of political theory to devote his life to spiritual unfolding. For a few years, Adam struggled to try and piece together all the apparently contradictory teachings and practices. These efforts decisively fell away when he came across the nondual teaching of Peter Fenner, and realized the openness that can never be captured in words and requires no practice. Adam started inviting his friends to do nondual inquiry with him and was amazed by the ease with which the direct experience of openness could be shared. In 2010, with Peter Fenner's encouragement and support, Adam started to publicly share with groups and individuals. Since then, his teaching has been profoundly influenced by the opportunity to soak in Jeannie Zandi's heart-centered and full-bodied transmission. Adam now shares the direct experience of the heart and mind falling open. In this effortless opening, the suffering involved in resisting feelings and believing thoughts spontaneously releases. The natural abundance of joy, peace, wisdom, and love becomes apparent and available. Heart-centered, gentle, and direct, Adam offers a path straight into the truth of who we are. In addition to leading retreats in North America and Europe, Adam meets with individuals, and is the creator of “Falling Open,” a four-month online course. He is also the founder of the Center for Nondual Awareness, a supportive community for those called to share nonduality. Website: adamchacksfield.com Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 8/6/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:01 - A Conversation with David Shapiro 00:07:31 - Recognizing Different Preferences 00:11:04 - The Profound Psychedelic Experience 00:14:54 - Embracing the Mystery 00:19:19 - Contemplating the Wonder of Creation 00:22:52 - Softening and Gentleness in Healing Trauma 00:26:51 - Opening to Difficult Feelings 00:30:31 - The Diversity of Spiritual Practices 00:33:46 - Allowing Things to Unfold Naturally 00:37:19 - The Capacity of the Heart 00:40:51 - Running away from feelings 00:44:25 - The Dark Side of Practice 00:47:53 - Layers of Sensitivity and the Movement of the Heart 00:51:29 - Trusting our own unfolding 00:54:51 - The Buddha's Lifelong Spiritual Practice 00:58:40 - Healing Shame and Violence 01:02:35 - Healing Incorrigible Behavior 01:06:40 - The Depth and Beauty of Here 01:10:22 - Exploring Psychedelics and Spirituality 01:14:12 - The Sweetness of Vulnerability 01:18:37 - Opening up to Grasping in Meditation 01:22:13 - Fear and the Mind-Body Connection 01:25:46 - Exploring the Experience of Reality 01:29:48 - Acclimatization to Openness 01:33:45 - Letting Awareness Do Its Work 01:37:31 - Opening Up to Body Intelligence 01:41:25 - Embracing Our Emotional Wounds 01:45:16 - The Evolution of Emotional Sensitivity 01:49:42 - Settling into the Heart of Things 01:53:27 - Emotional Intensity and Self-Love

My childhood world was one of abuse, repression, and terror. This is what I believed the world was about. Until, from the depths of my despair, I began searching for a new way. My conscious spiritual journey began when I was called as a young adult, determined to find new life and freedom from this limited world, to a higher quest for the Truth of myself. I studied many forms of spiritual practice, including Buddhism, Native American, Judaism, and others, and soon became aware that the Source of All Life is within all traditions. Approximately 15 years ago, I entered into a deep Shamanic/healing Path centered in the heart of Brazil. I remained fully committed and dedicated to my journey in this form for eight years, healing most of the false ideas that I carried through all of my lifetimes. After this, I was called to enter a several year retreat. During this time I was guided to enter fully into the teaching of A Course in Miracles. I received the transmission completely through my heart and guided by my prayers, intention and deep devotion to being healed of all that held me prisoner in this temporary illusion, my heart completely melted and I awakened to the Truth of All Love. Since my awakening, I have dedicated my life to guide, with radical gentleness and complete devotion, all beloveds who have a deep desire to come home easily and gently. Chris Celine is an awakened spiritual Mystic and guide to many beloveds seeking a gentle way home. A powerful healer and seer, Chris Celine transmits the love of God in profound and life-altering ways. Her pure love can be received in every cell. She is a living example of the Love of God manifesting on earth and walks in this world as a reminder that everything can be healed and transformed into Love. Website: awakened-heart.org YouTube Channel Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/30/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:02:46 - The Gentle Teachings of Chris 00:06:19 - Finding Healing and Purpose 00:09:53 - Past Lives and Patterns 00:12:59 - Stabilizing Energy Fields and Using Them with Love 00:16:07 - Picking Up on Subtle Stuff 00:18:50 - The Eternal Spirit 00:22:15 - The Universe's Response to Seeking Help 00:25:38 - The Camouflage of Ego and the Search for Truth 00:28:52 - The Wisdom of Love's Healing Journey 00:31:49 - Equality in the Divine Mother's Aspects 00:35:07 - The Teachings of Unexpected Encounters 00:38:12 - Embracing the Divine Love of the Universe 00:42:58 - The Liberation of Grief 00:46:24 - The Healing Power of Love 00:49:48 - The Healing Power of Faith 00:53:01 - Awakening through relinquishment 00:55:57 - The Little Willingness 00:58:56 - Surrendering Attachment for Freedom 01:01:50 - A Journey with Shamans and Entheogens 01:05:07 - The Fear of Being Alone and the Discovery of Love Within 01:08:15 - Surrender and Obedience 01:11:02 - Stepping into the Solitary Truth Within 01:13:49 - Awakening to the Truth of Love 01:17:04 - Presence and Love 01:20:35 - The Experience of Pain and Sensation 01:23:31 - The Power of Remembering 01:26:42 - Learning to Love and Kindness 01:29:12 - The Awakening of the Saintly Nature 01:31:14 - Finding Chris's Website 01:33:19 - Music Transition

I had my first conscious spiritual awakening aged 18. Everything was seen to be one, the sense of personal self fell away and I had a deep sense that I truly was not the limited being that I commonly took myself to be. This experience was short-lived and further fueled my seeking. I wanted to try to re-experience it. I think because this experience happened in the context of reading a book, I subsequently developed a voracious appetite for reading spiritual texts. I read books on everything such as on Buddhism, Zen, Taoism, Mystic Christianity, Vedanta, Dzogchen, and the core texts of each, as well as many self-help and new-age type books. I also had a keen interest in science and mathematics and my studies took me along this route in school, eventually leading me to study medicine and become a doctor. I later got married and now have two amazing and lovely children. Alongside my studies, career and home life, the spiritual seeking continued for 15-20 years. Now the sense of a ‘me’ living a life and the dissatisfaction that fueled my spiritual seeking have both disappeared, leaving behind an ordinary life ‘being lived’ or living itself. I call it Freedom. Tom is a medical doctor who lives in London UK with his wife and 2 children. He holds regular meetings in London and on Skype to share this wonderful teaching with anyone who is interested. To learn more about him and his teachings see www.tomdas.com. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded July 23, 2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Support 00:06:25 - Teenage Interest in Spirituality 00:11:25 - The Relationship between Spirituality and Science 00:17:06 - Awakening and Freedom 00:21:58 - The Fourth State: Turiya 00:26:10 - The Fourth State 00:29:57 - The Continuum of Awareness and the Notion of Doership 00:33:48 - Transformation in His Presence 00:38:05 - Skepticism vs Cynicism in Spiritual Teachings 00:43:27 - Subjective Experience and Suffering in Spirituality 00:48:36 - The Nature of Hypotheses and Possibilities 00:51:46 - The Blurred Lines of Different Functionalities 00:56:09 - The Illusion of Duality and Non-Duality 01:02:39 - The Illusion of Individual Self or Doer 01:08:12 - The Interpretation of Life's Experiences 01:11:32 - Difficulty of Expressing Experiences in Words 01:15:25 - The Complexity of Spiritual Teachings 01:19:07 - The Progression of Enlightenment 01:22:35 - The Potential of Each Individual 01:25:28 - The Concept of the Universal Doer 01:29:18 - The Concept of Self in Eastern Traditions 01:32:46 - Different Ways of Transmitting Knowledge 01:39:15 - The Importance of Developing Clarity 01:43:52 - Understanding the Vasanas 01:47:48 - Devotion and Appreciation 01:51:48 - The World is Brahman 01:56:18 - Realizing Brahman 01:59:27 - The Value of Teaching 02:02:36 - The Key to Experience 02:05:44 - The Balance of Knowledge and Experience 02:10:11 - Music

Richard C. Miller, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, author, researcher, yogic scholar, and spiritual teacher who, for the past 46 years has devoted his life to integrating western psychology and neuroscience with the ancient nondual wisdom teachings of Yoga, Tantra, Advaita, Taoism, and Buddhism. Richard is the founding president of the Integrative Restoration Institute, co-founder of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, founding editor of the peer-reviewed International Journal of Yoga Therapy, and a founding member and past president of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology. Author of iRest Meditation: Restorative Practices for Health, Healing and Well Being iRest Yoga Nidra Immersion - An 8-Week Intensive to Accelerate Mind-Body Healing & Spiritual Awakening Yoga Nidra: The Art of Deep Relaxation Richard also serves as a research consultant studying the meditation protocol he’s developed (Integrative Restoration ~ iRest Meditation), a modern adaptation of an ancient yogic form of meditation, researching its efficacy on health, healing, and well-being with diverse populations that include active-duty soldiers, veterans, women rescued from human trafficking, youth and college students, seniors, the homeless, and the incarcerated, with issues such as sleep disorders, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, chemical dependency, and anxiety, as well as research on iRest’s efficacy for enhancing resiliency, well-being, and compassion. Richard leads international training and meditation retreats on the integration of enlightened living into daily life. For information visit irest.org. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/16/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:40 - The Illusion of Destroying the Ego 00:11:22 - The Terrifying Search for Self 00:16:59 - The Liberation of Thoughts 00:22:30 - The Four Phases of Waking Up 00:28:30 - The Constant Evolution of the Human Experience 00:34:17 - Rediscovering Your Inner Compass 00:40:05 - From Line on Stone to Line on Air 00:46:20 - Discovering Wholeness Through Yoga Nidra 00:52:09 - Nourishing the Feeling of Being 00:57:43 - Penetrating the Five Koshas 01:03:37 - Relief from Fear and Obstacles 01:07:54 - The Wonderment of Doubt 01:12:11 - The Availability of Insight and Creativity in Meditation 01:16:23 - Psychology of the Battlefield 01:20:38 - Awakening of self-awareness and the sense of being 01:25:10 - Falling in Love with Everything You Meet 01:29:26 - Awakening and the Potential for Transformation 01:33:59 - Redeeming the Potential for Growth 01:38:14 - Setting Boundaries and Containment 01:42:53 - Letting Go of Mental Thoughts 01:47:14 - Working with Opposites and Taking Perspective 01:52:01 - Acting in Harmony with the Universe 01:56:34 - Developing Inner Peace and Equanimity 02:01:28 - The Paradox of Boundaried and Unboundaried Presence 02:05:55 - Embracing Our Humanness 02:10:24 - The Mystery of Existence, Relaxing and Letting Be 02:15:14 - Backsliding and the Pain of Old Conditioning 02:19:42 - Immersing in Being and Setting Intentions 02:24:27 - Going beyond structures and teachings in meditation practice Save

“The spiritual journey does not consist in gaining what a person does not have, but in dissipation of ignorance concerning himself and life, and the growth of understanding which begins with spiritual awakening. To find God is to come to one’s own self.” - Avatar Meher Baba. No longer the person with its conditioning and history, here now there is only this and the overall feeling is “I don’t mind.” No fear, no push, a great emptiness that is also a rich and all-pervading fullness. Here there is silence, peace and an exquisite sense of joy. Here it feels so light there is no distance, ‘marinating in the self.’ It is as if nothing is happening here yet happening graciously unfolds. To look back at the dream, the necessary mistaken identity, it seemed like so much happened. Personhood was such psychological suffering. Separation, a feverish, fearful struggle, always restless, dissatisfied, looking outside for love and fulfillment. Now peace, and love reside here. I have spent thirty years with Avatar Meher Baba in deep devotion. Baba has administered his kiss and his kick, expertly unraveling the ego identity. Longing for the truth and with nothing more to express in this life, I knew I was going to die, not sure if it was the body or the ego, I completely surrendered. Shortly after, whilst watching Mooji on the net, he pointed, and I said with total conviction, “I am That”. In that recognition I hysterically and uncontrollably laughed for hours. When I could hardly breathe from the laughter and I asked God to help me, the laughter only escalated. The funniest thing, the divine joke was that I knew I had always been that. I love Meher Baba and Mooji - the brightest reflections of the true self I know. It is quiet here as I experience the bliss and love of the self. Book: Hot Flush Dark Cave: One Woman’s Spiritual Transformation Through Menopause Website: awakeningthroughthebody.com.au Facebook page: Awakening Through the Body Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/9/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:34 - Surrendering to the Truth 00:06:44 - The Sentience of the Universe and Implore for a Response 00:10:03 - Nature as a Religion 00:13:38 - Discovering Meher Baba, Marriage, and Spiritual Seeking 00:16:34 - Falling in Love and Visiting Meher Baba 00:19:28 - Overwhelming Love in Baba's Tomb 00:23:19 - The Strange Experience at Baba's Tomb 00:26:18 - The Accumulation of Suffering 00:29:37 - The Desperate Longing for Change 00:33:42 - The Development of the Heart 00:37:32 - Appreciating the Beauty of Life 00:40:49 - Maharishi's Example of Appreciating God's Creation 00:44:08 - Initiation and Transformation 00:47:50 - Revisiting Past Lives 00:51:21 - The Liberation of Guilt and Baggage 00:54:37 - The Transmission of Energy and Awareness 00:58:01 - Divine Encounters and Spirit Guides 01:01:10 - Healing Experiences and Subtle Spheres 01:04:03 - Passing Messages 01:06:32 - The Chariot of Our Life 01:10:00 - Healing Traumatic Experiences 01:13:39 - The Deep Release 01:17:10 - The Experience of Chronic Fatigue and Pain 01:20:44 - Releasing Fear through Shaking 01:24:05 - The Self in All Beings and Nature 01:27:53 - The Paradox of Devotion and Non-Duality 01:31:39 - The Beginning of the Involution 01:35:07 - Final Words and the TRE Practice 01:38:04 - Setting up a Nature Retreat 01:40:24 - Conclusion and Next week's episode Save

David Godman has lived in India since 1976, mostly in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. He spent his time there studying and practicing the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi. His anthology of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings, Be As You Are, is probably the most widely read book on Sri Ramana’s teachings. During his fourteen-year stay at Ramanasramam (1978-92), he managed the ashram’s library, cataloged its archives, and recorded the stories and experiences of devotees who had had direct contact with Sri Ramana. David is the authorized biographer of two devotees of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Lakshmana Swamy and Papaji) who realized the Self in Sri Ramana’s presence and who later went on to become gurus themselves. He has written and published several other books that contain first-person accounts of devotees who moved closely with Sri Ramana Maharshi and who were transformed by his power and presence. In collaboration with two Tamil scholars, T. V. Venkatasubramanian and Robert Butler, he translated and edited several Tamil texts including two authoritative collections of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings that were originally recorded in Tamil verse. The three of them also joined forces to bring out Sorupa Saram, a translation of a text in which a 15th century Tamil saint and Guru, Sorupananda, speaks authoritatively of his experience of the Self. Earlier this year David and T. V. Venkatasubramanian completed a new book that will be entitled The Shining of my Lord. It will contain translations of Tamil verses by Muruganar, an enlightened devotee of Ramana Maharshi who wrote thousands of verses in which he praised his Guru, spoke of his own liberated state, and thanked Sri Ramana for bestowing it on him. It will be published later this year. In the 1970s David frequented Nisargadatta Maharaj’s satsangs in Mumbai. In the 1980s he was a regular visitor to the ashram of Lakshmana Swamy and Saradamma in Andhra Pradesh. When they moved to Tiruvannamalai in the early 1990s, he helped them to establish and landscape their new property at the foot of Arunachala, the holy mountain where Sri Ramana Maharshi spent all his adult life. For four years in the 1990s, he lived with Papaji in Lucknow and ended up writing or editing five books about him. David Godman is married to Miri Albahari, a philosophy lecturer who teaches in Perth, Australia. He is based in India, but nowadays spends part of the year with Miri in Australia. Last year David released a series of twenty-seven films on Youtube in which he spoke about Ramana Maharshi, the places where he stayed, his devotees, and his teachings. The series contains about fifteen hours of talks about Sri Ramana and can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8hGc9OaVmFXOZDbRB3eP55FQtG1wKLNr Books: Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Compass) No mind, I am the self: The lives and teachings of Sri Lakshmana Swamy and Mathru Sri Sarada Living By the Words of Bhagavan Papaji: Interviews Nothing Ever Happened (three volumes): a 1,200-page biography of H. W. L. Poonja, also known as ‘Papaji’. Annamalai Swami Final Talks- teaching dialogues between Annamalai Swami and visitors to his ashram, recorded in the last six months of his life. The Power of the Presence -Transforming Encounters with Sri Ramana (Vol1) (three volumes): chapter-long accounts by devotees of Sri Ramana Maharshi that record their experiences of living with and being transformed him. The Power of the Presence (Part Two) The Power of the Presence (Part Three) Padamalai: Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi: Recorded by Muruganar Ramana Puranam- an edited and annotated 540-line poem that was jointly composed by Ramana Maharshi and Muruganar. The Fire of Freedom, Satsang with Papaji (The Fire of Freedom, Volume 1)- dialogues between Papaji and visitors that took place in his Lucknow home in 1991. Guru Vachaka Kovai (The Garland of Guru's Sayings)- a translation of 1,254 verses, recorded in Tamil by Muruganar, that record Ramana Maharshi’s teachings. Website: www.davidgodman.org Blog: http://sri-ramana-maharshi.blogspot.com YouTube channel First BatGap interview with David Transcripts of this interview: English Czech French Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group In this interview, David Godman speaks of Robert Adams, whom he never met. He makes some remarkable claims based upon Robert’s own account of his life, including years he claimed to have spent with Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj. It now appears extremely unlikely that Robert Adams ever met either, and that other claims David Godman repeats are highly improbable. Please see this article for details. David Godman has since taken down the YouTube talk he gave on Robert Adams. Interview recorded 6/26/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha At The Gas Pump with Rick Archer 00:05:34 - The Extraordinary Journey of Maurice Frydman 00:10:28 - Finding Ramana in Tiruvannamalai 00:15:16 - Maurice Frydman: An E

Jurgen Ziewe has been following a strict regime of meditation since 1969. In 1973, after a six-month stint of intensive meditation for up to five hours a day, he decided to abandon the practice completely, being disappointed with the lack of progress and some negative side effects. Then one day out of the blue, at breakfast, he spontaneously experienced a total dissociation from his body and entered a state of what he described as one of absolute clarity. After this he continued his meditation practice, but now paying homage to the experience with more humility than before. He directly attributes the spontaneous Out-of-body experiences that followed for the next forty years, to this powerful experience of consciousness singularity. Jurgen has spent hundreds of hours, mostly in a super waking awareness in these out-of-body states, which frequently lasted several hours at a time. He soon mapped out what he considered to be the multidimensional reality man inhabits after physical death. On one of these non-physical excursions he was met by a Chinese Master who put him through an intensive training process in order for him to reach much higher states of consciousness. In 1980, on one of these OBE journeys, he was taken once more into a state of absolute clarity. This and other significant experiences were chronicled in his diaries and later published in his books, "Multidimensional Man" in 2008 and "Vistas of Infinity" in 2015, by which time he had experienced another singularity event on a solitary mountain retreat, later published in his book, “The Ten Minute Moment”. Jurgen sees himself as a reporter, not as a teacher. His down-to-earth narrative has attracted the attention from the science community and he has recently contributed a chapter to a science publication entitled, “Consciousness Beyond the Body: Evidence and Reflections” by Alexander de Foe, where he explores the nature of nonphysical consciousness, in collaboration with other experiencers. In his working life Jurgen Ziewe is a sought after commercial illustrator with a global clientele. Using the latest CG technology of the film industry has allowed him to document his experiences in alternate realities in a very visual format. His graphic testimonies have been likened to those of Swedenborg and his accounts of the higher spiritual realms give a vivid insight into the infinite strata of human consciousness which is rarely reported in such depth and detail. Websites: multidimensionalman.com Some of Jurgen's "multidimensional" artwork Virtual reality videos Celestial-Song - Angel of the Earth - A new virtual reality project between Jurgen and composer Craig Pruess Jurgen's commercial art Other Books: Explorations in Consciousness: A New Approach to Out-of-Body Experiences The Phase: Shattering the Illusion of Reality New Territories Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview conducted 6/11/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview June 17, 2016 00:04:05 - An Unexpected Experience in Meditation 00:08:59 - Waves of Ecstasy and Out-of-Body Experiences 00:14:13 - Starting the Journey of Out-of-Body Experiences 00:18:56 - A Recall Experience and the Abyss of Reality 00:24:04 - Conquering Fear and Finding Freedom 00:29:45 - The Shift in Identification 00:33:45 - Out-of-Body Experiences and Higher Consciousness 00:37:40 - Breaking through the Ceilings 00:42:31 - The Fascination of the Inner Worlds 00:47:19 - Accessing the Universal Mind through Out-of-Body Experiences 00:51:43 - The Importance of Vedanta and the Multi-Dimensionality of Life 00:56:08 - Living in the Whole Spectrum of Consciousness 01:00:48 - Moving from Individuality to Service 01:05:24 - The Continuation of Reality After Death 01:09:27 - Mapping the Realities of the Universe 01:13:33 - Thought Forms and Collective Consciousness 01:17:45 - Consensus Reality in Out-of-Body States 01:22:02 - A New Experience of Higher Realms 01:26:37 - A Multidimensional Universe with Populated Planets 01:30:36 - Traveling Through Time 01:34:35 - Transported Back in Time 01:39:07 - The Evolved State of Creation 01:43:47 - The Universe as the Center of Perception 01:48:32 - Familiar Ground and Fresh Experiences 01:52:51 - The Essence of Bliss in This Dimension 01:57:11 - Addiction to Reality and the Attraction Fading 02:01:32 - Dealing with Fixations and Bodily Identification 02:05:52 - Embracing Reality and Finding Inner Aspect 02:10:43 - A Glimpse of a Positive Future 02:15:15 - Being vigilant and nurturing growth

Bernardo Kastrup has a Ph.D. in computer engineering with specializations in artificial intelligence and reconfigurable computing. He has worked as a scientist in some of the world's foremost research laboratories, including the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the "Casimir Effect" of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Bernardo has authored many scientific papers and philosophy books. His three most recent books are: More Than Allegory, Brief Peeks Beyond, and Why Materialism Is Baloney. He has also been an entrepreneur and founder of a successful high-tech start-up. Next to a managerial position in the high-tech industry, Bernardo maintains a philosophy blog, a video interview series, and continues to develop his ideas about the nature of reality. He has lived and worked in four different countries across continents, currently residing in the Netherlands. Books: Why Materialism Is Baloney: How True Skeptics Know There Is No Death and Fathom Answers to life, the Universe, and Everything Meaning in Absurdity: What bizarre phenomena can tell us about the nature of reality Dreamed Up Reality: Diving into the Mind to Uncover the Astonishing Hidden Tale of Nature Rationalist Spirituality: An exploration of the meaning of life and existence informed by logic and science More Than Allegory: On Religious Myth, Truth And Belief Important article: The Physicalist Worldview as Neurotic Ego-Defense Mechanism Website: bernardokastrup.com Youtube Channel Transcript of this interview First Batgap interview with Bernardo. Interview recorded June 4, 2016. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the interview 00:04:45 - The Spectrum of Religious Myths 00:09:10 - The Mythical Bridge between Perception and Meaning 00:13:22 - The Misinterpretation of Vedanta and the Significance of Myths 00:17:31 - Creator Deity and the Dream of Existence 00:21:41 - Myths as Contemplation of Transcendent Truths 00:25:57 - The Beginner's Mind and the Contemplative Atmosphere 00:30:22 - The Symbolism in Religious Myths 00:35:15 - The Richness of a Life Informed by Religious Myth 00:39:40 - Judging Reality and Symbolism 00:43:56 - Lucid Dreaming and the Exploration of Reality 00:48:09 - The Role of Myth in Science 00:52:23 - The Ultimate Scientific Instrument 00:56:34 - The Marriage of Science and Philosophy 01:00:50 - The Negative Influence of Religious Institutions 01:05:09 - The History of Intermediaries and the Need for Experience 01:09:33 - Belief in the Power of Science 01:14:12 - The Trouble with Science Interpretation 01:18:29 - Psychological Gain and the Search for Meaning 01:22:37 - The Games Scientists Play 01:26:42 - Surrender and collaboration between science and spirituality 01:31:03 - Deity Yoga in Tibetan Buddhism and its relation to Advaita Vedanta 01:35:00 - The Search for Meaning and the Play of Archetypes 01:38:25 - The Mystery and Magic of Life 01:41:44 - The Complementarity of Intellect and Realization 01:45:20 - The Hub and the Spokes 01:48:36 - Perspectives on the Nature of Reality 01:52:19 - The Qualities of Experience 01:55:33 - Overcoming Existential Angst 02:01:59 - Leaving them wanting more 02:02:38 - Website Features

Sruti is a spiritual teacher and feminist advocate. She writes about her experience with an uncommon and painful illness called Interstitial Cystitis. This ongoing and chronic condition challenged her to stay present with daily pain and to look further inward for answers. In an extreme moment of pain, in which consciousness began to fade, Sruti experienced the erasure of all that clouds over the earliest source of vision. She asks the question: with whose vision are we seeing when the lights are going out? Has this early vision ever known anything at all? After these extreme episodes of pain Sruti spent time on retreat with teachers such as Gangaji and Mooji. She found no difference in these nondual pointings and the discoveries made directly in painful circumstances. Sruti finds that we can allow what is painful to become a tool to disrupt the ordinary layers of our experience. Underneath these layers we find the unconditional peace that is our constant being in each moment. Can we investigate the source of ordinary vision - can we find the place of true seeing that is earlier that who we think we are? Book: The Hidden Value of Not Knowing Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/28/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Overview 00:04:05 - Living with Chronic Pain 00:08:10 - Seeking Relief from Pain 00:12:42 - The Intensity of Pain and the Undercurrent of Calm 00:19:25 - The Transformative Power of Pain 00:24:45 - Pain as a Pathway 00:30:17 - Writing from a Place of Intense Pain 00:36:57 - The Loss of Control and Silence 00:41:39 - The Silence before Activity 00:46:00 - The Difficulty of Sharing Pain and Suffering 00:50:37 - Inquiry into the Nature of Pain 00:54:57 - The Value of Resolution 00:58:10 - Experiencing Pain in Satsang 01:05:22 - The Non-Doing Prescription 01:11:28 - Love and Humility 01:16:33 - The Gift of Pain and Spiritual Devotion 01:21:54 - Living the Practical: Revealing the Inner Workings of Grace 01:25:38 - God's Presence in Silence 01:28:44 - God is Waiting in the Silence 01:31:19 - The Wisdom of Suffering 01:34:02 - The Value of Contacting What Is Already Okay 01:38:04 - True Prayer and Being 01:41:34 - The Benevolence of the Universe 01:45:45 - The Layers of Awareness 01:50:22 - Coming to Basic Awareness 01:55:32 - The Power of Choice and Attention 01:59:01 - The Profoundness of Direct Experience 02:03:00 - The Benevolent Fabric of the Universe 02:06:21 - The Value of Shared Pain 02:10:08 - The Divine Drama 02:13:10 - Resources and Ways to Stay Updated

Geneviève De Coux was born in 1947 in Namur, Belgium during her parents’ holidays. The family lived in the Belgian Congo. Geneviève and her brother enjoyed an idyllic childhood until 1960, the year of the Congo’s independence. The family emigrated to Belgium. Their paradise was lost. Geneviève found herself in Brussels, this radical change of scenery stoked the fire of her ontological search and she found refuge in art. In 1968 during her second year at the university while studying her philosophy paper, she stumbled upon a saying of Socrates which hit her straight in the heart: “Know thyself”! Realising that this was precisely what she had always been looking for, she instantly dropped her studies and set out for India by road in search of a living Socrates or Buddha. On reaching the Himalayan foot-hills, she led a meditative and ascetic life by the Ganges in Rishikesh, waiting to meet her master. The locals called her Mira because of her devoted renunciation. At the end of 1968, in circumstances well worthy of Indian mythology, she met a man with whom she had an awakening experience. He left the following day without Mira knowing anything about him, neither his name nor his address. The one certainty was that finally she had found her master. To give herself the best chance of seeing him again, she decided to live at the exact spot of their meeting. For eight months she waited for him and meditated under a little tree on the banks of the Ganga river. One day, her master, H.W.L.Poonja, a disciple of Ramana Maharishi, came back for her. She became his disciple and wife and started to travel with him. In 1971, H.W.L Poonja was invited to give Satsang in Europe and Mira accompanied him. Their daughter Mukti was born in 1972 and the little family went on travelling the world. For the education of her daughter Mira returned to Belgium. In 1990, H.W.L Poonja, also called Papaji, settled permanently in Lucknow where he gave Satsang every day until he passed away in 1997. In 1998, Mira was invited to give satsang, which she continues giving to this day all over the world. She decided to call herself Ganga. In 2004 Ganga Mira moved to Portugal. She lives near the wild ocean of the Algarve with her daughter Mukti and her grand-children, Arun and Satya, and gives satsang four times a week. Website: gangamirasatsang.com Summary and transcript of this interview Interview conducted 5/21/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump and Ganga Meera's Background 00:03:27 - The Fascinating Journey to India 00:06:40 - Living Under the Tree 00:09:23 - The Power of Meeting the Master 00:12:41 - Increasing the Intensity of the Fire 00:17:07 - Remaining Connected to Papaji 00:20:24 - The Shift from Seeking to Adventure 00:24:10 - The Relationship between Awakening and Thoughtlessness 00:28:01 - The Disappearance of the Concept "I am real" 00:32:04 - The Essence of Satsang 00:35:46 - The Mechanics of Satsang 00:39:42 - Falling in love with liberation 00:43:07 - Probing the Power of YouTube 00:46:49 - The Meaning of "Just Keep Quiet" 00:50:33 - The Concept of Enlightenment versus the Real Enlightenment 00:54:15 - The Dangers of Comparison 00:57:20 - Everything is Perfect 00:59:47 - The State of Seeking and the Purpose of Satsang 01:02:48 - The Role of Devotion in Spirituality 01:06:03 - Stages of Spiritual Development 01:09:25 - The Teaching and Non-Teaching Sages 01:12:57 - Awakening in Different Temperaments 01:16:16 - The Illusion of Sattva and the Importance of Satsang 01:18:43 - The Concept of Awakening from Extreme Suffering 01:21:50 - The Absence of Separation 01:24:49 - Satsang in Portugal 01:28:24 - Misunderstandings and Compassion 01:32:04 - Beyond the Doer 01:35:31 - Demystifying the Sense of "I" 01:39:28 - The Power of Pointers and Indications 01:42:23 - Various Announcements

In 1982 Tom began teaching Conscious Living at the Woodbury Yoga Center in Connecticut, and in 1990 at The Awakened Heart Center in North Carolina. Conscious Living is an all-inclusive way of life. It includes the possibility of radical awakening along with the integration of body, emotions, mind and spirit; living skillfully and effectively in this world; and being in loving, empowering relationships. In 1964, at the age of fifteen, Tom became a student of human psychology and a practitioner of the yogic pathways and enlightenment traditions. He has had the great fortune of training in depth with a number of exceptional teachers in both the enlightenment traditions and western psychology. While pursuing spiritual realization, Tom had many jobs in many different fields. All were important in terms of his personal growth and evolution, but the most important was working 13 years as a mental health worker in psychiatry. He has extensive training and experience in several different therapeutic modalities including hypnotherapy, transactional analysis, human potential, energy psychology and HeartMath®. After many years of intense practice and experiences in several different spiritual traditions, a sudden awakening occurred that led to the spontaneous collapse and falling away of all identification with spiritual and psychological belief systems, traditions, gurus, concepts, and the experience of a separate, unique, individual self. Now there is this, as it is, and as it appears to happen. The teachings of Conscious Living are direct, obvious, and all-inclusive. There is nothing to be believed or accepted, as they are self-evident. They point to the incredible gift and mystery of life, living us here and now, as we are. Tom lives with his best friend, partner and wife Bonnie. He also has a daughter Kelly, son-in-law Chad and grandson Caden. Website: theawakenedheartcenter.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 14, 2016. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:43 - The Teachings of Conscious Living 00:07:03 - Early Fascination with Yoga 00:10:24 - Exploring LSD and Yoga with Swami Vishnu 00:13:46 - Disorienting Experiences in Spiritual Practice 00:17:06 - Navigating the Transition in the Spiritual Path 00:20:26 - The Relationship Between Mystical Experiences and Psychotic Breaks 00:23:46 - Seeking the Spiritual Power 00:27:06 - The Process of Awakening 00:30:26 - Transformation through Awakening and Enlightenment 00:33:46 - Integration and Skillful Expression 00:37:06 - Letting go of identities and attachments 00:40:26 - Losing Authenticity in Spiritual Paths 00:43:46 - Intellectual Understanding vs Realization 00:47:06 - The Shift after Leaving the TM Movement 00:50:26 - The Conscious Living Center in North Carolina 00:53:47 - The Power of Shifting Reality Tunnels 00:57:07 - Recognition of True Nature 01:00:27 - The Illusion of a Separate Self 01:03:47 - The Concept of Personal Self and Reincarnation 01:07:07 - The possibility of reincarnation 01:10:27 - Consciousness and Awareness 01:13:47 - The Evolutionary Agenda and True Nature 01:17:07 - The Mind Creates the Brain 01:20:27 - The Mystery and Possibilities of Life 01:23:47 - Following Your Unique Expression 01:27:07 - The Temptation to Follow a Secure Path 01:30:27 - Meeting People Where They're At 01:33:47 - Seeing the Divine within oneself 01:37:07 - Offering Online Consultations 01:40:27 - Technical Notes and Thank You

Thomas Razzeto is one of the newest and freshest voices among the teachers of our balanced, ancient nondual wisdom. Thomas easily digs deeply into the core of this wisdom to reveal both its essential truth and the heartfelt compassion that all true sages embody when they are genuinely engaged in the world without being entangled by it. The first time Thomas heard this nondual wisdom was in 2005 when he attended one of Timothy Conway’s satsangs and Thomas has continually attended these weekly meetings since they provide the foundation for all his work. (By the way, Timothy Conway was guest number 28 at Buddha at the Gas Pump way back in July of 2010.) Timothy woke up when he was only 16 and he later was fortunate enough to meet several enlightened masters, such as Sri Nisargadatta, Annamalai Swami, and others among Sri Ramana Maharshi’s immediate followers. Thomas teaches in plain English, yet much of what he says would be recognized by people familiar with Advaita, Buddhism, or Hinduism. Thomas has taught his book, Living the Paradox of Enlightenment: Spiritual Awakening in Simple, Clear English, as a class for the Center for Lifelong Learning, which is a part of Santa Barbara City College, the highest-ranked community college in the United States. In September 2012, Thomas spoke for the prestigious lecture series, Mind, and Supermind, which is run by Santa Barbara City College. Website: Infinitely Mystical Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 4/23/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:11 - Practical Understanding of Non-Dual Wisdom 00:07:16 - Early Spiritual Journey 00:10:31 - Timothy's perspective on enlightenment 00:13:28 - The Nature of Experience 00:17:07 - The Transformation of a Gang Member 00:21:25 - The Recognition of Mystical Experiences 00:24:00 - The Snake and the Rope: Recognizing What You Are Looking At 00:31:00 - The True Self and Enlightenment 00:41:23 - The Beauty of Clear Language and Examples 00:47:05 - The Three Steps of Awakening 00:51:03 - The Realm of Possibility in Enlightenment 00:54:15 - The Definition of Enlightenment 00:58:12 - The Functionality of the Ego 01:01:29 - The Faint Remains of Ignorance 01:04:34 - Setting Goals and Letting Go 01:07:11 - The Prayer for Liberation 01:10:17 - The Effortless Flow of Creation 01:13:38 - Balancing assertiveness and passivity 01:17:18 - Engaging with Life and Divine Intelligence 01:21:20 - The multi-leveled reality of the world 01:25:27 - The Existence of Atrocities in a Divine Universe 01:28:43 - The Vastness of the Universe and Different Realms 01:32:40 - The Power of Finding Good in Every Situation 01:36:16 - Awareness and Personal Consciousness 01:39:57 - Permeating the Dream Body and Maintaining Awareness during Sleep 01:43:02 - Science and Consciousness Beyond the Materialistic Paradigm 01:46:51 - The Mystery of Divine Intelligence 01:50:02 - The Difference in Experience: Dualities and Multiplicities 01:53:28 - The Importance of Self-Love and Social Justice 01:56:43 - Explore the Menus on batgap.com

Chadwick Johnson is a teacher at heart. Chad does not claim to be an expert in the various subjects that he teaches, but rather, he teaches the subjects in which he seeks to become an expert. In fact, Chad ultimately attributes his spiritual clarity and ability to articulate non-dual concepts in a simplistic manner, to this “the teacher is the student” approach to sharing Truth. Chad had a spiritual awakening in early 2010 after reading “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, and began teaching non-duality later in that same year. Chad knew early on that the wisdom he shared was from a source of intelligence that was greater than his own. Consequently, he used his own teachings as a guide in his spiritual journey toward spiritual clarity. While Chad read countless books and watch hundreds of videos of teachers such as Mooji, Rupert Spira, Eckhart Tolle, and Adyashanti, it was ultimately the trust in his own teachings that dissolved all questions. Since 2010, Chad has spoken to thousands of people about self-discovery, in many different formats, and to people on all different levels of spiritual experience, understanding, willingness, and readiness. Chad started The W.A.Y. Project in 2012 as a way to organize his volunteer work and to raise awareness about mindfulness. He also has a YouTube page that he created as a way to share the truth of self-discovery to the hip-hop generation. Chad held the Second Saturday Mindfulness Workshop on the second Saturday of every month from 2012 to 2015. This workshop was designed to introduce people to mindfulness and non-duality in a non-spiritual in a secular, workshop environment. Chad his wife, Ericka, have been married for 18 years. They live in Sacramento California with their five children. He has a bachelor’s degree from California State University of Sacramento and a law degree from McGeorge School of Law. Chad works as a computer programmer for Hewlett Packard Enterprises, an adjunct professor at Sacramento City College. YouTube Channel HipHop Page: TheEbonyBones Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 4/16/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:50 - Overcoming Panic Attacks 00:08:06 - A Shift in Perspective 00:12:06 - The Awakening and the Quest for Understanding 00:16:30 - Embracing Imperfection and Acceptance 00:20:54 - Speaking from Personal Experience 00:25:55 - The Radiating Capacities of Instruments of the Divine 00:30:58 - Going Beyond Intellectual Understanding 00:35:58 - The Home of all Knowledge 00:40:58 - From Spiritual Detachment to Embracing Religion 00:45:27 - Humility and the Ego 00:49:28 - Humility and Refinement on the Spiritual Path 00:53:32 - Learning Simultaneously 00:58:13 - Watching Your Thoughts Objectively 01:02:35 - The Spiritual Experience of the Present Moment 01:06:41 - The Rain and Stillness Experience 01:09:46 - Awakening and the Role of Spiritual Teachers 01:14:30 - Moving Beyond Spiritual Teachers 01:17:57 - Being Open to Spiritual Experiences 01:22:53 - The Diversity of Spirituality 01:27:09 - Hip-Hop and Consciousness 01:30:13 - The Process of Writing Hip-Hop Music 01:35:13 - Giving Up and Surrendering in Spiritual Pursuit 01:40:07 - The Search for an Enlightened Teacher 01:44:30 - The Illusion of Lack and Seeking Enlightenment 01:49:08 - The Dream of Life 01:53:00 - Disbelief and Objectivity 01:56:33 - The Value of Creative Visualization 02:00:43 - Surrendering to the Divine Will 02:04:13 - The Art of Honest Interviewing 02:07:53 - Conclusion and Farewell

Suzanne Giesemann is the author of 11 books, an inspirational speaker, metaphysical teacher, and evidence-based medium. She is a messenger of hope who captivates audiences as she brings love, healing, and comfort through her work. Suzanne’s gift of communication with those on the other side brings stunning evidence of life after death, as well as validating her teaching about the purpose of life, the nature of reality, and attuning to higher consciousness. Her work has been recognized as highly credible by afterlife researcher Dr. Gary Schwartz, Ph.D., and best-selling author Dr. Wayne Dyer. Suzanne is a retired U.S. Navy Commander. She served as a commanding officer, as special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations, and as Aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 9/11. In addition to earning the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, she has a Master’s Degree in National Security Affairs and taught political science at the U.S. Naval Academy. Her unexpected and fascinating career transformation to her current work is the subject of the documentary, Messages of Hope, which has been featured at several film festivals, including the Awakened World Film Festival sponsored by the Association for Global New Thought. Some of Suzanne's books: Messages of Hope: The Metaphysical Memoir of a Most Unexpected Medium Wolf's Message 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 Website: suzannegiesemann.com 2nd BatGap interview with Suzanne Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/2/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:20 - Commitment to Spiritual Awakening 00:08:34 - A Life-Changing Tragedy 00:12:56 - From Skepticism to Mediumship 00:17:03 - Developing Mediumship Abilities 00:21:27 - The Continuity of the Soul in Reincarnation 00:25:37 - The Simultaneous Oneness and Individuality of Spirit 00:29:54 - Life in the Afterlife and Reincarnation 00:33:45 - The Purpose of Souls with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 00:38:02 - Spirit Guides and their Role in our Lives 00:41:52 - Mediumship in Public Places 00:45:42 - Connecting with the Other Side 00:49:42 - Connecting with Spirit and Channeling 00:53:49 - Surrendering to Higher Intelligence 00:57:38 - Testing Channeled Wisdom 01:01:25 - Automatic Writing and Connecting with the Other Side 01:05:35 - The Danger of Automatic Writing and Ouija Boards 01:09:42 - Connecting with Guides: Practice and Patience 01:13:34 - Surrendering to Spirit to be an Instrument 01:17:45 - Communication from the Other Side 01:21:38 - Unexpected Discoveries in the Catskills 01:25:17 - A Mother's Effort to Reunite Siblings 01:29:10 - Alignment and Being Guided by Spirit 01:33:16 - Communicating with Spirits 01:37:09 - The Essence of Reincarnation 01:41:10 - The Experience of Life in Slow Motion 01:45:34 - Connecting with Jesus and the Power of Trust 01:49:44 - The Book of Wolf and the Soul's Knowledge 01:53:55 - The Illusion of Free Will 01:57:48 - A Mother's Apology and Forgiveness 02:01:53 - Embracing the Journey of Personal Growth Save

A former athlete, teacher, and business entrepreneur, JC is now an author, producer, and teacher who corresponds with students worldwide. A student himself, first of his enlightened father, and later of world-renowned teachers J.Krishnamurti and Eckhart Tolle, JC's own investigation into the nature of Life and the universe led to realizations in Pure Consciousness that eventually led to the writing of his critically acclaimed book, The Christ Is Not a Person: The Evolution of Consciousness and the Destiny of Man. He has written and produced a three-episode video series entitled, Pure Consciousness: The Last Frontier. It can be viewed online at jctefft.com. Non-duality teachings focused on the nature of Awakening unto Pure Conscious Awareness posted in the form of video shorts will be made available for viewing online in the coming years. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/26/2016. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:09 - The Unique Path of Awakening 00:11:52 - Awakening and Shared Exploration 00:17:52 - Profound Impact of Krishnamurti and the Bible 00:23:17 - Writing The Christ is NOT a Person 00:29:54 - The Illusion of Separateness and Egoic Control 00:35:42 - The Falling Away of the Sense of Self 00:41:28 - The Illusion of Separateness 00:45:41 - Myths and Legends surrounding Jesus 00:50:36 - Encompassing Awareness and Oneness 00:56:03 - Shankara and the Illusory Elephant (Part 1) 01:02:18 - The Yoga of Stillness 01:07:29 - The Church's control over religious texts 01:11:52 - The Interpretation of Energy and Life in Conceptual Terms 01:16:41 - Overview of "The Christ is NOT a Person" book and videos 01:22:29 - The Dawn of a New Era in Conscious Awareness 01:28:03 - The Illusion of Separate Entities 01:32:40 - Life's Movement and Divine Expression 01:37:59 - The Nature of Awakening and the Illusion of Stages 01:41:59 - Stages of Consciousness and the Conceptualization of Mind 01:45:55 - The identification process leading to conflict 01:50:58 - Allowing Writing to Flow 01:56:05 - The Evolution of Religion 02:01:30 - The Meaning of Christ Beyond Literal Definitions 02:06:52 - The Origins of Christianity and Constantine's Role 02:12:46 - Self Realization and God-realization 02:17:35 - The Possibility of God Experiencing Life as a Drug Addict 02:22:30 - The Dual Nature of Good and Evil 02:28:00 - Awakening unto the reality of THIS 02:32:38 - Awakenings and Letting Go of Attachments 02:34:43 - A Practical Note to End On

Why are we here? Is there a God? Can there be authentic mystical experience? Are Hindus and Buddhists correct that we can attain a state of enlightenment? Can psychedelic drugs give us a glimpse of it? Does religion have a viable place in the modern world? Is there a common core of values and insights among the world's religions? Huston Smith spent his career in a search for answers to these and other questions. Born in China in 1919, the son of Methodist missionaries, Smith followed a life-long spiritual quest that led him around the world many times. He studied the world's religions and mystical traditions directly with Aldous Huxley, D.T. Suzuki, J. Krishnamurti, Alan Watts, Paul Tillich, Reinhold Niebuhr, the Dalai Lama, Joseph Campbell, Ram Dass, and a host of others. Huston, as a renowned philosopher of religion, helped shape the contemporary face of comparative religion, interfaith dialogue, and religious tolerance. As a seeker, he became a citizen of the world, plunging into its various spiritual traditions. Website: hustonsmith.net Some of Huston Smith's books: The World's Religions (Plus) Tales of Wonder: Adventures Chasing the Divine, an Autobiography Forgotten Truth: The Common Vision of the World's Religions Why Religion Matters: The Fate of the Human Spirit in an Age of Disbelief The Soul of Christianity: Restoring the Great Tradition (Plus) Buddhism: A Concise Introduction And Live Rejoicing: Chapters from a Charmed Life — Personal Encounters with Spiritual Mavericks, Remarkable Seekers, and the World's Great Religious Leaders The Huston Smith Reader Some of Dana's books: The Perennial Philosophy Reloaded: A Guide for the Mystically Inclined Aldous Huxley: A Biography Huston Smith: Wisdomkeeper: Living The World’s Religions: The Authorized Biography of a 21st Century Spiritual Giant He was a professor of religion and philosophy at the Maine College of Art and a popular lecturer at venues such as Esalen Institute and Kripalu. An expert in Asian religions and theories related to the perennial philosophy, he has written for Tricycle, Parabola and other magazines. His website is dana-sawyer.com Previous Batgap interview with Dana. Previous Batgap interview with Jeffrey Kripal and Dana. Batgap panel discussion at Sofia University, including Dana. Part 1 | Part 2 Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 3/19/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:25 - Academic Defense of Non-Dual Experience 00:09:50 - The Holistic Development of Intellect, Heart, and Body 00:14:58 - Houston Smith's Reconciliation of Religions 00:20:44 - Community and Identity in Religion 00:25:32 - Restoring the Transcendent Aspect of Religions 00:30:27 - The Curative Value of Religion 00:35:49 - The Paths to Spiritual Enlightenment 00:40:48 - The Four Points of the Minimum Working Hypothesis 00:47:10 - The Ocean in a Drop 00:52:31 - Profound Interconnectedness and Spiritual Experiences 00:57:35 - Meeting a Sadhu in the Newark Airport 01:02:21 - The Importance of Houston Smith 01:07:23 - Houston Smith's Humility and Approach to Religions 01:12:34 - Houston's Interaction with Timothy Leary 01:17:51 - Extraordinary Experiences and Timothy Leary 01:23:05 - The Anger and Disapproval of Houston 01:28:44 - Integrating Spiritual Experiences into Life 01:33:51 - Compassion and Engaging in Social Action 01:38:35 - Embracing the Transcendent Aspect of What We Are 01:44:13 - Existential dilemmas and the importance of spiritual growth 01:48:40 - The Importance of Houston Smith's Third Choice 01:53:19 - Houston Smith and the Condemnation to Meaning 01:58:28 - Cultural Relativity and Conflict 02:03:44 - Qualia Problems and the Interpretation of Experience 02:08:54 - Embracing Individual Perspectives 02:14:07 - The Appearance of Spiritual Teachers 02:19:14 - Neurophysiological correlates of consciousness 02:24:13 - The Power of Personal Experience in Belief 02:28:48 - Reflecting Wisdom and Compassion 02:32:51 - Getting in Touch with Dana through her Website

The Rev. Matthew Wright is an Episcopal priest, writer, and retreat leader working to renew the Christian Wisdom tradition within a wider interspiritual framework. He writes a monthly column, Belonging, for Contemplative Journal and serves as priest-in-charge at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Woodstock, NY. Matthew lives with his wife, Yanick, alongside the brothers of Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY. You can learn more about his work through the Center for Spiritual Resources. Transcript of this interview. Interview conducted 3/12/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of Matthew Wright 00:03:06 - The Second Axial Age 00:07:03 - Questioning Fundamentalist Worldview 00:10:48 - The Components of Traditional Spiritual Systems 00:14:53 - The Living Presence of Jesus and Buddha 00:19:14 - The Presence of Departed Loved Ones 00:23:01 - Spiritual Journey to India 00:27:07 - The Encounter with Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 00:30:41 - Unfolding, Awakening Body: The Body of Christ 00:34:44 - The Importance of Periods of Withdrawal 00:38:49 - Establishing Centers of Coherence 00:42:19 - The Palpable Atmosphere of Worship Centers 00:46:08 - Cultivating the Heart and Awakening 00:50:32 - Ego and Enlightenment 00:54:43 - The Power of Devotion 00:58:31 - Cultivating Qualities in Devotion 01:02:15 - Teilhard de Chardin and Second Axial Age 01:05:50 - The Bodhisattva Vow and the Emergence of Second Axial Consciousness 01:09:52 - Convergence and Creative Unions in Evolution 01:14:11 - Evolving Consciousness through Contemplative Practice 01:18:10 - The Importance of Keeping the Experiment Going 01:21:38 - The Universal Voice of Jesus in the Gospel of John 01:25:25 - Fear and belief in spiritual teachings 01:28:30 - The Shaky Ground of Belief 01:32:15 - The Call to Step into the Consciousness of Jesus's Lived Experience 01:35:45 - Moving Beyond the Masculine-Feminine Binary 01:40:13 - The Role of Nurturance and Femininity in Addressing Environmental Issues 01:44:31 - The Enlivenment of Consciousness and the Diversity of Being 01:48:25 - Diving Deep or Surface Skimming 01:52:17 - Cynthia Bourgeault and Richard Rohr at SAND Conference 01:54:54 - Farewell and Thanks

Mary Reed is an “accidental” mystic who, following eleven years of profound, involuntary visions and insights into divine realms, surrendered her executive life in Washington, DC to explore her spiritual gifts in a remote Buddhist nunnery in India. She grew up without any interest in religion but with an innate knowing that humans had more ability to access greater wisdom than most seemed to realize. She is originally from the U.S. Southwest but spent most of her career directing global healthcare programs and creating nonprofit partnerships throughout America and Africa. Today she divides her time between Thosamling Nunnery in India, where she is often immersed in silence; Cambodia, where she works with Wide Open Wings (a small charity she co-founded); and traveling to speak with a variety of audiences to share her story as a way to illuminate the common ground of Love and precious Divinity in all of us, and to inspire joyful collective resurrection and remembrance with her unique view of our beautifully awakening world. Website:lovemaryreed.com Book: Unwitting Mystic: Evolution of The Message of Love Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/5/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:18 - The Voice and Life Change 00:08:34 - Understanding the Crucifixion of Jesus 00:12:15 - The Origins of Divine Truth 00:14:55 - The Profound Unspeakable Nature of Spiritual Experiences 00:17:51 - Strong Opinions About Suicide 00:20:49 - The Importance of Having Someone to Talk to 00:23:45 - The Importance of Mental Health Professionals Trained in Spirituality 00:26:40 - The Importance of Access to Resources and Community 00:30:20 - The Importance of the Body 00:33:33 - Surrender and Spiritual Awakening 00:36:23 - Lessons from Personal Experiences 00:40:06 - Lessons from Syrian Refugees 00:43:49 - Exploring Infinite Possibilities 00:47:40 - The Origins of the Soul 00:51:43 - Integration of Boundaries and Unboundedness 00:55:33 - The Beauty of the Spiritual Journey 01:00:02 - Sharing My Story and Inspiring Hope 01:03:11 - Sharing Profound Information and Providing Hope 01:07:03 - Channeling Love and Divine Messages 01:11:39 - Rethinking Spiritual Teachings: Moving Towards Inclusivity 01:17:23 - Recognition of the Omnipresence of God 01:21:20 - Responding to Suffering & Bringing about Change 01:24:55 - Untangling the Energetic Threads 01:27:58 - Unraveling the Tangles 01:32:18 - The Cause of Masses Unraveling and the Spiritual Awakening 01:36:52 - Choosing Love and Forgiveness in Times of Tragedy 01:40:42 - Enlightenment and the Collective Mind 01:44:10 - The Coming of Love and Celebration in the Cosmos 01:48:25 - Unity and Creativity in Expressing Divinity 01:51:25 - Finding Teachers near Chicago

Abdy was born in Iran in 1964 to the Electriciteh family. At an early age he realized that his realm of reality was beyond what he could share with others. As a child, his awareness of extraordinary abilities, such as putting light and sparkles on people, could only be rationalized as a dream. When, thirty years later, he realized those sparkles were being received by the people, healing them physically, emotionally and spiritually, he gave up his adapted reality to his child-hood reality. In 2002 he began working around the world anchoring light and spreading his wisdom. Abdy works with an ancient energy which dissipates our inabilities to relate to our self, higher self and the universe. His work is to bring about and support the transformation of humanity and the Earth to a higher consciousness. This is carried out by raising the vibration of people and places. He channels an energy that allows an individual to connect to their own divinity. He believes the truth cannot be learned and can only be connected to, from within. Even though most of his work is energy-based, he guides people to realize their gift and their wisdom. Through Abdy's presence, some people have become healers, spiritual teachers, life coaches and many free from physical and emotional illnesses, but many more have been gifted to see the beauty of life and its participants. Abdy’s gift is to radiate timeless, spaceless connection to the Source. The universe’s gift to Abdy is for him to live life knowingly connected. Website: abdy.info Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 2/11/2016. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Abdy Electriciteh 00:03:50 - The Nature of Energy and Antennas 00:07:48 - Different Antennas and Personal Gifts in Energy Awareness 00:11:33 - The Power of Energy 00:16:03 - The Cycle of the Universe 00:19:44 - The Essence of the Universe in Our Cells 00:23:39 - Personal Favor and Determinism 00:26:18 - The Harmony of the Universe and Human Choice 00:29:11 - The Illusion of Choice 00:32:25 - The Concept of Dimensions and Connection 00:35:45 - The Power of Prayer and Spiritual Connection 00:39:09 - The Impact of Energetic Body on Consciousness 00:42:15 - Connecting to Your Own Wisdom and Impacting Others 00:45:05 - The Nature of Trees and Animals 00:47:59 - The Cycle of Lives and Energetic Harmony 00:51:24 - Celebrating Death & Optimum Vibration 00:55:46 - The Power of Energy and Consciousness 00:59:53 - Aligning with the Energy of Life 01:03:36 - The Economy and the Earth 01:07:16 - Falling Over and Surrendering Control 01:10:48 - The Importance of Emotion in Communication 01:14:47 - The Influence of Collective Consciousness 01:17:51 - The Business of Spirituality and Dependency 01:21:06 - The Power of Ready and Healing Gifts 01:24:12 - Taking Back Individual Power and Breaking Free 01:26:49 - The Ego and Compassion 01:29:44 - The Role of Belief and Energy in Connection 01:32:18 - Fear of Emotions: The Problem with Expectations 01:35:13 - The Nature of Creatures and Polarity 01:37:56 - The Joy of Tapping into Perfection 01:42:06 - Background Music