Tony Samara, author of ‘Shaman's Wisdom,’ ‘The Simplicity of Love Meditation,’ ‘Different Yet the Same,’ ‘Discover Your Inner Buddha’ and 10 other titles, spent his early years in England, Egypt and also in Norway, where he discovered the Zen Buddhist philosophy. This discovery eventually led him to the Mount Baldy Zen Centre in California, USA, where he received the spiritual teachings of Roshi Sasaki.
His first spiritual teacher, at the age of 12, was the question - Who Am I? - and for a few years, he immersed himself more deeply into this question. He had the curiosity to explore further the essence of spirituality and ventured to many different countries, learning much about the various spiritual traditions and cultures, in a non-dualistic and open-minded way.
Whilst making pilgrimages to numerous sacred sites in India and other parts of the world, Tony was able to dwell deeply upon the ancient Vedic and Jain philosophies and various mystical practices and work profoundly with the essence of these teachings.
Tony Samara believes that: “The vast majority of people go through life without directly experiencing the depth of their true self or understanding their connection to life or their relationship to others and to the world at large. We are often taught to only relate to the world through our senses. We think, we reason, we feel - but we do not know from our hearts what it means to be connected to what is beyond the senses.”
He recognizes that direct experiences have the potential to radically transform an individual and his or her life, as well as promote a profound and effortless letting go of past emotional, mental and physical pain and suffering.
Tony Samara teaches with humour, humility and with infinite patience, empowering the individual with courage, trust and inner strength to continue on this journey back into wholeness, a path that leads towards real freedom.
Website: tonysamara.com
Transcript of this interview
Interview recorded 6/18/2017.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:30 - A Different Way of Perceiving
00:06:22 - Sensitivity to the Environment
00:09:24 - The Transformative Power of Pain and Initiation
00:12:10 - A Child's Influence on Vegetarianism
00:15:20 - The Complexity of Being Human
00:18:18 - Starting the Journey of Meditation
00:21:26 - The Joy of Meditation and the Search for Awakening
00:24:34 - The Joy of Sitting in Meditation
00:27:42 - The Importance of Internal Positivity in Meditation
00:30:43 - The Quality of Experience
00:33:48 - The Mind's Role in Confusion and Happiness
00:36:56 - The Positive Effects of Meditation
00:39:49 - The Benefits of Morning and Evening Meditation
00:42:28 - Leaving the Zen Monastery
00:45:32 - Adapting to Change and Exploring India
00:48:48 - Nonverbal Transmission in Spiritual Practice
00:51:55 - Multi-dimensionality and the Expression of Reality
00:54:50 - Spirituality as Diving into a Deep Ocean
00:58:07 - Shifting into a Different Dimension
01:01:26 - Awakening and Gradual Transformation
01:04:42 - The Importance of Cultivating Consciousness
01:07:40 - The Use of Psychedelics in Spiritual Practice
01:10:40 - Importance of Diet for Meditation
01:13:48 - The Importance of Transformative Food and Exercise
01:16:50 - The Correlation between Happiness in the Body and Mind
01:19:45 - Spiritual Awakening and Adjusting to Change
01:22:41 - The Intense Energy of the World and Manifestation Opportunities
01:25:37 - Opportunities in Crisis
01:28:34 - Accessing Consciousness in Challenging Moments
01:31:21 - Connecting to Transmission and Intuition