Ep. 138 (Dialogue 1, Part 2 of 2) | In this rich and engaging conversation, the first episode of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali gives us a beautiful overview of the Diamond Approach, which is a brilliant integration of teachings and a path of awakening born out of his own direct experience and informed by his deep understanding of the world’s great spiritual traditions and modern psychology. Here, Hameed details the many facets of the Diamond Approach that make it unique among spiritual paths, which leads down several intriguing avenues of exploration: What is the Diamond Approach’s understanding of the soul? How does spiritual guidance work? What are the four turnings that give context and structure to students on this spiritual path? Hameed delves, too, into the importance of inquiry on our road to discovering our true nature, love’s role in allowing us to trust reality, and the importance of realizing that the ultimate lives within each individual.

Hameed also shares personal aspects of his journey: how he was guided from the precise field of physics to the field of psychology, how he came to the revelation of the human soul, and what he attributes to why he has been so receptive to spiritual openings and realizations throughout his life. The Diamond Approach is not only about discovering the nature of absolute reality—it is also about realizing ultimate consciousness in ordinary life, to experience the beauty and richness of a life lived in simple freedom and enjoyment. As Hameed says, “Know, by engaging the path, it is possible to be free.” Recorded June 13, 2024.

“To get into the spiritual universe and find the richness, the beauty, and the freedom, you need to go deep – you need to go vertical not horizontal.”

(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)

Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2

• What has allowed Hameed to be so unusually receptive to spiritual realizations and teachings? (00:51)
• How Hameed was guided from physics to psychology (03:13)
• How psychology got integrated into the Diamond Approach (07:36)
• Unique to the Diamond Approach is Hameed doesn’t throw away any of what he has experienced, even as things continue to change (08:47)
• The four turnings are a way of organizing the teaching for students, giving context and framework (10:38)
• Applying knowledge of the spiritual deep to physics (11:45)
• Inquiry: the process of dissolving obstacles and discovering reality (15:16)
• The first of the four turnings: experiencing realizations as a free and timeless individual—ordinary spirituality (18:25)
• The second turning is nondual: one is the vastness, the ocean of awareness (20:09)
• The third turning: the realization of nonlocality, the whole universe is in a grain of sand and I am the grain of sand (21:26)
• The fourth turning includes many realizations—one of which is the realization of “nobody here” (22:30)
• The fifth turning begins with indeterminacy (24:01)
• The turnings came to Hameed as a sequence, but there is no limit to potential awakenings (25:18)
• This path is not for everybody and the importance of validating each spiritual path (27:18)
• Inquiry is a skill of consciousness (29:35)
• For true realization you need to go deep—not horizontal but vertical (31:45)
• The motivation is different for different people, but the important thing is to feel the fire, the passion…and know, by engaging the path, it is possible to be free (33:07)

Resources & References – Part 2

• A. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home: Soul’s Realization of the Unity of Reality*
• Object relations theory
• A. H. Almaas, Space Cruiser Inquiry: True Guidance for the Inner Journey*
• The Ridhwan School, home of the Diamond Approach, founded by A. H. Almaas
• A. H. Almaas, Runaway Realization: Living a Life of Ceaseless Discovery*

Note: The A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series will generally follow the sequence of Hameed’s magnum opus, The Inner Journey Home* (which John describes as “psychoactive and spiritually, psychologically, and intellectually transformative”), so listeners may want to get a copy of this book, to study and follow along on this exhilarating path of awakening.

* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.

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A. Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas) was born in Kuwait in 1944. At the age of eighteen, he moved to the U.S. to study at the University of California in Berkeley. Hameed was working on his Ph.D. in physics when he reached a turning point in his life and destiny that led him to inquire into the psychological and spiritual aspects of human nature rather than the physical nature of the universe. He left the academic world to pursue an in-depth journey of inner discovery, applying his scientific precision and discipline to personal, experiential research. This included study with different teachers in different modalities, extensive reading, and continuous study of his own consciousness in an effort to understand the essential nature of human experience and reality in general.

Hameed’s process of exploration led to the creation of the Ridhwan School and, with his colleague Karen Johnson, resulted in the founding and unfoldment of the Diamond Approach. He is the author of 20 books, including Nondual Love: Awakening to the Loving Nature of Reality, Love Unveiled: Discovering the Essence of the Awakened Heart, Keys to the Enneagram: How to Unlock the Highest Potential of Every Personality Type, The Unfolding Now: Realizing Your True Nature through the Practice of Presence, and more.

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Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell