To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.comDr Sarah Stein Lubrano https://www.sarahsteinlubrano.com/https://sarahsteinlubrano.substack.com/https://www.instagram.com/sarahsteinlubrano

Sarah has a background in feminist, mutual aid, and other local organising as well as teaching in prisons. She holds a PhD from the University of Oxford and a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge. Her thinking often reaches the public through the Sense and Solidarity Initiative and the Future Narratives Lab.

She was previously the Head of Content at The School of Life and wrote obituaries. She regularly appears on public radio and a variety of podcasts.

Her first book is, Don’t Talk About Politics: Changing 21st Century Minds is out now with Bloomsbury.

Your contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:

- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership

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Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness

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Banner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade

/0:00:00 Sarah PhD & academic background

0:03:30 Identity and politic views

0:04:00 why facts don’t change minds

0:08:30 friendships change minds

0:09:40 experiences change minds

0:11:00 the problem of social isolation

0:15:20 enemies of social infrastructure

0:17:00 towards a healthy democracy

0:18:00 the contradiction of liberalism = individuality

0:22:00 shared activity reduces prejudice

0:25:44 technology & women’s rights

0:31:00 developing new language for new rights

0:32:00 how we rationalise being forced

0:39:00 predictive processing & politics

0:44:00 Isolation restrict our ability to think

0:47:00 the internet increases isolation

0:49:00 shared goals is fundamental to shared reasoning

0:53:00 democracy must involve thinking in action

0:55:00 dangers of social isolation

The Serpent, the Eagle, the Labyrinth and the Dragon I get story-teller Andreas Kornevall to draw out how the images of Norse Mythology can guide the big moments of our lives, from depression to transcendence and beyond. I love how he breathes fresh life into familiar stories, integrating their wisdom with contemporary life, Buddhist dharma and nondual understanding. Northern European mythology is rich with symbolism and wisdom to navigate the journeys of life; the journey of soul represented by the serpent, confronting life’s shadows, upheavals, challenges and wounds, and the spirit journey, represented by the eagle, in which we find transcendence, and their eventual integration. Andreas Kornevall is a Swedish author, storyteller and ecologist whose work brings Norse myth, folklore and landscape-based storytelling into contemporary life. He has told stories for BBC radio, collaborated with organisations including the Sussex Archaeological Society and the National Trust to “re-story” local places, and has lectured on myth and Norse traditions across UK learning settings. He directs the Earth Restoration Service charity and is the author of Waking the Dragons: Norse Myth, Runes and Magic.https://www.kornevall.com/Eagle, Serpent, Spirit, Soul: Life’s journey in Norse mythology0:00:00 The Serpent & Eagle Journeys 0:12:00 The Dragon: Symbol of balance and integration0:18:30 The Labyrinth: Navigating life’s initiations0:20:00 Wounding0:28:00 Learning from grief, depression, & love 0:36:00 You are never lost in the labyrinth 0:40:00 Power of symbols0:42:00 Meditation, shadow & integration 0:46:00 The mythic images constantly re-enliven0:50:00 Why religions change0:58:00 Buddhism, Nonduality & Norse myth1:06:00 Course in Norse mythology1:19:24 Labyrinth vs Maze1:20:00 Departing prayer

Matthew Immergut, Ph.D., was co-author of the highly successful meditation classic, 'The Mind Illuminated,' and works as an Associate Professor of Sociology at Purchase College, SUNY where he has developed a minor in Contemplative Studies, and teaches classes on meditation, happiness, social theory, and new religious movements.We discuss how the systematic approach presented in the book has supported countless meditators, while also addressing the complexities that emerged around his co-author Culadasa (John Yates). We'll discuss Matthew's perspective on navigating teacher-student relationships and the broader challenges of translating traditional Buddhist practices for contemporary audiences, and how teachings on emptiness aim at a fearless capacity to love.To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.comYour contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/0:00 Intro4:30 Matthews background: wilderness survival and chassidic judaism 10:30 Goenka vipassana & addiction19:00 Departure from messianic Judaism23:30 Meeting John Yates (Culadaca)30:25 Publishing & crafting the Mind Illuminated42:00 The strengths of the book47:00 Whatever you do has the same obstacles 48:10 The downsides of the book: progress isn’t linear50:20 Striving, meditative ego and burnout 55:30 Just assume you are bypassing59:39 On the awakening and behaviour of Culadasa, John Yates1:17:00 waking up vs cleaning up1:22:30 Bypassing vs indulging1:26:30 Best practice going forward1:28:10 What Matthew would change about the book1:30:30 Seeing emptiness to induce a fearless capacity to love1:35:00 Cessation, awakening, immoral behaviour and emptiness of consciousness1:42:30 Morality as the starting point for enlightenment?1:45:30 Wisdom, Morality and Insight1:47:30 what to do when you need a break from meditation?1:51:30 the future of the Mind Illuminated?1:52:30 the power of meeting saints - perfection vs imperfection

Join Shamil's 4-week course at:https://adventuresinawareness.com

Dr Shamil Chandaria is a senior research fellow at the centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, University of Oxford. He is also a research fellow at the Institute of Philosophy, London University, where he focuses on philosophical issues in neuroscience and well-being; a research fellow at Imperial College in the neuroscience of psychedelics; and a bye-fellow at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University.

He has multi-disciplinary research interests spanning computational neuroscience, machine learning & artificial intelligence, and the philosophy and science of human well-being. He is currently working on computational theories of consciousness and meditation. Shamil has been a meditator for 38 years and has contemplative training in early Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta and Kashmir Shivaism.

Your contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

0:00 Teaser

1:00 Introduction

2:30 Transcendental meditation

5:40 Science as the language of our time

7:20 the universe has multiple perspectives

11:35 coming to spirituality through suffering

15:40 the goals of the many kinds of meditation: abiding, deconstruction, reconstruction

22:40 everything that arises is a mental construction

31:40 adrenaline can be excitement or stress

42:40 what science can add to ancient wisdom

50:40 why to cherry pick from traditions

51:44 science is on a level playing field with tradition

1:01:40 the science of perception supports meditation

1:04:40 the science of perception has reversed

1:16:40 meditation techniques keep getting better, and science is helping

1:39:40 our experience is a dependent co-arising

1:47:40 Overview of Shamil’s course

1:59:40 Waking up to the game then reconstructing it

In celebration of Bernardo's upcoming book 'Idealism in a Nutshell,' we're releasing two lectures, originally filmed 22nd June 2020 as part of a four week course. This is Lecture 2, in which Bernardo outlines the case for Idealism. Lecture 1, Refuting Materialism, was released last week.

Our next discussion series with Bernardo starts 29th Oct. 2024 and features as guest the celebrated neuroscientist Christof Koch: ⁠https://dandelion.events/e/y54ag⁠

For future iterations of the open Q&A and discussions visit
⁠https://adventuresinawareness.com/⁠

Bernardo Kastrup's work has been leading the modern renaissance of the philosophical position, ‘metaphysical idealism’ that reality is essentially mental, an appearance in ‘mind.’ Bernardo has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the 'Casimir Effect' of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, his ideas have been featured on Scientific American, the Institute of Art and Ideas, the Blog of the American Philosophical Association and Big Think, among others. Bernardo's most recent book is The Idea of the World: A multi-disciplinary argument for the mental nature of reality. For more information, freely downloadable papers, videos, etc., please visit www.bernardokastrup.com.

In celebration of Bernardo's upcoming book 'Idealism in a Nutshell,' we're releasing two lectures, originally filmed 22nd June 2020 as part of a four week course. This is Lecture 1, in which Bernardo refutes Materialism, discussing its origins, pitfalls, and misconceptions. Stay tuned for Lecture 2, in which Bernardo defends and dives deeper into Metaphysical Idealism.

Our next discussion series with Bernardo starts 29th Oct. 2024 and features as guest the celebrated neuroscientist Christof Koch: https://dandelion.events/e/y54ag

For future iterations of the open Q&A and discussions visit
https://adventuresinawareness.com/

Bernardo Kastrup's work has been leading the modern renaissance of the philosophical position, ‘metaphysical idealism’ that reality is essentially mental, an appearance in ‘mind.’ Bernardo has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the 'Casimir Effect' of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, his ideas have been featured on Scientific American, the Institute of Art and Ideas, the Blog of the American Philosophical Association and Big Think, among others. Bernardo's most recent book is The Idea of the World: A multi-disciplinary argument for the mental nature of reality. For more information, freely downloadable papers, videos, etc., please visit www.bernardokastrup.com.

Mark grew up in the UK as an atheist, but then spent a year as a monk in India after a powerful and unexpected spiritual awakening. He now teaches insight meditation inspired by the late Rob Burbea, with a focus on understanding the emptiness of all things and the ways in which changing our ways of looking can reduce suffering and enhance the beauty of life. He offers teachings freely, living frugally in a caravan in the UK, from donations from those who appreciate what he offers.

He'll be teaching a freely-given 6-week course on Loving Kindness Meditation online in October: https://dandelion.events/e/e92bd

In this episode, we discussed:

Mark's background and awakening

The phenomenology of the awakening

Having no sense of self

Going beyond non-dual awakening

Meeting the guru: Rob Burbea

Emptiness

Why you should care

+ A guided lovingkindness meditation!

To find out about joining future events check out: https://adventuresinawareness.com

If you would like to support future content, contributions are greatly appreciated at:

⁠Patreon⁠

⁠In the UK⁠

One-off ⁠PayPal donations

This was an excerpt from a 5-week discussion series with Bernardo Kastrup, Nov 2022, with guest Federico Faggin.

Federico Faggin is an Italian-American physicist, engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. He is best known for designing the first commercial microprocessor, the Intel 4004. In 2010, he received the 2009 National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor the United States confers for achievements related to technological progress.

In 2011, Faggin founded the Federico and Elvia Faggin Foundation to support the scientific study of consciousness at US universities and research institutes.

Bernardo considers him ‘probably the most well-rounded Idealist alive today.’

He has a new book just released available here.

We discussed:

Federico's journey to his model of reality

How science must completely change to incorporate consciousness

How quantum states make sense when viewed as descriptions of experience

How consciousness and life are nothing like computers

How meditation, spirituality and science relate

Access all 10 hours of recorded material here.

To join the next edition please visit our Events page.

If you would like to support future content, contributions are greatly appreciated at:

Patreon

In the UK

One-off PayPal donations

An excerpt from a 5-week course with Bernardo Kastrup & Rupert Spira.

We discussed:

Self Enquiry as a direct way to know reality

Experiential vs. philosophical approach to understanding reality & reducing suffering

Why the universe dissociates

How idealism increases empathy

What psychedelics imply about death

Language as a model

& much more!

To join the next course please visit our ⁠Events page⁠.

If you would like to support future content, contributions are greatly appreciated at:

⁠Patreon

⁠In the UK⁠

One-off ⁠PayPal donations⁠

In both Buddhism and modern neuro-science, you may hear the notion that there is no “Self.” No central entity that is separate, makes decisions or is continuous through time. That however real the “Self” might seem, it is merely an illusion.

It is one of the most misunderstood, ignored and confronting propositions to come out of philosophy or science, so I spoke with Dr Daniel Ingram who says he experiences an embedded perception of there being no "Self" on an ongoing basis, following several years of careful meditation.

We chat about what it means, how it is noticed, what it feels like and why anyone should care! If this sound intriguing at all, have a listen...

You'll thank your Self for it 🙂

This episode is supported by The Psychedelic Society, as part of a series of conversations on meditation, consciousness & enlightenment.

For upcoming events check out https://psychedelicsociety.org.uk/events​

https://www.adventuresinawareness.com​



Listening is free, but your support is appreciated! If you would like to contribute to this initiative, donations are gratefully accepted. You can support via Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/adventuresinawareness

​or make one-off PayPal donations here:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin



Podcast #5: Daniel Ingram - Experiencing No-Self Part 3

Daniel is an emergency room physician, author of ‘Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha,’ founder of Dharma Overground and holds an M.D., M.S.P.H. in Epidemiology, and B.A. in English Literature all from UNC Chapel Hill.

In both Buddhism and modern neuro-science, you may hear the notion that there is no “Self.” No central entity that is separate, makes decisions or is continuous through time. That however real the “Self” might seem, it is merely an illusion.

It is one of the most misunderstood, ignored and confronting propositions to come out of philosophy or science, so I spoke with Dr Daniel Ingram who says he experiences an embedded perception of there being no "Self" on an ongoing basis, following several years of careful meditation.

We chat about what it means, how it is noticed, what it feels like and why anyone should care! If this sound intriguing at all, have a listen...

You'll thank your Self for it 🙂

This episode is sponsored by The Psychedelic Society, as part of a series of conversations on meditation, consciousness & enlightenment.

For upcoming events check out https://psychedelicsociety.org.uk/events​

https://www.adventuresinawareness.com​



Listening is free, but your support is appreciated! If you would like to contribute to this initiative, donations are gratefully accepted. You can support via Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/adventuresinawareness

​or make one-off PayPal donations here:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin



Podcast #5: Daniel Ingram - Experiencing No-Self Part 2  

Daniel is an emergency room physician, author of ‘Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha,’ founder of Dharma Overground and holds an M.D., M.S.P.H. in Epidemiology, and B.A. in English Literature all from UNC Chapel Hill.

This episode is sponsored by The Psychedelic Society, as part of a series of conversations on meditation, consciousness & enlightenment. For upcoming events click here.

Listening is free, but your support is appreciated! If you would like to contribute to this initiative, donations are gratefully accepted. You can support via Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/adventuresina...​

or make one-off PayPal donations here:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adven...​



Podcast #5: Daniel Ingram - Experiencing No-Self Part 1  



Daniel discusses his personal experience of realising the truth of there not being a 'Self'  Daniel is an emergency room physician, author of ‘Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha,’ founder of Dharma Overground and holds an M.D., M.S.P.H. in Epidemiology, and B.A. in English Literature all from UNC Chapel Hill.

Dr Shamil Chandaria is a senior research fellow at the centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, University of Oxford. He is also a research fellow at the Institute of Philosophy, London University, where he focuses on philosophical issues in neuroscience and well-being; a research fellow at Imperial College in the neuroscience of psychedelics; and a bye-fellow at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University. He has multi-disciplinary research interests spanning computational neuroscience, machine learning & artificial intelligence, and the philosophy and science of human well-being. He is currently working on computational theories of consciousness and meditation. Shamil has been a meditator for 38 years and has contemplative training in early Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta and Kashmir Shivaism.To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.comYour contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

This episode is sponsored by The Psychedelic Society, as we continue a series of conversations on meditation, consciousness & enlightenment. For upcoming events with Psychedelic Society check out https://psychedelicsociety.org.uk/events

https://www.adventuresinawareness.com



Listening is free, but your support is appreciated!

If you would like to contribute this initiative, donations are gratefully accepted. You can support via Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/adventuresina...

or make one off PayPal donations here:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adven...



Podcast #4: Richard Lang - Headless Way Community & Culture  



Headless Way is not only a unique form of self enquiry, but a community that has successfully maintained an open, non-hierarchical and non-dogmatic culture which many spiritual communities could take inspiration from. Richard Lang discusses what makes this approach unique amongst the many ways humans have sought to discover answers to life's most fundamental questions.

In collaboration with The Psychedelic Society, Amir Giles is hosting a series of conversations on Psychedelics, Meditation & Enlightenment. For upcoming events find us at https://psychedelicsociety.org.uk/events https://www.adventuresinawareness.com



Listening is free, but your support is appreciated!

If you would like to contribute this initiative, donations are gratefully accepted. You can support via Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/adventuresinawareness

or make one off PayPal donations here:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin



Podcast #3: Dr James Cooke   



Oxford trained Neuro-scientist, James Cooke shares his early life awakening experiences, his healing and embodiment journey through psychedelics, and his recently published theory on how consciousness and life are two co-emergent properties of the universe and what that means for living an enlightened life.   

00:52 - Necker Cube

3:00 - Religious crisis to awakening to the present moment

8:20 - Tibetan Dzogchen  

10:00 - Unintegrated enlightenment, and choosing academia over the monastery

14:00 - Experimental psychology at Oxford and choosing science over philosophy

17:00 -  Science, nonduality and democratisation of psychedelics

19:00 - The collapse of all thought into the present moment

20:00 -  Psychedelic experiences as genuine mystical experience  

22:00 - James Cook’s understanding of Enlightenment                    

 Consciousness as a co-emergent property with life - and to exist is to strive

29:00 -  Different from idealism  

30:00 -  Enlightenment as being close to death, enlightenment not the goal

35.30 -  Balancing enlightenment with life

41:40 -  Many centres of experience

49:23 -  Nondual states including being and striving

56:55 - The value of science as a gateway and grounding to the mystical

1:07:40 - Views on metaphysical idealism  

1:16:30 - Islands don’t exist

1:21:00 - Distinction with pan-psychism

1:23:00 - Organisms made out of many organisms  1:30:00 - All life is conscious  

1:34:00 - Psychedelics, mysticism, embodiment and healing

1:40:00 - The power of redemptive love and psychedelics as party of healthy human culture

1:49:50 - The distraction of visuals in psychedelics, and the healing power of different substances  

In collaboration with The Psychedelic Society, Amir Giles is hosting a series of conversations on Psychedelics, Meditation & Enlightenment. For upcoming events find us here.

Listening is free, but your support is appreciated! If you would like to contribute this initiative, donations are gratefully accepted. You can support via Patreon or make one off PayPal donations here.

Podcast #2: Stephen Reid  



Stephen Reid discusses his personal journey and mystical insights through the intersection between quantum field theory, complexity science, meditation and psychedelics.   Stephen is  a cultural change maker, co-operative technologist and founder of the Psychedelic Society. He completed a Masters in Complexity Science at the University of Bristol as well as a Masters in Physics specialising quantum field theory at the University Oxford University.   



He was also the youngest ever board member of Greenpeace UK, and selected as the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Totnes. As well as quantum field theory and Complexity Science, Stephen has training in software development, meditation, plant medicine, and political activism.



Discussion points include:

0:40 Mystical Experiences and Quantum Field Theory at Oxford University

4:00 David Bohm - Physics may be infinite

7.30 Physics, metaphysics and mystical experience - the limits of understanding

9:30 Complexity sciences - self organisation & emergence as a bridge to psychedelics

8:30 Science as a platform and context for useful psychedelic experiences

14:00 From Bohm to Krishnamurti - from physics to meditation

15:30 Tao Te Ching as a resonance with complexity sciences

16:20 Zig Zag zen and vipassana

20:00 The value of skepticism around psychedelic trips

22:30 Meditation on Tao te Ching, Seeing that Frees, Reger Rey

24:30 The value of meditation as a support for psychedelic trips, a buffer against bad trips

26:50 The motivations to meditate and to take psychedelics: there is only enlightened action           

            Balancing insight & compassion

https://stephenreid.net

In collaboration with The Psychedelic Society, Amir Giles is hosting a series of conversations on Psychedelics, Meditation & Enlightenment. For upcoming events with Psychedelic Society click here.



Listening is free, but your support is appreciated! https://www.patreon.com/adventuresinawareness

Podcast #1: Dr Daniel Ingram

Daniel Ingram discusses to what extent psychedelics can either help or hinder in persistent shifts in consciousness and spiritual type awakenings, and is it possible to access the kind of perceptual shifts common on psychedelics in other contexts, and in day to day life? 

Daniel is an emergency room physician, author of ‘Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha,’ founder of Dharma Overground and holds an M.D., M.S.P.H. in Epidemiology, and B.A. in English Literature all from UNC Chapel Hill.

TOPICS



1:13    Background to Daniel Ingram’s experience

4:31   On the lack of formal research on psychedelics and spiritual awakening

7:13    Formal approaches and maps leading to awakening

8:38  What do psychedelics do; gateways, mystical experiences, damaging and very occasionally permanent transformative awakenings.

13:33 Distinction between spiritual experience and permanent awakening. DMT, psilocyn, salvia, ketamine.

14:50  Psychedelic experiences don’t last long enough for new brain structures to form



MAPS AND STAGES OF AWAKENING



17.03  Maps and stages of awakening; Arising and passing away, Dark night, Equanimity, Formal awakening

21:45 The unitive experiences of equanimity

21:30 Psychedelics vs meditation retreats

22:20 Research comparing psychedelics and meditation

22:46 Formal awakening and stream entry vrs temporary experiences

PSYCHEDELICS AS PART OF THE PATH

27:30 Psychedelics as part of the path; the parameters of the debate

   As a gateway and a motivator

   Difficult to integrate & sometimes damaging

    As a clarifier

33:30 Micro-dosing; potential for habituation

35:13 Opportunity costs and risks of meditation

39:26 Awakening in indigenous, shamanic and magical traditions

44:30 To trip or not? You have to do your research, know your options.

47:13  Fire Kasina & non substance psychedelic experiences

50:43 The risk, speed and cleanliness; meditation vrs psychedelics  

53:30 Handling the weird - psychedelics as the meditation retreat audition

54:43  Is the hero's journey required for the end of suffering?

FUTURE RESEARCH AND DIRECTIONS

59:00 Other voices to follow

1:01:13 Taking your wider life into consideration; responsible spirituality

1:05:03 Prospects for future research: Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium - categorizing the experiences that people have, clearer diagnostics and practise recommendations.

Daniel Ingram’s website  

Erowid

Manual of Psychedelic Support

To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.comYour contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

Workshop with Andrew Holecek 4th Sep: https://dandelion.events/e/w0dr9

Full discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcUOXFASQm4

To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.com

Your contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

0:00:00 Blindspots of highers states Jhanas | cessation 0:10:00 Enlightenment is expansion

0:14:00 Questioning awakening

0:15:00 the goal posts are always moving

0:18:00 How to stay open and focus0:26:00 abiding in the light

0:31:00 dealing with pain

0:39:00 suffering = pain + resistance

0:49:00 total equanimity in pain

0:50:00 plans for workshop on luminous awareness

0:55:00 idealism vs emptiness

1:07:00 one vs none

1:10:00 cessation vs idealismaduality vs nonduality

Jay Garfield vs Bernardo Kastrup

Workshop with Andrew Holecek 4th Sep: https://dandelion.events/e/w0dr9To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.comYour contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/00:00 Intro6:40 Schools of Tibetan Buddhism10:00 Buddhism as a description of reality10:40 3 Turnings of the wheels in Buddhism14:00 Pixilated nature of reality = reduce suffering17:40 Andrew’s path into Tibetan Buddhism23:20 The value of understanding before realisation31:00 Three Year Retreat35:00 Lucid dreaming and sleeping38:40 Are the best teachers in the east? 46:00 Blindspots in the east48:00 What is the goal of life? Waking / Play55:00 Path of freedom vs Path of fullness56:00 Limitation of radical nonduality 58:00 Transcend and include59:00 You both need therapy1:01:00 Scandals and abuse in spirituality

A conversation with Dr  Ruben Laukkonen—cognitive scientist, neuroscientist and meditator —exploring the cutting edge of contemplative science and the mysterious experience of consciousness coming to a complete stop - cessation. - https://rubenlaukkonen.com/To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.com/Ruben completed an award-winning PhD on the cognitive science of insight at The University of Queensland in 2019, followed by post-doctoral research at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam on the computational neuroscience of meditation. Ruben is now a Senior Lecturer at Southern Cross University where his lab uncovers empirically grounded and experientially authentic models of meditation, insight, psychedelics, and consciousness. Using a combination of methods including neuroimaging, machine learning, and phenomenology, his team is investigating some of the rarest states of consciousness available to human beings- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin- https://adventuresinawareness.com- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawareness00:00:00 Introduction00:04:54 What Makes Meditative Cessation Unique?Defines how intentional cessation differs from sleep, anesthesia, or trauma.00:10:52 From Mindfulness to Advanced States: A New Wave of ResearchIntroduces a shift in meditation science toward rare and transformative states.00:21:08 EEG Findings: What Happens in the Brain During Cessation?Reveals broad changes in brain activity linked to deep meditative absorption.00:41:09 Computational Reset: - reduce grasping by resetting deep mental patterns.00:44:08 Have You Personally Experienced Cessation?00:45:55 How Science Informs Meditation (and Vice Versa)00:47:04 Predictive Processing and the Present Moment00:48:33 Understanding the Four Selves in Meditation00:49:39 Science vs. Philosophy: Are They Really Separate?00:51:00 Why All Maps Are Just Maps00:52:23 Meditation, Science, and the Mystery of Insight00:54:08 Did Science or Meditation Come First?00:55:46 Balancing a PhD with Deep Practice00:57:28 Is Awareness Just Another Dependent Arising?01:02:08 Did Ramana Maharshi Experience Cessation?01:04:02 Grasping at Awareness: A New Kind of Samsara01:06:44 Emptiness, Insight, and the Path that Keeps Unfolding01:08:17 Is the Goal of Buddhism Reducing Suffering or Knowing Reality?01:10:46 Wisdom and Compassion as Two Wings of the Path01:13:36 Could We Ever Measure Clinging in the Brain?01:17:02 Using Brain Flexibility to Detect Reduced Clinging01:18:50 Can Meditators Adapt to Reality Shifts Faster?01:21:45 Does Meditation Increase Mental Model Stability?01:22:04 Does Cessation Challenge Idealist Philosophy?01:24:46 Why I No Longer Start From Consciousness01:26:08 Consciousness: A Useful Concept or an Assumption?01:28:32 Cessation Undermines the Idealist View?01:30:12 Just Before Cessation01:32:00 Investigating the Nature of Awareness Itself01:34:00 Not Everyone Needs Cessation – And Why That Matters01:36:59 Reuben’s View: Emptiness Over Idealism01:38:38 On Being Misrepresented by “Metaconsciousness” Critics01:41:03 The Subtle Dualism of “Everything is Consciousness”01:44:14 Open Audience Q&A Begins01:45:05 What Meditation Practice Leads to Cessation?01:47:15 Why Integrity and Sincerity Matter More Than Method01:51:03 Upcoming Conference Appearances (Europe 2025)01:53:04 What Is Cessation Really? And What Is Emptiness?01:57:11 Emptiness as the Lack of Essence in All ThingsVideo editing by https://www.willbourchier.com/Banner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

Christof Koch was the president and chief scientist of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle known for his interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from neuroscience, physics, and philosophy to tackle the complex problem of consciousness, published in over 350 scientific papers, significantly shaped modern understanding of the neural correlates of consciousness and visual perception.In collaboration with Francis Crick, Cristof initiated the modern search for the neuronal correlates of consciousness. In collaboration with Giulio Tononi, he co-developed the Integrated Information Theory of consciousness.To join future discussions live, watch ad-free recordings and extended Q&As, find us at: https://www.adventuresinawareness.com/events/Your contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:https://adventuresinawareness.com/membershipOne-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin 0:00 Intros0:08 Bernardo’s appreciation of Christof’s work: how neuroscience is critical to understanding mind12:40 Christo’s appreciation of Bernardo’s work:the mechanisms of the boundaries of consciousness 17:00 the metaphysics of Integrated Information Theory (IIT)21:00 IIT might be most direct modelling of true states of nature24:50 IIT and Free Will26:40 how IIT models the noumenon and AI consciousness 30:00 the cerebellum doesn’t contribute to consciousness32:50 IIT and meta-consciousness34:50 dreams are not meta-conscious38:40 IIT and scale and speed of the system (galaxies and atoms)42:30 IIT and defining the boundary of a system45:00 IIT, dissociation and the origin of life50:20 consciousness in the sun and mind meld55:30 Internal family systems therapy & the daimon58:30 clarifying definition of free will1:08:00 why IIT assumes consciousness 1:11:30 what is information in IIT (it’s not shannon information - its meaning, aristotelan ‘in form’)1:15:30 what is integration? (it means its not reducible. You can’t break it into parts without losing something)1:20:30 mind at large integrated? (no, because of speed of light and expansion)1:23:00 why is integration in space but not time? how do parts of the system know which system they are part of1:37:10 how IIT accounts for mind at large - the dance of dissociation and reintegration: actively enforced dissociation and non-actively dissociation. Mind at large is fragmented, and markov blankets are considered1:43:30 Mind at large is not conscious in the way we are1:50:00 everything is conscious vs everything is consciousness1:51:50 IIT disagrees with computational functionalism; that consciousness is just a function and any mechanism that can do that function must be conscious. IIT starts with consciousness instead of with function. 1:56:00 Christof’s psychedelic experience and change in perspective2:01:40 the similarity between the universe and the brain2:08:25 is death re-association? the parallels between chemistry and emotion2:13:30 is mind at large expanding like the universe? (questioning the big bang)2:17:50 do psychedelics increase or decrease connectivity 2:22:30 neural correlates of consciousness or meta-consciousness (implications of blindsight)2:28:50 IIT and the block universe2:38:30 Life and meaning can be mapped by Markov blankets, cancer, enlightenment, reincarnation 2:48:00 becoming another - thought experimentFollow the Adventure:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

Workshops this weekend, 28th/29th June 2025 with Dr James Cooke in London: https://dandelion.events/e/n8hokJames Cooke has three degrees in experimental psychology and neuroscience from Oxford University, including a PhD in neuroscience. He has conducted research into the brain basis of consciousness at such institutions as Oxford University; the University of California, Berkeley; University College London; Trinity College Dublin; and Riken Brain Sciences Institute in Tokyo. At the University of London, he achieved the theoretical breakthrough that forms the basis of his new book, The Dawn of Mind, first publishing his findings in the prestigious Journal of Consciousness Studies and later in Entropy. Outside of academia, he directs the Inner Space Institute, a platform for promoting understanding around science and spirituality.Previous talks with James:https://youtu.be/VRw4aJZWJiMhttps://youtu.be/HcmIcGxGHPEMore on James:https://www.innerspaceinstitute.org/To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.comYour contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

To join future events in this series, and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.comTo join weekly meetings with Bernardo Kastrup: https://www.withrealityinmind.com/This event was recorded Dec 2024.Jay Garfield is a world specialist in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, leading classes everywhere from Harvard Divinity School all the way to the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in India. He was one of six scholars who participated in a conference with the 14th Dalai Lama on "Mapping the Mind: A Dialogue between Modern Science and Buddhist Science. Bernardo Kastrup is leading the the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism - the notion that all reality is consciousness, as well as having two PhDs and having worked in some of the world's most esteemed scientific institutions. Your contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership- One-off PayPal donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/adventuresin Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness- Twitter: https://x.com/AdvInAwareness- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-awareness/id1535917754 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2jiebSpdVu9YbpLOtWlKYU - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adventuresinawarenessBanner art by https://www.instagram.com/jadewade/

Delson Armstrong is a meditation teacher and author of A Mind Without Craving, known for his detailed experiential knowledge of advanced meditation states, including jhāna, samādhi, cessation, and TWIM practice. His knowledge spans early Buddhist meditation, Kriya Yoga, and contemporary conversations in contemplative science, where advanced absorption states are increasingly being studied through phenomenology and neuroimaging. In this conversation, Delson brings a rare depth of first-person insight into meditation and awakening in the context of modern life.

He also contributes his views on the debate between idealism and emptiness.

Is consciousness primary, as is posited by Advaita Vedanta and similar non-dual traditions, or is it empty of inherent existence, just like everything else, dependent on causes and conditions, as argued by some Buddhist schools.

https://www.delsonarmstrong.com/events

The cessation meditation mentioned: https://youtu.be/P2kHWJd2jX4?si=Xl6GbzSnAU8HiCyF

To join future events, newsletter and access ad-free event recordings go to:https://adventuresinawareness.com

Your contributions support future content, and are greatly appreciated:- https://adventuresinawareness.com/membership-

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Follow the Adventure:- Subscribe to us on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinawareness-

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0:05:00 Dogma and tradition0:09:40 awakening0:10:00 questioning tradition 0:14:20 Rob Burbea0:17:30 the path is individual0:21:30 emotions & awakening0:25:00 Delson’s path0:38:00 idealism vs emptiness0:58:00 cessation vs anaesthesia vs nirvana1:05:00 cessation vs jhanas vs wisdom1:10:00 no-self = no agency? 1:15:00 is self needed for motivation1:21:00 permanent realisation?1:27:00 spiritual bypassing in early buddhism1:30:00 the future of dharma