Deep Transformation

Ep. 32 (Part 2 of 2) | Socio-psychotherapist and political consultant Indra Adnan brings forth a compelling, fresh, and powerfully practical alternative vision for our politics and our world, based on bringing people and communities together in relationship to effect real planetary transformation. Indra states that the solutions to our problems exist; we just need to be able to access them, and it is at the cosmo-local community agency networks (CANs) level that we can develop responses to current crises like climate and social justice most effectively. Indra discusses how the internet has dissolved the line between the private and the public space, especially for women and the underprivileged, and asks us to imagine what the public space would look like if all our voices were heard. Rather than focusing on our disconnectedness, Indra suggests we focus on the miracle of our connectedness in this moment and drop the dividing lines that keep us stuck in disadvantageous, unempowered lives. In this conversation, the possibilities of putting Indra’s alternative vision into effect are palpable—this is a remarkable reimagining of how things could be where political agency works from the bottom up to effect systemic transformation for the benefit of all. Recorded May 18, 2022.“Let’s drop the boundaries that we have created for ourselves! Let’s drop the things that divide us from others.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 2Women going into politics have been obliged to be better men than men (01:15)Indra most inspired by social workers’ (mostly women) intuitive understanding of people’s real needs and how they unreservedly give themselves to the task of problem solving (02:35)The Big Society (community focused) program in British politics (04:10)What is soft power? The power of narrative or storytelling to generate attraction and therefore relationship, as in the power of the American dream to attract relationship from all over the world (05:58)What is the story we’re telling about our reality? (10:60)The ladder nature of Integral stages of development may be trapping us in old language about what development looks like (11:40)When the women in the London Integral circle walked away, and the need to apply the Integral model rather than simply study it and talk about it (12:12)The radical equality of everyone and formative agency: different agencies need to be held in a fluid state rather than in ladder format (16:57)Does Integral need to evolve to serve a wider landscape? (19:47)What is the design of the public space that could honor the full human being, where all the different voices would be heard? (24:22)The axis of a new politics: back to the I, the we, the world; at the heart of the vision is a new way of looking at who we are (26:34)The internet, the fractal emergence of a new vision holding our creative potential and political agency, and  the soft power of how we tell the story (29:52)What gives Indra hope? The miracle of connectedness in this moment (32:37)The power of paying attention to the interaction in this particular moment: that is the life changing, world changing energy that we are looking for and that we need (36:15)Resources & References - Part 2Indra Adnan and Pat Kane, Re-imagining Social WorkBritish politician David Cameron, author of For the Record, and political agency in the Big Society programJoseph Nye, Head of Kennedy School of Government, advisor to Bill Clinton, Understanding Soft PowerRobert Kegan, The Discerning Heart: The Developmental Psychology of Robert Kegan*Ken Wilber’s stages of developmentTerry Patten, A New Republic of the Heart: An Ethos for Revolutionaries*Integral European ConferenceIntegral leaders Diane Hamilton, Terry Patten, Steve McIntosh Indra Adnan, The Politics of Waking Up: Power and Possibility in the Fractal Age*Indra Adnan, founder of The Alternative Global, a socio-political platform serving systemic transformation* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Indra Adnan is founder and co-initiator of The Alternative Global, a socio-political platform serving systemic transformation. AltGlobal publishes a Daily Alternative news blog, develops cosmo-local agency networks (CANs) and connects planetary regeneration projects. Indra is concurrently a socio-psychotherapist, writer, and consultant on soft power. Clients have included the Danish and Brazilian governments, World Economic Forum, and NATO. Her book The Politics of Waking Up: Power and Possibility in the Fractal Age was a Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year in 2021.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 31 (Part 1 of 2) | Socio-psychotherapist and political consultant Indra Adnan brings forth a compelling, fresh, and powerfully practical alternative vision for our politics and our world, based on bringing people and communities together in relationship to effect real planetary transformation. Indra states that the solutions to our problems exist; we just need to be able to access them, and it is at the cosmo-local community agency networks (CANs) level that we can develop responses to current crises like climate and social justice most effectively. Indra discusses how the internet has dissolved the line between the private and the public space, especially for women and the underprivileged, and asks us to imagine what the public space would look like if all our voices were heard. Rather than focusing on our disconnectedness, Indra suggests we focus on the miracle of our connectedness in this moment and drop the dividing lines that keep us stuck in disadvantageous, unempowered lives. In this conversation, the possibilities of putting Indra’s alternative vision into effect are palpable—this is a remarkable reimagining of how things could be where political agency works from the bottom up to effect systemic transformation for the benefit of all. Recorded May 18, 2022.“Let’s drop the boundaries that we have created for ourselves! Let’s drop the things that divide us from others.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1Introducing Indra Adnan: political innovator, socio-psychotherapist, writer, and consultant on “soft power” to clients such as NATO, the World Economic Forum, and the Brazilian and Danish governments, initiator of an alternative vision for creating systemic transformation (01:16)How Indra’s contemplative practice began, creating her own spiritual beliefs, and asking, Where is my power? What control do I have over my life? (4:11)Meeting Nichiren Buddhism in Indonesia (06:49)The phenomenon of empowerment in action: Look again. Re-imagine. Something else is possible. (07:57)What is it we are settling for now? Crises on every side and dependency on politicians in a two-party, competitive system, where the two parties are invested in each other’s failure (11:45)The solutions to our problems are already available (so why do we not have access to them?), and how community agency networks (CANs) are taking shape as responses to climate and social justice crises (13:38)Cosmo-local CANs can be the new system, providing a new way for the people’s voice to hear itself and be heard (15:20)Concept of the 3 realms: the I, the We, and the World—we can all be all 3 of these things, which is essential to understanding how we can have political agency by taking down the barriers between these 3 ways of being (16:13)The politics of waking up: there is waking up to the oneness, to engi, but in her book, Indra is talking about a different waking up: waking up to our capacity for connecting, for mobilizing, #softpower (18:33)The new space created by the internet and modern technology has created a radical shift of agency, the woke phenomenon (21:42)The way women see the possibilities and the future is becoming more and more distinct, i.e. the relational way of being women have always depended on is finding its way into the public space, into community, into politics (23:34)How Roger sees the possibilities of this age: a collaborative birthing that will turn out as a function of how we approach it (31:56)What can men do? Men have to make space for women to show up. This can mean giving up their place, their seat, their moment in the spotlight (34:06)It may be time for men to step into the yin and look at themselves and their relations (37:18)Resources & References - Part 1Indra Adnan, The Politics of Waking Up: Power and Possibility in the Fractal Age*Indra Adnan, founder of The Alternative Global, a socio-political platform serving systemic transformationNichiren BuddhismWhat is cosmo-localism?Engi, or Pratītyasamutpāda in SanskritKaren O’Brien, You Matter More Than You Think: Quantum Social Change for a Thriving World*Marilyn French, Beyond Power: On Women, Men and Morals** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Indra Adnan is founder and co-initiator of The Alternative Global, a socio-political platform serving systemic transformation. AltGlobal publishes a Daily Alternative news blog, develops cosmo-local agency networks (CANs) and connects planetary regeneration projects. Indra is concurrently a socio-psychotherapist, writer, and consultant on soft power. Clients have included the Danish and Brazilian governments, World Economic Forum, and NATO. Her book The Politics of Waking Up: Power and Possibility in the Fractal Age was a Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year in 2021.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 30 (Part 2 of 2) | Rebel Wisdom co-founder Alexander Beiner has his finger on the cultural pulse of our times. Here he explores key challenges we face as a global community: sensemaking and truth finding in a culture that has lost its coherence as well as its sense of the divine, and what role psychedelics might play both therapeutically and spiritually in healing our culture. He discusses the need to go beyond the intellectual to find clarity and coherence, using embodied practices like meditation and inquiry, and explains how modalities such as these are an essential container for therapeutic psychedelic experiences. What if deep, spiritual, psychotherapeutic group processes were to inform political decision making? Are commodification and economics going to subvert the benefits of the psychedelic renaissance? Let’s start asking, what do we want these substances to bring to the culture, and who has the authority to decide what psychedelics are used for? Ali brings keen insight and the wisdom of a dedicated contemplative to asking the important questions and offering up some answers as well. Recorded September 27, 2021.(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 2The developmental process involved with engaging with the contemplative world (01:30)The psychedelic renaissance and learning how best to use psychedelic substances as part of our spiritual practices (02:24)Legalizing MDMA (03:46)Bringing psychedelics into mainstream culture: the biomedical route (04:23) The need to consciously build a psychedelic metaculture and Ali’s Psychedelic Value Survey (05:52)Are economics going to subvert the benefits of the psychedelic reemergence? (07:59) We need to start asking, what do we want these substances to bring to the culture and who has the authority to decide what psychedelics are for? (10:59) Are churches embracing the use of psychedelics? (13:15)Religious, spiritual, and therapeutic uses (14:50) Karma yoga: the interface between the contemplative and the cultural, the spiritual and the political (16:25)The current meaning crisis, the lack of cultural coherence, and the need to commit to something higher (19:12)What’s missing culturally right now is a sense of divinity and the ability to surrender (20:34)The global coordination issue (24:14)The crucial motive of self-transcendence (Abraham Maslow), meta motives and meta pathologies (25:02)The crisis of sense making and understanding that making sense doesn’t happen only through thought, it’s an embodied process (29:09)Fostering complexity tolerance and resilience in not knowing (32:02)What gives Alexander hope? The idea that humanity is at its best under pressure (34:11)Resources & References - Part 2Ram Dass, Be Here NowRick Doblin, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic StudiesSanto Daime traditionBurning Man annual event in Black Rock City, NevadaAlexander Beiner/Rebel Wisdom film, The Rise of Psychedelic Capitalism Norman Spinrad, 1970s science fiction writer, The Last Hurrah of the Golden Horde*, reviewNorth Star Ethics Pledge, a first step in the demanding work of shaping the psychedelic industry around psychedelic wisdomKarma yoga, one of 4 classic spiritual paths in HinduismRanulph Fiennes, British explorer, writer, and poet, the world’s greatest living explorer according to the 1984 Guinness Book of World RecordsKen Wilber, How Postmodernism Defies its Own GoalsDaniel Schmachtenberger, founding member of The Consilience Project, which publishes novel research at the leading edges of global risk mitigation, governance design, and cultureJohn Vervaeke, award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto and creator of the cult hit YouTube series Awakening from the Meaning CrisisMaslow’s forgotten pinnacle: Self-transcendenceNaryan Wong, founder of ThinkBetter, a training organization that helps people apply evidence-based approaches to their development, and an active member of the Rationalist communityDeveloping Complexity Tolerance with David Treleaven on Rebel WisdomTerence McKenna, ethnobotanist, author, and advocate of using psychedelic plants, Chaos, Creativity, and Cosmic Consciousness* with Rupert Sheldrake & Ralph AbrahamDoshin Roshi, founder and abbot of Integral ZenRebel Wisdom podcast websiteRebel Wisdom’s Sensemaking 101 (8-week process begins June 18th)Alexander Beiner on Medium.comAlexander Beiner on Substack.com* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Alexander Beiner is a writer, facilitator, cultural commentator, and co-founder of the popular podcast and retreats organization Rebel Wisdom. Alexander regularly discusses psychedelics and interviews key figures in the psychedelic community on Rebel Wisdom, and is currently exploring the role psychedelics can play in an increasingly polarized culture. His articles appear frequently in Medium.com (and now Substack). He is one of

Ep. 29 (Part 1 of 2) | Rebel Wisdom co-founder Alexander Beiner has his finger on the cultural pulse of our times. Here he explores key challenges we face as a global community: sensemaking and truth finding in a culture that has lost its coherence as well as its sense of the divine, and what role psychedelics might play both therapeutically and spiritually in healing our culture. He discusses the need to go beyond the intellectual to find clarity and coherence, using embodied practices like meditation and inquiry, and explains how modalities such as these are an essential container for therapeutic psychedelic experiences. What if deep, spiritual, psychotherapeutic group processes were to inform political decision making? Are commodification and economics going to subvert the benefits of the psychedelic renaissance? Let’s start asking, what do we want these substances to bring to the culture, and who has the authority to decide what psychedelics are used for? Ali brings keen insight and the wisdom of a dedicated contemplative to asking the important questions and offering up some answers as well. Recorded September 27, 2021.(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1The evolution of the internet—from optimistic to dark and addictive—and its effect on culture (03:50)The crisis of trust in institutions creates a Wild West of narratives: Where do we get truth from? (07:03)Rebel Wisdom asks, how can we use the attitudes of the personal growth world and ancient wisdom to help us get into a new dialogue with each other? (08:50)The necessity to go beyond the intellectual to find clarity and certainty: that’s where practices come in (like meditation and inquiry) (13:35)Rebel Wisdom’s online course Sensemaking 101 moves from the inside out, creating a state of presence before tackling making sense of the news (15:55)The value of contemplative practices: they help you zoom out to a metaperspective and cultivate perspectival fluidity (17:07)The importance of bringing the spiritual worlds and political worlds together (people in the spiritual worlds are reluctant to go too far into the political and vice versa) (20:02)Danger of using meta as a “bypass”: focusing on how to make a better world rather than focusing on the realities of what is happening right now (20:57)The cycle of withdrawal and return: going within to come back to the world with more wisdom to give and going without to connect more deeply with ourselves (22:20)On allowing deep, spiritual, psychotherapeutic group processes to inform political decision making (23:52)What would an effective meta practice for people entail at this point? An ecology of practices (27:26)The therapeutic potential of the psychedelic experience combined with different modalities, i.e. inquiry + psychedelic experience (30:58)Resources & References - Part 1Rebel Wisdom podcast websiteRebel Wisdom’s Sensemaking 101 (8-week process begins June 18th)Alexander Beiner on Medium.comAlexander Beiner on Substack.comTerence McKenna, ethnobotanist, author, and advocate of using psychedelic plants, Chaos, Creativity, and Cosmic Consciousness* with Rupert Sheldrake & Ralph AbrahamTimothy Leary, Harvard psychologist and LSD advocate, Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out*Tristan Harris, “Persuasive Technology and the Race to the Bottom of the Brain Stem”Venkatesh Rao, “The Internet of Beefs,” Tempo: Timing, Tactics and Strategy in Narrative-driven Decision-making*Howard Bloom, Global Brain*Peter Russell, The Brain Book*Bret Weinstein Talks About His Brother Eric WeinsteinJohn Vervaeke, award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto and creator of the cult hit YouTube series Awakening from the Meaning Crisis, author, Zombies in Western Culture: A Twenty-first Century Crisis,* Four Kinds of Knowing videoThe Ridhwan Tradition: The Diamond ApproachJamie Bristow, director of The Mindfulness Initiative, a policy institute teaching mindfulness and compassion to politicians Daniel Schmachtenberger, founding member of The Consilience Project aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogueJordan Hall, futurist and culture hackerArnold Toynbee, historian, A Study of History*Living the Path of Love, course taught by Turiya Hanover and Rafia Morgan, co-founders of the Path of LoveCarl Rogers, great American psychologist, Journal of Humanistic Psychology: The Rust Workshop (The Central American Challenge)Wim Hof Breathwork* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Alexander Beiner is a writer, facilitator, cultural commentator, and co-founder of the popular podcast and retreats organization Rebel Wisdom. Alexander regularly discusses psychedelics and interviews key figures in the psychedelic community on Rebel Wisdom, and is currently exploring the role psychedelics can play in an increasingly polarized culture. His articles appear frequently in Medium.com (and now Substack). He is

Ep. 28 (Part 2 of 2) | David Loy, Zen teacher, scholar, and prolific author, reveals his acute understanding of the crises we face today, the psychology at the root of the problems, and how we can make our way forward in this in-depth discussion. He has adopted the term ecodharma to focus attention on the challenge Buddhism faces now: integrating personal transformation with global activism and social transformation. As David points out, the focus needs to be on this world, with transcendence being a metaphorical understanding but not an excuse to abandon the problems we and our planet face today. Besides gaining great depth of knowledge from being a scholar and student of koans, David’s insights come from a plethora of nondual experiences, which led David on a path of eco-action. Ecodharma asks: How does Buddhism need to change? How much is dwelling in emptiness becoming problematical in these challenging times? What’s best for the Earth? Everyone says practice, practice, practice…when is the performance? Is evolutionary pressure going to create a new way of living sustainably? Recorded February 22, 2020. “When your sense of separation dissipates, it becomes not what’s in it for me, but what can I do to help make this a better world for everybody?”Note: Regrettably 4 minutes of the recording were irretrievably lost at minute 21:26, but thankfully, the recording resumes just as Roger succinctly sums up the previous minutes of conversation. Also, this podcast was recorded live and includes, at times, some extraneous noises in the background. Please excuse them -- we felt the conversation was very valuable and well worth sharing with our audience. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 2The role of technology, moving into an age of virtual reality, and the creation of supernormal stimuli (01:41)Ecodharma: addressing the need for a new understanding of practice and walking the bodhisattva/ecosattva path (04:37) Keeping “don’t know” mind in the face of the eco-crisis (09:57)How can Buddhism contribute to facing the critical issues of our time? (10:54)The Extinction Rebellion, a grassroots direct action movement (11:49)The election of Trump has highlighted our problems in making them worse (15:16)The problem of complacency (17:24)What signifies that one has started to walk the bodhisattva path? (19:42)Desire versus craving (21:26)Karma yoga and not being attached to the outcome (22:14)The cycle of withdrawal and return common to those people who have contributed the most to humankind (23:45)The deepest challenge of our practice is integrating the knowledge that everything is perfect, but also knowing action is needed to improve things (26:36)Evolutionary psychology, the evolution of religion, and what we need to do today (28:18)What socially engaged Buddhism has to contribute (34:02)The challenge of the gnostic intermediary to transmit a wisdom tradition across cultures and across time (34:59)Resources & References - Part 2Edward O. Wilson, aka the Darwin of the 21st centuryGuhyapati, founder of the Eco-Dharma Centre in northeast SpainDavid Loy and Guhyapati, Remaking Our Dharma: Expanding the Scope of EcodharmaDavid Loy, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat CenterDavid Loy, "The Bodhisattva Path in the Trump Era" Greta Thunberg and the School Strike for ClimateExtinction Rebellion: Grassroots movement engaging in direct action focused on climate, species extinction, population, toxins, plastic and moreThe Bhagavad Gita Arnold Toynbee, A Study of World History* (abridgement by D.C. Somervell)Robert Thurman, first Westerner Tibetan Buddhist monk ordained by His Holiness the Dalai LamaShunryu Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind Paul Hawkins, Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beauty to the World*Wes Nisker, You Are Not Your Fault and Other Revelations*Roger Walsh, The Transmission of Wisdom: The Task of Gnostic IntermediariesDavid Loy, "How to Be an EcoSattva" David Loy, EcoDharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis*David Loy, co-editor, A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency*Full list of David’s writings: https://www.davidloy.org/writing.htmlDavid Loy’s websiteDavid Loy, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Early on, David Loy studied koans under Yamada Kōun Roshi while teaching Eastern and Western philosophy in Japan. He began to have direct experiences of nonduality, and the recognition of unity, or connection with others, led to his activism in the spheres of social justice and the eco-crisis. A scholar, professor, and Zen teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition, David brings a Buddhist perspective to the ecological crisis we face today. He points out there is an im

Ep. 27 (Part 1 of 2) | David Loy, Zen teacher, scholar, and prolific author, reveals his acute understanding of the crises we face today, the psychology at the root of the problems, and how we can make our way forward in this in-depth discussion. He has adopted the term ecodharma to focus attention on the challenge Buddhism faces now: integrating personal transformation with global activism and social transformation. As David points out, the focus needs to be on this world, with transcendence being a metaphorical understanding but not an excuse to abandon the problems we and our planet face today.Besides gaining great depth of knowledge from being a scholar and student of koans, David’s insights come from a plethora of nondual experiences, which led David on a path of eco-action. Ecodharma asks: How does Buddhism need to change? How much is dwelling in emptiness becoming problematical in these challenging times? What’s best for the Earth? Everyone says practice, practice, practice…when is the performance? Is evolutionary pressure going to create a new way of living sustainably? Recorded February 22, 2020.“When your sense of separation dissipates, it becomes not what’s in it for me, but what can I do to help make this a better world for everybody?”Note: This podcast was recorded live and includes, at times, some extraneous noises in the background. Please excuse them -- we felt the conversation was very valuable and well worth sharing with our audience. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1Social activism, Zen practice, philosophy, koan study: how it all started (03:52)How does David’s Zen practice inform his activism? It was the experiences of nondual reality (05:48)The emergence of compassion: when your sense of separation dissipates, it becomes not what’s in it for me, but what can I do to help make this a better world for everybody (09:14)The cold civil war in the U.S. and the need to find a way to talk with each other and understand conflicting points of view (12:03)Our fundamental problem is that we don’t feel real, because the separate self is a construct, inherently insecure, inherently uncomfortable, and we experience this as a sense of fundamental lack (14:03)The psychological and sociological implications of this sense of lack and how society is constructed to take advantage of it: the contemporary world religion is consumerism (17:31)The positive and negative sides of individualism (22:23)The heart of the bodhisattva path: personal transformation and social transformation (24:57)The challenge of integrating nondual experiences (27:31)3 elements of the Pali Canon’s Motivation for Awakening (28:31)Dukkha (suffering) is structural not just individual (30:09)Awakenings: transcendent, imminent, and the decline of Axial religions that devalue this world (36:26) The problem with mindfulness and the 3 poisons: greed, ill will, delusion (40:51)Resources & References - Part 1David Loy, EcoDharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis*David Loy, NonDuality: In Buddhism and Beyond*David Loy, co-editor, A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency*Full list of David’s writings: https://www.davidloy.org/writing.htmlDavid Loy’s websiteDavid Loy, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat CenterYamada Kōun Roshi, David's teacher and author of The Gateless Gate : The Classic Book of Zen Koans* (2004)Robert Aiken, one of the original founders of the Buddhist Peace FellowshipDōgen, Japanese Buddhist priest, poet, philosopher, and founder of the Sōtō school of ZenWilliam Blake, poet, painter, mysticErnest Becker, The Denial of Death*Mahatma Gandhi, “The world has enough for everyone’s need…”Theravada sutras, the Pali Canon, Bodhipakkhiya DhammaAldous Huxley, Island*Dogen’s Genjokoan, Actualizing the Fundamental PointLoyal Rue, Everybody’s Story: Wising up to the Epic of Evolution*Naomi Klein, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate*Stockholm Institute’s 9 markers of ecological sustainability* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Early on, David Loy studied koans under Yamada Kōun Roshi while teaching Eastern and Western philosophy in Japan. He began to have direct experiences of nonduality, and the recognition of unity, or connection with others, led to his activism in the spheres of social justice and the eco-crisis. A scholar, professor, and Zen teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition, David brings a Buddhist perspective to the ecological crisis we face today. He points out there is an important parallel between what Buddhism says about our personal predicament and about our collective predicament in relation to the rest of the biosphere. David is also a prolific author; his latest book is Ecodharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis; and he is co-editor of A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency.---Podcas

Ep. 26 | Samaneri Jayasara, a Theravādin renunciate in the Thai Forest tradition, became inspired to record readings of profound wisdom texts written by the great spiritual masters of all time and traditions, put them to music (in most cases), and post them on YouTube. Intending simply to share the gift of wisdom, Jayasara didn’t expect much in the way of listeners, maybe 100 or so. But with her sublime understanding and exquisite voice, accompanied by beautiful music tailored to the individual texts, Jayasara has turned mere readings into transmissions of wisdom and healing that are helping and inspiring people around the globe, and she now has upward of 70,000 followers. In this conversation, Jayasara talks about the power of the spoken word to bypass intellectual filters and enter straight into your heart, how listening can result in unexpected awakenings, how contemplating death can shift our illusions and wake us up, and the story of how she came to be a contemplative. In this episode, she also treats listeners to two lovely samples of her readings, from St. John of the Cross and Chuang Tzu. Recorded October 14, 2021.“Silence is God’s first language.” – St. John of the Cross(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time StampsThe inspiration behind reading wisdom texts on YouTube: the advantage of absorbing dharma wisdom through listening (03:11)The power of the spoken word to go straight to the heart (06:12)Samaneri Jayasara, a rare Theravadin to have studied such a broad variety of religious traditions (13:38)Theravada: The Teaching of the Elders based on the Pali Sutras (15:37)The Thai Forest tradition focuses on practice (16:44)St. John of the Cross reading (17:49)The intention: a heartfelt sharing of the dharma; as the Buddha said, “The greatest gift you can give is the gift of the dharma.” (22:34)How Jayasara came to be a contemplative: suffering, dissatisfaction, and the teachings of Buddha and Krishnamurti (24:44)How one can support Jayasara’s practice and the Viveka Hermitage (33:15)Hearing teachings expressed in different ways, different conceptualizations with different traditions, can enliven your practice, make the wisdom go deeper, and help you not get stuck (33:48)The “flow and rhythm” of the spiritual life and the poetry of Ram Dass (35:28)How does Jayasara choose which text to read? (37:58) On the transmission of wisdom (40:44)Chuang Tzu reading (46:24)When striving in our practice turns to opening to what is latent within us (51:35)Sudden awakening versus gradual awakening (54:44)How death contemplations can shift the illusion and wake us up (56:46)The story of Ramana: pure awareness and the deathless realm (01:02:26)The tendency to pick up a new identity after an ego death (01:04:24)What’s next? Mother Mountain Gulaga retreat (01:07:16)Choosing the music that goes with the readings (01:11:23)Resources & ReferencesSamaneri Jayasara, Wisdom of the Masters podcastJayasara’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SamaneriJayasara/featuredSamaneri Jayasara’s hermitage: Viveka HermitageDonations to the hermitage can be made via PayPal using the link: https://paypal.me/VivekaHermitageOr become a Jayasara patron: https://www.patreon.com/jayasaraPadmasambhava’s Self-Liberation Through Seeing Through Naked Awareness*Ramana Maharshi, Indian sage and liberated being, 1879-1950Lectio Divina (divine reading)Ajahn Sumedho, longtime abbot and one of the senior Western representatives of the Thai Forest tradition of Theravada BuddhismTheravada sutras, the Pali CanonAjahn Mun, co-founder of the Thai Forest traditionSt. John of the Cross, Dark Night of the Soul*Krishnamurti, philosopher, speaker, author focused on psychological revolution, inquiry, human relationships, and bringing about radical change in societyVipassana retreatsSt. John of the Cross, Spanish Catholic priest, mystic, and Carmelite friarRam Dass, Love, Service, DevotionChuang Tzu, Taoist sage, influential 4th century BC philosopher in China credited with writing Zhuangzi,* one of the two foundational texts of Taoism (along with the Tao Te Ching*).Thomas Merton, The Way of Chuang Tzu*Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre at the foot of Mother Mountain Gulaga* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Samaneri Jayasara is a Buddhist nun in the Theravadin Forest tradition. She has studied and practiced Buddhism and meditation in various capacities for over 35 years. Jayasara has a Ph.D. and Master's Degree in education, focusing on comparative spiritual traditions, Buddhism, and psychotherapy. She has taught at secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels in psychology and counseling; and also worked as a trainer in mental health and crisis intervention in the welfare sector. Jayasara initially ordained as an Anagarika in 2003 living at both Dhammasara nun’s monastery, Western Australia, and Amaravati, UK. She re-ent

Ep. 25 (Part 2 of 2) | Thomas Hübl, renowned spiritual teacher, author, expert on collective trauma, and creator and facilitator of The Collective Trauma Integration Process, shares fascinating, life changing information about the dynamics of collective trauma—how it is embodied and perpetuated in the language we use, and how we are bound together in a sort of “mutual collusion” that predisposes us to repeat our past, and to repeat over and over the things we would much rather leave behind. With remarkable insight and wisdom garnered from years of study, exploration, and effectively working with large groups to integrate collective shadow, Thomas also explains how we can create space for a new future by metabolizing the suffering held in both our personal and collective unconscious and making awakening and spiritual clarity the indubitable priority of our lives. Recorded at the Science and Nonduality Conference, October 2019, with Dr. Roger Walsh, John Dupuy, and Douglas Prater.“Healing the broken glass of reality.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 2The work of purification is more than only shadow work (00:48)Shadow, encoded trauma, and the “it-ification” of processes: how language embodies and perpetuates shadow (02:40)We are in mutual collusion in perpetuating shadow in this collectively traumatized world (06:22)Language keeps the past in place and the destiny of humanity fixated (08:50)Our relational network is an extension of our immune system (10:43)The word is creation and the art of truth telling is a practice (11:10)Climate change is an externalization of the pollution in our interiors (15:44)The need for us (and our leaders) to say I’m sorry to each other publicly (16:52)Letting go of the need for comfort (20:01)We are all writing or composing our experience moment by moment (22:07)We find God in the deepest expression of our own purpose (23:42)Our energy needs to be consciously integrated to clear a space for a new future (27:37)It is essential to adjust our practice over time (31:11)Spiritual clarity = knowing what we see and also what we don’t see is God’s will (35:05)Opening to the bottomless mystery (37:45)Walking the path of karma yoga (39:36)Resources & References - Part 2Collective Trauma Summit 2021: Collective Healing in ActionWilliam Ury, leading expert on negotiation and mediation and best selling author of Getting to Yes* (with Roger Fisher and Bruce Patton), Getting Past No,* and Getting to Yes with Yourself*Carlos Castaneda, The Teachings of Don Juan* Thomas Hübl & Julie Jordan Avritt, Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds*Thomas Hübl's Academy of Inner ScienceThomas Hübl’s website: https://thomashuebl.comThomas Hübl’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/thomashueblThomas Hübl, Modern Mystic - Principles for Living Consciously: Thomas Hübl in Conversation with Stephan Breidenbach** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Thomas Hübl is a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator whose lifelong work integrates the core insights of the great wisdom traditions and mysticism with the discoveries of science. Over the last two decades, Hübl has taught and facilitated programs with more than 100,000 people worldwide. His events have focused on processing the collective trauma of racism, oppression, colonialism, genocides, and the complexities of those regions and groups which experience multiple historic and current challenges. He is the author of the book Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds, which outlines his methodology called the “Collective Trauma Integration Process” as a safe framework for guiding groups through collective trauma. His non-profit organization, the Pocket Project, works to support the healing of collective trauma throughout the world. Hübl’s educational organization, the Academy of Inner Science, offers a master’s and doctoral studies program in cooperation with universities in Europe and the US. In 2020, Hübl received an honorary doctorate from Ubiquity University in California for “his pioneering work in the field of trauma.” He has been teaching workshops and presenting trainings for Harvard Medical School since 2019.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 24 (Part 1 of 2) | Thomas Hübl, renowned spiritual teacher, author, expert on collective trauma, and creator and facilitator of The Collective Trauma Integration Process, shares fascinating, life changing information about the dynamics of collective trauma—how it is embodied and perpetuated in the language we use, and how we are bound together in a sort of “mutual collusion” that predisposes us to repeat our past, and to repeat over and over the things we would much rather leave behind. With remarkable insight and wisdom garnered from years of study, exploration, and effectively working with large groups to integrate collective shadow, Thomas also explains how we can create space for a new future by metabolizing the suffering held in both our personal and collective unconscious and making awakening and spiritual clarity the indubitable priority of our lives. Recorded at the Science and Nonduality Conference, October 2019, with Dr. Roger Walsh, John Dupuy, and Douglas Prater.“Healing the broken glass of reality.”Note: This podcast was recorded live and includes, at times, some extraneous noises in the background. Please excuse them -- we felt the conversation was very valuable and well worth sharing with our audience. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1Introducing Thomas Hübl (01:03)By definition, awakenings are not nondual if people haven’t dealt with their shadow: nondual needs to be the talk and the walk (3:03)The body is a sophisticated energy pipe system; mystics are like plumbers or electricians who free up the pipes (05:50)On stabilizing, generalizing, integrating insights: state practices versus process awareness (07:10)Tibetan Buddhism’s three developmental maps: 1) turning towards contemplative practice, 2) the stabilization of realized states, 3) ongoing purification (08:56) We need to commit to a spiritual path, to cleaning up, and make space to clear things or the same difficulties will repeat again and again (10:12)Trauma is the collapse of time/space (11:46)Making divine awakening your highest priority is what constitutes a serious practitioner (14:06) All serious shadow and trauma work is relational (15:24) How can we stay committed to the path? Community, an externalization of our intention (18:22)Two challenges: We are tempted to abandon our practice both when it gets very dark—and when life gets very good (20:35) Consciousness is catching: the way to develop desired qualities is to hang out with people who embody the qualities we want (22:14)Our cultural relationship to hierarchy: we’ve thrown it out, but there are hierarchies of development, maturity, wisdom, insight, and compassion that should be honoredWhat are the most valuable ways to engage with what is inside us and integrate what we discover? (25:18) Paying attention to congruence and coherence in our mental, physical, and emotional expression (28:21)Collective trauma: all of us have been born into a traumatized world (29:10) Healing the broken reality: every trauma healing needs to result in an ethical upgrade; we have to become better people (31:54) Thomas’ collective trauma group work where the field in the room is able to mirror the unseen dimension stored in the cultural unconscious  (32:31)We are all sculptures in a transpersonal nervous system, called to metabolize the suffering held in both our personal and collective unconscious (38:14)Resources & References - Part 1Thomas Hübl & Julie Jordan Avritt, Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds*Thomas Hübl's Academy of Inner ScienceThomas Hübl’s website: https://thomashuebl.comThomas Hübl’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/thomashueblThomas Hübl, Modern Mystic - Principles for Living Consciously: Thomas Hübl in Conversation with Stephan Breidenbach*Roger Walsh, Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Thomas Hübl is a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator whose lifelong work integrates the core insights of the great wisdom traditions and mysticism with the discoveries of science. Over the last two decades, Hübl has taught and facilitated programs with more than 100,000 people worldwide. His events have focused on processing the collective trauma of racism, oppression, colonialism, genocides, and the complexities of those regions and groups which experience multiple historic and current challenges. He is the author of the book Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds, which outlines his methodology called the “Collective Trauma Integration Process” as a safe framework for guiding groups through collective trauma. His non-profit organization, the Pocket Pro

Ep. 23 (Part 2 of 2) | Integral leaders Kateryna Yasko, Vytautas Bučiūnas, and Bence Gánti illuminate many of the most poignant and pressing questions of our time, brought to the fore by the ongoing war in Ukraine: Can postmodern people embrace a warrior consciousness when necessary? Are Russians, brainwashed by propaganda, who explicitly support the war worthy of compassion? Can people remain sane and humane while at the same time taking up arms? How can we handle the effects of the psychological trauma that will cascade over generations? And how do we prevent the mass delusion and psychosis that is so easily propagated via modern media technology? What are the global consequences of the Russian war on Ukraine? The trillions of dollars now being diverted to defense and military weaponry in the West are trillions of dollars that will not be spent on social programs, global health, education, climate change, and food—many people in Africa will starve as a result of this war on the breadbasket, wheat-producing Ukraine. What is wrong with democracy if its leaders can’t step up to the plate, be authentic, strong, and stand up for what is right, while autocrats do whatever they please? A powerful, heart wrenching conversation asking the right questions, pointing towards the answers. Recorded April 15, 2022.For more wrestling with the questions, and to share wisdom, ideas, support, and inspiration, there is IEC 2022 (Integral European Conference) this May online and in Budapest. And to donate directly to help the Ukrainian people via Kateryna and Vytautas using iAwake's Funnel to Help, Heal, and Support the Ukrainian People, see below.The reality is: “If Russia stops fighting, there will be no war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2The difference between Ukrainians and Russians is Ukrainians long to be and remain human and humane; but Russians have been through a long dehumanization process (01:00)How can we stick to the Geneva Conventions and not become what we’re fighting against? (01:59)Around 60% of Russians on the street honestly believe they are liberating Ukraine (04:59) The power of today’s information and communication technology, coupled with our awful vulnerability to delusional thinking, is a recipe for inducing culture-wide psychosis (07:05)The analogy with Nazi Germany and Putin’s Russia is right on (10:30)Are Russians who are brainwashed and explicitly supporting warfare worthy of our compassion? (11:30)What are the global ramifications, the psychological and cultural implications, of this great tragedy that will affect global health, social welfare, even the survival of the human species? (16:20) The systems we have been trusting to maintain global order were not good enough to save us from this challenge (20:34)How to come up with more Integral, inclusive solutions and systems of sensemaking? (21:22)The leadership factor in the West over the last 20+ years has been reactive, compliant, generally avoiding facing reality – until Zelensky (Vytautas’ keynote at IEC will be about this) (21:52)Working on solutions at the Integral European Conference (IEC) May 2022 online and in Budapest (25:05)How this invasion has opened hearts, created an explosion of trust, people are really “showing up” (Kateryna’s keynote at IEC will be about this) (26:57)Showing up – what will you do when it’s time to act? There is a way to contribute for everyone (28:09)iAwake’s Funnel to Help, Heal, and Support the Ukrainian People (30:15)IEC will be an opportunity to involve people from Latin America in the fight for democracy and freedom in Ukraine, and hear about their ongoing wars as well (32:35) IEC will sponsor a global discussion on war and peace everywhere; there are more than 100 wars going on at any given time on the planet (35:06)Are only autocratic leaders allowed to be bold, decisive, real, and authentic? (37:31)Zelensky is the role model for other democratic leaders (38:50)Resources & References – Part 2Integral European Conference 2022: World Peace with the Integral Approach, online and in BudapestVytautas Bučiūnas’ website: Upgrade of Leader’s Operating SystemTMThe Annexation of CrimeaThe Budapest Memorandum* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---How can I help? iAwake's Funnel to Help, Heal, and Support the Ukrainian PeopleDeep Transformation sponsor, iAwake Technologies, sends all funds raised on behalf of the Ukrainian people directly to Kateryna Yasko and Vytautas Bučiūnas, who are giving on-the-ground support to Ukrainian refugees in the bordering countries, and sending life-saving medicines and emergency first aid kits into Ukraine via trusted drivers. Sending money directly to the people who are doing the work is much more effective at this stage than sending money to an established NGO or ot

Ep. 22 (Part 1 of 2) | Integral leaders Kateryna Yasko, Vytautas Bučiūnas, and Bence Ganti illuminate many of the most poignant and pressing questions of our time, brought to the fore by the ongoing war in Ukraine: Can postmodern people embrace a warrior consciousness when necessary? Are Russians, brainwashed by propaganda, who explicitly support the war worthy of compassion? Can people remain sane and humane while at the same time taking up arms? How can we handle the effects of the psychological trauma that will cascade over generations? And how do we prevent the mass delusion and psychosis that is so easily propagated via modern media technology? What are the global consequences of the Russian war on Ukraine? The trillions of dollars now being diverted to defense and military weaponry in the West are trillions of dollars that will not be spent on social programs, global health, education, climate change, and food—many people in Africa will starve as a result of this war on the breadbasket, wheat-producing Ukraine. What is wrong with democracy if its leaders can’t step up to the plate, be authentic, strong, and stand up for what is right, while autocrats do whatever they please? A powerful, heart wrenching conversation asking the right questions, pointing towards the answers. Recorded April 15, 2022. For more wrestling with the questions, and to share wisdom, ideas, support, and inspiration, there is IEC 2022 (Integral European Conference) this May online and in Budapest. And to donate directly to help the Ukrainian people via Kateryna and Vytautas using iAwake's Funnel to Help, Heal, and Support the Ukrainian People, see below.The reality is: “If Russia stops fighting, there will be no war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no more Ukraine.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1Ukraine update: the level of trauma has grown very high in the last month, both inside and outside Ukraine, with the discoveries in Bucha and elsewhere (03:18)Everyone feels guilty: the people who have fled, the people in the cities, the people in territorial defense: everyone feels a strong need to contribute more (05:03)The West is consolidating; there’s less naivete about Russia (07:45)People around the world can and need to contribute (09:34)True heroism is coming to the fore; this could be a wake up call for a lot of us (11:35)Bence Ganti, Integral leader and director of the Integral European Conference, talks about the situation in Hungary and the coming IEC in May 2022 (12:32)Kateryna’s perspective on recent weeks: facing an overwhelming, multi-fronted battle on all levels, it’s impossible to give yourself space to take care of yourself (15:40) In Russia, children in school are taught only propaganda; refugee children are traumatized and don’t speak the language of their host countries (18:28)Disappointment and frustration with opinion leaders, prominent intellectuals in the West, writing articles totally disconnected from the realities of the Ukrainian situation (19:55)Ukraine is slowing gaining agency on several fronts (21:35)This is a meta historic conflict; the West saying this conflict is their fault or the US’ fault is going too far; Russia has been threatening Ukraine since before the US existed (24:40)Otto Scharmer’s article about collaborative diplomacy is not good enough; it’s abstract and divorced from the physical realities of the situation (27:52)The reality is: “If Russia stops fighting, there will be no war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no more Ukraine.” (30:38)What is the most strategic response we can make in this situation to directly address this tragedy and its needs? (32:38)Children in primary school are very tuned in to the collective: smart teachers are using military analogies when teaching (35:12)We have to integrate the “red” stage of development in the educational system…we have to let boys play with guns and speak about it (37:40)We need an Integral stage to understand when to act with which stages (38:57) Green = a postmodern stage where we strive for harmony, unity, authenticity, connectedness and believe only with love we will solve all conflicts; red = the warrior stage; Integral = a yogi with a rifle (40:35) Ukrainians fighting from a place of love, somehow they are integrated (43:17)Resources & References - Part 1Integral European Conference 2022: World Peace with the Integral Approach, online and in BudapestVytautas Bučiūnas' website: Upgrade of Leader’s Operating SystemTMPresencing Institute, founded in 2006 by MIT Sloan School of Management Senior Lecturer Otto Scharmer and colleagues to create an “action research platform at the intersection of science, consciousness, and profound social and organizational change.”Otto Scharmer, “Putin and the Power of Collective Action from Shared Awareness”Robb Smith, “Russia is Catalyzing the Transformation Age”Michael McFau

Ep. 21 (Part 2 of 2) | Steve McIntosh, philosopher, author of the groundbreaking book Developmental Politics, and co-founder of the Institute for Cultural Evolution, outlines an extraordinary framework to make sense of our political conflicts—extraordinary in that it points to ways through and out of our persistent polarity consciousness. Steve convincingly argues our opportunity is right now: to create a synthesis, a cooperative agreement space, that transcends and includes thesis and antithesis, left and right, individual and community. Steve’s is a passionate and prophetic voice; there is hope for politics. With vertical development we can recover a common sense of truth, a common sense of goodness—transcendent ideals could become social norms. Steve ends with an invitation to listeners to investigate this new concept of cultural intelligence and the implications of the new truth: consciousness and culture co-evolve. Recorded on September 8, 2021.“An Invitation to Creating a World That Works for Everybody”Topics & Time Stamps - Part 2The practice of virtues: character development is an important psychological technology (01:34)Deep happiness, Aristotle’s eudaimonia (05:07)Reestablishing cultural agreements around transcendent character development: an “upward current of the good” (06:48)How do you practice courage? (11:26)The magnetism towards being better: towards the good, the true, the beautiful (12:12)The evolutionary power of value polarities (13:05) Understanding the new inter-subjective We Space: a social medicine that can help heal the wounds of history (20:11)How do we begin to walk this path of cultural emergence and post-progressivism as a practice? This new truth that consciousness and culture co-evolve? (21:43)The need to build a political movement, break through into mainstream culture with the new truth of the vertical dimension of development (25:27)Truth is one of the casualties of the current culture wars (28:25)How does technology come into it? (35:05)The Black Death plague and the impact of COVID-19 (38:14)With post-progressivism, we’re trying to negate the negations of progressivism (40:18)The role of contemplative practices and spiritual development in fostering psychological development and helping transcendent ideals become social norms (43:10)An invitation to listeners to participate and investigate this new cultural intelligence (48:41)Resources & References - Part 2Aristotle’s eudaimonia, the highest human goodCreate your personal Portrait of the Good, online character development exercise at Institute for Cultural EvolutionLao Tzu, Heraclitus, Nicholas of CusaThe Post-Progressive Post (now The Developmentalist)The Worldview Questionnaire at The DevelopmentalistAldous Huxley, Island*Al Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient TruthWinston Churchill, “...truth should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies”Jesus, “...the truth will set you free”Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, The Phenomenology of Spirit*Steve McIntosh, Developmental Politics: How America Can Grow Into a Better Version of Itself*Institute for Cultural Evolution, co-founded by Steve McIntoshPost-progressive.org is now The Developmentalist.orgSteve McIntosh's author website is stevemcintosh.com.* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Steve McIntosh, J.D. is author of Developmental Politics—How America Can Grow Into a Better Version of Itself (Paragon House 2020), and co-author of Conscious Leadership—Elevating Humanity Through Business (Penguin 2020), with John Mackey and Carter Phipps. McIntosh is president of the Institute for Cultural Evolution think tank, which focuses on the cultural roots of America’s political problems. His work has appeared in USA Today, Real Clear Politics, The Daily Beast, The Hill, Areo Magazine, and The Developmentalist. He has been interviewed on NPR, Oxford Review, Rebel Wisdom, and many other podcasts. His author website is: stevemcintosh.com.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 20 (Part 1 of 2) | Steve McIntosh, philosopher, author of the groundbreaking book Developmental Politics, and co-founder of the Institute for Cultural Evolution, outlines an extraordinary framework to make sense of our political conflicts—extraordinary in that it points to ways through and out of our persistent polarity consciousness. Steve convincingly argues our opportunity is right now: to create a synthesis, a cooperative agreement space, that transcends and includes thesis and antithesis, left and right, individual and community. Steve’s is a passionate and prophetic voice; there is hope for politics. With vertical development we can recover a common sense of truth, a common sense of goodness—transcendent ideals could become social norms. Steve ends with an invitation to listeners to investigate this new concept of cultural intelligence and the implications of the new truth: consciousness and culture co-evolve. Recorded on September 8, 2021.“Almost every problem is a problem of consciousness.”Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1Introducing Steve McIntosh and Developmental Politics (02:08)Normality is not the ceiling of development—more like a collective form of developmental arrest (04:04)We can keep growing, not only personally but politically and culturally; right now we have the perfect conditions for the next phase to emerge: a cultural renaissance (06:22)Progressive spirituality: the intersection of science and spirituality (08:08)Spiral Dynamics, the Cultural Creatives, and Integral consciousness (10:51)The emergence of the post-progressive worldview and the profound truth that consciousness evolves (13:02)A calling to apply the new worldview to politics, climate change: founding the Institute of Cultural Evolution (15:17)Making the ideas and political philosophy of developmental politics accessible to people, so people can recognize their worldview and the positive and negative of other worldviews too (20:23)The structure of emergence in the noosphere: America’s trajectory in the world is not done yet—we can grow our way out of this and give birth to a new worldview (25:10)Breaking out of modernity: progressive postmodernism breaks the spell of the old establishment (29:04)Our bedrock values have energetic properties like magnets, attracting and repelling. How can we create new forms of agreement so we can all work together in a new type of culture? Cultural intelligence (32:19)Recognizing how the hinges of history continue to animate our political climate and that the dialectical pattern of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis is in the structure of emergence itself (34:58)Worldviews oscillate between focusing on the whole/community and focusing on the part/individual (36:33)Tug of war between moral systems on either side of modernity with traditionalism pulling on one side and progressivism pulling from the other (37:49)Our current opportunity is to create a synthesis, a new cultural agreement space, that includes traditionalism, modernity, and progressivism, characterized by interdependence (39:07)How can we overcome hyperpolarization if people have their own facts? (42:49)Transcendence is the key to reclaiming a sense of common good and restoring sufficient unity for a functioning democracy (44:37) Higher ground rather than common ground: a new political agreement space, where people can begin to appreciate that the existential polarity in politics is permanent and interdependent, where people can embody the left and the right in themselves, preserving what’s right and fixing what’s wrong (47:07)Resources & References - Part 1Steve McIntosh, Developmental Politics: How America Can Grow into a Better Version of Itself*Steve McIntosh, Integral Consciousness and the Future of Evolution*Steve McIntosh, Evolution’s Purpose*Institute for Cultural Evolution, think tank co-founded by Steve McIntosh with Carter PhippsPierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Phenomenon of Man*Paul Ray, The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the World*Clare Graves, adult developmental stages psychologist foundational to Spiral DynamicsDon Beck & Christopher Cowan, Spiral Dynamics*Integral Institute and Ken WilberAl Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient TruthJonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and ReligionEsalen Institute, leading center for exploring human potentialJohn Mackey, Carter Phipps, and Steve McIntosh, Conscious Leadership*John Mackey and Raj Sisodia, Conscious Capitalism*Brandon Goleman, Emotional Intelligence*Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the CitizenHerbert Spencer’s Theory of Social EvolutionCharles Taylor, A Secular Age*Steve McIntosh’s author website: stevemcintosh.com* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Steve McIntosh, J.D. is author of Developmental Politics—How America Can Grow Into a Better Version of Itself (Paragon House 2020), and co-author of Conscious Leadership—Elevati

Ep. 19 | Connie Zweig, Ph.D., Elder, award-winning author, and Shadow expert, has provided us with a rare gift in her recent book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul. Upon discovering there was a surprising lack of any information, resources, or even language with which to contextualize the inner work of aging and the crucial rite of passage to elderhood, Connie has given us just that. In this conversation, we come face to face with our own inner ageist shadow character and we learn that if we do the inner work, we can make the all-important shift from doing to being, let go of our roles, begin to identify with our spiritual nature, and open the door of our awareness to further developmental stages. Rather than becoming seniors in decline, Connie illuminates who we can become as elders. “The world needs elders now: for their compassion, their gratitude, their generosity, their skills, their shadow awareness, and their spiritual development. The world is starved for this nourishment.” Recorded on October 6, 2021.“There is a whisper, a restless longing, inside of people for something more.”Topics & Time StampsThe surprising lack of information, language, and context for inner soul work for those of us living beyond midlife (03:44)Connie realizing her own “ageist” bias, and how ageism is internalized from our culture (08:08)The first inner obstacle to overcome on our way to elderhood is the Inner Ageist shadow character (10:06) Internalized ageism affects our health, cognitive and physical, quality of life, and longevity and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy (10:44)Challenges that elders face specific to our time (12:15)Aging from the inside out, from “role to soul,” doing contemplative practice and inner work, turning in, is available to all regardless of circumstance (15:32)What practices and spiritual experiences have led Connie on the wisdom path? (19:49)Connie’s primary practice now: gratitude (23:07)What can we become, as elders? (24:39)Aging is a crucial rite of passage; it becomes a developmental process if we’re open to doing the inner work (28:38)A door opens for us to ask again, Who am I? Who am I now? (31:26)From role to soul: what is the soul? And letting go of our roles (33:07)Differences in the ways masculine and feminine types tend to struggle with letting go of roles (35:58)Holy longing: the calling to be something more and the suffering that is caused when we don’t fulfill our higher needs (38:12)Gerotranscendence: a spontaneous movement towards a transcendent perspective as people age (43:31)The shadow defined and the shadow of spirituality (45:32)How can we improve our capacity to work with the shadow? (49:14)The world needs elders now (51:12)Resources & ReferencesRoger Walsh & Frances Vaughan, Paths Beyond Ego*Connie Zweig & Jeremiah Abrams, Meeting the Shadow*Connie Zweig & Steve Wolf, Romancing the Shadow*Connie Zweig, Meeting the Shadow of Spirituality*Connie Zweig, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul*Father Thomas KeatingBecca Levy, PhD studied ageism at Yale and how it affects our health, quality of life, and longevityMargaret Mead, Culture and Commitment: A Study of the Generation Gap*Turning Inward with Ram Dass (shifting from roles to souls)Depth PsychologyVedanta, one of the 6 schools of Hindu philosophyAbraham Maslow, A Theory of Human Motivation*“The Holy Longing,” a poem by Goethe (this version translated by Robert Bly)Marion Woodman, The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter: Obesity, Anorexia Nervosa, and the Repressed Feminine*Lars Tornstam, Gerotranscendence: A Developmental Theory of Positive Aging*Ken Wilber, The Religion of Tomorrow*The “shadow,” a term coined by Carl Jung to represent the personal unconscious---Connie Zweig, Ph.D., is a retired therapist, co-author of Meeting the Shadow and Romancing the Shadow, author of Meeting the Shadow of Spirituality and a novel, A Moth to the Flame: The Life of Sufi Poet Rumi. Her new book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul (Sept. 2021), extends shadow-work into late life and teaches aging as a spiritual practice. Connie has been doing contemplative practices for 50 years. She is a wife and grandmother and was initiated as an Elder by Sage-ing International in 2017. After investing in all these roles, she is practicing the shift from role to soul.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 18 (Part 2 of 2) | Jonathan Rowson, brilliant, driven, articulate, shines a bright light of understanding on the metacrisis we face today, what feeds it, and what could help us find our way through. What is metamodernity and what does it have to offer? Is the ecological crisis fundamentally an educational crisis? Can we grow into our problem rather than thinking of ourselves as “failing beings” as the climate collapses around us? From the metaperspective to the deeply personal, Rowson shares his wisdom, including life lessons he gleaned from being a chess Grandmaster, before becoming a philosopher, research fellow, nonprofit director, and author. Recorded on November 17, 2021.“Let’s be careful what we’re talking about because we’re creating a world…”Topics & Time Stamps - Part 2What is metamodernity and what does it have to offer us? (01:04)The “cultural between”: serious about the meaning of life (04:48)The political “after”: an antidote to hyper modernity, returning to basic human sensibilities and a time-rich relationship with life (06:22)The mystic beyond: a return to metaphysics (08:28)What does “a time between worlds” mean? (09:32)We’ve got to perceive the context clearly in order to orient ourselves: our interiors, our capacity for growth, bio precarity, technology innovation, and more (12:50)On the nuances of confusion (14:27) Can we grow into our climate collapse problem rather than thinking of ourselves as “failing beings”? (17:07)The importance of Bildung = transformative, civic, and aesthetic education (18:17)Is the ecological crisis fundamentally an educational crisis? (20:18)What chess taught Jonathan about life: jewels of wisdom from The Moves That Matter (23:42)Concentration = freedom (25:31)Making peace with our struggles: we’re always going to be a work in progress (30:38)Successful underachievement and living with regret (35:42)Living in an algorithm-driven culture (40:52)Longing for a clearer sense of relationship with the divine, the cosmopoetics of life (43:59)Our unbidden tears are the best of us (46:03)Resources & References - Part 2Hanzi Freinacht, The Listening Society: A Metamodern Guide to Politics (Vol 1)*Hanzi Freinacht, Nordic Ideology: A Metamodern Guide to Politics (Vol 2)*Jonathan Rowson, Metamodernism and the Perception of Context: The Cultural Between, the Political After and the Mystic BeyondDavid Foster Wallace, David Foster Wallace-BooksCobra Khai, martial arts comedy-dramaStranger Things, movieJohn Vervaeke, award-winning lecturer on subjects like Awakening from the Meaning CrisisJürgen Habermas, German philosopherJonathan Rowson, essay, Metamodernism and the Perception of Context: The Cultural Between, the Political After and the Mystic BeyondConfucius’ Rectification of NamesThomas Metzinger, German philosopherBildung, linking philosophy and education for both personal and cultural maturationJonathan Rowson, “Bildung in the 21st Century: Why Sustainable Prosperity Depends on Reimagining Education”Zachary Stein, Education in a Time Between Worlds: Essays on the Future of Schools, Technology, and Society*Jonathan Rowson, The Moves That Matter: A Chess Grandmaster on the Game of Life*Jonathan Rowson, Aeon magazine article Concentrate!The Bhagavad GitaJonathan Rowson, Spiritualise: Revitalising Spirituality to Address 21st Century ChallengesJonathan Rowson, anthology Metamodernity: Dispatches from a Time Between Worlds: Crisis and Emergence in Metamodernity*Perspectiva, systems-soul-society.com, interdisciplinary nonprofit organization developing responses to our epistemic metacrisis; Jonathan is co-founder and director.Jonathanrowson.me* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Jonathan Rowson, Ph.D. is co-founder and director of Perspectiva, an organization committed to understanding the relationship between systems, souls, and society in theory and practice, with a view to help overcome collective immunity to transformation in a time between worlds. He is also an open society fellow and a research fellow at the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity at the University of Surrey. He  was previously Director of the Social Brain Centre at the RSA, where he authored a range of influential research reports on behaviour change, climate change, and spirituality, and curated and chaired a range of related events. By background, Jonathan is an applied philosopher with degrees from Oxford, Harvard, and Bristol Universities. In a former life he was a chess Grandmaster and British Champion and views the game as a continuing source of insight and inspiration. His book, The Moves that Matter: A Grandmaster on the Game of Life, was published in 2019.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 17 (Part 1 of 2) | Jonathan Rowson, brilliant, driven, articulate, shines a bright light of understanding on the metacrisis we face today, what feeds it, and what could help us find our way through. What is metamodernity and what does it have to offer? Is the ecological crisis fundamentally an educational crisis? Can we grow into our problem rather than thinking of ourselves as “failing beings” as the climate collapses around us? From the metaperspective to the deeply personal, Rowson shares his wisdom, including life lessons he gleaned from being a chess Grandmaster, before becoming a philosopher, research fellow, nonprofit director, and author. Recorded on November 17, 2021.“Let’s be careful what we’re talking about because we’re creating a world…”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1What are Jonathan’s daily practices (while also being very much “in the world” these days)? (05:37)Being a cartological hedonist: intellectual mapmaking (10:27)What does Christianity have to offer that we should be paying attention to? (11:58)Becoming “construct aware” in the political spectrum and elsewhere: cultural progress depends on it (14:29)The UK Brexit quagmire: what are we talking about when we say democracy? (18:32)Why developmental psychology may not be the best lens to look at our culture and politics (20:15)What is the most strategic contribution you can make? (29:45)Progressive imperialism: assuming everyone is or could be on the same page—but conflict and opposition will always be a feature of the world (32:04)Who is included in the word “we,” getting people to face up to the fallen nature of the world, and the Manichaean worldview (34:51)The contemplative perspective and our fundamental state of delusion (36:30)Underlying delusion in the progressive community that there is a fundamental “right” way or that we will come to a common agreement on issues like climate (38:28)The imperative to mobilize to face the epistemic crisis as well as the environmental crisis (40:23)How do we work together in a context where we may disagree and dislike each other: making friends with conflict (42:05)The metacrisis, confusion, and the bottomless mystery: a time between worlds (45:08)Carlos Castenada’s 4 traps for the person of knowledge: fear, power, clarity, old age (47:57)Confusion is not necessarily a bad thing (48:35)Resources & References – Part 1Jonathan Rowson, The Moves That Matter: A Chess Grandmaster on the Game of Life*Perspectiva, systems-soul-society.com, interdisciplinary nonprofit organization based in London, developing responses to our epistemic metacrisis; Jonathan is co-founder and directorJonathan Rowson, essay Tasting the Pickle: Ten Flavours of Meta-Crisis and the Appetite for a New CivilisationJonathan Rowson, Spiritualise: Revitalising Spirituality to Address 21st Century ChallengesJonathan Rowson, anthology Metamodernity: Dispatches from a Time Between Worlds: Crisis and Emergence in Metamodernity*Jonathan Rowson, essay, Metamodernism and the Perception of Context: The Cultural Between, the Political After and the Mystic BeyondVedantic philosophyConfucius’ Rectification of NamesRobert Kegan, The Evolving Self (first chapter “The Unrecognized Genius of Jean Piaget”)*Alistair McIntosh, Hell and High Water: Climate Change, Hope and the Human Condition*Aldous Huxley, Island*The Manichaean worldviewDaniel Schmachtenberger, founding member of The Consilience Project, aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogue Carlos Castaneda, The Teachings of Don Juan** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Jonathan Rowson, Ph.D. is co-founder and director of Perspectiva, an organization committed to understanding the relationship between systems, souls, and society in theory and practice, with a view to help overcome collective immunity to transformation in a time between worlds. He is also an open society fellow and a research fellow at the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity at the University of Surrey. He  was previously Director of the Social Brain Centre at the RSA, where he authored a range of influential research reports on behaviour change, climate change, and spirituality, and curated and chaired a range of related events. By background, Jonathan is an applied philosopher with degrees from Oxford, Harvard, and Bristol Universities. In a former life he was a chess Grandmaster and British Champion and views the game as a continuing source of insight and inspiration. His book, The Moves that Matter: A Grandmaster on the Game of Life, was published in 2019.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 16 | Kateryna Yasko and Vytautas Bučiūnas crossed the border into Lithuania three days before this conversation took place, after a five-day exodus from Kyiv, following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This conversation is a call for action and support of the incredibly brave Ukrainian people, and illuminates their willingness to fight to the death to throw out the invaders who are there to crush their freedom and make Ukraine a colony of Putin’s Russia. This is an informative, inspirational, and heartbreaking dialogue with two exceptionally insightful Integral leaders from the Ukraine—about propaganda and myth-making in our post-truth world, about integrating power, force, and love, about a new worldwide unity, and how the Integral perspective might pave the way towards world peace. Recorded March 5, 2022.“One nation has opened the hearts of the whole world. What kind of conversations should we have now to foster this care and compassion, and move it in a constructive direction?”Topics & Time StampsWitnessing the beginning of this phase of Putin’s aggression: the Revolution of Dignity and the Annexation of Crimea in 2013 and 2014 (04:29)The Russian propaganda machine: painting Ukraine as a fascist country of Nazis (06:32)Putin’s masterful creation of a myth in this post-truth world (10:05)This is a fight for truth (17:40)Is there anything good about Putin? (23:51)Kateryna & Vytautas’ experience: the beginning of the invasion and the exodus to Lithuania (26:31)Sirens and bomb shelters are becoming routine; fear has turned to anger (39:55)Europe is united, NATO is united, Ukraine is united (42:15)How this invasion has reinforced Second Tier consciousness in the West (44:49)How long can Ukraine hold out? Are the sanctions enough? What about a Russian oil embargo? (46:58)What can Western countries do, what are they not doing, and why sanctions are so useful (50:58)Russian oligarchs and Putin in his bunker (54:50)Do we need to allow Putin to save face or just fight to the bitter end? (58:21)Denazification, demilitarization…dePutinification and other parallels (01:01:41)Putin’s narrative and the Russian Orthodox Church (01:03:01)Europa = Gayropa, Putin has assumed the role of protector of traditional values (1:06:18)How can we use the Integral metaperspective to heal what’s happening? (1:10:43)Why what Ukraine is doing is so inspiring: fighting out of love, not fear (01:12:05)Ukraine and others’ “showing up” is very Second Tier (01:13:06)One nation has opened the hearts of the whole world. How shall we integrate this and foster the care and compassion to steer it in a constructive direction? (01:14:18)Integrating power and love: facing our need to engage power with force (01:15:30)A new focus on World Peace from a Second Tier perspective (01:19:21)Glory to Ukraine, glory to heroes (01:22:15)Resources & ReferencesVytautas Bučiūnas' website: Upgrade of Leader’s Operating SystemThe Revolution of DignityThe Annexation of CrimeaBrave New World of Putin, propaganda article waiting to be published after the occupation of UkrainePhilosopher Alexander Filonenko, Ph.D., “We Need Holiness”Spiral Dynamics’ Second Tier of consciousnessThe Russian Orthodox ChurchRussian Ministry of Culture websiteAdam Kahane, Power and Love: A Theory and Practice of Social Change*Martin Luther King, Jr.’s quote, “Power without love…”World Peace with the Integral Approach, Integral European Conference 2022Gravitas Plus, "Why Putin wants Ukraine,'' an overview of the Russian-Ukrainian crisisHow can I help? List of resources curated by RazomForUkraine.org#StandWithUkrainePodcast produced by Vanessa SantosShow Notes by Heidi Mitchell---Kateryna Yasko (Ukraine) is an organizational psychologist, a trainer for the development of emotional intelligence, trust, cooperation, effective communication, and peaceful conflict resolution, and co-founder of the consulting company U-Integral. Her academic background is in the area of international relations and law (MSc), business (MBA), and psychology (MSc). She bases her programs on the principles of Ken Wilber’s Integral approach and Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication, and is certified in Spiral Dynamics Integral and in Susanne Cook-Greuter’s Maturity Assessment Profile. Kateryna is also head of the public association "International Institute for Integral Development" and a founder of the educational initiative EMPATIA.PRO, specializing in bringing  holistic approaches into educational leadership and learning cultures. Vytautas Bučiūnas (Lithuania–Ukraine) is a co-founder and managing partner of U-Integral, an integral leadership development company. Vytautas also has vast experience as a top manager in the banking sector including working as the Head of Resident Office, Senior Banker, Associate Director at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Russia, Ukraine). Vytautas' professional profile includes building organizational units f

Ep. 15 (Part 2 of 2) | Zen teacher Diane Musho Hamilton brings us home to the simple essence of Zen: to practice as one, without reference to past or future. This heartfelt conversation covers many topics: waking up to our true nature, grief and practices that help us work through it, the tension of “difference,” healing the rift between female and male, the role of ayahuasca and peyote, the ever more subtle process of purification, and a beautiful recitation of 14th century Sufi poet Hafiz’s poem, “I Have Learned So Much.” Allow yourself to be reminded how simple things can get if you let them and how, as Diane says, “We’re all just growing up together.” Recorded on September 13, 2021.Diane Musho Hamilton is an award-winning professional mediator, author, and teacher of Zen meditation. She has been a practitioner of meditation for more than 30 years and is a lineage holder in the Soto Zen tradition. As the first Director of the Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution for the Utah Judiciary, Diane established mediation programs throughout the court system and won several prestigious awards for her work in this area. She is the Executive Director of Two Arrows Zen, a practice in Utah, and offers training programs oriented to personal development and advanced facilitator skills. Diane is the author of Everything Is Workable and The Zen of You and Me. Her latest book is Compassionate Conversations: How to Speak and Listen from the Heart, co-authored with Gabriel Wilson and Kimberly Loh.“What does it mean to be human?”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Grief: being present with it and practicing with it (01:01)How shamanic practice can let us see pure radiance in others (07:46)The power of ritual in times of grief (08:48)Grief and integral practice (12:20)What is the role of a specifically female contemplative teacher? (19:03)Confronting the feminine shadow (22:59)The neverending, ever more subtle practice of purification (aka Ken Wilber’s “cleaning up”) (25:32)What do women want from men? (30:11)And what do men want from women? (34:40)Peyote, forgiveness, and healing the rift (38:04)Resources & References – Part 2Roger Walsh, The World of Shamanism*Hafiz, The Gift, translated by Daniel Landinsky*Dan Brown, meditation master and teacher Dogen Zenji, One Continuous Mistake (Shoshaku Jushaku) in DōgenRam Dass quotesDon QuixoteW.E.B. Du Bois, sociologist, author, activistCarlos Castaneda, A Separate Reality: Further Conversations with Don Juan*Diane Hamilton, Compassionate Conversations: How to Speak and Listen from the Heart*Diane Hamilton, Everything is Workable*Diane Hamilton, The Zen of You and Me*Two Arrows Zen, Salt Lake City Artspace ZendoTwo Arrows Zen, Torrey, Utah* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa SantosShow Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 14 (Part 1 of 2) | Zen teacher Diane Musho Hamilton brings us home to the simple essence of Zen: to practice as one, without reference to past or future. This heartfelt conversation covers many topics: waking up to our true nature, grief and practices that help us work through it, the tension of “difference,” healing the rift between female and male, the role of ayahuasca and peyote, the ever more subtle process of purification, and a beautiful recitation of 14th century Sufi poet Hafiz’s poem, “I Have Learned So Much.” Allow yourself to be reminded how simple things can get if you let them and how, as Diane says, “We’re all just growing up together.” Recorded on September 13, 2021.Diane Musho Hamilton is an award-winning professional mediator, author, and teacher of Zen meditation. She has been a practitioner of meditation for more than 30 years and is a lineage holder in the Soto Zen tradition. As the first Director of the Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution for the Utah Judiciary, Diane established mediation programs throughout the court system and won several prestigious awards for her work in this area. She is the Executive Director of Two Arrows Zen, a practice in Utah, and offers training programs oriented to personal development and advanced facilitator skills. Diane is the author of Everything Is Workable and The Zen of You and Me. Her latest book is Compassionate Conversations: How to Speak and Listen from the Heart, co-authored with Gabriel Wilson and Kimberly Loh.“What does it mean to be human?”Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1Diane’s opening at seventeen to “what does it mean to be human?” (02:43)Buddhadharma, Integral, and Big Mind (05:10)The urgent need for us to wake up to our fundamental unity (10:37)How Ken Wilber’s developmental stages and states fit in (15:20)The heart of Zen Buddhism: an utterly coherent reality, free of separation (19:37)Differences between Diane’s teachings & practice and traditional Zen: creating space for ego development (20:51) Zen’s contribution to conflict resolution: radical first person, sitting together as one (24:11)Looking at climate change in an Integral way, from 1st-person, 2nd-person, and 3rd-person perspectives (26:21)Zen teaches peace is in the present without reference to past or future (29:33)The difference between meditation and flow states, and manifesting from the place of Big Mind (33:57)Resources & References - Part 1Diane Hamilton, Compassionate Conversations: How to Speak and Listen from the Heart*Gabriel Wilson, Kimberly LohDiane Hamilton, Everything is Workable*Diane Hamilton, The Zen of You and Me*Two Arrows Zen, Salt Lake City Artspace ZendoTwo Arrows Zen, Torrey, UtahChögyam TrungpaGail Hochachka, “Finding Shared Meaning in the Anthropocene: Engaging Diverse Perspectives on Climate Change”Dennis Genpo Merzel, Big Mind Big Heart** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 13 (Part 2 of 2) | Dan Millman has shown us how to live with both a peaceful heart and a warrior’s spirit for forty years. His new book Peaceful Heart, Warrior Spirit shares his reflections on the extraordinary experiences that shaped his evolution from youthful dreamer to spiritual teacher. Dan’s first book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, was a bestseller and adapted into a feature film. Dan is a former world trampoline champion, Stanford University gymnastics coach, martial arts instructor, and Oberlin college professor. His 18 books are published in 29 languages. Dan has traveled widely, teaching in over thirty countries. To learn more about his books, events, online courses, and free life-purpose calculator, visit www.PeacefulWarrior.com.Dan Millman, a man who has devoted his life to mastery—in sports and in the arena of life itself—and author of the book that opened doors for so many, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, published in the 80s, talks about inspiration, talent, discipline, mastery, ordinary life, and his own path, practices, teachers, and new book, Peaceful Heart, Warrior Spirit: The True Story of My Spiritual Quest. Humorous and humble, Dan embodies the peaceful warrior way, centering his life around service, sharing his wisdom, and living the question, “What needs doing right now?” Recorded on October 20, 2021.“There are no ordinary moments.”Topics & Time Stamps - Part 2Dan’s teachers: the professor, the guru, and spiritual technology (01:37)On cults (07:52)The first 5 levels of consciousness: blind belief, conventional reality, St. Ego, the philosopher, disillusion (13:22)Dan’s daily practices and the 4-minute meditation on the process of dying (22:46)The fundamental foundation of the peaceful warrior’s way (25:17)The Zen of ordinariness (27:07)Dan’s teachers: the warrior-priest, David Reynolds (29:13)On gratitude (33:41)Approaching life as an experiment and action inquiry (39:04)Carlos Castaneda’s four natural enemies of man: fear, clarity, power, and old age (41:02)Dan’s guiding question (45:26)Resources & References - Part 2Adi Da, American spiritual teacherCarl Jung, “...making the darkness conscious.”Arthur Deikman, pioneering psychiatrist*The 4-minute Peaceful Warrior MeditationThe Ten Ox Herding Pictures from the Zen traditionDan Millman, The Life You Were Born to Live*David Reynolds, Constructive Living*Bill Torbert, Action Inquiry*Carlos Castaneda’s the 4 enemies, The Teachings of Don Juan*Alan Watts, The Wisdom of Insecurity*Dan Millman, Peaceful Heart, Warrior Spirit*Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior*PeacefulWarrior.com* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 12 (Part 1 of 2) | Dan Millman, a man who has devoted his life to mastery—in sports and in the arena of life itself—and author of the book that opened doors for so many, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, published in the 80s, talks about inspiration, talent, discipline, mastery, ordinary life, and his own path, practices, teachers, and new book, Peaceful Heart, Warrior Spirit: The True Story of My Spiritual Quest. Humorous and humble, Dan embodies the peaceful warrior way, centering his life around service, sharing his wisdom, and living the question, “What needs doing right now?” Recorded on October 20, 2021.Dan Millman has shown us how to live with both a peaceful heart and a warrior’s spirit for forty years. His new book Peaceful Heart, Warrior Spirit shares his reflections on the extraordinary experiences that shaped his evolution from youthful dreamer to spiritual teacher. Dan’s first book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, was a bestseller and adapted into a feature film. Dan is a former world trampoline champion, Stanford University gymnastics coach, martial arts instructor, and Oberlin college professor. His 18 books are published in 29 languages. Dan has traveled widely, teaching in over thirty countries. To learn more about his books, events, online courses, and free life-purpose calculator, visit www.PeacefulWarrior.com.“There are no ordinary moments.”Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1The deepest source of Dan’s inspiration (05:32) How do we develop talent? In sports—and in life (06:46)The heart of Dan’s motivation: What’s the bigger picture? Asking “What do I do?” instead of “Who am I?” (11:25)The importance of gaining self-knowledge (Know thyself): otherwise we make the right choice for the wrong person! (12:51)On discipline, the Marshmallow Experiment, and using failure as a stepping stone (15:15) The learning curve of mastering...anything (18:18)There are no ordinary moments: practice everything (24:21)How self-mastery leads to a path of service (27:37) Practicing happiness (33:05)Helping others, helping ourselves: connecting heaven and earth (36:08)Resources & References - Part 1Dan Millman, Peaceful Heart, Warrior Spirit*Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior*PeacefulWarrior.comDan Millman, The Hidden School*Dan Millman, No Ordinary Moments*The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment on delayed gratificationPicasso, “It took me...a lifetime to paint like a child.”Roger Walsh’s essay, Contributing Effectively in Times of CrisisMihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow*Groundhog Day movieRamana Maharshi, I want to give people what they want...eventually they may want what I want to give them.Sri Nisargadatta, Not this, not this, not this.Joseph Campbell, “Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world.”Adyashanti, spiritual teacher and authorGolda Meir, “Don’t be so humble, you’re not that great.”Ram Dass, from Be Here Now: “Just because you are...experiencing waves of bliss...is no reason to not know your zip code.”** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 11 (Part 3 of 3) | Cosmological explorer Chris Bache tells what he discovered on his extraordinary journey, doing 73 high-dose LSD sessions over a period of twenty years. Motivated by a passion to find out more about the universe, Chris became intimate with the ocean of suffering in our collective psyche, the death/rebirth cycle, the preciousness of individuality, integrating consciousness at very high levels of energy, and the future of humanity. Chris explains a universal intelligence met him every step of the way. A modern-day Odysseus, who has explored realms far beyond our normal perceptions of reality, Chris’ presence is profoundly compassionate, grounded in a uniquely deep trust in the love and intelligence of the universe. Recorded on October 25, 2021.Chris Bache, Ph.D. is professor emeritus in the department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University where he taught for 33 years. He is also adjunct faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies, Emeritus Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and on the Advisory Board of Grof Legacy Training. Chris’ passion has been the study of the philosophical implications of non ordinary states of consciousness, especially psychedelic states. An award-winning teacher and international speaker, Chris has written four books: Lifecycles, a study of reincarnation in light of contemporary consciousness research; Dark Night, Early Dawn, a pioneering work in psychedelic philosophy and collective consciousness; The Living Classroom, an exploration of collective fields of consciousness in teaching; and LSD and the Mind of the Universe, the story of his 20-year journey with LSD.Topics & Time Stamps - Part 3Pitfalls on the path and how to keep grounded (01:22)The sickness of silence: doing psychedelic research in a psychedelic-phobic society (07:09) Is there an end state? Every opening is a portal to another opening (09:00) Dissolving into pure luminosity, an endless progression (12:00)“Diamond vision” outside of time/space and the Bardo reality: seeing through the eyes of the future human (14:20)The diamond luminosity condition (18:07)Words from the Great Mother (24:29)The creative intelligence and the evolution of the collective psyche (27:31)The profound genius, the depth of love, and the purposeful intent of the universe (29:40)Discovering we can trust ourselves profoundly—our individual minds as well as the greater reality (37:26)Letting go of the fear of death: death is the great liberation (43:23)Resources & References - Part 3A.H. Almaas, Runaway Realization, The Alchemy of Freedom*Dharmakaya: the clear light of absolute realityPure Land BuddhismStanislav Grof, The Cosmic Game*Vajrayana practiceChris Bache, LSD and Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven*Chris Bache, The Living Classroom*7-week online course on Chris’ book: Exploring the Cosmic Mind Through Psychedelics (Shift Network)* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 10 (Part 2 of 3) | Cosmological explorer Chris Bache tells what he discovered on his extraordinary journey, doing 73 high-dose LSD sessions over a period of twenty years. Motivated by a passion to find out more about the universe, Chris became intimate with the ocean of suffering in our collective psyche, the death/rebirth cycle, the preciousness of individuality, integrating consciousness at very high levels of energy, and the future of humanity. Chris explains a universal intelligence met him every step of the way. A modern-day Odysseus, who has explored realms far beyond our normal perceptions of reality, Chris’ presence is profoundly compassionate, grounded in a uniquely deep trust in the love and intelligence of the universe. Recorded on October 25, 2021.Chris Bache, Ph.D. is professor emeritus in the department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University where he taught for 33 years. He is also adjunct faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies, Emeritus Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and on the Advisory Board of Grof Legacy Training. Chris’ passion has been the study of the philosophical implications of non ordinary states of consciousness, especially psychedelic states. An award-winning teacher and international speaker, Chris has written four books: Lifecycles, a study of reincarnation in light of contemporary consciousness research; Dark Night, Early Dawn, a pioneering work in psychedelic philosophy and collective consciousness; The Living Classroom, an exploration of collective fields of consciousness in teaching; and LSD and the Mind of the Universe, the story of his 20-year journey with LSD.Topics & Time Stamps - Part 2Individuality is the great beauty. One of the great gifts of the universe. (01:11)Awakening to your bond with the universe (06:53)Using psychedelics for healing, spiritual awakening, cosmological exploration: You don’t need to shatter time to spiritually awaken (10:21)Stabilizing states of consciousness and Chris’ practices today: meditation, the being of practice, grounding (13:51)The shift taking place at the collective archetypal level (17:10)The death and rebirth of humanity and the emergence of a changed humanity (17:57)The global crisis is a crisis of consciousness: growing into our full soul being (19:15) The birth of the future human and the awakening of the soul (25:59)Seeing the human transition to come from the place of Deep Time (31:50)The sacred question: How can I serve other people and make this knowledge useful to other people? (33:17)The transmission and healing that come from deep practice (36:54)7-week online course on Chris’ book: Exploring the Cosmic Mind Through Psychedelics (38:44)What has been the reaction to Chris’ book? (39:43)Psychedelic therapy (42:02)The essential work of integration (43:24)Resources & References - Part 2Ramakrishna, the longing to be separate in order to worship the MotherVedanta, one of six schools of Hindu philosophy, the end of the VedasChris Bache, Dark Night, Early Dawn*Chris Bache, LSD and Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven*Duane Elgin, Choosing Earth. In 2006, Duane received the international Goi Peace Award in recognition of his contribution to a “global vision, consciousness, and lifestyle.*Ian Stevenson, Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect*Chris Bache, Lifecycles*Kenneth Ring, Heading Toward Omega*Chris Bache, The Living Classroom*7-week online course on Chris’ book: Exploring the Cosmic Mind Through Psychedelics (Shift Network)Roger Walsh, Higher Wisdom: Eminent Elders Explore the Continuing Impact of Psychedelics*Tim Read & Maria Papaspyrou, Psychedelics and Psychotherapy** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 9 (Part 1 of 3) | Cosmological explorer Chris Bache tells what he discovered on his extraordinary journey, doing 73 high-dose LSD sessions over a period of twenty years. Motivated by a passion to find out more about the universe, Chris became intimate with the ocean of suffering in our collective psyche, the death/rebirth cycle, the preciousness of individuality, integrating consciousness at very high levels of energy, and the future of humanity. Chris explains a universal intelligence met him every step of the way. A modern-day Odysseus, who has explored realms far beyond our normal perceptions of reality, Chris’ presence is profoundly compassionate, grounded in a uniquely deep trust in the love and intelligence of the universe. Recorded on October 25, 2021.Chris Bache, Ph.D. is professor emeritus in the department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University where he taught for 33 years. He is also adjunct faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies, Emeritus Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and on the Advisory Board of Grof Legacy Training. Chris’ passion has been the study of the philosophical implications of non ordinary states of consciousness, especially psychedelic states. An award-winning teacher and international speaker, Chris has written four books: Lifecycles, a study of reincarnation in light of contemporary consciousness research; Dark Night, Early Dawn, a pioneering work in psychedelic philosophy and collective consciousness; The Living Classroom, an exploration of collective fields of consciousness in teaching; and LSD and the Mind of the Universe, the story of his 20-year journey with LSD.Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1How WEIRD cultures looked at reality through a monophasic lens clear up till the 1960s—only taking waking reality seriously—whereas other cultures have a polyphasic perception that includes induced altered states, from dreams, meditation, plant medicine, etc. (01:39)Psychedelics, a most potent way to induce altered states with profound spiritual applications, and introducing Chris Bache, cosmological explorer (04:42)What motivated Chris to begin his quest? The passion to understand our universe and not only the personal unconscious but the collective unconscious (11:19)20-year journey following Stan Grof’s protocol, 73 high dose LSD sessions (13:21) The model of individual awakening and accelerating personal development led to a much broader, collective field of healing and transformation (14:16)Intimate relationship with the divine said the book (LSD and the MInd of the Universe) needed to come forward now, even though it exposes so much (16:22)The value Chris found in the experience of personal and collective suffering: a cycle of suffering, breakthrough, purification, and ecstasy of insight (17:09)Consciousness was waiting every step of the way on this journey to bring ecstasy back into time/space consciousness (21:18)The ocean of suffering in our collective psyche (23:53)From transpersonal to being an instrument for the transformation of collective consciousness (28:37)Using psilocybin would be wiser, gentler—less explosive, less shattering (32:42)In Chris’ death/rebirth experiences: what actually dies? (34:36)Each different substance has a different range in opening us up (37:39)The shamanic persona (39:36)Every step deeper into the universe is a step into a higher level of energy: stabilizing consciousness at extremely high levels of energy (41:39)Death and rebirth is stage specific: at each gate there is a sacrifice asked (42:13)The concept of death yields to the concept of purification (42:54)What doesn’t die? (43:34)The birth of the diamond soul (45:54)Resources & References - Part 1Chris Bache, Dark Night, Early Dawn*Chris Bache, The Living Classroom*Chris Bache, Lifecycles*Chris Bache, LSD and Mind of the Universe (Diamonds from Heaven)*Grof Legacy TrainingErika Bourguignon, a founder of the field Anthropology of Consciousness, and a premier anthropological authority on trance, possession, and altered states of consciousnessStanislav Grof, Realms of the Human Unconscious** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 8 | An extraordinary, heartfelt conversation with spiritual practitioner, teacher, activist, Integralist, and author Terry Patten, who was at the time facing his own mortality following a recent diagnosis of a rare and aggressive cancer. An inner radiance shines forth as Terry, with much graciousness and candor, discusses the call to “get real”—not only personally but also collectively; his deepened perception of the “amazing grace of existence;” the directionality that has guided much of his life; and action inquiry: working on becoming next-stage human beings by experimenting with being the best people we can be. A touching and transformative talk, Terry conveys the deepening understanding coming from living on the edge and transmits a “radical okayness” with everything. Recorded September 21, 2021.Terry Patten was a philosopher-activist, author, teacher and coach, community organizer, consultant, and social entrepreneur. Most recently Terry published A New Republic of the Heart: An Ethos for Revolutionaries—a book summarizing his life’s work and offering an approach to facing the problems of our time. Over the last fifteen years, Terry devoted his efforts to the evolution of consciousness: facing, examining, and healing our global crisis through the marriage of spirit and activism. Terry co-wrote the book Integral Life Practice with Ken Wilber and a core team at the Integral Institute in 2008.“I want us to recognize our tremendously strong impulse to draw a conclusion, to think we know. But it’s in the NOT knowing—the inquiry, the curiosity, the humility, the beginner’s mind—that we create a real opening.”Topics & Time StampsThe call to “get real,” personally and collectively; waking up to the miracle of existence (04:17)With the diagnosis, the burden fell away (21:44)Mortality versus morbidity: many sufferings are worse than death (31:02)The directionality that guided Terry’s life and wanting to be “good” (41:11)Encountering his root guru, Adi Da (44:50)The importance of being kind (46:54)Let’s bend a knee to something greater than ourselves and LISTEN (53:43)The radical okayness of it all (55:52)Action inquiry and evolving into a new stage of human development (56:27)Resources & ReferencesTerry Patten, A New Republic of the Heart: An Ethos for Revolutionaries*The nonprofit organization A New Republic of the Heart invites spiritual practitioners and change agents to learn, practice, and collaborate in becoming the next-stage human beings who can rise to our collective moment.Terry Patten.comRumi, “The Beloved,” The Way of the Sufi*Stephen Jenkinson, Die Wise*Adi Da, American spiritual teacherAldous Huxley, “Try to be a little kinder.”His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Compassion and the IndividualJoanna Macy, The Great Turning or the Great Unraveling: It’s Our ChoiceBrightening Every Darkness, 4-part webinar offered in the last weeks of Terry’s life, with Terry, Diane Hamilton, Indra Adnan, and Craig Hamilton* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 7 | In this lively, eye-opening conversation, intuitive and oracle Colette Baron-Reid talks about how intuition is available to each one of us and how we can use it to navigate our lives, about why we need to practice radical acceptance now more than ever, about facing our shadow to find our biggest gifts and liberate our lives, about what it takes to cultivate hope and override fear, and about the transformative power of the Twelve Steps. Colette’s deep, practical, psychological wisdom comes like a transmission: “I am not a mistake. Nobody is broken. I trust in my partnership with the Universe. Who can I impact in a positive way?” Colette also tells stories from her past with verve and humor, and we discover how she came to be the wise and popular teacher, guide, and healer she is today. Recorded on November 22, 2021.Colette Baron-Reid is an internationally acclaimed Oracle expert, thought leader, and speaker in the personal transformation space. With over 30 years of experience as an Oracle & intuition expert, Colette’s greatest joy is teaching people they can have a direct and personal dialogue with the Universe to help them create their best lives. Colette is a best-selling author of multiple life-changing books including The Map, published in 27 languages. Her popular meditation apps and Oracle Card decks are worldwide hits, and she was the star of the hit TV series, “Messages from Spirit” and highly popular Hay House call-in radio show, “Ask the Oracle.” Colette is also the founder and creator of Oracle School—where people learn to transform their lives using Oracle Cards as a guidance system.“We are in co-creative relationship with a conscious Universe.”Topics & Time StampsWhat is intuition? (07:42)Colette’s early years: finding out she was Jewish, her psychic Scottish nanny, and all the confusing things that led to addiction (10:59)Tasseomancy, Spirit and symbolism, ancient practices of divination, and how nature speaks to us (18:40)An inherited sense of lack of safety and Colette’s book The Map (20:26)The evolutionary gift is in the shadow (21:07)Our invitation right now in these times of pandemic is to be present to all of it and not judge any of it: radical acceptance (23:24)What do we do with our anger and how do we make it work for us? (28:28)Filling our minds with what is important: who can I impact in a positive way? (30:29)Compassion and kindness...micro steps are the way to change (31:50)Make curiosity your superpower (34:43)Hold life as an experiment: we’re not always going to get things right (35:12)How we weaponize our emotions, project feelings, and create polarization (36:59)Respons-a-bility plus trusting in our partnership with the Universe is where hope lies (39:54)Colette’s spiritual awakening: I am not a mistake. Nobody is broken. And the fundamental flaw fallacy (41:12)Being hopeful is harder than being fearful (47:31)How Colette found her path as a healer: “it chose me” (49:54)Following the crumbs is the evolution of Colette’s world (54:04)The power of the Twelve Steps could change the world (56:46)Today’s problems are yesterday’s solutions (1:00:40)The need for nuance and innovation in our conversations (1:02:28)Step 3 and Step 11: Surrendering to the will of the divine (1:05:15)Service is enlightened self-interest (1:08:08)Colette’s daily practices to help her stay in touch with Source (1:10:01)The underestimated effects of practicing gratitude (1:12:03)The Twelve Steps in a nutshell (1:13:03)Resources & ReferencesColette Baron-Reid.com, Colette’s books, The Oracle SchoolHelen Palmer, Enneagram expertRyan Goldman’s Enneagram*Wayne Dyer, author and speaker in the fields of self-development and spiritual growthPrinceton University, The Global Consciousness ProjectColette Baron-Reid, The Map: Finding the Magic and Meaning in the Story of Your Life*Jungian psychology, and the concept of active imaginationJoseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces*Bruce Lipton, The Wisdom of Your Cells, The Biology of Belief*Ruth King, Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out*The fundamental flaw fallacyColette’s Oracle School of transformationThomas Hubl, Gabor Mate on collective traumaEco-psychologyThe Haindl TarotLeigh Spusta and iAwake Technologies’ Alpha ArisingBrother David Steindl-Rast, Gratefulness.org* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 6 (Part 2 of 2) | In this inspiring and empowering conversation, Rick Hanson spells out how we can use positive, self-directed neuroplasticity to hardwire our brains in order to become happier, cultivate virtues, deal with cravings, become deeply grounded, turn our desired states into stable traits, and more. Neurodharma is Rick’s conceptual creation: a marriage of neuroscience, psychology, and contemporary wisdom that offers individuals who are out to make a change for the better an impressive and effective brain hacking toolkit. Rick’s own gentle wisdom, compassion, clarity, kindness, and humor shine in this truly groundbreaking (for most of us) dialogue, making him a wonderful exemplar of the peaceful, loving, altruistic, and effective person practicing neurodharma can help us to become. Recorded September 20, 2021.Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is an expert on positive neuroplasticity, a clinical psychologist, a New York Times best-selling author, and a Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. His books include Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture, and have been published in 30 languages. He has lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. Rick's work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, NPR, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom. Rick loves wilderness and taking a break from emails.“We need to actively work with the mind to pull weeds and plant flowers.” Topics & Timestamps - Part 22 major obstructions to speeding our growth (01:04)Gradual cultivation, sudden awakening, gradual cultivation (06:08)Bodhidhamma: practice is like a wagon with 2 wheels (06:39)What are the crucial qualities of heart and mind that are essential to cultivate? (10:32)Who has lit the fire in Rick’s heart? (12:48)Truly wise person: Peaceable, friendly, fearless (15:31)The importance of trusting our own minds (19:09)What are Rick’s daily practices? (22:26)Paying attention to the subtleties of craving (23:55)Focusing on a sustained felt sense of the ground of all; recognizing the extraordinary generosity of the arising moment (27:40)How does Rick understand the act of transmission? 29:16Reverse engineering desired qualities to yourself (31:39)What are Rick’s priorities for the future? (35:21)Self-directed neuroplasticity: 3 foundational practices (36:59)Re-establishing the 3 enabling conditions of healthy human politics (38:09)Playfulness, to include curiosity, makes us receptive to lasting change (41:08)Resources & References - Part 2Shunryu Suzuki-roshi, Zen monk and teacher who founded the first Zen Buddhist monastery outside of AsiaBodhidharma, Buddhist monk credited with bringing Buddhism to ChinaRam Dass, Life in Balance: A Path to Equanimity and PeaceJoseph Goldstein, American mindfulness teacherThich Nhat Han, Vietnamese monk, exemplar of embodied wisdom, peace activistChristina Feldman, Boundless Heart*Tara Brach, Trusting the Gold*Carl Rogers, pioneering humanist psychologistRick Hanson, author of Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture*Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, whose mission is to offer skillful means for changing the brain to benefit the whole person and all beings in a world too full of war.* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 5 (Part 1 of 2) | In this inspiring and empowering conversation, Rick Hanson spells out how we can use positive, self-directed neuroplasticity to hardwire our brains in order to become happier, cultivate virtues, deal with cravings, become deeply grounded, turn our desired states into stable traits, and more. Neurodharma is Rick’s conceptual creation: a marriage of neuroscience, psychology, and contemporary wisdom that offers individuals who are out to make a change for the better an impressive and effective brain hacking toolkit. Rick’s own gentle wisdom, compassion, clarity, kindness, and humor shine in this truly groundbreaking (for most of us) dialogue, making him a wonderful exemplar of the peaceful, loving, altruistic, and effective person practicing neurodharma can help us to become. Recorded September 20, 2021.Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is an expert on positive neuroplasticity, a clinical psychologist, a New York Times best-selling author, and a Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. His books include Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture, and have been published in 30 languages. He has lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. Rick's work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, NPR, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom. Rick loves wilderness and taking a break from emails.Topics & Timestamps - Part 1 Introducing Rick Hanson: kindness, books, philanthropy, forging the discipline of neurodharma (01:50)What are Rick’s most important takeaways from his life’s work? (05:35)Frictionless contentment: grounding unshakeable happiness in the body (05:52) We have the power to use our mind (direct our mental activity) to sustain lasting changes in the brain and we cannot escape the responsibility for using (or not using) this (08:41)Why do we need neuroscience when meditation does this anyway? (11:34)3 benefits of grounding our practice in neuroscience (13:08)To provide sustained motivation (13:17)Gives us a common framework of enquiry that helps us operationalize when we’re doing our practices (13:56)Highlights the tools that correlate to each individual’s highest priority so they can zero in on what matters the most (15:05)Our brain’s negativity bias (16:26) How tuning into internal sensations helps steady our mind, stabilize attention, and pull us into the present (17:20)Helps identify new methods like neurofeedback (21:10)Knowing we are hard-wired to focus on negative experiences helps our own inner work, reducing guilt and extending our compassion (23:08)The challenge of stabilizing altered states into enduring traits (24:54)How to address craving: building the enduring trait of open-heartedness in the present using neuroplastic change (27:41)How do we anchor this? Rick leads a micro samadhi concentration practice (34:32)Deliberately resting in the felt sense of nothing wrong steepens your growth curve (41:31)Many of the beneficial traits we want to grow in ourselves involve states that aren’t actually that enjoyable. (44:55)Resources & References - Part 1Rick Hanson, author of Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture*Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, whose mission is to offer skillful means for changing the brain to benefit the whole person and all beings in a world too full of war.Senior Fellow, the Greater Good Science Center at UC BerkeleySpirit Rock meditation center board memberJoseph Goldstein, American mindfulness teacher, co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society, authorEvan Thompson, professor of philosophy, author of Why I Am Not a Buddhist, Mind in Life, and Waking, Dreaming, Being*T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding (poem)Huston Smith, religious scholar, The World’s Religions, quotes*Journal of Positive PsychologyMilarepa, Tibetan sage and poet* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 4 (Part 2 of 2) | In this riveting, mind opening (and bending) conversation, philosopher and peak performance expert Jamie Wheal takes our existential metacrisis head on, asking and often answering the biggest questions we, the human race, face today. “How do we do this human thing with our heads up and our hearts open and not get crushed by the tragedies and absurdities of it all?” “How can we tune into the wisdom, the transpersonal heights?” More than inspirational, this conversation is like an infusion of the energetic, coherent, transpersonal potential of human beings. Guaranteed, you won’t see things the same way after listening. Recorded on September 15, 2021.Jamie Wheal is the author of Recapture the Rapture: Rethinking God, Sex and Death In a World That's Lost Its Mind and the global bestseller Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work. He’s also the founder of the Flow Genome Project, an international organization dedicated to the research and training of human performance. Jamie’s work and ideas have been covered in The New York Times, Financial Times, Wired, Entrepreneur, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Inc., and TED. Jamie has spoken at Stanford University, MIT, the Harvard Club, Imperial College, Singularity University, the U.S. Naval War College and Special Operations Command, Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, the Bohemian Club, and the United Nations.Topics & Timestamps - Part 2 Die before you die and come back open-hearted with a hell, yes! (03:52)A plug for good, old-fashioned human love and rootsy wisdom (06:05)How do we come together in “healthy” (ethical) cults/communitas? Collective coherence (08:02)The Lucifer effect in “culty” cults and the golden shadow (17:12) Jerry Garcia channeling quicksilver starlight: what was that? (25:21) Peak experience technologies need to be scalable and open source (26:43)The Quaker influence (27:47)What is group coherence? Something happens when we sync humans together. (30:23)What is the non-corporeal information and inspiration layer that people access in their breakthroughs and how do we get there? (31:25)What’s next for humanity? A new operating level: a transrational space (33:00)Letting the mystery stay the mystery and premature cognitive commitment (41:23)Radical hope and the courage of mice (and men) (43:01)The future of humanity: soul force or bust (45:01)Resources & References - Part 2Jamie Wheal, Recapture the Rapture*Huston Smith, religious scholar, Cleansing the Doors of Perception*The Ten Ox Herding Pictures from the Zen traditionHafiz, “A Hole in a Flute,” The Gift*JRR Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings*Anthropos, Greek word for human. Mystical sense of perfected, integrated, balanced humanDavid Foster Wallace, postmodern author and professorZachary Stein, Education in a Time Between Worlds*Genpo Roshi and Diane Hamilton, the Big Mind processJerry Garcia and the The Grateful DeadElton Trueblood, Quaker author and theologianHameed Almaas, founder of the Diamond Approach*Andrew Huberman & Stanford University School of Medicine colleagues’ study what switches on courage in the brains of miceRamakrishna, Hindu mystic and religious leaderJamie Wheal, Stealing Fire*Jamie Wheal, Recapture the Rapture*Jamie Wheal’s The Flow Genome Project* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 3 (Part 1 of 2) | In this riveting, mind opening (and bending) conversation, philosopher and peak performance expert Jamie Wheal takes our existential metacrisis head on, asking and often answering the biggest questions we, the human race, face today. “How do we do this human thing with our heads up and our hearts open and not get crushed by the tragedies and absurdities of it all?” “How can we tune into the wisdom, the transpersonal heights?” More than inspirational, this conversation is like an infusion of the energetic, coherent, transpersonal potential of human beings. Guaranteed, you won’t see things the same way after listening. Recorded on September 15, 2021.Jamie Wheal is the author of Recapture the Rapture: Rethinking God, Sex and Death In a World That's Lost Its Mind and the global bestseller Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work. He’s also the founder of the Flow Genome Project, an international organization dedicated to the research and training of human performance. Jamie’s work and ideas have been covered in The New York Times, Financial Times, Wired, Entrepreneur, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Inc., and TED. Jamie has spoken at Stanford University, MIT, the Harvard Club, Imperial College, Singularity University, the U.S. Naval War College and Special Operations Command, Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, the Bohemian Club, and the United Nations.Topics & Timestamps - Part 1Getting off the grid not to survive but to thrive (01:52)Facing the challenges of our time is a cycle: remaining open, learning to fall gracefully, maintaining center (03:25)Jamie’s practices, the 4 M’s: Music, Mountains, Mushrooms, Marriage (09:02)The beautiful American, antinomian, mystical tradition (10:32)Who throughout history really got “into the pudding”? (13:55)Jamie’s dark night of the soul (16:52) The psychedelic renaissance, reconciling repeat transformations, and the question “How much do we change, really?” (20:20)Our mythic lives vs our biographic lives (22:24) The universal agenda and Chris Bache’s LSD and the Mind of the Universe (24:06)The “information layer” that comes from Source; baffling precision along with evidence of the trickster (27:25) Wrestling with the existential situation using the mountaineer’s “risk triangle” (30:30) The only question we should be addressing: Can we get onto an S curve of a renewable, sustainable, and equitable economy? (32:05) How can we use peak experiences? How can we tune into our highest, best life? Hedonic engineering (36:48)How to create a flywheel effect: practice daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally, annually (40:36) The Ten Suggestions (vs The Ten Commandments): An update (43:15)The false certainty of the newly converted (46:46)Recultivating the elements of mystery and the trickster of the divine (47:41)The weak link: after opening consistently to mystical states...what do you do Monday morning? (Stabilization of states to traits) (48:19)Resources & References - Part 1Jamie Wheal, Stealing Fire*Jamie Wheal, Recapture the Rapture*George Leonard, Mastery, The Way of Aikido*Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now*Jamie Wheal’s The Flow Genome ProjectHoward Thurman, The Living Wisdom of Howard Thurman*Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, The Merry Pranksters, Tom WolfeEmanuel Swedenborg, Swedish theologian, scientist, philosopher & mysticWilliam Blake, poet, painter, mysticThe Book of Enoch, ancient Hebrew textThe angel MetatronKurt Fisher, author, neuroscience and education researcher at HarvardThe Constructive Developmental approach, Kegan and KohlbergChris Bache, LSD and the Mind of the Universe*Ed Viesturs, No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World’s 14 Highest Peaks*The Bhagavad GitaRober Anton Wilson, hedonic engineeringSuzuki Roshi, “Each of you is perfect the way you are…”Mircea Eliade, Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy*Susanne Cook-Greuter’s ego development stages*Ramakrishna, Hindu mystic and spiritual leaderJohn Lilly, neuroscientist, psychoanalyst, psychonaut, philosopher, writer, and inventor* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 2 (Part 2 of 2) | A candid conversation with endearing, brilliant, and optimistic Integral pundit Jeff Salzman of The Daily Evolver podcast, ranging from global current events to personal spiritual turning points. This talk delves into culture wars, polarization, discernment versus condemnation, how our psychological development determines political attitudes and values, and how Integral perspectives help us understand them all. Jeff Salzman is a current events junkie who delights in interpreting emerging politics and culture through a lens of consciousness evolution, presented in his lively and informative podcast, The Daily Evolver. For three years, Jeff worked with Ken Wilber in developing the Integral Institute and their historic seminars on integral application in business, psychology, and spirituality. Jeff is also on the board of philosopher Steve McIntosh’s think tank, The Institute for Cultural Evolution, and co-founder of CareerTrack Training, an adult education company. A long-time practitioner in several spiritual traditions, Jeff has taught meditation and led many retreats. He has a master’s degree in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism from Naropa University.Topics & Timestamps - Part 2Afghanistan best case scenario and Integral fundamentalism (00:52)All fear drops in the new developmental tier (03:38)On integrating multiple perspectives; cultivating discernment and fostering acceptance simultaneously (05:32)How mindfulness practice can go bad (10:52)Peter Levine and somatic releasing: spiritual practice alone doesn’t do it (13:04)Finding God, faith, a don’t know space, 2nd person practice (13:47)On being in the zone and Ken Wilber’s early flow days (24:21)The practice of remembering God (27:12)Making friends with death (31:36)How Ken Wilber’s Integral illuminates reality (33:17)Current metatheories and the developmental lens (39:08)One’s own suffering becomes a portal into the suffering of others: the Bodhisattva aspiration (46:51)Physical body, energetic body, spiritual body (51:11)Resources & References - Part 2Carl Jung, Psychology and Religion: West and East, Vol II*Dan Lawton, When Buddhism Goes BadPeter Levine, Waking the Tiger*Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled*Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow*Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass*Rabbi Meshulam Zusha of AnapoliCritical realismEdgar Morin, Complexity Theory*Jeff Salzman’s The Daily Evolver podcastJeff Salzman’s The Post-Progressive Post podcast* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 1 (Part 1 of 2) | A candid conversation with endearing, brilliant, and optimistic Integral pundit Jeff Salzman of The Daily Evolver podcast, ranging from global current events to personal spiritual turning points. This talk delves into culture wars, polarization, discernment versus condemnation, how our psychological development determines political attitudes and values, and how Integral perspectives help us understand them all. Jeff Salzman is a current events junkie who delights in interpreting emerging politics and culture through a lens of consciousness evolution, presented in his lively and informative podcast, The Daily Evolver. For three years, Jeff worked with Ken Wilber in developing the Integral Institute and their historic seminars on integral application in business, psychology, and spirituality. Jeff is also on the board of philosopher Steve McIntosh’s think tank, The Institute for Cultural Evolution, and co-founder of CareerTrack Training, an adult education company. A long-time practitioner in several spiritual traditions, Jeff has taught meditation and led many retreats. He has a master’s degree in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism from Naropa University.Topics & Timestamps - Part 1Bringing Integral theory, big-picture, deep-picture, multiple perspectives to current events: that’s Jeff! (03:59)Stages of development and how culture wars & our current polarization is necessary for our evolution (09:00)Our individual cosmic address, integrating stages of consciousness, the mythic self, and the new tier emerging from post-modernity (10:55)Jeff’s own life stages — the tribal stage, the red f*** you phase, modern Jeff vs. traditional Jeff vs. postmodern Jeff and how Integral can make all of it work for all of us (13:58)MAGAstan vs. Woke-astan (21:39)Traditionalists, modernists, and postmodernists dysfunctional sides: welcome to evolution (28:35)The agenda of the universe (40:55)Resources & References - Part 1Jeff Salzman’s The Daily Evolver podcastJeff Salzman’s The Post-Progressive Post podcastKen Wilber, One Taste*Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead*Fifth studio album by English rock band Yes, Close to the Edge*Ken Wilber, Up from Eden*Joseph Campbell, The Hero’s Journey*Clare Graves, the Sensitive Self, adult developmental stages psychologist foundational to Spiral Dynamics* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

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