Jim Grove is a lifelong practitioner of yogic meditation who grew up in a small logging town on the West Coast of Canada. At age thirteen, he was introduced to a teacher who was one of the few ministers directly ordained by Paramahansa Yogananda during his lifetime, Mother Yogacharya M. Hamilton of Seattle. A series of early transcendental experiences convinced him to commit himself to continued yogic practice under her tutelage. His recent memoir, A Curious Spiritual Journey, recounts some of the prominent experiences that have arisen from his practice over four decades, starting from early adolescence, in the interests of providing some insight into the often unpredictable process of spiritual unfoldment. He likes to speak plainly about spiritual experience and practice, avoiding the vague, abstract, and sometimes inflated language used in much spiritual and new age writing. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Website: jimgrove.ca
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded February 15, 2025
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Jim Grove's Journey in Yogic Meditation
00:03:42 Editing a Manuscript: From 80,000 to 55,000 Words
00:07:23 Discovering a Life-Changing Teacher
00:11:24 A Humorous Encounter at Denny's
00:16:23 Spiritual Awakening and Motivation Changes
00:21:30 The Ripple Effect of Everyday Actions
00:25:47 Mariana Kaplan's Global Soccer Mission
00:30:15 The Importance of Spiritual Integrity and Ethical Conduct
00:34:29 The Importance of Integrity in Organizations and Community
00:38:25 Cultural Ethics vs. Universal Values
00:42:13 The Importance of Humility and Kindness in Life
00:47:09 Leadership Dynamics and Corporate Culture
00:51:16 The Purpose of Suffering and Spiritual Growth
00:55:51 Embracing Mortality in Tibetan Buddhism
00:59:10 Exploring Shamanic Practices and Cross-Cultural Spirituality
01:03:24 Exploring the Life and Teachings of Joel Goldsmith
01:06:55 Joel Goldsmith and Spiritual Anecdotes
01:10:33 Exploring Multiverse and Other Dimensions
01:14:40 The Role of Specialists in Reincarnation Research
01:18:30 Exploring Past Life Regressions and Reincarnation
01:23:25 Vision of Furry Boots with Curly Toes
01:27:52 Healing Through Past Life Regression
01:31:46 Balancing Depth and Breadth in Personal Growth
01:36:04 Exploring Kundalini Activation and Spiritual Growth
01:40:49 The Metaphor of the Ring: Ego and Humility Lessons from Tolkien
01:45:52 The Concept of Humility in Spiritual Teachings
01:49:50 The Spiritual Lessons of the Prodigal Son and Christ's Doubt
01:54:11 Career Shift: From Private Sector to Provincial Government
01:59:06 Embracing Change and Trusting the Universe
02:03:47 Instilling Inner Guidance in Children
02:07:44 Future of Humanity: Transitions and Endgames