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| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 713. Tree Wiseblood 2nd Interview | 22 Aug 2024 | 01:40:15 | |
Tree works as a Spiritual Mentor, Kundalini Support, Certified Global TRE® Instructor, Transformational Bodyworker and a Healer from the Shamanic tradition.
Tree believes healing trauma can precipitate spiritual awakening and it is from this precept she works. She works with the body releasing contraction and with the nervous system establishing balance - with the understanding that a disregulated nervous system can hold the beingness hostage.
She believes enlightenment is achieved not by bypassing the body, but by going into the body. By addressing and releasing trauma bound in the flesh and stored in the nervous system. This is true freedom and the result is presence - embodied.
Tree has been a devotee of Meher Baba since she was 21.
She and her husband are establishing a Retreat Centre on the Far South Coast of New South Wales, Australia called Meher Farm Healing and Awakening Centre.
Tree is the author of Hot Flush Dark Cave describing her healing and awakening journey through the portal of menopause.
She is a devoted mother, grandmother and healer - her favourite past time is swimming in the river and the ocean and chanting to God.
Website: awakeningthroughthebody.com.au
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded August 3, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:53 - The Correlation Between Consciousness and Neurophysiology
00:07:53 - The Loop of an Agitated Nervous System
00:11:35 - The Nervous System and the Flow State
00:15:38 - The Impact of Early Trauma in Human Beings
00:19:39 - The Importance of Healing the Nervous System
00:23:22 - Trauma and its manifestations
00:27:11 - “Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance”
00:31:06 - Body Work and Spiritual Awakening
00:35:21 - Kundalini Awakening and Working with the Body
00:39:05 - Working through Impressions
00:43:00 - The Beginning of the Involution
00:47:13 - Understanding vs Realization
00:51:05 - Avatars and Spiritual Teachers
00:54:55 - Astral Exorcism and Healing Dance
00:58:44 - The Kundalini Awakening Process
01:02:31 - Kundalini Awakening and Spontaneous Movements
01:06:19 - Purging Negativity
01:09:54 - The Annihilation of the Apparent World
01:13:37 - The Final Destination and Different Planes of Existence
01:17:35 - The Journey of Awakening
01:21:44 - The Existence of Ego in Different States
01:25:51 - Kundalini Awakening and the Sacred Fluids
01:29:42 - The Value of a Life
01:33:33 - Different Types of Meditation
01:37:30 - Releasing Emotions
01:41:18 - The Presence of Benign and Caring Intelligences
01:45:17 - Healing Ceremonies and Nature Retreats
01:49:19 - Following Intuition and Divine Orchestration at 61
01:53:24 - Following the Synchronicities
01:56:55 - In Touch for the Next 15 Years | |||
| 712. Melinda Edwards | 08 Aug 2024 | 01:44:55 | |
Melinda Edwards, MD is a mother, writer and physician in Charleston, South Carolina, providing psychiatric care for underserved adults. She attended the Medical University of South Carolina and completed her residency in psychiatry at Stanford Medical Center. She has studied complementary and alternative medicine with Andrew Weil, MD, researched the effects of MDMA on PTSD with Michael Mithoefer, MD, and is a columnist for Autism Parenting Magazine. Dr. Edwards is the author of PSYCHE & SPIRIT: How a Psychiatrist Found Divinity Through Her Lifelong Search for Truth and Her Daughter’s Autism.
As a child of medical missionaries, Melinda grew up in a Mayan Indian village in Guatemala, Central America. Early in life she experienced an inner pull to a deeper truth. Her journey has taken her through various spiritual practices including meditation retreats, guidance from spiritual teachers, travel to India, and living in spiritual communities. Her quest led to the ongoing discovery of the sacred in all.
Inspired by her journey with her daughter Saachi, Dr. Edwards founded the 501c3 nonprofit organization Living Darshan to foster a deeper understanding of autism in the world.
Website: melindaedwardsmd.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded July 20, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:26 - An Evolutionary Journey
00:07:57 - The Fear of Going to Hell
00:11:58 - Tiptoeing Through Sleeping Elephants
00:16:32 - Levels of Spiritual Evolution
00:20:56 - The Spiral into Anorexia
00:25:46 - The Importance of Compassion and Being Heard
00:30:10 - Love as a Virus and the Hazards of Idealizing Spiritual Teachers
00:34:39 - Red Flags in Spiritual Teachers and Communities
00:39:21 - The Dangers of a Spiritualized Ego
00:43:34 - The Danger of Unqualified Advice in the Spiritual Community
00:47:37 - Exploiting Students' Finances
00:51:29 - The Role of Students in Spiritual Teaching
00:55:29 - Correlation between Teaching in Medicine and Spirituality
00:59:39 - Spiritual Teachers and Holistic Development
01:03:34 - The Realization of Nothingness
01:07:09 - The Nature of Realization and Integration
01:10:15 - The Dissolution of the Project of "Me"
01:13:53 - Micro adjustments and thriving
01:18:13 - Medications and Spiritual Awakening
01:21:51 - Support and Caution in Meditation Retreats
01:25:50 - The Impact of Spiritual Practices on Brain Chemistry
01:29:41 - Taking Medication for ADD and Kundalini Awakening
01:33:16 - Online Sessions and the Law
01:38:05 - The Porousness of Energy and Information
01:42:40 - The Increase of Neurodiverse Beings in the Population
01:47:44 - Different Realms and Dimensions
01:51:22 - Supporting Autistic Children in Their Purpose
01:55:29 - Navigating Kundalini Energy
01:59:32 - The Power of a Mother's Love
02:02:41 - Stay tuned for upcoming content | |||
| 703. Constance Casey | 05 Apr 2024 | 01:40:56 | |
Constance Casey, MDiv, is an author and teacher providing spiritual guidance for those interested in living a gentle and peaceful life.
Constance offers guidance for those entering deeper practice into the nature of reality and adjusting to a shift in consciousness. Her awakening occurred in 2008. She has been practicing in the contemplative arts for over 40 years-- first through her years in recovery, and then, as she deepened in Buddhist practice in 2007—which she shares in her memoir.
She’s a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader Program. Some of her teachers include Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield.
Constance obtained a Master of Divinity focusing on religious studies and went on to do hospital chaplaincy work. As an interfaith hospital chaplain, she offered compassionate care for patients and families while embracing the spectrum of human experiences. She is also authorized by Naropa University to teach meditation.
Constance’s practice is primarily informed by the suttas in Theravāda Buddhism where she has developed her own online classes, the most recent one is called Clearing Skies: Dispelling the Clouds that Hinder Us, and she leads support groups for dedicated meditation practitioners.
Through her experience she respects and values your unique spiritual practice and journey while supporting you to find balance and significance in the face of adversity. Constance will encourage you to attune toward being more mindful and aware for release and serenity.
Her first book called Time for Awakening: A Memoir shares her story of awakening and deeper meditation practice and is what brings her to our meeting today.
She can be found at her website.
On Substack
On Instagram
On Facebook
And on Youtube
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and Transcript of this interview
Interview recorded March 30, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Welcome to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:13 - The Levels of Receptiveness to the Dharma
00:09:13 - "Just Who Do You Think You Are?"
00:13:05 - A Snowy Awakening
00:16:54 - Healing and Bonding with My Sons
00:20:17 - Parenting as a Spiritual Practice
00:24:11 - A Fly on the Wall
00:28:09 - Tools of Recovery
00:31:31 - Ethical Structure in Spiritual Circles
00:35:14 - The Vicious Cycle of Repressed Discomfort
00:40:09 - Seeking Further
00:43:44 - Simplifying and Finding Fulfillment Within
00:47:39 - Expressing Experiences Through Art
00:51:17 - Finding Balance in Self-Care
00:54:59 - Honoring the Need for Rest and Balance
00:58:35 - The Power of Meditation and Personal Growth
01:01:38 - Constance's Carpentry Journey
01:04:44 - The Importance of Speaking Out and Trauma (Conversation)
01:07:29 - Seeing the Teacher as a Human Being and the Absence of Hierarchy
01:10:27 - The Indescribable Experience of Awakening
01:14:19 - Following the Way
01:18:32 - Psychological, Theological, Sociological Perspectives
01:22:14 - The Power of Kindness in Movies
01:26:42 - The Intimacy of Stream Entry
01:30:45 - The Support of a Teacher
01:33:33 - The Association for Spiritual Integrity
01:37:43 - Factors of Enlightenment and the Hindrances
01:41:38 - Hindrances in Meditation Practice
01:45:49 - Cultivating Tranquility and Equanimity in Meditation
01:49:05 - The Benefits of Meditation and Inner States of Being
01:51:48 - Closing Remarks | |||
| 613. Christian Sundberg | 31 Aug 2021 | ||
When Christian Sundberg was a young child, he remembered his existence before coming to Earth. While that memory left him completely for his early adult life, it spontaneously returned at the age of 30 as Christian took up a meditation practice and went through a personal awakening journey. He also began to have Out of Body Experiences (OBEs). Christian has worked for over 15 years as a professional project manager for complex nuclear pump and valve manufacturing projects. Christian has also presented at over 80 public speaking events, as he now seeks to remind others in at least a small part of who we all really are beneath the human “play".
Book:
A Walk in the Physical: Understanding the Human Experience Within the Larger Spiritual Context
A Walk in the Physical (Free online version)
Website: awalkinthephysical.com
Email Christian at: awalkinthephysical@gmail.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded August 28, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:56 - Transcending Physical Reality
00:09:03 - The Challenge of Expressing Subtle Experiences
00:13:12 - A Deep Healing Experience
00:17:27 - Meeting a Highly Evolved Being and Past Lives
00:21:41 - Integrating Fear for Expansion
00:25:58 - The Fear of Being Unable to Escape Pain
00:30:28 - The Evolutionary Purpose of Challenges
00:34:57 - The Plunge into Physical Existence
00:39:21 - The Flowchart of Life Possibilities
00:43:30 - A Holy Moment of Connectedness
00:47:23 - Remembering Our True Existence
00:51:38 - The Experience of Different Realities
00:55:40 - Perspectives on Reincarnation in Different Traditions
00:59:42 - Experiential Learning and the Purpose of Veiling
01:04:03 - The Purpose of Every Experience
01:08:44 - The Play is Not Scripted
01:12:59 - Organizing and Collaborating on the Other Side
01:16:52 - The Evolving Soul and the Imperfect Government
01:21:23 - Evolution and the Manifestation of Love and Joy
01:25:54 - The Curiosity of Creation
01:30:16 - Unbounded Awareness and Unique Experiences
01:34:21 - Investigating Consciousness with Meditation
01:38:45 - Living in a Dense Dimension: An Opportunity for Evolution
01:43:22 - Unconditional Love and Personal Responsibility
01:48:06 - The Thickness of the Veil
01:52:39 - Letting go of the story and rising up to the surface
01:56:57 - Connecting with Inner Reality
02:01:10 - Effect on Closest Relationships
02:05:26 - The Importance of Making Distance
02:09:23 - One-on-One Consultations and Webinars | |||
| 612. Eva Natanya | 24 Aug 2021 | 02:02:38 | |
Eva Natanya is Co-Founder and Resident Teacher at the Center for Contemplative Research at Miyo Samten Ling.
A scholar of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, Christian theology, and comparative religion, Dr. Natanya has served in many capacities as a spiritual teacher, academic lecturer, translator, and editor of Tibetan texts, writer, and retreat leader. Following a nine-year career as a professional ballet dancer with both the New York City Ballet and the Royal Ballet of England, she earned an MA in Christian Systematic Theology at the Graduate Theological Union and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia. Her dissertation examined the complex interactions of Madhyamaka, Yogācāra, and Abhidharma teachings as they underlie the Vajrayāna philosophy of Je Tsongkhapa. She has worked closely with Dr. B. Alan Wallace on his translations for several books, including Open Mind: View and Meditation in the Lineage of Lerab Lingpa and Fathoming the Mind: Inquiry and Insight in Dudjom Lingpa's Vajra Essence, and has co-taught meditation retreats with Dr. Wallace around the world. In a Christian context, she co-authored Living Resurrected Lives: What It Means and Why It Matters with Veronica Mary Rolf. She has spent more than three years in solitary meditation retreat, and remains in residence at Miyo Samten Ling in Crestone, Colorado, guiding fellow retreatants in the details of contemplative training. Her website is: evanatanya.com.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded August 21, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:22 - Mystical Longing and Spiritual Quest
00:09:59 - The Discipline and Demands of Rehearsal and Performance
00:14:11 - Transition to Deep Education and Meditation
00:18:22 - Preparation for Solitary Retreat
00:23:26 - Challenges of Long-term Retreat Practice
00:27:50 - The connection between mind and pr??ic system
00:32:00 - Sensations of Pr??a and the Inner Body
00:36:14 - The Dangers of Kundalini and Inner-body Practices
00:40:35 - The Proper Meditation Posture and Settling the Mind
00:45:25 - The Process of Settling the Mind
00:49:54 - Integrating Meditation with Daily Life
00:54:20 - The Depths of Loving-Kindness
00:58:30 - Meditation and the Transformation of Worldview
01:02:51 - The Notion of a Person as a Temporary Conglomerate
01:08:02 - The karmic cause of suffering and purification possibilities
01:12:21 - Reincarnation and Hypotheses of Past Lives
01:16:16 - Dream Lives and Illusion of Self
01:20:56 - Pratityasamutpada and the Two Realities
01:25:34 - The Illusory Nature of Things
01:29:51 - The Trinity in Christian Theology and Buddhism
01:35:06 - The Divine Light and Celestial Perception
01:39:40 - The Manifestation of Divinity in Every Little Thing
01:44:55 - The True Nature and Buddha Nature
01:50:25 - The transcendence of death in different cultures
01:55:27 - The Vastness of Awareness in Buddhism
01:59:28 - Finding a Path and Authentic Teachers
02:04:15 - Authenticity and Discernment in Choosing a Teacher
02:08:53 - Unconventional Behavior in the Name of Crazy Wisdom
02:13:19 - The Concept of Enlightenment
02:17:51 - Taking a Step towards Enlightenment | |||
| 611. Peter Russell, 2nd Interview | 17 Aug 2021 | ||
Peter Russell is a leading thinker on consciousness and contemporary spirituality. He coined the term "global brain" with his 1980s bestseller of the same name in which he predicted the Internet and the impact it would have on humanity. His new book, Letting Go of Nothing: Relax Your Mind and Discover the Wonder of Your True Nature, is published this August. He is the author of ten other books, including Waking Up in Time: Finding Inner Peace in Times of Accelerating Change and From Science to God: A Physicists Journey into the Mystery of Consciousness.
He studied theoretical physics, experimental psychology, and computer science at the University of Cambridge, and pioneered the introduction of personal growth programs to corporations, running courses for senior management on creativity, stress management, and sustainable development.
His mission is to distill the essential wisdom on human consciousness found in the world’s various spiritual traditions and to disseminate their teachings on self-liberation in contemporary and compelling ways.
Peter's website: peterrussell.com
Peter's YouTube channel
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
First BatGap interview with Peter.
Interview recorded August 14, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:22 - Exploring Intelligent Design and Nature's Orchestration
00:07:34 - The Release of Letting Go
00:11:19 - Letting Go of Attachments through Body Awareness
00:16:56 - The Fundamental Motivation
00:21:56 - The Search for Inner Peace
00:26:06 - The Natural Mind
00:31:36 - Falling and Finding Contentment
00:41:50 - Distractions and Inner Quietness
00:47:37 - The Limitations of Books on the Spiritual Path
00:51:40 - Starting with Simple Meditation Techniques
00:55:08 - The Effects of Technological Acceleration
00:58:24 - The Innovative Power of Humans
01:01:18 - The Potential Limits of Technological Acceleration
01:04:20 - The Unsustainability of our Civilization
01:07:09 - Understanding the Trajectory
01:10:03 - The Importance of Becoming Better Human Beings
01:13:14 - The Importance of Confidence and Speculation
01:16:11 - The Power of Now
01:19:01 - The Two Aspects of Emotions
01:22:12 - Letting Go and Moving On
01:25:19 - The Doer and the Divine
01:29:07 - Synchronicity and Nature's Favor
01:32:37 - Attuning to Divine Intelligence
01:36:11 - The Natural Tendency of the Mind
01:39:32 - Letting Go: The Essence of Forgiveness
01:42:31 - Letting go of Judgments and Grievances
01:45:46 - The Vicious Circle of Attack and Defense
01:48:55 - The Power of Apologizing and Being Kind
01:52:01 - Mindfulness of Being Webinars
01:54:41 - Reflecting on the Talk with Peter | |||
| 610. Julie Beischel | 11 Aug 2021 | ||
Julie Beischel, Ph.D., is the co-founder and Director of Research at the Windbridge Research Center. She received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology with a minor in Microbiology and Immunology. Her current research mainly focuses on mediums: individuals who experience communication with the deceased. Dr. Beischel has published research examining mediums’ accuracy and their experiences, psychology, and physiology, and the potential therapeutic application of mediumship readings during bereavement. Her research interests also include spontaneous, facilitated, assisted, and requested after-death communication experiences. She lives in Arizona with her husband and research partner, Mark Boccuzzi, and their two dogs.
Books:
Investigating Mediums: A Windbridge Institute Collection
Among Mediums: A Scientist's Quest for Answers
Meaningful Messages: Making the Most of Your Mediumship Reading
From the Mouths of Mediums Vol. 1: Experiencing Communication (From the Mouths of Mediums: Conversations with Windbridge Certified Research Mediums)
Website: windbridge.org
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded August 7, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:02:42 - The Afterlife and Mediumship
00:05:08 - Exploring Mediumship and the Afterlife
00:07:24 - Fear of Death and Its Impact on Psychology and Worldviews
00:09:53 - Investigating Medium Readings
00:12:31 - Medium Screening and Certification Procedure
00:15:37 - Disproving the Hypothesis of Medium Fraudulent Behavior
00:18:33 - Mediumship and Psychic Abilities
00:21:16 - Paradigms and Scientific Closed-Mindedness
00:26:37 - The Limitations of Medium Abilities
00:32:35 - Psychic Abilities and Predicting the Future
00:35:40 - The Continuation of Consciousness After Death
00:38:54 - The Possibility of an Afterlife
00:41:59 - Communication with Deceased Spirits
00:45:04 - The Five People Involved in the Protocol
00:47:58 - Autoimmune Diseases and Mediumship
00:51:01 - The Connection Between Mediumship and Autoimmune Diseases
00:54:06 - Different Levels of Trance Consciousness in Mediumship
00:57:10 - Physical Mediumship and Table Tipping
01:00:25 - Emotional Impact of Animal Loss
01:03:49 - Normalizing After-Death Communication Experiences
01:09:16 - Incorporating Afterlife Beliefs into Mental Health Practices
01:13:36 - The Fascination with Non-Local Consciousness
01:16:23 - The interconnectedness of the universe
01:19:10 - Quality of Life over Quantity of Days
01:21:48 - Terminal Lucidity and Mediumship
01:24:30 - Alleviating Suffering through Mediumship
01:28:14 - Studying Mediumship in its Natural Environment
01:31:13 - Peer-reviewed papers and replication difficulties
01:33:57 - Mediumship Readings and Being Open-Minded
01:36:10 - Farewell and Thanks | |||
| 609. Jim Tucker | 05 Aug 2021 | 01:34:32 | |
Dr. Jim Tucker is the Bonner-Lowry Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia. He is Director of the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies, where he is continuing the work of Ian Stevenson with children who report memories of previous lives. He is the author of Before: Children's Memories of Previous Lives, a new 2-in-1 edition of his books Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children's Memories of Previous Lives and Return to Life: Extraordinary Cases of Children Who Remember Past Lives, which together have been translated into twenty languages.
Websites:
jimbtucker.com
Division of Perceptual Studies
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded July 31, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:02:48 - Motivation for Research
00:05:44 - Challenging the Physical Understanding of Reality
00:10:10 - The Evolution of Spiritual Beings
00:14:57 - The Middle Ages and Beliefs
00:22:17 - The Fascinating Case of James Houston
00:25:50 - Paradigm Shift and Understanding the Deeper Nature of Reality
00:29:37 - The Value of Consciousness and Past Life Memories
00:34:09 - Hypnotic Regression and Past Lives Experiences
00:38:17 - Reincarnation stories and choosing parents
00:43:14 - Children's Memories of Past and Future Lives
00:47:06 - Indicators of Past Life Skills
00:50:24 - Birthmarks and Reincarnation
00:53:56 - The Five Sheaths in Sanskrit Tradition
00:57:10 - Hypnotic Regression and Dr. Brian Weiss's Work
01:00:11 - The Potential for Harm and Benefit in Past Life Research
01:03:21 - Disincarnate Entities and Incarnation
01:06:35 - Recent Lives and Intact Memories
01:09:22 - Unfinished Business and Emotional Ties
01:11:59 - Skepticism and Debating Past Life Cases
01:15:08 - Unusual Behaviors in Children with Past Life Memories
01:18:13 - Impact of Past Lives on Gender Development
01:21:25 - Reincarnation and Transmigration across Species
01:24:13 - The Possibility of Consciousness on Other Planets
01:27:51 - The Hollywood Case and Past Life Memories
01:31:21 - Verifying Ryan's Statements and the Impacts of Past Life Memories
01:34:54 - Possibilities of Past Lives and Sequential Reincarnation
01:38:16 - The Malleability of Time
01:41:39 - The Pursuit of Inner Happiness
01:45:56 - A Potential Shift Ahead
01:48:11 - Next episode preview and introduction | |||
| 608. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, 2nd Interview | 31 Jul 2021 | 01:35:13 | |
This interview centered around Sadhvi's new book, Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation.
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Ph.D. is a renowned spiritual leader, author, and motivational speaker based in Rishikesh, India. Originally from Los Angeles and a graduate of Stanford University, Sadhviji has been ordained into the sacred order of Sanyas by her guru HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and has been living at Parmarth Niketan Ashram for the past twenty-five years. She is the Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, an international interfaith organization dedicated to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; president of Divine Shakti Foundation, a foundation that runs free schools, vocational training programs, and empowerment programs; and director of the world-famous International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh—which has been covered in Time, CNN, the New York Times and other prestigious publications and has been addressed by both the Prime Minister and Vice President of India. She serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on Religion and on the steering committees of the International Partnership for Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) and the Moral Imperative to End Extreme Poverty, a campaign by the United Nations and World Bank. She was also the Managing Editor for the monumental project of the 11-volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism. She oversees a variety of humanitarian projects, teaches meditation, lectures, writes, counsels individuals and families, and serves as a unique female voice of spiritual leadership throughout India and the world.
Websites:
Sadhviji.org (personal site)
Sadhviji's TED talk
@SadhviBhagawatiSaraswati (Sadhviji's Facebook page with announcements of events, videos, etc.)
@ParmarthNiketan (Parmarth's Facebook page where they stream Sadhviji's satsangs live daily when she is in town.)
Youtube channel with all of the videos of Sadhviji's lectures (and also a lot of other good stuff...)
Twitter: @SadhviBhagawati
Book: Vegetarianism: For Our Bodies, Our Minds, Our Souls & Our Planet
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
First BatGap interview with Sadhvi.
Interview recorded July 25, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump interview
00:03:30 - Honesty and Humaneness in Spiritual Awakening
00:07:49 - Bridging the Gap: Hollywood to the Himalayas
00:11:38 - The Shift in Perception
00:15:15 - A Sudden Knowing in Rishikesh
00:19:19 - A Profound Spiritual Experience on the Banks of Ganga
00:23:52 - Swarg Ashram: The Heavenly Abode
00:27:41 - The Beauty of Being Non-Verbal
00:31:29 - Living in the Deepest Level of Awareness
00:34:52 - Shame and Authenticity
00:38:01 - The Humility of an Enlightened Master
00:41:14 - The Qualities of the Guru
00:44:41 - The Light of the Guru
00:48:02 - The Garden and its Animals
00:51:03 - The Story of the Sleeves and the Cat
00:54:17 - Emptying the Cup and Finding the Guru
00:57:46 - Overcoming Unconscious Patterns with Mindfulness
01:01:24 - Being Present in Daily Life
01:04:39 - Productivity in Moments of Freedom
01:07:10 - The Experience of Grace without Spiritual Practice
01:10:43 - A Transformational Experience
01:14:11 - Renunciation and Transformation
01:17:36 - The Biological Urge for a Baby
01:21:01 - The Journey of Forgiveness
01:24:25 - The Power of Forgiveness
01:27:47 - The Stain on Our Hearts
01:30:53 - Letting Go with Forgiveness
01:34:05 - Understanding Dis-ease and Harm towards Others
01:37:10 - The Transformation and Healing Journey
01:40:39 - Sharing and Appreciation
01:43:26 - The Spiritual Path | |||
| 607. Stephan Bodian, 2nd Interview | 22 Jul 2021 | 01:47:22 | |
Stephan Bodian is a teacher in the nondual wisdom tradition of Zen, Dzogchen, and Advaita Vedanta and the founder and director of the annual School for Awakening, an intensive six-month program of exploration and study. His offerings are noted for their humor, warmth, spontaneity, and intimacy and combine direct pointers, lively dialogues, silent sitting, and guided self-inquiry. He’s the author of several books, including Wake Up Now: A Guide to the Journey of Spiritual Awakening and Beyond Mindfulness: The Direct Approach to Lasting Peace, Happiness, and Love.
Stephan spent a decade practicing Zen intensively as a monk but left the monastery because he sensed that the rigorous practice of meditation was obscuring the truth he was seeking. After studying Dzogchen for several years, he met his guru, Jean Klein, a European teacher of Advaita Vedanta, who told him to stop meditating and instead discover the meditator. Shortly after meeting Jean, he had a profound awakening to his true identity as timeless presence. After Jean’s death, Stephan met Adyashanti, and in 2001 Adya gave him Dharma transmission and invited him to teach.
Trained as a psychotherapist, Stephan also offers individual spiritual counseling and mentoring sessions to people throughout the world. His approach blends direct, experiential, nondual wisdom with the insights of Western psychology to support students in realizing who they really are while inquiring into the stories and patterns of thinking and behaving that continue to cause suffering.
Website: stephanbodian.org
Other books:
Meditation For Dummies, w/Audio CD (Also available in various languages.)
Timeless Visions, Healing Voices: Conversations with Men & Women of the Spirit
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
First BatGap interview with Stephan.
Interview recorded July 11, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:20 - A Shift in the Locus of Identity
00:10:00 - The Vastness and Dream States
00:15:05 - Roshi's Uninhibited Behavior and the Fall of the Center
00:20:18 - Bodhidharma's Precepts and Acting in Integrity
00:25:13 - The Ugly Truth and Confrontational Behavior
00:30:15 - Dealing with the Shadow and Integrity
00:35:01 - Narcissism in Spiritual Teachers and the Direct Path
00:39:53 - Awakening and the Role of the Teacher
00:44:51 - The Role of Teachers and the Need for Discernment
00:49:48 - The Impressionability of the Mind
00:54:19 - The Interface Between Science and Spirituality
00:57:59 - The Direct Meeting and Potential for Transmission
01:01:23 - The Pitfalls of Spiritual Teachers and Sex
01:05:31 - Boundary-crossing and predatory behavior
01:09:01 - Spiritual Teachers and Dark Triad Qualities
01:12:56 - The Importance of Care in Spiritual Evolution
01:16:34 - Relationships and Higher Callings
01:19:59 - The Literary Invention of Crazy Wisdom
01:23:47 - Compassionate Being and True Crazy Wisdom
01:27:12 - Starting a New University
01:30:43 - The Strange Fit Between Narcissists and Spiritual Teachers
01:34:16 - Embracing Human Relationships
01:37:51 - Giving Power Away and Seeking Enlightenment
01:41:49 - Being Your Own Authority
01:45:11 - The Horse and the Whip
01:48:28 - Different Spiritual Teachers and their Teachings
01:51:57 - The True Guru Within
01:55:49 - The Awakening Journey
01:59:32 - The Role of a Spiritual Teacher
02:03:10 - School for Awakening | |||
| 606. Stephen Meyer | 16 Jul 2021 | ||
Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. Meyer is author of the New York Times bestseller Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design and Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design, a (London) Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year. In 2004, Meyer ignited a firestorm of media and scientific controversy when a biology journal at the Smithsonian Institution published his peer-reviewed scientific article advancing intelligent design. Meyer has been featured on national television and radio programs, including The Jim Lehrer News Hour, CBS Sunday Morning, NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, Good Morning America, Nightline, FOX News Live, Paula Zahn Now (CNN), and the Tavis Smiley Show on PBS. He has also been featured in two New York Times front-page stories and has garnered attention in other top national media.
Latest Book: Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe
Website: stephencmeyer.org
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded July 9, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:42 - Introduction to Stephen's Work and Book
00:07:28 - The Intelligent Cause of DNA Information
00:10:29 - The Complexity of Natural Processes and Intelligent Design
00:13:23 - The Fine-tuning of the Laws of Physics
00:16:31 - The Fine-tuned Universe and Intelligent Design
00:19:38 - The Multiverse Hypothesis and Fine-Tuning
00:22:29 - Fine-tuning and Intelligent Agency
00:25:52 - The Shift from Religion to Materialism
00:29:04 - Different Views on the Nature of God
00:32:14 - Exploring Different Philosophical Conceptions
00:35:12 - The Power of Divine Agency
00:38:28 - God's Imminence and Transcendence
00:42:10 - Theistic and Pantheistic Versions of Eastern Religions
00:45:46 - Waves on the Ocean of Intelligence
00:49:59 - The Importance of Intelligent Design
00:54:57 - The Search for Meaning and Existence
01:02:02 - Storing and Reconstituting Information
01:07:28 - Near-Death Experiences and the Survival of the Soul
01:14:29 - The Existence of God through Logical Reasoning and Personal Experience
01:21:19 - The Combination of Rationality and Empiricism
01:26:45 - The Scientific Attitude in Spirituality
01:31:33 - The Role of Faith in Knowledge and Science
01:36:08 - Belief in the Unseen: Quarks, Electrons, and God
01:39:53 - Miracles and the Laws of Nature
01:46:20 - Intelligent Design and Limited Creative Power
01:52:28 - Mathematical Platonism and the Applicability of Maths to the Physical World
01:58:50 - Evaluation of Pantheism and Advaita
02:03:13 - The Challenges of Teaching Intelligent Design in Public Schools
02:08:52 - Belief in Intelligent Design across different religions
02:14:16 - Links to Stephen's Books and Audible Availability | |||
| 605. Chelan Harkin | 10 Jul 2021 | ||
Chelan Harkin has been channeling ecstatic poetry for years and has now published two books in the past seven months, Susceptible to Light and Let Us Dance!: The Stumble and Whirl With The Beloved. Her publishing journey has been mystical and transformational and filled with "prayer experiments" gone right. Chelan has regularly been compared to the great mystic poets, Rumi, Hafiz, and Rilke. She lives in a geographically spectacular region of Washington State, The Columbia Gorge, with her husband and two small children. In her poetry and in her life, Chelan continually invites the fumbling, suffering parts of our nature and our divinity to meet for tea in the heart, to have a great laugh, and share a big hug.
Website: chelanharkin.com
Facebook page
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded July 3, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:59 - Connecting with Hafez: Inspiring Poetry and Publishing Success
00:09:55 - The Spontaneous Poem
00:14:14 - The Feeling of a Coming Poem
00:17:55 - Unleashing Our Inner Genius
00:21:48 - The Birth of Creativity
00:26:12 - Healing through Hypnotherapy
00:30:33 - Reframing and Reclaiming "I'm Too Much"
00:35:15 - Inspiration from Night Walks
00:39:32 - The Humility of Relationships
00:43:15 - The Worst Thing We Ever Did
00:47:36 - Opening Up to Vulnerability
00:52:09 - The Strength in Sensitivity
00:56:56 - The Essence of Infinity and Connection
01:01:11 - A Serendipitous Connection with Daniel
01:05:35 - Summoning Poetry with Hafez
01:09:32 - Chelan's Spiritual Upbringing
01:13:31 - A Sacred Experience in Bahala's Prison Cell
01:17:04 - Chelan's Aneurysm Journey
01:20:33 - The Impact of Diet and Social Media on Channeling Abilities
01:24:39 - The Thirst for Intellectual Knowledge
01:28:52 - The Potency of Embodied Spirituality
01:33:28 - The Power of Prayer
01:37:34 - Finding Joy in Work
01:41:18 - The God Who Made the Octopus
01:45:28 - The Cosmic Wallop and Cosmic Timing
01:49:19 - Discovering the Poet Within
01:52:33 - The Power of Language
01:56:21 - Living an Authentic Truth
01:59:41 - Openness to Opportunities
02:03:11 - Farewell and Good Wishes | |||
| 604. Ilia Delio | 04 Jul 2021 | ||
Ilia Delio, OSF holds the Josephine C. Connelly Chair in Christian Theology at Villanova University. Her area of research is Science and Religion with interests in artificial intelligence, evolution, quantum physics, and the import of these for Christian doctrine and life. She holds a doctorate in Pharmacology from Rutgers University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and a doctorate in Historical Theology from Fordham University. She is the author of over twenty books including Making All things New (Catholicity in an Evolving Universe), a finalist for the 2019 Michael Ramsey Prize and The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love, for which she won the 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award and a 2014 Catholic Press Association Book Award in Faith and Science. Her latest book is Re-Enchanting the Earth: Why AI Needs Religion. She is the founder of the Center for Christogenesis, an online educational resource for promoting the vision of Teilhard de Chardin and, more broadly, the integration of science and religion in the 21st century.
Some of the main points discussed in this conversation.
What is God?
As we enter the mystery of God, language fails us, and the mystery grasps us all the more.
The mystery of God is the same mystery at the heart of physics.
There’s nothing outside the existence of God. God is existence itself.
God’s love is so infinite that there is nothing in this creation that’s un-loveable or unloved by God.
This is a finite creation. Wherever there are boundaries there is the possibility of suffering. Suffering and death are part of the life cycle.
Reincarnation discussion. Are multiple incarnations sequential or simultaneous?
A deep experience of the mystery of God supports the freedom to speculate, dream, and imagine.
Science and religion need one another in order to fully understand the world.
The necessity and drawbacks of specialization and the complexification of knowledge.
If our hearts are grounded in holy mystery we become more fully God-like in our actions.
Humanity won’t have a sustainable future unless we renew the deeper dimension in our lives.
Cyborgs and transhumanism
The mutually beneficial relationship between spiritual and material technologies.
A profound spiritual transformation is underway.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s idea of a new religion of the earth, retaining the wisdom of the past but creating something new for the future.
Wherever in the universe intelligent life exists, it will search for ultimate intelligence.
Intelligent design
The core energy of the universe – God - is love. The force that creates stars is the same force that manifests as love in humans.
Love is the highest knowledge. In the evening of life, we shall be judged on love alone.
Making love the lens through which we see all of life.
“The more I am in union with another, the more I am in touch with myself because it’s the core of myself that’s in union.”
What might the world be like if everyone were enlightened?
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded June 26, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:18 - The Scope of Topics to Be Discussed
00:05:49 - The Name of God and Absolute Mystery
00:08:11 - The Ineffable Mystery of God
00:11:27 - The Nature of Consciousness and God
00:14:50 - God as the Consciousness of Consciousness
00:18:04 - The Trinity and God's Creative Potential
00:21:45 - Realizing our Divine Potential
00:25:43 - The Mystery of Matter and God's Creative Activity
00:29:12 - Matter and Divine Activity
00:35:08 - The Beauty of Life and the Wholeness of Being
00:39:32 - Quantum Entanglement and Multiple Realms of Existence
00:44:23 - The Unity of Science and Religion
00:48:26 - The Tethering of Religion and Spirituality
00:53:05 - The Fragmentation of Knowledge and the Necessity for Spiritual Fulfillment
00:58:00 - Gods and Robots: The Intersection of Spirituality and Technology
01:01:27 - The Unhelpful Dynamic
01:08:20 - A New Type of Science in the Future
01:15:04 - The Allure of Transhumanism
01:18:40 - The Mixed Blessing of Technologies
01:21:53 - Technology and Spirituality
01:25:47 - The Technology of Spirituality
01:28:35 - A New Type of Collective Consciousness
01:32:30 - Creating a New Type of Religious Sensibility
01:36:13 - The Existence of Intelligent Life on Other Planets
01:40:10 - Rethinking Intelligent Design
01:47:35 - The Ultimate Reality of Love
01:53:28 - The Happiness Index and the Consciousness of Shared Being
01:56:58 - Imagining a World of Love
01:59:49 - The Health of the Planet | |||
| 702. Neil Theise | 22 Mar 2024 | 01:44:05 | |
Neil Theise is a professor of pathology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Through his scientific research, he has been a pioneer of adult stem cell plasticity and the anatomy of the human interstitium. Dr. Theise’s studies in complexity theory have led to interdisciplinary collaborations in fields such as integrative medicine, consciousness studies, and science-religion dialogue. He is a senior Zen student at the Village Zendo in NYC. His life long Jewish practice has involved both traditional observances and formal academic study. In recent years, (to his surprise) he has also undergone shamanic initiation.
Books:
General Audience:
Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being
Of academic interest:
Awakening: Exploring Spirituality, Emergent Creativity, and Reconciliation
Transforming: Applying Spirituality, Emergent Creativity, and Reconciliation
Website: neiltheiseofficial.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded March 9, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:25 - Complexity Theory and the study of life
00:08:34 - Dynamic Healing of the GI Tract
00:12:40 - Artificial Life and Complexity Theory
00:17:26 - Awakening through the Koan "Mu"
00:22:41 - The Fascinating Idea of Biocentrism and Organizing Complexity
00:25:45 - Discovering Complexity Theory
00:28:37 - The Illusion of Materiality and the Nature of Pure Awareness
00:33:37 - The Non-dual Fundamental Awareness
00:37:38 - Complementarity in Quantum Physics and Beyond
00:42:36 - The Quantum Field of the Body
00:46:29 - Direct experiences of quantum level reality
00:49:14 - The True Nature of Conscious Reality
00:53:25 - The Illusion of Reality
00:56:56 - The Mechanism of Human Consciousness
01:01:23 - Challenging Empirical Science and Promissory Materialism
01:04:51 - The Intimacy of Subject and Object in Quantum Science
01:08:53 - The Limitations of Mathematics and Empirical Science
01:13:30 - Gödel and Turing's Implications for Mystical Exploration and Consciousness
01:17:33 - Shifting Paradigms and the Nature of Consciousness
01:21:20 - Self-Organization and Complexity in the Universe
01:24:44 - Negative and Positive Feedback Loops
01:29:02 - The Adjacent Possibles and Creativity
01:32:16 - The Subtle Dimensions of Living Beings and the Universe
01:35:26 - Language Limitations and Perspective
01:39:02 - Awakening through Traumatic Experiences
01:42:35 - Wondering about Luck and the Beloved Name
01:45:28 - The Universe's Construction and Spiritual Practices
01:48:30 - The Divine Feminine and Unconditional Love
01:52:57 - The Nature of Reality and True Compassion
01:55:56 - Conclusion | |||
| 603. Tara Springett | 28 Jun 2021 | ||
From her teenage years onwards Tara has been deeply interested in personal growth and self-development and has dedicated her life to this quest.
Tara holds an M.A. in Education and has post-graduate qualifications in gestalt therapy, body awareness therapy, and transpersonal therapy. She is a fully qualified and licensed psychotherapist and counselor. Tara has worked as a drug counselor, counselor for adolescents, and general psychotherapist since 1988.
Tara has been a dedicated Buddhist practitioner since 1986. In 1997 she received encouragement from her Buddhist teacher Rigdzin Shikpo to teach meditation to others. In 2002 her Buddhist teacher Venerable Garchen Rinpoche also encouraged her to teach.
Tara has since taught ongoing meditation groups and combines Buddhist wisdom and her experience in counseling when assisting her clients with their personal growth, self-development, and improvement.
Since 2011 Tara has specialized in helping people suffering from kundalini syndrome.
Tara is the author of several self-help books. She has been featured in numerous publications and has appeared on various radio and television shows in Europe and the US. Tara is a regular contributor to beliefnet.com.
Tara (born 1960) lives in the beautiful countryside of Devon in England where she also works in her private counseling (Skype) practice together with her husband Nigel. In her free time, Tara loves to walk in nature, visit old-fashioned English tea rooms, and lavish many hours of work on her flower garden.
Websites
taraspringett.com
kundalinisymptoms.com
Books
Healing Kundalini Symptoms: Proven Techniques That Really Work
Enlightenment Through the Path of Kundalini: A Guide to a Positive Spiritual Awakening and Overcoming Kundalini Syndrome
Spiritual Joy: The Buddhist Dzogchen Path to Enlightenment
Advanced Manifesting - Tibetan Buddhist Secrets for Fulfilling Your Dreams
Higher-Consciousness Healing: Discover Your Personal Healing-Symbols to Solve All Your Problems
Soulmate Relationships: How to find, keep and understand your perfect partner
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded June 19, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:41 - Managing Negative Emotions and Scary Energy Movements
00:09:08 - The Process of Kundalini Awakening and Kriyas
00:13:32 - Storing Traumas in the Body
00:18:08 - The Correlation Between Chinese Medicine and Subtle Body
00:22:26 - Four Levels of Spiritual Practice
00:26:59 - The Experience of Being the Deity
00:31:26 - The Levels of Development in Dzogchen Teaching
00:35:24 - Working with the Chakras for Awakening Kundalini
00:39:21 - Speaking the Truth with Diplomacy
00:43:37 - Kundalini Awakening and Clearing Deep-Seated Issues
00:48:03 - Becoming a Deity in Tibetan Buddhism
00:52:21 - Contradictions in Buddhist Teachings
00:56:55 - Coexistence of Mental Health and Kundalini Symptoms
01:01:45 - The Relationship between Kundalini Awakening and Mental Disorders
01:06:28 - The Dangers of Kundalini Awakening via Drugs
01:10:27 - Deflected Kundalini Rising and its Consequences
01:14:52 - Kundalini awakening and its accessibility through the internet
01:19:15 - The Starting Point: Kundalini Awakening
01:23:26 - Signs of Progress in Meditation
01:27:47 - The Evolution of Relationships and the Tantric Relationship
01:32:18 - Managing Sensitivity
01:36:47 - Pacing Yourself in the Enlightenment Process
01:41:19 - Dzogrim and the Fusion of Control, Surrender, and Love
01:45:30 - Balancing Judgment and Acceptance
01:49:31 - Balancing Bliss States and Family Life
01:53:50 - The Health Benefits of Kundalini Awakening
01:58:06 - Kundalini Awakening and Prophetic Dreams
02:02:14 - Stages of Consciousness
02:06:35 - The Stages of Consciousness Development
02:10:49 - Books on Kundalini Symptoms and Awakening | |||
| 602. Diederik Wolsak | 20 Jun 2021 | ||
Diederik was born in 1942 in a tiny village south of what now is known as Jakarta, Indonesia. The first three and a half years of his life were spent in Japanese POW camps and it was here that he formed most of his core beliefs, beliefs which he thought were his actual ‘character’. After some fifty years of self-loathing, alcohol, and drug abuse he decided there had to be a better way, it was time to ‘change his mind’ at the deepest levels. Through a Course in Miracles and Attitudinal Healing, he developed a radical forgiveness process that allows him to transform the self he hated into a Self whose only function is to extend love. Choose Again, his charitable society, operates a healing center in Costa Rica and he gives talks and teaches workshops in many places around the world.
Website: choose-again.com
Book: Choose Again: Six Steps to Freedom
Book Diederik mentioned: What They Don’t Teach in Prenatal Class: The Key to Raising Trouble-Free Kids & Teens
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded June 12, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Diederik Wolsak
00:05:15 - Core Beliefs and Self-Blame
00:10:17 - The Formation of Core Beliefs
00:14:26 - The Unbearable Existence
00:19:04 - The Point of Change
00:23:45 - Childhood in Indonesia and Self-Hatred
00:28:03 - A Blindness to One's Own Behavior
00:32:34 - The Meaning Behind Lesson 135 in A Course in Miracles
00:36:43 - Deep Transformation through the Process
00:41:16 - The Masks We Wear
00:45:42 - The Root of Beliefs
00:49:52 - The Process of Transformation
00:54:24 - The Power to Interpret Your Experience
00:58:59 - The Unexpected Reaction
01:02:35 - The Self's Influence on Experience
01:06:58 - Healing Through Awareness of Beliefs
01:10:59 - The Guilt of Separation
01:15:24 - The Journey to Oneness
01:19:15 - The Importance of Commitment
01:23:15 - Reflecting Core Beliefs and Healing the Self
01:27:36 - The State of Consciousness and Beliefs
01:31:49 - Finding Purpose in Office Jobs
01:36:12 - Step Two: Recognizing the Author of Our Dreams
01:40:26 - Tracing the Root Feeling
01:44:38 - The Guilt Behind Punishment
01:48:30 - Reforming the Criminal Justice System
01:52:53 - Healing Together in Relationships
01:57:14 - Finding Support Online
02:01:48 - The Completion Process
02:06:24 - The Purpose of Discomfort and Correction
02:10:39 - Gratitude and Farewell | |||
| 601. Laurence Freeman | 14 Jun 2021 | ||
Laurence Freeman is a Benedictine monk and teacher and is Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) a global, inclusive contemplative community. He resides at the international centre of the WCCM at Bonnevaux Centre for Peace near Paris.
With Irish and English roots, he was educated by the Benedictines and studied English Literature at New College, Oxford University. Before entering monastic life, he worked with the United Nations in New York, in Banking and Journalism.
Fr. Laurence is a monk of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. John Main was his teacher and Fr. Laurence assisted him in establishing the foundations of the Community. Laurence is the author of a number of books on Meditation. He teaches meditation in religious and secular contexts and works in interfaith dialogue. He travels extensively teaching and leading Retreats dialogues. Laurence sees meditation as opening the common ground of humanity and developing the contemplative consciousness that he believes the world today needs for its survival.
Books
Jesus the Teacher Within
Good Work: Meditation for Personal & Organisational Transformation
Christian Meditation: Your Daily Practice
Light Within: Meditation as Pure Prayer
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded June 5, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:01 - The Roots of Meditation in Christianity
00:06:32 - The Roots of Meditation
00:09:49 - The Radically Simple Way of Meditation
00:12:42 - The Mantra in Christian Prayer
00:15:13 - The Cycle of Losing and Finding
00:17:42 - The Flowing Tradition of Christianity
00:20:53 - Rediscovering the Mystical Dimension of Religion
00:24:42 - The Growth of Contemplative Consciousness
00:31:19 - Transformational Effects in Your World and Work
00:36:30 - The Progressive Development of Consciousness
00:42:20 - The Relevance of Meditation to the Deeper Meaning of Life
00:50:16 - Pursuing Happiness and the Meaning of Suffering
00:55:27 - Nurturing a Community of Love and Faith
01:00:05 - The Influence of Consciousness and Leadership in Society
01:04:32 - The Loss of the Moral Consensus
01:09:51 - Ethical Integrity in the Spiritual Community
01:15:40 - The Fruits of the Spirit
01:20:44 - Jesus' Miracles and Compassion
01:26:03 - The Shared Divinity of Humanity
01:30:31 - The Emptying of God and the Fullness of Self
01:36:24 - The Question of Identity
01:40:51 - The Stories and Questions of Jesus' Life
01:46:05 - The Debate on Reincarnation and its Importance
01:50:46 - The Concept of Purgatory and Reincarnation
01:54:41 - The Practice of Meditation
01:59:25 - The Work of Meditation
02:03:08 - Introduction to Meditation
02:08:24 - Conclusion and Resources
02:13:18 - Daily Wisdom and Community Building
02:16:28 - Farewell and Future Endeavors | |||
| 600. Anita Moorjani, 2nd Interview | 08 Jun 2021 | ||
Anita Moorjani is the New York Times bestselling author of What If This Is Heaven?: How Our Cultural Myths Prevent Us from Experiencing Heaven on Earth and Dying To Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing. A beloved international speaker, she lives in the United States with her husband, Danny, and has dedicated her life to empowering the minds and hearts of people with her story of courage and transformation. Anita was born in Singapore to Indian parents and grew up in Hong Kong speaking English, Cantonese, and an Indian dialect simultaneously. Prior to her near-death experience, she worked in the corporate world.
Anita's website
Anita's latest book: Sensitive Is the New Strong: The Power of Empaths in an Increasingly Harsh World
Audio CD: Deep Meditation for Healing
Previous BatGap interview with Anita.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded June 3, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:59 - Recognition of Deceased Loved Ones
00:09:37 - The Impact of the Near-Death Experience
00:14:06 - Choosing to Come Back from the Other Side
00:18:41 - Flipping Everything We've Ever Learned
00:23:16 - The Power of Empaths in an Increasingly Harsh World
00:27:16 - The Spectrum of Caring
00:31:49 - The Importance of Self-Care and Empaths in Leadership
00:36:28 - Priorities and the Right to Kill
00:40:43 - The Role of Empathic Leaders
00:45:21 - Transforming Collective Consciousness Through Education
00:49:23 - Tapping into Inner Reservoir
00:53:05 - The Importance of Receiving
00:56:54 - The Benefits of Slowing Down and Recharging
01:01:00 - The Gift of Being an Empath
01:05:43 - The Nature of Being an Empath
01:09:58 - The Nature of Empaths and their Vulnerability
01:14:13 - The Vulnerability of Empaths to Physical Symptoms
01:18:57 - The Spectrum of Empathic Tendencies
01:23:05 - The Spiritual Awakening Journey and the Path to Enlightenment
01:27:34 - Inability to Say No
01:31:56 - Integrating a Spiritual Experience into Everyday Life
01:36:25 - Navigating the World with a Strong Connection to Your Higher Self
01:40:41 - The Two-Pronged Approach to Healthcare
01:44:37 - Creating a Life You Love
01:48:16 - The Tragic Loss of Rennie
01:52:27 - Repressed Ego and Self-Care in Spiritual Teachings
01:56:50 - Increasing Your Energy and Expanding Your Aura
02:01:10 - The Power of Expanding Energy
02:06:11 - Unity and Oneness with God | |||
| 599. Stephen Cope | 02 Jun 2021 | ||
Stephen Cope is the Scholar Emeritus at the renowned Kripalu Center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He is the author of many best-selling books on the topic of yoga and meditation. For over thirty years, his interest has been in bringing important but esoteric yoga scriptures to the mainstream, including, most recently, the two-thousand-year-old spiritual classic called The Bhagavad Gita, or "The Song of God." His new book on The Gita, entitled The Dharma of Difficult Times, will be released later this year.
Books:
The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling (Discussed in this interview)
Yoga and the Quest for the True Self
The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker's Guide to Extraordinary Living
Deep Human Connection: Why We Need It More than Anything Else
Website: stephencope.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded May 29, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:14 - The Definition of Dharma and Its Connection with the Common Good
00:07:48 - The concept of dharma and its impact on individuals, families, and society
00:11:13 - Higher Beings and Our Relationship with Them
00:14:48 - Discovering the Dharma
00:18:11 - The Importance of Underrating Oneself
00:21:42 - Everything is Already Okay
00:25:04 - The Effects of Meditation on Young Musicians
00:28:37 - The Contemplative Tradition's View on Mastery
00:31:55 - Finding Your Dharma
00:35:14 - Finding Your Duty
00:38:40 - Finding Fulfillment in Your Dharma
00:42:21 - Finding the Open Door
00:45:57 - Fulfilling your Dharma and making a significant impact
00:49:16 - Listening for the Call of the Times
00:53:05 - Beethoven's Dedication to his Gift
00:56:43 - The Practice of Letting Go
01:00:17 - The Self's behavior and suffering leading to enlightenment
01:03:46 - Gandhi's View on Violence and War
01:07:17 - Exceptions to Oppression
01:10:40 - Living Unknown
01:14:22 - The Mystery of Sacrifice and Dharma
01:17:43 - The Period of Certitude and Doubt
01:20:59 - The Conflict of the Heart and Mind
01:24:33 - All is Brahman
01:27:54 - The Power of Taking Risks and Committing
01:31:17 - Support from Higher Intelligence
01:35:00 - The Fruition and Importance of Ethical Practice
01:38:12 - Finding Fulfillment through Balance and Wisdom
01:41:37 - The Impact of Concentration Levels on Book Publishing
01:45:12 - Schedule Change: Lawrence Freeman - Work with the Dalai Lama | |||
| 598. Gautam Sachdeva | 17 May 2021 | ||
Born and brought up in Mumbai, Gautam faced one challenge after another fairly early in life. He remarks, “As a result, I grew up before my time.” Having to cope with the loss of his father at the young age of 14 gave rise to questions related to death, insecurity, and survival, which would affect most children faced with a similar loss.
At the turn of the millennium (December 1999), Gautam’s inherent but latent spiritual inclination surfaced through a series of synchronistic events. Following his mother’s example, he started attending a course in Brahma Vidya (Knowledge of Brahman) based on a system of ancient Tibetan breathing exercises. This course was conducted by his mother’s guru, Justice Dudhat of the High Court of Mumbai.
Around this time, Gautam diversified into publishing by setting up Yogi Impressions, primarily to publish his mother Santosh’s book on her spiritual awakening. Santosh Ma’s journey of awakening spanned three years, from 1996 to 1999. Although there was no desire or ambition to publish any other book besides this one, destiny had charted a new course for him, as he was soon to discover.
In November 1999, Gautam met Eckhart Tolle, the best-selling spiritual author of The Power of Now, in Hong Kong, while holidaying with his sister Nikki who worked there at the time. He had several interactions with this spiritual teacher over the next few years, courtesy of Nikki and her friends’ proximity to Eckhart, which led to his publishing company bringing out the Indian edition of The Power of Now. Eckhart had said that publishing would be the start of ‘an adventure’ for Gautam, and so it turned out to be.
It was at Nikki’s urging that Gautam met the Advaita sage, Ramesh Balsekar, in February 2000. Some of her friends were flying down from a distant country just to meet this modern sage who lived a mere 20-minute drive away from Gautam’s home. Having no conscious interest in the subject, he tagged along one Sunday morning to Ramesh’s residence in Mumbai. On his next visit when Ramesh saw him, he asked Gautam: “Isn’t this the second consecutive Sunday you have come? Be careful young man… this will become your Sunday church!” Little then did he know that he would keep visiting Ramesh over the next nine years to attend his satsangs.
During these years, Gautam worked closely with Ramesh assisting him with the editing and publishing of some of his books. In later years, Ramesh encouraged Gautam to write especially after reading an article Gautam had written for India’s leading spiritual magazine on the occasion of Ramesh’s 90th birthday in 2007. It was this gentle nudge that eventually led to Gautam writing his first book based on Ramesh’s teaching – Pointers from Ramesh Balsekar.
Since then, Gautam has authored five more books. He is quite perplexed himself at this ‘happening’ as he had no intention of becoming a writer. “At least one doesn’t have to look hard for a publisher,” he adds with a smile. His books have been translated into Russian, German, Spanish, Hindi, and Marathi..
Website: gautamsachdeva.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded May 15, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:57 - A Chance Meeting That Changed My Life
00:09:19 - The Search for Peace of Mind
00:13:55 - Control over Action and Results
00:18:19 - Averting Danger in Life
00:22:33 - Layers of Reality
00:26:51 - The Beauty of Unseen Perspectives
00:31:00 - The Threefold Structure of Creation
00:34:41 - The Pragmatic Approach to Challenges
00:39:17 - Acceptance and Karma
00:44:05 - The Goal is All Along the Path
00:48:08 - The Pitfall of Inaction
00:51:28 - Rowing gently along the stream
00:55:50 - The Quality of Witnessing
01:00:10 - Kundalini Experiences and Validation
01:03:38 - Meditation and Nisargadatta Maharaj
01:07:22 - The Power of Wiggle Room and Grace
01:11:55 - The Healing Power of Animals
01:15:28 - The Natural Outcome of the Thinking Mind
01:19:44 - The Beauty of Silence
01:23:40 - Respect for Life and Compassion for All Living Beings
01:27:10 - The Value of All Life
01:30:44 - Life as an Ongoing Surprise Test
01:35:01 - The Power of Being in the Presence of a Sage
01:38:50 - The Age of Truth
01:42:37 - Fear and Duality in Spiritual Thought
01:46:50 - The Funny Driver in a Rental Car
01:50:54 - Finding Peace of Mind
01:54:46 - Awakening the Unconditioned Mind
01:58:22 - Gratitude for Whatever Is
02:03:06 - Farewell and Gratitude | |||
| 597. Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri | 06 May 2021 | ||
Sufi mystic and visionary Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri is an enlightened spiritual master. His life and works serve as a reminder that spirituality is a science and an art vitally relevant to our times. Shaykh Fadhlalla grew up in an environment where religious scholars, as well as Sufi and mystics, were part of his formative experience. His love and understanding of the universality of the Qur'anic message have imbued him with respect for other religions and spiritual paths.
Websites:
shaykhfadhlallahaeri.com
zahrapublications.pub
Books mentioned during the interview:
Son of Karbala: The Spiritual Journey of an Iraqi Muslim
Sufi Encounters: Sharing the Wisdom of Enlightened Sufis
Spectrum of Reality: Sufi Insights
The Garden of Meaning
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded May 1, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview
00:03:45 - The Curiosity of a Child
00:07:51 - The Dichotomy of Earthly and Spiritual Desires
00:11:57 - The Inner and Outer Self
00:15:55 - Preparation for Infinite Life
00:19:44 - The Filter of the Brain
00:23:28 - The Shift into a Higher Consciousness
00:27:16 - The Progress of Consciousness
00:30:58 - The Influence of Consciousness on Animals
00:34:36 - Awakening to the Higher Within
00:38:38 - Reverencing the Divine Light within us
00:42:15 - Learning from a Spiritual Teacher
00:46:01 - Celebration of the Soul's Journey Beyond
00:49:57 - The Decline of Fundamentalism and the Rise of Universal Spirituality
00:53:48 - The Emergence of Spirituality and Technology
00:57:27 - The State of the Garden Within Me
01:01:22 - Losing the small self
01:05:07 - Living a Full Life without Denial
01:08:58 - The Cosmic Justification for Suffering
01:12:31 - Wealth Distribution and the Future
01:15:53 - The Value of Suffering
01:19:12 - The story of the scorpion and the saint
01:22:48 - Liberation and Freedom
01:26:42 - Inner Freedom and Liberation
01:30:22 - Inner Freedom and Reconciliation
01:34:04 - Creating a Community in Messina, Texas
01:37:35 - Books and Connections with Shaykh
01:41:19 - Trusting the Cloud and the Aversion to Institutionalizing Things
01:44:43 - The Essence Within Us
01:48:06 - The Outer and Inner Self
01:51:48 - Awakening to the High Treasure | |||
| 596. Richard Tarnas | 29 Apr 2021 | ||
Richard Tarnas is a professor of psychology and cultural history at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, where he founded the graduate program in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness. He teaches courses in the history of ideas, archetypal studies, depth psychology, and religious evolution. He frequently lectures on archetypal studies and depth psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara and was formerly the director of programs and education at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. He is the author of The Passion of the Western Mind, a history of the Western world view from the ancient Greek to the postmodern widely used in universities. His second book, Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View, received the Book of the Year Prize from the Scientific and Medical Network and is the basis for the upcoming documentary series The Changing of the Gods. He is a past president of the International Transpersonal Association and served on the Board of Governors for the C. G. Jung Institute of San Francisco.
Website: cosmosandpsyche.com
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded April 25, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:51 - Distribution of Film and Book Corrections
00:07:28 - The Playful Dimension of Consciousness
00:11:25 - The Tension Between Creativity and Order
00:15:07 - Resistance to new ideas and materialism in science
00:19:26 - The Liberation of Humankind and the Disenchantment of the Cosmos
00:24:00 - The Transformation of the Renaissance
00:29:01 - The Power of Initiatory Rites and Transformation
00:33:10 - The Acceleration of History
00:37:40 - The Unfolding Process and the Initiation Ritual
00:41:48 - The Perinatal Dimension of Psychological Transformation
00:45:43 - Everything Breathes Together
00:50:09 - The symbolic meaning of the planets in astrology
00:54:13 - The Mysterious Unitive Connection between Humans and the Cosmos
00:58:52 - The Cosmic Intelligence of the Universe
01:03:09 - Kinship with All Beings
01:07:22 - Transformation through Meditation
01:10:40 - Connecting with the Whole
01:14:18 - Immersion in the World of Each Interviewee
01:17:35 - The Transformative Power of Immersion in Deep Ideas
01:21:01 - Cultivating Similar Capacities in Oneself
01:24:35 - Questions about Astrology from a Sceptic
01:28:16 - The Numinous Universe
01:32:57 - Astrology and the Intelligent Cosmos
01:37:11 - The Existence of Subtle Bodies and Intelligent Entities
01:40:57 - Astrology and Psychedelic Therapy
01:44:59 - Archetypal astrology and the human psyche
01:49:14 - Living on Different Planets
01:53:11 - Planetary Alignments and Evolutionary Pressures
01:58:01 - Cultivating Hope for the Future.
02:01:44 - Guest Announcement for Next Week | |||
| 595. Eben Alexander and Karen Newell | 21 Apr 2021 | ||
Academic neurosurgeon Dr. Eben Alexander III, whose career includes decades as a physician and associate professor at Harvard Medical School and revered teaching hospitals, was once staunchly committed to the materialist world view -- the belief that the physical world is all that exists. His scientific belief system was altered by a 2008 transcendental near-death experience (NDE) in which a bacterial infection severely damaged his brain as he fell into a week-long coma during which he experienced an odyssey into another realm. Despite a bleak medical prognosis, Dr. Alexander awoke to make an inexplicable return to full health. He has since become a pioneering scientist and modern thought leader in the emerging science that acknowledges the primacy of consciousness in the universe, he is the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife, The Map of Heaven: How Science, Religion, and Ordinary People Are Proving the Afterlife, and Living in a Mindful Universe: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Heart of Consciousness.
Website: ebenalexander.com
More detailed bio.
Karen Newell is an author and specialist in personal development with a diverse body of work that rests upon the foundation of heart-centered consciousness. As an innovator in the emerging field of brainwave entrainment audio meditation, Karen empowers others in their journeys of self-discovery by demonstrating how to connect to inner guidance, achieve inspiration, improve wellness and develop intuition. She is co-founder of Sacred Acoustics, and co-author with Eben Alexander III, M.D. of Living in a Mindful Universe.
More detailed bio.
Website shared by Eben and Karen: innersanctumcenter.com
Twice-monthly webinars mentioned during the interview.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded April 17, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:04:17 Ebens NDE
00:14:57 Cycling through layers of frequencies/
00:16:00 Mantras/sounds/binaural beats
00:18:03 Life reviews
00:23:57 We’re more than physical body
00:26:48 Reincarnation
00:30:53 Death bed visions
00:34:43 Exploration of strata or realms
00:36:32 Paradigm shift and the world
00:45:54 Science
00:53:39 Sam Harris and free will
00:56:03 Dreams
00:56:37 Assumptions
01:00:58 Materialists
01:00:58 Scientist mind change when they are dying
01:05:56 Memory
01:12:23 Akashic record field
01:16:27 Evolution of consciousness
01:18:45 Cyclical nature
01:26:21 Eben and a golden age of transformation
01:29:27 Karen brings up healing crisis
01:30:39 Eben- on oneness
01:35:13 Discernment
01:44:31 Questions from viewers | |||
| 594. Lisa Rose | 15 Apr 2021 | ||
All I ever did was emphatically declare, “I want to know God, NOW!” It wasn’t long before I was fast-tracked into a reality I didn’t know existed, an inner world full of extraordinary gifts and ultimately liberation of the mind. I’d stumbled upon a pamphlet that outlines a formula to regenerate one’s human race consciousness to Divine Consciousness, like a reboot, by calling forth into one’s mind higher, more universally aligned modes of Being. That pamphlet became my bible, my book of living, and thru contemplative practice expanded the I AM presence within, attracting that which is stable, immutable Principle into my self-consciousness. The art of surrender as put forth by Ramana Maharshi played a huge role along the way, although at the time I had little clue who he was.
The regeneration occurred in February 2016, followed by three full years of Bliss, a state of Consciousness I am convinced is that of a newborn. I wallowed in that cocoon, integrating the expansion that I sometimes felt might never end!!! until the desire emerged to step back out into the world. A two-year investigation of kundalini life energy, universal consciousness, and fractal/plasma physics has continued my evolving perception and experiences. The real fun has truly begun, my book of living has become my Book of Life!
Lisa's Facebook page
Books mentioned during the interview:
From Existence to Life - account of Lisa's experience mentioned in the interview.
Mind’s Silent Partner, Dr. James Porter Mills (free PDF)
James Porter Mills Collection Three Books: From Existence to Life: The Science of Self Consciousness; Mind’s Silent Partner; A New Order of Meditation (The Esoteric Collection) (physical books)
The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi
Holy Spirit's Interpretation of the New Testament: A Course in Understanding and Acceptance - Regina Dawn Akers
The Teachings of Inner Ramana - Regina Dawn Akers
Healing; the Handbook: Life-changing guide for practitioners or for self-healing - Ken Graydon
The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine, Second Edition
Book Review: The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine, Len Wisneski & Lucy Anderson
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded April 10, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:06:16 - An Unexpected Experience
00:11:52 - Telepathic Communication with Ramana Maharshi
00:17:20 - Three years of contemplation and Kundalini energy struggles
00:22:47 - Surrendering to the Kundalini Energy
00:28:08 - Bliss and the Falling Away
00:33:43 - Bliss and Detachment
00:38:02 - The Journey to Understanding Consciousness
00:42:03 - The Importance of Evidence and Religion in Consciousness Transformation
00:45:54 - Consciousness Regeneration and the Kundalini Awakening
00:50:07 - Living in Fear
00:54:46 - Heart-Brain Coherence and Universal Cosmic Coherence
00:58:54 - Understanding our True Nature and Well-being
01:02:58 - The Power of Understanding and Experience
01:06:59 - Binaural Beats and Spiritual Practice
01:10:58 - The Power of Consciousness
01:14:36 - Striving for Pure Intention
01:18:07 - Kundalini Energy and its Activation
01:22:05 - Tapping into the Power of Kundalini
01:25:56 - Organizing Zoom Meetings and Sharing on Facebook
01:29:49 - Claiming your true identity as infinite and eternal
01:33:46 - Claiming Your True Identity
01:37:33 - The Power of Self-Inquiry
01:41:35 - Words of Wisdom from Nisargadatta
01:45:37 - Surrendering to the Divine Consciousness
01:49:26 - The Importance of Meditation
01:53:21 - The Evolution of Yoga and Contemplation
01:57:18 - The Concept of Conscious Immortality
02:01:13 - Regeneration of Consciousness and Self-Healing
02:05:33 - The Importance of the Pineal Gland and Integrative Medicine
02:09:05 - Conclusion and Next Guests | |||
| 701. Kimberly Lafferty | 08 Mar 2024 | 01:48:03 | |
Kimberley Theresa Lafferty is a seasoned teacher-practitioner specializing in constructive adult developmental psychology and Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. She completed over 12 years of intensive Indo Tibetan study including the required retreats. She leads both open and advanced adult educational cohorts aligning developmental psychology and Buddhist theory. Kimberley co-leads, with Terri O’Fallon, the penultimate Minds I year-long developmental course of Stages International. She is an active Board member for the Association for Spiritual Integrity. Kimberley is also a householder as a wife and mother, living in a remote valley of the North Cascades of North America which deeply impacts her worldview and practice.
Website: The Confluence Experience | Making sense of what doesn't make sense
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview
Interview recorded February 10, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
00:03:33 - Finding Peace in the Forest
00:06:27 - A Blissful Awakening
00:11:15 - Deep Inner Resources and Spiritual Experiences
00:15:10 - Connecting with our Ultimate Selves
00:18:26 - The Wave and Ocean Metaphor
00:23:24 - Diving into Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
00:27:59 - Tantric Retreats and Solitary Meditation
00:32:26 - Experiences on the Retreats with Vajrayogini
00:35:33 - The Red Lady and the Retreat
00:40:01 - The Lesson of Treating Practice Seriously
00:44:18 - The Precious Gift of Tibetan Buddhism
00:47:58 - Spirituality and Integration
00:51:02 - Understanding the Intersection of Waking Up and Identity Change
00:55:31 - The Evolution of Perception and Consciousness
01:00:08 - Supporting Spiritual Teachers
01:03:59 - Shadow Work and Holistic Development
01:07:16 - The Integration of Wisdom and Compassion
01:10:57 - Waves of Human Becoming and Non-Duality in Daily Life
01:14:06 - Anomalous Experiences: Exploring the Extraordinary
01:18:57 - Anomalous Experiences and Meaning Making
01:23:49 - Anomalous Experiences and the Search for Answers
01:28:03 - The Cautionary Use of Psychedelics and the Self
01:32:01 - The Need for Spiritual Integrity among Teachers
01:35:58 - The Preciousness of a Spiritual Life
01:39:58 - Realizing Inner Bliss
01:43:44 - Experiencing Fulfillment in Tantra
01:47:41 - Finding Your Path in Spiritual Practice
01:52:16 - The Role of Spiritual Psychotherapists
01:56:28 - Strengthening Ourselves Psychologically and Spiritually
02:00:00 - Continuing the Conversation with Kimberly | |||
| 593. Ameeta Kaul | 10 Apr 2021 | ||
Ameeta was born and raised in Mumbai India and recalls two predominant family themes which influenced her formative years: intellectual curiosity and devotion to God. She was educated and conditioned to aspire to conventional success, which pursuit dominated the first three decades of her life.
She consciously experienced the first stirrings of her deepest yearning following the cancer diagnosis and subsequent death of her father in 1999. Questions opened up in her like "What is life?", "What is death?", and "What is going on?".
From then on, Life orchestrated a series of events and experiences which placed her and nurtured her, on an overt spiritual journey. The major influences along the way were Ken Wilber, Byron Katie, and Adyashanti. It was with Adya that she finally found what she was looking for, in terms of his spiritual guidance which has always resonated in her being, in terms of his living example which continues to inspire her, and most especially in terms of what those two brought alive and online within her.
What she now sees clearly is that it was the Heart Sutra teaching of Emptiness is Form and Form is Emptiness, which is the meta-story of her life and existence.
In 2017 she received her Soul name of Moving Mountain in Taos. And this opened a new facet on her journey, where she experienced deep communion with Nature and a tangible connection with Goddess.
Ameeta’s path has been gradual and studded with many life-altering realizations, which illuminated her self-knowledge, and which continue to translate into how she lives and relates in the world. She likes to say she is eternally a work-in-progress.
Over the years she has been sharing her experience with small groups and coaching spiritual seekers one on one. Now she is called to share her message more broadly through Moving Mountain Academy.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded April 3, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:42 - Spiritual influences in India
00:08:32 - A U-turn in My Career
00:12:24 - An Interview with Adya
00:16:30 - Letting go of fear
00:20:30 - The Journey of Being Prepared
00:24:33 - The Shift in Sovereignty during Enlightenment
00:28:29 - Recognition of Sovereignty and Shifts
00:32:27 - The Journey Towards Embodiment
00:36:51 - Embracing Emptiness and Form
00:40:53 - Fullness and Emptiness
00:45:10 - The Merge of Inner and Outer Realms
00:49:19 - Innovation and Integration in Spirituality
00:53:16 - The Developmental Process of Awakening
00:57:25 - The layers of fear that exist within us
01:01:17 - Fear of Life and Its Implications
01:05:26 - The Power of Saying Yes and No
01:09:51 - Hating the Other Side
01:14:16 - Life's Experiment in Human Form
01:18:36 - A Shift in Consciousness
01:22:32 - A Yearning for Deep Spiritual Connection
01:26:38 - Connecting with our True Potential
01:30:45 - Going Beyond Rationality
01:34:49 - The Integration of Experience
01:38:45 - The correlation between health and spirituality
01:42:50 - The Flow of Life and Individual Sovereignty
01:46:45 - Exploring Science and Spirituality
01:50:58 - The Marvelous Opportunity of Boundaries and Boundlessness
01:54:46 - Moving Mountain Academy
01:57:59 - Thanks to the Volunteers
02:00:50 - Music | |||
| 592. Richard Rohr | 29 Mar 2021 | ||
Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province. He is the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation and academic dean of the CAC’s Living School. An internationally recognized author and spiritual leader, Fr. Richard teaches primarily on incarnational mysticism, non-dual consciousness, and contemplation, with a particular emphasis on how these affect the social justice issues of our time.
Podcast: Another Name for Every Thing
A few of Fr. Rohr's 30+ books:
The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe
Every Thing Is Sacred: 40 Practices and Reflections on the Universal Christ
The Wisdom Pattern: Order, Disorder, Reorder
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life
Immortal Diamond: The Search for Our True Self
Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded March 27, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:02:10 - The Vast Universe and the Universal Christ
00:04:02 - Jesus and the Universal Concept of the Christ
00:06:22 - The Cosmic Notion of Christ
00:08:33 - A New Cosmology and Universalizing Jesus' Message
00:10:49 - The Small Box of Religion
00:12:54 - The Marvel of Intelligence and Creativity
00:14:53 - Caring for Creation and Social Justice
00:16:54 - Saving the Worms
00:18:55 - Changing Notions of God
00:21:12 - The Exclusionary Nature of Theology
00:23:18 - The Journey from Order to Re-order
00:25:41 - Embracing Polarities and Diversities
00:28:05 - The breadth of freedom and social order
00:30:00 - Love God and Do What You Want
00:32:15 - The Changing Grand Canyon
00:34:20 - The Multifaceted Nature of Causality
00:36:39 - The "Father Wound" and the Atonement
00:38:50 - The Transformation of Religion
00:40:46 - The Healing Environment of the Prison System
00:42:09 - The Loneliness and Cutthroat Nature of Prison Life
00:43:36 - The Communion of Saints
00:45:22 - The Interconnectedness of Humanity and Collective Consciousness
00:46:55 - The Fall and Autonomy
00:48:33 - The Fall and the Wounded Condition
00:50:02 - The Happy Fault and the Rediscovery of Non-Duality
00:51:36 - Great Love and Great Suffering
00:53:19 - The Power of Love and Suffering
00:54:53 - Jesus's justice strategy
00:56:29 - Solidarity vs Sacrifice
00:58:19 - Dipping into the Ocean of Richard Rohr | |||
| 591. Rabbi Rami Shapiro | 22 Mar 2021 | ||
A Jewish practitioner of Perennial Wisdom, Rabbi Rami Shapiro is an award–winning author of over thirty-six books on religion and spirituality. He received rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and holds a PH.D. in religion from Union Graduate School. A rabbinic chaplain with the USAF for 3 years, a congregational rabbi for 20, and a professor of religious studies for 10, Rabbi Rami currently co-directs the One River Foundation, is a Contributing Editor at Spirituality and Health magazine, and hosts the magazine’s bi-weekly podcast, Essential Conversations with Rabbi Rami.
Website: rabbirami.com
Books:
Recovery―The Sacred Art: The Twelve Steps as Spiritual Practice (The Art of Spiritual Living)
Holy Rascals: Advice for Spiritual Revolutionaries
Perennial Wisdom for the Spiritually Independent: Sacred Teachings―Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)
The World Wisdom Bible: A New Testament for a Global Spirituality
Surrendered―The Sacred Art: Shattering the Illusion of Control and Falling into Grace with Twelve-Step Spirituality (The Art of Spiritual Living)
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded March 14, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:06 - Introductions and Background
00:05:41 - Transitioning to Buddhism and Zen Rabbi
00:08:31 - The Resurrection of the Mother and the Collapse of Civilization
00:12:30 - Three Scenarios for the Future
00:16:06 - Shifting Consciousness and the Fourth Alternative
00:19:40 - The Hugging Saint, Amma
00:22:36 - Mistaken Identity
00:26:22 - The Life-Changing Power of Meditation
00:29:55 - The Delicate Balance of Humility and Spiritual Practice
00:36:09 - The Yearning for God
00:40:13 - The Four Points of Awakening in Judaism
00:44:12 - The Fallibility of Teachers and Their Teachings
00:47:28 - Spirituality and the Behavior of Spiritual Teachers
00:51:52 - The Tribal Jingoism of Judaism
00:56:16 - Facing the Fear of Death
01:01:42 - Perspectives on Reincarnation
01:05:59 - The Ego and Reincarnation
01:09:44 - The Limitations of Perception and Consciousness
01:13:28 - Out-of-Body Experiences and the Survival of Consciousness
01:16:26 - The Essence of Spiritual Development
01:20:10 - Developing Practices on all Dimensions
01:24:07 - Experiencing Divine Mother Manifestations
01:28:03 - Communing with Lady Wisdom (Chochma)
01:33:14 - The Essential Non-Duality
01:37:40 - Shifting modes of functioning and integration
01:42:59 - The Allure of Salt, Sugar, and Fat
01:47:49 - Holy Rascals and Mystics of History
01:53:47 - Embracing the Dark Side of Consciousness
01:58:51 - Embracing the Dark Side
02:02:26 - Farewell and Thanks | |||
| 590. Theresa Cheung | 14 Mar 2021 | 01:47:19 | |
Theresa Cheung was born into a family of spiritualists. She has a Masters degree from Kings College, Cambridge, and has written numerous bestselling dream, angel, afterlife, ritual, and spiritual titles and Encyclopedias, including two Sunday Times top 10 bestsellers. She has been a guest on Russell Brand's Under the Skin and Coast to Coast AM and featured in numerous newspapers and media.
A few of Theresa's books:
The Truth about Angels: Decoding the secret world and language of the afterlife
The Dream Dictionary from A to Z
Dream Decoder: 60 Cards to Unlock your Unconscious (Interpret Archetypal Symbols from your Dreams)
21 Rituals to Change Your Life: Daily Practices to Bring Greater Inner Peace and Happiness
The Premonition Code: The Science of Precognition, How Sensing the Future Can Change Your Life
The Afterlife is Real
Website: theresacheung.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded March 6, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:10 - Spirituality as a Scientific Enterprise
00:09:31 - Scientists and the Paranormal
00:14:03 - Pushing the Boundaries: Science vs Spirituality
00:18:26 - The Awakening of Dreaming and the Lockdown Dream Phenomenon
00:23:03 - The Profoundness of Dreams
00:27:32 - Interpreting Symbolic Dreams
00:32:03 - The Power of Lucid Dreaming
00:36:25 - The Fourth State of Consciousness
00:41:03 - The Power of Dreams
00:44:30 - In Your Dreams Podcast
00:48:25 - Emphasizing the Ordinary
00:52:03 - Exploring Mediumship
00:55:53 - The Danger of Following False Gurus
00:59:51 - The Intoxicating Need to Follow and Be Told What to Do
01:03:25 - The Existence of Unseen Realms and Angels
01:07:16 - Angels Within
01:11:02 - The Return to Self-Love
01:14:36 - Perception of Angels and Spiritual Equality
01:18:22 - The Practice of Meditation
01:22:15 - Inner and Outer Alignment
01:26:17 - The Importance of Asking Questions and Growth through Open-Mindedness
01:29:50 - The Mystery of Life
01:33:42 - The Peaceful Release of Death
01:37:44 - Life Review and Forgiveness
01:41:22 - The Power of Forgiveness and Psychic Cats
01:45:14 - Laughed at for Believing in Psychic Abilities
01:49:24 - Entertaining Conversations and Recommendations
01:53:06 - The Seductive Power of Belonging
01:57:03 - From Goofballs to Spiritual Interviews | |||
| 589. Raymond Schumann | 08 Mar 2021 | ||
Raymond Schumann is a fifth-generation carpenter with a high school education. A Roman Catholic upbringing left him sexually repressed. Adolescence left him a Soldier of Christ gone AWOL.
In his twenties, he learned about dissociative disorder. The theory explained much. Help was not thick on the ground and ripe in the pod. Not in those days. A shrink who claimed to treat multiple personalities endangered his career. Schumann was on his own. He named the self who thwarted his desires Holdfast.
Schumann knew spiritual consciousness was essential to healing. That only made things worse. He’d watched guru after roshi disgrace themselves. There was nothing to trust there. The more he sought healing, the worse Holdfast trashed him.
Eventually, Schumann was desperate enough to say, “This has to get better. I don’t care what it costs. This has to get better.” At that instant, he suffered a Kundalini awakening. Never trust a Goddess. She opened the door to a year of hell. A year leading to ego death. A year leading to nondual awareness.
Things only got worse from there.
If you would like to contact Raymond, here's his email address.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded February 28, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:02:46 - The Self and Spiritual Consciousness
00:05:20 - Exploring Spiritual Interests in Youth
00:08:29 - The Self that Thwarted Desires
00:12:35 - The Impact of Kundalini Awakening on Daily Life
00:17:07 - Naming the Inner Drives "Holdfast"
00:21:35 - The Wrecking Ball of Kundalini
00:27:27 - Losing the Ego and Sense of Self
00:32:18 - The localized quality of experience and the ego construction
00:36:35 - The Role of Language in Human Existence
00:41:06 - The Evolution and Development of Ego
00:45:43 - The Complexity of the Ego and Ego Death
00:51:52 - The experience of self-recognition
00:56:25 - Liberation from Ego Holons
01:02:41 - Lack of Free Will
01:07:01 - First Do No Harm and Meeting Swami Muktananda
01:10:35 - Variables and the Flow of Shakti
01:13:39 - Meeting Bubastis
01:16:20 - The Cat with Psychic Inflation
01:19:10 - The Wisdom Download and Preparation
01:22:36 - Understanding the Clue
01:25:55 - The Risks of Playing with Powers
01:29:24 - The Chakra System and Ego Death
01:33:50 - The Importance of Writing Things Down
01:37:08 - The Power of Journaling and Meditation
01:41:30 - The Torture of Holdfast
01:45:30 - The Presence of God in Our Lives
01:48:39 - The meaning of "beyond the PALE"
01:53:53 - The Potential Impact of Spiritual Awakening and Transformation
01:58:18 - Closing Remarks and Contact Information
02:00:46 - Farewell and Thank You | |||
| 588. Bruce Greyson | 28 Feb 2021 | ||
Bruce Greyson, M.D., is the Chester F. Carlson Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences and Director Emeritus of the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia. He was one of the founders of the International Association for Near-Death Studies, and for 27 years edited the Journal of Near-Death Studies. Dr. Greyson majored in psychology at Cornell University, received his medical degree from the SUNY Upstate Medical College, and completed his psychiatric residency at the University of Virginia. He practiced and taught psychiatry at the University of Michigan and the University of Connecticut, where he was Clinical Chief of Psychiatry, before returning to the University of Virginia 25 years ago. Dr. Greyson’s research for the past four decades has focused on the aftereffects and implications of near-death experiences. He is co-editor of The Near-Death Experience: Problems, Prospects, Perspectives, co-author of Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century, and author of After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond.
Website: brucegreyson.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded February 26, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:19 - The Transformational Power of Near-Death Experiences
00:07:33 - Transformative Effects of Near-Death Experiences
00:10:48 - Leaving the Body and Near-Death Experiences
00:14:08 - Mystical Experiences and Cultural Interpretations
00:17:35 - The Possibility of Consciousness Beyond the Brain
00:21:00 - NDEs and the Subtle Body
00:24:20 - The Relativity of Reality
00:27:59 - The Friendly Universe and Near-Death Experiences
00:31:41 - Investigating Near-Death Experiences
00:35:14 - Parachutes and the Non-existence of Evidence
00:38:40 - The Absurdity of Religious Fundamentalism
00:42:13 - Near Death Experiences and Suicide
00:45:51 - Exploring the Hypothesis of Chemicals in the Brain
00:49:34 - The Question of How It Is Happening
00:53:20 - The Mind and the Subtle Body
00:57:05 - Near-death experiences and the existence of angels
01:00:36 - Reliving Past Actions and Gaining Perspective
01:04:11 - Choices after a Near Death Experience
01:07:38 - The Effects of Near-Death Experiences on Behavior and Perspective
01:11:00 - Multiple Lives and Higher Dimensions
01:14:41 - Eddington's Eclipse Experiment and Einstein's Response
01:18:26 - Science and Spirituality Collaborating
01:22:01 - Time Perception in Near-Death Experiences
01:25:30 - Remarkable Recoveries and Unexplained Phenomena
01:28:59 - Neuroplasticity and Brain Functions
01:32:31 - Evidence of Real Near-Death Experiences
01:36:04 - The Perception of God in Near-Death Experiences
01:39:24 - Peer Groups for Near Death Experiencers
01:42:49 - Living Ethically and Productively
01:46:46 - Farewell and Goodbye | |||
| 587. Sebene Selassie | 18 Feb 2021 | ||
Sebene Selassie is a teacher, author, and speaker who explores the themes of belonging and identity through meditation, creativity, and spirituality. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Washington DC, she began studying Buddhism 30 years ago as an undergraduate at McGill University where she majored in Comparative Religious Studies. She has an MA from the New School where she focused on race and cultural studies. For over 20 years, she worked with children, youth, and families nationally and internationally for small and large not-for-profits. Now she teaches classes, workshops, and retreats regularly and is one of the most popular teachers on the Ten Percent Happier app. Sebene is a three-time cancer survivor of Stage III and IV breast cancer. Her first book "You Belong: A Call for Connection" is published by HarperOne.
Website: sebeneselassie.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded February 14, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:56 - Belonging and Not Belonging
00:07:43 - The Mystery of Existence and Belonging
00:11:31 - Vyavaharika Satya: The Transactional Reality
00:15:08 - The Delusion of Separation
00:18:51 - The Power of Being a "Weirdo"
00:22:47 - Mainstream Acceptance of Meditation and Contemplative Practices
00:26:44 - Rocks are People
00:30:47 - Epistemocide: The Legacy of Indigenous Spiritual Practices
00:34:39 - Spirituality and Trust in the Present Moment
00:38:36 - Developing Discernment and the Importance of Community
00:42:54 - Fragmentation within Communities
00:46:28 - The Rise of Interest in Meditation
00:49:57 - A New Era of Spiritual Awakening
00:54:03 - The Power of Nature and Mystical Possibilities
00:58:22 - Nature's response to our predicament
01:02:02 - Spirituality in Refugee Camps
01:05:51 - Cultivating Curiosity and Creativity
01:09:39 - Breaking Habits and Reconnecting
01:13:28 - Awakening through Meditation
01:17:14 - Longing for Connection
01:21:20 - Knowing and Loving Yourself
01:25:25 - The Elements Practice: Earth, Water, Fire, Air
01:28:41 - Akasha and Modern Physics
01:32:47 - Wisdom of Living a Long Life
01:36:09 - Healing from Trauma and Supporting Students with Social Emotional Problems
01:39:58 - Embracing Diversity and Learning from Other Cultures
01:43:38 - Broadening Our Understanding
01:47:34 - Moving towards unbounded love
01:51:18 - Connecting with Sebenesellassie.com
01:54:51 - Upcoming Conversations and Thank Yous | |||
| 586. Cynthia Bourgeault, 2nd Interview | 09 Feb 2021 | 01:46:56 | |
Cynthia Bourgeault is a modern day mystic, Episcopal priest, and theologian. For thirty years she worked closely with Fr. Thomas Keating as a student, editor, and colleague and has taught and written extensively on Centering Prayer. She is a core faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation and founding director of an international network of Wisdom Schools. In addition to her work on Centering Prayer, she is the author of numerous other books on the Christian Mystical and Wisdom tradition, including The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind--A New Perspective on Christ and His Message, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity, and her most recent, Eye of the Heart: A Spiritual Journey into the Imaginal Realm.
Websites:
cynthiabourgeault.org
wisdomwayofknowing.org
Other Books:
The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice
Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening
The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three: Discovering the Radical Truth at the Heart of Christianity
Love is Stronger than Death: The Mystical Union of Two Souls
Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded February 6, 2021
First BatGap interview with Cynthia.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:41 - The Subtler Dimensions of Reality
00:08:41 - Heaven and Hell in the Christian Tradition
00:12:55 - Two Different Experiences of Theophane's Presence
00:16:51 - Being a Cosmic Servant
00:20:58 - Receiving and Transplanting Spiritual Virtues
00:25:24 - Seeing the Whole Picture
00:29:47 - Surrendering to the Field of Moral Coherence
00:33:50 - Spiritual Discernment and the Hazards of Misinterpretation
00:37:50 - The Importance of Risk-Taking in Spiritual Growth
00:42:28 - The Science of Love and the Divine Heart
00:46:44 - The Anti-Entropic Force
00:50:54 - The Turning and Kicking
00:54:24 - The School of Hard Knocks and Spiritual Evolution
00:58:07 - The Mystery of Life's Unfolding
01:02:19 - Sensation and the Gurjief work
01:06:16 - The Energetic Signature of Psychosis
01:10:41 - The Shift in the Subtle Realms
01:15:27 - The Great Chain of Being and Collective Repentance
01:20:05 - Climate Change and Cataclysms
01:24:23 - Cultivating Goodness in Consciousness
01:33:06 - The Burden and Joy of Parenthood
01:36:53 - The Denying Force and Necessary Friction
01:40:57 - The Spiritual Womb Center
01:45:10 - Moving Sensation to the Chakras
01:49:54 - The Necessary Darkness for Transformation
01:54:15 - The Misinterpretation of "There's only God"
01:58:30 - Cynthia Bourgeault Library and Other Websites
02:02:21 - New Voices in the CAC
02:05:32 - Introductory Music | |||
| 585. Doug Scott | 02 Feb 2021 | ||
Doug Scott, LCSW, works as a mental health counselor in his private practice in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from college in 1997, he served as an international volunteer for two years in Bluefields, Nicaragua. This intense experience changed his life and he returned to the US to pursue graduate studies in clinical social work and pastoral ministry at Boston College. The nexus of spirituality and psychology have always intrigued Doug since childhood and he brings this sensibility to his counseling practice.
Doug grew up Catholic and was always drawn to the mystical lineage within this belief system. He had experiences with Jesus, Mary, and angels at an early age. He was also secretly attracted to all things paranormal and would spend many hours reading topics such as reincarnation, ufology, OBE’s, NDE’s, ghosts, ESP, pyramids, and other areas.
One evening in 2013, he felt a presence that invited him to listen to a Buddhist chant, which came as a surprise since, at that time, he had not explored other faith systems. He was guided to listen to Om Mani Padme Hum and as the chant unfolded, Doug saw a golden dew overshadow him and activate him in a way that was new. This marked the next chapter in Doug’s life.
A few months later, Doug was led to the Law of One material and immediately saw that it provided the clearest, most undistorted, exploration of the Perennial Philosophy that he’d ever come across. It also cast a wide net to include all of the paranormal things that intrigued him and made it possible for him to put all of the different threads in his life together in one seamless garment.
Since 2015, Doug has written a blog (cosmicchrist.net) that explores the synthesis of the Law of One material with mystical Christianity and psychology. He sees his vocation in this lifetime as a bridge-builder between conventional concepts and cosmic metaphysics to help people who seek clarity, normalization, and validation for their own journeys.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded January 30, 2021.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:02 - Connection with Spiritual Beings
00:08:26 - The Higher Self and the Logos
00:13:40 - The Interconnectivity of the Universe and Logos
00:17:33 - Incorporating Meta-reality into Christianity
00:21:44 - Understanding our Union with God and Higher Consciousness
00:26:17 - Sixth Density and the Unity of Beings
00:31:04 - Resolving the Cognitive Dissonance of God's Omnipresence
00:35:32 - The Veil of Forgetting and the Catalyst for Growth
00:40:12 - The Veil of Forgetting and the Faculties of Faith
00:44:27 - The Ubiquitous Human Form
00:49:04 - Evolution and the Experience of Infinity
00:53:41 - The Chaos and Pressure of Fourth Density
00:57:56 - The Knowing on Some Level
01:02:09 - From Alien Encounters to Alcohol Recovery
01:06:24 - A Golden Dew of Energy: Exploring Spirituality
01:11:08 - Wanderers and Higher Densities
01:16:00 - Awakening to Spirituality and the Nature of Jesus
01:20:36 - Living in the Present Moment
01:24:54 - The pattern of dying and rising throughout the universe
01:30:21 - The Power of Holding Liminal Space
01:35:19 - Fourth Density Awakening and Social Justice
01:39:16 - Tools for Living Third Density Well
01:43:51 - Colors and Levels of Consciousness
01:47:39 - Loyalty and Conformity in Blue Culture
01:51:41 - The Birth of Social Justice Understanding
01:55:55 - The Emergence of Yellow Consciousness
02:00:34 - Exploring the Experience of Different Colors
02:04:41 - Levels of Consciousness: From Fifth Density to Coral
02:09:37 - Leo Gura and His Teachings
02:13:09 - Closing remarks and upcoming interviews | |||
| 584. Helané Wahbeh | 27 Jan 2021 | ||
Helané Wahbeh is the Director of Research at the Institute of Noetic Sciences and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Wahbeh is clinically trained as a naturopathic physician and research trained with a Master of Clinical Research and two post-doctoral research fellowships. She has published on and spoken internationally about her studies on complementary and alternative medicine, mind-body medicine, stress, and posttraumatic stress disorder and their relationships to physiology, health, and healing. Her current research interests include healing stress and trauma, examining mechanisms of mind-body medicine, and rigorously studying extended human capacities. Dr. Wahbeh’s extensive meditation training includes the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher Training by Jon Kabat-Zinn, a four-year Meditation Teacher Training with CoreLight, and a 19-year regular meditation practice.
Books:
Free To Be Me: A Journey of Transformation through Generational Healing
Whole Body Radiance: The Secret to Successful Weight Loss
Website
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded January 24, 2021
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:29 - The Genetic Predisposition to Phenomenal Experiences
00:08:22 - DNA and Channeling
00:12:12 - The Influence of Family on Spiritual Aptitudes
00:16:12 - Participate in our Research Studies
00:20:11 - Overcoming the Materialistic Worldview
00:24:32 - The Limitations of the Materialist Paradigm
00:28:47 - The Influence of Collective Consciousness
00:33:05 - The Mechanics of Collective Consciousness
00:37:18 - The Benefits of Channeling
00:41:32 - Navigating the Nuances of Channeling
00:46:23 - The Importance of Discernment in Spirituality
00:50:17 - The Replication Crisis in Science
00:54:40 - Exploring Alternative Methods for Study Analysis
00:58:54 - Telepathy and Out-of-Body Experiences
01:02:34 - Testing the Ability to See Subtle Beings
01:06:10 - Channeled Inspiration and Artistic Expression
01:10:02 - Ancient Texts and Higher Intelligence
01:14:22 - Contagion in Human Psychology and the Battle of Forces
01:19:06 - The Distraction of Conspiracy Theories
01:23:13 - The Shadow Within and Holding it with Equanimity
01:27:24 - Transmuting Dark Energy into Light
01:31:10 - Addressing Points about Spiritual Leaders and Conspiracy Theories
01:35:21 - The Spectrum of Conspiracy Theories
01:39:35 - Nuance and Open-mindedness
01:44:13 - Varying Levels of Channeling Entities
01:48:24 - The Characteristics of Channelers
01:52:11 - The Weakening Influence of Channeling on Mind-Body Coordination
01:56:16 - Authenticity of Channelers and Discernment
02:00:26 - The Entangled App and Influencing Random Numbers
02:04:05 - Signing up for IONS email list | |||
| 700. Bob Davis | 22 Feb 2024 | 01:40:00 | |
After receiving his doctorate in the sensory neurosciences from The Ohio State University, Bob Davis, Ph.D., served as a professor for the State University of New York for over thirty years, where he conducted research in the behavioral and neurosensory sciences, taught, and held many high-level administrative roles. He published his research in over 60 articles in scholarly journals, and presented numerous lectures worldwide, which included invited lectures at Harvard, Cambridge, and Peking University. Bob was also awarded numerous grants by the National Science Foundation and The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to conduct research in sensory neuroscience.
Following retirement, Bob published several articles in the Journal of Scientific Exploration and Edge Science and presented lectures at national and international conferences on consciousness, spiritually transformative experiences, and unidentified aerial phenomena. Bob has also published three highly popular books:
The UFO Phenomenon: Should I Believe?
Life after Death: An Analysis of the Evidence, and,
Unseen Forces: The Integration of Science, Reality and You.
More recently, he has turned his recent book, Unseen Forces, into a planned documentary entitled - The Consciousness Connection - with Emmy Award winner Dave Beaty of Dreamtime Entertainment and Wilson Hawthorne of Eyeland Telemedia.
Website: bobdavisspeaks.com
Bob Davis is an administrator of the Facebook Site called: The Consciousness Connection Facebook group.
Bob's email
Bob says, "If you'd like to learn more about the film project or consciousness in general, please subscribe to the Consciousness Connection YouTube channel.
Summary and Transcript of this interview
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded February 3, 2024.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:35 - Types and Evidence of Extraordinary Human Experiences
00:08:03 - A Profound Shared Death Experience
00:12:21 - A Spiritual Awakening and Kundalini Awakening
00:15:53 - The Misdiagnosis of Spiritual Awakening
00:19:27 - The Unstoppable Spread of Information
00:23:58 - The Need for a Paradigm Shift in Understanding Consciousness
00:27:49 - The Evidence of White Crows in DMT Experiences
00:31:40 - Exploring Consciousness Beyond Traditional Science
00:36:04 - The Relationship Between Science and Spirituality
00:40:27 - Brain Development and Spiritual Transformation
00:44:35 - Humans as Light Beings and Quantum Mechanics
00:48:22 - Veridical Perceptions in Near-Death Experiences
00:52:34 - Near-Death Experiences and Perception
00:56:44 - Novel Interactions in the Brain
01:01:02 - Consciousness and the Bohmian Paradigm Shift
01:05:16 - Ego Dissolution and Positive After-Effects
01:09:03 - Spiritual Practices and Physiological Treatments
01:12:56 - Quantum Mechanics and Premonition
01:16:55 - ESP and Autistic Savants
01:21:20 - Photonic Emissions and Healing Abilities
01:26:00 - The Power of Spiritual Practice
01:29:26 - Personal Transformation and Spreading the Word
01:32:32 - Transformation in Beliefs and Experiences
01:36:00 - The Importance of Spiritual Development
01:38:40 - Tapping into the Language of Nature
01:42:11 - Conclusions about UFOs and their Spiritual Implications
01:45:57 - The Mystery and Wonder of the Universe
01:50:26 - The Long-Term Nature of Spiritual Development
01:54:04 - The Power of Changing Perspectives | |||
| 583. Damo Mitchell | 19 Jan 2021 | ||
Damo Mitchell has studied the martial, medical, and spiritual arts of Asia since the age of four. His studies have taken him across the planet in search of authentic masters. He is the technical director of the Lotus Nei Gong School of Daoist Arts and teaches Nei Gong in various locations around the world.
He specializes in uncovering and studying with rare alchemical and spiritual lineages linked to the tradition of Daoism.
Books:
A Comprehensive Guide to Daoist Nei Gong
Four Dragons (Daoist Nei Gong)
The Yellow Monkey Emperor’s Classic of Chinese Medicine
Daoist Nei Gong: The Philosophical Art of Change
Heavenly Streams: Meridian Theory in Nei Gong (Daoist Nei Gong)
White Moon on the Mountain Peak (Daoist Nei Gong)
Daoist Reflections from Scholar Sage (Daoist Nei Gong)
Daoist Nei Gong for Women: The Art of the Lotus and the Moon
Websites:
lotusneigong.com
damomitchell.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded January 16, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Damo Mitchell
00:05:38 - The Evolution of Taoism and Chinese History
00:10:41 - The Purpose of Qi Gong and Nei Gong
00:14:58 - Taoist Alchemy: Awakening and Immortality
00:19:10 - Cultural differences in Taoist teachings
00:23:18 - Misusing Tremendous Energy
00:27:22 - The Importance of Addressing Problems in Spiritual Traditions
00:31:25 - The Yin and Yang energy within the body
00:35:25 - The Erosion of Willpower through Habits and Mindset
00:39:33 - Transforming the Body and Siddhis in Neigong Practice
00:43:37 - The Pitfalls of Demonstrating Special Abilities
00:47:49 - Alchemy as a Path to Enlightenment and Health Improvement
00:51:45 - The Importance of Personal Motivation in Spiritual Practice
00:55:39 - The Love of the Art and Existential Crisis
00:59:42 - From Anti-Religious to Religious Orientation
01:03:33 - The Importance of Clear Definitions and Shared Language
01:07:28 - Psychological Development in Spiritual Growth
01:11:29 - Sports Visualization and its Application
01:15:28 - The Practice of Governing and Non-Governing
01:19:18 - Pedaling, Coasting, and Effort in Practice
01:23:10 - Explaining Non-Physical Energy to Atheists
01:27:11 - "Going ahead alone"
01:31:14 - Inadequacy and the Path of Enlightenment
01:35:26 - Building the Dan Tian
01:39:30 - Gaining Momentum in the West
01:43:42 - Therapeutic uses and the harm of recreational drug use
01:48:00 - Navigating the Path and Multiple Paths
01:51:50 - The Experience of Taking Auto-Suggestion
01:55:53 - Litmus Test and Handprints in Temples
02:00:00 - Benefits of the Courses: Transformation and Joy
02:04:03 - Studying Channeling and the Institute of Noetic Sciences | |||
| 582. Daniel P. Brown | 12 Jan 2021 | ||
Dr. Daniel Brown has been a clinical and forensic psychologist for almost 50 years. He has been at Harvard Medical School for almost 40 years. He has been a student of, translator for, and meditation master in the Indo-Tibetan and Bon meditation tradition for almost 50 years. He has the only Western neuroscience study identifying the brain changes in the shift from ordinary mind to awakened mind.
Books:
Pointing Out the Great Way: The Stages of Meditation in the Mahamudra Tradition
Transformations of Consciousness: Conventional and Contemplative Perspectives On Development (New Science Library)
Self-Arising Three-fold Embodiment of Enlightenment: [of Bon Great Completion Meditation]
Websites:
pointingoutway.org
drdanielpbrown.com
mindonly.com
attachmentproject.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded January 10, 2021
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:15 - The Universal Trouble of Relationships in East and West
00:09:11 - Morality and Enlightenment
00:13:18 - Realizations and Enlightenment
00:17:37 - Practicing Automatic Emptiness and Unbounded Wholeness
00:21:52 - The correlation between brain activity and subjective states
00:26:09 - Shifting the Basis of Operation
00:30:03 - The Speed of the Mind and Baseball Training
00:34:10 - The Indestructible Essence in Buddhism
00:38:14 - The Purification of the Body
00:42:12 - The Transformation into Rainbow Body
00:46:23 - The Desert Fathers' Teachings and Controversy
00:50:21 - The Seven Deadly Sins in Meditation
00:54:23 - Putting Realizations into Practice
00:58:40 - The True Test of Realization
01:02:29 - Differentiating Awakened Awareness from Ordinary Awareness
01:06:35 - The Ninth Stage of Concentration
01:10:43 - Training the Mind to Concentrate
01:14:42 - Realizing the Power of Non-Reactivity
01:18:35 - Alternative to Traditional Tibetan Preliminary Practices
01:22:42 - Balancing Enlightenment and Conduct
01:26:39 - Different Paths to Enlightenment
01:30:49 - Different Perspectives on Ultimate Reality
01:34:49 - The Dying Tradition of Cave and Hermitage Monks
01:39:10 - Concentration versus Effortlessness
01:43:03 - Deep Transformation of the Nervous System
01:46:47 - The Influence of Conspiracy Theories
01:51:02 - The Danger of Fragmentation and Isolation
01:55:14 - The Limitations of a Human Being
01:59:44 - The Influence of Suggestive Influence and Soundbites
02:03:58 - Conclusion and Farewell | |||
| 581. David Lorimer | 01 Jan 2021 | ||
David Lorimer, MA, PGCE, FRSA is a writer, lecturer, poet, and editor who is a Founder of Character Education Scotland, Programme Director of the Scientific and Medical Network, and former President of Wrekin Trust and the Swedenborg Society. He has also been editor of Paradigm Explorer since 1986 and completed his 100th issue in 2019. He was the instigator of the Beyond the Brain conference series and has co-ordinated the Mystics and Scientists conferences every year since the late 1980s.
Originally a merchant banker then a teacher of philosophy and modern languages at Winchester College, he is the author and editor of over a dozen books including Radical Prince: The Practical Vision of the Prince of Wales. His new book of essays, A Quest for Wisdom comes out in March 2021.
David is the originator of the Inspiring Purpose Values Poster Programmes, which has reached over 350,000 young people all over the world. David is also Chair of the Galileo Commission which seeks to widen the science of consciousness beyond a materialistic world view.
Books:
Resonant Mind: Life Review in the Near-Death Experience
Radical Prince: The Practical Vision of the Prince of Wales
Quest for Wisdom: Inspiring Purpose on the Path of Life
Prophet for Our Times: The Life & Teachings of Peter Deunov
In this conversation, we discuss whether consciousness fundamental or an epiphenomenon of brain functioning. If it is fundamental (our view), how can this become the accepted paradigm? If it did so, how would this change the world?
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded December 19, 2020
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:49 - Exploring Deep Human Experiences of Consciousness and Near-Death Experiences
00:11:13 - The Field Phenomenon of Consciousness
00:16:03 - Unpacking Ideas
00:20:36 - The Dominance of the Mechanistic Metaphor in Biology
00:25:18 - The Galileo Commission and the Fear of Challenging Paradigms
00:29:38 - The tension between the priest and the prophet
00:33:46 - The Hierarchy of Initiates in the Cathar Religion
00:38:32 - Understanding and Manipulation
00:42:53 - The Implications of a Materialistic Worldview
00:47:10 - Empathetic Resonance and Consciousness Awareness
00:51:50 - The Universal Self
00:56:33 - The Impact of Military Expenditure on the Economy and Infrastructure
01:00:55 - The Flourishing of Creativity and Diversity
01:05:16 - Upgrade Needed
01:10:06 - The correlation between the human mind and the universe
01:14:46 - The Importance of a Cultural Grounding in Education
01:19:19 - The Power of Personal Experience
01:23:30 - The Unseen Forces of Change
01:27:44 - The Influence of Meditation on Atmosphere
01:32:11 - The Subtle Atmosphere of a Sacred Place
01:36:29 - The Coarsening Effect of the Physical World
01:40:55 - The Nobel Prize Winner's Courage
01:45:18 - A Shift in Attitude and the Potential for Change
01:49:38 - Embracing Change and the Power of Imagination
01:53:54 - Manifestation of Ideas and Subtle Activism
01:58:43 - The Role of Covert Operations and Power Over People
02:03:25 - Rainmaking and the Power of Ceremony
02:08:02 - Natural Law and Consciousness
02:12:19 - The Closing Ceremony and Final Thoughts
02:17:09 - Conclusion and Thanks | |||
| 580. Sue Morter | 22 Dec 2020 | ||
International speaker, Master of Bio-Energetic Theory, and Quantum Field visionary, Dr. Sue Morter utilizes the embodiment of high-frequency energy patterns to activate full human potential. Through her seminars, retreats, and presentations, she illuminates the relationship of quantum science and energy medicine – elevating human consciousness into life mastery.
Dr. Sue is the USA Today bestselling, #1 bestselling LA Times and #1 Amazon bestselling author of The Energy Codes: The 7-Step System to Awaken Your Spirit, Heal Your Body, and Live Your Best Life. Through THE ENERGY CODES, Dr. Sue provides techniques to activate untapped energy and neurocircuitry in the body, empower hidden potential, and become one’s true, essential self.
She is the founder and creator of the globally-taught coursework, The Energy Codes®, a multi-level body of work on Personal and Spiritual Development. Dr. Sue also created the BodyAwake® RYT 200 Certified Yoga Program and is co-creator of the Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique (B.E.S.T.). She has served on professional licensing boards, providing guidance to health care practitioners on integrative approaches to healthcare leadership. Dr. Sue is also adjunct faculty at two medical schools at Michigan State University, an AAU school classified as one of the top 100 universities in the world. Dr. Sue is the host of Gaia TV’s Healing Matrix, and co-host of Your Year of Miracles lifestyle training. Dr. Sue is E-RYT 200 and E-RYT 500 certified in Yoga Instruction and was recently recognized for her outstanding achievements as an honored member of the Transformational Leadership Council.
In addition to founding Morter HealthCenter in 1987, she is the founder and visionary of the Morter Institute for Bio-Energetics, an organization committed to teaching individuals self-healing techniques with an inner wisdom-based approach to life based on Quantum Science and higher consciousness. With three distinct schools representing the unification of mind, body, and spirit: the School of Energy Medicine, School of BodyAwake® Yoga, and School for Higher Consciousness and Personal Development – Dr. Sue provides tools and avenues to empower the global community to discover and embody a joyful, inspired life, lived from the true, Soulful Self.
Website: drsuemorter.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded December 12, 2020
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:10 - Sharing Profound Experiences in Teaching
00:08:25 - The Discovery of Energy Fields
00:12:35 - Tapping into a Deeper Knowing
00:16:53 - The Continuity of Life
00:21:11 - Heart-Based Meditation
00:25:43 - Holding Teachers Accountable for Social Change
00:30:03 - The Importance of Integration and Embodiment
00:34:27 - Grounding and Embodiment
00:38:40 - Integrating Nature and Collaborating with Forces
00:42:28 - Dissolving into the Light
00:47:41 - The Shift in Perception and Dimensionality
00:51:51 - Finding Bliss and Grounding Energies
00:56:16 - Tapping into Infinite Energy
01:00:30 - The Energy Dissipated in Mental Activities
01:04:36 - Cosmic Desires Supported by the Cosmos
01:08:33 - Harnessing Connection with the Universe
01:12:56 - Embracing the Shift and Reevaluation of Life
01:17:09 - Awakening to a Greater Sense of Self
01:21:37 - Embracing the Invisible Realm and Revealing Hidden Gifts
01:26:08 - Choosing to Utilize Your Energies
01:30:07 - The Power of Vibrational Frequency
01:34:32 - Embracing Parts of Ourselves
01:39:00 - The Bus Stop Conversation
01:42:31 - Finding Self-Love through Adverse Circumstances
01:46:02 - Healing and Filtering Energy
01:50:02 - Distorted Biofield and Energy Flow
01:53:48 - Understanding the Language of the Soul
01:57:34 - Discovering the Power of Energy Codes
02:01:23 - The Birth of Level Three
02:05:07 - Interview with Sue Morter | |||
| 579. Conspirituality | 12 Dec 2020 | 01:36:29 | |
A conversation with Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, and Julian Walker, the hosts of the Conspirituality Podcast website. As they describe it, their podcast is...
A weekly study of converging right-wing conspiracy theories and faux-progressive wellness utopianism. At best, the conspirituality movement attacks public health efforts in times of crisis. At worst, it fronts and recruits for the fever-dream of QAnon.
As the alt-right and New Age horseshoe toward each other in a blur of disinformation, clear discourse and good intentions get smothered. Charismatic influencers exploit their followers by co-opting conspiracy theories on a spectrum of intensity ranging from vaccines to child trafficking. In the process, spiritual beliefs that have nurtured creativity and meaning are transforming into memes of a quickly-globalizing paranoia.
Conspirituality Podcast attempts to bring understanding to this landscape. A journalist, a cult researcher, and a philosophical skeptic discuss the stories, cognitive dissonances, and cultic dynamics tearing through the yoga, wellness, and new spirituality worlds. Mainstream outlets have noticed the problem. We crowd-source, research, analyze, and dream answers to it.
The term “conspirituality” first appeared in 2009 as the name of a Vancouver rap group that unironically dropped conspiracy keywords into beats calling for political awakening. In 2011, Charlotte Ward and David Voas used the term academically to analyze the growing overlap between the paranoid conspiracism of right-wingers and the New Age’s yearning for spiritual transformation.
Derek Beres is a multi-faceted author, media expert, and movement instructor based in Los Angeles.
He is the Head of Content Marketing and Community at Centered, as well as a columnist for Big Think and Psychedelic Spotlight.
One-half of EarthRise SoundSystem, he also served as music supervisor for the breakthrough documentary, DMT: The Spirit Molecule.
He is a co-host of the Conspirituality podcast. His new book, Hero's Dose: The Case for Psychedelics in Ritual and Therapy, is out now.
Matthew Remski is a cult survivor and researcher. His 2019 book, Practice And All Is Coming: Abuse, Cult Dynamics, And Healing In Yoga And Beyond, is the first systematic analysis of pervasive cultism in the modern yoga world.
He researches and writes on abuse in spiritual movements here, as well as for publications like GEN by Medium and The Walrus. His current research is pivoting to look at cultic dynamics in conspirituality and eco-justice movements.
He lives in Toronto with his partner and their two sons.
Julian Walker grew up in Zimbabwe and South Africa and has lived in LA since 1990. He is fascinated with the intersections of yoga/meditation, psychology, science, and culture. He has written extensively on cults and gurus, spiritual bypass and quantum woo in New Age circles, trauma and the body, and neuroscience and somatic psychology informing the practice and teaching of yoga. His writing can be found on Elephant Journal, Medium, and in the 2011 book, 21st Century Yoga: Culture, Politics, and Practice. He teaches yoga and runs teacher-training programs in and around LA. Julian is also a bodyworker and the ecstatic dance DJ/facilitator for his Dance Tribe events.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded December 5, 2020.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Conspiratuality
00:04:21 - Investigative study into institutional abuse in Ashtanga Yoga
00:08:09 - The Emergence of Conspirituality in the Yoga Community
00:11:49 - Paradigm Shift and Metaphysical Notions
00:15:02 - The Rise of Conspiracy Theories During Times of Crisis
00:18:51 - Envisioning a Different Future
00:22:28 - Influence of the Spiritual Community in the 60s and 70s
00:25:37 - Vulnerability to QAnon in the Wellness Space
00:30:00 - COVID Denialism and Financial Risk
00:33:39 - Critiquing Nootropic Supplements and Bro Science
00:36:52 - The Relationship Between Patterns and Dopamine
00:40:19 - The Value of Things
00:44:06 - The Wonderment in Creation
00:48:01 - Technological Expansion of Spiritual Bypassing
00:51:41 - Dealing with Loved Ones Believing in Conspiracy Theories
00:55:09 - Managing QAnon and Conspiracies in Families
00:58:58 - Collectivist Cultures and the Spread of QAnon
01:02:43 - The Intersection of Employment and Spirituality
01:06:15 - The Appeal of Incompetence and Manipulation
01:09:27 - The Influence of Alternative Media Platforms
01:13:10 - The Blurring of Facts and Truth in the New Age Community
01:16:51 - The Need for Regulation in the Yoga Industry
01:20:44 - The Need for Regulation in the Yoga Industry
01:24:01 - The Influence of Celebrities and Media Figures
01:27:52 - Monetizing Conspiracy Theories and the Addiction of Engagement
01:31:17 - Cultic Dynamics in Yoga and Buddhism Education
01:35:18 - The Importance of Citing Sources in New Age Spirituality
01:38:30 - The Poetry of the Unknown
01:42:29 - Understanding the Roots of Indoctrination and Compassionate Response
01:46:02 - The Power of Actions and Karma
01:49:41 - Continuing the Discussion | |||
| 578. Ingrid Honkala | 06 Dec 2020 | ||
Ingrid Honkala, Ph.D., was born in Bogota, Colombia, where she grew up with her parents and three sisters. From the moment she drowned in a tank of cold water at the age of nearly three, Ingrid was aware of other dimensions of life than those most of us normally experience. She was also gifted with the wise input of “Beings of Light” who gave her invaluable insights and assistance as she faced the challenges of growing up, falling in love, and finding her professional destiny as a research scientist and oceanographer. Despite many hardships, she accomplished her dreams, becoming not just a successful marine scientist, world traveler, and mom, but also a mentor and a giver of light.
Through her compelling life adventure that journeys from her native Colombia to Europe and her eventual home in the United States — and from a deadly war zone to underwater explorations and a NASA research center — Ingrid reveals how any human experience can be illumined from within. If we are willing to pay attention to subtle signals, take our intuition seriously, and forgive our most challenging difficulties, anyone can experience a brightly guided life. Throughout her life, Ingrid has been guided to meet and help many people on their journey to become aware of a deeper reality and reconnect with their inner wisdom.
In her autobiography, A Brightly Guided Life: How a Scientist Learned to Hear her Inner Wisdom, Ingrid reveals how after having her Near Death Experience, the first glimpses of heaven were revealed to her and the doors that allow her to communicate with Beings of Light were opened. Since then a myriad of experiences that many could call mystical and perhaps impossible have crossed her path. However, the Beings of Light have made it clear to her that she is not here to convince anyone about anything but to be a giver of Light. To accomplish this purpose, she has been guided through an amazing journey of unimaginable challenges, awakenings, and miracles where along the way she became the vehicle to help others to rise up from some of the deepest states of hopelessness and bring them back to life. For all this she is eternally grateful and committed to continue awakening, growing, and serving the Light.
Website: ingridhonkala.com
Books and video:
A Brightly Guided Life: How A Scientist Learned to Hear Her Inner Wisdom
Una Vida Guiada En La Luz: Cómo Una Científica Aprendió a Escuchar Su Sabiduría Interior (Spanish Edition)
Life to Afterlife: Death and Back
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded November 29, 2020.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump with Rick Archer
00:04:42 - The Incident with the Water Tank
00:09:16 - Remembering the Eternity of Who I Was
00:13:39 - Floating with Flowers
00:17:14 - Playing the Game of Going Places
00:20:33 - Connected to the Being of Light
00:23:44 - A Blast and a Vacuum
00:27:08 - The Bell and the Awakening
00:30:40 - Not Feeling Belonging, Anger, and Increased Abilities
00:34:14 - The Beginnings of Seeing Beings of Light
00:38:18 - Becoming a Being of Light
00:41:50 - The Importance of Names in Communication
00:45:51 - Profound Spiritual Awakening
00:49:12 - A Vision of My Future Job
00:52:25 - Interaction with Beings of Light and their Influence
00:55:49 - The Observer: Life Through Personal Experience
00:59:12 - The Challenges and Awakening
01:02:24 - Removing the Blocks and Shining the Light
01:06:12 - The Loss of Light and the Illusion of the World
01:10:17 - The Illusion of Truth and Appreciation
01:15:22 - The Symphony of Nature's Welcome
01:21:30 - Quieting the Mind and Connecting with Beings of Light
01:27:20 - The Importance of Acknowledging Near-Death Experiences
01:33:18 - The Power of Connection
01:39:36 - The Power of Connection and Unconditional Love
01:45:30 - A Life-Changing Robbery Experience
01:51:24 - A Probing Thought Turns into a State of Prayer
01:58:09 - Awakening and Integration
02:03:37 - Embracing Challenges as Opportunities for Growth
02:10:24 - Connecting with Inner Wisdom
02:16:44 - Creating a Community and Speaking Engagements | |||
| 577. Rick Hanson, 2 | 25 Nov 2020 | 00:48:37 | |
This interview was recorded on October 9, 2020, as part of an online conference on "Living and Dying" offered by the Science and Nonduality Conference.
Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His free weekly newsletter has 180,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial needs.
His books have been published in 29 languages with 900,000 copies in English alone and include:
Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness
Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness
Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence
Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom
Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time
Mother Nurture: A Mother's Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relationships
He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his 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. He loves wilderness and taking a break from emails.
Website: rickhanson.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
First BatGap interview with Rick Hanson.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Welcome to "Dying and Living"
00:02:23 - Reflections on Equanimity and Love
00:04:06 - Visual Representation of a Message
00:05:38 - The Impermanence of Experience and the Search for Happiness
00:07:37 - Resting in Stillness with Meditation
00:09:38 - Cultivating Equanimity
00:11:24 - Understanding the Mind and Increasing Equanimity
00:13:04 - The Three Stages of Experience
00:14:51 - Managing Aversion
00:16:45 - Sensitizing to the Negative
00:18:24 - Cultivating Peaceful Abiding
00:20:03 - Dealing with the Good and the Bad
00:21:39 - The Pace of News and Events
00:23:06 - Cultivating Unbounded Awareness
00:25:03 - Shifting Perspectives: Egocentric and Allocentric Views
00:26:43 - Finding Beauty and Unboundedness
00:28:06 - Finding Joy in the Local
00:30:04 - The Importance of Living Well Locally
00:31:55 - Individual and Collective Consciousness
00:33:37 - The Connection Between Spirituality and Mental Stability
00:35:24 - Practicing Authenticity and Cutting through Spiritual Materialism
00:37:07 - The confluence of conspiracy theories and the spiritual community
00:39:04 - The Influence of Cults and the Importance of Reality
00:40:48 - Punishing Freeloaders and Promoting Truth
00:42:34 - The Difficulty of Knowing the Truth
00:44:22 - The Importance of Personal Character and Virtue
00:45:48 - The Proliferation of Craziness
00:47:18 - Supporting Institutions that Promote Truth
00:49:08 - Developing Discernment and Spiritual Enlightenment
00:51:13 - The Ephemeral Nature of Passing Phenomena
00:53:09 - Conclusion and Farewell | |||
| 576. Dean Radin, 2nd Interview | 18 Nov 2020 | 01:53:01 | |
Dean Radin, PhD, is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) and Associated Distinguished Professor of Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). He occasionally gives lectures in the Department of Psychology at Sonoma State University and has served on doctoral dissertation committees at Saybrook University and CIIS. His original career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering, magna cum laude with honors in physics, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then an MS in electrical engineering and a PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a decade he worked on advanced telecommunications R&D at AT&T Bell Laboratories and GTE Laboratories. For three decades he has been engaged in frontiers research on the nature of consciousness. Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, he held appointments at Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, University of Nevada, Interval Research Corporation, and SRI International.
He is author or coauthor of hundreds of scientific, technical, and popular articles, three dozen book chapters, and three popular books including the award-winning and bestselling The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena (HarperOne, 1997), Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality (Simon & Schuster, 2006), a 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Supernormal: Science, Yoga, and the Evidence for Extraordinary Psychic Abilities (Random House, 2013), and Real Magic: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science, and a Guide to the Secret Power of the Universe (Penguin Random House). These books have been translated into 14 foreign languages, so far. His technical articles have appeared in journals including Foundations of Physics and Physics Essays to Psychological Bulletin and Journal of Consciousness Studies; he was featured in a New York Times Magazine article; and he has appeared on dozens of television shows ranging from the BBC’s Horizon to PBS's Closer to Truth. He has given over 400 interviews and talks, including presentations at Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge, Princeton, Virginia Tech, the Sorbonne, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Minnesota, for industries including Google, Johnson & Johnson, Rabobank, and for various government organizations including the US Navy, DARPA, and the National Academy of Sciences.
In 2010, he spent a month lecturing in India as the National Visiting Professor of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, a program sponsored by India's Ministry of Human Resource Development. In 2013 and 2014, he gave invited lectures in Kuala Lumpur at the International Center for Leadership and Governance, an organization supported by the Central Bank of Malaysia. In 2015 he spoke at the Australian Leadership Retreat, a confidential program of briefings and discussions for Australian government, business, education, and military leaders.
Website: deanradin.com
Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcripts of this interview:
English
Italian
Interview recorded November 15, 2020.
First BatGap interview with Dean Radin.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Past Interviews
00:04:43 - Psychic Phenomena and Fiction
00:08:57 - Distortions in Perception
00:12:49 - Cultural Bias and Social Acknowledgement
00:16:24 - The Fundamentals of Consciousness
00:20:17 - Quantum Objects and Classical Physics
00:24:37 - Quantum Biology and the Brain
00:28:47 - Storing Information Locally or in the Cloud
00:32:57 - Resistance to Yoga in Schools
00:37:14 - The Limitations of Science and the Importance of Ancient Ideas
00:41:27 - The Value of Laboratory Experiments in Understanding the World
00:45:34 - The Transformative Power of Consciousness
00:49:25 - The Foundation of Consciousness and Knowledge
00:53:43 - The Possibilities of Knowing Everything
00:57:26 - The Continuation of Exploration and Adventure
01:01:22 - The Overlap of Magical Practice and Psychic Phenomena
01:05:20 - The Study of Consciousness
01:09:34 - The Limitations of Knowledge
01:13:29 - The Allure of Magic and Fiction
01:17:53 - The Genetic Difference in Psychic Abilities
01:21:51 - Biomarkers and the Effect of Psychedelics
01:26:01 - Evolution and the Future of Homo Sapiens
01:29:58 - E.T. Channeling and Verification
01:33:58 - Levitation and Miraculous Abilities
01:38:04 - The Authenticity of D.D. Home's Mediumship
01:41:49 - The Power of Collective Consciousness
01:45:42 - The Role of Intervention in Consciousness Experimentation
01:49:55 - Power and Responsibility
01:53:50 - Natural Talents and Extraordinary Abilities in the Population
01:57:51 - The Movement Towards an Esoteric Worldview
02:01:54 - Finding Meaning and Purpose in the Universe | |||
| 575. Swami Sarvapriyananda – Ethical Foundations of Nondual Spirituality | 09 Nov 2020 | 01:18:33 | |
Swami Sarvapriyananda has been Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York since January 2017. He was a Nagral Fellow at Harvard Divinity School during the 2019-20 academic year. Prior to this, he served as assistant minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California for 13 months. Swami joined the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1994 and received Sannyas in 2004. Before coming to serve in the US, he served as an acharya (teacher) of the monastic probationers’ training center at Belur Math in West Bengal, India (the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission founded by Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa). He has served the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in various capacities including being the Vice Principal of the Deoghar Vidyapith Higher Secondary School, Principal of the Shikshana Mandira Teacher Education College at Belur Math, and the first Registrar of the Vivekananda University at Belur Math.
This conversation hosted by the Association for Spiritual Integrity explores the profound interconnections between ethics and Advaita Vedanta. An ethical life is foundational to the spiritual quest, a non-negotiable sine qua non to any real spiritual development. One can be good without being particularly “spiritual”, but there is no spirituality without goodness. But it is also true that ethics are a consequence of nonduality. For as long as thinkers have pondered ethics, they have searched for a foundation, a grounding, for ethics. Why should one be good and do good? The various answers thinkers have come up with through the ages – utilitarianism, deontology, and so forth – have all been found seriously wanting. Nonduality claims to provide a deep foundation for ethics. In this talk and Q&A, Swami Sarvapriyananda explores the philosophical and practical, as well as the individual and social dimensions of ethics in nondual spirituality.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this webinar.
Recorded September 28, 2020
First BatGap interview with Swami Sarvapriyananda
Second BatGap interview with Swami Sarvapriyananda
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to the Association for Spiritual Integrity and Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:30 - The Importance of an Ethical Life in Spiritual Development
00:06:24 - Models of Enlightenment in Buddhism
00:09:16 - Ethics as the Foundation of Spirituality
00:12:11 - Spiritual Practices: Uparati, Titiksha, Samadhana, Shraddha
00:15:01 - Qualifications for Spiritual Life in Advaita Vedanta
00:17:54 - Oneness and Ignorance
00:20:46 - The Foundation of Ethics in Advaita Vedanta
00:24:02 - The Ethical Dilemma of Torture
00:26:42 - The Choice in Ethical Dilemmas
00:29:36 - The Problem of Ethics
00:32:26 - Ethics and Human Nature
00:35:24 - The Implication of Equality in Advaita Vedanta
00:38:28 - Ethics Rooted in Spiritual Nature
00:41:12 - The Ethics of Advaita Vedanta
00:44:10 - The Importance of Having a Set of Rules
00:46:55 - The Power of Self-Realization
00:50:00 - Caring for Others as Spiritual Practice
00:52:55 - Anecdote about Swami Shivananda and a Critical Visitor
00:56:02 - The Fullness of Advaita Vedanta and the Three Perspectives
00:59:03 - The Balance of Knowledge and Practice in Spiritual Life
01:01:55 - Training the Elephant
01:04:39 - Unethical behavior among spiritual teachers
01:07:26 - The Collective Guilt Complex
01:10:00 - Letting Go of Guilt and Repentance in Advaita Vedanta
01:12:59 - The Application of Advaita Vedanta to Human Reality
01:15:39 - Facing Suffering and Uncertainty
01:18:25 - The Challenge of Unethical Behavior in the Spiritual Community
01:21:24 - Independence in Advaita Vedanta
01:24:23 - Staying Grounded in the Presence of a Sangha
01:26:58 - Closing Remarks | |||
| 574. Asil Toksal | 02 Nov 2020 | ||
Asil Toksal is an Austrian-born channel. His work includes group energy alignment sessions and the channeling of celestial guides, as well as working on the energetic alignment of sacred sites around the world. The goal of this work is to assist in the evolution of consciousness in humanity. He has traveled widely to do this work, throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
For the past eighteen years, Asil has been deeply committed to a spiritual path while also training in a variety of different energy healing modalities. He has worked with many masters and lineage holders of various traditions in South America, North America, and China. In his earlier years, he also served as a CEO and corporate executive in software, marketing, and communications.
Five years ago, during a moment of deep spiritual experience, Asil connected for the first time to the channeled angelic guides and energies that he works with today. He was offered the opportunity to work closely with these guides, but he was asked to make the choice to let go of the prior traditions, rituals, and healing methods he had learned.
After making this choice, the guides assisted him through an intensive spiritual and energetic transformation process. This created a connection that allowed him to begin to receive and transmit energy, as well as spoken wisdom from these angelic and celestial realms. This connection forms the basis of his work.
He lives in Marin County, Northern California.
In 2019, to support his work, he created the not-for-profit 501(c)3, Ascension One Collective, Inc.
To learn more about Asil and his work, as well as find an up-to-date schedule of events, videos, transcripts, and more, please visit:
Website: asiltoksal.com
YouTube Channel
Facebook
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded October 31, 2020
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:27 - Following Society's Expectations
00:09:22 - Observing Something Inside of Me
00:14:02 - The Great Polarity and the Unification of Consciousness
00:18:33 - The Edge of Consciousness
00:22:45 - Exploring Native American and Taoist Mysticism
00:27:28 - The Paths to Enlightenment
00:31:20 - A Life-Changing Encounter in the Redwood Forest
00:36:21 - Becoming a Vessel for Sacred Work
00:40:59 - The Experience of Embodying Higher Beings
00:45:28 - Exploring Shades of Consciousness
00:49:54 - The Purpose of Earth and Humanity's Evolution
00:54:14 - The Evolution of Human Consciousness and Soul Containers
00:58:23 - The Earth's Completion and the Evolution of Consciousness
01:02:51 - Learning to Ride the Waves
01:07:29 - Evolution and Challenges in Nature
01:12:05 - Healing Sacred Places
01:16:45 - The Uplift in Frequency at Sacred Sites
01:20:57 - Working on Individuals and the Land
01:25:09 - The Ripple Effect of Alignment Challenge
01:29:45 - The Journey of Growth and Relationship
01:34:04 - The Depth of Human Connection
01:38:15 - The Interconnectedness of Consciousness
01:42:36 - The Acceptance of Spiritual Truths
01:46:39 - Energetic Transfer and Alignment
01:56:15 - The Self-Realization of the Individual
02:02:52 - The Evolution of God and Our Role in it
02:09:23 - Existence Beyond the Material Form
02:15:53 - The Development of Channeling Abilities
02:19:59 - Fine-tuning the instrument of embodiment and reflection
02:24:56 - Development of Spiritual Gifts | |||
| 699. Brad Laughlin & Anna Breytenbach | 11 Feb 2024 | 01:46:25 | |
Brad Laughlin is the author of Living with Enlightenment—A Journey of Love, which is about his 25-year life-partnership with Leslie Temple-Thurston, a teacher of enlightenment, and the profound spiritual transformation he experienced. With Leslie, he is co-author of two books, The Marriage of Spirit—Enlightened Living in Today’s World and Returning to Oneness—The Seven Keys of Ascension.
Brad is dedicated to finding innovative ways of helping people to awaken spiritually and to find love, joy and inspiration during these times of great change. Using ancient Truth teachings, yogic practices and spiritual psychology, he offers simple yet powerful practices for dissolving old, limiting ego structures that keep us trapped in negativity, pain and fear. Brad’s transformative events are based on the principles of integration and unity consciousness, which help us to know our own inner Divinity—who we truly are.
Brad and Leslie are co-founders of the nonprofits, CoreLight.org and Seeds of Light.org, CoreLight’s humanitarian arm, serving marginalized communities and AIDS orphans in South Africa. Brad has a bachelor’s degree from Duke University. He is an American by birth, considers himself a global citizen and lives in both South Africa and the United States.
Anna Breytenbach is an internationally acclaimed professional interspecies communicator with over 20 years’ experience. Native to South Africa and currently based in Europe, she mentors and consults globally. Her focus is exclusively with wild places and beings, facilitating peaceful interventions and greater understanding. This includes predator research, wilderness protection, anti-poaching assistance, reforestation initiatives, wildlife management and rehabilitation. She is currently taking a sabbatical from her usual teaching and public appearances to write a book.
Anna’s passion is raising awareness and advancing the relationships among human and nonhuman animals, on both the personal and spiritual levels. Her work is the subject of the documentary movie "The Animal Communicator”, watched by tens of millions of people (and a few of their pets), available on YouTube.
Anna's website: The Animal Communicator | AnimalSpirit
YouTube Channel
Anna's first BatGap interview
Brad and Anna’s online course is For the Love of Animals—A Call to the Heart
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded January 28, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:56 - Introduction and Background
00:07:26 - From Cheetah Handler to Animal Communicator and Author
00:11:55 - Following Your Inner Calling
00:16:10 - Holding Space for Elephants
00:20:35 - Collective Consciousness and Communication
00:23:42 - The Collective Expressions of Consciousness and Earth Energies
00:27:34 - The Joy of Whales Breaching
00:31:16 - Rediscovering the Intelligence of Nature
00:34:08 - The Importance of Functioning with Intelligence in Society
00:38:08 - The Intelligence of Stones and Non-Moving Beings
00:42:05 - Cruelty to Vegetables and Choosing Love for Animals
00:47:06 - An Evergreen Online Course on Interspecies Communication
00:51:36 - Valuing Different Paths in Life
00:56:41 - Profound Mystical Experiences and the Search for Answers
01:01:07 - The Ball of Light and Healing Energy
01:05:42 - Transitioning into a Higher State
01:11:02 - Pure Joy and Presence
01:16:50 - Quantum Entanglement and Communication
01:19:46 - Perception and the Importance of Clearing Ego Noise
01:24:03 - Rethinking Human Love for Animals
01:27:32 - Animals' Compassion and Journey to Loving Humans
01:31:00 - Communicating with Plants and the Tragedy of the Rabbits
01:33:40 - The Oak Trees' Compassion and Rabbit Friendships
01:36:49 - The Sensitivity of an Enlightened Being
01:40:21 - Animals in Distress and Disassociation
01:43:43 - Dealing with Doubt in Animal Communication
01:46:37 - The Possibility of Societal Collapse
01:51:27 - Choosing Love and Connection
01:55:50 - Promoting Email List and Featured Course
01:59:18 - Gratitude for Teachers | |||
| 572. James Cooke | 20 Oct 2020 | ||
Dr. James Cooke is a neuroscientist, writer, and speaker, whose work focuses on consciousness, with a particular interest in meditative and psychedelic states. He studied Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience at Oxford University and is passionate about exploring the relationship between science and spirituality. He writes for RealitySandwich.com and is the host of the podcast Living Mirrors with Dr. James Cooke, which can be found on his YouTube channel. He splits his time between London and the mountains of Portugal where he is building a retreat centre, The Surrender Homestead, @TheSurrenderHomestead on Instagram. Find him @DrJamesCooke on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, or at DrJamesCooke.com.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded October 17, 2020
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:34 - The Paradox of Blind Faith
00:08:58 - The Nature of Reality and the Science of Existence
00:12:59 - The Complexity of Beliefs
00:16:54 - The Manifestation of Intelligence in Nature
00:20:47 - The Fear of Death and the Living Mirror Theory
00:24:46 - Self-Experimentation and Healing Trauma
00:28:43 - Healing Trauma and Physical Conditions through Psychedelic Therapy
00:32:46 - The Role of Music in Psychedelic Experiences
00:36:17 - The Nature of Reality and Consciousness
00:40:16 - Consciousness and Qualities of Experience
00:44:18 - Consciousness and the Evolution of the Universe
00:49:03 - Nature of Consciousness and the Unity of Existence
00:53:30 - The Payoff of Consciousness
00:58:00 - Understanding the Mechanics of Nature
01:02:06 - The Logic of Survival Dynamics
01:06:21 - The Existence of Subtle Life Forms and the Soul
01:10:27 - The Reality of Mystical Experiences
01:14:35 - Relative Realities and Transactional Truth
01:18:52 - Different Realities for Different Beings
01:22:48 - The Concept of Reincarnation and Transmigration of the Soul
01:27:22 - Existence of Subtle Essences
01:31:14 - The Concept of the Self
01:34:54 - Exploring Mysticism and Consciousness
01:38:40 - The Divide Between Science and Spirituality
01:42:49 - Cultivating Connection and Addressing Separation
01:46:49 - Tapping into Inner Potential for a Better World
01:50:46 - Divine Support and Aligning with Higher Intelligence
01:54:59 - Seeking Alignment for Global Solutions
01:59:02 - Cultivating a Sense of Home
02:02:50 - Wrapping Up and Farewell | |||
| 571. Tricia Barker | 05 Oct 2020 | ||
Tricia Barker experienced a profound near-death experience during her senior year of college, and this experience guided her to teach overseas, in public schools, and at the college level. Her story has been featured on Life to Afterlife: Death and Back, National Geographic Magazine, Women’s World Magazine, Coast to Coast AM, and The Doctor Oz Show.
Tricia’s memoir, Angels in the OR: What Dying Taught Me About Healing, Survival, and Transformation is also available through Audible. This book tells a story of her near-death experience, teaching mission, and eventual triumph over childhood trauma. The book focuses on the importance being of service to the world. A screenplay is in the works for her story.
Tricia is a graduate of The University of Texas. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Currently, she teaches English and Creative Writing at a beautiful community college in Fort Worth, Texas. She interviews other near-death experiencers, researchers, healers, spiritual teachers, and mediums on her YouTube Channel. Tricia’s poetry and essays have been published in several academic publications.
Poems:
Loving Narcissus & Sometimes God: Poems
The Self, The Other, and God: Poems
Website: triciabarkernde.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded October 3, 2020
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to "Buddha at the Gas Pump" with Rick Archer
00:04:19 - Joy in Telling Stories
00:08:15 - Psychic bond between parents and children
00:12:14 - Encountering Light Beings in the Operating Room
00:16:00 - Personal Guardian Angels
00:19:38 - Connecting with Subtle Beings and Angels
00:23:58 - The Role of Practice and Learning in Spiritual Development
00:27:47 - Connecting to an All-Knowing Energy
00:31:24 - Healing Trauma and Awakening
00:35:09 - The Need in Low-Income Schools
00:38:38 - Oneness with Everyone and Messages from the Cosmos
00:42:28 - A Heavenly Encounter with Grandfather and God
00:46:38 - The Personal Form of God and Near-Death Experiences
00:50:37 - The Annoyance of Oneness with Everyone
00:54:34 - Channeling Insight into Helping Students
00:58:41 - Inspiring Healing and Change in Traumatized Students
01:02:41 - The Impact of Trauma on Society
01:06:43 - The Impact of Meditation in Schools
01:10:38 - The Power of Community and Support
01:14:58 - Faith and Near-Death Experiences
01:18:04 - Near-death Experiences and Letting Go
01:21:40 - Using Literature to Analyze Culture
01:25:38 - Themes in Near-Death Experiences
01:29:52 - Connecting to Intuition and Discerning Truth
01:33:34 - Contact with Loved Ones on the Other Side
01:37:35 - Unfairness and Healing Perspectives
01:41:22 - Healing from Contracts and the Virtue of Justice
01:45:12 - Robin Williams' Message of Healing
01:48:55 - Embracing the Gift of Life and Spiritual Connection
01:53:04 - Workshops, Summits, and Readings on YouTube
01:56:30 - Upcoming Interviews and Farewell | |||
| 570. Gabrielle Orr | 29 Sep 2020 | ||
After earning a degree in Social Work in Germany, Gabrielle worked for several years with mentally disadvantaged children and coma patients.
Her responsibilities included providing guidance as a life counselor for her clients and their families.
Today, Reverend Gabrielle Orr is a certified Akashic Record Teacher and Consultant, Healing Touch Practitioner, Reiki Master, Body Talk Practitioner, EFT Practitioner, Massage Therapist, and Feng Shui Consultant.
She has been teaching Akashic Record Classes and Retreats internationally since 2002 and focuses on inspiring and uplifting others as a motivational speaker and spiritual guide.
Website: gabrielleorr.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded September 26, 2020.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:00 - The Interactive Nature of the Akashic Records
00:06:14 - The Unification of Universal Fields
00:10:15 - Universal Field and Personal Akashic Records
00:18:08 - Messages from Entities and Chosen Ideals
00:26:02 - Accessing the Akashic Records
00:37:16 - The Purpose of Withholding Information
00:44:37 - Accessing the Akashic Records and Asking Questions About the Coronavirus
00:53:16 - The Importance of Hygiene and Blaming Others
00:56:23 - The Fundamental Human Problem
00:59:00 - The Awakening and the Need to Listen
01:01:53 - The Great Awakening and the Increasing Energy
01:04:22 - The Long-Term Effects of the Pandemic
01:07:07 - The Chinese Word for "Crisis"
01:09:36 - The Power within People
01:11:41 - Rediscovering Records from Atlantis
01:13:54 - Messages from the Spirit World
01:16:06 - A Father's Connection
01:18:29 - The Continuity of the Soul
01:21:22 - The Meaning of the Harp in a Past Life
01:23:29 - Finding Joy in Playing the Harp and Accessing the Akashic Records
01:25:48 - A Shift in Consciousness and the Alignment with Divine Intelligence
01:28:44 - The Power of Consciousness and Reevaluation
01:31:39 - Healing through Energy Work
01:34:43 - A Change on a Cellular Level
01:37:59 - Learning to See God in Others
01:40:51 - Connecting to the Energy of Others
01:43:15 - Genuine Transformation of Consciousness
01:45:43 - Believing in Yourself and Pursuing Higher Vibrational Levels
01:48:11 - How to Access Classes on GabrielleOrr.com
01:50:12 - Conclusion and Next Steps | |||
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