The Dangers of Extreme Spiritual Practice

Jeff Carreira is a meditation teacher, mystical philosopher and author who works with a growing number of people throughout the world. As a teacher, he offers retreats and courses guiding individuals in a form of meditation he refers to as The Art of Conscious Contentment. Through this simple and effective technique, he has led thousands of people in a journey beyond the confines of fear and self-concern into the expansive liberated awareness that is our true home. As a philosopher, Jeff is interested in defining a new way of being in the world that will move us from our current paradigm of separation and isolation into an emerging paradigm of unity and wholeness. In his books and lectures, he explores revolutionary ideas in the domains of spirituality, consciousness, and human development. He creates courses and programs that encourage people to question their most foundational experience of reality until previously held assumptions fall away leaving space for a dramatically new understanding to emerge. Jeff is passionate about the potential ideas have to shape how we perceive reality and how we live together. His enthusiasm for learning is infectious, and he has taught at colleges and universities throughout the world. Jeff is the author of numerous books including: The Path of Spiritual Breakthrough: From Awakening to Cosmic Awareness American Awakening: Evolutionary Spirituality, Non-Duality, and Free Thinking in the Tradition of American Philosophy Philosophy Is Not a Luxury: Four Reasons to Start Thinking About How You Think The Soul of a New Self: Embracing the Future of Being Human Paradigm Shifting: Guiding Evolution from the Inside The Art of Conscious Contentment Website: jeffcarreira.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded May 20, 2023. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:24 - Discovering Conscious Contentment 00:11:12 - The Influence of Past Experiences 00:18:53 - The Bright, Clear Awareness 00:26:00 - The End of Seeking: Letting Go and Contentment 00:32:29 - Letting go in Meditation 00:40:10 - Overcoming Sleepiness in Meditation 00:45:28 - Lucid Dreaming and Spiritual Experience 00:49:39 - Interpreting Spiritual Experiences 00:54:07 - The Role of Interpretation in Spiritual Progress 01:00:44 - Exploring New Paths and Spiritual Growth 01:04:51 - P.D. Ospensky and Cosmic Consciousness 01:10:53 - Embracing Creative Expression 01:16:32 - Expressing Ourselves and Taking a Break 01:21:24 - "Partners on the Spiritual Path" 01:29:07 - The Effects of "Crazy Wisdom" Teaching 01:34:21 - The End of an Experiment 01:38:12 - Transparency and Spiritual Integrity 01:41:57 - The Intensity of Spiritual Practice 01:46:09 - Spiritual Experiences and Seeking Alone in the Mountains 01:49:01 - Embracing the Opportunities in Your Circumstances 01:54:02 - The Middle Realms of Being 01:58:23 - The Importance of Non-Dual Awakening & the Advaita Tradition 02:02:10 - Higher Realms of the Soul