Buddha at the Gas Pump (Rick Archer)

Paul has been involved with the recovery community since 1988 and has been leading workshops and holding talks for 18 years. He has been assisting those with addiction problems for many years. The 12-step program has some very potent ‘pointers’, which have assisted a few to go beyond the 12 steps. Paul is unwavering in his teaching. His very direct, uncompromising pointing doesn't provide a refuge for entrenched conditioning and the sense of separateness, no matter how convincing that experience may be. "Whatever arises in my mind, I don't let it vouch for me."  "Any form of looking that focuses on an object misses the opportunity to directly be the seeing, and not be identified with the object." Paul's site: ZenBitchSlap. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 3/26/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Paul Hedderman 00:03:18 - The Essence of Awakening 00:05:13 - The cat knocking over the light and the value of interpretation 00:07:31 - The false interpretation of a self 00:10:00 - The Bogusness of Self 00:12:23 - The concept of selfing explained 00:14:30 - Language and the Reflective Mind 00:17:12 - Freedom from the Bondage of Being a Self 00:19:43 - A Conversation on Repetition and Learning 00:22:15 - Childhood Innocence and Ant Wars 00:24:33 - Finding Relief in Alcohol and Drugs 00:26:50 - The Book of Recovery: A Spiritual Program 00:28:49 - The Identification as Self 00:31:34 - Living in "having found" 00:34:13 - The Flow of Juice 00:36:22 - Spiritual Practices and Near-Death Experience 00:38:18 - Exploring Different Spiritual Practices 00:40:48 - Letting Go of the Failed System 00:43:03 - The Mental Vice of Selfing 00:45:16 - The False Center 00:47:46 - Degrees of Bondage 00:50:05 - The Illusion of "Self" and Freedom from Selfing 00:52:07 - The Pause in Selfing 00:54:00 - Applying the Approach to Recovery 00:56:22 - The Origin of "Zen Bitch-Slap" 00:58:58 - The Illusion of Personal Death 01:01:16 - The Seeing of What I'm Not 01:03:23 - The Paradox of What's Not Going On (with Rick Archer) 01:06:01 - A Course In Miracles and the Structure of the Mind 01:08:11 - Traveling Light through Maya 01:10:15 - A Fun Place to Live Save

This interview is in audio only. From http://thomasgates.com/bio: Thomas was born in Texas in 1950 and grew up in the rural countryside not far from Dallas. He spent much of his childhood playing in the woods, observing the stars, the sky, the trees, the animals, the changing of seasons, and the effortless flow of nature’s way. As a result, he quietly sensed that there must be one simple and powerful essence sustaining all this incredibly diverse creation. Meditation Then, shortly before his twenty-second birthday, Thomas learned a unique and simple meditation technique that quickly confirmed his sense of what had been occurring in nature all along. It enlivened the experience of that deep, underlying silence–the silence that permeates and sustains the whole field of existence. Emergency This peace and happiness lasted about one week when Thomas suddenly found himself being rushed to the hospital with a severe case of appendicitis. The doctors told him not to worry. It would just be a routine surgical procedure and that he would be home in three days. Little did he know that his life was about to be altered forever. Thus began the prelude to an amazing journey that took him all the way through and beyond the “light” to the underlying, eternal source of our existence and all creation. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/30/2011 Audio below and as a Podcast. Video unavailable.

Chris Hebard is the founder and creator of StillnessSpeaks.com, a premier resource on the internet aggregating the text, audio, and film of authentic contemporary and traditional teachers of Non-Duality and Self Inquiry from within all spiritual disciplines. The website reflects his enthusiasm and love for its material. The approach of StillnessSpeaks is integral; it does not promote any particular path or methodology. Chris attempts to honor the many paths available to all Truth Lovers; in doing so, he hopes to demonstrate that there is only one destination. Chris writes, speaks and films on Self Inquiry, Advaita, and non-duality extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He can be reached at oncechris@stillnessspeaks.com. As you will hear in this interview, Chris’s own journey involved becoming a hard-driving, successful businessman, who dismissed spirituality as impractical nonsense, only to suffer a series of devastating losses which brought him literally to his knees, dismantled his ego, and ignited a burning desire for Self-Realization. Interview recorded 4/3/2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Chris Hebard 00:04:16 - Childhood Memories and Prep School Life 00:06:35 - The Beginning of My Rebellious Years 00:09:09 - Entrepreneurship and Spiritual Disconnect 00:11:36 - The Shift in Perception from LSD Experiences 00:14:13 - The Shift into Business and Ego-Inflation 00:17:08 - Embracing Change and Transformation 00:20:04 - Overcoming Adversity and Finding Inner Peace 00:24:21 - Feeling Lost and Searching for Identity 00:27:51 - The Power of Now and a Turning Point 00:30:15 - The Shift in Understanding 00:32:37 - The Beautiful Journey of Personal Growth 00:34:55 - Discovering Advaita Resources 00:37:55 - The Journey of Awakening 00:40:18 - Stumbling upon Francis Lucille 00:42:35 - Meeting Francis and Profound Experiences 00:44:59 - "Darshan" and the Power of Proximity 00:47:18 - The Shift in Perception and Direction of Life 00:50:12 - Enthusiasm and Criticism 00:53:15 - Magnificent People on the Unfolding Journey 00:56:19 - The Contagion of Awakeness 00:59:18 - The Substance of Awareness 01:02:06 - A Lukewarm Heart 01:05:02 - The Importance of Having Teachers 01:07:35 - The Nature of Reality and Self-Realization 01:09:47 - Fine-tuning the Physiology and Letting Go 01:11:46 - The Question of Free Will 01:13:28 - Following Your Heart's Desires 01:15:49 - The usefulness of teaching different perspectives 01:18:17 - Connecting and Collaborating 01:20:10 - Sign up for email notifications

Saniel Bonder is the author of Healing the Spirit/Matter Split and the founder of the Waking Down in Mutuality work. He has been a pioneer in the widespread embodiment and mutual, evolutionary exploration of awakened consciousness for over a decade. Linda Groves-Bonder is Saniel’s full partner in their transmission and teachings and a Senior Teacher of Waking Down in Mutuality. Together they are now co-authoring a forthcoming book, The Human Sun, and founding Human Sun University. Saniel and Linda's sites: sanielandlinda.com TheHumanSunSeries.com heartgazing.com Summary and transcript of this interview Recorded 4/17/2011. Part 2 of this interview, recorded a week later. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of Saniel and Linda Groves Bonder 00:03:17 - A Quest for Spiritual Connection 00:07:17 - A Shift in Perspective 00:10:37 - The Door to a Whole Other World 00:14:08 - Discovering the Teachings of a Spiritual Teacher 00:18:20 - Awakening and the Awakening Process 00:22:26 - The Flamethrowers and the Opening They Created 00:26:48 - The Balance Between Self-Realization and Encountering Others 00:31:05 - The Awakening Process 00:35:15 - Integration and Awakening 00:38:35 - The Importance of Independent Thinking and Freedom from Dogma 00:42:29 - Questioning Catholic Beliefs 00:46:12 - Questioning the Catholic Faith 00:49:39 - A Journey of Exploration and Seeking 00:53:49 - Connectedness with Nature and Creatures 00:57:39 - Discovering Samuel Bonder 01:01:43 - Finding My Ground and Strength in Being 01:06:28 - Linda's Awakening Experience 01:10:16 - Awakening and the Pain of the World 01:13:41 - The Subtle Washing Machine Effect 01:17:34 - Awakening and Individual Capabilities 01:21:34 - The Post-awakening Process and the Challenges 01:25:36 - A New Developmental Model 01:30:15 - The Shift towards Differentiated Self-Awareness and Dissociation 01:34:48 - The Simultaneity of Consciousness and Matter Realizing Itself 01:38:35 - The Neo-Advaita Perspective 01:42:48 - The Emergence of a New Understanding 01:46:45 - The Agreement on Waking Down into Life 01:50:20 - The Importance of Guidance and Transmission in Awakening 01:54:56 - Awakened Leadership and Human Sun University 01:59:11 - Buddha at the Gas Pump

Due to technical problems, this video only contains still shots of Richard, while Rick’s video is normal. Richard Sylvester is a humanistic psychologist, therapist and lecturer. For thirty years he engaged with a variety of spiritual practices while also training in psychotherapeutic techniques and teaching counselling. In 2002 Richard met Tony Parsons and as he writes in his first book "That was the end of what I thought had been my life." Richard writes “The most common misconception about liberation is that it is something an individual can gain. But actually it is a loss - the loss of the sense that there ever was a separate person who could choose to do something to bring about liberation. In liberation it is seen that thoughts, feelings and perceptions simply arise in Oneness - there is no one to whom they belong. “The sense of separation makes us take the everyday for granted and clamour for something more exciting to happen. But when separation is seen through, the ordinary becomes transformed into this wonderful play of consciousness, and it is seen that this is already it and this is already sufficient. “This is a recurring message. It overthrows all authority. It can’t be killed off. It requires nothing. It requires no churches, no philosophical tracts, no scriptures, no history. If everything that had ever been said or written about non-duality were to disappear in a moment, it would simply re-emerge. It would re-emerge because nothing has to be learnt, nothing has to be studied, nothing has to be done, no spiritual purification and no pleasing of God has to take place, for the seeing of liberation to occur. It arises spontaneously. One moment there’s somebody there, the next moment there isn’t. One moment there’s somebody crossing a field, the next moment there’s just crossing a field.” Richard has written three books about non-duality, 'I Hope You Die Soon', 'The Book Of No One' and 'Drink Tea, Eat Cake'.  He gives talks on non-duality in England and abroad. If you would like to know more, please visit www.richardsylvester.com or www.richardsylvester.co.uk. Interview recorded 5/8/2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Richard Sylvester 00:02:42 - Seeing through the Illusion of Individuality 00:05:16 - The Challenge of Non-Dual Language 00:07:16 - The Ineffability of Non-Duality 00:09:09 - The Joy of Communication 00:11:39 - The Significance of Spiritual Practice and Awakening 00:14:03 - Challenging the Mind and Natural Justice 00:16:38 - The Incidence of Spiritual Realization 00:19:38 - The Loss of Knowledge and the Collapse of the Sense of Self 00:22:37 - Seeing through the Past and Future 00:24:52 - The Illusion of Time 00:27:50 - Transparency and Spiritual Practices 00:30:38 - The Extraordinary in the Ordinary 00:33:40 - The Difficulty of Seeing Through Conditioning 00:36:49 - The Absurdity of Spiritual Practices 00:39:37 - The Power of Stories 00:43:00 - Non-duality and the Madness of the Mind 00:46:08 - Different Perspectives and Levels of Consciousness 00:51:59 - Awakening Without Personhood 00:55:27 - The Sense of Separation 00:59:36 - Rejecting Talk of Paths and Enlightenment 01:05:23 - The intention to be helpful 01:09:34 - Living life as it is now lived 01:12:36 - The Loss of Meaning and Purpose in Life 01:15:17 - The End of a Life 01:17:35 - The Effect of Clarity on Others 01:19:24 - The Power of Resonance and Silent Communication 01:21:33 - Conducting Meetings and Writing Books 01:23:31 - Emphasizing the Miracle 01:25:54 - Open to Possibilities 01:28:00 - Interviews and Discussions

A clinical psychologist in private practice in Binghamton, NY, Michael studied and practiced Zen Buddhism for many years beginning in 1978. An initial experience of non-dual awareness emerged in 1982. Like virtually all first glimpses, this experiential awareness was fleeting. Still, the appetite for an enduring awakening had taken hold, as well as an absolute faith in the spiritual truths reported by Shakyamuni Buddha and the Zen teachers of ancient China and Japan. Years of frequent silent meditation retreats allowed this awareness to deepen and expand, yet there was still searching for true liberation. The continuous experiential Knowing that this is it emerged many years later after an apparent surrendering of the desire to become anything at all. With this much deeper and more pervasive understanding, there arose simultaneously a reconnection with his childhood roots in the Christian tradition. Michael now shares this knowledge of Self with a growing number of students. The teaching is consistent with the truths taught by awakened teachers of all religious traditions. He teaches awakening and the integration of non-dual awareness into daily life. Over 30 years of full-time psychological practice has provided a unique perspective on the roots of suffering and the end of it. He draws on the writing and teaching of contemporary and historical awakened teachers, joining the common threads in Christian, Buddhist, Advaita, and Non-Dual traditions to share a message of the possibility and promise of personal transformation and liberation from egoic illusion. Email:       WayBeyondPsychotherapy@gmail.com Blog:          AwakenToTruth.BlogSpot.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/22/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Michael Hall 00:05:08 - Joining a Zen Meditation Group 00:07:29 - Discovering Anger and Blood Pressure 00:10:19 - Awakening and Zen Training 00:12:46 - A Journey of Awakening and Disillusionment 00:15:24 - The Ceasing of Identity 00:18:29 - Effort and the Final Threshold 00:21:21 - Surrendering the Ego 00:24:16 - The practice of seeing and releasing automatic beliefs 00:26:49 - The Illusion of Selfishness and the Power of Conditioning 00:29:34 - Letting Go of Feelings 00:32:10 - Finding Your Own Path 00:34:28 - Finding What Works for You 00:36:17 - Shift in Identity: Michael Hall to Universality 00:38:22 - The Dark Night and Inner Transformation 00:41:25 - The Dark Night of the Soul and Radical Reorientation 00:44:13 - Letting Go of the Past and Embracing the Present 00:46:49 - The Difference Between Channeling and Being Adyashanti 00:50:33 - A Zen Book Awakening 00:55:00 - The Progressive Deepening of Realization 01:00:16 - Stages of Enlightenment 01:03:58 - Embracing Challenges and Growth 01:07:41 - The Indescribable Nature of God 01:11:19 - Increased Effectiveness in Therapy 01:13:28 - Transformation through Empty Glass 01:15:16 - The Value of Ordinary People in Spiritual Awakening 01:18:18 - Living a Skillful and Less Stressful Life 01:21:45 - Paradigm Shifts and Awakening Consciousness 01:24:25 - Faith in Your Ability to Realize Truth 01:27:06 - Conclusion and Next Interview Announcement Save

The defining moment of my life came when I was a 21-year-old college student. I had the undeniable experience that I am one with God, one with all that is. This experience has never left me. The rest of my life has been dedicated to going deeper into that experience and all its ramifications. As I looked deeply and honestly within my self, Divine qualities were revealed. First, Divine Light appeared, then the nurturing quality of Divine Love manifested. Other Divine qualities emerged. I discovered that these Divine qualities could be called upon to improve my daily life and the lives of my family and friends. As I worked with the Divine qualities, I began to receive guidance and knowledge from a Divine Presence. At first, it came from Jesus. Later, Mother God made her self known to me and offered a great wealth of Divine wisdom. In time I began working with people outside my own family. The situations and challenges they presented brought forth from me a depth of divine wisdom to guide and transform their lives. It is this Divine Knowledge that I want to bring to as many people as possible. I have developed a personal relationship with Divine Mother. I converse with Her all of the time. It is the most powerful, passionate and loving experience I have ever known. I want to help others develop this Divine Relationship. I have created simple tools and techniques to help you enter into your own very personal relationship with Divine Mother. I now live in Fairfield, Iowa with my husband. We have 2 children. I’m also an Ordained Minister. The verbal vibrational healing tools that I developed to get to know Divine Mother are called Transformational Prayer®. Since 1999 I have been teaching energy healing classes and giving private consultations in partnership with Divine Mother, bringing her transforming wisdom and guidance to thousands of people. divinemotheronline.net Transcript of this interview. Interview conducted 9/14/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Connie Huebner: A Spiritual Journey Begins 00:04:02 - The Experience of Oneness 00:07:52 - Seeking Others with the Oneness Experience 00:12:31 - Meeting of Consciousness 00:17:19 - Experiencing the Oneness with Maharishi 00:21:56 - Yearning for a Personal Relationship with God 00:26:09 - The Search for God Within 00:29:58 - Searching for the Kingdom of Heaven 00:33:46 - Discovering the Power of Inner Light and Vibrational Tools 00:38:41 - Discovering the Divine Light 00:43:03 - Conversations with Jesus 00:48:04 - Resolving Disagreements and Finding Personal Peace 00:52:25 - Telling Light what to do 00:55:45 - Accessing Higher Consciousness and Vibrational Tools 01:00:01 - Softening and Moving Towards Unboundedness 01:04:07 - Paying Attention to the Subtle Levels 01:08:59 - Moving into the Heart 01:12:59 - Breathing into the Heart 01:15:49 - Awakening the True Self in the Heart 01:20:45 - Connecting with Divine Beings 01:24:30 - The Presence of Divine Mother 01:29:18 - Divine Mother's Message: Profound Love for Humanity 01:33:56 - Connecting with Divine Mother 01:38:38 - Connecting with Divine Mother 01:43:39 - The Connection with the Divine 01:47:37 - Staying Grounded and Practical 01:52:15 - Working for the Shift 01:56:40 - Healing Mother Earth  02:02:58 - The Power of Love in Evolution 02:08:20 - How to Connect with Divine Mother 02:11:48 - Podcast and Discussion Group

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

My birth took place January 7, 1949, on a small rural farm in East Tennessee, but somehow, I did not forget my spiritual nature in the process of arriving here as a human. As a child, I remembered myself being free from the limitations of form and language, and I made two vows: first, never to forget who I am and the freedom I had prior to birth, and second, to find my way home no matter what it took. In my youth, I experienced a nagging urge to know the Truth of my existence. By the age of 19, this urge developed into a fierce determination to find that Truth at the risk of everything – career, relationships, physical and even mental health. My quest took me into many investigations including teaching the TM program of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for 12 years. Every investigation left me dissatisfied until the late 1980s when Sathya Sai Baba began to appear in my dreams and meditations. I finally journeyed to Baba’s ashram in July 1990. The moment I saw him step off the veranda, I recalled my childhood vow to find my way home. In that very moment, I knew He was living my home. In the fall of 1992, Shirdi Sai Baba appeared to me and took me into a state of union with His Presence. Over the following months, my personal identity completely dissolved. What remained was infinite formless Being, immense love, and the Truth I had sought. Over the next 12 years, I expanded in my understanding of Truth, and the knowledge that I am the originator of all existence took root in my innermost sense of subjectivity. Eventually, I found myself in a painful relationship with a woman and began investigating the human element I had been working diligently to overcome in the name of spirituality. I had difficulty justifying my intense feelings of distress with my very high sense of spiritual freedom as transcendent Consciousness. My investigation led me to an initial encounter with the embodied conscious awakening teachings of Saniel Bonder and Waking Down in Mutuality in 2002. I quickly concluded I needed help in balancing and integrating my Divine realization with my very human shadow and brokenness. When I experienced my embodied awakening, I witnessed Consciousness fall from my crown area into the Heart center on the right side of my chest. As the embodiment process has deepened, I have asked this question: ‘What does Life want of me?’ From that query, the role of teaching Waking Down in Mutuality has arisen. I am clearly teaching what I need to learn and have much love to share for those who dare the journey into the great Mystery of embodied awakening. Websites: nothingother.com trilliumawakening.org Facebook Page Books: Nothing Other Raindrops Falling on the Ocean Email: allan@nothingother.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/15/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Alan Morelock 00:06:59 - Losing the Memory of My Nature 00:12:18 - The Beginnings of Spiritual Seeking 00:17:27 - The Beginning of TM Practice 00:22:20 - The Transcendent Quality & Personal Life 00:26:37 - The Emergence of a New Mantra 00:32:45 - Intense Ecstasy and Overwhelming Presence 00:36:44 - The Awakening and Connection with a Small Child 00:41:59 - Shining through the Infinite Being 00:47:02 - Bodhisattva by Yogananda 00:51:39 - Personal Problems and the Transition to Embodiment 00:56:34 - The Soul as the Generator of Form 01:00:15 - The Empowerment of Embodiment 01:03:51 - The Value of Individuality 01:08:08 - Embodiment and Exploration of Devi's Creation 01:13:31 - The Intuition of Something Great About Ourselves 01:18:51 - Post-Awakening Quest for Service 01:23:35 - Embodying our Transcendent Nature 01:27:50 - The Aliveness of Questions 01:33:24 - The Soul and the Godhead 01:39:27 - The Power behind Consciousness 01:43:29 - The White Lie and Going to Hell

In the eighties, Julie Chimes-Laws worked in the media-based London’s Fleet Street. Company director, businesswoman and part-time racing driver her world underwent a dramatic change when an out-of-the-blue attempt on her life left her for dead. Viciously stabbed repeatedly within millimeters of her life her subsequent survival was considered to be something of a miracle. She wrote a profound yet humorous autobiographical account of her experiences, both in and out of body, A Stranger in Paradise, which was first published by Bloomsbury, London. The book was distributed on three continents and translated into five further languages creating a wave of positive media attention around the world. The extraordinary story was also the subject of a critically acclaimed BBC documentary, which she scripted and co-directed. Leaving the world of convention behind Julie has spent the last seventeen years living abroad. She has traveled extensively during this time whilst encountering the weird and wonderful. Stepdaughter of the great comedian Max Wall, daughter of one of the world’s most beautiful women, and sister to a wonderful soul with autism, her unconventional upbringing gave her a love of finding mirth in the midst of the mundane, and a passion for storytelling. A gifted speaker, she has addressed and entertained diverse audiences around the world sharing the experiences of her many adventures and fresh insights on life and death. After facing her own mortality she vowed to ‘try on’ as many lives as possible. Olive farmer, cleaner, facilitator of international retreats and workshops on meditation, garden designer, chief cook, host and bottle washer for an restaurant located in her own Andalusian patio, property and pet sitter, painter, decorator, and life counselor to name a few, whilst receiving an unorthodox training as a singer in the basement of a brothel and performing as a soloist in some equally unlikely venues. Having gathered a wealth of original material over the last seventeen years, Julie is now dedicated to full-time writing. Passionate about projects that have the power to uplift, amuse and inspire humanity, she is currently working on a book about forgiveness, with a feature film script, children’s stories, a drama and a comedy series for television and a second book about her adventures planned for the future. She shares her time between Spain and France, where she lives with her editor husband Richard in hidden places away from the marauding British investors. Website: juliechimes.com Facebook Page Transcript of this interview Interview recorded June 5, /2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Julie Chimes 00:03:21 - A Time of Reflection and Reminiscing 00:06:38 - A Bizarre Phone Call and an Unexpected Visitor 00:10:20 - Meeting the Woman on the Self-Awareness Course 00:14:20 - A Turbulent Meeting Turns Deadly 00:17:43 - A Shocking Encounter 00:21:18 - The Dimension of Love and Compassion 00:24:30 - A Glimpse of Sadness and Compassion 00:27:55 - The Mysterious Library and the Message from Spirit 00:31:33 - Relentless Attack and Escape 00:35:00 - The Brutal Attack in the Driveway 00:39:01 - A Violent Attack and a Sequence of Miraculous Events 00:42:25 - The Race to the Hospital 00:45:48 - The Awakening and the Promise 00:49:44 - The Unveiling of Other Realities 00:52:57 - Conversations with Veritas 00:56:21 - Discovering the True Self 01:00:23 - Life on a Hillside in Spain 01:03:15 - The Bartholomew Teachings 01:05:55 - The Quest for a Spiritual Master 01:08:53 - Healing and Reconnection 01:12:18 - Rediscovering the Inner Life 01:15:43 - Finding Balance and Writing A Stranger in Paradise 01:18:56 - A Spiritual Experience through Violence Recovery 01:21:49 - Finding Spiritual Nourishment in Siddha Yoga 01:25:32 - Finding the Right Spiritual Path

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

Family, friends, clients, colleagues and the world, do not have to wonder if Martha loves them….the answer is lived out in Martha’s actions and words. It’s not just the welcoming hug that envelopes your heart. Or the endearing way that she recognizes your beauty from the inside out. Martha’s love is also demonstrated in the straightforward honest way that she will call out self-defeating and false patterns for those who are interested in discovering their higher, and usually much kinder, next best version of themselves. Martha has the courage and skill of the lion tamer, who steps into the ring with confidence and grace. The ring that she often serves within is called facilitator, teacher, mentor, and friend. Martha joins with whomever she is working with individually or collectively as a group, to meet the unquestioned and stressful thoughts running the show. These false thoughts are typically expressed in stressful, negative, unproductive and sometimes very destructive ways within individuals, relationships, families, organizations. Martha is a seeker of truth and a master of questions. Individual accomplishments include accredited degrees in Accounting/Human Resources and Organizational Management. She has a list of credentials from a myriad of sources that include: Mystery Schools, Hoffman Institute, Byron Katie International School Certification, Healthy Systems Certification, Mediation Skills, Conflict Resolution and a graduate degree from Emerson Theological Seminary. She has served in Religious Science and Unity Churches. She has trained in Transcendental Meditation, Reiki and beyond. As a speaker, minister, leader, coach, consultant, facilitator, Martha is often described by others as able to deliver a great deal of information in a profoundly simple and attainable way. She is dynamic, funny, personal, practical and generous in what she offers. Martha does not spend time with formalities such as being introduced by her extensive professional, education and certification credentials. She is more interested in being present to those she is with and serving. She exemplifies Mother Teresa's, "Do little things with great love". Martha’s mission and vision are as concise and clear as she is -- "Go within or go without". That’s where you’ll find Martha’s passion and heart. And if you pause and take a look, you’ll most likely see her lovebeam of a flashlight in one hand and the hand of another brave soul, willing to take the journey into their heart and minds, seeking to know the truth of who and whose they are. Pure and simple, Martha is an experience of love. Website: marthacreek.net Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/12/2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Martha Creek and her background 00:04:24 - The Conviction of God's Presence within 00:08:19 - Fearlessness in childhood and past lives 00:11:43 - Being an Old Soul with Strong Convictions 00:15:20 - Clear Thinking in a Crisis 00:17:59 - Sleeping and Addiction 00:20:59 - Following my Life's Calling 00:24:20 - Discovering The Work 00:26:58 - The Perception of Horrible Things 00:29:38 - The Power of Perspective 00:32:21 - The Illusion of Good and Bad 00:35:02 - The Concept of Preferences and Accepting What Is 00:38:25 - Humility and Not Insisting on a Specific Outcome 00:41:28 - Being Blurred Over 00:44:16 - Choosing Kindness and Honesty in Divorce 00:47:38 - The Mind's Resistance to Yes or No 00:50:55 - Questioning Unkindness 00:54:06 - Finding Kindness in Our Lives, Understanding Wholeness 00:57:10 - The Role of the Victim in Abuse 01:00:20 - Letting Go of Past Trauma 01:03:28 - The Innocence of Mistakes and Moving On 01:06:24 - The Limits of Describing Enlightenment 01:09:51 - Experiencing Joy and Energy 01:13:07 - The Power of Shadow Work and Questioning Thoughts 01:16:07 - The Meaning of Concepts

Peter Francis Dziuban (pronounced Joobin) is a writer and speaker on awareness and spirituality. His first book, Consciousness Is All: Now Life Is Completely New, has helped thousands enjoy greater happiness, freedom, and clarity in Life. Peter has just completed his second book, Simply Notice: Clear Awareness Is the Key To Happiness, Love and Freedom. Simply Notice is intended to be a series of books, designed to make the deeper points of Awareness clear and accessible to the general public. Peter's work benefits so many because it is not tied to any one teaching or religion. He has studied this field for over 40 years, since attending the University of Notre Dame; he also worked many years in corporate America. Now residing in Arizona, Peter enjoys the outdoors. Peter is available for workshops, webinars, and consultations. Please visit: consciousnessisall.com. Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 9/28/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:20 - The Peace and Ease of Infinite Reality 00:10:27 - The Formlessness of Reality 00:14:47 - The Appearance of Separation but the Oneness of Consciousness 00:19:03 - Incorporating the Paradox of Consciousness 00:22:43 - Life is not on Earth 00:26:19 - Shifting Perspectives on Life and Consciousness 00:29:56 - The Vastness of Consciousness and Perception 00:33:03 - The Illusion of Separate Consciousness 00:37:16 - The Oneness and Manyness of Existence 00:40:57 - The Dream Universe 00:44:10 - The Illusion of Control in Daily Life 00:47:56 - The Manifestation of Reality is Mental 00:51:34 - The Illusion of Time and Separateness 00:54:40 - The Paradoxes of Dreams and Reality 00:58:02 - The Illusion of Substantiality 01:01:23 - The Illusion of Time and the Present Moment 01:04:59 - The Newness and Freshness of Life 01:08:20 - The Nature of Time and Space 01:11:23 - The Illusion of Continuity 01:15:20 - The Simultaneity of Everything 01:18:50 - The Manifestation of Consciousness 01:22:13 - The Dissipation of the Dream 01:26:00 - Maintaining Unbounded Awareness 01:29:22 - The Unlimitedness of Consciousness 01:32:47 - The Horror Movie Switches to Cheerios 01:36:01 - Working with Teachers and Practices 01:39:06 - Gentle Effort and Seeing the Whole 01:42:23 - The All-Embracing Awareness 01:45:51 - The All-Pervading God 01:49:04 - Additional Resources and Upcoming Interviews

Swami Khecaranatha has been teaching Kundalini Sadhana since 1972. With a mastery etched from five decades of inner practice and selfless service, he is an authentic adept of Tantric Shaivism and an initiated carrier in the Shakti Transmission Lineage of Bhagavan Nityananda and Swami Rudrananda (Rudi). Khecaranatha is the spiritual leader of Heart of Consciousness, which is based at Nityakash, his retreat center on Maui, Hawaii. Swami Khecaranatha was not born to privilege or in a spiritual environment, but to an American family in circumstances comparable to those of most of his readers. While living in an ashram for thirty years he also held several “real-world” jobs, including that of CEO of a multimillion-dollar publishing/consulting business. This personal experience has strengthened Swami Khecaranatha's conviction that it is possible to live fully in the world while developing and maintaining one's conscious connection with the Divinity within. From this platform, he is able to discuss spiritual growth in language that is relevant to students' daily lives, giving them specific tools to actualize the radical transformation of consciousness that is available to anyone willing to work in-depth, over time. Books: Merging With The Divine: One Day at a Time Depth Over Time: Kundalini MahaYoga: A Path of Transformation and Liberation The Heart of Recognition: The Wisdom and Practices of the Pratyabhijna Hrdayam Shiva's Trident: The Consciousness of Freedom and the Means to Liberation Website: heartofc.org Transcript of this interview Interview recorded October 5, 2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Swami Khecaranatha (Nathaji) 00:03:29 - From Disbelief to Spiritual Awakening 00:07:12 - The Grace of Meeting Rudi 00:11:39 - Rudi's Break from Muktananda 00:15:14 - The Kundalini Awakening and Meditation Techniques 00:19:18 - Kundalini Yoga: Becoming aware of energy frequencies 00:22:44 - The Transmission of Shaktipat 00:26:26 - The Initiation from Rudi 00:30:28 - Kundalini Awakening and the Potential Dangers 00:34:17 - The Intensity of Kundalini Awakening 00:38:02 - Burning with Emotions 00:41:35 - The Divine Force that Created Us 00:45:25 - The Zoomed-In Microscope and God's Plan 00:48:53 - The Four Upayas 00:52:29 - Rudi's Accelerated Growth 00:55:45 - The Intensity After Rudi's Passing 00:59:02 - Siddhis and Enlightenment 01:02:34 - Finding Joy in Life 01:06:01 - The Seduction of Enlightenment 01:09:44 - The Challenge of Describing Enlightenment 01:13:46 - The Origins and Development of Shaivism 01:17:15 - Awakening the Psychic Body and Ascending Consciousness 01:21:15 - The Ultimate Reality within Ourselves 01:24:01 - Tantra as a Practice in Kashmir Shaivism 01:27:59 - The Journey to Becoming a Swami 01:31:42 - Rudi's Teaching and Tantric Shaivism 01:35:21 - Swami's Personal Life and the Levels of Sannyas 01:39:09 - Surrendering to God and the creation of Rudramandir 01:42:43 - Thriving Amidst Challenges and Authenticity 01:45:57 - Concluding Remarks and Next Episode Preview 01:48:19 - End credits

IIn 1958, when I was sixteen and in tenth grade, I stole my parents' checkbook, booked a flight to New York with a bad check, and moved into the Plaza Hotel, where I assembled a wardrobe and other artifacts, went to a play on Broadway (J.B.), drank, ate high and finally bought a $2,500 Patek Phillipe watch in the hotel jewelry store — all paid for with bad checks from my parents checkbook (times were easier then for a child con man). In the end, they called my grandmother in New Jersey who wired enough money to bail me out and get me a train ticket to her. I lived with my grandmother for a while, got involved with a married woman, was found out by her ex-Marine husband, and escaped into the Army, where I soldiered poorly for three years or so in Germany. Upon my discharge from the Army, I returned to New Jersey and my grandmother and was hired on as an apprentice machinist at a shipyard in Camden, New Jersey, where my grandfather had worked. I learned a good trade to fall back on and embarked on a pretty good run of good jobs and bad and stupid adventures. Before long, a woman who worked for me left her husband and we took off for Southern California, where I settled into a career of poker, credit card scams, and fraudulent check operations. She didn't stay for long. When the police moved in to break up the ring of fences and check runners that I used to dispose of stolen merchandise and cash bad checks, I escaped by the skin of my teeth and ran away to Oregon with another woman who herself was on the run from her husband with her three kids in tow. I took a job there as a photocopy salesman and was soon arrested when the car I was driving was checked by the Oregon police and identified as having been bought in California with a bad check. After eighteen months in the hole, I was released from McNeil, and reunited with the woman with whom I had fled California, went to work for Boeing as a journeyman machinist in the R&D department, and joined the Revolutionary Communist Party. After several years, I left the RCP over an ideological dispute, and before long got involved with a ragtag bunch of anarcho-commies, led by my old comrade from McNeil, who called themselves with considerable grandiosity The George Jackson Brigade. I didn't stay caught for long. About six weeks later, I escaped with the help of friends who had evaded capture at the bank, and we left town for a while to lick our wounds and gather our strength. We returned about a year later to rob banks, sabotage capitalist institutions, and cause consternation among our enemies. We managed to do just that for another year or so, after which we were caught again, tried, convicted. I had been sentenced to a total of thirty years — an act of leniency that almost gave the prosecutor a stroke — and sent to the US Penitentiary at Lompoc, from which I escaped with the help of my new wife a couple of months later. I was put on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List, but this time I resolved to stay straight, as it were. We moved to Golden, Colorado, and I took a job as a precision machinist at Sundstrand, an aerospace company in Denver. All was going quite well until I undertook a campaign to unionize this rabidly anti-union company in the rabidly anti-union State of Colorado. I was fired but later was awarded a considerable settlement for violation of the labor laws that make it illegal to discharge an employee for union activities. I had made a record of very high productivity and accuracy in my work that made it impossible for Sundstrand successfully to claim that I had been fired for cause. During my years in prison, I studied philosophy, physics, metaphysics, etc. Early on, drawn by its unabashed celebration of a mystical reality, I even converted to Catholicism. Much later, in 1993, in a federal prison in Littleton, Colorado, I got involved with the Buddhists who were coming to prison from the Naropa Institute in Boulder.

David Godman has lived in India since 1976, mostly in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. He spent his time there studying and practicing the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi. His anthology of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings, Be As You Are, is probably the most widely read book on Sri Ramana’s teachings. During his fourteen-year stay at Ramanasramam (1978-92), he managed the ashram’s library, cataloged its archives, and recorded the stories and experiences of devotees who had had direct contact with Sri Ramana. David is the authorized biographer of two devotees of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Lakshmana Swamy and Papaji) who realized the Self in Sri Ramana’s presence and who later went on to become gurus themselves. He has written and published several other books that contain first-person accounts of devotees who moved closely with Sri Ramana Maharshi and who were transformed by his power and presence. In collaboration with two Tamil scholars, T. V. Venkatasubramanian and Robert Butler, he translated and edited several Tamil texts including two authoritative collections of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings that were originally recorded in Tamil verse. The three of them joined forces to bring out David’s most recent book, Sorupa Saram, a translation of a poem in which a 15th-century Tamil saint and Guru, Sorupananda, speaks authoritatively of his experience of the Self. In the 1970s David frequented Nisargadatta Maharaj’s satsangs in Mumbai. In the 1980s he was a regular visitor to the ashram of Lakshmana Swamy and Saradamma in Andhra Pradesh. When they moved to Tiruvannamalai in the early 1990s, he helped them to establish and landscape their new property at the foot of Arunachala, the holy mountain where Sri Ramana Maharshi spent all his adult life. For four years in the 1990s, he lived with Papaji in Lucknow and ended up writing or editing five books about him. In recent years he has written several long articles on Tamil saints, particularly those whose lives and works were often cited by Sri Ramana Maharshi. He is also engaged in a book-length project to bring out the biography and poetry of Guhai Namasivaya, a 16th century Tamil saint who lived on Arunachala and wrote extensively about its power and greatness. David Godman is married to Miri Albahari, a philosophy lecturer who teaches in Perth, Australia. He is based in India, but nowadays spends part of the year with Miri in Australia. Books: Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Compass) No mind, I am the self: The lives and teachings of Sri Lakshmana Swamy and Mathru Sri Sarada Living By the Words of Bhagavan Papaji: Interviews Nothing Ever Happened (three volumes): a 1,200-page biography of H. W. L. Poonja, also known as ‘Papaji’. Annamalai Swami Final Talks- teaching dialogues between Annamalai Swami and visitors to his ashram, recorded in the last six months of his life. The Power of the Presence -Transforming Encounters with Sri Ramana (Vol1) (three volumes): chapter-long accounts by devotees of Sri Ramana Maharshi that record their experiences of living with and being transformed him. The Power of the Presence (Part Two) The Power of the Presence (Part Three) Padamalai: Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi: Recorded by Muruganar Ramana Puranam- an edited and annotated 540-line poem that was jointly composed by Ramana Maharshi and Muruganar. The Fire of Freedom, Satsang with Papaji (The Fire of Freedom, Volume 1)- dialogues between Papaji and visitors that took place in his Lucknow home in 1991. Guru Vachaka Kovai (The Garland of Guru's Sayings)- a translation of 1,254 verses, recorded in Tamil by Muruganar, that record Ramana Maharshi’s teachings. Website:  www.davidgodman.org Blog:   http://sri-ramana-maharshi.blogspot.com YouTube channel Transcript of this interview. Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group Second BatGap interview with David.

One fine morning when I was in my mid-twenties, I woke up and the life I had previously led was over. I was consumed by a longing to be truly intimate with God, the one truth. This great longing grew daily, and it first manifested as being aware of the unseen in nature. Nature invited me into itself, and I found myself taking very long solo trips deep into the wilderness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This naturally led to a resonance with Native traditions, and before long I met my first teacher, a highly-respected Lakota medicine man who was very committed to upholding the Old Way. With this association, the intimate awareness of spirit deepened. I met my master, Mata Amritanandamayi, in 1993. There was an immediate recognition that I needed to spend as much time as possible in her presence, so I spent most of the next nine years in her ashram in India. This was a period of intense de-conditioning where so much was exposed. Amma knew my longing for truth, and consequently pushed me quite hard, so that a natural, authentic surrender and love was all I knew. It is said in the scriptures that love leads to knowledge (Bhakti to Jnana), and knowledge leads to love. That they are two sides of the same coin-not separate. There arose in me a natural resonance with self-inquiry, and with Amma’s blessing I spent two years a Ramana Maharshi’s ashram in Tiruvannamalai. Then one day I knew I was done with India, and returned to the west. When I returned, I had nothing to hold on to. No family, home, money, job, car, or health. The body was quite weak and tired, and the old way of striving couldn’t survive. Surrender naturally deepened, and it was at this time that the personal self really lost its hold. In 2004, Pamela Wilson invited me to share my experience with others. After talking to Amma about it and receiving instruction from her, I felt an overflowing and a readiness to share. In recent years, Adyashanti has been and continues to be an invaluable guide and a support in this unfoldment and recognition of what’s true. He has my deepest gratitude. My heart bows down to all of my teachers and friends who make up the fullness of this life, and no words can describe how this heart bows to Amma. Joi's site Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/2/2011. Second BatGap interview with Joi YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Spiritual Awakening in Tahoe City 00:04:42 - A Total Inside Job 00:09:08 - The Power of Presence in Nature 00:13:47 - Spontaneous Prayer and Connection with Nature 00:18:37 - A Journey of Healing and Transformation 00:22:39 - Powerful Experiences and Native American Wisdom 00:26:32 - Surrender to the Divine Feminine 00:30:55 - Exploring Eastern Philosophy and Emotional Release Techniques 00:34:26 - Various Jobs and Meeting Amma 00:37:59 - A Moment with Shri Swami 00:42:16 - Claimed by Amma 00:46:04 - Receiving the Silent Transmission 00:50:37 - Seven Years of Restlessness 00:54:14 - Experiencing Total Oneness 00:58:04 - The Divine Intelligence within Amma 01:01:43 - A Spontaneous Invitation to Ramana Maharshi's Ashram 01:05:55 - Going deeper into the inquiry 01:09:24 - The Power of Being Seen 01:13:09 - The Other Side of the Coin 01:16:48 - A Silent Recognition of Presence 01:20:17 - The Depth of Presence and Clarity of Understanding 01:24:47 - Faint Remains of Ignorance and the Instrumentality of the Physical World 01:29:07 - Experiencing Grace and Presence Everywhere 01:33:18 - Letting Go of the Known 01:37:37 - Letting Go of the Need to Know 01:42:13 - Filling up the Space 01:46:16 - The Beauty of Living Fully 01:50:10 - The Danger of Identifying with Awakening 01:54:23 - The Different Approaches to Awakening 01:57:56 - Wrapping Up the Conversation 02:01:07 - Farewell and Next Time

Jerry Freeman has been practicing Transcendental Meditation, the advanced techniques of TM, and the TM Sidhis program beginning shortly before turning nineteen, over 40 years ago. He was trained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as a teacher of Transcendental Meditation the following year, lived for some years in the semi-monastic program Maharishi founded, and has continued to study Maharishi’s teachings to this day. He writes about Maharishi’s insights into the development of higher major states of consciousness, as they relate to today’s discussions of Advaita, Vedanta, awakening, Self-realization and enlightenment. He is presently working on a book on this subject, tentatively titled: The Enlightenment Puzzle: what everyone should know about awakening. In the book’s introduction, he states, “What I have to say here is not my own invention. … What I will say here is not an official presentation of Maharishi’s teaching, as it includes numerous observations and conclusions that are my own. However, the great insights about awakening, human consciousness, enlightenment, etc. are not mine. They are Maharishi’s Jerry supports a family of adopted children, working as a musical instrument maker. His penny whistles are recommended by many Irish music instructors for their students, as they are affordable and very high quality, and they are played in performance and recordings by many of the most renowned performers of Irish music. Jerry's Facebook page www.tm.org www.davidlynchfoundation.org what Jerry’s whistles sound like Jerry's essay, "Why There are no Perfect Teachers" Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/19/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Childhood days 00:02:59 - Searching for Deeper Meaning 00:06:36 - Influenced by Ramana Maharshi 00:10:28 - Laziness and Resistance to Meditation 00:14:00 - Starting Transcendental Meditation and Meeting Maharishi 00:18:17 - Taming the Monkey Mind 00:22:09 - The Quicksand of the Mind 00:25:43 - The Benefits of TM and Open-mindedness to other Teachings 00:29:15 - Building the Maharishi Patanjali Golden Dome of Pure Knowledge 00:33:04 - The Unified Field and Universal Consciousness 00:36:46 - The Significance of Maharishi's Teachings 00:40:15 - Finding Identity Beyond Purusha 00:43:54 - The Complexity of States of Consciousness 00:47:53 - Gradual Unfolding of States of Consciousness 00:51:42 - Unfoldment of Human Consciousness 00:55:32 - The Three Common States of Consciousness 00:58:58 - Awakening the Inner Silence 01:04:00 - The First Permanent Awakening 01:08:30 - Witnessing Sleep and Awakening 01:12:31 - Awakening and the Progression to Subtle Perception 01:16:45 - The Development of Devotion and Unity Consciousness 01:21:25 - Unity Consciousness in Brahman Consciousness 01:25:52 - The Nature of Brahman Consciousness 01:30:16 - The Faint Remains of Ignorance 01:34:10 - The Faint Remains of Ignorance 01:37:59 - The Mind and Ego 01:41:35 - The Power of Atma-vichara to Destroy the Mind 01:45:17 - Awakening to the Subtle Ego 01:47:56 - Description of God Consciousness 01:50:36 - Wrapping it up and links to further information 01:53:20 - End Credits

Jan was born 1960 and grew up in Bury, England. His parents were Danish. In 1967 the family moved to Denmark. Jan’s dad is an engineer and there was no spiritual influence from either parent. Yet Jan showed strong spiritual yearnings since an early age. Jan trained as an artist under the Danish painter Niels Hermann Wamberg; he also studied art restoration at the Royal Academy in order to learn the traditional craft. Jan also studied at the university and acquired an MA in history of modern culture. Today Jan works as a full-time professional artist and also has a software company developing photo retouching plug-ins for Photoshop. After doing Transcendental Meditation and the TM Siddhi Programme for six years, Jan felt the need for a guru and found Gururaj Ananda Yogi whom he stayed with for three years. Then Jan’s Kundalini was so active, that he did not need any other guidance than what the Shakti gave, so he gave up on gurus and meditated by observing the inner Shakti’s workings. Following this, Jan began to be contagious and the Kundalini might spontaneously awaken in those that meditated with him. After some years, Jan met Amma and related to her as a spiritual master for about ten years. But again the Shakti guided Jan to meditate on his own and follow the inner guidance of the Shakti. Today Jan would describe his spirituality as being grabbed by Mother’s grace. The Divine Mother who resides in everybody as Kundalini Shakti and patiently waits to unfold as a vibrating field of love, bliss, and grace. Interview recorded 7/10/2011. Jan's sites: Spirituality Art Software Development Books: Lovebliss: The Essence of Self-Realization Enlightenment 101: From Ignorance to Grace Kundalini Tantra: Song of Liberation Transcript of this interview 2nd interview with Jan YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Jan Esmann and his Spiritual Journey 00:04:59 - Out of Body Experiences and Blissful Samadhis 00:08:13 - The Blue Pearl and the Blue Being 00:11:15 - An Encounter with God 00:14:54 - Saturated with intelligence and consciousness 00:17:30 - The God Consciousness and the Blue Being 00:20:06 - An Interesting Experience on a Meditation Week 00:22:37 - Glimpses of Past Lives 00:25:59 - Past Life Memories 00:28:41 - Pure Being 00:32:23 - The Paradox of Bliss and Meaninglessness 00:35:05 - Meditation and Kundalini Awakening Journey 00:38:17 - A Spiritual Connection with Amma 00:41:03 - Kundalini Awakening Journey 00:43:39 - Work in Meditation 00:46:28 - Shaktipat and Blissful Meditation 00:50:02 - The Bliss Transmission 00:52:41 - Awakening of the Crown Chakra and Self-realization 00:56:47 - Recognition of Pure Being in Others 00:59:32 - The State of Passive Awareness 01:02:24 - Progression of Consciousness: From Cosmic Consciousness to Unity Consciousness 01:05:35 - Understanding, Realization, and Liberation 01:09:15 - The Maturation of Spiritual Teachers 01:12:28 - The Transition from Duality to Unity Consciousness 01:15:40 - Awakening Spiritual Growth 01:18:01 - The Nature of Bliss 01:21:15 - Levels of Awareness vs Levels of Experience 01:25:25 - Kundalini: Unfolding Ignorance into Enlightenment 01:29:15 - Kundalini and Shaktipat 01:32:59 - Expansion of Unity Consciousness 01:35:56 - Interview with a Local Phenomenon in Copenhagen

Deepak Chopra, MD, serves as the Founder and Chairman of the Board for The Chopra Foundation. As a global leader and pioneer in the field of mind-body medicine, Deepak Chopra transforms the way the world views physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness. Known as a prolific author of more than seventy-five books with twenty-one New York Times best sellers in both fiction and non-fiction, his works have been published in more than thirty-five languages. Chopra’s medical training is in internal medicine and endocrinology and he is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. He serves as the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, Founder of The Chopra Well on YouTube, Adjunct Professor at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, Columbia University,  Senior Scientist with The Gallup Organization and board of directors, HESA. Time magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century and credits him as “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine". A few of Deepak's many books: Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide, Revised and Updated Edition https://www.deepakchopra.com Interview recorded 10/25/2013 at the Science and Non-Duality Conference in San Jose, California. Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - An Interview with Dr. Deepak Chopra 00:01:49 - The Importance of Self-Awareness 00:03:16 - The Rarity of Self-Knowledge 00:05:11 - The Evolution of Human Society 00:07:09 - The Cycle of Yugas and the Epidemic of Awakening 00:08:30 - The Lord's intervention in times of negativity 00:10:01 - Transcending Duality and Improving Collective Being 00:11:45 - Perception of the world as heaven or hell 00:13:18 - Balancing Public Image and Medical Practice 00:15:02 - Being Used in God's Service 00:17:00 - Slipping into witnessing awareness 00:18:43 - The Experience of Existence 00:20:13 - The Nature of Perceptual Reality 00:22:00 - Perception as species-specific and culture-specific 00:24:02 - Perceptual reality and the unknown 00:25:36 - The Consistency of Perceived Reality 00:27:32 - The Cosmic Dreamer 00:29:11 - Conflicts between Dreams 00:30:48 - Moving towards a more wholesome and loving environment 00:33:05 - The Nature of Qualia 00:34:43 - Living in a state of consciousness 00:37:30 - The Inexplicability of Experience 00:38:41 - Remembering Candice Pert 00:40:23 - Naming Perceptions and Creating Reality 00:41:57 - The Consciousness of Mathematics 00:43:09 - The Fall from the Garden of Naming 00:45:01 - The problem with naming and conceptualizing 00:46:13 - The Illusion of Perception 00:47:38 - Embracing the Paradox and Ambiguity 00:48:35 - BATGAP.com

Kiran Trace is an internationally known spiritual teacher and author. She died of massive spontaneous awakening into her true nature, then eight years later, and at the encouragement of Moni Vangolen, Thomas Stubbs, Adyashanti, and others, she began to talk and teach. Because she spontaneously awoke, with no prior spiritual background, orientation or understanding, she is known for her unique point of view. Folks often call her teachings “fresh” because she doesn't have any spiritual language or point to any lineage. She sees primarily from vast stillness and embodies "the world" from an "inside-outside" point of view.  Seeing the coding of the universe in order to see the universe, it’s very “matrix” like. Visit more of her works and teachings at kirantrace.com, or visit her YouTube channel. Interview recorded 11/2/2013 Transcript of this interview. Kiran's 2nd Batgap interview. Kiran Trace in Batgap Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Kiran's Name and Background 00:04:44 - Awakening into Your True Nature 00:09:31 - The Relationship Between Spiritual Practice and Awakening 00:13:54 - Distortions in Spiritual Teachings 00:18:58 - Disillusionment with Traditional Teaching Methods and Distorted Interpretations 00:23:46 - The Experience of Oneness and Expanded Perception 00:27:59 - Picking up on Different Frequencies 00:31:53 - Awakening in Sleep 00:35:53 - Narrow Definition of Awakening 00:40:23 - The Beauty of Your Own Present Moment 00:44:41 - The Movement of Love and Creativity 00:49:39 - The Creative Power of Joy and Pain 00:54:20 - Effortlessness and True Nature 00:58:56 - Effortlessness and Awakening into True Nature 01:03:26 - The Effortless Approach to Welcoming What Arises 01:07:53 - Cultivating a State of Love and Compassion 01:12:25 - Cultivating Awareness; Beginning the Unwinding 01:16:49 - The Effortlessness of Love 01:21:34 - Touching Pain with Love: The Alchemy of Healing 01:26:03 - Different Teachers on the Planet 01:30:11 - Following Your Authentic Yes 01:34:47 - Trusting Life's Provision 01:38:54 - Awakening and Oneness Experience, Part 2 01:43:20 - The Night of Beauty and Bliss 01:48:01 - The Mess After the Rapture 01:51:53 - Awakening and Accessing Vast Fields of Information 01:56:43 - The Healing Journey 02:01:04 - The E-Word: Embodied with Projections 02:05:46 - The Liberation of Love and Honesty 02:09:51 - Gratitude and Friendship 02:13:39 - Continuing to Grow and Evolve Save Save

At the 2013 Science and Non-Duality Conference in San Jose, I moderated a panel with Igor Kufayev, Jac O'Keeffe, and Francis Bennett as participants. We decided to videotape a discussion the night before in which we could develop and refine what we would discuss in the conference presentation. We had begun doing that in a hotel meeting room, when we were informed that due to contractual agreements between conference organizers and the hotel, the room had to be vacated and locked. So we took our discussion outside where it became a much more informal dialog. It was taped on an iPhone, with background music for the first several minutes, jets flying overhead, etc. So the audio quality isn't ideal, but many in the audience which gathered felt it was a very useful discussion which deserved a wider audience. So I'm posting it here, in audio only. Here's the published abstract of the panel discussion. This "pre-panel" discussion covers a lot more ground: Is Awakening, as it’s commonly understood, merely the realization of the Absolute, non-dual reality, or is it a stage or stepping stone to a much more mature development – a larger wholeness, inclusive of both absolute and relative? Francis Bennett, Jac O'Keeffe, and Igor Kufayev will posit that the latter is the case, and discuss the necessity of integrating absolute and relative after awakening, including practical methodologies to facilitate it. They will discuss how a more holistic path before awakening as found in Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian traditions, leads to smoother integration after awakening. These traditions include moral, meditative/contemplative, and wisdom strands designed to develop a "human vehicle" capable of skillfully and effortlessly containing the non-dual wisdom in a relative, human existence. The neglect of this insight has caused many to become stranded on the "island" of unhealthy "spiritual dissociative disorder". This integration does not pertain merely to being able to function in practical life. It is a critical foundation for a vast range of potential development that may unfold after the sort of awakening many mistake as final or ultimate. Perception, appreciation, emotions, and intellect can be refined far beyond what is generally regarded as “normal” or even optimal. Recorded 10/26/2013 Other BatGap interviews with these participants: Francis Francis Bennett Francis Bennett & Adyashanti on "Resurrecting Jesus" Francis Bennett, in Panel Discussion on Refined Perception Francis Bennett, with John Mark Stroud Francis Bennett in Batgap Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Francis Bennett and Adyashanti on "The Embrace of Jesus and Buddha" Francis Bennett in panel discussion:: “Emptiness is also Form” Igor Igor Kufayev with David Loy Igor Kufayev, in Panel Discussion with John Hagelin and Mark McCooey Igor Kufayev, in Panel Discussion on Kashmir Shaivism A Touch of Grace – (Short Film) Wikipedia Page Jac Jac O’Keeffe Panel discussions on ethics and spiritual teaching SAND Panel Discussion on Sexual Misconduct, Money, Power, Trauma & Ethics in Spiritual Communities Audio below and as a Podcast. No video recording. Save

Wayne Liquorman was both a spiritual seeker and a family man with a successful export business, when he met his first and final guru, Ramesh Balsekar, in September 1987. In April 1989 the process of seeking ended when enlightenment happened through the body-mind mechanism called Wayne. Wayne describes the event as being "of interest only to seekers." His first book, No Way: A Guide For the Spiritually 'Advanced' was published in 1990 under the pen name Ram Tzu because he "didn't want a bunch of miserable seekers cluttering up his living room." In fact, Wayne did not speak publicly until Ramesh asked him to do so in 1996. This enlightenment event and its aftermath are described in Wayne's second book, Acceptance of What IS, published in 2000. He is also the author of Never Mind... A journey into Non-duality, and the editor of Consciousness Speaks and several other books by Ramesh Balsekar, who refers to Wayne as his "spiritual son." His most recent book, Enlightenment Is Not What You Think, was published in 2009. The teaching, as it happens through Wayne, is pure Advaita (non-duality), uniquely presented in a uncompromising, sometimes humorous way, without religious dogma or new age veneer. In his Talks, Wayne is without agenda, speaking only in response to seeker's questions. He talks about Consciousness: the ground of all being, the source and the substance of everything. "This Advaita, as I talk about it, is not actually a philosophy, because it does not hold any tenets. It is simply a collection of pointers and concepts, and it posits that none of them are true in an absolute sense. This teaching is not about conveying the truth. It is about prying away the limitations and misconceptions about how things are." - from Never Mind Wayne's message is clear and simple. Although he may suggest areas for further inquiry, Wayne offers no cures, practices, or miracles to reach enlightenment. He invites you to bring your most cherished beliefs to his Talks. If you are really fortunate, you may leave without them. Wayne's site: http://www.advaita.org/ Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/24/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Wayne Liquorman 00:03:29 - The Illusion of Authorship 00:06:45 - The Metaphor of the Ocean and the Wave 00:09:48 - The Illusion of Separation 00:13:18 - Pure Presence and Is-ness 00:16:59 - The Paradox of Action and Inaction 00:19:41 - Playing the Role of an Instrument of Consciousness 00:22:22 - The Journey from Addiction to Recovery 00:25:21 - A Life-Altering Moment 00:28:02 - Transformation and the Power of the Universe 00:30:16 - Exploring Spiritual Explanations 00:32:46 - Falling in Love with Ramesh 00:35:38 - Falling in Love with an Indian Guru 00:37:54 - The Movement from Wanting to Getting 00:40:15 - The Turning Point of Giving and Receiving 00:42:27 - Real Freedom and Giving 00:44:34 - Getting to Know the Man on Tour 00:47:17 - The Experience of Resonance with the Guru 00:50:07 - The Awakening 00:53:07 - The Presence of Absence 00:57:53 - The Unexpected Talk with Ramesh 01:01:00 - The Difference Between Pain and Suffering 01:04:40 - The Experience of Pain without a Witness 01:07:32 - Understanding the Sense of Self as Wayne 01:10:35 - The Difference Between Awakening and Enlightenment 01:13:56 - The Link Between Enlightenment and Behavior 01:17:15 - Behavior and Enlightenment 01:20:20 - The Relationship between Action and Consciousness 01:23:18 - Further Unfoldment and Development After Realization 01:26:01 - Changes in the Human Organism 01:28:19 - Wrapping up the Interview

Rick's mic malfunctioned, so his voice is muffled, but intelligible. Laurie Moore, LMFT, CHT, Ph.D. offers human sessions and readings as well as animal readings in person, by phone, and by Skype. Dr. Laurie Moore’s website. I was an activist from age 7 on. With surging love in my heart, I set up social change and social service movements at school and learning programs in the neighborhood. I appeared on the capitol steps with a petition to ban aerosols presented to Congress Man Gilbert Gude at age 14 with my friend, Jennifer. Deep inside I vacillated between a longing for Heaven on Earth and stepping into this complete love. When I was 40, I was still immersed in numerous ways to assist humans in upliftment by opening new doors of communication within self and with others. That year, I made a spontaneous prayer to life…or rather a prayer beyond any choice surged through my heart, soul, and bones: “Please take me back to Heaven on Earth consistently!”. Soon my beloved cat’s body was taken by coyotes. When he reincarnated to my amazement, taking me into spaceless, timeless oneness with all life I was humbled. Awakening after awakening became my norm. Soon I was leading Satsang seminars all over Hawaii, USA and sometimes in other countries. During this period I met Gangaji and re-united with Sh. Ahmed whose generous outpourings surged through my work, grounded in the love and wisdom of my beloved feline Guru Jessie and my beautiful Buddha-like mate Ray. Divine Mother was with me constantly, nudging and cleansing me. I continue my work as a licensed therapist (LMFT), certified hypnotherapist (CHT), human reader, and certified animal communication, specialist. I also spend hours in uproarious laughter with friends - human and animal. It has been delightful and fun to appear in hundreds of venues as Universal Love and Animal Communication Satsang Leader, and a multiple species and dimensions communication teacher. I was the founder of The Miracle Ground later known as The Love Climate from 2005-2011. I now work solo with a very small and trusted team of behind the scene helpers. To see me for a human or animal session, contact me at lauriemoore.sessions.seminars@Gmail.com. Books: Animal Communication Course: Heart-to-Heart Telepathy with Animals The Cat's Reincarnation: Transformative Encounters with Animals Success Love NOW: A Formula for Living in Love and Success Now Healing & Awakening the Heart: Animal Wisdom for Humans Creative Intimacy: A Practical Guide to Better Relationships 111 Messages to Humanity: From Jessie Justin Joy, a Cat Intelligent Love: Choosing a Lifemate Wisely Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/24/2013 at the Science and Nonduality Conference, San Jose, California. 1st Batgap Interview Laurie Moore in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Evolving Perspectives on Consciousness 00:02:22 - The Unmanifest and Manifest Qualities 00:04:13 - The Pragmatic Application of Spirituality 00:06:06 - The Goal of Deepening and Bringing It Out into the World 00:07:55 - Finding Solutions by Returning to a Deeper State 00:09:38 - Balancing Spirituality and Practicality 00:11:30 - States of Consciousness and Levels of Being 00:13:20 - Non-duality and the Foundation of Oneness 00:15:22 - Using Prayer to Stay in a Deepening Place of Peace 00:17:14 - Praying from the Deeper Levels of the Mind 00:19:05 - Surrendering to the Unknown 00:21:00 - The Multiverse Theory and the Existence of Intelligence 00:22:56 - The Impact of Recognizing the Universe's Intelligence 00:24:49 - The Gift of Life and Intelligence 00:26:45 - Social changes and the power of energy 00:28:34 - The Power of Joining Together for Change 00:30:18 - The Power of Meditation and Collective Energy 00:31:59 - The Tipping Point for Global Change 00:33:51 - Achieving World Peace

For over two decades, several questions have been foremost in my mind: What is this life about? What is the nature of reality? What is truth? How do we live and thrive in this world? For many years these questions puzzled me, but being the inquisitive type, with a restless mind always seeking to find the answers to whatever confronted me, I kept searching and searching. Like many people, I kept groping around the edges of Truth, having occasional glimpses but nothing really definitive. But the Universe is relentless. If its first attempts at getting you to see don’t work, it starts pulling out the heavy artillery and blasting away at your illusions. That’s what happened to me. My seemingly wonderful life turned to crap, seemingly overnight. The Universe was playing rough, offering me a bit of “fierce grace” as Adyashanti likes to say. And it worked! I finally quit groping around the edges and instead leaped into the fire. I began questioning my illusions and starting to see something more. Much has changed over the years for me, and after those first glimpses of reality, life has taken on a new and more interesting form. I am now dedicated to sharing what I have seen with all those who, like me, are impelled from within to know, truly know, what life and reality are all about. We call this impulse “spirit” or “the Universe” or “God”, but in the end, we discover it is what we truly are. It is Life. It is the One seeking to awaken to Itself. And we are That. Interview recorded 8/7/11. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Tom Stine and his work in spiritual awakening 00:04:09 - The Drive to Explore Beyond our Senses and Typical Human Life 00:08:16 - The Universal Urge to Know the Truth 00:11:56 - The Health Benefits of a Spiritual Life 00:14:24 - A Course in Miracles and its Practices 00:17:12 - Questioning the Truth 00:20:11 - The Question of Past Lives 00:22:26 - A Course in Miracles and the Need for Something More 00:25:38 - Discovering the Sedona Method 00:28:40 - The Journey to Adyashanti 00:31:43 - An Experience of Light Inside My Head 00:35:01 - The Power of Presence and Transformation 00:38:11 - The Value of Spiritual Practices 00:41:29 - The Truth and Behavior in Awakening 00:44:53 - The Power of Loving Kindness 00:47:33 - Puppets of Life, Rowing with the Stream 00:50:48 - The Perception of Individual Volition 00:53:35 - The Illusion of Choice in Decision Making 00:56:31 - The Similarity between Orgasms and Heroin addiction 00:59:45 - The Illusion of Choice 01:02:51 - The Illusion of Enlightenment 01:05:51 - The Experience of "I" 01:10:05 - A Shift in Perception 01:14:01 - The Perpetual Challenges of Life's Fan 01:16:18 - Subsequent Awakenings and Transformations 01:19:01 - Letting Go and Loving Your Ex 01:22:05 - Reflection on the Subjective Experience of Life 01:25:20 - Stunned Disbelief and Old Memories 01:28:38 - Satsang and Spiritual Journey shortcuts 01:31:00 - Subscription Service for Satsangs

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

Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee Ph.D. is a Sufi teacher and author. Born in London he moved to Northern California in 1991 and founded the Golden Sufi Center, (goldensufi.org). In recent years the focus of his writing and teaching has been on spiritual responsibility in our present time of global crisis, and an awakening global consciousness of oneness (workingwithoneness.org) (Working with Oneness). More recently he has written about the feminine (The Return of the Feminine and the World Soul), and the emerging subject of Spiritual Ecology (emergencemagazine.org) He has been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on Super Soul Sunday and featured on the Global Spirit Series shown on PBS. His most recent book is Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth. Much of this interview focused on the topic of that book. Other books: Darkening of the Light: Witnessing the End of an Era Fragments of a Love Story: Reflections on the Life of a Mystic Prayer of the Heart in Christian and Sufi Mysticism Sufism: The Transformation of the Heart Alchemy of Light: Working with the Primal Energies of Life Love Is a Fire: The Sufi's Mystical Journey Home Catching the Thread: Sufism, Dreamwork, and Jungian Psychology Spiritual Power: How It Works The Signs of God The Face Before I Was Born: A Spiritual Autobiography The Bond with the Beloved: The Inner Relationship of the Lover and the Beloved Travelling the Path of Love: Sayings of Sufi Masters Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/10/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Llewellyn Vaughan- Lee and his work 00:02:23 - The Key to a Different World 00:04:57 - The Beginning of My Spiritual Journey 00:07:04 - The beginning of my spiritual journey above Mrs. Tweedie 00:08:53 - The Decision to Go to America 00:10:37 - Spiritual Freedom in California 00:12:37 - Learning from a Spiritual Teacher 00:14:52 - A State of Pure Light and Bliss 00:16:32 - Oneness and Shattered Ego 00:18:48 - Reconstituting the ego around a different center of consciousness 00:20:58 - "Abiding after Passing Away" 00:23:44 - The Compilation of Essays 00:26:47 - Our Responsibility Towards Creation 00:29:41 - Becoming Responsible spiritual citizens of the world 00:32:09 - The Next Step: Servanthood 00:34:18 - The Contribution of Spiritual People 00:36:25 - The Listening of the Heart 00:38:13 - The Forgotten Spiritual Body of the Earth 00:40:23 - Sustainability and the Responsibility to Creation 00:42:48 - The Great Chain of Being and the Ecological Crisis 00:45:13 - The Quest for the Grail 00:48:19 - The Awakening and Service to the Whole 00:48:41 - Keeping Integrity Amidst Commercialization 00:50:50 - Embracing the responsibility of awakening 00:53:00 - Connecting through the Web of Light 00:55:11 - Beneficial and Less Beneficial Forces in the World 00:57:22 - Censored from an Awareness of Inner Beings 00:59:29 - The Inclusiveness of Oneness 01:01:32 - Prayer for the Earth and Spiritual Intimacy 01:03:55 - A Connection between People and the World 01:06:10 - Music

Stewart Cubley is founder of The Institute for Art & Living, dba The Painting Experience. His work has carried him throughout the world to work with groups in a process of inner exploration using the tool of expressive painting to access the potential within the human heart and imagination. For more than three decades he has taught his unique approach to literally thousands of people at growth centers such as Esalen and Omega Institutes, multinational corporations, programs in prisons and countless other public forums. Stewart lives in Fairfax, CA. He is co-author of Life, Paint & Passion, Reclaiming the Magic of Spontaneous Expression, Tarcher/Putnam 1996. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/16/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Retreat in Alaska 00:03:58 - Early Spiritual Interests 00:08:07 - Obsessiveness and Yoga in Solitude 00:11:44 - The Compelling Force and Higher Purpose 00:15:33 - Recognizing the Potential in Approaching Painting 00:20:27 - In the Presence of Truth 00:23:56 - Exploring the Nature of Self and True Being through Painting 00:28:38 - Artistic Expression and Authority 00:32:14 - The Importance of Spontaneous Creation and Non-authority 00:36:25 - Creating Freedom in Art and Spirituality 00:41:25 - Embracing Confusion and Being Lost in the Creative Process 00:46:11 - Getting Out of Your Own Way 00:50:04 - Embracing Chaos in Art and Life 00:54:19 - The Authenticity of Being Yourself 00:59:42 - Attaining an Experience of the Self 01:04:41 - The Power of Community and Working with Difficulty 01:08:52 - The Space of Freedom 01:12:35 - Stabilizing in a More Expanded State 01:15:55 - The Evolution of Artistic Expression 01:20:39 - Wendell Berry and Deep Connectedness to the Earth 01:24:02 - The Development of Refinement 01:28:28 - Standing in Fear: Expressing and Overcoming Judgement 01:32:27 - The Importance of Emphasizing Authenticity 01:36:40 - Apprenticeship and the Power of Individual Expression 01:40:56 - Nurturing the Sadness Through Painting 01:44:46 - Dealing with Edgy Moments in Art Therapy 01:48:27 - The Influence of a Suffering Artist 01:52:22 - The Holiness of the Heart's Affections and the Truth of the Imagination 01:56:21 - Tapping into Imagination and Energy 02:00:32 - Perceiving through the Lens of Feeling 02:04:07 - Conclusion and Next Interview Announcement

At 28 I moved to New York City, a fulfillment of a childhood dream. Oddly enough, even though I had received what I wanted on many accounts, I felt like I was having a premature midlife crisis. Interest in philosophy and psychology arose in response which brought me to The School of Practical Philosophy where I discovered Advaita Vedanta and was initiated into Transcendental Meditation (TM) three years later. Frustrated over my lack of success in my meditation, I left the school and embarked on fixing myself through psychotherapy. On a local radio station I came across Gangaji and Eli Jaxon-Bear. They were sharing the Truth they had discovered through their master, H.W.L. Poonja, a.k.a. Papaji, who happens to be Mooji’s guru as well. Then 9/11 happened. I was deeply hurt inside. The towers that I saw burning and crumbling outside initiated the same inside me. In the days and months that followed, old, hidden pain and fear from the past emerged, but, surprisingly, I felt more alive than ever. Somehow, something inside knew intuitively what was happening is good, that I needed to face this. As a new year’s proclamation I told friends boldly that this year (2002) I’m going to fall in love with myself. I didn’t even know what that meant. Soon after, I met Gangaji and Eli Jaxon-Bear, not personally, but at their satsangs, and other teachers of the same lineage. After many years with Stuart Schwartz, a disciple of Robert Adams, a strong desire arose in me to be with Papaji. I finally met him in and through Mooji. It was love at first sight. When I first met Mooji I didn't know why he says that awakening is not an event. A few months after my first meeting with my master, Mooji, the truthfulness of his statements announced itself to and in me as intuitive insight when the essence of who I am was also revealed through the power of Mooji's pointing and presence. Subsequently, the continuous close association with Mooji in the heart and in person as well as my own contemplation of the Truth by way of self-inquiry brought about the recognition of my true identity beyond the realm of the knowable, beyond even the “I Am,” through which we taste this existence and intuit this unfathomable, unmanifest substratum that is untouchable by worldly phenomena. What is undoubtedly known here is that abidance in this placeless place is synonymous with Freedom, and we are that Freedom itself. The recognition of this as our true Self is appreciated as humanity's greatest potential. Interview recorded 8/14/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Zenji 00:03:16 - Personal History and Themes 00:05:57 - Spontaneous Contemplation on the Nature of Self 00:09:15 - Pursuing a career in typesetting and publishing 00:12:43 - Introduction to Meditation at the School of Practical Philosophy 00:14:56 - Discovering Advaita through Psychotherapy 00:18:22 - Understanding our own Minds 00:21:55 - Facing Old Trauma and Finding Love 00:24:27 - The Meaning and Desire for Love 00:26:45 - Stepping Stones on the Path of Self-Realization 00:29:26 - Meeting Papaji and Mooji's Energetic Presence 00:32:45 - Resonating with the Teacher 00:35:08 - The Conviction of Existence 00:38:02 - The Perception of Self and Consciousness 00:41:13 - The Nature of the Experiencer 00:44:27 - Self-Inquiry and the Nature of the Self 00:47:49 - The Swift and Clear Discovery of Awakening 00:50:26 - The Significance of Awareness 00:53:19 - The Difference between Understanding and Realization 00:55:51 - The Persistence of Awareness 00:58:54 - Recognition of Awakening 01:01:56 - The Illusion of the World and the Self 01:04:47 - The Power of Awareness and the True Nature of the World 01:08:01 - Evolving Spiritual Maturity 01:10:56 - The Continued Exploration and Maturing of Self-Discovery 01:13:39 - The Voice of the Mind 01:16:17 - Checking in and Reaffirming the S...

Pamela speaks the Truth of Advaita, non-duality - that the universe is one undivided whole. For the last ten years, she has traveled widely in the United States, Canada, and Europe, holding satsang and giving private sessions. Week-long retreats have been held in Mexico, Costa Rica, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the USA. She has endeared herself to many through her lighthearted humor and compassion, and deep understanding of what it is to be human. She lives in the Bay Area of Northern California. Pamela's website Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/28/2011 2nd Interview with Pamela YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Pamela Wilson's Spiritual Teachings 00:03:33 - The Supreme Intelligence 00:06:26 - The Play of Natural Intelligence 00:09:31 - Clear Seeing and the Balance of Consciousness 00:13:01 - Coming Back to Deep-Rooted Still Naturalness 00:15:52 - The Devotion of Saints and Sages 00:18:54 - The Infinite and Existence 00:21:44 - Greek Mythology and Seeking Deeper Meaning 00:24:15 - Spontaneous visitations from Ramana Maharshi 00:26:47 - A Pillow Fiasco 00:29:21 - The Beauty and Seduction of the Vastness 00:32:05 - Appreciating Brahman through our perceptual mechanism 00:34:50 - Using the Sedona Method for Meditation 00:37:33 - The Shakespearian Costume 00:40:19 - The Fear of Annihilation 00:42:56 - Urgency and Immersion in Spiritual Teaching 00:45:45 - The Mystery of Awakening 00:48:30 - The Transformative Effect of Awakening 00:51:31 - Fear in the Unmoving Pond 00:54:30 - Relaxing the tension in humanness 00:57:18 - The Tree of Life's Relaxation Process 01:00:08 - The Nature of Suffering and Awakening 01:02:43 - The Power Surge of Relaxation During Sleep 01:05:15 - The Luminous Nature of Reality 01:07:41 - Hanging out with a sage 01:11:10 - The Integration of Strength and Sensitivity 01:14:17 - The Healing Influence of Attention 01:17:14 - Resting in Substratum 01:19:48 - The Function of Timelessness 01:22:32 - The Essence of Life Waking Up 01:27:43 - Transition to Adyashanti Save

Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society (where he is one of the resident guiding teachers) and the Barre Center for Buddhist studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts.  He is the author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening, A Heart Full of Peace, One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism, Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom, and The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation (Shambhala Dragon Editions). He has also coauthored books with Sharon Salzberg and Jack Kornfield. Joseph has studied and practiced meditation since 1967 under the guidance of eminent teachers from India, Burma, and Tibet and he leads Insight Meditation retreats around the world. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/23/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Joseph Goldstein: Insight Meditation and the Enlightened Mind 00:03:22 - The Nature of the Mind 00:06:25 - The Purpose of Skillful Means 00:09:08 - The Hindu View of Enlightenment 00:12:15 - Stages of Awakening and Mistaking Preliminary Enlightenment 00:15:31 - The Reassurance of Being Done with Spiritual Practice 00:18:13 - Levels of Ignorance and Obstructive Forces 00:21:10 - The Effort and Investigation of Awakening 00:23:45 - The Importance of a Teacher and Study in Spiritual Practice 00:26:55 - Recognition and examination of the mind 00:30:08 - The Role of Monastics in Deepening Practice 00:32:57 - The Manifestation of Awakening in Behavior 00:35:22 - The Importance of Traits and States of Consciousness 00:38:06 - The Universal Experience of Enlightenment 00:41:13 - The Correlation Between Ethical Behavior and Enlightenment 00:44:08 - Wrathful Compassion and Ethical Grey Areas 00:46:27 - Manifestation of Compassion in Different Ways 00:49:28 - The Power of Mindfulness 00:51:49 - What is Mindfulness? 00:54:31 - Mindfulness as an Ethical Dimension 00:56:54 - The Analogy of the Changing Images 00:59:37 - The Unmanifest Quality 01:02:51 - The Purpose of Mindfulness 01:05:39 - The Effort and Nature of Mindfulness 01:07:45 - Mindfulness and the Effortless Approach 01:09:40 - Balancing Effort and Relaxation 01:12:18 - The Buddha Boy and the Atman-Anatman Debate 01:14:35 - Tathagata and Tattvamasi: Exploring the Difference 01:17:26 - Compassion as the Manifestation of Non-Clinging 01:20:34 - The Power of Bodhicitta and Awakening for the Benefit of All 01:23:23 - Conclusion and Next Week's Interview

I’m sorry about the video quality. We had technical problems which we weren’t able to surmount. “Adyashanti” means primordial peace. Adyashanti dares all seekers of peace and freedom to take the possibility of liberation in this life seriously. He began teaching in 1996, at the request of his Zen teacher with whom he had been studying for 14 years. Since then many spiritual seekers have awakened to their true nature while spending time with Adyashanti. Adyashanti offers spontaneous and direct nondual teachings that have been compared to those of the early Zen masters and Advaita Vedanta sages. However, Adya says, “If you filter my words through any tradition or ‘-ism’, you will miss altogether what I am saying. The liberating truth is not static; it is alive. It cannot be put into concepts and be understood by the mind. The truth lies beyond all forms of conceptual fundamentalism. What you are is the beyond—awake and present, here and now already. I am simply helping you to realize that.” A native of Northern California, Adyashanti lives with his wife, Mukti, and teaches extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area offering satsangs, weekend intensives, and silent retreats. He also travels to teach in other areas of the United States and Canada. Books and other media: The 30-day Wake Up Challenge Resurrecting Jesus - a self-guided video course The Direct Way The End of Your World (book) The End of Your World (audio download) Emptiness Dancing True Meditation Falling Into Grace Spontaneous Awakening Realization Unfolds Adyashanti's website Interview Summary and Transcript Interview recorded 8/30/2011 Other interviews with Adyashanti Interview on Conscious.tv covering a lot of biographical info. Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on “Resurrecting Jesus” Adyashanti and Susanne Marie on the Falling Away of Self Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on "The Embrace of Jesus and Buddha" YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Adyashanti's Teachings on Spiritual Awakening and Inquiry 00:04:11 - Intuition and the Spirit of Inquiry 00:07:23 - Connecting through Fresh Inspiration 00:10:46 - Letting go of Attachments to Thoughts and Ideas 00:14:11 - Different Strategies for Awakening 00:17:03 - The Thorn and the Boat Analogy 00:19:50 - The Capacity for Infinite Truth 00:22:19 - The Beginning of Awakening 00:25:41 - Understanding Awareness and Awakening 00:28:08 - The Complexity of Defining "Ego" and "Awakening" 00:31:13 - The Complexity of Truth and Viewpoints 00:34:12 - The Resistance to What Is 00:37:18 - The Concept of Self and its Functionality 00:40:06 - The Subtle Sense of Self 00:43:40 - The Disappearance of Ego in Awakening 00:46:19 - The Absence of Seeking and Fear 00:49:00 - Surrendering to Death for Truth 00:52:43 - Seeing the Hidden Secrets 00:56:05 - The Process of Letting Go 00:59:00 - The Erosion of Personal Will and False Notions of Awakening 01:02:04 - The Disappearance of Personal Will 01:05:22 - Letting Go of Personal Relationship to Existence 01:08:17 - The Importance of Taking Action 01:10:41 - The Breaking of the Heart's Shell 01:14:15 - Awakenings in the Head, Heart, and Gut 01:17:45 - The Nuanced Nature of Understanding and Awakening 01:20:52 - Insight and Action in Zen 01:23:03 - Maturing in Spiritual Awakening 01:25:50 - The Fear of Aloneness and Loneliness 01:29:04 - The Maturity of the Process 01:31:46 - A Conversation with Adya Save Save Save Save

Joan Tollifson writes and talks about the ever-changing, ever-present aliveness of Here / Now, that which is obvious, unavoidable and impossible to doubt. She has an affinity with Advaita, Buddhism and radical nonduality, but she belongs to no tradition or lineage. Her main teacher was Toni Packer, but Joan has also studied with several Buddhist teachers and has spent time with a number of Advaita and nondual teachers. She has been holding meetings on nonduality since 1996. In her books and meetings, Joan invites people to explore their actual present moment experience and to question the deep-seated assumption that we are each an independent entity encapsulated inside a separate bodymind looking out at an alien world. Instead, we may discover that everything is one seamless, boundless, unbroken whole in which there are no separate parts. Joan also invites people to question the deep-seated assumption that we are in control of our lives (or should be), and she points to the realization that everything is one choiceless happening. Joan is known for her honesty and her sense of humor. She is the author of Bare-Bones Meditation: Waking Up from the Story of My Life (1996), Awake in the Heartland: The Ecstasy of What Is (2003), Painting the Sidewalk with Water: Talks and Dialogs about Nonduality (2010), and she has written two more books that are slated for publication early in 2012. Joan has lived in California, New York and Chicago, and is currently living in southern Oregon. Joan's website Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/4/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Joan Tollifson's Work 00:03:00 - Defining "Awake" and "Enlightenment" 00:06:07 - The Illusion of Being an Encapsulated Unit 00:09:24 - The Illusion of the Self 00:12:24 - The Illusion of "Me" and "Happening" in the Movie of Life 00:15:02 - The Illusion of Self-Improvement 00:17:38 - Being an Individual Wave in the Ocean 00:20:34 - Trusting the Unfolding of Life 00:23:24 - The Conceptual Picture of Totality 00:26:11 - Emptiness and the Conceptualization of Reality 00:29:02 - Dependent Reality and the Manifestation of the Universe 00:32:03 - The Three Stages of Perception in Zen 00:35:19 - The Paradox of Absolute and Relative Realities 00:38:04 - The Paradox of Enlightenment 00:40:46 - The Subtle Misinterpretation 00:43:10 - The Openness of Awakening and the Paradox of Inclusion 00:46:29 - The Practicality of Life 00:48:59 - The Switch that Happened 00:51:57 - The Liberating Realization of Unicity 00:55:13 - The Liberation of Non-Ownership 00:57:48 - The Pitfalls of Progressive Practices and Non-Progressive Approaches 01:00:31 - The Place for Everything 01:03:13 - Embracing Individual Perspectives 01:05:46 - The Nature of Political Views and Choices 01:08:39 - The Illusion of Choice 01:11:42 - The Illusion of Choice and Consciousness 01:14:08 - The Power of Conditioning 01:17:07 - The Illusion of Authorship 01:19:31 - Accepting the Movement of the Universe 01:21:39 - Upcoming Books and Mailing List 01:23:34 - Join the Email List for New Interviews

Krishna can be a catalyst for the awakening transformation of your life. He also appears to be a pretty ordinary guy. For most of his life, he has been driven by a desire to know the power that moves the universe. In this mad quest for authentic spiritual realization, he has been blessed to come across the right people at the right time. Besides working as a spiritual coach and teacher and being trained in hypnotherapy, he has also been a cabinetmaker, an auto assembly line worker, a New York City taxi cab driver, and a bus driver. He has lived real life as a down to earth human being and knows that the truth of spirituality is always tested there. His experience is that you will never have exactly what you want and that you are already what you're looking for. His sense is that you don't need to be taught as much as you need to be understood and heard. He is well versed in several spiritual maps but he knows that who you are is beyond any map. You are changeless and you are always changing, and he relates to you as both. Since you are what you're looking for, he is only always pointing you to a deep trust in your own deepest life: Being itself. He does this in one on one sessions and in groups through talks, guided meditation, questions, and answers, gazing transmission and silent sitting. His presence enlivens that which is guiding you from within and calls you into your own life. He welcomes you into an awakening that is totally yours, and totally beyond you. Krishna invites everyone to roll up their sleeves and celebrate the paradox of being both Infinite and finite simultaneously. His sleeves are rolled up too. Krishna's website trilliumawakening.org Interview recorded 9/17/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Krishna Gauci and Waking Down 00:04:10 - Discovering the Dimension of Ourselves 00:09:09 - Duality in Non-duality 00:12:37 - The Sense of Personhood 00:16:08 - The Core Wound and the Intuition of Being More 00:19:23 - The Paradox of Freedom and Bondage 00:22:09 - The Core Wound and Consciousness 00:26:01 - The experience of fundamental well-being 00:28:57 - The Wound of Consciousness and the Goddess Kuan Yin 00:32:14 - Expressing the Infinite Intelligence 00:35:37 - The Limitations of Perception 00:38:50 - Falling in love with the unique manifestation 00:41:41 - Many Paths to Spiritual Beliefs 00:44:24 - The Feeling of Offness and Core Wounds 00:47:21 - Expanding Sense of Self 00:50:41 - Levels of Understanding and Communication 00:53:03 - The Role of Devotion in Spiritual Teachings 00:56:05 - Devotion to the Mountain 00:59:25 - The Movement of Divine Love 01:04:00 - The Paradox of Resting in Conscious Nature and Seeking 01:09:27 - The Personalness of the Unmanifest 01:14:07 - Personal Love and Universal Love 01:16:54 - The Unofficial Lineage of Ramana Maharshi and Papaji 01:18:37 - Teaching approach of Ramana and Papaji 01:21:03 - Cultivating Equanimity in Life 01:23:45 - Teaching Consciousness to the Peasants 01:26:02 - Development of Consciousness and Moral Values 01:28:16 - The Importance of Accountability 01:31:04 - The Equality of Teacher and Student 01:33:57 - Trusting Your Own Being 01:36:53 - Join the Discussion Group

People have always loved sitting and sharing in the presence of an awakened human being and experiencing that tender beingness. For about 7 years Florian Tathagata and his life companion Julia have travelled around the world untiringly inviting seekers to recognize in their own experience who they really are and to live as an embodiment of truth in everyday life. In his unmistakable manner he embraces the daily and simple life that he is sharing with a constantly increasing number of 'friends of truth', as he calls all those being interested. Again and again visitors of meetings tell of spontaneous awakening, of an all penetrating silence, of simple clarity and presence and of overflowing love and gratitude which they experience in Florian Tathagata‘s presence. With both legs firmly rooted in normal everyday life and at the same time in the heart deeply connected with Ramana Maharshi, Papaji, Jiddu Krishnamurti and his teacher and friend Isaac Shapiro, Florian Tathagata speaks and is silent, laughs and cries, is present with everyone who would love to savour the truth of awareness. Florian is the author of two books: Being and Given. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/18/2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Spiritual Names 00:04:00 - The Influence of Past Experiences and Memory 00:07:47 - Connection and Communion 00:12:03 - Relaxing the Focus: 00:16:05 - The Experience of Overwhelm 00:20:04 - Disembodiment and Traumatic Experiences in Awakening 00:24:08 - The Tragedy of Denying Unconscious Triggers 00:27:48 - The Shift of Attention during Awakening 00:31:06 - Natural Awakening and Self-Exploration 00:34:45 - The Exploration of Attention and Connection 00:38:17 - The Impact of Early Life Experiences on Connection 00:41:20 - Disembodied Spirituality 00:44:40 - The Cultural Background and the Importance of Embodiment 00:47:53 - Identification with Nothingness and Accumulating Exhaustion 00:50:43 - The Transformation of Exhaustion into Rest 00:53:45 - Connecting to the Natural State 00:57:09 - The Seduction of Spiritual Winners 01:00:17 - The Integration of Ramana and Muktananda 01:03:41 - Removing Tricks and Natural Methods for De-stressing Soldiers 01:07:32 - Inviting Awareness and Relaxing Attention 01:11:14 - The Reality Beneath the Surface 01:14:55 - Connecting with Inner Reality 01:18:47 - Layers of Conditioning in Healing and Integration 01:22:06 - Learning to Listen to the Body 01:25:37 - Being Present and Self-Aware 01:29:44 - The Importance of Female Moderation 01:33:52 - Unraveling Protective Beliefs for Relaxation 01:38:04 - Options arise when conscious 01:41:36 - Cultivating Self-Referral Awareness 01:44:41 - Discussion on upcoming website and video 01:47:45 - Interviews and Conference Updates

Fred Davis studied and practiced Eastern wisdom for twenty-five years prior to 2006 when his seeking ended, and his true awakening commenced. He is the creator and editor of Awakening Clarity Now and the founder of The Living Method of Awakening. He is also the author of The Book of Undoing: Direct Pointing to Nondual Awareness Beyond Recovery: Nonduality and the Twelve Steps Awakening Clarity: A Spiritual Sampler The Living Method of Awakening is an extraordinarily successful process of direct pointing that encourages immediate recognition of our shared True Nature. Hundreds of people on five continents have found the door to freedom using The Living Method. His work has appeared on Advaita Vision, Nonduality Living, Meeting Truth, ONE: The Magazine, and it shows up frequently in Nondual Highlights. He is happily married, deeply loves animals, and lives as a chiefly ignored, urban hermit in Columbia, South Carolina. It has recently come to public attention that Fred was convicted in 2006 for sex offenses he committed as a teenager, in the 1960s. He addresses the issue on his blog. Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 12/1/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Fred Davis 00:05:43 - Awakening in the Insane Asylum 00:09:24 - My Journey with Zen Meditation and Self-Inquiry 00:13:33 - Knocking Your Head Against the Walls Spirituality 00:18:45 - Losing it All, Finding Sobriety, and Seeking True Nature 00:23:51 - Finding Freedom through Surrender 00:28:38 - The Mysterious Collapsing Flower Pots 00:32:15 - Struggles and Finding Relief 00:35:26 - The Awakening Experience 00:39:12 - The Real Deal Breaker 00:42:38 - A Unique Jail Experience 00:46:00 - The Journey of Suffering and Awakening 00:50:45 - A Shift in Perspective and Awakening 00:55:45 - The Mind Wants Either/Or 00:58:46 - The Unfolding Process of Enlightenment 01:03:26 - The Mind's Either/Or Dilemma 01:08:00 - Starting Awakening Clarity 01:10:57 - Surprise Awakening and Egoic Pleasure 01:14:42 - The Awakening Process and Sharing Insights 01:18:48 - Awakening and the Importance of Context 01:23:05 - Clarity about the I Am 01:27:43 - Discovering Oneness 01:32:05 - The possibility of anyone becoming a spiritual teacher 01:35:27 - The Drive Towards Self-Recognition 01:39:28 - The Subtleties of Non-Duality to Guide Awakening 01:42:58 - Stabilizing and Refining the Mind 01:46:29 - Beliefs, Opinions, and Positions 01:51:10 - The Difficulty of Getting Out of Bed 01:55:37 - Continuous Thinning of Conditioning 02:02:53 - Challenges of On-Camera Sessions 02:08:52 - Signing up for the iTunes podcast

In February 2008 at the age of thirty-three, Karen experienced a sudden and radical awakening. Prior to this realisation, no teachings or practices were followed – in fact at that time the terms non-duality and awakening were completely unfamiliar. This spontaneous realization presented itself during a period of intense emotional suffering and when demands in life exceeded Karen’s physical capability. Karen attempted to persevere in the face of these challenges, the consequence being a severely debilitating illness that affected physical functioning on every level. Although the illness had a devastating effect on life as it was then known, it seemed to create a space for a deeper reality to be recognized. As her state of health was so poor, Karen was unable to return to work – meaning that she spent a significant amount of time confined to her home. The effect of this period of solitude was profound surrender, allowing the realization to become deeply integrated into daily living. Two and a half years after the initial recognition, someone Karen didn’t know approached her for guidance, which really was the beginning of sharing in a more active way. Karen now shares openly with all those who wish to enquire into the true nature of reality. In the years prior to the realization, Karen has experienced challenges and disappointments that seem common to many. She is also a certified life coach and that, coupled with her nursing career has given her considerable experience of working with people from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances. This has endowed her with the ability to empathize and understand life as it is to commonly experienced, making her easy to communicate with. Realization – from a human perspective – means that the unity beyond apparent diversity is remembered. Life can then be embraced fully and authentically – without contamination from the lens of the conditioned mind, bringing relief from all psychological suffering. An inevitable consequence of this recognition is the arising of compassion, love, and respect for life in all of its appearances – having an ever-deepening impact on the human experience. This has the direct consequence of transforming the world we see literally before our eyes, having a powerful healing effect on the planet as a whole. ‘May you rediscover who you truly are, for in that knowing lies liberation, peace, and wisdom. You are THAT for which you have been seeking’ Much love, Karen Richards Interview recorded 9/25/2011 Summary and Transcript of this interview. 2nd interview with Karen YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Karen Richards' Awakening Journey 00:03:14 - A Complete Mental and Physical Shutdown 00:06:29 - Early Inquiries into Life's Meaning 00:09:11 - Awakening and Spiritual Homework 00:11:36 - Awakening and Physical Incapacitation 00:13:57 - Awakening to Reality and the Shift in Consciousness 00:16:52 - Embracing Life and Responding 00:19:50 - Awakening and the Evolution of Experience 00:22:21 - The Journey of Embracing What's Always Here 00:25:02 - Living the Recognition Fresh 00:28:03 - The Knowing from the Heart vs. the Conditioned Aspect 00:30:48 - Making Spiritual Teachings Accessible 00:33:19 - Meeting People Where They Are 00:36:16 - The Flow of Water and Meeting People Where They Are 00:39:13 - Seeking Happiness in Things 00:42:00 - Awakening to Timeless Consciousness 00:45:02 - The Experience of Everything 00:47:31 - The Fluctuating Polarity of Awakening 00:50:37 - Living Realization from a Memory 00:53:14 - Experiential Recognition and Thought Identification 00:56:09 - Different Ways of Awakening 00:58:53 - Ramana Maharishi's Period of Integration 01:01:37 - Uncovering Conditioned Tendencies 01:04:29 - Uncovering Hidden Tendencies and Conditioning 01:07:40 - Recognizing Conditioned Patterns and Dissipating Tendencies...

Unmani is originally from the UK but has lived a nomadic life in many countries around the world from the age of 18. Unlike most people, since she was a child, Unmani never identified with being a ‘person’ in the world, but she felt very lost and alone in a world that everyone else seemed to take so seriously. She spent years traveling around the world trying on different roles and identities to see if any of them fit. Disappointed with each role, she continued searching to find a way out of the pain she felt. She spent some time in the Osho centre in Pune, India, and there discovered meditation, free expression, and other insightful wisdom. But although this brought her more relaxation, it did not seem to get to the root of her search. Some years later she met the German Zen master, Dolano. With her, Unmani recognized that what she had been searching for had always been right here. She woke up to the dream, time stopped, and the search ended. She no longer needed to try to fit in or be someone, because Unmani had finally acknowledged the truth of who she really is. Unmani began holding meetings and retreats 3 years later. She is the author of two books ‘I am Life itself’ and ‘Die to Love’ and is now writing a third book. Meeting with Unmani is meeting with yourself in the most real and alive way. It is not about chasing sweet spiritual experiences that come, and then sadly go. Dialogues with Unmani are a fundamental and intimate enquiry that cut through all philosophies and belief systems. Unmani encourages people to truly face their deepest fears, to no longer blindly buy into dreamy hopes, and to wake up to the reality of life. Unmani holds meetings and intensives all over the world, and also online. These are aimed towards people who are genuinely willing to risk losing what they think they know, to courageously take a step into the alive unknown. 2nd Batgap interview with Unmani. Website: die-to-love.com Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/11/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:44 - Spontaneous Preferences and Self-Discovery in Teenage Years 00:06:54 - From Therapist to Traveling Abroad 00:10:09 - Discovering Spirituality in India 00:13:28 - The Frustration and Madness of the Search 00:16:28 - Ready to Die and Joining Dolano's Group 00:19:57 - A Drive for the Truth 00:23:21 - Integration and Knowing 00:26:15 - Exploring the Male/Female Dynamic 00:29:50 - Humility and Confidence 00:33:10 - Seeing Thought for What It Is 00:36:28 - The Potential Benefits of Practices 00:40:23 - Moments of Recognition 00:43:18 - The Illusion of Retaining Thoughts 00:46:27 - The Physiological Basis of Consciousness 00:49:30 - Meetings in Not Knowing 00:53:05 - Changing the Format and Focusing on Dialogues 00:55:55 - Breaking Free from Beliefs 00:58:54 - Recognizing Who You Are 01:01:43 - Recognition and Growth in Life 01:04:31 - The Integration of the Child into the Woman 01:07:04 - The Meaning of Love 01:10:06 - Emptiness and Fullness 01:12:51 - The Fear of Intimacy 01:16:05- The Nature of Reality and Misinterpretation 01:18:50 - Recognition and Attitude 01:21:58 - The Spontaneity of Speech and Intimacy in Retreats 01:24:38 - Returning to Regular Life After a Retreat 01:27:20 - The Process of Seeing Through Old Patterns 01:29:55 - No Escape from Reality 01:33:11 - Discussion Group and Conclusion

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

Ellie is a happily married woman for 29 years. She has been blessed, with two beautiful children—a lovely daughter and a sweet son. Since childhood, she was seeing herself as a vision, which was not associated with the body at all. The question was arising, “Who am I?” This was never answered and it was there in her heart for a long time… Since the year 2001, she has been inspired: To get to know who she is, To find what she is searching for For the past few years, she has had wonderful experiences by “going within,” meditating and discovering the Truth. The Truth reveals itself to itself by itself. She would like to share these experiences with you. She hopes that by reading her story, you also get inspired to “go within” and "discover" who you really are, and also find the authentic joy that resides within. This is simply a discovery, not to become anyone or anything. Remember: Joy is already there, it just needs to be uncovered. We learn to go within and to be a witness of the "nothingness.” It may be frightening at the beginning. All our life we want to be somebody and add something to ourselves and now we will face "nothingness." She wishes you all patience and the best of luck on this path. Please know that this is the best thing and the most important thing that you can do for yourself. Ellie's website 2nd interview with Ellie Interview recorded 10/16/2011 Italian subtitled version of this interview. Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:06 - The Invisible Vision 00:08:51 - Searching for Meaning and Purpose 00:13:56 - A Powerful Energy Experience 00:18:27 - Kundalini Awakening and Energy Healing 00:22:24 - Seeking Help for Kundalini Blockage 00:26:49 - The Power of Meditation 00:31:04 - The Powerful Meditation Experience 00:35:39 - A Love Affair with the Divine 00:39:21 - The 7 Stages of Self-Realization in Sufism 00:43:37 - A Love Affair with Uncertainty 00:49:06 - Experiencing Oneness and Duality 00:53:01 - Embracing Oneness and Love 00:57:45 - The Kingdom of God Within You 01:02:04 - Surrendering the Mind 01:06:07 - The Path to Self-Realization 01:10:46 - The Path to Awakening 01:15:26 - The Importance of Personal Experience 01:18:55 - Understanding, Realization, and Liberation 01:23:07 - The Truth and the Mind 01:27:21: Disappointment and the Path of Meditation 01:31:09 - The Truth of Oneness 01:35:36 - The Illusion of Reality 01:40:13 - The Beauty of Variety 01:43:52 - Different Ways of Meditation 01:48:01 - Surrendering the Mind and Knowing Yourself 01:51:29 - Surrender to the Burning Desire 01:55:56 - The Truth in Awareness 02:00:45 - The Illusion of Happening and Unfolding in Here 02:05:44 - The Benefits of the Conversation 02:09:02 - Conclusion and Upcoming Interview with Gangaji

Gangaji shares a simple message-This is an invitation to shift your allegiance from the activities of your mind to the eternal presence of your being. Born in Texas in 1942, Gangaji grew up in Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1964, she married and had a daughter. In 1972, she moved to San Francisco where she began exploring deeper levels of her being. She took Bodhisattva vows, practiced Zen and Vipassana meditation, helped run a Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center, and had a career as an acupuncturist in the San Francisco Bay area. Despite her successes, Gangaji continued to experience a deep and persistent longing for fulfillment. She pursued many paths to change her life including relationship, motherhood, political activism, career, and spiritual practice, but even the greatest of her successes ultimately came up short. In the wake of her disillusionment, she made a final prayer for true help. In 1990, the answer to her prayer came unexpectedly, taking her to India and to the meeting that would change everything. There on the banks of the river Ganga, she met Sri H.W.L. Poonja, also known as Papaji, who opened the floodgates of self-recognition. In this meeting, Gangaji’s personal story of suffering ended and the promise of a true life began to flower and unfold. Today, Gangaji travels the world speaking to seekers from all walks of life. A teacher and author, she shares her direct experience of the essential message she received from Papaji and offers it to all who want to discover a true and lasting fulfillment. Through her life and words, she powerfully articulates how it is really possible to discover the truth of who you are and to be true to that discovery. She is the author of The Diamond in Your Pocket: Discovering Your True Radiance and Hidden Treasure: Uncovering the Truth in Your Life Story. Learn more about Gangaji at www.gangaji.org. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 10/18/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Buddha at the Gas Pump with Gangaji 00:02:14 - The Lottery of Enlightenment 00:03:53 - Meeting people as regular individuals 00:05:51 - Reverence for the Teacher 00:07:44 - Teaching from Fulfillment 00:09:20 - The Thunderclap Moment and the Removal of Self-Doubt 00:11:40 - The Global Shift 00:16:06 - The Power of Words and Transmission 00:18:12 - Different types of people and their spiritual awakening 00:20:16 - The Importance of the Sangha 00:21:43 - The Meaning of "Stop" and its Effect 00:23:54 - The Search for Identity 00:26:25 - Surrendering to the Overshadowing Nature of Thought 00:28:08 - The Invitation to Recognize Who You Are 00:30:15 - Recognizing the Role of Thought 00:32:23 - The Function of Storytelling and Overcoming Obstacles 00:34:48 - Discovering the Hidden Treasure 00:37:13 - Discovering Joy in Being 00:39:41 - The Fear of Nonexistence 00:42:22 - Fear as the Ultimate Gatekeeper 00:44:17 - Overcoming Fear and Distraction in Meditation 00:46:38 - Exploring Discomfort in Meditation 00:48:22 - Turning the Mind Back to Its Source 00:50:39 - The Beauty of Meeting Him 00:52:12 - The Beginning of the Journey 00:53:47 - The Growth Through Relationship Challenges 00:55:31 - Finding Love Amidst Chaos 00:57:44 - Love, Fulfillment, and Relationships 00:59:54 - Trusting Yourself 01:01:30 - Concluding remarks and future content

Jeff Foster graduated in Astrophysics from Cambridge University in 2001. Several years after graduation, following a period of severe depression and illness, he became addicted to the idea of ‘spiritual enlightenment’, and embarked on an intensive spiritual search which lasted for several years. The spiritual search came crashing down with the clear recognition of the nondual nature of everything. In the clarity of this seeing, life became what it always was: open, loving, spontaneous, and fully alive. Jeff presently holds meetings and retreats in the UK, Europe, and around the world, clearly and directly pointing to the frustrations surrounding our seeking activities, to the nature of the mind, and to the clarity at the heart of everything. His uncompromising approach, full of humour and compassion, enlightens and exposes the seeking mechanism – the mechanism behind all suffering – shattering our hopes for a future salvation, revealing the unconditional freedom and ease that is always already present, right in the midst of the human drama, and within every experience. Jeff belongs to no tradition or lineage but has a deep respect for traditions and lineages. Jeff is not an ‘authority’ on life. His words are equal to the sound of a bird singing, or a cat meowing. All are expressions of the One Life. And when all words have disappeared, as they do, all that’s left is laughter. Jeff's site: Life Without a Centre Jeff's books: An Extraordinary Absence: Liberation in the Midst of a Very Ordinary Life, The Wonder of Being: Awakening to an Intimacy Beyond Words Interview recorded 10/30/2011 Interview summary and transcript YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Interview with Jeff Foster 00:03:24 - The Mystery of Non-Duality 00:06:21 - The Stuck-ness and Freedom 00:09:49 - Discovering the Ocean Behind Things 00:12:30 - Embracing our Humanity 00:16:04 - A Total Embrace of Life and Non-Duality 00:18:54 - The Longing for Completeness and the End of Seeking 00:22:07 - Seeking Completeness in Relationships 00:25:42 - The Natural Movement of Seeking Completeness 00:29:06 - The Completeness of Seeking 00:32:33 - The Paradox of Seeking and Completeness 00:35:55 - The Constant Invitation of Waves 00:39:25 - Embracing Relationships and Self-Acceptance 00:42:26 - The Adventure of Relationships 00:45:30 - The Pain of Honest Self-Reflection 00:48:38 - The Possibility of Recognizing Who You Really Are 00:52:28 - A Journey of Self-Discovery 00:55:47 - The Messy Path to Self-Realization 00:59:26 - The Myth of Dramatic Stories 01:02:03 - The Sun and the Waves 01:05:02 - The New Doing: Rejecting All Doing 01:08:00 - Meeting People at Their Level 01:10:54 - Meeting Without Defenses 01:14:06 - The Man or Woman at the Cash Register 01:17:28 - Reflections on Crucifixion and Acceptance 01:20:51 - The Crucifixion and the Resurrection 01:23:40 - The Evolution of Language and Understanding in Non-duality 01:27:29 - The Natural Expression of Sharing 01:31:11 - Singing Our Song 01:35:02 - Allowing and Acceptance in Spiritual Teachings 01:37:44 - Introduction to the Show and Guest

From an early age Rupert Spira was deeply interested in the nature of reality. For twenty years he studied the teachings of P.D.Ouspensky, J.Krishnamurti, Rumi, Shankaracharya, Ramana Maharshi, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Robert Adams, until he met his teacher, Francis Lucille, in 1996. Francis introduced Rupert to the teachings of Jean Klein and Atmanada Krishnamenon and, more importantly, directly indicated to him the true nature of experience. Rupert’s YouTube Channel. Interviews can be listened to here and watched here. Rupert lives in UK and holds regular meetings and retreats in Europe and USA. Books: The Transparency of Things: Contemplating the Nature of Experience Presence, Volume I: The Art of Peace and Happiness Presence, Volume II: The Intimacy of All Experience The Ashes of Love: Sayings on the Essence of Non-Duality The Light of Pure Knowing: Thirty Meditations on the Essence of Non-Duality Transparent Body, Luminous World: The Tantric Yoga of Sensation and Perception (Book and six MP3 CD Box Set - 30 Hours of Audio) The Nature of Consciousness: Essays on the Unity of Mind and Matter Being Aware of Being Aware (The Essence of Meditation Series) For all further information see http://www.rupertspira.com. Interview recorded 11/6/2011. Summary and Transcript of this interview. 2nd BatGap interview with Rupert YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Rupert Spira and his book 00:04:14 - The Path of Advaita-Vedanta 00:08:06 - Recognizing "Home" 00:11:59 - Explorations of Feeling in the Body 00:15:50 - The Mechanics of the Experience 00:20:03 - The Knowingness of Experience 00:23:57 - The Objectivity of Reality 00:27:44 - The Common Perception in a Dream 00:31:26 - The Relationship Between Intelligence and the Structure of the World 00:34:53 - The Nature of Awareness 00:38:37 - The Presence of the Imaginary Separate Self 00:42:38 - Individuality and the Illusion of a Separate Self 00:46:34 - Models of Enlightenment 00:50:22 - Enlightenment and the Perpetuation of the Separate Self 00:53:51 - The Point of View of Awareness vs the Separate Self 00:57:43 - The Illusion of Ignorance and the Reality of Awareness 01:01:23 - The Illusion of Duality 01:04:34 - The Conundrum of the Apparent World 01:08:17 - The Path of Exclusion 01:12:11 - The Path of Understanding and Love 01:15:22 - The Experience of Perception as Awareness 01:18:12 - The Nature of Direct Experience 01:21:08 - The Illusion of Separate Objects 01:24:54 - The Art of Teaching and the Nature of Experience 01:29:04 - Tailoring Love and Understanding to the Question 01:32:57 - The Limitation of Language and Teaching 01:36:46 - The After-Effects of Enlightenment 01:40:40 - The Art of Teaching 01:44:11 - The Continuing Process of Enlightenment 01:48:03 - The Permeation of Love and Transparency

Jon Bernie’s first awakening experience at the age of sixteen led him to spend many years practicing in the Zen and Theravadan Buddhist traditions, first as a monk in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, and then as an early student of Jack Kornfield’s. In the late 1980s, Jon’s spiritual trajectory was profoundly altered when he met Jean Klein – master of Advaita Vedanta and Kashmiri Yoga with whom he studied intensively for an extended period. Jon subsequently spent time with H.W.L. Poonja and Robert Adams, both direct disciples of Ramana Maharshi. Jon’s spiritual development was also greatly aided by Brother David Steindl-Rast, who, along with Thomas Merton, was one of the first Christian monks to seriously practice in the Zen and Tibetan traditions and has since been instrumental in building interfaith networks worldwide. After Jon met Adyashanti in 2002, his spiritual journey came to fruition, and subsequently Adya asked Jon to teach. In addition to his work as a spiritual teacher, Jon is a certified Zero Balancing practitioner and a teacher of the Alexander Technique in private practice in San Francisco since 1981. Jon’s healing work has also been deeply influenced by extensive training in NLP, hypnosis, Self Acceptance Training, cranio-sacral therapy and the Qigong system of Dr. Yu Penxi. In addition to his private practice, Jon has given lectures and workshops for the general public at the Suzuki Method Teacher’s Conference, UCSF Medical School, JFK University and the Whole Life Expo. Jon currently leads regular classes, retreats and intensives in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Jon's book, Ordinary Freedom Jon's Website Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/13/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Power of Energy in Satsangs 00:05:18 - Interconnectedness and Synchronization 00:07:57 - A Psychic Awakening at 16 00:10:28 - Questioning the Existence of a Creative Force 00:13:42 - The Mind Wanders 00:16:53 - Becoming a Buddhist Monk 00:20:32 - The End of Fear and the End of Seeking 00:23:52 - Constant Discovery 00:27:27 - Second Awakening and the End of Fear 00:30:54 - Subtle Ways of Transformation 00:33:56 - Healing the Unseen and Unhealed Parts of Ourselves 00:36:50 - Relating to Spiritual Teachers on a Human Level 00:39:48 - Monastic Component in TM Movement 00:43:11 - Embracing Different Paths to Personal Growth 00:46:35 - Talking about Personal Identity 00:50:04 - The Experience of Human Feelings 00:52:47 - A Meeting with a Radiant Spiritual Teacher 00:55:50 - The Absence of Self-Consciousness 00:58:19 - "Do the Next Obvious Thing" 01:01:19 - Discovering Life and Learning as a Human Being 01:04:50 - Being a Mirror for Others' Resistance 01:07:23 - The Miracle of Satsang 01:09:49 - The Beginning of Awakening 01:12:14 - The Question of Belief 01:15:08 - The Inner Lives of Individuals 01:18:31 - Awakening to Shakti with Rick and Tony 01:20:58 - Collective Transformation and Flexible Approaches to Spiritual Practice 01:23:43 - Questioning Beliefs and Assumptions 01:26:32 - The Necessity of Gradual Growth and Breakthroughs 01:29:37 - The Path to Truth 01:32:38 - Conclusion and Farewell Save

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and New York Times best-selling author. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom and on the Advisory Board of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, he’s been an invited speaker at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. An authority on self-directed neuroplasticity, Dr. Hanson’s work has been featured on the BBC, NPR, CBC, FoxBusiness, Consumer Reports Health, U.S. News and World Report, and O Magazine, and his articles have appeared in Tricycle Magazine, Insight Journal, and Inquiring Mind. He has several audio programs with Sounds True, he edits the Wise Brain Bulletin, and his weekly e-newsletter – Just One Thing – has over 100,000 subscribers, and also appears on Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and other major websites. A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA, Dr. Hanson has been a trustee of Saybrook University, and he served on the board of Spirit Rock Meditation Center for nine years and was President of the Board of FamilyWorks, a community agency. He began meditating in 1974, trained in several traditions, and leads a weekly meditation gathering in San Rafael, California. He enjoys rock climbing and taking a break from emails. He and his wife have two adult children. Books and other media: Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence (in 4 languages), Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom (in 25 languages), Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time (in 12 languages), and Mother Nurture: A Mother's Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relationships Stress-Proof Your Brain Meditations to Change Your Brain The Enlightened Brain Meditations for Happiness Self-Directed Brain Change Letting Go: A Key to Lasting Happiness Steadying Your Mind Awaken Your Brain For more information, please see his full profile at rickhanson.com. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 12/14/2013. Second BatGap interview with Rick Hanson. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Rick Hanson and the Mind-Brain Connection 00:03:11 - The Brain's Bias towards Over-learning from Negative Experiences 00:06:11 - The Mystery of Brain Transformation 00:08:45 - The Root of Suffering and the End of Craving 00:11:23 - The Nature of Heartfelt Emotions 00:13:54 - Changing the Conditioning of the Mind 00:17:07 - Overcoming Aversion and Grasping 00:19:32 - The Brain of a Buddha 00:22:42 - The Ultimate Truth and Brainwaves 00:25:32 - The Nature of Consciousness and the Transcendental 00:28:25 - The Thicket of Views and the Woo-Woo Stuff 00:31:10 - Exploring the Transcendental State 00:33:45 - The Stable Shift of Awakening 00:35:59 - Installing Wholesome States of Mind 00:38:38 - The Art of Receptive Learning 00:41:30 - Internalizing the Mind of No Grasping 00:43:53 - Neurobhavana: Mo' Bettah 00:46:31 - Cultivating Positive Experiences 00:49:08 - Factors for Enriching Experiences 00:51:31 - Cultivating Inner Strengths for Healing and Awakening 00:53:58 - Overcoming the Stone Age Negativity Bias 00:57:05 - The Negativity Bias and its Impact on Well-being 00:59:19 - Mindfulness Programs for Prisoners and PTSD Sufferers 01:02:05 - Adapting Practice and Dealing with Negative Experiences 01:04:27 - The Impact of Negative Experiences 01:07:07 - The Power of Fear and Disgust 01:09:48 - The Possibility of a Utopian Planet 01:12:12 - The Tipping Point: From Frustration to Contentment 01:14:46 - Letting the Good Sink In 01:17:14 - Physiological Correlates of Higher States 01:19:35 - Music interlude

Natalie Gray is an ordinary person who spent the first 25 years of her adult life searching for meaning and answers. In her search, she looked for those answers in several places, including trying to find a calling (as an actress, teacher and life coach), through self-help and awareness seminars, through study and initiation with various spiritual teachers and teachings and through the use of drugs. After coming to the realization that no one or no thing outside of herself was going to be able to give Natalie what she wanted, she began an intense personal and internal search for the truth. In the fall of 2010, Natalie experienced what she refers to as “...the end of seeking. I was done,” she says. “I had no more questions. I needed no more answers. What was sought had been found.” Since then, Natalie has shared her experience and insights through her blog, and in videos on YouTube. She communicates regularly and freely with individuals who have questions or are interested in talking about nonduality. You can reach her by email. Interview recorded 11/26/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Natalie Gray 00:03:26 - Seeking Enlightenment 00:05:19 - My Encounter with a Mythical Guru 00:07:31 - Interviewing Robert 00:09:44 - The Many Perspectives of Awakening 00:13:39 - Embracing the Mystery of Life 00:17:52 - Pragya anchored to Kutastha 00:20:51 - The Ordinary and Fascinating Journey 00:23:03 - The Mechanics of Transformation 00:26:07 - The Absolute Experiencing Itself 00:29:46 - Life After Enlightenment 00:31:25 - The Death of the Self 00:34:23 - Embracing What Is 00:36:25 - Speaking spontaneously without attachment to outcomes 00:38:49 - Oneness and the Nature of Existence 00:41:35 - The Birth of "I" 00:44:51 - The Perception of Reality 00:49:41 - The Perspective of Everything is Perfect and Everything Needs Fixing 00:53:39 - The Meaning of Purpose 00:55:58 - The Ordinary Nature of Awakening 00:58:04 - The Ordinariness of Well-Known Non-Dual Teachers 01:01:00 - The Ordinary Remnants of Life 01:02:36 - The Circumstances of Your Dharma 01:04:07 - Finding Beauty in Ordinary Activities 01:05:56 - The Criteria for Realization 01:08:10 - The Never-Ending Refinement 01:11:13 - The Post-Awakening Roadmap 01:14:26 - A Saturation of Experience 01:17:08 - Playing Our Roles, Holding Up Our Sticks 01:20:34 - The Nature of Blame and Responsibility 01:24:03 - Signing up for email notifications and donations

More than twenty years ago, my (second) wife and I divorced, after ten years of marriage. After we divorced, I recognized that I had some unfinished business: it revolved around “the meaning of life”, which is at the bottom of the spiritual pursuit—to which I returned. As soon as our house was sold, I took my share of the equity and bought a fully-equipped camper van. I parked it on the property of an absentee friend in the redwood forest, near where I had been living in Northern California. I lived there in virtual solitude: reading, contemplating, taking walks for hours in the forest. At the end of three years, something suddenly fell into place. The spiritual quest resolutely came to an end. I discovered the actuality which is inescapable. The inseparability of all things, which has been referred to persistently by mystic sages for 3,500 years of our written history, is commonly spoken of as “oneness” (or Oneness). There is an aspect of this oneness which is rather apparent to most any attentive mind. But the aspect which seems to give many of us some difficulty has to do with our personal, individual relationship to this oneness. This latter aspect is the matter which had now become clarified for me. This radical, and sudden, shift in perspective was received like good news by me. Where before there had been confusion and perplexity concerning the relationship of the individual to the whole of existence, now there was a calming clarity. There was a profound resolution of the uneasy questing which had punctuated my prior years, a resolution which was not transitory because it has not since been apart from my general awareness. I hoped to share the good news, particularly with those whom I knew to have quested concurrently with myself. I knew, from my own experience, that a certain element of this unitive understanding is communicable from one mind to another; the analogy is sometimes given of a flame leaping from one torch to another torch. For the past fifteen years, I have conducted a considerable number of discussions (both individually and in groups) with persons who indicated their interest in resolving—and in recognizing that they had resolved—what has been called the perennial question. I have carefully observed the junctures at which their confusion compounded. I have also observed that for a few individuals there was no point at which their confusion was not surmounted, to their satisfaction. The essence of the unitive understanding is that it is liberating; the marvel of the unitive understanding is that it is basically effortless. Its liberation is a consequence of the non-attachment it engenders. This is not a detaching of piece from piece, item by item. It is an across-the-board release of attachment, which even includes non-attachment to the continuity of one's life. This dispelling of attachment is, in the same moment, the dispelling of correlated fear—and that is dynamic liberation. Robert's website. Books: Living Nonduality The Gospel of Thomas: The Enlightenment Teachings of Jesus Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/3/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Interview with Robert Wolfe 00:02:08 - The Meaning of Enlightenment 00:03:47 - The Myth of Enlightenment 00:05:41 - Recognizing the Truth 00:07:42 - The dissolution of the individual conception 00:09:41 - The Significance of the Word "If" 00:11:30 - Insights from Living in the Forest 00:13:50 - Finding the Zen Farming Commune 00:16:14 - Life Changes and Unfinished Business 00:18:42 - Three years in the forest reading, contemplating, and taking walks 00:20:58 - The Misconceptions of Enlightenment 00:22:42 - Guru Suits and Businessmen 00:24:45 - The Power of Immersion in Non-Duality 00:27:21 - Sharing the Truth with Others 00:29:46 - Relocating to Ohio for Krishnamurti's Teachings

Satsang with Bob Nickel was a great opportunity to be with someone who points to the pure truth of Awakening in a simple and clear way. One of the recent attendees at Bob's satsang wrote, "I was deeply moved by Bob’s blissful presence as well as the clear insight he is able to share with everyone into the deeper truths of life and ourselves. I could feel that Bob speaks from his own personal experience, those same truths shared through the ages by many of the great sages." Bob has been freely sharing in the non-dual Advaita tradition since 2004. He experienced his first spiritual epiphany at the age of nineteen, followed later by other special experiences. In recent years it has become clear to Bob that all experiences, which by nature come and go, have nothing whatsoever to do with the Truth that one essentially Is. His satsangs are dedicated solely to making Ramana Maharshi’s invitation to Self-Inquiry available to everyone, as a direct and immediate means to Self Knowledge, inviting all to simply abide effortlessly as That which one is, right here and right now. Cancer has returned to Bob's body. When he left for India in late April, 2011, his doctors said he was cancer-free. That has changed. In early September his physicians gave him about six months. Rather than just rest, Bob’s desire is to spend his final days sharing Ramana Maharshi's Invitation to Self Inquiry to all who wish to hear it.  Bob's website.  (Bob passed on August 17, 2012) Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/18/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Bob Nickel and his Spiritual Odyssey 00:04:10 - The Beginning of Self-Inquiry 00:06:59 - The fleeting nature of peak experiences 00:09:11 - Ramana's Teachings on Being Still and Self-Inquiry 00:11:14 - The Explosive Moment of Self-Inquiry 00:13:09 - The Half Step Back Into Yourself 00:15:06 - Awakening despite physical challenges 00:17:56 - The Limitations of Words and Concepts 00:20:56 - Living Life as a Question 00:24:33 - The Inner Guru and Outer Guru 00:27:12 - A Missed Opportunity to Thank Her 00:29:19 - Gratitude and the Connection Between Individuals 00:31:34 - Living in the Present Moment 00:34:00 - The Depth of the Ocean beyond the Waves 00:35:44 - The Wake-Up Call and the Presence of Mark 00:37:30 - Young People Giving Satsang 00:39:07 - The Importance of Self-inquiry in Education 00:40:51 - Arguments among Non-Dualists 00:43:10 - The Formation of Orthodoxy and Heresy 00:45:03 - "Be Who You Are" and Effort in Self-Inquiry 00:47:12 - The Unshakable Knowingness 00:49:26 - The Dissipation of "Yeah, Buts" in Satsang 00:51:32 - The Importance of Taking Action 00:53:35 - The Value of Diverse Spiritual Experiences 00:55:59 - The Mind's Love for Drama 00:57:49 - The Marvelous Orchestra of Intelligence 00:59:33 - The Mystery of "I Am" 01:01:42 - The Mysterious Intelligence of "I am" 01:04:15 - Concluding Remarks 01:06:06 - Interact with the Interview

The journey for Canela Michelle towards this realization was happening long before she had heard of the potential of consciously living in the stateless state of Being.  Once she heard that this was possible in 1995, the path was lit up and speedy until she ended up in Satsang with Isaac Shapiro in February 1998.  By this time her inner and outer explorations were deep and subtle yet her explorations of what she perceived seemed to only serve to expand all of that even more…so she simply asked Isaac:  ‘Is it beyond perception?’  He answered ‘Yes’ and in that moment, what was there previously as some sort of structure fell away, leaving only ‘What Is’ at play and Awareness being aware of That. Canela Michelle is an expression of Awareness in each moment…just like everyone else is whether they recognize it yet or not (as is all that appears – air, body, thought, chair, taste, etc.).  Her love is in supporting people to relax open to this Truth.  Supporting them to allow themselves to not only recognize Love but to experience That; simply as it is, dependant on nothing at all. Awareness is the constant in the midst of the play of events.  What rises, or appears in each moment might feel or look like an obstacle to Love, yet when a person opens to directly experiencing whatever that is, it shifts, changes and merges with all that is…no longer appearing as if it were an obstacle. There is nowhere to get to, you are already ‘Here’; it’s simply a matter of ‘meeting’ whatever might be appearing, right here, right now, in each moment.  Once explored, it is recognized only as an invitation, from your Self to your Self…Love beckoning you hither. The support is offered in Satsang Meditation gatherings, individual & couple Satsang Sessions in person or by phone, and in her first book: Right Here, Right Now Meditations: Satsang Invitations for Expanding Awareness (Volume 1) Canela's website. 2nd interview with Canela Canela in BatGap panel discussion at Sofia University Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/18/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Canella Michelle Myers and her spiritual awakening journey 00:04:20 - Opening to Psychic Information 00:07:48 - Psychic Detective Work 00:11:58 - Overcoming Addiction through Awareness 00:16:14 - Exploring the Spiritual Search 00:19:43 - The Experience of Emotions and Being with Others 00:22:39 - Dissolving the Belief in a Separate Self 00:25:42 - Embracing Self-Care and Love Within 00:29:08 - Finding Comfort in Being Held 00:32:38 - Meeting Your Own Longings 00:35:52 - Falling and Being with the Moments 00:39:57 - The Solid Part that's Not Solid 00:44:23 - Learning Empathy and Caring from Church 00:48:49 - Healing from Childhood Anger and Guilt 00:52:39 - A Shift into White Light 00:55:38 - A Profound Sensitivity 00:59:10 - The attunement and initiation process 01:02:02 - Paul Lowe and the Invitation to Explore Fear and Attraction 01:04:38 - Exploring Boundaries and Uncovering Phobias 01:07:48 - Letting Go of My Life 01:10:23 - Letting Go and Following the Call Inside 01:12:41 - The Power of Renunciation 01:15:24 - The Transition to North Vancouver 01:20:17 - The Awakening and the Big Kahuna 01:22:24 - Opening Doors of Awareness 01:24:41 - The Endless Exploration 01:27:54 - Angels Holding Me Close 01:30:02 - Following the Call of the Heart 01:32:46 - The Dance of Absolute and Relative Perspectives 01:36:32 - The Expression of God through Instruments

Greg is a teacher of nondualism well known for a breadth of expression and a sense of humor. Inspired by Sri Atmananda Krishna Menon, Greg is one of the pioneers, along with Jean Klein and Francis Lucille, of "direct path" style nondualism, a very intuitive, holistic and immediate form of Advaita. It was through contemplation on the teachings of Sri Atmananda that Greg's own search came to its peaceful conclusion. Having studied Western philosophy at the Universität zu Köln in Cologne, Germany, Greg received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Rochester. He studied Advaita Vedanta through the Chinmaya Mission, the Mahayana teachings of Pure Land Buddhism through Jodo-Shinshu, and studied Madhyamika Buddhism through the lineage of the pre-eminent scholar of Chinese Buddhism, Master Yin-Shun of Taiwan, P.R.C., author of The Way to Buddhahood: Instructions from a Modern Chinese Master. Greg is the technical consultant for Philosophical Practice, the Journal of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. He is also the author of Nondualism in Western Philosophy, Standing as Awareness, the forthcoming The Direct Path: a User Guide, and the forthcoming Emptiness and Joyful Freedom. Greg's website: greg-goode.com From the "About" page: "Emptiness teachings are widely held to be liberating. The purpose of this site is to present the wide variety of these teachings in a way that will help make them accessible and relevant. We will feature scholarly, experiential and popular approaches to the emptiness teachings, and we will honor the diversity of traditions from which they flow. Our goal is to highlight the power and appeal of these teachings so that they may do their work." Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/24/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Technical Difficulties 00:03:04 - Ethical Dilemmas and Non-dualism 00:06:13 - Exploring Non-Doership & Personal Spiritual Journey 00:10:31 - Transitioning from Pentecostal Christianity to Mystical Traditions 00:14:48 - The Exploration of Spiritual Texts 00:19:28 - The Search for Identity and Purpose 00:22:52 - The Vanishing of Identity 00:25:46 - The Distinction between Concepts and Experience 00:28:22 - The Different Paths of Yoga 00:31:38 - No Personal Identity 00:35:34 - Riding Fixed Gear Track Bikes in the City 00:38:46 - The Arising of Thought and Memory 00:41:20 - The Illusion of Access and Oneness 00:44:32 - The Non-Existence of Arisings 00:46:45 - Grounded in Understanding Experience 00:49:46 - The Influence of Teachings on Language 00:53:34 - Stagnation in Non-Dual Discussion Groups 00:57:37 - The Power of Presence for Spiritual Transformation 01:00:24 - Embracing Feminine Integration and Relationships 01:02:44 - Non-Duality and Devotion 01:06:02 - The Phenomenon of Devotion 01:07:50 - The Power of Devotion 01:10:06 - The Visual Presence of the Holy Ghost 01:12:19 - The Diversity of Spiritual Perspectives 01:15:12 - Exploring Continuous Growth and Finality in Experience 01:18:57 - The Rigidity of Language and Alternative Teachings 01:22:08 - Ramana Maharshi's Visits and the Afterlife of Greg Good 01:25:14 - Exploring Continuity of Individuality 01:30:04 - A Conversation with an Open Mind 01:32:45 - The Shift from Awareness to Clarity 01:35:11 - Farewell and Music

Lisa started spiritually seeking in her early 20’s. She had her first awakening in 2005 after attending a talk given by Tony Parsons. After this, she spent some time in India with Ramesh Balsekar. It was there that she met her final teacher, Roger Castillo, who was also a student of Ramesh. She lived with him for three years in Australia during which time many falsehoods were seen through. In the beginning of 2011, Lisa’s awakening stabilized and the seeker fell away. Lisa now enjoys communicating the nature of Happiness to anyone desperate enough to know the truth. Website: lisacairns.com Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 1/7/2012 Lisa in BatGap discussion with Tim Freke YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - A De-scription, Not a Pre-scription 00:03:49 - The Illusion of Cause and Effect  00:07:20 - Living without Concepts and Belief Systems 00:10:50 - Animal Cruelty and Personal Concern 00:13:35 - The Funny Story of How I Met My Boyfriend Roger 00:16:28 - From Buddhism to Tony Parsons 00:19:40 - The Illusion of Cause and Effect 00:23:11 - The Need to Hold onto Blame, Good and Bad Perspectives 00:26:52 - Indifference towards the opinions of others 00:30:43 - Life Showing What Needs to Be Happening 00:33:37 - Enlightenment and Spiritual Practice 00:37:09 - The Illusion of Happiness and Beliefs 00:40:59 - The End of the Urge to Do 00:44:51 - The Falling Away of Beliefs and Ideas 00:48:20 - The Dog's Thoughts 00:52:05 - The Spotlight on Experiences  00:55:24 - The Marvelous Creation of God 00:59:00 - Continuous Refinement and Exploration 01:02:48 - The Energy of Seeking 01:05:44 - The Joy of Laughing with Others 01:08:56 - The Awakening and Separation 01:12:08 - Overwhelmed by the Beauty of Everything 01:15:20 - A Radical Change of Perspective 01:18:52 - Exiting the Incubator 01:22:11 - The Intelligence Orchestrating the Mind-Body System 01:24:33 - Flexibility and Freedom in Being 01:27:44 - The Hilarity and Suffering of the Ego 01:30:47 - The Metaphor of Lines on Stone, Sand, Water, and Air 01:33:53 - Consultations and Donations 01:36:53 - The Challenges of Managing Time 01:39:29 - Visit BATGAP.com Save

Miranda Macpherson is a spiritual teacher, counselor, and author of 'Boundless love'. Known for her depth of presence and refined capacity as a guide into direct experience of the sacred, Miranda teaches and transmits a powerful synthesis of self-inquiry, depth psychology, devotion, and meditation. Inspired by Ramana Maharshi, A Course in Miracles, and extensive study into the world's wisdom traditions, Miranda has over twenty years of teaching experience internationally. In 1996 she founded the groundbreaking 'Interfaith Foundation' in London, and during her 10 years as spiritual director, she trained and ordained over 600 ministers and spiritual counselors. She is now based in the San Fransisco Bay Area, and leads retreats and ongoing programs internationally for those wanting to substantially deepen their practice. Miranda offers an integrated and feminine approach to non-dual realization oriented at facilitating direct spiritual experience while providing a practical foundation for authentic transformation. Her clarity and love offer a deep holding in which to rest undefended in the present, taste deeper levels of consciousness and discover how to embody wisdom in daily life. Books: The Way of Grace - The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation (Book) Boundless Love: Transforming Your Life with Grace and Inspiration CDs: The Way of Grace - The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation (CD) Meditations on Boundless Love 'The Heart of Being' - Mantra CD 'Awakening the Soul' - Meditation CD Website: http://mirandamacpherson.com Second BatGap interview with Miranda. Miranda in SAND Panel Discussion on Sexual Misconduct, Money, Power, Trauma & Ethics in Spiritual Communities Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded 12/21/2013 Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Miranda Macpherson 00:03:04 - The Presence of God and Confusion with Religion 00:05:53 - Awakening to Boundless Love 00:09:03 - Formative Awakening and Spiritual Evolution 00:11:42 - The Interaction of the Soul with the Universe 00:14:43 - Soulful Spiritual Development and Healing Wounds 00:17:40 - Serving the Unchurched People 00:20:28 - An Encounter with Ramana Maharshi 00:24:12 - The Process of Integration and Identity Transformation 00:27:10 - Standing on the Edge of the Void 00:29:37 - Integration and Cultivating Trust 00:32:39 - Trusting the Beneficent Force 00:35:32 - Awakening in the Midst of Everyday Life 00:38:29 - The Elements of Devotion and Embodiment Practices 00:41:17 - Cultivating the Virtues 00:44:23 - The Power of Curiosity and Open-Mindedness 00:47:23 - Non-attack and the Ego 00:50:13 - Disengaging from the Ego 00:52:51 - The Ego as a Form of Thievery and Compassion 00:55:28 - The Relationship between Ultimate Reality and the Relative 00:57:57 - The Fullness and Diversity of Experience 01:00:21 - Walking with Great Suffering 01:03:19 - Genuine Spiritual Practice and Personal Choice 01:05:59 - The Importance of Spiritual Practice 01:08:28 - Gentle Effort and Mantras as a Way of Being 01:11:03 - Awareness during sleep and expanded perception 01:13:25 - Nectar-like Experiences in the Wilderness and the Presence of Deities 01:16:13 - A Nuanced Understanding of Possibilities 01:18:56 - Connections and Collaborations 01:21:14 - Building a Strong Foundation for Realization 01:23:45 - Where to Find More Content

Matt Kahn is a spiritual teacher and mystic who travels the world, offering sacred heart wisdom that invites all seekers into the joy of liberated existence. Matt's spontaneous awakening arose out of an out-of-body experience at the age of 8, and numerous direct experiences throughout his life. Many spiritual seekers have experienced amazing, unexplainable healings, and have awakened to their true nature through his offerings of profound and loving teachings, and direct transmission of presence. Books: Everything Is Here to Help You: A Loving Guide to Your Soul's Evolution “Whatever Arises, Love That – A Love Revolution That Begins with You” Matt's website Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 1/14/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Matt Kahn's Unique Blend of Nonduality and Relative Considerations 00:05:02 - The Validity of Exploring Everything Equally 00:09:01 - Deepening the Experience through Self-Reflection 00:13:02 - Experiencing Different States of Consciousness 00:16:51 - The Nondual State and Paradox 00:20:51 - Freedom from the Need for Certainty 00:25:02 - The Dream of Denial 00:29:37 - Perceiving the Divine Intelligence 00:34:43 - Awakening Through Conversation 00:39:00 - The Intimacy of Divine Experience 00:43:28 - The Fear of Deficiency and the Fantasy of a Final Destination 00:47:57 - Seeing Through Pixilated Energy 00:52:14 - The Purification of the Body for Awakening 00:56:18 - Exploring Different Perspectives on Reincarnation 01:00:28 - The Aliveness of Being 01:04:36 - The Sincere Inquiry of the Spiritual Journey 01:08:49 - The Meaning of Seeking and Fulfillment 01:13:19 - Deeper Dimensions of Fulfillment 01:18:06 - Embracing and Loving Every Expression of Reality 01:22:24 - Childhood Realizations and Experiences 01:26:15 - Encountering a Being in the Garden 01:30:05 - The Misconception of Apologizing and Fixing Others' Lives 01:34:06 - The Power of Choice within Relationships 01:38:16 - Valuing One Piece of the Puzzle 01:42:24 - The Birth of a Burning Desire to Assist Others in Experiencing Infinite Possibilities 01:46:48 - Different Strokes for Different Folks 01:51:28 - Surreal Nonattachment and the Equality of Life 01:55:54 - The Activation and Energy Levels 02:00:16 - The Value of Payment for Spiritual Teachings 02:04:21 - Ending on Love 02:08:46 - Introduction and Theme Music

The Open Secret message is totally radical and uncompromising.  It is a rare and singular expression of absolute non-dualism.  It bypasses the mind and speaks directly to the very core of a wisdom that is imminent in all of us. When there is a readiness to hear, all seeking and need for personal endeavor falls away, leaving simply the wonder of what is. There is no me or you, no seeker, no enlightenment, no disciple and no guru.   There is no better or worse, no path, and nothing that has to be achieved.  All appearance is source.  All that apparently manifests - the world, the life story, the hypnotic dream of separation, the search for home - is the one appearing as two, the nothing appearing as everything, the absolute appearing as the particular. There is no separate intelligence weaving a destiny, and no choice functioning at any level.  Nothing is happening, but this, as it is, invites the apparent seeker to rediscover that which already is...the abiding, uncaused, unchanging, impersonal silence from which unconditional love overflows and celebrates.  It is the wonderful mystery. Tony Parsons has been sharing this "open secret" with people for over 20 years. His talks and workshops are highly regarded in England and Western Europe. Tony's books: As It Is: The Open Secret of Spiritual Awakening The Open Secret Nothing Being Everything Tony's website Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 2/2/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Opening interview with guest Tony Parsons 00:02:30 - Searching for a message 00:04:56 - Separation filter and dissatisfaction 00:07:46 - Liberation from the illusion of separateness 00:10:48 - Spiritual practices and liberation 00:13:11 - Theory of quantum physics and free will 00:15:27 - The seeker lives in an illusion 00:17:52 - Deliverance regardless of story 00:20:18 - Personal Enlightenment and Personal Liberation 00:22:16 - Hidden answers and searches 00:24:37 - Difference in teaching and communication 00:26:50 - Lack of intention and motivation 00:29:01 - Immersion in artificial reality 00:31:14 - Clarity and separation in perception 00:33:24 - Life as an answer to the search for fulfillment 00:35:32 - Searching for reason, understanding and liberation 00:37:51 - Awakening and enlightenment 00:40:00 - Search 00:42:11 - "Liberation and infinite energy" 00:44:06 - Existence of a Universal Energy 00:46:04 - Appearance of suffering 00:48:26 - Back to the individual perspective 00:50:37 - Nothing is infinite energy 00:52:42 - Meaning of divine 00:54:57 - Contributions by Tony Parsons and the important difference between description and prescription 00:57:01 - Apparent reincarnation and karma 00:59:38 - The illusion of time and reality 01:01:36 - Illusory elephant and tree 01:03:17 - The impact of implementation on family life 01:05:41 - Searching for enlightenment 01:07:48 - Upcoming Interviews and Notifications

Mariana Caplan, PhD, MFT, RYT 500, 
is a psychotherapist, yoga teacher, and the author of six books in the fields of psychology and spirituality, including Yoga & Psyche, the award-winning Eyes Wide Open: Cultivating Discernment on the Spiritual Path, the seminal Halfway Up the Mountain: the Error of Premature Claims to Enlightenment, and The Guru Question: The Perils and Rewards of Choosing a Spiritual Teacher. She is the founder of The Yoga & Psyche Method™ and The Yoga & Psyche Conference™. She has been teaching workshops and trainings at major retreat centers, yoga studios, and universities throughout the world since 1997, and since 2001 been an adjunct professor and developed large public programs at The California Institute of Integral Studies, and taught at Naropa University, John F. Kennedy University, and Sophia University. Website: marianacaplan.com Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 2/3/2012 Other BatGap events involving Mariana: Second BatGap interview with Mariana Caplan In Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 In SAND Panel on Sexual Misconduct, Money, Power, Trauma & Ethics in Spiritual Communities | Also, Meeting of Founders and Members of the Association for Spiritual Integrity YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Mariana Caplan 00:02:26 - Credentials and Spiritual Journey 00:04:21 - My Spiritual Journey 00:06:32 - Falling in Love with My Teacher 00:08:33 - Falling in Love with the Teacher 00:10:04 - The Attachment to the Yogi 00:12:27 - The Spiritual Teacher's Degree of Awakening 00:15:17 - Being a Friend and Spiritual Psychologist 00:18:22 - Embracing the Paradox of Spiritual Teachers 00:21:19 - The Development of Multiple Lines 00:24:28 - Intimacy and Integration on the Spiritual Path 00:27:41 - The Dismantling of Illusions and Lines of Development 00:30:16 - The Nature of Conditioning and Insight 00:33:40 - Healing in Relationship 00:36:50 - Levels of Evolution and Enlightenment 00:39:51 - Meeting Yogi Ram Surat Kumar 00:43:20 - The Endless Potential of Non-Dual Realization 00:47:05 - The Prevalence of the Common Virus 00:50:17 - Learning from Claudio Naranjo 00:52:37 - Integration and Enlightenment 00:55:01 - The Softening of the Heart in the Path of Enlightenment 00:57:57 - The Softening of Perception and Love 01:01:28 - Reflecting on Enlightenment 01:04:05 - Evolution of Consciousness 01:06:33 - The Radiant Knowledge of God 01:08:32 - The Power of Student-Teacher Relationships 01:10:16 - "Bozos on This Bus" and Changing Perspectives 01:12:19 - The Value of Practice Even in the Absence of Self 01:14:45 - Ramana's Post-Enlightenment Years 01:16:59 - Psychotherapy and Yoga Integration 01:19:09 - Additional Information on the Website Save

Eli Jaxon-Bear was born Elliot J. Zeldow in Brooklyn, New York, in 1947. His eighteen-year spiritual path started in 1971, when he was a federal fugitive during the Vietnam war. In 1978, Kalu Rinpoche appointed him the president of the first Kagyu dharma center in Marin County. In 1982, he was presented with a Zen Teaching Fan at ChoShoJi Zen Temple in Japan. After a search took him around the world and into many traditions and practices, his path and his search ended when he was pulled to India in 1990, where he met his final teacher, Sri H.W.L. Poonja. Confirming Eli's realization, his teacher sent him back into the world to share his unique psychological insights into the nature of egoic suffering in support of self-realization. Eli infuses the teaching with his teacher’s living transmission of silence. He presents a unique map of egoic identification as a vehicle for ruthless self-inquiry and final realization of true freedom. He dedicates his life to passing on the transmission of his teacher. Eli currently meets people and teaches through the Leela Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to world peace and freedom through universal self-realization. He is the author of Sudden Awakening into Direct Realization, (New World Library), The Enneagram of Liberation: From Fixation to Freedom, (Gangaji Foundation Press), and he is the editor of Wake Up and Roar: Satsang with H.W.L. Poonja, (Sounds True). Interview recorded 2/5/2012 2nd interview with Eli YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Illusory Medicine for Illusory Disease 00:03:34 - The Relevance of Meditation and Different Types of Teachers 00:06:39 - Awakening to Pure Consciousness 00:09:17 - Following the Mission, Searching for Enlightenment 00:11:51 - Meeting the Sufis in Nizamuddin and Lucknow 00:13:54 - The Search for Punja 00:15:52 - Discovering the Living Zen Master 00:17:33 - The Miracle of Waking Up 00:18:54 - The Concept of "I am Emptiness, I am Consciousness" 00:20:43 - Surrendering to Love 00:22:18 - The Sticking Point in Willingness 00:24:01 - Seeking the Truth and Surrendering to the Unknown 00:26:03 - The Difference Between Living as an Ego and Your True Self 00:28:02 - The False Identities of the Ego 00:30:17 - Fixation and Freedom in the Enneagram 00:32:04 - The Enneagram of Character Fixation 00:33:48 - The Sacred Use of LSD and Enneagram 00:35:25 - The Book "Sudden Awakening" and the Possibility of Awakening 00:37:19 - The Spread of Zen in Mainstream Culture 00:39:19 - The First Enlightenment and Individuation 00:41:08 - Disillusionment with Spiritual Teachers 00:42:51 - Being Authentic and Facing Judgment 00:44:53 - The Definition of Enlightenment 00:46:59 - The Trap of Egoic Madness 00:48:47 - The misuse of non-dual realization 00:50:29 - "Take the transmission, leave the rest" 00:52:16 - Living with Multiple Myeloma 00:53:56 - Facing Death and Regrets 00:55:50 - Ramana Maharshi's Function and Continuation after Death 00:58:07 - The Power of Awakening and Healing 00:59:51 - Interview with Eli Jackson Bair

Sharon is a gifted intuitive and a spiritual teacher in the lineage of Adyashanti. Sharon has a devotion and great love of the Truth. Adyashanti asked her to teach 2003 and guide those genuinely drawn to the path of Truth. Since then, Sharon continues to deepen into and embody this Truth herself. She invites you to “Come home…” to That which you’ve always been. In her presence you’ll taste a palpable expression of love and intimacy that allows you to feel safe dropping into the deep vulnerability required to know yourself as the All. Sharon offers support for the required shift of identity that is both direct and tailored to each person's journey. Her teachings are based on her deep realization of silence and the way silence expresses itself in form. She notes, “Often there is still a thread that says the ‘me is going to get it; the ‘me’ is going to wake up. And it just isn’t true. It actually wakes up out of the ‘me’."  So, in her teaching, Sharon emphasizes how silence wakes up in the body and how the embodiment process is actualized. She is well qualified in this endeavor by her many years as an intuitive counselor. Since she has the ability to “read” the physical and energetic body, she is uniquely able to help unlock patterns that inhibit realization and the embodiment process that follows. Sharon Landrith offers Silent retreats, intensives in the US and Canada and dokusans over the phone and in person. Please see more info on her website: sharon-landrith.com. There's a chapter on Sharon in Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Wisdom: The Feminine Face of Awakening by Rita Robinson. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 2/11/2012. 2nd interview with Sharon YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introducing Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:11 - Unique Questions and iPod Recommendations 00:04:08 - Dropping into the Deep Vulnerability 00:06:31 - The Maturity of the Seekers 00:09:07 - Moving beyond the divisions of non-dualism 00:11:17 - Exploring Different Perspectives in Consciousness 00:13:59 - Levels of Consciousness and Misunderstandings 00:17:30 - Stepping out into the Spiritual Community and Meeting with People 00:21:07 - The Essential Shift and Abidance 00:25:11 - The Shift of Identity and the Embodiment 00:28:53 - Stepping into a Different Functioning 00:32:02 - Awakening in Younger Generation 00:35:25 - The Experience of Sudden Shift 00:39:52 - The Nourishment of Silence in Meditation 00:44:07 - The Glorious Essence of Living 00:48:03 - Clarifying Terminology in Non-Dual World 00:51:13 - Deepening Intimacy with Awakening 00:54:07 - The Diaphanous Membrane and the Acceleration of Consciousness 00:57:08 - The Power of Subtle Energy and Clairvoyance 00:59:44 - Discovering the Power of Healing through Meditation 01:02:33 - The Benefits of Dhakasans 01:04:35 - The Ability or Insight for Public Consumption 01:06:59 - Opening to Silent Nature 01:10:07 - The Divine Mother and the Pervading Space 01:12:42 - Exploring the Space that Pervades Everything 01:15:16 - The Power of Transmission 01:18:15 - The Vast "One" 01:21:10 - The 10 Most Common Spiritually Transmitted Diseases 01:23:46 - The Presence of God and the Desire to Abide 01:26:11 - The Joy of Laughter 01:27:59 - Delightful Conversation

With Chris Bache, Ph.D., Jeffrey and Cielle Backstrom, Talat Jonathan Phillips, and Rak Razam Chris Bache, Ph.D., is professor emeritus in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University where he taught for over 30 years in the psychology of religion, transpersonal studies, Buddhism, and world religions. He is also an adjunct professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and for two years was the Director of Transformative Learning at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, CA. An award-winning teacher and international speaker, his work explores the philosophical implications of deep non-ordinary states of consciousness, especially psychedelic states.  He has written a pioneering book in psychedelic philosophy and collective consciousness, Dark Night, Early Dawn: Steps to a Deep Ecology of Mind. In addition, he has written Lifecycles: Reincarnation and the Web of Life, a comprehensive study of reincarnation and karma in light of new information emerging in contemporary consciousness research.  In his book The Living Classroom: Teaching and Collective Consciousness, Chris presents his revolutionary ideas concerning the transpersonal dimensions of teaching.  In addition to working with sacred medicines, Chris has been a Buddhist practitioner for many years. Website Christopher Bache at SkyBlue Symposia - Pt 1 of 2 Christopher Bache at SkyBlue Symposia - Pt 2 of 2 BatGap interview with Chris Bache and Michael Pollan Jeffrey and Cielle Backstrom call their work "Stepping Into Freedom", explaining that "with each step we release or transcend old, limiting patterns of being-seeing-acting... and open to the beings our souls are calling us here to become." They offer shamanic healing work and deep practices to facilitate embodied awakening and opening to the soul's calling. In the past several years, Jeffrey and Cielle have studied with indigenous medicine workers and teachers in the Andes and the Amazon basin, who represent ancient traditions grounded in the Sacred Feminine and Mother Earth. Since 2009 they've been welcoming their students to accompany them to experience these connections for themselves. Websites: ciellebackstrom.com steppingintofreedom.com Talat Jonathan Phillips is a co-founder of the cutting edge web-magazine Reality Sandwich and The Evolver Network and is a well-regarded life coach and Bioenergetic healer who has been practicing for over a decade. His memoir, The Electric Jesus: The Healing Journey of a Contemporary Gnostic, has become one of the must-read books of the new consciousness movement for its honest portrayal of life on the emerging edge of the transformational culture. He is the creator of The Ayahuasca Monologues: Tales of the Spirit Vine, a religion blogger for the Huffington Post, a Reiki Master and Bioenergetic Healer who does Skype sessions for clients around the world and in his San Francisco office. Individual BatGap interview with Talat Rak Razam is the author of two books: Aya: a Shamanic Odyssey, a travel-memoir of his time with shamans in the Peruvian Amazon. His film AYA: Awakenings is a documentary journey into the world and visions of Amazonian shamanism adapted from this book. The Ayahuasca Sessions: Conversations with Amazonian Curanderos and Western Shamans, published by Icaro. In 2006 he visited Peru on a feature magazine assignment to see what the almost mythical archetype of the shaman was really like in the 21st century. Excerpts from AYA, A Shamanic Odyssey have been published in Australian Penthouse (Sept 2006); High Times (Aug 2007); and Filmmaker magazine online (Oct 2007). He was also interviewed and appears in the CBC’s 2007 audio documentary In Search of the Divine Vegetal talking about his Ayahuasca experiences, which has been broadcast twice due to special demand to millions of people throughout North America.

Suzanne Foxton is a mother, wife, writer and artist who works and lives in Kew in the United Kingdom. She was born a Hoosier (native of the US state of Indiana). She muddles along as best as she can, like most of humanity. Suzanne believes the particulars of her story are unimportant and she doesn't take much of anything too seriously. Her blog, Nothing Exists Despite Appearances, is an attempt to point to the infinite, eternal, and ultimately non-existent nature of reality. She began writing the blog to avoid having to talk to anyone about non-duality, finding that the revelation of the true nature of existence tends to alienate people in manifested reality. Now she continues to write because it's fun. Everything she ever thought was important is gone; what is left is everything and nothing, boundless and beautiful. Suzanne's blog Suzanne's book: The Ultimate Twist Interview recorded 2/25/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Book Preview 00:03:14 - Addiction as a Form of Seeking 00:06:44 - Relishing Bad Circumstances and Bad Feelings 00:09:52 - Finding the Balance between Acceptance and Ambition 00:12:18 - Acceptance and Drive 00:15:34 - The Right State of Mind 00:18:11 - The Knife Incident and Awakening 00:19:59 - Spiritual Awakening and Shift 00:22:09 - Awakening and the Perception of Strangeness 00:24:14 - Perception and the Endless Moment 00:26:27 - Conditioning and Susceptibility 00:28:41 - Shifting Perspectives and Accepting Contradictions 00:32:33 - Embracing Freedom and Analyzing Problems 00:36:18 - Being Intimate in Relationships in the Non-Dual Community 00:39:50 - Treating Others as the Self 00:42:06 - Maintaining a Beginner's Attitude 00:44:19 - Writing as Self-Exploration 00:46:28 - The Process of Writing Music 00:48:12 - A Cool and Interesting Story 00:50:14 - Ignoring the Voices in the Head 00:52:16 - Thoughts of Unworthiness 00:54:07 - The Significance of Self-Identity 00:56:39 - Reflections on high school and self-image 00:58:56 - The Role of Therapy in Awakening 01:01:45 - The Concept of Divine Intelligence 01:03:57 - The Mechanics of the Universe 01:05:37 - The Tragic Consequences of Alienation 01:07:53 - The Duality of Life 01:09:51 - The Concept of a Terrible Life 01:12:02 - The Unmanifest State and the Perfectness of Being 01:13:55 - Lightening up and chilling out

From age 7, Elle was awake to divine Word. At 17, a revelatory spiritual experience increased this capacity and began her lifelong commitment to God-centered awareness. Elle awakened into Unity consciousness in her early 20's. For the next two decades, her life revolved around prayer, meditation, Zen practice, and independent spiritual inquiry until her mind became fully accessible to the Emanating Spirit of Divine Counsel. What People Gain from this Teaching Elle is fully awake to the Divine Word and has become a bridge to the Godmind within. She is a midwife to the Soul, assisting all in bringing forth their prime Design and Path. Elle resonates to the quality of Light of each person, responding empathically and telepathically to the nature of both human and soul, and inspiring us to True Awareness. In this Gatework, we are immersed in the divine theme of Being and taught to live in a way that is Divinity reliant and at-one with the Core Self ... the God-Essence within. The awakened individual is freed of negative concepts and able to live in interactive communion to the Whole. These experiences of unity consciousness merge the Sublime Truth into the logic and point the way from separation into Unity. Elle's website: teachingofannam.org Interview recorded 2/25/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introducing Elle Collier Re 00:02:45 - The Numinous Experience of Jesus 00:05:34 - Adapting to the Inner Christ and Lessons from the Divine 00:07:34 - The Presence of Light 00:10:33 - Adjustments and the Need for Solitude 00:13:17 - Receiving my True Name 00:15:25 - From Voiceovers to Broadcasting 00:17:23 - Connecting with the Divine Spirit 00:20:05 - Navigating Subtle Entities 00:22:24 - Non-Dualism and the Flow 00:25:52 - The Unfoldment of Creation and Appreciating the Richness 00:29:09 - Fine-tuning our Instruments 00:32:09 - Training in a Monastery 00:34:07 - The Difficulty of Discerning the Right Path 00:36:26 - The Connection between Kitties and Schizophrenia 00:38:47 - The Journey of Training and Revelation 00:41:50 - Discerning Higher Truths 00:44:42 - The Celebration of Isness 00:47:17 - Connecting with Purpose 00:49:54 - Ine Ra'e: The Language of Angelic Fire 00:53:11 - Revealing the Hidden Reason 00:55:55 - Accommodating Different Levels of Spiritual Aspirants 00:58:35 - Changing the Way the Mind Learns 01:01:23 - The Mind's Transformation and Awakening 01:03:54 - Building Genuine Connections 01:05:56 - Trust in the Divine Plan 01:08:21 - The Importance of Seeing from a Different Level 01:11:33 - Communicating with Earth and Responsible Consumption 01:14:21 - The Power of Love 01:16:38 - Concluding Remarks 01:18:51 - Namaste

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

Andrée has been a spiritual teacher for 52 years. For 20 years Andrée was a full-time teacher of the Transcendental Meditation Program and introduced thousands of people to the experience of consciousness and meditation. More recently, she went to Brazil for 12 consecutive years to study their spiritual traditions to see into the spiritual realms and develop relationships with advanced Cosmic Souls. For Andrée, the exposure to the experience of consciousness led to new avenues of discovery. With refinement of perception, within the unboundedness of consciousness, along with the assistance of two Cosmic Souls, Hayehwatha and Vovó Anamalia, Andrée began to observe the details of the universe and beyond. Andrée feels this is the next level of experience to unfold within our culture; for people to observe their origin, history, and destiny with reference to the life of the universe and beyond. What is known as the life we live on the earth is a small portion of who we are. Andrée lives in Mount Shasta, California where she provides workshops and private sessions with Hayehwatha and Vovó Anamalia, as well as puts on The Best of Mt. Shasta Conference & Festival each summer. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 3/3/12 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:04:49 - The Radiating Aura and Transcendental Meditation Adventure 00:08:43 - Sentencing to Meditate 00:13:01 - The Beginning of Longer Meditation Courses 00:17:27 - The Power of Consciousness and its Qualities 00:21:51 - The Experience of Unboundedness and the Development of Consciousness 00:26:25 - Levitation and the Phenomenon of Consciousness 00:30:53 - The Value in Reading the Literature 00:35:43 - Exploring Afro-Brazilian Spiritual Traditions 00:40:11 - Incorporating Spirit Beings 00:44:17 - Falling Back and Laughing, A Distinguished Experience in Brazil 00:48:39 - Connecting with the Chief 00:53:01 - The Four Elements and the Vessel of the Body 00:57:25 - Connecting with Energetic Forces 01:01:53 - The Orixá of the Entity 01:06:08 - Awareness during sleep and profound awakening 01:10:32 - The Integration and Balance of Knowledge 01:15:05 - The Iroquois Confederacy and the US Constitution 01:19:59 - The Origins of Preto Velhos Tradition in Brazil 01:24:22 - Working with Dark Forces, Deleterious Aftereffects 01:28:46 - Working with Spirit Beings 01:33:01 - Connecting with the Orixás 01:37:09 - Incorporating the Orixá and its impact on life and success 01:41:33 - Connecting with Sophia and the Phenomenon of Gaia 01:45:26 - Vovó and Anamalia's Teachings on Life Choices 01:49:48 - Incorporating Hayehwatha and Vovó Anamalia 01:53:42 - Connecting with the Universal Force 01:57:22 - Lifted off Earth and introduced to the sky-people. 02:01:36 - The Limitations of Spiritual Journeys 02:05:11 - Acknowledging the Relevance of Spirituality 02:09:31 - New Episodes and Notifications Save Save

In February 2008 at the age of thirty-three, Karen experienced a sudden and radical awakening. Prior to this realisation, no teachings or practices were followed – in fact at that time the terms non-duality and awakening were completely unfamiliar. This spontaneous realization presented itself during a period of intense emotional suffering and when demands in life exceeded Karen’s physical capability. Karen attempted to persevere in the face of these challenges, the consequence being a severely debilitating illness that affected physical functioning on every level. Although the illness had a devastating effect on life as it was then known, it seemed to create a space for a deeper reality to be recognized. As her state of health was so poor, Karen was unable to return to work – meaning that she spent a significant amount of time confined to her home. The effect of this period of solitude was profound surrender, allowing the realization to become deeply integrated into daily living. Two and a half years after the initial recognition, someone Karen didn’t know approached her for guidance, which really was the beginning of sharing in a more active way. Karen now shares openly with all those who wish to enquire into the true nature of reality. Following the realization, Karen’s experience of illness – coupled with her extensive experience of healthcare, enabled dis-ease/illness to be seen from a different perspective. Misperception of what we are and the stress that can ensue in direct relation to that misperception means that we are often in a state of persistent resistance to life as it is. This negative state of functioning is the foundation for many of our health challenges. The rediscovery of who we are is fundamental for the transformation of the human life experience. It means that the peace that is already here is recognized and experienced directly, having a potentially profound healing effect on the mind and body. Realization – from a human perspective – means that the unity beyond apparent diversity is remembered. Life can then be embraced fully and authentically – without contamination from the lens of the conditioned mind, bringing relief from all psychological suffering. An inevitable consequence of this recognition is the arising of compassion, love, and respect for life in all of its appearances – having an ever-deepening impact on the human experience. This has the direct consequence of transforming the world we see literally before our eyes, having a powerful healing effect on the planet as a whole. First Interview with Karen Interview recorded 3/18/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Welcome to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:09 - Finding Peace in Sickness 00:08:02 - Letting Go of Control 00:11:18 - Meetings and Genuine Inquiry 00:14:55 - Rich Opportunities and Escaping the Hell 00:18:17 - The Purpose and Cause of Illness 00:22:10 - Discovering a Shift in Perspective 00:25:52 - The Blessing of Illness 00:29:16 - The Process of Deconstruction 00:34:07 - The Imprint of Childhood Trauma 00:38:43 - The Journey of Self-Honesty and Healing 00:43:18 - Serving the One, not Others 00:46:55 - The Complexity of Relationships and Inner Conflict 00:50:49 - The Challenges of Relationship Among Awakened People 00:54:22 - Challenging Experiences and Growth 00:57:57 - Healing Through Relationships 01:01:31 - Mysterious Experiences and Psychic Phenomena 01:05:11 - Seeing Auras and Alternative Realities 01:08:32 - Witnessing Transfiguration and Trance Work 01:11:42 - Strange Experiences and Visions of Ramana 01:14:43 - Life's Mysterious Possibilities 01:18:15 - The Illusion of Form and Non-Dual Understanding 01:22:01- The Infinite Frequency of Perspectives 01:24:57 - The Illusion of Meaning 01:27:51 - Beyond Understanding 01:31:10 - The Integration of Ideas and the Letting Go of Frameworks

Lama Surya Das, whom the Dalai Lama affectionately calls the “American lama”, has spent over forty years studying with the great spiritual masters of Asia. He is an authorized lama in the Tibetan Buddhist order and the founder of the Dzogchen Center. Surya Das is the author of the international bestseller Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World and twelve other books, including his latest release, Buddha Standard Time: Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now. His blog “Ask the Lama” can be found at askthelama.com. To see Surya's lecture and retreat schedule please visit surya.org. Other Books: Buddha Is as Buddha Does: The Ten Original Practices for Enlightened Living Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss, and Spiritual Transformation Awakening to the Sacred: Creating a Personal Spiritual Life Awakening the Buddha Within: Eight Steps to Enlightenment Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning, and Connection into Every Part of Your Life The Snow Lion's Turquoise Mane Natural Radiance: Awakening to Your Great Perfection Natural Meditation: A Tibetan Buddhist Practice for Clearing the Mind and Opening to Effortless Awarness The Big Questions: How to Find Your Own Answers to Life's Essential Mysteries Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/5/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Lama Surya Das on Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:41 - From Drugs to Meditation, A Journey of Transformation 00:05:33 - Importance of Enlightenment 00:07:52 - The Meaning of Enlightenment 00:11:04 - Being There While Getting There: The Path to Enlightenment 00:14:25 - The Four Steps on the Path to Enlightenment 00:17:50 - The Powers of Enlightenment 00:20:57 - The Importance of Clear Understanding in Spiritual Engagement 00:24:08 - The Names of God and the Spectrum of Wisdom 00:27:26 - Swooping Down and Climbing Up 00:30:46 - The Inner Light and Ultimate Reality 00:34:07 - Swoopers and Climbers 00:37:04 - The Balancing Act of Life in Duality 00:39:58 - Cultivating a Sane, Mindful, Unselfish Life 00:43:25 - Cultivating Mindful and Ethical Relationships 00:46:11 - Mindfulness and Meditation in Schools and Prisons 00:49:28 - Integrating Eastern Thought Traditions into Daily Life 00:53:31 - Building Blocks of a Spiritual Life 00:57:04 - Enlightenment through Sweeping 01:00:00 - Buddha's Perspective on God 01:02:22 - Buddha's Enlightenment and the Concept of God 01:04:17 - Hinduism and the Concept of God 01:06:06 - The Presence of God in Buddhism 01:08:25 - God's Transparent Eyeball and Cosmic Consciousness 01:10:04 - The Inner Power in Buddhism 01:11:31 - The State of Consciousness 01:13:04 - The Journey of Enlightenment 01:14:25 - Finding Freedom in Imprisonment 01:16:12 - Harmony in the Slum 01:17:34 - Details about BatGap.com 01:19:35 - Lamp of Enlightenment

In 1986, Gina realized that she could pose a question mentally and receive an answer mentally. This turned her world upside down and required spending several years meditating and doing inner work before she was able to establish a relationship with a wise nonphysical being. This being became her inner teacher, mentor, and healer and was behind the many books she wrote in the 1990s. In 1999, shortly after meeting Adyashanti, Gina had a spiritual awakening, and the focus of her books shifted from astrology and other metaphysical subjects to nonduality and helping people awaken. In 2012, another important spiritual shift and deepening happened, and Gina became aware of a profound connection to the Christian lineage that went back many lifetimes. She began having inner experiences of Mother Mary, Jesus, and a circle of twenty-six other Ascended Masters, who appeared to her in her mind’s eye and spoke to her in words she could clearly hear in her mind. This batgap interview happened early in 2012 before this shift, after which Gina began channeling books from Jesus. Since 2012, she has channeled 14 books from Jesus. These teachings are nondual (Oneness) teachings, based on universal truth, not on any religion. They are messages of love and peace and how to be an expression of that in one’s life. Gina and her husband Nirmala, who is also a nondual spiritual teacher, live in Sedona, Arizona, where they offer Christ Consciousness transmissions on Zoom several times a week. Gina’s website, www.RadicalHappiness.com, offers information about these transmissions, her books, and her online courses. She has more than 250 messages on her YouTube channel: “Gina Lake Channeling Jesus.” She no longer does intensives, astrological readings, or spiritual mentoring. Gina’s books include… The Jesus Trilogy: Choice and Will / Love and Surrender / Beliefs, Emotions, and the Creation of Reality In the World but Not of It: New Teachings from Jesus on Embodying the Divine What Jesus Wants You to Know Today: About Himself, Christianity, God, the World, and Being Human Cycles of the Soul: Life, Death, and Beyond Angels, Masters, and Guides: How to Work with Them to Heal and to Accelerate Your Spiritual Evolution All Grace: New Teachings from Jesus on the Truth About Life Jesus Speaking (series of 5 books) Radical Happiness: A Guide to Awakening From Stress to Stillness: Tools for Inner Peace Transcript of this interview Interview Recorded 3/24/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Gina Lake 00:06:11 - Feeling Like You Don't Belong 00:12:09 - The Awakening of Consciousness through Suffering and Dysfunction 00:17:12 - The Role of Great Souls in Times of Crisis 00:20:59 - Exploring Eastern Knowledge and Catholic Mysticism 00:25:59 - Channeling Experiences and Deception by Astral Beings 00:30:45 - Negative Entities and Closing the Channel 00:35:57 - Connection with a Being from the 6th Dimension 00:41:21 - The Manifestation of Essential Substance in a Dream-like State 00:45:36 - Connecting to the Core of Goodness 00:50:01 - The Delight of Being Present 00:54:18 - The Unfolding of Grace 00:58:29 - Awakening and Beyond 01:01:34 - The Shift in Consciousness 01:05:09 - Falling in Love during Awakening 01:09:11 - Awakening and Self-Images 01:13:26 - Ordinary Awakening and De-Inflating the Ego 01:17:11 - The Inspiration for Writing 01:21:29 - The Blessing of Channeling 01:25:42 - Channeling Higher Intelligence 01:30:42 - Speaking about Metaphysical Realities 01:34:41 - Clearing out the Garbage and Healing Work 01:39:25 - The Importance of Being Curious About Conditioning 01:42:55 - The Gap Getting Bigger 01:47:17 - Integration and Realization After Awakening 01:51:32 - Awakening Within a Busy Culture 01:55:20 - Awakening for a Happier Life 01:59:11 - Finding Alignment with Your True Se...

I thought I knew something.  It turns out I didn't.  My heart explodes into pieces, and they rain down everywhere I look.  It doesn't feel as new agey as it sounds, and that ends up being such an incredible delight.  Nothing spiritual I have ever encountered has anything to do with the simple Wow I am talking about. It is this Mystery.  Wow! Facebook page Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 3/31/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Benjamin Smythe: A Fun and Sensitive Guy 00:04:25 - The Importance of Authentic Sharing 00:08:15 - Learning to Be a Good Person 00:12:20 - The Humility of Seeking 00:16:18 - The Beauty of Not Knowing 00:19:58 - Embracing Paradox and Shutting Up 00:24:05 - Balancing Self-Awakening and Helping Others 00:27:49 - Embracing Chaos and Helping Others 00:31:08 - The Beauty of Connection on the Street 00:34:48 - The Power of Kindness and Love 00:38:10 - The Sadness of Human-to-Human Violence 00:42:06 - The Resonance of Kindness and Compassion 00:45:51 - The Setup of Competition 00:49:41 - Embracing the Vast Range of Possibilities 00:53:42 - Finding Ease in Chaos 00:57:04 - The Value of Living in Integrity 01:00:51 - Honoring and Learning from Others 01:05:02 - The Innocence of Humanity 01:08:52 - The Shift in Subjective Perspective 01:13:25 - The Potential of Every Individual 01:17:07 - The value of silence and the limitations of language 01:21:33 - The Silent Experience of Ourselves 01:25:24 - Discovering the Quiet Within 01:29:11 - Questioning the Bible's Moral Guidance 01:33:20 - Ideas Competing for Attention 01:37:19 - Choosing Love and the Possibility of Force 01:41:17 - The Responsibility to Care for Each Other 01:45:26 - Making a Difference, One Person at a Time 01:49:25 - The Egalitarian Quality in Spirituality 01:53:05 - Playing with Different Ideas 01:56:28 - Stay Connected through Interviews and Chat Groups Save

Dr. Robert K.C. Forman is uniquely qualified, both personally and professionally, to re-imagine the spiritual goal and the path to it. Personally, Dr. Forman hasn’t missed a day of meditation in 40 years. He broke through to the first major life shift he sought during a nine-month meditation retreat, just two years after beginning Transcendental Meditation. Further developments have continued through his gaining of a Ph.D. in mystical experience from Columbia U and his 20 years as a Professor of Comparative Religions, through his lifetime of yearly solo meditation retreats, self-reflection, 18 years of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic training, his marital work, his teaching, writing and leading of workshops, and his research into and national leadership role in the "spiritual but not religious" community. His curiosity and confusion about his early spiritual breakthroughs led him to a Ph.D in Comparative Religions (Columbia U), where he specialized in the nature of and philosophical issues around mystical experiences and the spiritual life. He has often been called “one of the leading voices in the academic debates on mysticism," because of his work in the international scholarly debate about mystical experiences, which came to be known as “The Katz-Forman debates,” the work for which he has been awarded numerous grants and, just last year, an honorary doctorate. A tenured professor of religions at Hunter College of the City University of New York and a professor at Vassar College, Union Theological Seminary and the New School for Social Research, he often taught courses on mystical experiences and spiritual goals in every tradition, and his books are used in classes around the world. Many of his insights about the spiritual path and goal came from his work as founder and Executive Director of the Forge Institute for Spirituality and Social Change and the Forge Guild of Spiritual Professionals, a non profit dedicated to helping people from any religion or spiritual path live “soul to soul.” He routinely gives lectures, trainings and workshops around the world. He was the co-founder and is executive editor of The Journal of Consciousness Studies , which has become the principle journal in the field. He is also the author of ten scholarly books on spirituality, mysticism, consciousness and world religions. Robert's site: http://enlightenmentaint.com/ Robert's book: Enlightenment Ain't What It's Cracked Up To Be: A Journey of Discovery, Snow and Jazz in the Soul Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/8/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - A Journey from Anxiety to Meditation 00:03:47 - The Surprising Experiences of Meditation 00:06:57 - A Shift that Began Back Then 00:10:03 - The Buzz and Letting Go 00:13:07 - A Permanent Shift and Tubes in the Head 00:16:05 - The Transformation Begins 00:18:55 - A Shift in Thought Process 00:21:35 - The Two Birds and Witnessing Consciousness 00:24:53 - The Steadiness of Consciousness without Time 00:28:38 - The Disappointment of Enlightenment 00:32:12 - The Shift in Experience 00:35:00 - The Shift in Perception of Silence 00:38:11 - The Experience of Silence 00:41:26 - Experiencing Sleep in a Different Way 00:44:11 - The Vitality of Looking 00:47:03 - Witnessing and Sensory Acuity + Spiritual Hucksters 00:49:41 - Moments of Depression and Shoplifting 00:52:25 - The Beginning of Psychotherapy Journey 00:55:37 - The Power of Truth-Telling in Relationships 00:58:24 - Integration between Silence and the Robert-ish Part 01:01:18 - Living at the Super-Fluid Level of Life 01:04:32 - Embracing our Woundedness 01:07:19 - The Openness of Emotions in Being Alive 01:09:55 - The Subtlety of Guidance 01:12:59 - True Effortlessness and Unity Consciousness 01:16:30 - Non-resistance and Connection with the World

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

Neelam, a native of Poland, has been giving Satsang internationally since 1996. She is a direct disciple of H. W. L. Poonja (Papaji), who himself awakened to the truth in the presence of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Neelam shares Satsang with Papaji's blessing. Known for her simplicity, skillful discrimination, and intuitive insight, Neelam gently points toward the truth at the core of us all. With her extensive personal and teaching experience, she uses inquiry to facilitate us in identifying and moving through deep-seated patterns of conditioning, bringing us to rest in Presence. Self-Inquiry is the very core of this teaching and is based on Sri Ramana Maharshi's guidelines for Self-Inquiry. Neelam's unique development of inquiry includes both recognizing our true nature and meeting our conditioning fully, with tenderness. Neelam's website Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 4/15/2012 2nd interview with Neelam YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Presence of Our Nature 00:04:16 - Training our attention to rest in our true nature 00:07:22 - Recognizing the Fullness of Who We Are 00:10:04 - Finding stillness amidst the busyness 00:13:00 - Finding Quiet Time in Daily Life 00:15:45 - Starting with Five Minutes a Day 00:18:28 - Using the sensations of the body 00:21:05 - Integration on the Physical Level 00:23:30 - The Power of Looking Inward 00:25:37 - Tenderness and Our True Nature 00:28:03 - The Coarsening of Tenderness 00:30:18 - Being at Rest or Suffering 00:32:37 - Resting in Tenderness and Naturalness 00:35:24 - The Strength of True Vulnerability 00:38:21 - The Transformational Journey 00:41:39 - Recognizing the Natural State 00:45:07 - The Deceptiveness of the Mind 00:48:01 - The Disappearance of Individuality 00:51:09 - The Shift in Experience 00:54:07 - The Unusual Experiences on the Spiritual Path 00:57:26 - From Bliss to Satsang 01:00:49 - An Awakening Journey 01:04:38 - The Shift and Fulfillment of the Experience 01:08:32 - Levels of Awareness and Destiny 01:11:12 - The Need for Embodiment and Remaining in Awareness 01:14:12 - Surrendering to the Momentum of the Past 01:17:53 - The Power of Transmission 01:21:24 - The Desire for Freedom and Seeking 01:24:49 - The Presence of Ramana in Visitations 01:28:22 - The Vastness of the Universe 01:31:35 - Farewell and Music Outro

Katie Davis is a spiritual teacher and author who offers satsang worldwide. She is a graduate of the University of Washington, a former secondary school educator, a former owner of aerobics studios in the Pacific Northwest and mother of two. She is author of Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment and since 1999, she has been traveling to share with people the radical possibility of Self-realization that is the end of all suffering, separation and the key to world transformation. Katie Davis was a Keynote Presenter at the Vancouver BC Convention Centre in Canada. She offers spiritual talks at church services or spiritual gatherings, corporations, hospitals, professional communities and organizations, schools, television and radio shows, as well as for community organizers worldwide that are offering talks in the form of satsang in public meetings, intensives, and silent retreats. In 1986, Katie Davis radically and spontaneously awakened to the ultimate reality of who we really are without practices or teachers. She had never meditated or even heard of enlightenment, Advaita Vedanta, Non-duality or Self-realization. Katie had no intellectual reference whatsoever for what had occurred. Katie's book, Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment Interview recorded 4/29/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Childhood Spiritual Experiences 00:03:30 - The Fear of Death and the Understanding of Being 00:07:19 - A Transformative Experience in the Youth Group 00:11:08 - Awakening through Life Experiences 00:14:34 - Detachment from Form and Personal Identity Loss 00:17:30 - The End of Suffering 00:20:46 - Developing Understanding through Experience 00:24:41 - The Power of Silence and Surrender 00:28:37 - Exploring the Nature of "Being" and "I-ness" 00:31:57 - Beingness and the Influence of Wind 00:35:15 - Practices to Relax the Sense of Self 00:39:16 - Habits and Conditioning 00:44:11 - Spontaneous Acceptance of Circumstances 00:47:49 - Describing vs. Prescribing the Path to Compassion 00:51:05 - Looking Beyond the Image 00:53:59 - The Essence of Being Pure Consciousness 00:58:02 - The Role of the Ego in Spiritual Growth 01:01:37 - Preferences and the Body Intelligence 01:05:57 - Fulfillment beyond Circumstances 01:09:35 - The Road Map of Self-observation and Detachment 01:14:08 - Reflections and Witness State 01:17:35 - Unity Consciousness and Direct Looking 01:20:54 - Exploring Different Types of Surrender 01:24:39 - Surrendering to the Cosmic Personality 01:28:18 - Letting Go of Trying and Searching 01:32:10 - Accessing Unconditioned Intelligence and Creativity 01:36:46 - The Vastness of the Universe 01:39:50 - The Indescribable Nature of the Absolute 01:43:37 - Surrendering to Divine Intelligence 01:47:32 - Thanking the Community and Concluding Remarks 01:50:41 - Conclusion and Farewell

John Hagelin, Ph.D., is a world-renowned quantum physicist, educator, author, and leading proponent of peace. Dr. Hagelin has conducted pioneering research at CERN (the European Center for Particle Physics) and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. He is responsible for the development of a highly successful grand unified field theory based on the superstring—a theory that was featured in a cover story of Discover magazine. In addition, Dr. Hagelin has spent much of the past quarter century leading a scientific investigation into the foundations of human consciousness. He is one of the world’s pre-eminent researchers on the effects of meditation on brain development, and the use of collective meditation to defuse societal stress and to reduce crime and social violence. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Dr. Hagelin was named winner of the prestigious Kilby Award, which recognizes scientists who have made “major contributions to society through their applied research in the fields of science and technology.” The award recognized Dr. Hagelin as “a scientist in the tradition of Einstein, Jeans, Bohr and Eddington.” Dr. Hagelin was featured in the hit movies What the Bleep Do We Know!? and The Secret for his cutting-edge research in physics, higher states of consciousness; and the peace-promoting effects of large meditation groups. Dr. Hagelin has appeared many times on ABC’s Nightline, NBC’s Meet the Press, CNN’s Larry King Live! and Inside Politics, CNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, and others. He has also been regularly featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and other major metropolitan newspapers. Dr. Hagelin received his A.B. summa cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1975 and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1981. He is currently director of the Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy, Professor of physics at Maharishi University of Management, President of the Global Union of Scientists for Peace, President of the David Lynch Foundation, and Director of the Maharishi Foundation USA, which overseas the teaching of Transcendental Meditation in the United States. Book: Manual for a Perfect Government: How to Harness the Laws of Nature to Bring Maximum Success to Governmental Administration Interview recorded 1/12/2014 Transcript of this interview. Panel discussion with John Hagelin, Igor Kufayev and Mark McCooey at SAND Conference YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of Dr. John Hagelin 00:03:07 - The Journey of Consciousness in Physics 00:06:17 - The Unified Field Theory and Superstring Theory 00:09:48 - The Essence of Pure Consciousness 00:12:28 - The Illusion of Solidity and Subatomic Reality 00:15:46 - The Consistency of the Universe 00:19:13 - The Collapse of Quantum Superposition 00:22:27 - Levels of Consciousness and Self-Awareness 00:26:08 - Reflections on Cosmology and Manifestation 00:29:25 - The Dynamic Nature of the Universal Field 00:32:46 - Bubble Universes and the Origin of the Big Bang 00:35:56 - The Nature of Intelligence 00:38:32 - Quantum Cosmology and the Bubbling of Universes 00:41:51 - The Inefficiency and Intelligence of the Universe 00:44:59 - Consciousness in Ancient Cultures and the Human Nervous System 00:48:40 - Evolution and Enlightenment 00:52:13 - Evolution of the Human Brain 00:54:31 - The Search for a Quantum Theory of Gravity 00:57:53 - The Concept of Time in Physics and Consciousness 01:01:13 - Time and Relativity 01:04:30 - The Diversity of Perception 01:07:58 - Perceiving Subtle Realms 01:11:49 - Electromagnetic Influence and Hidden Sector Matter 01:15:01 - Entities in the Physical World 01:18:12 - Levels of Unfoldment after Cosmic Consciousness 01:21:19 - Sharing Profound Experiences 01:24:09 - Possibility of New Age Technologies and Extraterrestrial Techno...

Sundance Burke, Spiritual Teacher and Author, was born in Seattle, Washington under the given name, Donald Russell Burke III. He is a graduate of the University of Washington and the Gonzaga School of Law. Sundance is a former lawyer and businessman. He is the father of two children and the grandfather of three. Sundance Burke is the author of Free Spirit: A Guide to Enlightened Being, published in 2008. He offers public talks, meditation gatherings, video recordings, private meetings, intensive workshops and retreats for those who long to awaken from the fearful dream of human separation and suffering. While traveling for law business in 1982, Sundance was graced with the profound spiritual experience of being the loving witness to the mind’s dream of personal existence. This awareness of impersonal being completely shattered his former understanding of self-identity and the nature of his world. In the years that followed, he found himself undertaking an intense inward journey into the heart of this realization. In 1988, he met his future wife and teaching partner, Katie Davis, who had similarly experienced the miracle of Self-liberation. In 2004, Sundance and Katie moved to Maui to marry and write the realization of Beloved Being. Sitting side by side, their books took form and expression. Currently, they are again residing in the Seattle area and they continue to point to our True Presence, as conscious freedom and causeless joy. Katie Davis is the author of Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment. Interviews with Sundance and Katie about awakening are included in the recently published book, Conversations on Non-Duality; Twenty-six Awakenings. The AWAKE SPIRIT TEACHINGS of Sundance and Katie have helped many people throughout the world to find inner peace, wise love and greater fulfillment in their lives. At the core of this teaching is a spiritual awakening that transcends the ego-based state of consciousness into the harmony and unity of pure awareness, a field of infinite possibility and the sacred heart of all Being. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/5/2012. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Sundance Burke's Spiritual Journey 00:05:06 - The Paradox of Outer Life and Inner Unhappiness 00:10:44 - A Mysterious Encounter with Satoshi 00:14:31 - Siddhis and their potential effects 00:18:18 - Losing Everything, Starting Over with Stand-Up Comedy 00:22:50 - Miracles and Enlightenment 00:26:05 - Exploring Spiritual Texts 00:29:25 - Awakening to Self-Realization 00:33:22 - Understanding the Power of Attention 00:36:59 - Establishing Presence 00:40:20 - Breakthrough and Burning Desire 00:44:08 - A Shift in Self-Reflection 00:47:46 - The End of Longing 00:51:26 - Being Honest and Present 00:54:47 - The Fire of Presence 00:58:23 - The Path of Devotion 01:01:31 - The Two Paths to Freedom: Self-Inquiry and Presence 01:04:44 - Self-Inquiry and Presence 01:08:10 - The False Self and Identification 01:11:09 - The Ego as a Tool 01:14:40 - Dissolving the Ego and Finding True Self 01:18:01 - The Nature of Consciousness 01:21:59 - The Power of Silence and Stillness 01:25:59 - Different Strokes for Different Folks 01:29:10 - The Power of Witnessing and Harmonizing 01:33:14 - Collective Awakening and Changing Paradigms 01:38:09 - Turning to love, the future of service 01:42:15 - Overcoming the Ego Inside and Outside 01:46:42 - The Power of Love and Inspiration 01:50:09 - The Name "Sundance" 01:52:49 - How to Stay Updated with "Buddha at the Gas Pump"

Ellie is a happily married woman for 29 years. She has been blessed, with two beautiful children—a lovely daughter and a sweet son. She has graduated from SUNY at Stony Brook and has been teaching mathematics in high school and community colleges. After changing her career, she worked in Information Technology as a Quality Assurance Manage for many years. Since childhood, she was seeing herself as a vision, which was not associated with the body at all. The question was arising, “Who am I?” This was never answered and it was there in her heart for a long time… Since the year 2001, she has been inspired: To get to know who she is. To find what she is searching for. For the past few years, she has had wonderful experiences by “going within,” meditating, and discovering the Truth. The Truth reveals itself to itself by itself. She would like to share these experiences with you. She hopes that by reading her story, you also get inspired to “go within” and "discover" who you really are, and also find the authentic joy that resides within. She wishes you all patience and the best of luck on this path. Please know that this is the best thing and the most important thing that you can do for yourself. Ellie's website Transcript of this interview First interview with Ellie Interview recorded 5/12/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Living in the Present Moment 00:04:54 - The Ignorance of Separation 00:10:06 - Dropping the Hypnosis, Recognizing the Truth 00:15:31 - The Analogy of the Finger and the Body 00:19:17 - The Shift in Perception 00:23:56 - The Drop into the Ocean 00:28:09 - Recognizing the Difference Between Truth and Fiction 00:32:09 - An Adorable Interruption 00:35:30 - The Joy of Dropping the Character 00:40:16 - Recognition of Truth in Silence 00:44:45 - The Experience of Stillness and Awakening to the Totality 00:49:05 - The Mystery of Who You Are 00:53:14 - The Maturity of the Mind 00:57:43 - Remembering Who You Are in Trying Circumstances 01:01:10 - Recognizing the Truth as the Diamond 01:04:35 - Recognizing the Limitations of the Mind 01:08:18 - The Illusion of Separation and Individual Missions 01:12:32 - The Power of Being Present 01:16:22 - Knowing the Source and Dropping Hypnosis 01:21:16 - Living the Truth 01:25:30 - Deep Interaction with Others 01:30:23 - Speaking to the Level of Consciousness 01:34:54 - Overcoming Fear and Finding Self 01:38:44 - The Courage to Face the Ultimate Truth 01:42:27 - The Witnessing State and Oneness 01:45:52 - The Indescribable Existence of the Source 01:49:48 - Starting over and finding the core question 01:54:11 - Recognition and Maturity of the Character 01:58:11 - The Truth of Oneness and Demolishing the Character 02:02:52 - Retreats and Interactions in Dubai and the UK 02:07:06 - Finding Ultimate Truth and Falling in Love with the Eternal

Yogi Amrit Desai is internationally recognized for carrying the deeper meaning and experience of yoga to people around the globe. He has been teaching since 1960 and is the author of many writings on the profound depth and transformational power of yoga as it relates to health, personal growth, and interpersonal relationships. He is the originator of Kripalu Yoga and the Integrative Amrit Methods® (IAM) of Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Quantum Breath Meditation practiced and taught by thousands worldwide. His teachings are universal, experiential and easily adaptable by anyone, regardless of religious or cultural tradition. Book about Yogi Amrit Desai: Gurudev: The Life of Yogi Amrit Desai Books by Yogi Amrit Desai: A Yogic Perspective on the 12 Steps Love & Bliss: Meditations on the Art of Living Amrit Yoga and the Yoga Sutras The Yoga of Relationships: A Practical Guide for Loving Yourself and Others Amrit Yoga: Explore, Expand, Experience the Spiritual Depth of Yoga MP3 Download: Working miracles of love: A collection of teachings CD: Ecstatic Chanting Yogi Desai's website: amrityoga.org Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/20/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Yogi Amrit Desai 00:02:55 - The Inspirational Guru and the Beginnings of Yoga Teaching 00:06:36 - The Growth of Yoga in the 70s 00:09:37 - The Experiential Teachings of Yoga and Kundalini Awakening 00:11:54 - Kundalini Yoga and Shaktipat 00:14:58 - Actionless Action 00:18:01 - Accessing Pranic Intelligence 00:21:04 - Connecting with the Higher Power 00:24:22 - The Conflict of Polarity and Duality 00:27:22 - Turning reaction into response 00:30:00 - Seeing through Consciousness 00:32:27 - The Evolution of "I Am" and the Union of Male and Female 00:35:26 - Animals and Human Relationships 00:37:41 - The Shore of Oneness 00:40:20 - Possibility of Further Unfoldment 00:43:20 - The Phenomenon of Walk-Ins and Guru Lineage 00:46:06 - Questions about the Subtle Manifestation of the Ocean 00:48:27 - The Third Dimension and the Miraculous 00:50:58 - Integrative Action and Yogic Philosophy 00:53:47 - Yoga as a Holistic Practice 00:56:31 - Siddhis as Signposts in Yoga Practice 00:59:30 - The Power of Resolves and Affirmations in Yoga Nidra 01:02:42 - Overcoming Addictions through Inner Stress Resolution 01:05:39 - Living in Light and Darkness 01:08:37 - Enlightenment and the Remnants of Individuality 01:11:16 - Managing Sexual Energy and the Misconceptions about Yogis 01:14:20 - Marriage and Expectations 01:17:38 - Devotion and Self-Realization 01:19:54 - Bridging Science and Spirituality 01:22:08 - Supporting and Enriching Different Traditions in Yoga 01:24:25 - Farewell and Future Meetings

Scott Kiloby is an author and international speaker on mindfulness and addiction recovery. Scott is also the founder and director of the Kiloby Center for Recovery. After twenty years of addiction to drugs and alcohol, Scott began to develop Natural Rest for Addiction which has helped people all over the world confront the root of their addiction, anxiety, and depression. Scott was the COO of MyLife Recovery which held the patent on the naltrexone implant. Scott also developed an app that acts as an interface between pain management doctors and their patients to decrease the likelihood of addiction. The app also protects doctors legally from claims of negligence arising out of opiate overdoses. Along with his work at the Kiloby Center, Scott is also the director and co-owner of the Natural Rest House, a detox and residential addiction treatment center located in La Quinta, California. In addition to Natural Rest for Addiction: A Radical Approach to Recovery Through Mindfulness and Awareness, Scott is the author of the following books which can be found on Amazon: Living Realization: A Simple, Plain-English Guide to Non-Duality The Unfindable Inquiry: One Simple Tool to Overcome Feelings of Unworthiness and Find Inner Peace Reflections of the One Life: Daily Pointers to Enlightenment Doorway to Total Liberation: Conversations with What Is Love's Quiet Revolution: The End Of The Spiritual Search Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded 5/26/2012. 1st interview with Scott 3rd interview with Scott YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:09 - The Significance of Non-Dual Realization 00:07:04 - Seeking Validation in Relationships 00:09:26 - Inquiry into Self-Worth and Inadequacy 00:11:54 - The Velcro Effect: Letting Go of Negative Thoughts 00:13:45 - Overcoming the "I'm unlovable" story in relationships 00:15:53 - The Transformative Power of Relationship 00:18:04 - The Rewiring of Physiology for Realization 00:20:32 - The Dangers of Non-Seeking 00:23:17 - The Present Exploration 00:26:31 - The Unfindable Self 00:29:24 - The Unfindability of Personal Perspectives 00:32:26 - The Unfindable Self 00:34:40 - The Deficient Self 00:37:13 - The Inquiry and Self-Perception 00:39:44 - The Pursuit of Perfection 00:42:25 - The Suffering of Ambition 00:44:25 - Harnessing Authentic Ambitions 00:46:38 - Energetically Different Approach to Music Creation 00:49:03 - Performing One's Own Dharma 00:51:29 - The Mirror of Bullying 00:54:06 - Overcompensating and Awakening 00:56:46 - Awakening and Ego Aggrandizement 00:58:51 - The Recognition of Something Unchanging 01:01:11 - Being True to Yourself in Non-Dual Awakening 01:03:35 - Peacemaking and the Avoidance of Conflict 01:05:45 - The Readiness to Look 01:08:00 - The Connection Between Self and the World 01:10:25 - Finding Facilitators on livingrealization.org 01:12:13 - Wrapping Up and Next Week's Interview with Nirmala 01:13:53 - The Conversation Continues

Interview recorded 3/31/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of John Speer 00:03:45 - Questioning Existence and Meaning of Life 00:06:50 - Puzzling Reality and Spiritual Awakening 00:09:23 - The Feeling of Joy and Destiny 00:12:09 - Discovering Maharishi Mahesh Yogi 00:14:41 - A Chance Encounter with Transcendental Meditation 00:17:03 - Introduction to Meditation Journey 00:19:27 - Meeting Elaine and Falling in Love 00:22:14 - A Profound and Loving Experience 00:25:00 - A Profound Sense of Joy and Witnessing Human Emotions 00:28:00 - The Death of Our Son 00:31:05 - The Science of Free Will and Determinism 00:34:06 - Returning to Fairfield 00:36:41 - Resonating with a Spiritual Experience 00:39:25 - Discovering Raja Ram 00:42:01 - Freedom from Belief and Dependency 00:45:00 - The Freedom of Experience 00:47:52 - A Near-Death Experience 00:50:10 - The Dome and TM City Program 00:53:06 - The Experience of Oneness 00:56:29 - The Embodiment of the Universe in Christ 00:59:05 - The Omnipresence of God 01:01:43 - Christ as the Savior for Each Other 01:04:37 - Finding Fulfillment on the Spiritual Path 01:07:39 - Reflecting the Essence of the Soul 01:10:36 - "Light that is one, though the lamps be many" 01:13:00 - The Awakening Moment 01:15:34 - The Essence of Seeking and Finding 01:18:10 - Ramana Maharshi and the Essence of Spiritual Awakening 01:20:42 - The Mahavakya and a Good Stopping Point 01:23:09 - Conclusion and Farewell

After a lifetime of spiritual seeking, Nirmala met his teacher, Neelam, a devotee of H.W.L. Poonja (Papaji). She convinced him that seeking wasn't necessary; and after experiencing a profound spiritual awakening in India, he began offering satsang and Nondual Spiritual Mentoring with Neelam's blessing. This tradition of spiritual wisdom has been most profoundly disseminated by Ramana Maharshi, a revered Indian saint, who was Papaji's teacher. Nirmala's perspective was also profoundly expanded by his friend and teacher Adyashanti. Nirmala offers satsang in gratitude for the love and grace that flow through his teachers, Neelam and Adyashanti, and for the Truth brought to this world by Ramana Maharshi and H.W.L. Poonja. Advaita satsang is offered as a celebration of the possibility, in every moment, of recognizing the truth of who we are. Nirmala offers a unique vision and a gentle, compassionate approach, which adds to this rich tradition of inquiry into the truth of Being. Nirmala lives in Sedona, Arizona with his wife, Gina, and their two dogs, Rafi and Rumi. Contact Nirmala by using the contact form here. Read an interview with Nirmala here. More information about Gina and her books, including Radical Happiness: A Guide to Awakening, is available on radicalhappiness.com. More of Nirmala's books: Everything Is Included: Essays About Truth, Love, and Awareness That Is That: Essays About True Nature Gifts With No Giver: A Love Affair With Truth Living From The Heart Meeting the Mystery: Exploring the Aware Presence at the Heart of All Life Referred to during the interview: Video of Andromeda Galaxy colliding with ours in 8.5 billion years. Bill Moyers and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt talk about the psychological underpinnings of our contentious culture, why we can’t trust our own opinions, and the demonizing of our adversaries. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/2/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Nirmala and his teachings 00:04:09 - The Measurement of Truth 00:07:47 - Focusing on Desires and Sense of Self 00:11:01 - The Geographic Cure and Conditioning 00:14:20 - Focusing and Expanding 00:17:49 - The Illusion of Reality 00:21:15 - The Fundamental Quality of Space 00:24:52 - The Space Within and Without 00:27:53 - Contemplating the Existence of Intelligence in Everything 00:31:46 - The Illusion of Thoughts and Political Perspectives 00:35:33 - The Role of Spirituality in Politics and Morality 00:40:02 - Functioning in Vastness and Discriminating Truth 00:44:11 - The Ordinary Experience of Being the Boss 00:48:07 - Discrimination and Heart Wisdom 00:52:12 - The Concept of Better and Worse in Experience 00:56:38 - The Illusion of "Better" Sound 01:00:27 - The Small Truth of Money and Happiness 01:04:31 - The Journey of Self-Discovery 01:08:58 - An Unexpected Journey towards Awakening 01:13:19 - Letting go of the desire to awaken 01:17:52 - Following the Heart 01:21:36 - Oneness with the Ganges River 01:26:14 - The Invitation to Give Satsang 01:29:54 - Trust in Physical Reality 01:33:37 - The Sacredness of Reality 01:37:23 - Finding Balance with Sweets 01:41:23 - The Experience of Consciousness and Meditation 01:45:26 - The Definition of Jnanis and Yogis 01:49:36 - The Infinite Possibilities of Consciousness 01:54:00 - Levels of Consciousness beyond a Thousand 01:57:19 - Wrapping Up and Thank You

Deepakbhai Desai is the current representative of Akram Vignan, a direct path to Self-realization. Born in Gujarat, India, Deepakbhai met Dada Bhagwan (the originator of Akram Vignan) at the age of 17, and attained Self-realization from him in the Gnan Vidhi ceremony. He credits these two events as the great turning points of his life. Previously burdened by a shy and introverted nature, Deepakbhai became able to successfully complete his engineering studies and, over the coming decades, to build three successful engineering businesses. Simultaneously, Deepakbhai was nurtured in further spiritual development by Dada Bhagwan, and Niruma Amin (Dada’s closest disciple). With all available free time, Deepakbhai attended satsangs (spiritual discourse), performed seva (selfless service), and engaged in continuous Self-introspection – devotedly seeking to understand the full dimension of Dada’s spiritual science. In 1987, before Dada Bhagwan’s passing, Niruma and Deepakbhai were given the spiritual abilities to conduct satsangs and Gnan Vidhi ceremonies on Dada’s behalf. Together, they carried on Dada’s mission with tremendous harmony and spirit of oneness until Niruma’s sudden passing in 2006. Since then, Deepakbhai has officiated over a burgeoning spiritual community (Simandhar City, Gujarat, India), celibate male and female groups, teen and children’s programs, and ongoing world-wide satsang and Gnan Vidhi programs for seekers of Self-realization. For further information, and for Deepakbhai’s tour schedule, please visit: http://www.dadabhagwan.org/ All satsang and Gnan Vidhi programs are offered entirely free of cost. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 6/16/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:15 - Self-realization and the Knowledge of the Eternal Soul 00:05:36 - The Gnan Vidhi Ceremony and the Awareness of Pure Soul 00:08:13 - Understanding the Temporary and Permanent 00:11:45 - Understanding the Concept of "I" and "My" 00:13:22 - Separating the Self from the Ego 00:15:44 - The Simultaneity of Business and Spiritual Progress 00:18:59 - Finding and Removing Our Faults 00:21:54 - Progression from Gross to Subtle to Subtlest 00:24:22 - Separation from Ego and Enduring Pain 00:26:31 - Increasing the Experience of Pure Soul 00:28:32 - The Awareness of the Pure Soul 00:30:48 - Dedication to World Salvation 00:34:26 - Stopping Charging of New Karma 00:36:54 - The Unity of the Permanent and Impermanent 00:39:58 - The Six Eternal Elements and the Illusory Nature of the World 00:42:38 - The Permanency of Matter and Soul 00:45:12 - The Six Eternal Elements in the Universe 00:47:24 - The Separation of Forces 00:49:39 - The Biggest Experience: Separation from Mind, Speech, Body, Ego 00:52:37 - Dissolving Anger, Pride, and Greed 00:55:10 - Doubt and Self-Realization 00:57:51 - The Flawless Vision of Self-Realization 00:59:45 - The Illusion of Being the Doer 01:02:00 - Karma and the Soul 01:03:49 - The Importance of a Spiritual Teacher 01:05:59 - The Attitude of a Beginner 01:08:18 - The Goal of the Spiritual Path 01:12:02 - The Search for Permanent Happiness 01:14:43 - Layers of Attachment and Discharge Karma 01:17:28 - Dissolving Ego and Experiencing the Pure Soul Save

David Alsobrook is now deceased. His father was a Nazarene pastor and David received a “new birth experience” at age 15. He devoured the Bible from cover to cover and went much deeper into exhaustive, detailed studies of Scriptures for years after that. He devoted the first 3 hours of the day in private prayer as well, hungering and seeking for more of God in his life. He began traveling and speaking in a wide assortment of churches and special events, ministering in more than 2000 speaking events in 49 states and 5 provinces in North America and in other countries. He wrote more than 40 books of varied sizes which were translated in more than 30 languages and distributed in no fewer than 50 nations. In 2005 David experienced a crushing life blow and put aside everything for a season of seeking God more intimately, desperate for healing from his own brokenness. In July 2008 his prayers were answered when he was sitting on a large rock in a nature preserve. Time stopped, mind stopped, while everything around him shone with Light and Life. His sense of “personhood” dissolved as he experienced himself as Being. Since then his life has been largely one of almost uninterrupted peace, bliss, and serenity as a result of what he now calls a “transformation”. Books: You Can Be Free from Your Self: The Grace of Soul Transformation Learning to love Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/18/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of David Alsobrook 00:03:02 - The Anomaly of Spiritual Awakening 00:05:42 - Spirit and Soul Transformation 00:08:18 - Embracing Different Spiritual Expressions 00:11:04 - The Transformation and Dissolution of Ego 00:13:37 - Temporary Relief of Pain 00:16:36 - Seeking the Kingdom of God 00:19:12 - Returning to the Sermon on the Mount 00:22:01 - Contradictions within Christendom 00:24:46 - A Resonance in Nature 00:27:51 - A Life-Changing Experience 00:30:26 - The Significance of a Flat Rock 00:33:15 - Appreciating the Christian Terminology 00:36:13 - The Pain and the Ego 00:38:56 - Backsliding and Suffering on the Cross 00:41:33 - The Awakening and the Transition 00:44:15 - The Flip in the Garage 00:47:31 - Awakening to a new perspective 00:50:14 - The Eternal Christ and True Teaching 00:52:55 - Interpreting Mystical Statements 00:55:54 - Transformation and the Divine Intelligence 00:58:48 - Profound Awakening and Universal Truth 01:01:38 - The Importance of Stillness 01:04:40 - The Torment of Inner Noise 01:07:27 - The Importance of Coping Mechanisms 01:10:35 - The Noise of Emotionalism 01:13:48 - The Place of Different Practices 01:18:33 - The Experience of Stillness and Presence 01:24:19 - Observing the Mind and Finding Stillness 01:30:03 - Many Paths to Spiritual Awareness 01:33:46 - Donate Button and Upcoming Schedule

Bill's side of the video is "frozen" during the first 5 minutes of this interview but is normal after that. Bill Bauman is one of the simplest people you’ll ever meet—he just “is.” Yet, his core essence calls him daily into selfless, expansive service to a human family he loves deeply. He feels called to be the voice of the purest truth possible—a truth without beliefs, complexities or codes of conduct … that speaks purely to each person’s soul … that carries genuine unconditional love and respect. In this sacred space of being and allowing, Bill believes that each person is free to discover his or her own truth, love and empowerment—from within. Bill is a unique blend of many perspectives. Through his life, he has lived sequentially and powerfully in the diverse worlds of philosophy, religion, psychology, business, politics and spirituality. Spiritually, he’s been a gifted healer, blessed visionary and inspirational leader. In the process, these many worlds and worldviews have found a unified home in Bill’s consciousness. He is one with them all—and one with all people and approaches. Peacefully and quietly, he embraces everything, and enjoys a daily unity with life itself. Interview recorded 6/23/2012 Summary and Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Bill Bauman 00:03:00 - The Life Story and Awakening Journey 00:05:37 - Love as a Core Center of Being 00:08:32 - The Shifting of Identity 00:11:31 - The Death of the Ego and the Loss of Self-Concept 00:14:50 - Surrendering to the Bigger Spiritual Space 00:17:53 - The Journey of Growth and Belonging 00:20:58 - A Remarkable Experience 00:24:20 - Becoming One with Life's Movements 00:27:40 - Surrendering and Letting Go 00:30:04 - The Transformative Power of Grace 00:33:09 - The Magic of Oneness 00:36:38 - A Global Initiation into a New Humanity 00:39:53 - Dissolving the Shell 00:43:07 - The Power of Non-Vulnerability 00:46:18 - Embracing and Loving Pain 00:49:35 - Unlearning and the Discovery of Feeling 00:53:17 - Unity of Mind and Heart 00:56:35 - The Power of Saying Yes 00:59:55 - Awakening and Enlightenment 01:03:28 - A New Relationship to Life 01:06:25 - Building a Consciousness of Oneness for World Peace 01:09:08 - Heart Connections in Conflict 01:11:44 - Oneness and Wisdom at the Soul Level 01:15:09 - Finding the Divine within the Problem 01:17:57 - Bringing Transcendence into Humanness 01:21:10 - Finding Divinity and Infinity in Every Human Being 01:24:24 - The Inevitability of Pure Awareness 01:27:16 - Moving from Quantity to Quality 01:30:26 - Being in Awe of Creation 01:33:21 - A Message of Gratitude

On the heels of an awakening experience in 2006 not unlike that of the many avant-garde sages Trip Overholt would later interview, intense interest in the nature of this present reality persisted without let up.  This led to an opportunity to co-host a  radio show, Conversations With Avant-Garde Sages, show casing the wisdom and experiences of unknown sages in our midst. After three years and about 80 interviews, favorite conversations were edited and compiled (by co-host John Troy) into a free Ebook available at  TheWizardllc.com. A "happiness pragmatist" Overholt's paradigm shift from the material to the non-physical "spiritual" essence of reality has borne three delicious fruits he'd like to share.  First, there is a comfortability in his own skin, not there prior that has led to more rewarding relationships across the board.  Secondly, radiant causeless joy is available when attention is merely turned inward.  And finally, there is a capacity for seeing the divinity of all others and of the world that allows for more complete engagement of whatever shows up in the present moment.  Heaven on earth is possible here and now and it is Trip's calling to be a rock of conviction of that possibility for others who find themselves on the pathless path back to themselves. Facebook Page Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/7/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:35 - Profound Awareness and Self-Realization 00:09:10 - The True Role of a Guru 00:13:48 - Ramana Maharshi and the Teacher-Student Dynamic 00:18:27 - The Development of Presence and Higher Beings 00:23:28 - The Experience of Joy and Block Clearing 00:28:03 - Holding Spiritual Teachers to a Higher Standard 00:32:33 - The Two Categories of Teaching 00:36:25 - The Transformation of Little Realizations 00:40:52 - Discussing Interviews and Future Plans 00:43:44 - Engaging Conversations with Various Guests 00:46:45 - Interviewing Ordinary Spiritually Awakened People 00:49:55 - The Power of Active Listening and Presence 00:53:53 - The Sweetness of Mature Teachers 00:57:25 - The Glorious Reality and Acknowledging Oneness 01:01:00 - Two Streams of Thought on Perception 01:04:48 - The Influence of Humanity 01:08:35 - Expressing Non-Dual Reality in a Joyful Way 01:12:13 - Coming from a place of non-reactivity and understanding 01:16:05 - Living in the Present Moment 01:20:09 - The Hallmark of a Great Teacher 01:24:01 - Happiness and Pragmatism 01:28:00 - Degrees of Mastery and Realization 01:31:44 - The Illusion of Differentiation and the Strength of Conviction 01:35:15 - The Controversy of Awakening Teachers 01:38:44 - The Maturity of Spirituality 01:43:06 - Radical acceptance leads to self-realization 01:46:35 - The Evolution of Essence 01:50:24 - Recognition of Divinity in Everyone 01:54:03 - The Deeper Level of Consideration 01:57:08 - Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Dr. Laurie Moore, licensed therapist (LMFT), certified hypnotherapist (CHT) spends hours in uproarious laughter with friends, human and animal. For two decades she has assisted people and animals to transform their lives, awaken to universal love, and communicate in evolved and fulfilling ways. She has taught in Europe, around the USA, and all over Hawaii Islands reaching people of many backgrounds. Her reputation as an internationally respected therapist, animal communicator, and spiritual teacher began with the many awakening experiences she was ushered through by Divine Ma, inside her own heart, and Jessie Justin Joy, her feline Guru. Supported and inspired by many, she is especially close to Gangaji and Sh. Ahmed. She credits Braco and Dr. Karl Maret for her new found stamina which shapes her latest work, after some years of severe physical challenge. Dr. Laurie Moore's website. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/21/2012 Other BatGap events involving Laurie: Laurie Moore 2 Laurie Moore in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Animal Communication 00:04:05 - Animals and Awakening 00:06:46 - Animals as Partners in Community 00:10:35 - The Language of Animals and the Reality of Perception 00:14:20 - The Invitation to Be Here Now 00:17:56 - Awakening to a Deeper Love 00:21:13 - The correlation of the body with everything else 00:25:06 - The Construct of Identity 00:30:35 - Introducing Lila and the Importance of Sitting with Numbness 00:35:40 - Going into the Heart and Finding Love 00:40:22 - Finding Balance in Surrender and Action 00:45:02 - The Value of Solitude and Stillness 00:49:13 - Love for the Universe and Cat Reincarnation 00:53:16 - The Oneness Experience through Animals 00:57:43 - Connecting with Animal Teachers, Unconditional Love, and Suffering 01:00:53 - Embracing the Dark and Light 01:04:42 - The Experience of No Personal Identity 01:09:34 - Functioning as a Biological Entity 01:14:14 - Communication and Cooperation with Animals 01:17:51 - Communicating with Animals 01:20:56 - The Hierarchy in Creation and the Potential of Animals in Permaculture 01:24:32 - Animals as Teachers 01:29:04 - The Evolution of Souls 01:33:17 - Awakening and Enlightenment 01:36:57 - Animals and Awakening 01:40:34 - The Wisdom of Animals 01:43:46 - Enlightenment in Animals and Babies 01:47:10 - The Profound Intelligence in Nature 01:50:41 - Expressing Consciousness through Sophistication 01:55:12 - Inviting people to give themselves fully

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

In this interview, Troy of Is (student) and the Signposter (Teacher) engage in an intense dialogical-inquiry with Rick Archer that reveals some essential understandings which construct a foundation for awakening from the hypnotic trance, programmed into the human organism by the cultural-social enterprise. Such an inquiry is related to radical-deconstruction whereby Truth and Reality are revealed when all obstructions and encumbrances (sensory-perceptual, conceptual-linguistic constructions) are extinguished or completely seen-through by means of a total expenditure of energy in sincere dialogue. Any cultural-social enterprise consists of a population of people who have taken on many of the overlapping conceptual-linguistic models or maps of 'reality' of which any cultural-social enterprise consists. The Signposter refers to such people as cultural-social agents since they have identified themselves with the assumptions, belief systems, value systems, conclusions, etc., from which a cultural-social enterprise has been constructed and organized as an interrelated system of concepts which make up the content of consciousness. Some examples of a cultural-social enterprise are the various countries, nations, states, cities, particular organizations (corporations, institutions, etc.), tribal communities, and so on which presently exist in the world. When 'the Only' is referred to in this interview, such a term represents God, the Tao, Brahman, Buddha-Nature, or any other name that traditionally has been used to represent the One and Only, undivided, unbounded, unfathomable, and unlimited Great Mystery which is the only Reality there is. If anyone has any questions for Troy of Is or the Signposter and would like to engage in this never-ending process of inquiry and awakening they have various options: They can e-mail questions to troyofis@gmail.com. Visit Troy of-Is' Facebook page. Add Troy of Is to Skype (username: troy.ofis) and engage in free Skype video/audio calls. Comment on You-tube video's containing other interviews with the Signposter and Troy of Is at:  https://www.youtube.com/user/TroyofIs. The Signposter's book: The Delusion of Being Human Interview recorded 7/28/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:14 - The Spectrum of Gurus 00:07:28 - Experiencing Understanding from the Root 00:10:18 - The Ripening of the Experience 00:12:23 - The Nuanced Approach to Teachers and Charging Fees 00:15:03 - The Extremes of Adi Da's Influence 00:17:34 - The Value of Adi Da's Teachings 00:20:32 - The Limitations of Spiritual Slogans and Conditioning 00:22:46 - The Controversy surrounding Eckhart Tolle's "New Heaven, New Earth" 00:24:37 - The Application of the Pain Body Idea to Children 00:27:02 - The Effectiveness of Teaching Through Example 00:29:34 - Assessing the Compassion of Spiritual Teachers 00:33:03 - The Manifestation of the Tao 00:36:26 - The Path of Suffering and Seeking 00:39:16 - Exploration of Different Spiritual Practices 00:42:18 - Different Spiritual Practices 00:45:34 - The Purpose of Life: Changing the Way You See the World 00:48:17 - Observing and Testing 00:52:22 - The Danger of Projecting Ultimate Enlightenment 00:56:10 - All knowledge and thought is off 01:01:21 - Transcending Consciousness and the Dream World 01:04:20 - Meeting Mr. - A Life-Changing Encounter 01:07:22 - Suffering and Finding the Soulmate 01:11:08 - The Evolution of the Universe to Life 01:15:26 - Creating a Soulmate 01:21:08 - God and Omnipresence 01:25:06 - Insights on Belief Systems and Surrender 01:29:29 - The Binding Influence of Conditioning and The Map is Not the Territory 01:34:56 - Mapping the Reality 01:40:47 - The Illusion of Being Human 01:45:36 - Respecting our Elders and First Nations

Dr. Elisabet Sahtouris is an internationally known evolution biologist and futurist living in Spain. Her post-doctoral degree was at the American Museum of Natural History, she taught at MIT and the University of Massachusetts, contributed to the NOVA-Horizon TV series, is a fellow of the World Business Academy with an honorary Chair in Living Economies, and is an advisor to Ethical Markets. She convened international symposia on Foundations of Science in Hokkaido and Kuala Lumpur. Her books include EarthDance: Living Systems in Evolution. Website: sahtouris.com Wikipedia page Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/25/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Elizabeth Sartoris: Evolution Biologist and Futurist 00:03:26 - The Interconnectedness of Nature and Cultural Assumptions 00:06:35 - Failure of our Education Systems 00:09:53 - The Need for a Global Consortium of Sciences 00:13:21 - The Multidimensional Nature of Consciousness 00:16:55 - Intelligence as the number of levels 00:20:05 - The Opposition to Change 00:23:19 - The Role of Crisis in Evolution and Human Cooperation 00:26:22 - Being Prepared for a Hot Age 00:28:54 - The Balance Between Individuation and Community 00:31:45 - The Wisdom of the Body and Negotiating Levels 00:35:16 - The Interplay of Matter and Spirit 00:38:27 - The Evolution of Transparency 00:42:02 - The Existence of God and the Mechanistic Universe 00:44:49 - The Origins of the Mechanical Universe 00:48:04 - The Taoist Understanding of the Universe 00:51:20 - The Maturation Cycle of Evolution 00:54:45 - Building Real Community 00:58:03 - Creating the Future You Want 01:01:09 - Awakening to Corporate Wrongdoings 01:03:50 - The Power of Collective Change 01:06:34 - Accelerating Change and the Future 01:09:30 - Harmony with Nature for a Sustainable Future 01:11:58 - Integrating Technology and Nature 01:15:02 - Questioning the Validity of Darwinism 01:18:15 - Perspectives on Creation and God 01:20:43 - The Omnipresence of God 01:23:39 - Taking Back the Power to Coin Money 01:26:15 - The Tipping Point and the Need for Maturity 01:29:22 - Voluntary Participation in the Physical World 01:32:03 - Sign up for email notifications

Francis Bennett entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemane in 1981 and in the '90s subsequently lived at a "daughter house" of Gethsemane in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Until recently, he was living in a small urban monastery in Montreal Quebec. He has been a "spiritual seeker" during all those years, practicing in the Christian mystical/contemplative Tradition and working deeply with teachers in both the Vipassana and Zen Traditions as well. In 2010 he experienced a profound perceptual "shift" in which he realized the ever-present presence of pure Awareness, which some would call, the Presence of God. He has worked in the field of Spiritual Care in Parish Communities and with the sick and dying in Hospice and Hospital settings. He has led retreats, offered spiritual talks and has accompanied many on their spiritual journey. He graduated from the Pontifical College Josephinum with a BA in Philosophy and completed a two-year chaplaincy residency with Ohio Health Hospital system. Francis' book: "I Am That I Am: Discovering the Love, Peace, Joy, and Stability of the True Self". Francis Bennett and John Mark Stroud Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on “Resurrecting Jesus” Francis Bennett, in Panel Discussion on Refined Perception Francis Bennett, with Jac O’Keeffe and Igor Kufayev Francis Bennett in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on "The Embrace of Jesus and Buddha" Francis Bennett in panel discussion:: “Emptiness is also Form” Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview conducted 8/4/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha At The Gas Pump 00:04:45 - The Origins of Centering Prayer 00:09:31 - The Tussle Between Experiential and Belief-Oriented Approaches in Spirituality 00:14:00 - The Awakening and the Joy of Being Present 00:18:33 - The Practice of Mindfulness and Vippasana Meditation 00:23:30 - A Shift in Awareness 00:28:59 - Recognition of Consciousness in Others 00:33:44 - A Big Shift Happened 00:39:03 - The Possibility of Integration with Practical Life 00:44:16 - The Integration of Relative and Absolute 00:49:28 - Changes in Sleep and Dream Experience 00:54:14 - The Acid Test of Self-Realization 00:58:42 - The Essence of God and Translations  01:03:28 - The search for happiness and the nature of true happiness 01:08:37 - The Illusion of the Mind 01:12:29 - The Illusory Nature of the Mind and Ego 01:16:43 - The Search for Happiness 01:21:07 - The Temporary Role of Self 01:25:41 - Language as a Tool for Communication 01:30:40 - "Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form" 01:35:24 - Resting in Spacious Awareness with Gentle Effort 01:39:24 - Finding Awareness within Turmoil 01:43:42 - The Importance of Direct Realization  01:48:11 - The Importance of Hidden Impact 01:52:25 - Abiding in Devotion and Bhakti 01:56:19 - Presence in Deathbeds and Ministry Transformation 02:00:04 - Questioning the historicity of Jesus and religious teachings 02:03:58 - Uncertainty about Future Direction 02:08:04 - Independent Spirit and Evolving Spirituality 02:12:10 - The Value of Interviews with Regular People 02:15:53 - Sign up for our Newsletter Save Save Save

Howard Falco is an international author, speaker and spiritual teacher specializing in self-awareness and the power of the mind as it relates to the creation of the experience of life. His book on human understanding and potential is titled, I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are (Penguin Group). On the surface, Howard seems to be the everyday regular guy. However, in the middle of ordinary life, this married father of two went through a spontaneous and extraordinary expansion of mind. The dramatic depth and breadth of this shift in consciousness unveiled the answers to many of the largest and deepest questions that humanity seeks answers for on a regular basis, such as “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” and “Why do I suffer?” Through his experience, he came to a full understanding of the conditions that led to every moment of his life. As a result, the core essence underlying all of human creation, action, reaction, joys, and suffering was revealed to him. Stunned and inspired by this powerful knowledge, Howard set out to honor what happened by sharing what he learned. I AM is the incredible result of this effort. Known for his powerfully clear and relatable style, Howard presents the wisdom regarding how to understand and integrate more with the creative power of the mind to accomplish what is desired or to overcome any challenge you face in life, allowing you to achieve a greater sense of peace, understanding, and fulfillment in the process. More about his book and work can be found at HowardFalco.com. He is also on Facebook and Twitter (@Howard Falco). Interview conducted 8/11/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:02 - The Journey to Happiness 00:09:07 - Finding the Answer in the Seminar 00:13:12 - A Funny Story about Intention 00:16:23 - Pearls of Insight and Infinite Possibility 00:19:48 - The Shift in Understanding 00:22:25 - A Thirty-Five Year Journey 00:24:50 - The intention of rocks and matter 00:26:54 - The Power of Personal Creation 00:29:26 - The Beauty of Divine Universe 00:31:37 - The Malleability of Consciousness 00:34:01 - The possibility of an abrupt turnaround 00:36:13 - Finding Wisdom within Yourself 00:38:46 - The Sacredness of Attention 00:40:56 - Accepting Where You Are 00:43:33 - The Formation of Beliefs and the Role of the Ego 00:45:49 - Accepting Limitations for Personal Growth 00:48:48 - Embracing Uncomfortable Change 00:51:58 - Becoming a Witness to Your Ego 00:55:13 - Being Multi-dimensional and the Thrill of Life 00:58:50 - The Paradox of Giving and Receiving 01:01:33 - The Role of Emotions in Achieving Balance 01:04:09 - Intention and the Resting State of Consciousness 01:07:05 - The Nature of Creativity 01:10:04 - Battling Resistance and Fear of Change 01:13:21 - The Power of Awareness and Faith 01:16:10 - The Power of Acceptance and Understanding 01:19:52 - The Story of the Drowning Man and Divine Intervention 01:23:02 - Bridging Spirituality and Science 01:26:16 - Lessons in Everything 01:29:32 - Farewell Scottsdale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Physicist’s 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

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

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

Ilona Ciunaite and Elena Nezhinsky are the founders of Liberation Unleashed, an international network of people dedicated to guiding people to awakening from the illusion of separation. Both Ilona and Elena have seen through the illusory nature of the apparently separate self, which is nothing more than a mental construct—a concept that when thoroughly questioned clearly reveals that there is nothing behind the word 'me' at all. Ilona was born in Lithuania and now lives in the UK. She has a degree in psychology, but has never worked in the field; instead she works as a tattoo artist, running her own studio together with her husband. She is a simple and ordinary human with a mindset to focus on freedom for herself and those who find her. Her blog, "Marked, Eternal", is a collection of articles and conversations that demonstrate how easy it is to see that there is no self when one is ready and willing to look. She has always been interested in the 'mind' as such and enjoyed studying the subject from different angles. Observing her own mind led to a deep understanding of how the mind works, how to overcome confusion, and free it from feedback loops. She has been a seeker like many others but had never attended a retreat or satsang until after awakening. Elena Nezhinsky met her close friend and a senior teacher of the Gurdjieff Way in 1998, and since then began a serious investigation of the mind and feelings, and searching for the truth of being. The sudden death of her teacher brought her to a Vipassana meditation practice of mind purification, which she did diligently for 7 years in frequent silent retreats. After leaving Vipassana she found Adyashanti and spent a week in retreat with him, which made her ponder that there are other ways to awakening. In 2010 Elena woke up to the reality of "no-self" with the help of Direct Pointing. Since then she has been helping others to awaken and see the truth of anatta - no-self with the same method. Liberation Unleashed is a rapidly expanding, international project that brings seekers together with those who have awakened and are dedicated to guiding or simply share experiences in a community that is based on honesty and love. There is no greater joy than bringing joy to other hearts and celebrating the gift of freedom. Interview Recorded 8/18/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introducing Elena and Ilona and their work in "Liberation Unleashed" 00:02:54 - The Silence of the Voice in the Head 00:06:20 - The Illusion of Seeking and Chaos Outside 00:11:34 - The Illusion of the Self 00:15:40 - Degrees of Seeing and Fullness Experiences 00:19:40 - The Journey Towards Self-Realization 00:23:43 - The Process of "Falling" 00:27:38 - Dissipation of Fear and Attachment 00:34:11 - Different Types of Meditation 00:38:44 - The Illusion of Reaching Back for States 00:42:50 - Crossing the Gate of Self 00:45:49 - Working with Beliefs and Identifications 00:49:45 - Experiencing the Illusion of Self 00:55:16 - The Simplicity of Awakening and Language Barriers 00:59:38 - The Complete Package of Embodied Realization 01:03:10 - Sensations in the Body 01:07:33 - The Purpose of the Useful Talk Group 01:11:39 - The Existence of the World and the Tree 01:13:57 - The Nature of Consciousness 01:17:54 - Misinterpretation of Tony Parsons' Words 01:21:16 - The belief in a separate Self 01:24:07 - Trust in the Flow of Life 01:28:12 - Liberated from Illusion of the Separate Entity 01:31:45 - Discussion about Bentinho's Approach to Self-Realization 01:35:24 - The Evolution of Teaching Techniques 01:39:19 - Opening of the Heart 01:42:16 - Words as Little Signposts 01:46:00 - Using Different Approaches in Guidance 01:49:38 - The Meaning of Maya and a New Application 01:52:24 - Effortless Contribution and Gratitude from the Community 01:56:20 - Where to find these interviews