Spirit Gym with Paul Chek

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375— The Social Contract You Never Signed Is Destroying Your Freedom With Mark Gober

Dec 9, 2025

Guest

Mark Gober

In this enlightening chat, Mark Gober, an author and researcher on consciousness and political philosophy, dives deep into the unseen social contracts that govern our lives without our consent. He discusses the shift in his focus to politics following COVID, the connection between liberty and free will, and how near-death experiences can inform our ethical frameworks. Together with Paul, he critiques the modern government as akin to a corporation and emphasizes the importance of compassion and discernment in decision-making. Discover how our earthly experiences serve as pivotal lessons for spiritual awakening.

02:29:54

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INSIGHT

Pandemic Shifted Spiritualists Toward Politics

The 2020 shutdown forced Mark Gober from spiritual curiosity into political inquiry after trusted teachers supported mandates.
He concluded governance questions are spiritual and required new books connecting metaphysics to political theory.

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ADVICE

Practice The Non‑Aggression Principle

Abide by the non-aggression principle: do not initiate aggression against another's body, property, or money.
Reserve the right to self-defense if someone initiates aggression against you.

insights

INSIGHT

Life Reviews Connect Ethics To Reality

Near-death experiences suggest a life review where one feels others' experiences, supporting a natural-law basis for the Golden Rule.
This life-review evidence links metaphysics to political ethics like non-aggression.

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Why 2020 Pulled Me Toward Politics

02:21 • 1min

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Spiritual Awakening Led to New Questions

03:46 • 1min

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Seeing Spiritual Teachers Support Mandates

04:46 • 2min

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From Awakening to Writing Political Books

06:59 • 3min

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Defining Liberty via Non‑Aggression

10:01 • 1min

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Authority, Tribalism, and the Child Archetype

Rites of Passage and Societal Immaturity

18:16 • 9min

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COVID as Spiritual Awakening and Test

Changing Your Mind Is Spiritual Growth

32:34 • 3min

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Free Will, Consciousness, and the Stream Model

35:33 • 5min

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Near‑Death Life Reviews and the Golden Rule

Science, Consciousness, and the Limits of Measurement

49:33 • 4min

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What Is Government and Implied Consent?

Government as Corporate Headquarters

01:07:05 • 10min

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Trauma, Fear, and Reversion in Consciousness

01:17:11 • 7min

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Compassion, Discernment, and Weaponized Goodwill

01:24:00 • 10min

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Practical Alternatives: Localism and Voluntarism

01:33:56 • 17min

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A Metaphysical Political Philosophy

01:50:30 • 10min

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We Are the Environment: Interdependence and Love

02:00:19 • 4min

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Be Your Own Savior; Take Responsibility

02:04:10 • 4min

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Control Outcomes vs. Integrity of Action

02:08:39 • 8min

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Earth as a School and the Riddler Metaphor

The Great Grain Fallacy

Jane Buxton

Rivers of Life

Sources and streams of faith of man in all lands

James George Roche Forlong

#3693

• Mentioned in 10 episodes

After

Bruce Greyson

In 'After,' Dr. Bruce Greyson shares his transformative journey and extensive research on near-death experiences (NDEs). Starting from a position of scientific skepticism, Greyson delves into the nature of consciousness and the continuity of life beyond death. The book presents first-person accounts of NDEs, discusses various theories, and explores how these experiences can change individuals' outlooks on life. Greyson argues that dying could be a transition rather than an ending, challenging the conventional fear of death and offering a new perspective on the human experience. The book is accessible to both newcomers and those already familiar with the subject, providing a balanced and scientifically grounded exploration of NDEs.

#245

• Mentioned in 81 episodes

Finite and infinite games

James P. Carse

In this book, James P. Carse distinguishes between finite and infinite games. Finite games are instrumental activities with clear rules, boundaries, and winners, such as sports, politics, and wars. Infinite games, on the other hand, are authentic interactions that aim to continue the play, changing rules and boundaries as needed. Carse explores how these concepts apply to various aspects of life, including culture, religion, sexuality, and self-discovery. He argues that finite games offer wealth, status, and power, while infinite games provide something more subtle and grander, such as true freedom and endless possibility. The book offers insights into how approaching life as either a finite or infinite game affects one's choices, satisfaction, and success.

Ecocide in the USSR

Murray Feshback

#104

• Mentioned in 141 episodes

Tao te ching

Laozi

The Tao Te Ching is a central text in Taoist philosophy and religion. It consists of 81 brief chapters or sections that discuss the nature of the Tao, which is described as the source and ideal of all existence. The text emphasizes living in harmony with nature, the importance of simplicity, humility, and the interconnectedness of all things. It critiques unnatural actions and social activism based on abstract moralism, advocating for a life of 'nonaction' (wu wei) and spontaneity. The text has been highly influential in Chinese philosophy and has been translated numerous times, making it one of the most translated texts in world literature.

An End to the Upside Down Reset

Mark Gober

#5947

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

An End to Upside Down Thinking

Dispelling the Myth That the Brain Produces Consciousness, and the Implications for Everyday Life

Mark Gober

In 'An End to Upside Down Thinking,' Mark Gober presents a comprehensive overview of the evidence that threatens the core assumptions of the materialistic view of reality. He argues that consciousness is not a product of the brain but rather the primary organizing principle of the universe. Gober draws on a diverse set of disciplines, including psychic phenomena, near-death experiences, and quantum physics, and is supported by cutting-edge thinkers such as Dr. Ervin Laszlo, Dr. Dean Radin, and Larry Dossey, MD. The book aims to shift our collective outlook on human potential and how we treat one another, with implications for science, technology, medicine, and everyday issues like happiness and health.

#21849

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

healing with haiku

annie

#38754

An End to Upside Down Liberty

Mark Gober

Mark Gober's "An End to Upside Down Liberty" offers a unique perspective on politics, integrating spiritual and consciousness-based principles. The book challenges conventional political frameworks, proposing alternative models based on a deeper understanding of human nature and interconnectedness. Gober explores the impact of spiritual bypass and the importance of confronting shadow aspects of society. He examines the role of consciousness in shaping political realities, advocating for a more holistic and integrated approach to governance. The book encourages readers to question established norms and envision a more just and equitable future.

#19717

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

An End to Upside Down Living

Mark Gober

Did anyone ask you to sign a contract that gives your government permission to pay for immoral things you never supported like stockpiling nuclear weapons?

Mark Gober explores the many problems with the numerous abstract social contracts you never agreed to and how open-eyed compassion and discernment can light a path to more informed, people-centric decisions this week on Spirit Gym.

Find out more about Mark on his website and on social media via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube and Telegram.

Timestamps

3:13 Before 2020, Mark had less than zero interest in politics.

10:23 Liberty and the non-aggression principle.

13:41 Authority figures.

26:51 A rite of passage at an unconscious level.

30:46 “I think you’re probably right about this, but my life is good the way it is…”

35:18 The connection between liberty and free will.

40:29 Applying near-death experiences to the Golden Rule.

54:33 Statism.

1:07:58 A very different approach to medicine.

1:11:23 Are we living in a Leviathan state?

1:24:29 A need for compassion and discernment.

1:38:02 The Austrian school of economics theory.

1:50:35 A metaphysical political philosophy.

2:08:33 “I can’t control the outcome of the world but what I can control is my own behavior.”

2:15:07 The earth is an elementary school for young souls.

2:23:19 The Riddler.

Resources

An End to Upside Down Liberty by Mark Gober

Paul’s Spirit Gym conversations with Dr. Christiane Northrup and Anne Helfer

Find more resources for this episode on our website.

Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz), Composed, mixed, mastered and produced by Michael RB Schwartz of Brave Bear Music

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