Linda was born in Sydney in 1958. She had virtually no interest in meditation or spiritual matters until at the age of 37 she was introduced to Peter Jones, an enlightened man who became her first teacher. This meeting was an intense experience for her. There was a depth to the communication she had not experienced before, and it triggered a search for freedom, which was soon the major focus of her life. At this time she had two teenage children and was running a small business, but she managed to make time for intensive meditation.
In 1997 she had a profound awakening during a ten-day retreat in northern New South Wales with Peter Jones. She later described the experience as ‘deeper than bliss’. She meditated with Peter Jones whenever she could, and also regularly spent time with the enlightened teacher Barry Long. During this time she met the Japanese Zen Master, Hogen Yamahata, who also impressed her with his deeply enlightened presence and humility.
Early in 2003 Peter told Linda that she would reach the depth of enlightenment with or without a teacher. She still had a strong desire for extended periods of meditation practice, and at that time Peter was not able to offer this, so she started attending retreats led by Hogen Yamahata. For the next two years she practised with Hogen-san and attended his Zen retreats as often as possible. She was also in close contact with Peter.
In 2004 she travelled to Japan and spent six weeks at a Zen monastery with Hogen-san’s Master, Harada Tangen Roshi, known as Roshi Sama. Her time with him was intense. She sensed she was close to the culmination of her journey. She returned to Australia in a deeply detached, peaceful state. Roshi Sama gave her the name Dai’an Jishin, which translates as ‘deep peace, compassionate heart/mind’. Her search ended during a ten-day retreat with Hogen-san at Springbrook, in the mountains behind the Gold Coast in Queensland.
Website: simplemeditation.net
Summary and Transcript of this interview
Interview conducted 8/2/2014
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Linda Clare
00:04:26 - The Fear of Becoming Enlightened
00:08:09 - Confronting Fear and Enlightenment
00:12:40 - Facing fear and discomfort during meditation
00:16:30 - The Journey to Enlightenment
00:19:22 - The Shock of Awakening and Adjusting to the Absolute State
00:23:33 - Anesthesia and Enlightenment
00:26:29 - The Desire for Enlightenment
00:30:26 - Expanded Awareness and Perception
00:34:15 - The Whirlwind of Amma's Activity
00:37:41 - The Necessity of Meditation and Relationship with a Teacher
00:41:40 - The Shock of Realization and the Need for Preparation
00:46:06 - Physiological Transformation During Enlightenment
00:49:59 - Tapas: Burning off the Dross
00:53:44 - Appreciating the Absolute and Relative
00:58:01 - Living in the Present Moment
01:01:13 - The Overratedness of Thinking
01:04:48 - The Intelligence of the Body and Nature
01:08:27 - Love and Freedom from Fear
01:11:58 - The Experience of Connection and Oneness
01:15:16 - Student Enlightenment and the Beauty of Transformation
01:19:07 - Staying Aware and Avoiding Pitfalls
01:23:33 - Discovering the Teacher and the Path
01:27:30 - Peter Jones and Studying in Japan
01:31:02 - Gradual Realization of the Shocking Experience
01:35:03 - Overcoming Fear and Realizing the Unknown
01:39:09 - The Connection between Determination and Enlightenment
01:42:28 - The Impact on Relationships
01:46:13 - Opportunities for Retreats and Sessions
01:48:43 - Conclusion and Wrap-up
01:51:36 - Interview with Dan Harris