Buddha at the Gas Pump

Della had the good fortune of a life that many would have wanted to live. She grew up in a loving environment. She went to college. She started a family. She became a doctor and worked in emergency. She wasn’t looking for anything. She didn’t have any spiritual beliefs. She was happy. Then, in 2005, during a hypnosis session, she had what could be described as a near-death experience. Her heart was deeply touched by oneness and its unconditional love. Her life was turned upside down by this experience. With this free and loving presence breathing inside of her, all of " her " identity was put into question. Gradually she had to surrender to the reality that we are One and that no label, belief or knowledge is needed for Being. Website: dellainvitation.com Article referred to during the interview: Breakdowns and ‘Shift-Ups’: The relationship between psychosis and spiritual awakening Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 2/20/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:28 - A Glimpse of the Afterlife 00:07:42 - The Voice of Guidance 00:11:30 - The Difficulty of Playing the Game of Being Sick 00:14:17 - The Journey to Enlightenment 00:17:11 - The Difference between Psychosis and Awakening 00:19:40 - Transformation and Love 00:22:39 - The Scary and Gentle Spiritual Path 00:26:15 - Letting Go of Self 00:29:08 - Living in a Different Reality 00:32:18 - Discovering the Path to Satsang 00:35:42 - Connecting with the Heart's Intimacy 00:39:26 - Embracing the Refusal in the Heart 00:42:53 - Inner Transformation and Personal Guidance 00:46:28 - The Voice that Spoke to Me 00:49:59 - The Experience of the Personal Self 00:53:37 - The Experience of Pain and Self 00:56:39 - Living in a Simple State of Awareness 00:59:45 - The Role of Protection in Personal Development 01:03:09 - Opening the Heart and Honoring Reality 01:06:24 - Spontaneity and Freedom of the Shift 01:09:51 - The Gentle Path to Opening Ourselves 01:13:51 - Embracing Protection and Oneness 01:17:02 - The Veil of Refusal 01:20:46 - Effort and Relinquishment in Spiritual Awakening 01:23:36 - Embracing Our Perfect Imperfections 01:26:44 - The Future of Consciousness and Society 01:30:11 - Surrendering to the Inner Wisdom 01:33:37 - Hiding from our True Nature 01:36:39 - Introduction of Luna 01:38:56 - Explore More Interviews on the Website

Joey Lott is not a spiritual teacher. He’s not offering enlightenment, awakening, liberation, or any such carrot to keep you searching for something else. Instead, he’s just a fellow person who had the fortune to discover that the willingness to stop seeking for answers, for solutions to all kinds of imagined spiritual problems, reveals the peace of just being whatever is happening - which is all that is ever happening anyway. It’s not a glorious attainment. It’s not morally or spiritually elevated. It’s very mundane, and often uncomfortable - exactly like your life now. Joey doesn’t do formal teaching. In an ever-changing manner, he does experiment with inviting others to join in a conversation and explore the assumptions that underlie suffering. Website: joeylott.com YouTube Channels: Joey Lott Completely Ordinary Books: The Best Thing That Never Happened You're Trying Too Hard: The Direct Path to What Already Is Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 2/13/2016 Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:47 - Shifting Perspectives on Identity 00:09:22 - The Perception of Suffering and Reality 00:13:34 - The intensity of my meditation practice 00:17:42 - The Addictive Cycle of Meditation 00:20:49 - The Experience of Suffering and Inner Dissatisfaction 00:24:53 - The Relief of Stopping the Obsession 00:28:35 - Fear of Triggers and Rituals 00:32:57 - The Shift Towards Surrender 00:37:24 - Relaxation of Control and Shift in Perspective 00:41:47 - Embracing Fear and Facing Problems 00:48:43 - Finding Balance in Spiritual Teachings 00:50:41 - The Middle Ground of Purification 00:55:31 - Spiritual Teachings for the Benefit of Humanity 00:59:40 - Methamphetamine and the Brain 01:03:35 - The Marginalization of People 01:08:25 - The Reality of Experience 01:12:40 - Critique of Popular Spirituality 01:16:53 - Recognizing the Full Truth 01:21:19 - The Directness of Experience and Comparison to Ramana 01:25:22 - The Illusion of Awareness and Consciousness 01:30:06 - The Promise of Removing Uncertainty 01:33:55 - The Illusion of Ownership and Doership 01:38:35 - Appreciating Concepts, But Valuing Experience 01:42:58 - The Paradoxical Nature of Taking Action 01:46:49 - Dealing with OCD 01:50:39 - Perception of a diverse natural world and dangers of moral authority 01:54:01 - The Decline of Bee Populations and Environmental Responsibility 01:58:47 - The Interconnectedness of Life and the Power of Consciousness 02:02:37 - Ambivalent about taking money for conversations

Once called by Norman Cousins, “An accomplished court jester to humanity,” David Ellzey is a transformative speaker, entertainer, author, and mentor – who has inspired a quarter of a million people worldwide to explore the oneness of humanity and of life. As mentor, coach, and teacher, David guides clients with unflinching self-inquiry, techniques like The Sedona Method for emotional well being, movement, and fundamentally pure investigation into what is real. Humor often joins the journey. His devotion to the mystery of life began at age fourteen when he had his first life-changing experience of sensing the infinite presence that permeates all of existence. At age seventeen he pursued the embodiment of this understanding through the performance art form of pantomime taught by his teacher using ancient principles of Kabbalah. He was guided by his dear teacher to create universes in the silence and emptiness on stage. But most importantly, David understood that, indeed, all of life is born of, and returns to, this mother consciousness. Published in non-dual and contemplative journals, and author of, The Ocean of Now, David’s a regular presenter at the Science and Non-Duality Conferences. David sat with Francis Lucille for 10 years, with Neelam in India, and is forever inspired by Rumi and Nisagardatta. Currently his private practice as a consciousness coach is based in New York City. Website: davidellzey.com David Ellzey in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Book: The Ocean of Now: How To Navigate The Unsure Waters Of These Challenging Times With Courage And Peace Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 1/16/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:39 - The Power of Mime and Kabbalah 00:06:35 - Mysteries of Mime and Spirituality 00:09:38 - A Life-Changing Experience under the Stars 00:13:08 - The Groundedness Behind Youthful Worry 00:15:34 - Being "In the Moment" with Solomon 00:17:59 - The Power of Loving Presence 00:20:26 - Komedi di Rumah Sakit 00:22:53 - Living from Cosmic Intelligence 00:27:03 - Awareness and Thought 00:30:45 - Spontaneous Mime Performance 00:35:02 - Going beyond the habit of reflection and recategorization 00:38:06 - Dissolving the Concept of "I Need to Be" 00:41:52 - Cultivating an Inner Quietness 00:44:35 - Lester's Journey of Self-Inquiry and Awakening 00:46:35 - The Disappearance of the Egoic Self 00:48:57 - The Simultaneous Nature of Experience 00:51:22 - Reassembling the Perception of Pain 00:54:27 - No Sense of a Personal Self 00:57:17 - The Power of This Moment 00:59:56 - Exploring Emotions and the Sedona Method 01:02:37 - Dissolving Emotionality and Finding Clarity 01:05:18 - Letting Go of Illusions and Emotions 01:07:48 - Glimpses of Consciousness 01:10:29 - The Nature of Knowingness 01:12:54 - Coaching for Conscious Living 01:16:30 - "The Joy of Living" 01:19:11 - Surrounding Yourself with Supportive People 01:21:55 - Staying Open to the Unfolding Moment 01:27:02 - The Yearning for Fulfillment 01:32:01 - Concluding Remarks and Future Events

Salvadore Poe was a successful musician from New York, making records, touring, having videos on MTV, and doing film scores when in 1997 he had a life-changing experience that propelled him on a single-pointed inquiry in search of enlightenment. During the next seven years, he immersed himself in intensive retreats in USA, Europe, and India, met many teachers, including U.G. Krishnamurti, Douglas Harding, Toni Packer, among others, and eventually moved to India where he lived for two years in the ashram of Ajja, a recognized spiritual master, and then for a year in the ashram of another spiritual master, Siva Sakthi Ammaiyar. During all these years he meditated countless hours, had numerous mystical, transcendent experiences, and then finally, frustrated with it all, met his last teacher, Dolano in 2004, and his search was over. Eight years later, living an ordinary life making music in India, someone he met asked him to work one on one with a spiritual seeker. Since then Salvadore has been offering a means of inquiry intended to let you come to know for yourself that you are now and always have been complete, whole, lacking nothing and free. This recognition, when true and doubtless, ends seeking automatically, as it is seen that what you have been seeking is already true and realized. What has kept you from this ‘knowing’ are all of the myriad ideas, beliefs, and spiritual concepts given to you by culture and religion, which you have taken for granted without really investigating. But once clearly investigated they all fall, leaving you at ease here and now with and as what is. Seeking is finished, there is no cause of it any longer. Life is lived at ease. Salvadore currently divides his time between India and New York State, writing and recording music and sharing the inquiries. Websites: http://www.salvadorepoe.com http://liberationis.com Books: Liberation IS: The End Of The Spiritual Path The Way of Freedom: Conversations with Salvadore Poe Articles of Peace, a collection of 39 articles, some were transcribed from group meetings and others were written, inspired by a particular topic. I offer this collection freely and encourage you to share them freely with anyone who might be interested. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 2/6/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - An Awakening Plea for Help 00:05:12 - A Life-Changing Moment 00:09:29 - The Search for Enlightenment through Drugs and Meditation 00:13:31 - The Light is Going to Come for You 00:17:54 - Frustration with Seeking and the Shift to Knowing 00:21:54 - The Wind-Down of Conditioning 00:25:29 - The End of Seeking 00:29:30 - Recognizing the True Nature of Oneself 00:33:17 - The Integration of Transcendence and Imminence 00:36:41 - The Natural State of Consciousness 00:40:13 - The Unknowing 00:44:04 - The Shift of Knowing 00:47:33 - The misidentification of a separate self 00:49:49 - The Birth of Compassion 00:52:17 - The Illusion of Lost Thoughts 00:56:00 - Delineation between consciousness and awareness 01:00:02 - Purification of the Mind 01:04:16 - Recognizing the Sense of Lack 01:07:41 - The Journey of Self-Discovery 01:11:07 - Stabilizing Certainty and Clarity 01:15:13 - The Illusion of Self and Strengthening Intention 01:19:12 - The Illusion of the Self 01:22:56 - Levels of Spiritual Maturity 01:26:25 - Evidence of Reincarnation and Alternative Explanations 01:29:59 - The Illusion of Solid Form 01:33:24 - The Knowing Itself 01:37:09 - The Experience of Enlightenment 01:41:20 - The Impact of Awakening on Personality and Society 01:44:42 - The Impact of the Internet on Education 01:49:29 - The Nature of Awareness 01:55:50 - Wrapping Up and Thank You Save Save

Brief history of Norio: I always loved wheels ever since I was a small child. The first set of wheels was a bicycle, which by age nine, I was riding 40 miles at a time. Age 19, I drove a taxi in Boston for five years. I began driving a truck, as well as greyhound buses, at age 25. I began what I refer to as "true inquiry" while driving my truck in 2003, thereby being able to see the silence, from which "Norio brain" could see all that I thought I am is only an illusion. Website: demystifyenlightenment.org Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 1/30/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:03 - The Love for Wheels and Exploration 00:05:17 - True Inquiry and Spiritual Awakening 00:07:44 - Inquiring about the meaning of being human 00:11:21 - Living in the Present Moment 00:14:15 - Time and the Perception of Emotions 00:17:23 - The Nature of Consciousness and Emotions 00:20:37 - The Universal Nature of Sorrow 00:24:20 - Inquiry into Human Existence 00:27:15 - Childlike Curiosity and the Question of What it Means to be Human 00:30:08 - Letting go of judgment and comparison 00:33:32 - The Transformation in Listening 00:37:02 - The Dissolution of the Conscious and Unconscious Division 00:40:18 - Discovering the Circular Pattern 00:43:54 - The Deeper Levels of Thinking 00:47:53 - Seeing Problems as Opportunities 00:50:14 - Let's Play Monopoly 00:53:11 - The Joy of Silence 00:56:43 - The Influence of Others 01:00:13 - The True Nature of Being Human 01:03:43 - The Illusion of Self and Enlightenment 01:07:25 - The Limitations of Language and the Depths of Silence 01:10:55 - Exploring the Garden and Beyond 01:14:01 - The Gate to Silence 01:16:56 - The Circular Pattern of Thinking 01:20:45 - The Illusion of Self and Addictions 01:23:22 - The Significance of Truth 01:26:17 - Effort and attachments 01:28:54 - The Role of Effort and Struggle in Life 01:32:17 - The Cosmic Joke and Tuning in with A432 01:34:14 - Wrapping It Up

Andrew Harvey is an author, speaker and founder/director of the Institute of Sacred Activism, an international organization focused on inviting concerned people to take up the challenge of our contemporary global crises by becoming inspired, effective and practical agents of institutional and systemic change, in order to create peace and sustainability. Andrew Harvey has taught at Oxford University, Cornell University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, The California Institute of Integral Studies, and the University of Creation Spirituality as well as at various spiritual centers throughout the U.S. He was the subject of the 1993 BBC film documentary The Making of a Modern Mystic and appears also in Rumi Turning Ecstatic and The Consciousness Of The Christ: Reclaiming Jesus for a New Humanity. He has also worked with the great Iranian Sufi dancer, Banafsheh Sayyad, in producing a film, In the Fire of Grace, which marries Sufi inspired dances to the stages of Rumi’s understanding of the path of Divine love. He has written and edited over 30 books and received many awards, including the Benjamin Franklin Award and the Mind Body Spirit Award. Website: andrewharvey.net Some of Andrew's many books: Savage Grace: Living Resiliently in the Dark Night of the Globe The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism Radical Passion: Sacred Love and Wisdom in Action Light the Flame: 365 Days of Prayer Movie referred to during the interview: A Human Search: The Life of Father Bede Griffiths (1993) Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/25/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 00:04:48 - Returning to the Sources of My Childhood 00:08:24 - Mystical Experiences and Life Changes 00:11:34 - The Purpose of Our Souls' Work 00:14:54 - The Transforming Power of Love 00:18:22 - The Dark Night: A Process of Divinization 00:21:27 - Embracing the Depths of the Shadow 00:24:44 - The Urgency of Preparing for Evolutionary Shattering 00:29:39 - The Marriage of Opposites 00:35:12 - The Marriage of Mission and Heart 00:39:34 - The Power of Love in the World 00:43:37 - Networks of Grace and Radical Social Work 00:48:43 - The Paradigm of Deep Cooperation and Collaboration 00:53:56 - Creating an Alternate Reality 00:59:03 - The Transformation of Birthing the Divine in the Human 01:03:43 - The Power of Unconditional Forgiveness 01:08:24 - Changing the World Through Collective Action 01:13:20 - The Process of Transformation through Divine Self 01:18:55 - The Price of Spiritual Awakening 01:23:36 - Gratitude and Appreciation for a Difficult Breakup 01:27:46 - Abusive Power in Spiritual Circles 01:31:08 - The Modulation of Softness and Flexibility 01:34:36 - Mystical Christianity and Hinduism-Buddhism Integration 01:38:21 - Finding Grace in Everyday Joys 01:42:23 - The Endless Evolution of Enlightenment 01:46:38 - Enlightenment and the Sacrifice of Ramana Maharshi 01:49:30 - Cultivating Humility through Practices 01:53:00 - The Dance Between Light and Dark 01:56:39 - The Primordial Love Relationship 01:59:24 - Life well-lived in progress 02:02:28 - Free resources and ongoing project Save

Michael Roads passed away April 28, 2024. His wife writes, "To our Dear Heart Family... Carolyn here. It is with an open and heavy heart that I share with you Michael transitioned at 3:06 AM, 28 April, Brisbane time. He had a very difficult last couple days...difficult enough to tip him over the edge into complete surrender, to the final letting go. His last hours were very peaceful. He was sleeping and moved into a gentle passing. His breathing became slower and slower and eventually stopped...the end of an era. He left the world in a brighter place because of his Love and commitment to humanity. An ordinary man on an extraordinary journey . . .Michael Roads was born a farmer's son in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1937. From an early age he discovered that he had a natural ability to travel beyond linear time and space and enter into deep communication with Nature. Since his spiritual enlightenment at age 49, Michael wrote 19 books on his experiences and explorations of alternate realities and dimensions. His main focus and teachings were based on unconditional Love and emotional balance. 2016 marked his 25th year of traveling over five continents presenting inspirational and life-changing 5-Day Intensives in a clear, compelling, humorous and no-nonsense format, enabling many participants to experience amazing shifts in consciousness. Michael, an ordinary mystic, wove his wealth of life experiences with the most extra-ordinary insights - insights that offer pathways to our deep spiritual relationship with Nature and with Self. He had the consciousness and ability to empower people to gain understanding of the true nature of reality and assist them in their spiritual awakening to their Divine potential. Website: www.michaelroads.com. Books: Through the Eyes of Love: Journeying with Pan, Book One Through the Eyes of Love: Journeying with Pan, Book Two Through the Eyes of Love: Journeying with Pan, Book Three Stepping ... Between ... Realities Insights of a Modern Mystic: A day-by-day book of uncommon wisdom Talking with Nature and Journey into Nature Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/23/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Michael Rhodes and his Spiritual Awakening 00:04:29 - Expanding Horizons with Michael's Experiences 00:08:44 - Soul and Personality Coming Together 00:13:06 - The Eagle's Viewpoint and the Gulf of Separation 00:17:19 - Metaphysical Travels and Communion with Other Dimensions 00:21:54 - Subconsciousness and Consciousness 00:26:06 - The Hierarchy of Nature and Spirits 00:30:20 - The Strange Encounter with the Guide Stone 00:34:45 - Meeting Pan in the Cavern 00:39:21 - The Relationship Between Enlightenment and Ultimate Reality 00:43:35 - Enlightenment and Growth 00:48:00 - The Reachability of Enlightenment 00:52:12 - Love as the Power of Creation 00:56:32 - Tuning in to Inner Space 01:00:53 - Rediscovering Love and Letting Go 01:05:10 - The Power of Unconditional Love 01:09:35 - The State of Consciousness 01:14:27 - Exploring Higher Dimensions and Self-Realization 01:18:39 - Spiritual Activism 01:23:06 - The Power of Words and the Limitations of Language 01:27:22 - The Staggering Intelligence of Dragons 01:31:52 - The Subconscious and Choosing Life or Death 01:36:34 - The Concept of Walk-Ins and Different Realities 01:41:09 - The Problem with Humanity and the Need for Change 01:45:37 - Creating Trust and Overcoming Doubt 01:49:52 - Understanding the Subtler Dimensions of Nature 01:53:45 - The Metaphysical Structure of the Planet 01:57:07 - The Emerging Paradigm of Love and Compassion 02:00:34 - The Power of Conscious Intelligence 02:03:56 - The Buddha of the Gas Pump 02:06:57 - Farewell and Thanks

John Astin is the author of three collections of poetic and prose reflections on the non-dual nature of reality, Too Intimate for Words, (2005) This Is Always Enough(2007), and Searching for Rain in a Monsoon (2012). He is presently at work on a new book, It’s Not What You Think It Is: Reflections on the Inconceivable Nature of Reality. Along with his writing and teaching, John is also a singer, songwriter and recording artist who since 1987 has produced seven CDs of original spiritual/contemplative music including his most recent release, What We’ve Always Been. In addition to his writing and music, John also holds a PhD in health psychology and is an internationally acclaimed scholar in the field of mind-body medicine, his research focusing on the applications of meditative/contemplative practices in psychology and health care. For information about John’s work, visit www.johnastin.com. Music CDs: What We've Always Been Already Shining Clear Blue Mind Now Is the Time For more see johnastin.com/music Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/9/2016 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:18 - The Beginning of a Journey of Self-Exploration 00:09:43 - Struggling and Seeking for Enlightenment 00:16:13 - The Paradox of Awakening 00:23:10 - The Mystery of God and the Absolute 00:30:30 - The Continuous Awareness That Doesn't Change 00:35:18 - The Unfathomable Nature of Reality 00:39:26 - The Indescribability of Experience 00:42:59 - The Equalness of Experience 00:46:58 - Applying Curiosity to Our Own Experience 00:50:53 - Investigating the Experience of Anxiety 00:54:49 - The Abstraction of Anxiety 00:58:16 - The Practical Utility of Spiritual Development 01:02:32 - Exploring the Nature of Experience 01:05:58 - Awe-Inspiring Complexity and Intelligence 01:10:00 - The Universe Inside the Touch 01:13:53 - The Sensitivity of Non-Conceptual Dimensions of Experience 01:17:42 - The Authority of Spiritual Teachers 01:22:04 - Letting Experience be the Authority 01:26:20 - The Nature of Devotion and the Role of the Teacher 01:30:46 - The Value of Transmission and Devotion 01:34:21 - Treating Others with Respect and Devotion 01:40:07 - Reflections on the Spiritual Path 01:48:31 - The Wholesome Way and Discovering What Truly Interests Us 01:51:47 - The Importance of Personal Experience in Spiritual Practice 01:55:12 - Picking up on the Little Things 01:58:24 - Finding Ease within the Flow of Experience 02:02:50 - Embracing uncertainty and holding perspectives loosely 02:06:30 - A Chuckle at Materialists 02:11:34 - Beyond ideas of right and wrong 02:17:22 - Conclusion and Thank You

Stan Grof, M.D., Ph.D. is a psychiatrist with more than fifty years’ experience researching the healing and transformative potential of non-ordinary states of consciousness. His groundbreaking theories influenced the integration of Western science with his brilliant mapping of the transpersonal dimension. He is one of the founders and chief theoreticians of Transpersonal Psychology and received an Honorary Award for major contributions to and development of the field of Transpersonal Psychology from the Association for Transpersonal Psychology in 1993. Dr. Grof is also the founder of the International Transpersonal Association (ITA) and its past and current president. He has organized large international conferences throughout the world and continues to lecture and teach professional training programs in Holotropic Breathwork and transpersonal psychology. Currently, Dr. Grof is Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in the Department of Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness, and teaches at the Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. Website: stanislavgrof.com Some of Dr. Grof's many books: Healing Our Deepest Wounds: The Holotropic Paradigm Shift The Ultimate Journey: Consciousness and the Mystery of Death When the Impossible Happens: Adventures in Non-Ordinary Reality Holotropic Breathwork: A New Approach to Self-Exploration and Therapy (Suny Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology) The Holotropic Mind: The Three Levels of Human Consciousness and How They Shape Our Lives Spiritual Emergency: When Personal Transformation Becomes a Crisis (New Consciousness Readers) The Adventure of Self-Discovery: Dimensions of Consciousness and New Perspectives in Psychotherapy and Inner Exploration (SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology) LSD: Doorway to the Numinous: The Groundbreaking Psychedelic Research into Realms of the Human Unconscious The Cosmic Game: Explorations of the Frontiers of Human Consciousness (S U N Y Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology) The Stormy Search for the Self: A Guide to Personal Growth through Transformational Crisis Interview conducted 10/24/2015 at the Science and Nonduality Conference Summary and transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Stan Groff's Work 00:02:30 - Discovering a Life-Changing Book and Career Path 00:04:49 - Albert's Mysterious Experiment 00:06:45 - Albert's Bicycle Trip: A Transformative Experience 00:08:28 - The Life-Changing Session with the Strobes 00:10:08 - The transformative power of LSD sessions 00:12:02 - The Perception of the World 00:14:20 - The Unconscious and Spontaneous Episodes 00:16:07 - Peeling Layers of the Psyche 00:18:19 - Exploring the Boundaries of Consciousness 00:19:57 - Rediscovering Ancient Maps of Consciousness 00:21:52 - Expanding the Cartography of the Psyche 00:23:33 - The Levels of the Birth Process 00:25:24 - Archetypal Images and the Birth Process 00:26:54 - The Importance of Asking God for Answers 00:29:23 - World Events and Collective Consciousness 00:31:04 - Transforming Humanity and Saving the Species 00:33:06 - Using Psychedelics for Therapeutic Purposes 00:34:28 - Using breathwork for integration 00:35:46 - Bringing up the Unconscious through Breathing 00:37:10 - The Beginning of a Powerful Session Journey 00:39:38 - Non-drug techniques for therapeutic outcomes 00:41:11 - The Power of Breathwork and Healing 00:42:42 - Subtle Physiology and the Energy Field 00:44:22 - The Experience of Chakras and Energy Flow 00:45:57 - Choosing the Right Psychedelic Experience 00:48:01 - The Challenge of Maintaining Consciousness in a Digital Age 00:50:08 - Transformations through meditative practices and psychedelics 00:51:46 - Meditation in Action 00:53:18 - Training in Holotropic Breathwork 00:55:02 - Building Bonds Through Honest Reflection

Gail is a clinical psychologist and author in Santa Barbara, CA, who joyfully speaks from her own experience about the possibility of moving from common everyday problems to living in the deepest acceptance and peace. Problems are seen as opportunities; the illusion of the separate self as a doorway to enduring happiness. Stories are honored, while fierce and loving investigation invites their dissolution. She has special expertise working with older adults and their families, bringing clear seeing and compassion to the transitions of aging, death, and dying. She meets with people both individually and in groups and blogs at GailBrenner.com, where she invites readers to see through the confusion of separation and discover reality, which is true, alive, and undeniable. Her core offering is to bring non-dual understanding to the moments of suffering in everyday life. She is the author of “The End of Self-Help: Discovering Peace and Happiness Right at the Heart of Your Messy, Scary, Brilliant Life.” Suffering Is Optional: A Spiritual Guide to Freedom from Self-Judgment and Feelings of Inadequacy At the Core of Every Heart: Reflections, Insights, and Practices for Waking Up and Living Free Website: GailBrenner.com Interview recorded 10/25/2015 at the Science and Nonduality Conference. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Second BatGap interview with Gail. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:01:58 - The Inspiration to Write 00:03:38 - Transformative shift through Buddhism and meditation 00:05:48 - The Journey of Self-Discovery 00:07:17 - The Joy of Meditation 00:08:51 - The Integration of Spiritual Practice in Everyday Life 00:10:58 - The Pros and Cons of Habit and Rote 00:12:53 - Working through depression 00:14:30 - Healing the Physiology 00:16:31 - Welcoming What Is 00:18:26 - Encouraging personal exploration and growth. 00:20:01 - Facing Fear and Uncovering the Unconscious 00:21:45 - The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice 00:23:05 - The Power of True Nature and Surrender 00:24:48 - The Discovery of "The End of Self-Help" 00:26:30 - Polishing up a False Sense of Self 00:27:24 - Understanding the Source of Suffering 00:29:35 - The Nature of Thought and Identity 00:31:44 - The Importance of Attention to the Body 00:33:35 - Relationship and Living in True Nature 00:35:22 - Recognizing our True Nature 00:38:14 - Dissolving Routine Grooves for True Nature 00:40:48 - The Potential in Every Moment 00:42:40 - The Vastness of Awareness and the Beauty of Letting Go 00:44:43 - Developing Freshness in Each Moment 00:48:35 - Recognizing our True Nature 00:49:49 - Balancing spirituality in a relationship 00:52:41 - Acceptance and Evolution in Relationships 00:54:51 - Nonacceptance and resistance 00:56:13 - Craving for Acceptance in Relationships 00:57:44 - Consciousness is timeless 00:59:09 - Thank you Save

Adam Bucko is an activist, spiritual director to many of New York City’s homeless youth, and co-author of a new award-winning book called “Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation (Sacred Activism)". He grew up in Poland during the totalitarian regime and spent his early years exploring the anarchist youth movement as a force for social and political change. At the age of 17, Adam immigrated to America where his desire to find his path towards a meaningful life led him to monasteries in the US and India. His life-defining experience took place in India, where on his way to a Himalayan hermitage, he met a homeless child who lived on the streets of Delhi. This brief encounter led him to the “Ashram of the Poor” where he began his work with homeless youth. After returning to the US, he worked on the streets of various American cities with young people struggling against homelessness and prostitution. He eventually co-founded The Reciprocity Foundation, an award-winning nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of New York City’s homeless youth. In addition to his work with homeless youth, Adam established HAB, an ecumenical and inter-spiritual “new monastic” fellowship for young people which offers formation in radical spirituality and sacred activism. He collaborates with spiritual leaders across religious traditions and mentors young people, helping them discover a spiritual life in the 21st century and how to live deeply from the heart in service of compassion and justice. Adam is a recipient of several awards and his work has been featured by ABC News, CBS, NBC, New York Daily News, National Catholic Reporter, Ode Magazine, Yoga International Magazine and Sojourner Magazine. Huffington Post Articles by Adam Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 10/23/2015 at the Science and Nonduality Conference. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump interview 00:02:20 - Spiritual Activism and the "Gandhis" of Poland 00:04:08 - Building an Altar at Home 00:05:50 - The Peaceful Revolution in Poland 00:07:54 - Finding Solace in an Ashram 00:09:24 - Spiritual Practice in India 00:10:41 - Combining Contemplative Practice with Social Justice 00:12:29 - Falling in Love with Life for Spiritual Awakening 00:14:04 - The Illusion of the World 00:15:33 - The Framework of the Spiritual Journey 00:17:07 - Responsibility to Help the World 00:18:45 - The value of service and surrender 00:20:45 - The Benefit of Serving Others 00:22:33 - Being an Instrument of the Divine in Helping the Poor 00:24:25 - Being Present in a State of Curious Not-Knowing 00:26:19 - Restructuring Life and Developing a Rule of Life 00:28:12 - Remembering True Nature and Creating a Loving Space 00:29:43 - "Church" and the Transformation of Homelessness 00:31:41 - The Starfish Story 00:32:40 - Letting go of the Need for Results 00:34:30 - The Teachings on Service 00:36:04 - The Center as a Family 00:37:44 - The Plight of Homeless Youth and Funding Challenges 00:39:23 - Praying and the Metamorphosis 00:41:47 - Seeing God in Others 00:43:59 - Serving as an instrument of the Divine 00:45:28 - Working with Homeless Kids and the New Monasticism 00:47:20 - The Primary Spiritual Question for Young People 00:48:53 - Hope and Movement 00:50:13 - Rescheduling due to a power outage caused by a squirrel 00:51:35 - Next Interview and Donation Button

Originally from the Netherlands, Prajnaparamita has been in search of her true nature all her life. Initially investigating and studying psychology, religion and philosophy, she eventually met a truly awakened soul and surrendered her heart, her mind and her life. Over several decades Prajnaparamita received a rich vista of non-dual teachings: Advaita Vedanta, Mahayana Buddhism, Zen and Ch’an. Once realized, she has dedicated her life to the self-realization of all. Through satsangs, retreats and interviews she continually directs the listener to their very wisdom heart. These days, Prajnaparamita spends most of her time at La Roseraie de Sacha: a centre of awakening and natural living deep in the countryside of central France. With meditation and satsang daily, opportunity is given for contemplation and self-enquiry interwoven with the participation in projects around the property - from gardening to cooking. People remember the transformative force of play, and remember what it is to live without purpose. All are welcome at La Roseraie, at any stage of their awakening journey, of any religion and no religion whatsoever. When not at La Roseraie, Prajnaparamita is giving satsang in the Netherlands or travelling worldwide. Website: www.prajnaparamita.nl Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/19/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:16 - Seeking Meaning in Life 00:06:28 - A Serene Presence 00:09:06 - A Radical Awakening 00:11:44 - The Usefulness of Concepts and Language 00:14:03 - Surrender and Preparedness 00:16:23 - The Dissolution of Separation and Loneliness 00:19:26 - The Sense of Self 00:21:48 - The Paradox of Truth 00:25:06 - Meeting Your Fears and Traumas 00:28:02 - Resting in Containment 00:31:14 - Surrendering to the Mystery 00:33:36 - Living Love No Matter What 00:36:32 - The Power of Silence 00:38:58 - The Principle of the Guru 00:41:49 - Sharing Sacred Knowledge 00:44:31 - The Creative Power of the Younger Generation 00:47:34 - Non-dual Teachings: Too Radical? 00:49:43 - "Insight is not liberation" 00:52:41 - The Role of Insights in the Spiritual Journey 00:55:31 - The Relaxation of Non-Doership and Free Will 00:58:16 - Exploring Mantras and Sacred Songs 01:00:40 - The Bhakti Heart in Non-Duality 01:02:38 - Paradoxes and Sealing the Obvious 01:04:52 - The Importance of Personal Commitment 01:07:07 - The Power of Truth in Relationships 01:12:03 - Publishing a Book in Dutch 01:14:09 - Intimacy and Care of the Land 01:16:10 - Farewell and Closing Remarks 01:18:32 - Intro Music

Science and Spirituality: Potential Allies in Discovering Truth My talk was accompanied by a multimedia presentation, which has been edited into this video. There were technical issues: the official camera wasn't there, so a friend recorded this on her camcorder and the sound quality isn't ideal. I ran out of time and had to cut some things that I added to this video, etc. But hopefully, you'll enjoy the content. I put a lot of thought into this over several months. Talk recorded 10/23/2015 at the Science and Nonduality Conference. Summary and Transcript of this talk. Other talks by or interviews of Rick on BatGap: SAND 2019 - Knowledge/Reality is Different in Different States of Consciousness 2018 SAND Conference Q&A and Interview by Shakti Caterina Maggi SAND 2017: "The Ethics of Enlightenment" Talk at Berkeley Open Circle Center Interviewed by Fax Gilbert Interviewed by Richard Miller YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Talk at the Science and Non-Duality Conference 00:02:06 - Reuniting with an old friend 00:04:15 - The Divine Human Experience 00:05:31 - The Journey to Enlightenment 00:07:27 - Science and Spirituality: Exploring the Ultimate Reality 00:08:35 - The Distortion of Spiritual Messages 00:09:20 - Belief and Experience in Religion 00:11:04 - Exploring the Unified Field with the Human Nervous System 00:12:39 - The Shekinah: God's Indwelling Presence in Everything 00:14:00 - The True Nature of Consciousness 00:15:48 - The Self-Interaction of the Absolute 00:17:23 - The Omnipresence of Intelligence in the Body 00:18:19 - The Fourth Element 00:20:19 - Navigating the Asteroid Field 00:22:13 - The Big Bang and Continuous Creation 00:23:55 - Fear and the Concept of Consciousness 00:25:31 - Devatas and Consciousness 00:27:19 - The Consciousness of Everything 00:27:54 - The Power of Repetition 00:30:16 - The Mind: An Important Part of Our Life 00:31:59 - The Infinite Nature of Consciousness 00:33:39 - The Blinking Lights of Galaxies 00:35:52 - The Vastness of the Universe 00:37:51 - The Vastness of the Universe and Our Perspective 00:39:34 - The Expression of Infinite Intelligence 00:42:10 - Partial Knowledge and Harm 00:43:41 - The Light that Shines in Our Hearts 00:47:10 - Brahman and the Conquest of the Universe 00:49:17 - The Beauty of Devotion 00:51:23 - Everything is a Miracle & Everything is Holy 00:55:17 - Applause

Dorothy Hunt serves as Spiritual Director of Moon Mountain Sangha, teaching at the request of Adyashanti. She is the founder of the San Francisco Center for Meditation and Psychotherapy and has practiced psychotherapy since 1967. She is the author of Leaves from Moon Mountain, Only This!, and Ending the Search: From Spiritual Ambition to the Heart of Awareness. A contributing author to The Sacred Mirror, and Listening from the Heart of Silence: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy, Dorothy is also a featured spiritual teacher in the book, Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Wisdom: The Feminine Face of Awakening. Dorothy has a long and deep connection to the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and the path of Self-Inquiry, as well as the nondual teachings of Zen, Advaita, and the Christian mystics. In meeting Adyashanti, she was invited beyond identification with either the absolute or relative, finding freedom in what is awake in each of us regardless of the changing faces of experience. Dorothy offers satsang, retreats, and private meetings in the San Francisco Bay area and elsewhere by invitation. For more information, visit www.dorothyhunt.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/23/2015 at the Science and Nonduality Conference. Second BatGap interview with Dorothy Hunt. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Science and Non-Duality Conference 00:02:00 - The Personal Journey to Spiritual Development 00:03:46 - Early Exploration of Spiritual Experiences 00:05:29 - Self Inquiry and the Unknown 00:07:01 - The Shift in Identity 00:08:44 - Shifting Perspectives on Motherhood 00:10:36 - Awakening in the Relative World 00:12:17 - Awakening of the Heart and Hara 00:14:07 - The Deepening of Experience 00:15:55 - Levels of Awakening and Violence Reduction 00:17:47 - Liberation from Self Judgment 00:21:11 - Awakening to True Nature 00:22:45 - The Awakening Experience 00:24:23 - The Ease of House Cleaning Post-Awakening 00:26:03 - The Vulnerability of Openness 00:27:32 - Returning to Zero 00:29:16 - The Misidentification of Consciousness 00:30:48 - The Vaster Intelligence behind our Awakening 00:32:40 - Experiential Knowledge and the Divine Play 00:34:16 - The Dark Face of the Mystery 00:35:57 - The Mystery of Life 00:37:38 - Adapting to Different Realities 00:39:25 - The Experience of Time and Space 00:41:19 - Transformations and Separations in Life 00:42:58 - The Deepest Desire of the Heart 00:44:34 - The Beauty of Nature 00:46:06 - Poetry and Deep Desires 00:48:25 - Exploring Deeply Held Desires 00:50:05 - Embracing Our Inner Experience 00:51:48 - Interviews at Gamescom

Jane Anderson-Ross is a wife, mother, and grandmother currently living in Rochester, NY. Raised in a New Jersey suburb of Philadelphia, Jane always had the gifts of love and compassion, and even as a young child, felt that her life path was to help others heal. But in 1988, during the throes of her own trials and difficulties, Jane had a transformation that was prompted by a singular prayer. She surrendered to the Divine Creator and asked, “Let me be Your Eyes, Your Ears, Your Hands, and Your Heart.” From that prayer, came what she can only describe as a “Rebirth”; a profound transformation with a pure divine directive. However, still very much Jane, she continued on as a devoted wife and mother of 2 babies. What became extraordinary to her though, was the Divine events, healings, and transformations that touched not only her own life, but that of many others who came into contact with her. Nevertheless, Jane’s love, humility, and simplicity never wavered, and she decided to enter into the field of holistic healing arts. She began sharing her gifts through a spiritually-based newsletter, which included Divinely inspired writings and poetry. Later she added more formal, professional training, and became a Shiatsu and Thai Message Therapist, Reiki Master, Aromatherapy, and Naturopathic Esthetician. Other modalities included Ancient Palmistry and Psychic Mediumship. Jane is happy to share her personal story with all who ask, and feels that her expression is best stated by the following; “It matters not what we do, but from where we come whilst doing it”. Website: janeandersonross.com Instagram Facebook Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/12/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:20 - Awakening and Connection with Nature 00:08:37 - Finding Love in the Church 00:12:29 - Standing Your Ground Through Peer Pressure 00:16:21 - Finding Strength in Solitude 00:24:22 - Near-Death Experience and Consciousness 00:28:29 - A Prayer from a Sacred Place 00:32:25 - The Manifestation of Desires and Synchronicities 00:36:48 - The Resistance to Broadcasting 00:40:56 - Opening the Doorway to the Heart 00:45:34 - Inner Locution and Divine Dialogue 00:49:29 - Ecstasies and Confirmations from the Environment 00:53:25 - The Language of Everything 00:56:53 - Extracting Juice from the Experience 01:00:51 - A Love Affair with the Divine 01:05:09 - The Language of Awakening 01:09:11 - The Intimacy of Wholeness 01:13:40 - Separation and Astonishment 01:17:46 - A Hug Can Change Everything 01:21:18 - The Traumatizing Experience and Healing 01:25:45 - Powerful Transformations through Divine Influence 01:29:43 - The Practice of Getting Out of the Way 01:33:59 - Wrestling with the Dark Night of the Soul 01:38:37 - Lessons from Grief and Love 01:42:38 - The Paradoxes of Awakening 01:46:42 - Uncomfortable Contemplation and Growth 01:50:40 - Divine Signs and Miracles 01:54:50 - The Paradox of Assuming a Teaching Role 01:58:34 - Openness to Love and Acceptance 02:02:24 - Introduction and Podcast Information

A. Hameed Ali was born in Kuwait in 1944. At the age of eighteen, he moved to the USA to study at the University of California in Berkeley. Hameed was working on his Ph.D. in physics when he reached a turning point in his life and destiny that led him more and more into inquiring into the psychological and spiritual aspects of human nature. Hameed’s interest in the truth of human nature and the true nature of reality resulted in the creation and unfoldment of the Diamond Approach®: Some of Hameed’s many books: Runaway Realization: Living a Life of Ceaseless Discovery The Power of Divine Eros: The Illuminating Force of Love in Everyday Life The Unfolding Now: Realizing Your True Nature through the Practice of Presence Brilliancy: The Essence of Intelligence (Diamond Body Series) Essence With the Elixir of Enlightenment: The Diamond Approach to Inner Realization Website: ahalmaas.com 1st interview with Hameed 2nd interview with Hameed Karen Johnson is a co-founder of the Diamond Approach as it is taught in the Ridhwan School, a contemporary original spiritual understanding and path, expressing timeless wisdom on self-realization using the insights of our time. She is a colleague and friend of Hameed Ali (A.H. Almaas). Her life is dedicated to the discovery of inner freedom and sharing the treasures with humankind. In this interview, we discussed how the Diamond Approach is evolving, what differentiates it from other traditions, and the most recent developments of the past 15 years, about which Karen and Hameed have only recently begun to teach, speak and write. Neither the depths of spirit nor the surface of the mundane world can adequately express what reality is and what is possible for each of us. How can our human lives be both the arena for spiritual practice and enlightenment, and the occasion for our true being to express its infinite possibilities? Book: The Power of Divine Eros: The Illuminating Force of Love in Everyday Life Website: ridhwan.org Individual interview with Karen Recorded 10/23/2015 at the Science and Nonduality Conference. Transcript of this discussion YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Hameed Ali and Karen Johnson 00:03:39 - Reconciling Enlightenment with Human Relationships 00:07:01 - Recognizing Unity in Relationships 00:10:27 - Non-duality and the Fabric of Reality 00:13:29 - The Qualities of Personal Relating 00:16:27 - Understanding Personalness and Relationships 00:19:19 - Relationships as Tools for Growth and Expansion 00:21:48 - Using the Relationship to Optimize Truth and Growth 00:24:28 - The Expansion of Non-Dual Experience in Relationships 00:27:13 - A Unique Friendship 00:29:39 - The Unconventional Bond 00:31:46 - The Power of Libido in Relationships 00:34:30 - Taking Risks and Replenishing the Genius 00:37:14 - The Importance of Seeing and Being Seen in Relationships 00:40:05 - Shifting of Gears in Relationship 00:42:56 - Unleashing Energies for Heart and Mind Nourishment 00:45:34 - Unity and Oneness in Relationships 00:48:00 - The Paradox of Being One 00:50:59 - The Rich Possibilities of Relationships 00:53:58 - Falling in Love and Inquiry in the Diamond Approach 00:56:24 - The Power of Inquiry and Love 00:59:26 - Dialectic Inquiry and Relationship Building 01:02:39 - The Practice of Self-Exploration 01:05:26 - Passion for the Teaching and Deep Connection 01:08:13 - The Discovery of Oneness 01:10:48 - The Dimension of Friendship 01:13:47 - Tele-somatic Events and Soul Connections 01:16:05 - The Patterns of Consciousness in Relationships 01:18:24 - The Diamond Approach Online 01:20:23 - Teaching Opportunities and New Groups 01:21:40 - Musical Performance

Richard Moss is an internationally respected leader in the field of inner transformation, subtle body-mind dynamics, and living a path of conscious relationships. In 1977 Richard was a practicing medical doctor when he experienced a spontaneous spiritual illumination that awakened him to the multi-dimensional nature of human consciousness. This realization profoundly transformed his understanding of the roots of emotional suffering, and inspired him to explore the almost limitless human potential for growth and healing. Impelled by this opening, he released the practice of medicine to devote his life to mentoring individuals and couples whose lives have brought them to the point where they hunger to explore the mystery of their being. Whether called to his work by their soul’s yearning to awaken and grow, or impelled by a health, career, or relationship crisis, his comprehensive and evolutionary approach to healing and forging loving relationships has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people. He is particularly renowned for the innovative, experiential nature of his workshops and longer retreats that offer individuals direct experience of life-changing states of consciousness and provide them with very effective models and practices for on-going personal growth. He guides seminars and retreats in North and South America, Europe, and Australia, and is available for private mentoring for individuals at his home in Colorado. He has published 7 seminal books on his visionary approach to human evolution which have been translated into 6 languages. Website: richardmoss.com Books: Inside-Out Healing: Transforming Your Life Through the Power of Presence The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness The Black Butterfly: An Invitation to Radical Aliveness The I That Is We: Awakening to Higher Energies Through Unconditional Love The Second Miracle: Intimacy, Spirituality, and Conscious Relationships Metaphysics: Who Will Cure a Sick World? Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 12/5/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:15 - Meeting a Wise Stranger at Jenny Lake 00:08:42 - Loss of Boundary and Vibrating Molecules 00:13:08 - The Energetic Transformation 00:18:15 - The Value of Body Wisdom 00:22:57 - The Lineage of Spontaneous Realization 00:27:33 - Appreciating Different Spiritual Traditions 00:32:06 - Instruments of the Divine 00:36:39 - Personal Background and Connection with Svend Trier 00:41:22 - The Power of Awareness 00:45:07 - The Power of Awareness 00:49:14 - Observing Clinging and Pushing Away 00:53:46 - The Power of Awareness and Focused, Spacious Awareness 00:58:16 - Injury Imprinted in Consciousness 01:02:36 - Learning through the Body 01:07:12 - Nip it at the Bud 01:11:15 - Making a Deeper Mark 01:15:42 - The Flow State and Spiritual Integration 01:20:19 - Shifting States: The Power of Discontinuity 01:24:42 - The Benefits of Discontinuity 01:29:30 - Healing in the Present Moment 01:34:11 - Working with Energy in Dance and Meditation 01:38:58 - The Limitless Consciousness 01:43:11 - The Flow of Energy and Body Wisdom 01:47:13 - Being in the Moment 01:51:52 - The Sense of Personal Identity 01:56:07 - Deriving Identity from the Outside 02:00:54 - Awakening from Future and Past Stories 02:05:06 - The Power of Awareness and Present Moment Consciousness 02:09:07 - Keep Going, Keep Going 02:13:38 - Live Streaming and Future Interviews

Robert A.F. Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University, President of the Tibet House U.S., a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tibetan civilization, and President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, a non-profit affiliated with the Center for Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and dedicated to the publication of translations of important artistic and scientific treatises from the Tibetan Tengyur. TIME Magazine chose Professor Thurman as one of its 25 most influential Americans in 1997, describing him as a “larger than life scholar-activist destined to convey the Dharma, the precious teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, from Asia to America.” The New York Times recently said Thurman “is considered the leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism.” Thurman is known as a talented popularizer of the Buddha’s teachings. He is a riveting speaker and an author of many books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics, and culture, including: Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet. The Central Philosophy of Tibet Circling the Sacred Mountain: A Spiritual Adventure Through the Himalayas Essential Tibetan Buddhism The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Liberation Through Understanding in the Between Wisdom and Compassion The Sacred Art of Tibet Inner Revolution Infinite Life: Awakening to Bliss Within The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the World With Sharon Salzberg, Love Your Enemies: How to Break the Anger Habit & Be a Whole Lot Happier Website: bobthurman.com Podcast YouTube Channel Transcript of this interview Batgap interview with Robert Thurman and Isa Gucciardi. Recorded 10/25/2015 at the Science and Nonduality Conference. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Opening Chanting at the Conference 00:02:05 - Introduction of Bob Thurman 00:03:51 - The Eyes of the Dharma 00:05:04 - Tibet: The Repository of Indian Buddhism 00:06:58 - The Journey to Monkhood 00:09:07 - Awakening and Degrees of Enlightenment 00:11:39 - The Inexpressible State of Enlightenment 00:14:39 - Attaining Nirvana and Reintegrating Memory 00:16:47 - The Wisdom of Vajrayana and the Bar for Enlightenment 00:19:05 - The Role of Gods in Buddhist Beliefs 00:21:14 - The Power of Inner Peace for World Peace 00:23:31 - The Awakening of Empowerment and Fear 00:26:20 - Hope for Minority People in China 00:29:00 - The Dalai Lama's Joke about a Woman Dalai Lama 00:31:04 - Democracy versus Tyranny 00:33:10 - Thich Nhat Hanh's Perspective on Compassion and Empathy 00:34:25 - The Happiness Revolution 00:36:11 - Cultivating a "Die-gasm" Outlook 00:37:44 - The Incompetence of Leadership 00:39:00 - The Laissez-faire Capitalist Cycle 00:40:01 - The Pressure of Population Growth and the Need for Change 00:41:38 - The Epidemic of Spiritual Awakening 00:43:15 - Divine Intervention and Buddhist Angels 00:44:53 - The Power of Enlightened Beings and Compassion 00:46:31 - Upholding Dharma and Destroying the Wicked 00:47:51 - Nonduality and Rebirth 00:48:56 - Different Traditions, Different Meanings 00:50:19 - Compassion and Love for Every Being 00:51:32 - The Misunderstanding of Enlightenment and Extinction 00:52:51 - Non-duality of Wisdom and Compassion 00:54:13 - A Tesla for Buddha Save Save

I grew up in a hard-working family, none religious. At the age of 18, I learned that the Father I'd known all my life was not, in fact, my biological Father. This new-found fact destabilized the identity I had become accustomed to. The idea of who I was came under question. I was left asking, who am I. What then followed was ten years of drinking. At 27 I found myself in recovery from alcoholism. I spent three and a half years examining all the aspects of self-identified traits in order to find an honesty that would propel me into a more productive direction. After three and a half years I came to see that all willful attempts at modifying the self still remained within the paradigm of self-will. I had not transcended into honesty. It was at this point in a room one evening in 99 that I handed all attachment to the mind for any orientation to ongoing recovery. In doing so, not knowing what lay beyond, there was to be a complete self-realization. Book: Walking Awake Website: invitationtobeing.org Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/21/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:04:19 - Past Lives and Memories 00:08:33 - Family Background and Drinking Habits 00:11:51 - Identity Crisis and the Impact of Discovering the Truth 00:16:01 - Experimenting with Reality and Alcohol Addiction 00:19:42 - Escaping into Art and Self-Destruction 00:23:43 - A Turning Point in Recovery 00:27:38 - The Powerlessness of Alcoholism 00:32:08 - Impact of a Simple Sentence 00:36:36 - Walking Away from the Fellowship 00:40:39 - The Search for Authenticity 00:45:29 - Surrendering the Mind to a Higher Power 00:50:21 - Letting go of the Mind 00:55:11 - The Opening of the Heart and the Dark Void 01:00:24 - Relating from Absolute and the Heart 01:05:29 - Realization and Appreciation of Spiritual Texts 01:09:14 - The Dissipation of the Body of Illusion 01:13:44 - Living in relation to Absolute 01:18:07 - Dissociation and Formlessness 01:21:52 - The Uncommon Language of Self-Realization 01:25:53 - From Therapy to Awakening 01:30:12 - The Integration of Self-realization and Mind Experience 01:35:24 - The Direct Experience of Consciousness 01:39:48 - Union with the Absolute 01:44:15 - Attunement and Entrainment in Silence 01:48:38 - Awakening to the Absolute 01:52:20 - The Play of I Am-ness and Curiosity 01:56:36 - The Blossoming of Curiosity and Direct Experience 02:01:11 - Spiritual Realization and Relationships 02:05:42 - The Breaking Point for Addicts and Alcoholics 02:09:30 - Conclusion and Farewell

Bruce Joel Rubin is an Oscar-winning screenwriter for the film Ghost. His films include Jacob's Ladder, My Life (which he also directed), Brainstorm, Deep Impact, Stuart Little 2, The Last Mimzy, and The Time Traveler's Wife, among others. His spiritual journey began with a massive overdose of LSD in the 1960s. Shortly afterward he began hitchhiking around the world in search of a teacher and then found him in New York City, just blocks away from where he began his search. His name was Swami Rudrananda, also known as Rudi. Rudi was a New York City businessman and a yogi who taught a form of Kundalini meditation he called The Work. Rudi died in 1973 but Bruce continues to teach his practice. In 2001 Bruce discovered I AM THAT - the teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj, and fell into the world of non-dualism. He awoke in 2010 during a seminar on awakening. Since that time he has continued to teach meditation and the effortless nature of simple Being. Since most people work and struggle in the world, it seemed to Bruce that meditation was a significant tool for living a good and productive life while waiting for awakening to make itself known. Bruce teaches in San Rafael, CA, in Los Angeles, and in New York. Websites: brucerubin-class.com brucejoelrubin.com YouTube Channel Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/14/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:31 - A Storyteller without a Story 00:08:28 - A Journey into Hell 00:12:08 - The Awareness of Being Shakespeare 00:16:33 - The Journey to Tibet 00:21:41 - The Awakening and Continuing the Work 00:25:49 - Appreciation for the YouTube Channel 00:30:38 - Dealing with the Discomfort and Kundalini Awakening 00:34:28 - A Journey with Bart Marshall 00:39:18 - Observing and Compassion for Constriction 00:46:25 - The Candlelight in the Dazzling Sunlight 00:52:10 - The Mystery of Existence 00:54:34 - Life After the Car Crash 00:57:30 - The Reality of What Is 01:00:02 - Sharing Teachings Locally 01:02:51 - The Power of Presence and Awakening 01:05:52 - Levels and Stages of Awakening 01:09:10 - Letting Go of Accumulation and Being Present 01:12:28 - Awakening and Discovery 01:15:24 - The Immense Intricacy and Complexity of Creation 01:18:43 - Awakening and Changing the World 01:21:34 - The Power of Storytelling 01:24:10 - Taking the Leap to Hollywood 01:26:49 - Awakening from Story 01:29:43 - Embracing the Darkness 01:32:49 - Embracing Darkness and Awakening to Totality 01:35:48 - The Serenity of Meditation and Embracing Chaos 01:38:57 - The Dualistic Nature of Life 01:40:58 - Trusting the Process and Embracing Existential Meaning 01:43:54 - Understanding Suffering and the Divine Hand 01:46:54 - Upcoming Book and Film Projects Save Save

While out in California for the Science and Nonduality Conference, I had some downtime before the conference started, so I decided to tape a long panel discussion with a rather large group of friends, most of them previous guests on Batgap. Sofia University in Palo Alto (where transpersonal psychology was founded by Abraham Maslow and others), generously provided a room and video equipment. I'm especially grateful to Dr. Jeffery Martin, who conducts research there, for offering and organizing this. It was an experiment, and some were skeptical that it would work, but it did! Participants included: Name Other Batgap Interview(s) Website(s) Canela Michelle Meyers 12/18/2011, 9/24/2015 canelamichelle.com Chuck Hillig 7/21/2010 chuckhillig.com Clare Blanchflower clareblanchflower.com Craig Holliday 1/3/2015, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019* craigholliday.com Dana Sawyer 9/29/2010, 2/9/2014*, 3/19/2016 dana-sawyer.com David Buckland 9/25/2015, 10/27/2017* davidya.ca David Ellzey 1/16/2016 davidellzey.com Francis Bennett 8/4/2012, 4/21/2013* 10/26/2013*, 5/24/2014*, 10/23/2014*, 10/21/2016, 10/25/2016* Jeffery Martin 1/25/2017 drjefferymartin.com nonsymbolic.org Kiran Trace 11/2/2013, 09/24/2015 kirantrace.com Kristin Kirk 2/16/2014, 5/24/2014* kristinkirk.com Laurie Moore 7/21/2012, 10/24/2013 counselingscottsvalley.us animiracles.com Mariana Caplan 2/3/2012, 1/6/2013, 10/25/2019* marianacaplan.com Rick Archer 6/5/2010, 3/16/2013, 5/11/2014, 10/23/2015, 10/24/2016, 10/21/2017, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019*, 10/27/2019 You're on it. Susanne Marie 7/7/2013, 10/24/2014*, 10/23/2016* susannemarie.org *In group discussion. Transcript of this discussion Recorded 10/22/2015 Part 1 of this discussion Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Silence and Self-Reflection 00:09:12 - The Sense of Expanded Living 00:16:29 - The Pitfalls of Spiritual Awakening 00:22:43 - The Value of Mainstream Context and Therapist Category 00:30:58 - The Beauty and Service of Pain 00:36:33 - The Blossoming of the Heart and Devotion 00:44:06 - The Importance of Growth and Honesty 00:50:19 - The Exploration of the Human Condition 00:55:50 - Surrender and Humility in the Awakening Process 01:03:34 - Opening to Multiple Worlds and Listening to God 01:09:38 - Channeling Angelic Guidance 01:15:58 - Accessing Universal Energy and True Nature 01:22:55 - Capturing the Fort and Exploring the Territory 01:28:38 - Different Dimensions and Spiritual Ego 01:32:55 - The Importance of Meaningful Conversations 01:39:00 - The Irrelevance of Truth and Reality 01:45:43 - Discussions on various spiritual phenomena and dangers of believing in them blindly 01:50:25 - Discriminating Subtle Beings 01:53:51 - The Variability of Awakening Experiences 01:56:40 - The Six Bhavas in Ayurveda 01:59:52 - The Healing Question and Awakening 02:02:59 - The Importance of Healing and Psychological Maturity after Awakening 02:06:33 - The Pressure of Awakening and Awakening Levels 02:10:22 - Surrendering through Pain, Healing and Awakening 02:13:54 - Awakening and Healing 02:17:12 - Awakening and Healing in the Journey 02:21:29 - Life as a Single Parent and the Shift in Functioning 02:26:33 - Living in a Beautiful Apartment 02:30:23 - Embracing the Human Experience 02:36:19 - Surrendering to the Unknown 02:41:50 - Updates on BatGap Save Save Save

While out in California for the Science and Nonduality Conference, I had some downtime before the conference started, so I decided to tape a long panel discussion with a rather large group of friends, most of them previous guests on Batgap. Sofia University in Palo Alto (where transpersonal psychology was founded by Abraham Maslow and others), generously provided a room and video equipment. I'm especially grateful to Dr. Jeffery Martin, who conducts research there, for offering and organizing this. It was an experiment, and some were skeptical that it would work, but it did! This is part 1. The link to Part 2 is below. Participants in the morning session included: Name Other Batgap Interview(s) Website(s) Chuck Hillig 7/21/2010 chuckhillig.com Clare Blanchflower clareblanchflower.com Craig Holliday 1/3/2015, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019* craigholliday.com Dana Sawyer 9/29/2010, 2/9/2014*, 3/19/2016 dana-sawyer.com David Buckland 9/25/2015, 10/27/2017* davidya.ca David Ellzey 1/16/2016 davidellzey.com Francis Bennett 8/4/2012, 4/21/2013* 10/26/2013*, 5/24/2014*, 10/23/2014*, 10/21/2016, 10/25/2016* Jeffery Martin 1/25/2017 drjefferymartin.com nonsymbolic.org Kiran Trace 11/2/2013, 09/24/2015 kirantrace.com Kristin Kirk 2/16/2014, 5/24/2014* kristinkirk.com Laurie Moore 7/21/2012, 10/24/2013 counselingscottsvalley.us animiracles.com Mariana Caplan 2/3/2012, 1/6/2013, 10/25/2019* marianacaplan.com Rick Archer 6/5/2010, 3/16/2013, 5/11/2014, 10/23/2015, 10/24/2016, 10/21/2017, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019*, 10/27/2019 You're on it. Susanne Marie 7/7/2013, 10/24/2014*, 10/23/2016* susannemarie.org *In group discussion. Part 2 of this discussion Transcript of this discussion Recorded 10/22/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Group Conversation 00:04:03 - Introducing the Panel 00:06:55 - What is Enlightenment or Awakening? 00:10:12 - Individual Experiences of Awarenesses 00:13:30 - Integration and Human Integration 00:17:55 - Direct experience and the recognition of pure emptiness 00:22:17 - The Sonar-ic Being and Enlightenment 00:25:34 - Embracing the Silence, Recognizing Mind Activity 00:29:44 - Embracing the Present Moment 00:33:29 - Awakening as an Ever-Evolving Process 00:36:37 - Becoming Sensing Beings 00:40:09 - The Uniqueness of Being 00:43:13 - The Value of Words and Identity 00:45:51 - Awakening from Awakening 00:48:30 - Awakening into Divinity Plus Humanity 00:51:42 - The Movement of Formlessness to Form 00:54:38 - Exploring the Layers of Identity 00:57:51 - Dissolution of Self and Unity Consciousness 01:01:17 - Oneness in Brokenness 01:04:04 - The Challenges of Teaching and Compassion 01:06:43 - Enlightenment and Torture 01:09:38 - The Journey of Growth and Enlightenment 01:12:52 - Finding Peace in the Chaos 01:15:57 - Surrendering to Love 01:19:01 - Practical Integration and Life Decisions 01:21:53 - The Changing Landscape of Awakening 01:24:58 - The Diversity of Experiences 01:29:51 - The Spacious Quality of Experience 01:34:18 - Exploring Emotion and Persistence 01:38:43 - The Dance of Love and Joy 01:43:12 - Musical Interlude Save Save

Karen's spiritual journey has been long and eventful, with many insights, realizations and awakenings. She has been blessed by the influence and support of wonderful teachers including Joel Goldsmith, Eckhart Tolle and Pamela Wilson. After many years and much investigation, Karen came home to the truth that freedom can only be found within. She now offers group and private sessions to assist others in returning to a state of wholeness and embodying the essence of true nature. Her down-to-earth approach helps bring spiritual reality from the conceptual to the experiential. Website Blog Facebook Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/11/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Childhood Experiences 00:05:08 - Moments of Clarity and Darkness 00:09:40 - The Dark Night of the Soul 00:13:53 - Naturalness of Higher Consciousness 00:18:27 - Neuroplasticity and Transformative Insights 00:23:09 - Divine Play and Distortion 00:28:19 - The Beginnings of Healing Journey 00:32:45 - Serving and Love in Spiritual Practice 00:37:11 - Distractions on the Spiritual Path 00:41:49 - The Breaking Open of the Heart 00:46:36 - The Experience of Grace 00:51:24 - The Clash Between the Transcendent and Daily Life 00:56:11 - A Moment of Deep Surrender 01:00:39 - Impulses of Intelligence in the Ocean of Intelligence 01:04:30 - Eckhart Tolle's Transformation 01:08:02 - Invitation to Teach from Eckhart 01:11:40 - Practical Inspiration 01:15:02 - Moving on from the Spiritual Path 01:18:49 - The Healing Process 01:22:29 - The Depth of Receptivity and the Analogy of the Reservoir 01:26:12 - Insights from Pamela and the Process of Integration 01:29:51 - Join me in Total Freedom 01:33:34 - Connecting with Isaac Shapiro at a conference 01:37:18 - Overcoming Suffering and Illness 01:40:40 - The End of Suffering and the Rise of Aliveness 01:44:10 - The Shift in Spiritual Activities and Boredom Arises 01:47:36 - Authentic and Appropriate Service 01:51:15 - The Emergence of Something New 01:54:52 - Plugging People Into Opportunities 01:58:34 - Reflections on Life and Gratitude 02:02:19 - Sign up for Email Notifications

David grew up on the SW coast of Canada. In the mid-'70s, he discovered the subject of consciousness, then Transcendental Meditation (TM). This was quite a revelation. He quickly became an avid seeker, attending many talks and courses. Nine months after starting TM, he arrived in NE France for a 6-month retreat where he would train to become a teacher of TM. After 3 months with lots of purification and clearing, he had sporadic witnessing experiences where awareness shifted briefly into an observer mode. Then in the second 3 months, the lights came on. With a blinding flash of white light (which he much later learned was makara), the witness became permanent, throughout waking, dreams and sleep. At first, he was over-attentive, keeping the mind awake to observe sleeping and manipulate dreams. But quickly that settled into a simple continuity of awareness underlying all experience. Soon after that, the first re-cognition happened, a form of experience where everything about the object is known. This enlivens that principle in consciousness, making it easier for still others to have the same. In this case, it was hiranya gharba or the golden egg - the seed and origin of the universe. It took months to unpack the experience. Perception continued to unfold from there. At the end of the course, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi confirmed the experiences and said there would be much more. David's life grew into career, marriage, and family. Inner development continued but took a back seat for a number of years to the usual demands of a householder’s life. This helped ground and integrate what was unfolding and culture the platform further. Then in 2005, life made several unexpected changes. The spiritual side of life again moved to the forefront. He reconnected with some old friends. A few it turned out had become Self-Realized. After some feedback and darshan with Lorne Hoff, Self at last woke up to Itself here as well. Probably because of the long witnessing, this was quickly followed by a series of profound shifts in Being. And that in turn by transcending Being into Brahman. The unfolding continues. Website Book: Our Natural Potential: Beyond Personal Development, The Stages of Enlightenment (Rick Archer wrote the Foreword.) Transcript of this interview Other BatGap shows with David: Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Panel Discussion: “Sudden or Gradual: Two Paths to Realization?” David's 2nd BatGap interview. About a month after the interview, David gave a talk at the Science and Nonduality conference on the stages he describes in this interview. Interview recorded 9/25/2015. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:21 - Anxious Kid and the Witness 00:09:16 - Lucid Dreaming and Continuity of Awareness 00:13:44 - The Pre-awakening Stage and Energetic Mechanics 00:17:41 - Unpacking the Hiranya garbha experience 00:21:35 - Personalization of Divine Manifestations 00:25:03 - The Nature of Angels and Subtle Beings 00:28:45 - The Mind of God and Other Creations 00:33:18 - Unfolding of Past Lives and Life Context 00:36:24 - The Cycle Comes Around Again 00:41:42 - Blasting Bliss and Laughing Out Loud 00:46:13 - Expanded Consciousness and God Consciousness 00:50:25 - Amplifying the Silence, Devotion to God 00:55:32 - Shift in Consciousness and Dissolution of Self 01:01:05 - The Choice of Perception 01:06:15 - Consciousness Knowing Itself Fully 01:10:31 - Brahman and the Wholeness of Creation 01:14:44 - Unfolding of Non-Duality with Unity 01:19:37 - The Unfolding Process of Consciousness 01:23:22 - The Purpose of Creation and Self-Discovery 01:28:39 - Relationships and Life Chapters 01:34:59 - The Universe within the Body 01:41:20 - Understanding Brahman and the Variations in Enlightenment Experiences 01:45:46 - The Barrier of Concepts 01:49:36 - The Awakening of the Self and the Ego 01:52:48 - The Nature of the Absolute Body 01:57:24 - An Interesting Conversation About Spiritual Awakening 02:02:16 - Dancing with the Ego 02:07:06 - Writing and Engaging in Conversations 02:10:22 - The vastness of reality 02:14:10 - Batgap Theme Song and Goodbye Save Save

Canela Michelle Meyers offers very practical, supportive Satsang events and sessions for people to drop deeply into what is happening in each moment. There is a strong transmission of Self in Satsang with Canela, supporting people to ‘fall in’ with Self consciously. Canela calls this ‘falling in Love’ as all occurrences are rooted in Love – it is only a case of recognition of That (re-cognition). People are waking up to Self in these gatherings. She loves supporting people in finding how every happening is rooted in Love…what at first might look like tragedy or horrific, transforms itself with in-the-moment exploration. She calls this the Science of Love because it has been tried and tested, explored and tasted, over and over again with thousands of people. When people find this and experience the Truth of this for themselves, they find it easier to open up to whatever is happening in their lives. She offers this support in Transformational Satsang events for groups and for couples & individuals (in person, on skype, or phone) in sessions and has done so since 1999. She is the author of ‘Right Here, Right Now Meditations Vol. 1 – Satsang Invitations for Expanding Awareness’; has been a speaker at the Paradoxica Conference of Nondual Psychology for the last four years; is speaking at the Science and Nonduality Conference 2015 and travels internationally offering Transformational Satsang wherever she is invited. (For what people have shared about their own experiences with Satang with Canela, click here.) Canela's website. Book: Right Here, Right Now Meditations: Satsang Invitations for Expanding Awareness (Volume 1) Her first BatGap interview Canela in BatGap panel discussion at Sofia University Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/24/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Spiritual Growth as a Continuum 00:04:39 - The Reality of Being a Human Being 00:08:35 - The Balance Between Masculine and Feminine Energies 00:12:43 - The Power of Conscious Choice Making 00:16:21 - The Importance of Relating and Listening to the Intuitive Voice 00:20:22 - Tuning into the Present Moment 00:24:03 - Embracing Contentment and Exploration 00:27:42 - Increasing Awareness of Global Issues 00:31:30 - Disturbance in the Body Energetically due to Climate Change 00:34:52 - Disturbance and the Call to Action 00:38:22 - Feeling the Energy in Society 00:41:45 - Opening to Love 00:45:24 - Letting it Pass Through 00:48:36 - The Power of Relaxing and Opening Up 00:52:12 - Personal Experiences and Finding Harmony 00:55:46 - Finding Love in the Upheaval 01:00:16 - The Harmlessness of Coherence 01:04:10 - The Power of Consciousness 01:08:00 - Allowing Sadness to Take Its Course 01:11:44 - Responding in the Moment 01:15:22 - Dealing with Someone Close to You Who Is Dramatic 01:18:58 - Embracing Feminine Expression 01:22:34 - The Fray and Entertainment of the Ego 01:26:12 - The Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet with Some Exceptions 01:29:53 - Experimenting with Different Diets 01:33:37 - Options for Participating in the Event 01:37:14 - The Potential Escapism of Future Predictions 01:40:44 - Feeling the Sensations 01:44:19 - Experiencing Oneself Through Toning 01:47:55 - Staying in Touch with Updates 01:51:28 - Being Your Own Martin Luther King Save

Kiran Trace is an internationally known spiritual teacher and author. She died of massive spontaneous awakening into her true nature, then eight years later, and at the encouragement of Moni Vangolen, Thomas Stubbs, Adyashanti, and others, she began to talk and teach. Because she spontaneously awoke, with no prior spiritual background, orientation or understanding, she is known for her unique point of view. Folks often call her teachings “fresh” because she doesn't have any spiritual language or linage she points to. She sees primarily from vast stillness and embodies "the world" from an "inside-outside" point of view. Seeing the coding of the universe in order to see the universe, it’s very “matrix” like. Visit more of her works and teachings at kirantrace.com, or visit her YouTube channel. Interview recorded 09/24/2015 Kiran's 1st Batgap interview. Kiran in Batgap Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:51 - Unraveling Limiting Belief Systems 00:07:03 - Unraveling Toxic Conditioning for Freedom 00:10:28 - The Importance of Healing and Spiritual Awakening 00:14:16 - The Dissolution of the Identification Apparatus and the Inevitability of Awakening 00:17:29 - Becoming Available to Magic and Opportunities 00:20:29 - The Probability of Cultivating Enlightenment 00:23:51 - Glimpses of Stillness and Enlightenment 00:26:30 - The Difference between Lucid Dreaming and Non-Lucid Dreaming 00:29:32 - The Freedom to Choose Fear or Clarity 00:33:16 - Finding Clarity and Freedom in Stillness 00:36:09 - Cultivating Stillness in Different Lifestyles 00:38:59 - The Threshold of Stillness 00:41:43 - The Power of Transformation and Healing 00:44:29 - Disassociation and Trauma 00:47:18 - Triggers and Disassociation in Trauma Therapy 00:50:18 - Home in Vast Stillness 00:53:41 - Exploring Other Dimensions and True Nature 00:56:42 - The Healing Power of Light and Abuse Recovery 00:59:53 - The Paradox of Body Image Conditioning 01:03:14 - Uncovering the Buried Trauma 01:06:35 - Listening to the Body's Intelligence 01:09:47 - Healing Traumas in the Body 01:13:22 - Navigating Community and Collective Belief Systems 01:16:38 - The Power of Collective Energy 01:20:14 - Awakening to Clarity and Evolutionary Opportunities 01:22:46 - The Hell of Awakening 01:25:37 - Past Life Experiences and Kundalini Awakening 01:28:16 - The Movement of Kundalini Energy 01:31:11 - Closing Remarks and Website Information 01:32:46 - Musical Interlude Save

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. Loch Kelly in panel discussion:: “Emptiness is also Form” Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/29/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Guest 00:05:38 - Awakening and the Unfolding Process 00:10:57 - The Metaphor of the Reflecting Mirror 00:15:04 - Shifting into Pure Awareness 00:18:56 - The Continual Unfolding of Awakening 00:22:24 - The Dance of Awareness and the Multidimensionality of Reality 00:26:37 - Dancing between Relative and Ultimate Reality 00:30:55 - Exploring Different Spiritual Traditions 00:34:45 - Popcorn Satsang and Mutuality with Awakening 00:39:02 - Living Your Life without Manipulation 00:42:50 - The Flow State and Awakening 00:46:13 - Shifting out of the Ego Identity 00:49:57 - The Mini-me and the Developmental Stage 00:53:40 - Letting go of the ego 00:57:03 - Exploring Presence in the Midst of Problems 01:01:24 - Finding Well-being in Presence 01:04:41 - Dipping into the Vast Reservoir of Bliss 01:08:33 - Tuning in while driving a taxi cab 01:11:48 - Moving from Attention to Awareness 01:15:26 - Shifting Awareness: Seeing, Thinking, Hearing 01:19:39 - Awakening to Pure Awareness 01:24:20 - Healing Trauma Through Awareness and Presence 01:28:15 - Awakening and Emotional Maturity 01:32:49 - Misbehavior and the Reputation of Spiritual Awakening 01:36:35 - Exploring Different Perspectives and Inner Dialogue 01:40:12 - The Importance of Interpersonal Relationships 01:43:53 - Developing Compassion and Holistic Growth 01:47:58 - The Wholeness of Life and Personal Growth 01:51:07 - Accessing the Potential Within Us 01:55:43 - Awakening and its Potential in Education 01:59:56 - Interview with an "Ordinary Spiritual Awakening Person" Save Save

Since the Center for Sacred Sciences was founded in 1987, Joel Morwood has served as the spiritual director and primary teacher for its community of practitioners. Joel's first book, Naked Through the Gate: A Spiritual Autobiography, tells the story of his own spiritual path, culminating in Gnosis, or Awakening, in 1983. Here is some of what Joel has to say about himself and his role: Some people who have come to me have been disappointed to discover that I have no supernatural powers to transmit, no magic wand to wave, no extraordinary knowledge to dispense which can make them instantly wise, loving, and happy. "Who, then, are you?" they ask. "What's your secret?" My secret can be summed up in one word: Selflessness. Selflessness is the Truth. Selflessness is the Way. Selflessness is the Fruit. In reality, there is no 'you' nor 'I' nor any 'self' whatsoever. There is only Consciousness Itself—the One True God—which is what we are. All that is necessary is to Realize This, because to Realize This is Wisdom, to Live This is Love, to Be This is Happiness. So, if you really want to know my secret, look to your 'self'. In finding the source of your 'self', you will find Consciousness Itself, and nothing else. Then, you, too, will be free of your self and all its sufferings. Joel has no special religious attire. In fact, he often wears old blue jeans, sweatshirts, and a Mexican poncho. He is married, enjoys movies, drinks wine, and interacts with others much like any other guy. Joel speaks from his own Realization or Gnosis. Although he makes use of stories, texts, and practices taken from many different traditions, his interpretations are always spontaneous, direct, and personal. He continually points beyond mere intellectual understanding to a Truth that is beyond both thought and experience. Moreover, he constantly links the teachings of the mystics with concrete examples drawn from daily life so that one can see how they actually relate to one's own experiences. In all this Joel displays an intuition, sensitivity, and humor which could never have come from book-learning alone. Moreover, because Joel has no pretensions about being someone special, he is approachable not only as a teacher but also as a friend. He is a wonderful listener who knows how to pierce right to the heart of a problem. Joel is a teacher who always challenges his students to investigate the mystics and their teachings for themselves. Far from demanding blind obedience, or even verbal agreement, he encourages them to explore various teachers, to compare what he says with the teachings found in the great mystical traditions, to test all these teachings against our one's experience, and to test one's own experience against the hard realities of life. In his view, a true spiritual path never leads one away from reality but, on the contrary, forces one to face it squarely, no matter how ugly or painful it may appear. It is only by getting to the bottom of suffering that we can be free of suffering. Finally, Joel receives no financial remuneration from the Center. His teachings are given as a labor of love freely to all—although occasionally he has asked for personal donations to cover special needs, like the time he needed a suit for his marriage. Other books: The Way of Selflessness: A Practical Guide to Enlightenment Based on the Teachings of the World's Great Mystics Through Death's Gate: A Guide to Selfless Dying Talk by Tom McFarlane referred to during the interview: Einstein, Buddha, Reality: The Nondual Roots of Science Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/22/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:23 - A Shift Toward Mysticism 00:13:05 - Awakening in a Cinder Block Motel 00:14:35 - Zen Flesh Zen Bones and the Awakening 00:19:17 - The distinction between absolute and relative truth 00:24:24 - The Difference Between Manifest and Unmanifest Bliss 00:29:43 - The Nature of Consciousness 00:35:05 - A Shift in Consciousness and the Unimportance of Enlightenment 00:39:49 - The Wisdom of Afflicted Emotions 00:45:07 - The Dance of Shiva and the Longing to be Known 00:50:04 - Irreverence in Zen teachings 00:54:51 - The Shark Spirit Helper and Eskimo Culture 01:00:26 - The Play of Distinction 01:05:30 - Appreciating the Manifestations of Buddha Nature 01:10:23 - Quantum Mechanics and Mysticism 01:14:59 - The Evolution of Our Understanding of Gravity 01:19:49 - Scientific Understanding and the Evolution of the Universe 01:24:26 - The Relativism of Truth and Paradigms 01:29:32 - The Danger of Cultural Superiority 01:34:17 - The Mystics' Perspective on Reality 01:37:57 - Seeing Beyond the Illusion 01:41:36 - Marvelous Conversations about Christianity 01:45:07 - The Universe Trying to Wake You Up 01:48:28 - God's Delight in Creation 01:51:40 - The Creativity of Artists and Musicians 01:55:00 - Deepening the Insight into the Emptiness of Phenomena 01:59:05 - The Paradox of Indifference and Devo

Gary Renard is the author of The Disappearance of the Universe trilogy of books. He speaks regularly all over the world, teaching the principles of A Course in Miracles, which is the fundamental focus of his books. In 1992, he began to be visited in person by two people in the flesh who identified themselves as Arten and Pursah, two Ascended Masters. They are the main teachers in the books and Gary is the student. The critically acclaimed books are now in 22 languages. Books: The Disappearance of the Universe: Straight Talk about Illusions, Past Lives, Religion, Sex, Politics, and the Miracles of Forgiveness Your Immortal Reality: How to Break the Cycle of Birth and Death Love Has Forgotten No One: The Answer to Life Fearless Love - The Answer to the Problem of Human Existence Secrets of the Immortal - Advanced Teachings from "A Course in Miracles" The End of Reincarnation - Breaking the Cycle of Birth and Death Website: garyrenard.com Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 8/15/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Gary Renard 00:04:28 - The Power of Positive Thinking 00:08:43 - Living in Southern California, with an unpredictable future 00:12:26 - Awakening from the Dream 00:16:30 - The Oneness of Reality 00:20:53 - Seeing Innocence Everywhere 00:24:50 - The Truth Buried in the Mind 00:29:04 - The Experience of Being Separate and Being a Body 00:33:26 - The Holy Instant and Thinking with the Holy Spirit 00:37:16 - The Ripple Effect of Forgiveness 00:41:19 - The Forgiveness of Illusion 00:45:02 - David Shapiro's daily state of the industry update 00:48:59 - The Power of the Mind to Heal the Body 00:53:03 - Shifting Identity and Experiencing Spirituality 00:56:58 - The Practicality of Forgiveness and Awakening in God 01:00:58 - The Illusion of Separation and Awakening to Oneness 01:05:15 - Following Personal Experience and the Complexity of the Universe 01:09:32 - Making it Real vs Forgiving the Unreal 01:13:44 - Choosing Love over Ego in the Dream 01:17:27 - Ending the Cycle of Rebirth 01:21:27 - Lucid Dreaming and Awakening through Forgiveness 01:25:36 - Reincarnation and past lives 01:29:02 - Visions in the "Inbetween Zone" 01:33:06 - The Importance of Experience and Trust in A Course in Miracles 01:37:19 - Reconciling the Dream and Brothers in Christ 01:41:10 - Perceiving Forgiveness 01:45:12 - The State of Perfect Oneness 01:49:01 - The Holy Spirit's Forms and Examples 01:52:54 - The Struggle of Living According to The Course in Miracles 01:57:11 - The Power of Forgiveness 02:01:06 - Meeting People and Thanking Rick

Best-selling "Letting Go" author Guy Finley’s encouraging and accessible message is one of the true bright lights in our world today. His ideas cut straight to the heart of our most important personal and social issues – relationships, success, addiction, stress, peace, happiness, freedom – and lead the way to a higher life. Finley is the acclaimed author of The Secret of Your Immortal Self: Key Lessons for Realizing the Divinity Withinand more than 40 other books and audio albums (plus over 1,000 unique audio programs) that have sold millions of copies in 24 languages worldwide. His syndicated weekly radio program is aired on several international networks including Healthy Life Radio, Achieve Radio, Sedona Talk Radio, and Healthlife.net. Guy is a faculty member at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York and is a regular expert contributor to Beliefnet.com, the Huffington Post and many other journals. Guy is the founder and director of Life of Learning Foundation, the renowned non-profit Center for Self-study in Merlin, Oregon where he offers four inner-life classes each open to the public. www.guyfinley.org www.guyfinleynow.org www.onejourney.net Facebook Page Free MP3 Audio Album - Seven Steps to Oneness: Journey to a Whole New Life More books: The Meaning of Life(audio album) Life Is Real Only When You Are CD Album(audio album) The Essential Laws of Fearless Living: Find the Power to Never Feel Powerless Again Let Go and Live in the Now: Awaken the Peace, Power, and Happiness in Your Heart The Intimate Enemy: Winning the War Within Yourself The Lost Secrets of Prayer: Practices for Self-Awakening Design Your Destiny: Shape Your Future in 12 Easy Steps 365 Days to Let Go: Daily Insights to Change Your Life The Courage to Be Free: Discover Your Original Fearless Self The Seeker, the Search, the Sacred: Journey to the Greatness Within Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/8/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:47 - Growing up in Hollywood with the In-Crowd 00:09:12 - The Bonsai Tree Experience and the Revelation of Self 00:13:20 - The Journey of Self-Discovery 00:18:02 - Milestones on the Path of Self-Realization 00:22:42 - The Foundation Must Be Laid 00:27:19 - Discovering Truth Within Myself 00:31:37 - The Value of Heartbreak and Resistance 00:35:56 - The Importance of Patience and Tolerance 00:40:15 - The Intelligence of Awareness 00:45:06 - Seeing the Celestial in the Common 00:49:54 - Seeing Life in a Different Way 00:54:36 - Resistance and Negative States 00:59:28 - Recognizing and dealing with negativity 01:04:16 - The Practice of Purifying the Nadis and Energetic Patterns 01:08:52 - Seeing through the Illusion of Self 01:13:38 - The Benefits of Meditation and Alignment 01:18:15 - The Interface between the Subtle and the Gross 01:22:51 - Useless Suffering vs Voluntary Suffering 01:27:11 - The Tipping Point of Consciousness 01:31:24 - The Interpretation of the Trinity 01:35:57 - Understanding the Cycle of Happiness and Unhappiness 01:40:09 - Transcending Conditions and Finding Freedom 01:43:45 - The Contradictions of Self-Worth and Identity 01:47:25 - Transformation from Pursuit to Presence 01:50:45 - The Universe Revealing Its Consciousness 01:54:38 - Discovering Your Infinite Potential 01:57:45 - The Metaphor of a Line in Air 02:00:17 - The Search for the Sacred 02:03:01 - A Conversation with Gary Renard 02:04:59 - Prolific Work and Reasonable Prices

In January of 2012, Robert was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and told he had nine months to live. However, consistent with his contrarian nature, he lived a productive life until passing away in 2017. Robert was struck by a strong curiosity about life when he was 11, which propelled him into years of globe-trotting adventures. In 1973, Robert met Swami Muktananda and spent the next 10 years studying with him. Since 1985, Robert's professional motto was Have Mouth, Will Travel, and he was known as an iconoclastic self-awareness facilitator, speaker, leadership adviser, and mentor to people from all walks of life. He led "Conversations on the High Wire" and presented programs in "The 5 Principles of Authentic Living" and "Speaking Truthfully." Robert published eight books and more than 250 articles on the themes of meditation, self-inquiry, leadership, authentic living and speaking, and spiritual activism. In the early 1990s, he wrote a pioneering column for The New Leaders' executive newsletter entitled “The Corporate Mystic." He contributed original essays to three leading-edge anthologies and was interviewed for The Awakening West, a collection of conversations with contemporary Western wisdom teachers. His résumé of speaking engagements includes more than 350 of his distinctive inquiry-based seminars and talks to such organizations as State of the World Forum, California Institute of Integral Studies, Institute of Noetic Sciences, International Conference on Enlightenment, Inner Directions Conference, and International Coach Federation. Books: The 5 Principles of Authentic Living: How to Live an Authentic Life in 10 Words Sound Bites from Silence: Scouting Reports from the Frontier of Consciousness Speak Truthfully: Speak Your Way to an Authentic Life with Awareness, Courage, and Confidence Invisible Leadership: Igniting the Soul at Work The Sacred Hub Radical Wisdom: Living from Silence while Rocking the World Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/1/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:15 - A Journey Through Education 00:10:50 - Adventures in Watershed Management 00:14:12 - A Journey to India 00:18:11 - Healing and Meeting Baba 00:21:24 - An Encounter with Baba at the Ashram 00:25:24 - Shaktipat Experience and Leaving the Ashram 00:29:21 - Stories of Gurudev and Maharishi 00:33:32 - The Mechanics of Creation 00:37:26 - Reverence for the Body 00:41:09 - Living in Perpetual Astonishment 00:45:41 - Profound Transformative Experience 00:49:41 - The Ashram Experience and Letters to Mother 00:53:49 - Lessons from Cutting Carrots 00:57:39 - Managing Other People's Money 01:01:36 - Acknowledging Devotion and Contribution 01:06:18 - The Significance of Human Feelings and Worth 01:11:13 - Transitioning into Political Activism 01:14:45 - Personal Reflection on Attending an Orgy 01:19:36 - Fear of Being Found Out 01:23:31 - The Terrifying Immensity of Muktananda 01:27:21 - Inner Growth and Making a Positive Difference 01:31:30 - Personalization and Open-mindedness 01:35:40 - The Experience of Silence, Shakti, and Action 01:40:46 - Pony Rides to Oblivion 01:47:03 - The Experience of Silence and Language Collapse 01:53:40 - The Source of Questions and Language in Spiritual Path 02:01:08 - Speaking your Inner Truth 02:10:40 - The Five Principles: Be Present, Pay Attention, Listen Deeply, Speak Truthfully, Act Creatively 02:19:08 - Following the Path of Mastery 02:26:42 - Supporting the interview series

Cheryl Abram is a mother of 4 from southern Louisiana. She’s a graduate of the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. and holds a Master's degrees in Social Work in Quality Systems Management. Cheryl currently lives in Northern Virginia and works as a learning and development specialist in a federal agency in Washington DC. After an undeniable experience that reminded her of our inherent value…without the need of a “savior”, Cheryl is now passionate about spreading the good news that belief is not necessary. We are already innocent, eternal, and free. Book: Firing God Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/25/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to "Buddha at the Gas Pump" and 300th Guest Celebration 00:04:46 - Fear of God and Deserving Salvation 00:09:06 - The Necessity of the Journey 00:13:11 - Searching for Happiness and Meaning 00:17:25 - A Moment of Honesty with God 00:21:45 - The Loss of the Original Essence of Religion 00:25:55 - Discovering My Heritage 00:30:29 - Questioning the Bible and Finding Different Perspectives 00:34:39 - The Weird Experience and the Search for Answers 00:38:38 - Piercing the Fear Membrane 00:42:48 - Introducing Non-believers to the Community 00:47:33 - The Shift from Belief to Permanence 00:51:48 - The Importance of Honesty and Identity 00:55:50 - Feeling Safe and Helping Others 00:59:43 - Beliefs and Authenticity 01:03:50 - The Nature of Beliefs 01:08:06 - The Possibility of Experiencing What Jesus Taught 01:12:05 - The Wonder of Existence 01:17:02 - The intelligence that governs the universe 01:21:49 - Inclusive Communication 01:25:46 - The Concept of Sin and Responsibility 01:29:57 - Acting from a level of consciousness 01:33:51 - The Misconception of Disabilities in the Bible 01:37:57 - The Burden of Guilt and Taking Responsibility 01:41:56 - The Pursuit of Perfection and Responsibility 01:45:45 - Seeing Kindness 01:50:07 - Letting Go of Punishment and Ego-Aggrandizement 01:53:39 - The Relatability of Personal Experiences 01:57:35 - Safety and Authenticity in Interviews 02:01:40 - The Power of Forgiveness 02:05:12.000 - Concluding Remarks

Bri. Joan Shivarpita Harrigan, Ph.D. is the spiritual director of Patanjali Kundalini Yoga-Care (PKYC-USA). Shiva has practiced, studied, and taught Raja yoga and Advaita Vedanta for more than thirty years. She has been tutored as the designated successor for America in the Kundalini Vidya lineage founded by Gomatagiri Maharaj, learning the oral commentary teachings of Traditional Kundalini Science from her spiritual mentor, Swami Chandrasekharanand Saraswati. A retired psychologist, she has been a brahmacharini (novice) in the Shankaracharya Vedic monastic order since 1987. She is the author of Kundalini Vidya The Science of Spiritual Transformation: A comprehensive system for understanding and guiding spiritual development and Stories of Spiritual Transformation: The Fulfillment of Kundalini Process - Modern Seekers, Ancient Teachings. Patanjali Kundalini Yoga Care is a spiritual guidance service for qualified spiritual seekers. Based on Traditional Kundalini Science (Kundalini Vidya), it supports serious aspirants in advancing their spiritual progress by providing individualized spiritual practices designed for their particular needs. The specialty of PKYC is to assess the kind of spiritual process that seekers have, to assist them in reaching a stable higher level, and to support them in their continued spiritual advancement by providing ongoing spiritual education, consultations, recommendations, and guidance so they can progress more skillfully and dedicatedly. This helps the divine within make efficient, untroubled, and speedy progress toward Liberation, awareness of oneness with the One. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 7/12/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to interview with Joana Harrigan 00:04:31 - Kundalini-vidya and Stories of spiritual transformation 00:09:55 - The mystery of intelligence and its role in the universe 00:15:54 - The only source and pitfalls of spiritual materialism 00:21:24 - Views of the Kundalini: An Esoteric View 00:26:16 - Removal of desire and imprints 00:31:07 - Sattvic Mind Development 00:36:34 - Kundalini process and awakening 00:42:09 - Magical ways and Kundalini awakening 00:46:33 - Kundalini-vidya and acceleration of spiritual development 00:51:52 - Interventions for minds 00:56:51 - Cultural relativity and subtle states of consciousness 01:01:47 - Kundalini - Name and meaning 01:06:44 - Life calling and responsibility 01:11:32 - Your genetic strain and vegetarianism 01:17:13 - Emptying and uniting with the One 01:21:46 - Macros: Full Moon Experience 01:27:06 - A thoughtful person and a pious person 01:31:46 - The path of development 01:36:45 - Discovery of yoga and spiritual life 01:41:45 - Spiritual intervention and Kundalini process 01:47:09 - Contexts, trajectories and bringing spiritual practice to people 01:51:40 - The relationship between higher states of consciousness and moral behavior 01:57:11 - Karmic path and levels of awareness 02:01:34 - States of consciousness: waking state, dreaming state and deep sleep state 02:06:02 - Karma purification process 02:11:01 - Seeing angels and other beings 02:16:05 - Low Tamasic Vibration 02:20:37 - Pressure on the top of the head and spiritual obstacles 02:24:52 - Spiritual motivation and living in harmony 02:28:57 - Apple fix and donation button

Enza Vita is the author of “Instant Presence: Allow Natural Meditation to Happen” and the founder of the MahaShanti Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to spiritual awakening. Enza Vita was born in a small village in Sicily and immigrated to Australia on her own at the age of seventeen. From a young age, she questioned everything around her, constantly seeking out the point and purpose of our life here on earth. Her search eventually brought her to her work in the consciousness community where she became one of the leaders in the personal development movement in Australia, working as editor in chief for glossy magazines “Woman Spirit”, “Health & Wellbeing” and publisher of “Innerself Newspaper”. Through her job, she was blessed with the opportunity to meet and study under many of the great spiritual teachers of our age and she was exposed to the wonderful writings of many others around the world. Her outer work always reflected her inner journey, one immersed in contemplation, self-inquiry, and spiritual deepening. Culminating in a profound spiritual realization in 2007, all her life’s work came into a clear focus, as she began to write and answer questions for those who came to her which eventually became her book “Always Already Free” later republished by Watkins under the title “author of “Instant Presence: Allow Natural Meditation to Happen”, currently being translated in 4 languages. In addition to her BatGap interview, Enza has been interviewed and quoted by many publications including “Nonduality Talk”, “Advaita Vision”, “One The Magazine”, “Meeting Truth” and other body-mind-spirit periodicals. She has also presented at the “Science and Nonduality Conference” (SAND) in USA and Amsterdam. Enza lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her partner and children. Website: enzavita.com. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/27/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Book Background 00:05:31 - Unusual Experiences and Childhood Trauma 00:11:09 - Embracing Imperfection and Differences 00:16:48 - Garments of Human Limitations 00:23:44 - The Beauty of the World and the Dissolution of Separation 00:29:18 - Accepting all Paths 00:33:46 - The importance of experiential realization 00:37:38 - Past Lives and Spiritual Practices 00:42:08 - Memories of Past Lives 00:46:30 - Learning from a Sufi Mystic 00:50:36 - The Archery Teacher and his Promises 00:55:01 - The Role of the Teacher 00:59:46 - The Evolution of Spiritual Maturation 01:04:20 - Fabricating in the Mind 01:09:04 - Resting in the Present Moment 01:13:43 - Effortlessness in Meditation 01:17:58 - Integration and Memory 01:23:36 - The Monk and the Little Girl in the Bubble 01:26:10 - A Spiritual Practitioner's Journey 01:31:05 - A Terrifying Experience 01:35:50 - The Realization within Myself 01:40:01 - The Importance of Proper Care during Awakening 01:43:43 - Kundalini Awakening and the Importance of Guidance 01:47:58 - Manifestation of Beings in Different Dimensions 01:52:24 - The Continuum of Silence 01:56:57 - The Nature of Deep Dreamless Sleep 02:01:31 - Levels of Realization and God-realization 02:06:02 - The Era of Waking Up Together 02:10:30 - The Power of Openness and Sharing 02:14:38 - A Range of Ideas 02:18:52 - Cardamom and Hot Milk to Help Sleep

Rev. Michael Dowd is a bestselling evolutionary theologian and pro-future evangelist whose work has been featured in The New York Times, LA Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Newsweek, Discover, and on television nationally. His bridge-building book, Thank God for Evolution, was endorsed by 6 Nobel Prize-winning scientists, noted skeptics, and religious leaders across the spectrum. Michael and his science-writer wife, Connie Barlow, have spoken to more than two thousand groups across North America since 2002. Michael has delivered two TEDx talks and a program at the United Nations. In 2010 he interviewed 38 Christian leaders across the theological spectrum, all of whom embrace an ecological, evolutionary worldview and are committed to a healthy future, as part of a series, titled, “The Advent of Evolutionary Christianity.” Most recently, he interviewed 55 experts on climate change, peak oil, and sustainability, as part of an online conversation series, titled, The Future Is Calling Us to Greatness. Dowd’s passion for proclaiming a pro-science message of inspiration — what he calls “the Gospel of Right Relationship to Reality” — has earned him the moniker ‘Reverend Reality’ as he speaks prophetically in secular and religious settings alike about the generational evil of anti-future / anti-Christian policies and the necessity of co-creating a just, healthy, and sustainably life-giving future for humanity and the larger body of life. Websites: MichaelDowd.org TheGreatStory.org PostDoom.com Huffington Post blog: huffingtonpost.com/rev-michael-dowd Facebook pages: facebook.com/RevMichaelDowd Important video. According to Michael, "the single most important thing I’ve created in my lifetime": Ten Commandments to Avoid Extinction: Reality's Rules Key quote: “God is reality with a personality, not a person outside reality. If you don’t get personification, you can’t possibly understand the world’s myths and religions — and you’ll surely miss what God is telling us today through scientific evidence. Few things matter more than this in a world of ecological degradation and climate chaos. Anyone who doubts this need only watch one or two of the Hollywood star-studded ”Nature Is Speaking” videos that have gone viral in recent months.” ~ Rev. Michael Dowd Transcript of this interview. Interview conducted 6/13/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview 00:04:12 - Reality as Lord 00:08:11 - Personification of Gods and Goddesses 00:11:49 - The Perspective of Atheists and Secular People 00:15:29 - Shifting the Course 00:19:32 - Ethics of Nature Conservation 00:23:25 - The Intimacy of Nature's Destruction 00:27:40 - Personification of Nature and Relationships 00:31:17 - The Reality of Relationships and Naming the Powers 00:35:05 - Personification of Cities and Corporations 00:39:27 - Interpreting Life Generously 00:43:16 - Universal Consciousness and the Decline of Civilizations 00:47:08 - Book Recommendations: Overshoot, Afterburn, and Collapse Now and Avoid the Rush 00:51:10 - Pro-Future Responsibility and Deep Time Eyes 00:55:11 - Regaining Humility and Sacred Eyes 00:58:59 - Honoring Time, Nature, and Mystery 01:03:06 - Embracing Life's Impermanence 01:06:54 - Perspectives on Death and Afterlife 01:10:29 - Exploring the Innate Capacity for Past Life Memories 01:14:17 - The Connection Between Mystical Experience and Changing Societal Systems 01:18:19 - Spiritual Awakening and the Environment 01:22:53 - Returning to a Mutually Enhancing Relationship 01:26:56 - The Shift in Consciousness and Creating a Healthy Human-Earth Relationship 01:30:53 - Shifting Environmental Conditions 01:34:41 - The Best and Worst of Humanity in a Changing World 01:38:32 - The Future of Solar Power and the Threat to Business Models 01:42:26 - Judging our actions by whether they are pro-future or anti-future 01:46:11 - The Great Reckoning and the Great Homecoming 01:50:11 - Finding Joy and Meeting the World's Needs 01:53:31 - Building Trusted Community 01:57:28 - Check out BATGAP.com for past and future interviews Michael's wife Connie Barlow split this video into two segments, edited it a bit, and added text and graphical annotations. In this first segment, Michael Dowd speaks of his "pro-future" distinctions in the context of broad concerns as well as the metaphysical/Buddhist worldview set forth in questions posed by Rick Archer, host of the "Buddha at the Gas Pump" conversation series (extracts of which have been re-shaped into this video). YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Evidential Reformation and the Greening of Religion 00:01:58 - The Demonic Nature of the Economic System 00:04:04 - The Power of Metaphors and Analogies in Shaping Perception 00:05:43 - The Importance of Our Concepts of God 00:07:29 - The Miracle of Nature and the Atheist Perspective 00:09:09 - The Emergentist Perspective 00:10:09 - The Perspective on Emergent Creativity 00:11:44 - Global Weirding and Its Impact on Climate Pa

Shellee Rae, a Reiki Master for 15+ years, trained to the master level in many other energy modalities, and is certified in numerous body-centered therapies. Her work in this field became full-time in 2000. Sexually abused as a child, followed by 27 years of drugs, alcohol, and bouts of depression brought her to death’s door in 1997. With the help of 12-step recovery, and many spiritual paths, in August of 2008, Shellee Rae awakened. Her first book "Suffering ~ A Path of Awakening: Dissolving the Pain of Incest, Abuse, Addiction and Depression”, after going worldwide, opened a portal to support and guide many people in their awakening process. Her second book, "Enlightenment: Tips To Reveal Your Divine Nature", has become a valuable tool to many who are seeking embodied awakening. While supporting others, Shellee Rae’s raucous path to awakening allows a non-judgmental, gentle pointing to the truth of who they are from the depths of her own realization. She balances deep compassion with the steady and potent awareness that you are not, in your Essential Self, the sufferer. Website: www.shelleerae.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/7/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump & Guest Speaker Shellee Rae 00:03:43 - From Self-Medication to Addiction 00:08:10 - Boredom in School and Troublemakers 00:12:13 - Seeking Connection and Communication 00:16:31 - Angel Al and the Pre-arranged Agreement 00:20:13 - The Journey to Forgiveness 00:25:20 - Cause and Effect in Life 00:29:43 - Exploring Different Spiritual Paths 00:33:47 - Discovering Ashland, Oregon 00:37:40 - The Power of Awakening and Clearing the "Stuff" 00:42:09 - The Fire of Awakening 00:46:40 - The Blissful State and Relativity 00:50:37 - Listening to Life's Guidance 00:54:32 - Out of Body Experience and the Beginning of the End 00:58:15 - The Wake-Down Process and the Loss of Filters 01:02:31 - Finding Acceptance in the Messiness of Life 01:08:08 - The Continuous Path of Growth and Expansion 01:12:30 - The Kundalini Experience 01:16:32 - Meeting Life on a Deeper Level 01:21:14 - Exploring the Spiritual Path 01:26:35 - Trusting the Natural Unfolding of Life Through Meditation 01:31:21 - The Disappointment of Awakening 01:35:14 - Surrendering to a New Path 01:39:38 - The Journey to Finding What's Next 01:43:22 - Out-of-Body Experiences and Parallel Realities 01:46:32 - Slipping into another Parallel Reality 01:50:24 - Finding the Earrings 01:53:48 - Synchronistic Events and Creating Deeper Reality 01:57:37 - The Power of Dreams and Synchronicity 02:01:23 - "We are God" 02:05:10 - Expressing Appreciation and Farewell

Dr. Frank J. Kinslow is the discoverer of Quantum Entrainment® and the founder of The Kinslow SystemTM, a practical new way of approaching your life that quickly allows it to become more productive, fun and fulfilling. Frank has been researching and teaching the applied application of health and healing techniques for more than 45 years. He draws from his clinical experience as a chiropractic physician, in-depth studies into Eastern esoteric philosophies and practices, and an ardent love of special relativity and quantum physics. In 2007, during a time of personal crisis, Dr. Kinslow cognized the Quantum Entrainment® process of instant healing. As a result of this deep insight he was able to create a vibrant and fulfilling life for himself and his family. Out of his desire to share this wisdom with others he began to teach and write with such simplicity and clarity that in just a few years, tens of thousands of people around the world were able to create vibrant and fulfilling lives for themselves. Quantum Entrainment® and the other techniques of The Kinslow System can be learned by reading Frank's books, listening to his CD’s and, of course, learning directly from Frank in one of his workshops. Dr. Kinslow continues to refine his techniques and write and teach extensively. He resides in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife, Martina. Learn More about Quantum Entrainment® and The Kinslow SystemTM. Website: www.KinslowSystem.com YouTube page: youtube.com/user/FrankKinslow Books: When Nothing Works Try Doing Nothing: How learning to let go will get you where you want to go The Kinslow System: Your Path to Proven Success in Health, Love, and Life The Secret of Instant Healing The Secret of Quantum Living Beyond Happiness: Finding and Fulfilling Your Deepest Desire Eufeeling!: The Art of Creating Inner Peace and Outer Prosperity Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/20/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:23 - Experiencing Unity and Dissolving Boundaries 00:09:06 - The Fourth State of Awareness 00:15:35 - Perceptual reactions and inner self 00:20:48 - Explaining "You Feeling" and the Quantum Vacuum 00:25:27 - The "you" feeling and glimpses of enlightenment 00:29:34 - Introduction to Pure You Feeling 00:33:40 - The Fulfillment of Desires through Pure You Feeling 00:40:09 - Finding Fulfillment in Relationships 00:44:32 - The Phenomenon of Workshop Success 00:47:46 - The One-Step Process 00:50:46 - The Ease and Naturalness of QE 00:54:06 - The Power of You Feeling in Healing 00:57:09 - The Power of Quantum Energy 01:01:04 - Harnessing Nature's Intelligence in Healing 01:05:04 - Inner Peace and Fear 01:07:46 - Experiencing Wholeness, Enlightenment, and Beyond 01:10:59 - The Experience of Pure Awareness 01:14:15 - Understanding Enlightenment 01:17:34 - The Harmony of Inner Music 01:21:11 - Finding Ourselves Alone 01:24:50 - Connection between Quantum Physics and Spirituality 01:29:08 - Levels of Enlightenment and Paths to God 01:33:01 - Ignorance and Attachment 01:37:02 - Cost of Weekend Seminars and Financial Success 01:40:22 - The Basics of QE in I Am That 01:43:35 - The Presence of Awareness 01:46:19 - Experiencing Awareness 01:49:46 - Gentle introspection and self-inquiry 01:53:16 - Reflections on Maharishi and the Effectiveness of his Teaching 01:56:22 - Appreciation for a Job Well Done

Wayne took his own life on August 31, 2017. Discussion in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Eulogy written for Wayne by Jerry Freeman. Putting his words in the past tense, Wayne Wirs was a transparent, rational, nondual mystic. Wayne blogged about his day-to-day life as a semi-homeless, van-dwelling drifter and had been doing so before, during, and after his awakening experience in 2009. Wayne considered himself more of a spiritual explorer than teacher, so his "teachings" tended toward first-hand, real-world experiences (open-ended, integral, mystical and evidence-based) rather than academic hard and fast truths. Unlike many nondual teachers who focus on an all-or-nothing approach to awakening, Wayne advocated a simple yet integral fading of the ego based on key qualities: Eternal (soul, practical), Radiance (love, emotional), Emptiness (awareness, rational), and Intimate (mystical experience). He called this dynamic, flowing, magical way of living Mystical Oneness. Wayne had two key sayings which best describe his message: "The less there is of you, the more there is of the Divine." "The smart have their books. The wise have their scars." Website: waynewirs.com Books: Mystical Oneness and the Nine Aspects of Being: A step-by-step guide to enlightenment and beyond Fading Toward Enlightenment A Mystic's Journal: The Dilemma of Divine Surrender A Simple Explanation For Everything Seeing Clearly Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/23/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:02 - Living a Nomadic Lifestyle 00:07:36 - A Stern Confrontation 00:16:03 - The Journey to Teacher Mode 00:22:16 - Detaching from Thoughts and the Thread of Existence 00:27:31 - The Divine Interaction in My Life 00:33:58 - The Limitations of Personal Experience and Concepts in Enlightenment 00:40:18 - The Wisdom of Scars 00:45:15 - A Beautiful Encounter with a Mentally Slow Man 00:49:00 - The Experience of the Flowing Self 00:53:18 - The Importance of Living the Experience 00:58:16 - The Practice of Living True and Karmic Implications 01:02:36 - The Challenges of Swearing and Fading into Enlightenment 01:06:38 - Communion with God and Nature 01:11:16 - The Four Stages of Spiritual Awakening 01:15:57 - The Hardest One: Emptiness and Thoughts 01:20:28 - Surrendering to Her Will 01:23:56 - Facing Fear in the Dark 01:27:02 - Setting Boundaries and Taking Action 01:30:10 - Balancing Flow with Individual Intention 01:33:52 - Going with the Flow and Divine Intelligence 01:37:24 - Evidence of God and the Denial of Atheism 01:40:10 - Awakening and Becoming a Mystic 01:43:31 - The Concept of Opposites and Polarities 01:47:00 - The Perspective on Death 01:50:21 - The Illusion of Fixed Identity 01:53:52 - Living from the Heart 01:56:47 - Charging for Skype Conversations 02:01:18 - Wrap-Up and Appreciation for Wayne Save Save Save Save

Recently at a Whirling Dervish Meditation in Istanbul I read how Rumi summarized his life: I was immature; I became experienced; I was consumed. I could divide this lifetime in those categories also, starting with a life driven by conditioning resulting in a very successful appearance without much satisfaction. Then the search for real happiness and peace. Decades of working with different modalities and sitting with many masters leading to teaching others how to relinquish conditioning and experience peaceful Silence. And now, Satsang starts with the truth of everyone, the perfection of Self. The tapestry of life includes all as the expression of Consciousness without any separation. Anything that attempts to obscure this truth melts in its power. Satsang is given in America, Canada and Europe as well as Private Satsang Sessions. Website: satsangwithstuart.com Book: The Great Undoing Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 5/16/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:14 - Present in the Teaching 00:08:31 - Being at Home with Presence 00:12:40 - Finding Peace in the Unknown 00:17:19 - The Breath as a Profound and Overlooked Practice 00:21:29 - Death as Part of Life 00:25:54 - Dying to the Personality 00:30:22 - A Surprise Visit and the Next Obvious Thing 00:34:48 - Resonating with a Teacher 00:39:10 - A Conversation about Comedy and Philosophy 00:42:16 - The Joy of Expressing Yourself 00:45:25 - Going Beyond Conditioning 00:48:50 - Finding Peace in Deep Presence 00:52:16 - Sweet Blissful Experience 00:55:41 - The Truth of Who You Are 00:59:18 - Reflecting on the Meaning of Life and the Universe 01:02:39 - The Miraculous Laws of Nature 01:05:56 - The Duality of Right and Wrong 01:09:25 - Expressing the True Self 01:12:37 - Homework and Spiritual Zeal 01:15:44 - Resistance and the Joy of Rebirthing 01:19:06 - Seeking Happiness in the Outward Direction 01:22:12 - Maintaining Silence and Comprehensiveness 01:25:42 - Encouragement and Reminding Yourself 01:29:16 - A Magnificent Experience 01:32:52 - Finding Security in the Present Moment 01:36:24 - The Paradox of Personhood 01:39:37 - The Burning Sensation of Meditation 01:43:03 - The Power of Consciousness and the Breath 01:46:46 - "No Joy in Smallness" 01:49:46 - Emo Phillips and Weird Comedy

Until two years ago, my only interest in spirituality was self-improvement. I wasn’t interested in what was true, only to make my experience better. For whatever reason, I just didn’t care. About five years ago I turned abruptly away from any kind of self-improvement. I had felt a shift in my being, and I knew the ‘unknown’ was chasing after me. I intuitively knew that If I explored my experience, I would be broken open and transformed in some way. So I found subtle ways of avoiding myself. I avoided immersing myself in nature which I had previously gained so much nurturing from. At the same time my being began to change where I was shifting into a place where I felt a deep trust in life, even though there was no conscious recognition. I just felt good about life and being alive. So I was very happy with my life, and I felt It was being refined and would only get better. I would have these days or hours where certainty would fall away, but somehow it just seemed natural. Then at the start of Feb 2013 year, a catalytic process began from a single moment. For the first few days, I was fine but after a few more days I had completely given up hope on everything. I knew that I would not get what I needed through my life as it is, and I intuitively knew I was in a process that could not be stopped. I knew I could not escape, so I gave up simply because there was nothing else to do. I remember saying to my close friends ‘I’m dying'. It was the only thing I knew. Then after a week, I had a sense that I had to calm my mind a little. That evening I was sitting on my bed reading a book by Adyashanti called ‘The End of Your World’. As I read a sentence that ended in ‘and you are not your thoughts’, a switch turned on in my being, something fell away, and I just knew I wasn’t my thoughts. I remember I kept saying aloud ‘I’m not my thoughts’ again and again. At some point, I then asked ‘then what am I’ (I’d never asked myself this until now), and in some way, I began to recognize being was ‘one thing’. The experience was In a minuscule way intellectual, it was mostly a physical experience. My body had more energy flowing through it than ever before and felt insight was experienced at regular intervals. At the same time as the opening, a movement arose that knew there was more to fall away. The last two and a half years have been about that falling away, about living a human life from truth. Facebook page. Some of Chris's music. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/9/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:16 - The Fear of Transformation 00:08:09 - Life Falling Apart 00:11:29 - Recognition of a Deep Process 00:15:07 - Realizing the Unity of Everything 00:19:02 - Experiencing Physical Changes and Kundalini Awakening 00:22:55 - A Sense of Unity and Wholeness 00:27:13 - The Unity of Consciousness 00:30:43 - From Head to Heart to Belly: The Awakening Journey 00:34:06 - The Sense of Enlivenment 00:37:14 - Dissolving the Past 00:40:12 - Deep Sense from the Start 00:43:05 - Falling in love with life more 00:45:45 - A Sense of Intimacy with Others' Difficulties 00:48:37 - The Indescribable Nature of Existence 00:51:57 - The Transition to Honesty 00:55:17 - Being Honest in Interactions 00:57:49 - The Impact of Awakening on Relationships 01:00:24 - Being an Ocean and Feeling the Whole Process 01:03:34 - Intimacy with Your Own Experience 01:05:58 - A Conversation on Reverence and Sensitivity 01:08:30 - The Importance of Openness in Teaching 01:11:32 - Helping Students Overcome Mistakes 01:14:43 - Progression of a Musician from Head to Heart to Belly 01:17:36 - Communicating Through Music 01:20:33 - Confidence and Letting Go in Music Performance 01:23:29 - The Flow State in Learning Hinduism 01:25:41 - Teaching Music over Skype 01:28:33 - Opening up to True Honesty 01:31:52 - The Beauty of Living a Deep Life 01:34:33 - Providing Guidance and Inspiration

Bonnie is a non-dual teacher in the lineage of Adyashanti, and a transpersonal therapist who has specialized in working with spiritual emergence issues for 30 years. She has published several books and articles related to kundalini and spiritual awakening, most recently “The Kundalini Guide” and “The Awakening Guide”, available on amazon.com. These are based on assessments and consultations with over 2000 people over the years, and also reflect her own experiences of awakening. She holds a Ph.D. from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and founded a counseling and education center in Ashland, Oregon called Shanti River Center where she offers satsang, study groups, workshops, meditation programs and spiritual guidance. She was a founder and organizer of the Kundalini Research Network, and has trained therapists and offered seminars in Europe, Australia and the U.S, and currently does assessments by phone and skype with people in awakening processes from all over the world. With a broad background in eastern and western mystical teachings, energy work and psychospiritual counseling, she describes her role as being a mentor or a mid-wife for people going through the spiritual awakening process. Websites: www.kundaliniguide.com www.awakeningguide.com Books: The Kundalini Guide: A Companion for the Inward Journey (Inward Journey Guides) (Volume 1) The Awakening Guide: A Companion for the Inward Journey (Companions for the Inward Journey) (Volume 2) Energies of Transformation: A Guide to the Kundalini Process When Spirit Leaps: Navigating the Process of Spiritual Awakening Being Awake Transcript of this interview 2nd BatGap interview with Bonnie. Interview recorded 4/25/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Interview 00:03:54 - Overcoming Fear in the Spiritual Awakening Process 00:07:40 - The Energy Rushing Through Your Body 00:11:25 - Kundalini Awakening and Transformation 00:15:28 - The Unique Experience of Enlightenment in Human Beings 00:19:42 - Different Definitions of Enlightenment 00:23:59 - The Intelligent Nature of Kundalini 00:28:52 - The Essence of Our Presence 00:33:07 - Embracing Diversity and Oneness 00:37:10 - Triggers for Awakening 00:41:25 - Kundalini Awakening and Spiritual Awakening 00:45:22 - The Importance of Moderation and Listening to the Body 00:49:45 - Awakening through the Body 00:53:53 - Kundalini Awakening and Energy Flow 00:57:33 - Kundalini Awakening and the Variations within Experience 01:01:35 - Awakening and Enlightenment 01:05:43 - Longing for Bliss and Contentment in Awakening 01:09:49 - Involuntary Energy Phenomena 01:13:32 - Kundalini imbalances and grounding techniques 01:17:09 - Grounding and Ayurveda 01:21:02 - Navigating Emotional and Psychological Upheavals 01:24:53 - Extrasensory Experiences 01:28:49 - Strange Phenomena and Spiritual Awakening 01:32:53 - The Gift of the Right Teacher 01:36:53 - Fear and Letting Go 01:40:40 - The Blissful Energy Flow 01:44:29 - The Subtlety of the Awakening Experience 01:48:33 - Awakening and Transformation 01:52:22 - Integration and Embodiment in Awakening 01:56:20 - The Longing for Truth 01:59:51 - Ordinary people's experiences with spirituality Save

Peter is a leader in the Western adaptation of Buddhist wisdom. He is a pioneer in the new field of nondual psychotherapy. He was a celibate monk in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions for nine years. He has a Ph.D. in the philosophical psychology of Mahayana Buddhism and has held teaching positions at universities in Australia and the USA. He has taught workshops at Naropa University, the California Institute for Integral Studies, Omega Institute, and other centers, and given invited presentations at JFK University, Saybrook College, Stanford Medical School, Columbia University, and internationally. Peter’s way of teaching is known for its dynamic and engaging deconstruction of all fixed frames of reference that block entry to unconditioned awareness, and for the purity and depth of natural, uncontrived silence that emerges in his work. He also has a unique capacity for sharing the skills and states of his transmission in a way that others can easily understand and begin to replicate the nondual transmission. Books: Radiant Mind - Teachings and Practices to Awaken Unconditioned Awareness (Audio) Radiant Mind - Awakening Unconditioned Awareness (Book) Realizing Unconditioned Awareness Sacred Mirror: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy (Omega Books) The Edge of Certainty: Dilemmas on the Buddhist Path ESSENTIAL WISDOM TEACHINGS Websites: nondualtraining.com peterfenner.com wisdom.org Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/18/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:07 - Distinguishing between intellectual understanding and direct experience 00:08:19 - Sourceless Bliss 00:12:35 - The Progressive Development of Experience 00:16:29 - Starting at the End 00:20:59 - Cultivating Peace and Serenity Amidst Difficulties 00:25:16 - The Paradoxical Nature of Non-Doing and Non-Dualism 00:29:40 - The Purity of Resting in Awareness 00:33:49 - The Purpose of Meditation 00:37:05 - The Practice of Doing Nothing 00:40:22 - Not Knowing and Presence 00:44:17 - The Ground of Subjectivity 00:47:26 - The Mystery of Awareness and Non-Duality 00:51:14 - Diversity of Non-Dual Approaches 00:54:39 - Neuroplasticity and the Nature of Enlightenment 00:58:35 - The Expansiveness of Enlightenment 01:02:03 - Resting as pure awareness in any state 01:05:39 - Collective Psychological Problems 01:09:15 - Dissolving Hidden Baggage and Flowing Life 01:13:00 - Exploring Devotion and Awareness 01:16:57 - The Concept of the Mind Stream 01:20:34 - Finding Inspiration in the Lineage 01:24:26 - Regaining the Natural State 01:28:19 - Embodiment and Integration 01:32:07 - Retreat in India and Nepal 01:35:49 - Nutty People and Spirituality 01:39:33 - Appreciating What We Have 01:43:18 - A Lifelong Passion 01:46:29 - Holding Up the Stick 01:50:09 - The Structure of the Course: Three Workshops 01:53:17 - Future Topics

Sri Karunamayi is revered in India as an embodiment of Divine Motherly Love, due to the love and affection that she showers liberally on all people, animals, and even plants, the spiritual knowledge and guidance that she gives freely to all of humanity, and the humanitarian works that she has undertaken. “Amma” as she is affectionately called by her followers, is simply the Telugu word for “mother”- Telugu being Amma’s native language. Born in 1958 in South India, Sri Karunamayi spent a childhood immersed in an atmosphere of prayer and worship created by her deeply spiritual parents. Both of her parents had received visions indicating that Sri Karunamayi was not an ordinary child, and her astrological chart indicated that she would dedicate her life to serving humanity. Naturally inclined towards charity as a child, Sri Karunamayi, or “Amma,” would often give away food and clothes to whomever needed them. As she grew into a young woman, Amma felt an inner urge to begin spending more and more time in the family worship room, immersed in prayer and meditation. As she was now a first-year college student, she was forced to make time for meditation by reducing the time she spent sleeping. As her meditations deepened and intensified, she also began reducing her intake of food. These meditation sessions grew in length until one day Amma locked herself inside a room of the house and remained there in meditation for a month. Though her family members were perplexed, they did not dare to disturb her, having witnessed the profundity of her meditations before. When she finally emerged, she seemed like a different person to her family members. Though she still showed the same sweet affection to which they were accustomed, her demeanor now expressed a more impersonal, universal love. Determined to fulfill the sacred purpose of her life, Amma gently told her mother that it was time for her to go into seclusion in the sacred Penusila Forest, to meditate there in solitude. Always respectful of her daughter’s divine nature, and trusting completely in God, Amma’s mother did not try to stop her from going. Amma never felt that these meditations were done for her own sake, as she was following the example of India’s ancient Vedic sages, who meditated for hundreds of years in order to discover the best teachings for all of mankind. Through Amma’s austerities, she determined which of the Vedic teachings and practices would be of greatest benefit to people living in this difficult modern age. After performing such intense tapasya for over 10 years, Amma decided that it was time to share her knowledge with all those who thirsted for true spirituality, wherever they may live in the world. Emerging from her seclusion in the sacred Penusila Forest, Amma began giving public discourses on various aspects of Sanatana Dharma, India’s ancient spirituality, and conducting sacred ceremonies to promote world peace and universal well-being. At this time, Amma also began Her work on serving humanity in the eradication of poverty, providing free medical care & housing for the disadvantaged, stopping child labour through free schooling and mentorship programs, and supplying water treatment facilities to those impoverished communities that have been severely affected from toxic water resources. After performing such intense tapasya for over 10 years, Amma moved to a more urban area to share her knowledge with all those who thirsted for spirituality, wherever they may live in the world. In 1995, Amma began reaching out to the world, beginning with the US, where She offers yearly public programs. During these programs Amma gives teachings and blessings, holds meditation retreats, and performs sacred fire ceremonies for the benefit of all of humankind & the world. Website: karunamayi.in Books: Sri Karunamayi a Biography Blessed Souls I the Teachings of Sri Karunamayi (I) Sri Suktam with Samputita Sri Suktam YOGA IS UNION - The Yoga of Amma Sri Karunamayi Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/13/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Amma Sri Karunamayi 00:02:23 - The Mother of the Universe and the Challenges in Society 00:05:00 - Inner Transformations in Preparation 00:07:40 - The Importance of Physical Presence and Love 00:09:51 - The Mechanics of Spiritual Transmission 00:12:23 - The Importance of Spiritual Awakening 00:14:43 - The Awakening of Spirituality 00:16:54 - Vasudhaika Kutumbam (One Family) 00:19:14 - Controlling Negativity Through Spirituality 00:21:17 - The Blossoming of Heart-Oriented Qualities 00:23:43 - Protecting Animals and the Environment 00:25:57 - Recognizing an Avatar on Earth 00:28:11 - Appreciating Divine Beings and Feeling Love 00:30:22 - Burning the Curtains of Ego and Selfishness 00:32:28 - Learning Meditation from Amma 00:34:24 - Miracles and the Natural Order of Things 00:36:25 - Seva: Service as a Spiritual Practice 00:38:28 - The Importance of Seva (Service) 00:40:34 - Raising Coll

Ellen’s deepest longing for the absolute was fulfilled when she met her teacher, Francis Lucille. In his presence, over many years, she awakened to her true nature of peace and happiness through continuous and deepening glimpses. The process of aligning and stabilizing her life to and in this beautiful non-dual understanding has never ceased to unfold since then. As a child Ellen was in love with movement and dance. She knew without words the joy and limitless transparency that the body dissolved into when it was free and alive. As an adolescent and young adult, she acutely felt and enacted suffering through her body, struggling with an eating disorder and with depression. Thus, the experience that we call the body has always been central to all of Ellen’s experiences, both in the ignoring and in the recognition of her true nature. Today, Ellen lives in Oxford, England. She has a private practice as a Psychotherapist, and facilitator of Authentic Movement. Her background of Dance-Movement Therapy and Transpersonal Psychology has been deeply influenced by the non-dual understanding. Ellen also offers meetings called The Awakening Body, an exploration of the body and of perception sourced in the teaching tradition of Kashmir Shivaism, Jean Klein and Francis Lucille. During these sessions our true nature is explored at the level of the body and of the sense perception. Credentials: Master Degrees in Dance Movement Therapy (New York University) and Transpersonal Psychology (John F. Kennedy University, CA). Certificate in Laban Movement Analyst Other Teachers and Mentors: Janet Adler and Marion Woodman provided great guidance and support in the realms of feminine wisdom, archetypal energies and intuitive knowing. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/11/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:09 - True Nature and Awakening 00:08:36 - The Beauty of Understanding Permeating All Areas of Life 00:12:41 - The Pathway to Understanding Your True Nature 00:15:57 - The Importance of Intellect and Experience 00:19:14 - The Power of "Mahavakyas" 00:22:32 - The Role of Devotion in Non-Duality 00:25:42 - Moving beyond the dryness in the non-dual world 00:28:53 - The Absurdity of Identity 00:32:07 - The Holistic Development Process 00:35:12 - The Ultimate Understanding in Yoga Practices 00:38:23 - The Flow of Thoughts and Sensations 00:41:38 - Exploring the Body and Space 00:45:02 - Allowing the Body to Surface and Release 00:48:14 - The exploration of the body and perception 00:51:22 - The Value of Sangha 00:54:29 - The Richness of a Polarized Relationship 00:57:38 - Exploring Understanding and Refinement 01:00:47 - Lessons from Every Encounter 01:04:17 - The Practice of Authentic Movement for Healing Trauma 01:07:45 - Traumatic Experiences and Spiritual Awakening 01:11:10 - The Power of Movement and Rituals 01:14:19 - Authentic Movement and Non-Duality 01:17:30 - Sarah's Formulation and Personal Experience 01:20:38 - Navigating the Inner Compass 01:23:58 - The Balance Between Individual Intention and Cosmic Will 01:27:15 - Surrendering to Something Larger 01:30:40 - The Journey of Self-Discovery 01:34:05 - The Journey Towards Wholeness 01:37:19 - Getting Involved with Ellen Emmett 01:40:22 - Conclusion and Upcoming Interview

John J. Prendergast, Ph.D., is a retired professor of psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and a psychotherapist in private practice. He spent many years studying with the European Advaita master Jean Klein as well as with Adyashanti. He was invited to share the dharma by Dorothy Hunt in 2012. He is the author of: The Deep Heart: Our Portal to Presence and In Touch: How to Tune in to the Inner Guidance of Your Body and Trust Yourself. He is the senior editor of two anthologies of original essays about nondual wisdom and psychology entitled Sacred Mirror: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy (Omega Books)and Listening from the Heart of Silence: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy, Volume 2 (Nondual Wisdom & Psychotherapy). He is also the founder and editor of Undivided: The Online Journal of Nonduality and Psychology. Website: listeningfromsilence.com Interview recorded 4/4/2015 Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Second BatGap interview with John. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:49 - Following Subtle Impulses 00:07:19 - Mysterious Encounters with Spiritual Teachers 00:11:02 - The Wisdom of Not Knowing 00:14:24 - Crossing the Barrier of Fear 00:18:08 - The Head-Heart-Gut Structure 00:21:46 - The Schizophrenia of Awakened Consciousness 00:25:45 - Changing Patterns and Seeking Truth 00:29:35 - The Balancing Act of Spiritual Maturity 00:33:24 - Trusting the Process and Letting Go of Seeking 00:37:29 - The Paradox of Seekership and Exploration 00:40:40 - Finding Our Dharma 00:44:11 - Embracing the Human Experience 00:47:52 - The Capacity of the Heart to Bear Collective Suffering 00:51:44 - Moving with Love in the World 00:55:19 - Living in Deep Integrity with Our Heart 00:59:04 - Meeting Ajay, Continuing the Teachings of Jean 01:02:07 - The Power of Presence with a Teacher 01:05:03 - Discovering inner resonance 01:09:09 - Opening a Channel of Communication to the Body 01:12:46 - The Myth of Ultimate Completion 01:16:29 - Transformative Sobbing 01:20:28 - The Upwelling of the Heart 01:24:15 - The Wisdom of the Body 01:27:52 - The Power of Beliefs in Creating Noise in the System 01:31:29 - Tapping into Core Subconscious Beliefs 01:34:49 - The Tendency for Negative Traits in Humans 01:38:28 - Acting without being married to the principle of fairness 01:42:04 - Self-Acceptance and Judgment of Others 01:45:47 - Final Thoughts and Book Recommendations 01:49:20 - Featuring Regular Joes

CC’s passion for helping people awaken came to the foreground in 1989 when she had a startling vision of a star appearing near the ceiling of her bedroom and streaming forth a download. The message was clear: she was to play a role in helping humans awaken, and in paving a new understanding of spirituality for the world. But first, she had to awaken. After some years of rapid spiritual growth and openings to subtle dimensions, CC landed in the darkest of nights as her early attempts at offering her gifts to other seekers “failed” rather dramatically. She lost her livelihood, home, community, and self-esteem, and ended up living in a small RV borrowed from an ex-boyfriend for 3½ years in the mid-1990s. Ultimately, she learned the truth of these words by Leonard Cohen: “There’s a crack, a crack in everything—that’s how the light gets in.” And the light did enter. The depths of disillusionment, despair, and ruthless self-judgment gave way to deeper explorations and radical samadhis, and led, by 1995, to a profound, permanent knowing of herself as the infinite ground and totality of Being. The next phase of her life was about trying to integrate that awakening with her human patterns of thinking and reacting—no easy matter. After years of attempting to make her human life make sense in light of her awakening as Consciousness, at first on her own and then in the company of a group of people practicing “Trillium Awakening" (formerly called "Waking Down"), it all gelled into a sense of undivided (though often paradoxical) Onlyness. At that point, CC began teaching again. She loves to bring light to other seekers, especially those who find themselves lost, confused, alone or discouraged by the difficulties of being a conscious person in a deeply unconscious world. In 2005 CC co-founded the Trillium Awakening Teachers Circle to provide an alternative to guru-centric, strongly hierarchical spiritual communities, and to help stem the tide of ethical lapses on the part of spiritual authority figures. The teachers of the WDTA meet regularly in mutuality and hold one another to standards and ethics around their teaching work, as well as experimenting with a more democratically-oriented society of awakened and awakening divinely human beings. CC’s unique approach to teaching focuses on radical awakening to our true and total nature as both Consciousness and matter (divinely human), but does not stop there. Her Inseeing Process TM helps people experience radical self-acceptance, deep compassion, and “inner mutuality” which in turn leads to a much greater ability to feel compassion and tolerance for other people: “outer mutuality.” That and much more is spelled out in CC’s highly-acclaimed handbook, Becoming Divinely Human: A Threefold Path to Embodied Awakening. Websites: divinelyhuman.com trilliumawakening.org Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/28/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Waking Down and Mutuality 00:03:59 - Awakening to Higher Realities 00:08:09 - Communicating with Animals and Discovering Channeling 00:12:24 - The Dark Night and Self-Doubt 00:16:20 - Finding Grounding and Humility 00:20:55 - The Definition of Humility 00:25:31 - Discovering the Background Knowing 00:29:48 - The Search and Guilt 00:33:31 - Dog Break 00:37:44 - Integration of the Whole Self and Radical Embrace 00:41:59 - Embracing All Ranges of Experience 00:46:15 - Equanimity and Support in Times of Tragedy 00:50:47 - Finding My Voice in the Waking Down Community 00:55:21 - Ethical challenges in spiritual teaching 00:59:51 - Beginning of Exploration with Caution 01:03:50 - Four Stages of Embodied Awakening 01:08:27 - The Stages of Awakening and Integration 01:12:39 - Supplementing with other therapies and support processes 01:16:35 - Seeking help and recognizing the difference between depression and a dark night 01:20:43 - The Illusion of Perpetual Suffering 01:24:29 - The catalytic power of connection and longing 01:28:25 - The Core Wound: Portal to Embodied Awakening 01:32:44 - The Existential Condition of Being Human 01:36:59 - Green Lighting and Opening to What Is 01:40:56 - In-Seeing and Inner Body Awareness 01:45:27 - Cultivating Deep Presence in People 01:49:35 - Gazing into Being with Suzanne 01:55:10 - The Meeting Place of Non-Duality and Integration 01:58:58 - The Transformative Power of Presence for Conflict Resolution and Society 02:03:27 - Year-Long Program based on the 12 Chapters of the Book 02:06:46 - Support and Updates

Vasant Swaha was always a naturally free spirit, aware from an early age that life was not about accepting boundaries, but rather going beyond them. As a child, he sailed from his native Norway, exploring the world with his father and family. His visits to many foreign countries at an early age gave him a broad perspective on life. He always liked to challenge himself, ever since he was very young. As a teenager, he left his home and continued traveling on his own. After journeying through Europe and North Africa, he eventually arrived in India. Here, he at once felt at home. An alive spiritual fragrance was in the air, that was missing in the West. He lived in the Himalayas and then in Goa, where he came into contact with disciples of the Master Osho. Out of this encounter, he knew what his next step was: to follow the call of his heart to go meet the Master. His connection with Osho was instant and deep – like coming home. Swaha got immersed in the life of the commune around his Master, which became the biggest growth center in the world. Here, he could explore himself further in many levels. Becoming one of Osho’s bodyguards, Swaha had an intimate connection with his Master. Shortly after Osho left his body, Swaha experienced awakening to his true Self. In the years that followed, this new way of being became more integrated. During his travels through India, he met Papaji in a blissful encounter. My beloved Papa, Poonjaji, was a tremendous gift. He was really a lion of Truth. No words can express my gratitude to him.” After meeting Papaji he went traveling around India, and lived for long periods of time in the Himalayas. During this time he had beautiful meetings with his enlightened friend, Giridhar, and together they had adventures in the far regions of the Himalayas. In tune with Swaha’s love of nature, he has created beautiful retreat places in the mountains of Norway and by the ocean in Brazil. Here, seekers and lovers from around the world come to meditate and experience the beauty, love and silence of his presence. In this precious meeting, hearts and minds can awaken, transform and flower. Website: vasantswaha.net Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/21/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Purpose 00:03:36 - Increasing polarities and the need for change 00:07:30 - Past Lives and Spiritual Connections 00:11:39 - Meeting Other Enlightened Beings 00:15:04 - Appreciating Food and Paths to Enlightenment 00:18:32 - A Shattered Identity 00:22:16 - Imperfections of Spiritual Masters 00:25:44 - The Role of the Guru and Personal Experience 00:29:08 - The Transformative Energy of an Ashram 00:32:56 - The Shift after Sickness and Integration 00:36:44 - Fragility and Sensitivity During Awakening - 00:40:31 - From the Himalayas to Papaji 00:44:19 - A Guru's Influence 00:48:03 - Integration and Meltdown in the Garden of Paradise 00:51:16 - The Beauty of the Unspoken 00:54:09 - Natural Living and Being 00:56:49 - Emptying the Mind and Being Open 00:59:40 - Helping Others Empty Themselves 01:02:38 - Finding Happiness and Truth 01:05:39 - The Power of a Supportive Atmosphere 01:08:25 - David's Journey and Meeting Ramesh Balsakar 01:11:20 - Community in Brazil and Norway 01:14:08 - Embraced by the Peace 01:16:53 - Being a Servant of the Divine 01:19:40 - Blissful Ecstasy and Oneness 01:22:49 - The Joy of Full Realization 01:25:51 - The Appreciation of God's Creation 01:28:42 - Meeting the Master 01:31:35 - Following Divine Guidance 01:34:23 - Beautiful Places to Visit

A. Hameed Ali was born in Kuwait in 1944. At the age of eighteen, he moved to the USA to study at the University of California in Berkeley. Hameed was working on his Ph.D. in physics when he reached a turning point in his life and destiny that led him more and more into inquiring into the psychological and spiritual aspects of human nature. Hameed's interest in the truth of human nature and the true nature of reality resulted in the creation and unfoldment of the Diamond Approach®: “The Diamond Approach is a path of wisdom, an approach to the investigation of Reality and work on oneself that leads to human maturity and liberation. Because of our particular vision of Reality it is not completely accurate to think of this approach as spiritual work, for this work does not separate the spiritual from the psychological, neither does it see these two as separate from the physical everyday life and scientific investigation of the content of perception. However, because we live in a society where the prevailing thought is that of the separated facets of Reality, the closest category recognized in this mentality, to our approach, is that of a spiritual path or exploration.” Some of Hameed's many books: Runaway Realization: Living a Life of Ceaseless Discovery The Power of Divine Eros: The Illuminating Force of Love in Everyday Life The Unfolding Now: Realizing Your True Nature through the Practice of Presence Brilliancy: The Essence of Intelligence (Diamond Body Series) Essence With the Elixir of Enlightenment: The Diamond Approach to Inner Realization Website: ahalmaas.com Transcript of this interview 1st interview with Hameed Hameed Ali and Karen Johnson on nondual relationships Interview recorded 3/15/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to "Runaway Realization" 00:04:24 - The Journey to Realization 00:08:36 - Different Paths of Realization 00:12:45 - Perception of Reality and Different Experiences 00:17:04 - The Individual Being and its Intrinsic Reality 00:21:16 - The Enlightenment Drive and its Relationship to Instinctual Drives 00:25:30 - Aligning Humanity with True Nature 00:29:18 - The Emphasis of Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism 00:33:17 - The Manifestation of Grace and the Illusion of Separate Self 00:37:48 - The Illusion of Separateness and Development of Consciousness 00:42:14 - Different Ways of Manifesting Reality 00:46:15 - The Two Conditions of Freedom 00:50:05 - The Endless Process of Actualization 00:54:15 - The Development of Faculties and Expressing Realization 00:58:33 - The Process of Realization and Integration 01:02:01 - Removing the Barrier of Goal-Oriented Thinking 01:05:28 - The Freedom of Being and Views 01:09:40 - The Beginning of Fundamentalism 01:14:09 - Total Being and Non-Linearity of Time 01:18:13 - The Concept of Time and Timelessness 01:22:14 - The Subtlety of Motivation in Spiritual Practice 01:26:20 - The Practice of Living Life 01:30:25 - The Individual and the Whole Universe 01:34:14 - Interpenetration of Time and Space 01:38:20 - The nature of reality and our creative potential 01:42:30 - The Fine Gradations of Pure Presence 01:46:22 - The Nature of Consciousness and Knowing 01:51:00 - The Knowingness and Being 01:55:02 - The purpose of creation and the expansion of happiness 01:59:00 - Concluding Remarks & Future Interviews 02:02:06 - Next Week's Guest: Vasant Swaha

Dorothy Rowe was clairvoyant as a child, but a rough teenage period caused her abilities to wane. After learning Transcendental Meditation in her mid-teens, the inner vision began to return. She moved to Fairfield, Iowa in 1980 and devoted herself to creating world peace by meditating with a large group of people practicing the TM and TM-Sidhi Program. She became a teacher of Transcendental Meditation in 1986. She taught Transcendental Meditation and raised a family, while also teaching dance and music. Then in early 2008, she underwent a transformation. The change in awareness happened quite suddenly, but it took months for Dorothy to realize that this opening of awareness was to be used for healing. Quietly, she healed herself and others, without sharing her experiences. In 2012, Dorothy was invited to do some healing work for compensation. By word of mouth only, her practice has grown. She now has clients on four continents. She currently offers private consultations by phone and Skype and Distance Energy Work sessions through her website. The website also offers free resources on energy healing. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 3/8/2015. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - A Peaceful Experience at the Mall 00:04:54 - Strange and Amazing Experiences and Transformation 00:09:13 - Seeing Beings from Childhood 00:13:37 - Beings within Our Universe 00:18:28 - The Existence of Infinite Simultaneous Parallel Universes 00:23:04 - The Power of Energy Healing 00:27:26 - Healing Republicans: A Skeptical Perspective 00:31:42 - Exploring the Possibilities at an Oceanic Level 00:36:33 - Seeing the Subtle Levels 00:40:43 - Intense Movie Experiences and Healing Others 00:45:47 - Overcoming Darkness through Sacrifice and Transformation 00:50:40 - The Metaphor of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu 00:55:20 - Releasing Past Life Vows and Resolving Karma 01:00:30 - Attaining Enlightenment without Healing 01:05:30 - The Understanding of Self 01:11:05 - The Mechanics of Opening Channels of Awareness 01:15:36 - Gratitude and Forgiveness in the Collective 01:20:20 - God's Intention in Evolution and the Presence of God within Us 01:26:22 - Aligning with the Inner Compass 01:31:06 - Utilizing Consciousness for Healing 01:36:30 - Communicating with Gut Bacteria 01:41:46 - Manifestation and the Limitations of Reality 01:46:26 - Embracing Change and Inner Transformation 01:51:14 - Manipulating Consciousness and Translating Senses 01:55:18 - The Constant Flow of Energy 01:59:04 - The Importance of a Guide 02:03:44 - The Healing Power of Sleep 02:07:45 - Ongoing Support with Healing Packages 02:11:46 - Reaching as Many People as Possible 02:15:35 - Understanding the Mechanics of Healing 02:18:57 - Closing Remarks and Gratitudexf Save

Jim Dreaver, originally from New Zealand, began his search for freedom in the mid-Seventies with the teachings of yoga, Zen, and J. Krishnamurti, and then met European Advaita Vedanta (the nondual or direct path) master Jean Klein in 1984, who guided him to seeing the truth in 1995. His mission now is to guide others to the realization that awakening is centered in the heart, and is ever and only here, now. He has taught at Esalen Institute and elsewhere. Books: End Your Story, Begin Your Life: Wake Up, Let Go, Live Free The Way of Harmony:: Walking The Inner Path To Balance, Happiness, And Success Falling Into Light Website: jimdreaver.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 2/28/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Buddha at the Gas Pump Introduction and Awakening Experience 00:03:28 - The Awakening Experience 00:06:10 - Dissolving the Fiction of "I" 00:09:01 - Residues and Awakening Experiences 00:12:22 - Healing the Wounds of the Past 00:15:27 - Awakening through Seeing the Truth 00:18:34 - Relationships and Self-Discovery 00:21:52 - The Conceptual Nature of Enlightenment 00:24:26 - The "I" Sense and Identification 00:27:42 - Nisargadatta on Fear and the Strokes Experience 00:30:29 - Facing the Fear of Death 00:33:02 - The Power of Intention and Healing 00:35:46 - The Importance of Realizing You're Not Your Story 00:38:53 - The Illusion of the Storyteller 00:42:33 - Cultivating the Ground of Silence with Veterans 00:45:31 - Cultivating Presence for Awakening 00:48:53 - Awakening and World Transformation 00:51:53 - Awakening in a Shorter Timeframe 00:55:11 - Finding True Freedom through Self-Exploration 00:58:40 - The Epiphany of Observing the Self 01:02:05 - The Universal Awareness of Consciousness 01:04:48 - Reincarnation as a Personal Experience 01:08:30 - Multidimensional Possibilities 01:11:30 - "Notice the Story" 01:14:45 - A Second Wave of Heart-Centered Nondual Spirituality 01:17:39 - Serving as a Conduit for World Consciousness 01:20:50 - The Power of Visualization and Intention 01:23:01 - Entertaining at a Deeper Level 01:26:10 - The Writer's Journey 01:28:44 - Wrapping up the interview 01:30:55 - End of Interview