Deep Transformation

Ep. 228 (Part 1 of 2) | In part 1 of our second What is Real Greatness Series podcast, Margaret Cullen, author of the newly published book Quiet Strength: Find Peace, Feel Alive, and Love Boundlessly Through the Power of Equanimity, explains there is far more power in the virtue of equanimity than we may have thought. Because equanimity is associated with non-reactivity, people often confuse it with a neutral sort of feeling, a dampener of emotions, when actually, equanimity allows us to expand our capacity to feel; it widens our tolerance and empowers us to be comfortable with change. “Equanimity is big enough to include our broken, despairing hearts,” Margaret says. “We can hold a vision of equanimity that is completely inclusive of the human experience.” Practicing equanimity allows us to deepen our love—for the world and for others—without becoming attached.Margaret shares practical ways we can access equanimity—ways we can achieve conceptual clarity or a “wedge of spaciousness” when a moment has been hijacked by out-of-control emotions; how we can learn to turn directly and fully to what is arising in the moment; and how we can unhook from reactivity by not taking things too personally. “How can we respond heroically to the times we live in?” co-host John Dupuy asks. Margaret shares what she has learned teaching military units and special forces to cultivate equanimity—equanimity can save lives—and describes a compassion cultivation training program that has been established for police officers in California. Takeaways from this discussion may have important, powerful, timely effects on your life—and all of our lives; as John put it, “Never before have we had such a need for the medicine Margaret brings us.” Recorded January 14, 2026.“How do we care about this world that is in so much trouble without feeling overwhelmed? The answer is equanimity.“Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing podcast #2 in our What is Real Greatness Series with Margaret Cullen, psychotherapist, meditation & compassion cultivation trainer, author of Quiet Strength: Find Peace, Feel Alive, and Love Boundlessly Through the Power of Equanimity (00:48)What is equanimity and how did Margaret begin to experience it? (03:07)Coming to understand we don’t have control over the happiness of our loved ones (07:27)Finding a way to deepen our love without attachment (11:21) How can we respond heroically to the times we live in? (13:21)Equanimity is wisdom; wisdom is equanimity (17:16)Equanimity is big enough to include our broken, despairing hearts—we can hold a vision of equanimity that is completely inclusive of the human experience (18:11)Ways to access equanimity: perspective taking (22:12)Remembering the reality of impermanence (26:18)Unhooking from reactivity: Am I taking things too personally? (26:31)Cultivating equanimity in the military can make a huge difference—it can save lives (30:55)Compassion cultivation training program for police officers (32:51)The reframing technique & the power of turning directly to what is arising in the moment (37:31)Emotions are packed with important information for us; we gradually learn we can turn towards an emotion and survive it (38:28)Studies show that when subjected to provocative stimuli, practiced meditators actually feel more than other people (40:03)Resources & References – Part 1Margaret Cullen, Quiet Strength: Find Peace, Feel Alive, and Love Boundlessly Through the Power of EquanimityMargaret Cullen founded Compassion Corps, offering free compassion & mindfulness training to under-resourced communities around the world; co-developed Compassion Cultivation Training at Stanford University, and is a founding faculty of the Compassion InstituteChögyam Trungpa, preeminent teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, founded Naropa UniversitySharon Salzburg, co-founder of the Barre Insight Meditation SocietyDr. Dan Siegel’s window of tolerance is described in ​​The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We AreJoseph Goldstein, co-founder of the Barre Insight Meditation Society, on Deep Transformation: Living on the Spiritual EdgeAmishi Jha & Elizabeth Stanley, pioneers of bringing mindfulness into the militaryCourageous Heart, compassion cultivation training program for police officers in CaliforniaChief Ryan Johansen & former officer Chris Orrey on Deep Transformation: Enlightened Ways to Make Policing Work For EveryonePaul & Eve Ekman’s Cultivating Emotional Balance trainingRichard Davidson & Daniel Goleman, Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and BodyJames Baraz on the Deep Transformation podcast: Awakening Joy---Margaret Cullen, a Licensed Psychotherapist (MFT), has been at the cutting edge of translating contemplative trainings into universal and accessible formats in mainstream settings ranging from elite military to maximum security prisons. She was one of the first certified Teachers of Mindfuln

Ep. 227 (Part 2 of 2) | In Part 2 of Deep Transformation’s second Path of Love Series dialogue, A. H. Almaas explains that the inner beloved is at work in our hearts, pulling us irresistibly nearer as we venture forward on the path of love. The force comes and pulls us, he says, melts us and overwhelms us—sometimes with wounding and sometimes with ecstasy. Our great love for the inner beloved ultimately dissolves our attachments to other, smaller beloveds, which can be big things—family, friends, teachers—or little things: ice cream, cake, our favorite movie star. But our heart isn’t going to be happy until it meets the beloved face to face, Hameed assures us. Then, after emptying our heart, when we finally behold the inner beloved, love becomes the nature of the whole universe. Now our relationships are expressions of the inner beloved, and we find we love everything.What makes the Diamond Approach’s path of love unique is that it uses love and inquiry combined to penetrate the obstacles that arise along the path. Thus, obstacles are not only burnt away through sheer devotion but also understood and recognized for what they are. Hameed also explains the difference between spiritual poverty of the soul and mystical poverty of the heart, between realization of the absolute via the path of mind versus the path of love, that nonduality is an outer expression of the inner beloved, and describes his own astonishing experience of “thunder and lightning in the heart” on this path. Towards the end of the conversation, Hameed reminds us that when we feel love, that is the beginning. Take the love itself rather than the object of the love, he says, and let it get bigger, let it get deeper, see where it takes you. Recorded January 8, 2026.“The beloved is the source of love and what loves everything.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2The path of love also has many joys and rewards (00:30) The experience of the absolute on this path is distinctly about love (02:41)The Diamond Approach’s inquiry practice allows us to understand the obstacles that arise (05:11)Relationship can be a path on its own, but it’s not the same as the path of love, where outer relationships are disengaged from (09:30)Mystical poverty: when the heart has nothing left in it, only the inner beloved (12:53)The inner beloved is a jealous lover (13:44)When we finally behold the inner beloved, we find we love everything (14:18)Hameed’s experience of thunder & lightning in the heart (15:23)The inner beloved is the source of love, the source of the universe (17:10)Nonduality is an outer expression of the inner beloved (17:40)Love has a magnetic component to it; the inner beloved wants to be one with us (21:19)Mystical poverty is a relinquishment of all competing loves; love is what melts the attachments (23:46)Mystical poverty of the soul is not the same as mystical poverty of the heart (25:40)We need to remember the mystery of the inner beloved (28:05)The soul is an experiential lens for perceiving inner truth (28:52)When we feel love, that’s the beginning; let it get bigger, let it get deeper, see where it takes you (30:22)Love is the most powerful force in the spiritual universe (30:44)For fans of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, the Wisdom Series, based on Hameed’s book The Inner Journey Home, will be continued later this spring.Resources & References – Part 2A. H. Almaas, The Inner Beloved: The Heart’s Journey to Divine UnityPoet Longchenpa only rarely talks about love and beauty, Finding Rest in the Nature of the MindRamakrishna, Hindu mystic devoted to KaliAdvaita VedantaA Course in Miracles, a path which focuses on relationshipsSt. John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night of the Soul---Deep Transformation’s Path of Love Series with A. H. AlmaasDeep Transformation’s Path of Love Series with A. H. Almaas begins with an overview of Hameed Ali’s Love Trilogy — Love Unveiled, Nondual Love, and The Inner Beloved — to orient us on the spiritual path of love unique to Hameed Ali and the Diamond Approach, then delves into the profound and deeply touching topics Hameed addresses in his most recent book, The Inner Beloved, published in February 2026. Listeners may want to get a copy of this book, to study and follow along on this extraordinary path of awakening. Also, if you are interested in taking a course on The Inner Beloved in the fall of 2026, you can register your interest here: https://da.pages.ontraport.net/inner-beloved-interest.---Special Diamond Approach Course Discount for Deep Transformation ListenersIf you are interested in taking a course offered by Diamond Approach Online, Hameed’s team at the Ridhwan School have offered a special 20% discount for Deep Transformation listeners. You can access the Course Catalog here: https://online.diamondapproach.org/catalog/. And enter the code DTP20 to receive your discount when you sign up.---Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas) was born in Kuwait in 1944. At the age of eighteen, he moved to

Ep. 226 (Part 1 of 2) | In Part 1 of Deep Transformation’s second Path of Love Series dialogue with A. H. Almaas, we learn what a spiritual journey on the path of love entails: particularly, emptying our heart so it can discover the deepest inner truth, the inner beloved. “Most of the path of love has to do with emptying the heart with love and yearning combined to burn through all the idols which stand for the inner beloved,” Hameed says. “The heart knows it loves something deeper than itself… and it pains it that it is separate from it.” There are other paths of awakening, for example, the Buddhist way is largely the path of mind, but for Hameed it was the path of heart that took center stage and revealed its secrets. The path of love is not methodical or intentional—it just happens, Hameed continues. The beloved works on the heart, works on the soul, and throws itself nearer—and it’s in this nearness that you encounter all the obstacles that keep you from uniting with the beloved. Longtime practitioner, co-host Roger Walsh mentions that the exercises included in Hameed’s latest book, The Inner Beloved, intended to help us remove our blocks to perceiving the inner beloved, have worked a treat for him, opening him up in a new way to where his practice feels more flowing and easeful than before. “Love is sorely needed these days on earth,” Hameed concludes, “as our hearts are full of garbage—wounding, hatred, envy. But there is an organ in the soul—the heart—which has its own dynamic: yearning, love, intensity, and passion that penetrate the barriers and dissolve them.” Another deeply moving and illuminating conversation with co-founder of the Diamond Approach, Hameed Ali. Recorded January 8, 2026.“Love is a much bigger force for a human being than any other thing.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing the 2nd dialogue in the Path of Love Series, focusing on A. H. Almaas’ latest book: The Inner Beloved (00:40)Most of this path towards discovering our inner nature has to do with emptying the heart (02:48)There are other paths of awakening, but for Hameed the path of love took center stage (06:53)Getting a taste of the inner beloved early on can become the seed of our inner longing (08:41)Can we have a second person relationship with the inner beloved? (09:55)The path of love has to do with yearning and with feeling “nearer”—some traditions even have words for different degrees of nearness (11:16)Even after realizing absolute truth, the heart continues to need emptying; we haven’t yet recognized the inner beloved (14:47)The path of love isn’t for everybody; for Buddhists, it’s the path of the mind (18:04)In Hameed’s book, there are powerful exercises to remove blocks to perceiving the inner beloved—these worked a treat for Roger (19:07)The heart is a subtle organ of the soul with its own dynamic: yearning, love, intensity & passion that penetrate the barriers and dissolve them (22:34)The suffering people go through is inevitable without pursuing the spiritual path to its final stages (25:21)Great fears come up: of losing our love for our loved ones & our love for the world (29:26) We encounter our deep woundings on the path of love; it’s not an easy path (33:00)The path of love is not methodical or intentional—it just happens (33:46)The beloved throws itself nearer, and in that nearness you encounter all your obstacles (34:41)Our hearts are full of garbage… love is sorely needed these days on earth (35:10)For fans of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, the Wisdom Series, based on Hameed’s book The Inner Journey Home, will be continued later in the spring.Resources & References – Part 1A. H. Almaas, The Inner Beloved: The Heart’s Journey to Divine UnityA. H. Almaas, Love Unveiled: Discovering the Essence of the Awakened HeartA. H. Almaas, Nondual Love: Awakening to the Loving Nature of RealityRumi, The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and LongingAbraham Maslow wrote about meta-motives and meta-pathologies in Toward a Psychology of Being and The Farther Reaches of Human NaturePoet Longchenpa only rarely talks about love and beauty, Finding Rest in the Nature of the MindRamakrishna, Hindu mystic devoted to Kali---Deep Transformation’s Path of Love Series with A. H. AlmaasDeep Transformation’s Path of Love Series with A. H. Almaas begins with an overview of Hameed Ali’s Love Trilogy — Love Unveiled, Nondual Love, and The Inner Beloved — to orient us on the spiritual path of love unique to Hameed Ali and the Diamond Approach, then delves into the profound and deeply touching topics Hameed addresses in his most recent book, The Inner Beloved, published in February 2026. Listeners may want to get a copy of this book, to study and follow along on this extraordinary path of awakening. Also, if you are interested in taking a course on The Inner Beloved in the fall of 2026, you can register your interest here: https://da.pages.ontraport.net/inner-beloved-interest.---Special Diamond Approach Course Discount

Ep. 225 (Part 2 of 2) | In Part 2 of our eloquent, passionate, and humorous, dialogue with comedian John Fugelsang, author of the important and irreverent book, Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds, we come to understand what fundamentalism is, and what it signifies for our culture, our politics, and our future. John outlines five common features that characterize fundamentalism across religious traditions, pointing out that fundamentalist Christians have more in common with fundamentalist Muslims than they do with moderate and liberal Christians. “I go after fundamentalists of all religions,” John says, “because it’s turning people off to faith—ruining Christianity, ruining Islam, ruining Judaism.” This is the tragedy for John and what fuels his passion for calling out the hypocrites who do hateful things in the name of religion.John also enlightens us as to what Christian nationalism is all about, starting way back: “In the U.S., our history of Christianity is inseparable from our history of white supremacy.” Christian nationalism’s religion is power—a gospel of domination over love. Authoritarian leaders and their followers all worship power, he continues, and fills us in on how Christian nationalism is playing out in Russia now. John’s own message is not hateful; his intention is to make it clear that Jesus always taught love and kindness; to suggest that if the Church wants to survive, it needs to go back to the teachings of Jesus; and to help us come together in a common understanding of fundamental values. “It’s hard to love the bigot in your family,” John says. But we can “…hold to the deepest values, the most love, and do what needs to be done with love. We can’t hate the haters back, but we have to beat them without hating them—that’s the challenge.” Recorded December 18, 2025.“The greatest tragedy to me is when people think that something is religion and don’t realize it’s just fundamentalism.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Fundamentalist Christians have more in common with fundamentalist Muslims than they do with moderate & liberal Christians (00:39) 5 common features of fundamentalism across traditions: women are inferior, violence is okay, punishment over healing & a victimhood complex (00:51)MLK was deeply unpopular at the time of his death—just like Jesus (03:43)Every generation there’s a new word to smear the virtues of love, empathy & caring for others (05:01)Christian nationalism: a gospel of domination over love (07:59)Prosperity gospel: God will reward you if you give to our Church (09:50)Christian nationalism in Russia (13:47)Authoritarian leaders & followers all worship power (15:34)If the Church wants to survive, they need to go back to the teachings of Jesus (17:28)Recreating Jesus as a white guy led to centuries of racism and cruelty (19:55)Using the Bible as camouflage: most people haven’t read it & figure others haven’t either (21:06)What weirdness in the Bible stands out most for John? (26:02)Growing up, it seemed normal that Christianity was about love & helping people who don’t look like you (29:45)It’s hard to love the bigot in your family (30:58)We can’t hate the haters back, but we have to beat them without hating them—that’s the challenge (33:04)Abortion has redefined Christianity, but the Bible never mentions anything against it (34:35)Resources & References – Part 2John Fugelsang, Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing FraudsJohn Fugelsang’s SiriusXM show: Tell Me EverythingJohn Fugelsang’s podcast: The Sanity-CastKing in the Wilderness, documentary about Martin Luther King focused on the final two years of his lifeJerry Falwell, televangelist & conservative activistFreedom From Religion 2026 ConventionProsperity theologyMatthew 25Sharon Salzberg, renowned meditation teacher---John Fugelsang is the author of the New York Times bestseller SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND HATE: A Sane Person’s Guide To Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds. He has been murdered on CSI and picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church. John is a Drama League–nominated actor, comedian, and broadcaster, who’s hosted many TV shows and podcasts, including the acclaimed Tell Me Everything series on SiriusXM Progress. He got George Harrison to give his final performance on VH1, debated Jerry Falwell and David Duke, and made many appearances on MSNBC, FOX News, and CNN. His epic PBS road trip film on the American Dream, Dream On, directed by Roger Weisberg, was named Best Documentary at the New York Independent Film Festival. Fugelsang lives in New York City with his family.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 224 (Part 1 of 2) | John Fugelsang, author of the brilliant, irreverent book, Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds, talks eloquently about the difference between true Christianity as taught by Jesus and the hateful teachings of Christian nationalists and televangelists who are in it for the power and the money. John grew up with a clear notion of what Christianity should look like; his parents lived their faith grounded in peace, love, empathy, and service, dedicating their lives to helping people in need, no matter their color or differences. So John set out to take the Bible back from “small-minded, right-wing, nationalist racists,” because he finds it tragic that vast numbers of people are being alienated from faith altogether, and he wanted to give his readers arguments they could use to face off with right-wing Christians about what the Bible really says. Christians and atheists have told him his book validates all of their beliefs, and he has inspired crowds of atheists to cheer loudly for Jesus.John is an actor, comedian, and talk show host, and his quick wit and well-informed, well-intentioned intellect make for a fast-paced, enjoyable, and educational foray into subjects such as how right-wing nationalists have made Christianity out to be a religion of condemnation and domination; how they quote Saint Paul, with all of his sex hangups and homophobia, rather than Jesus; and how it’s always been the Christ followers pushing back against authoritarian Christianity—adding that Jesus’ teachings are as threatening to authoritarian power today as they were 2,000 years ago. This is a timely, very important conversation about a subject that involves all of us: reclaiming the foundational values of love, humility, open-mindedness, and service. Recorded December 18, 2025.“Jesus is not about condemnation or domination; his whole movement is about transformation.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing John Fugelsang, award-winning actor & comedian, author of Separation of Church and Hate (00:40)Feeling your religion of peace and love has been hijacked by small-minded, right-wing, nationalist racists (02:59)What was John’s experience writing Separation of Church and Hate? (05:15)How could a religion of love be the same as the fundamentalist stuff we hear on televangelical TV? (08:58)Religion didn’t invent hate, but hate has always found a home in religion (11:25)It’s always been the Christ followers who push back against authoritarian Christianity (14:26)It was Saint Paul—not Jesus—who was anti-woman, anti-gay, and a persecutor of Christians (16:51)Hypocrisy is what outraged Jesus (21:51)Right-wing Christianity does not care about the teachings of Christ, only about conservative Christian power (23:47)The media never covers all the ways people of different religions get along just fine (26:29)Showing our right-wing Christian relatives that Jesus is not an immigrant-hating homophobe in the Bible does more good than calling them out for being immigrant-hating homophobes (29:34)Using scripture & nonviolence to shame frauds out of the Christian nationalism racket (31:50)In the Bible, you can find anything you want to justify your actions (33:29)How has John’s book been received? (35:46)Fundamentalism in any religion means you know that God thinks you’re better than other people (38:19)Fundamentalism is rooted in a particular stage of development where absolute beliefs—black & white, right & wrong—are what’s most important (40:13)Resources & References – Part 1John Fugelsang, Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing FraudsJohn Fugelsang’s SiriusXM show: Tell Me EverythingJohn Fugelsang’s podcast: The Sanity-CastDietrich Bonhoeffer, pastor who gave his life resisting Nazi Germany’s Christian nationalismPaul the Apostle was born Saul of TarsusBishop John Shelby Spong of NewarkMatthew 25Senator Raphael Warlock uses scripture & nonviolence to shame frauds out of the racket of Christian nationalism---John Fugelsang is the author of the New York Times bestseller SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND HATE: A Sane Person’s Guide To Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds. He has been murdered on CSI and picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church. John is a Drama League–nominated actor, comedian, and broadcaster, who’s hosted many TV shows and podcasts, including the acclaimed Tell Me Everything series on SiriusXM Progress. He got George Harrison to give his final performance on VH1, debated Jerry Falwell and David Duke, and made many appearances on MSNBC, FOX News, and CNN. His epic PBS road trip film on the American Dream, Dream On, directed by Roger Weisberg, was named Best Documentary at the New York Independent Film Festival. Fugelsang lives in New York City with his family.---Pod