Ep. 160 (Part 1 of 2) | In this profoundly moving and inspiring conversation, GRIP Training Institute CEO, Kim Moore, and facilitator/trainer Fateen Jackson, Sr., also a GRIP graduate, educate us as to the power and magic of the GRIP prison movement, based on Jacques Verduin’s model: Leaving Prison Before You Get Out. This yearlong trauma healing and accountability program is unique in the degree of radical transformation it aims for—and delivers. It is about freeing minds, and as Kim points out, goes beyond the duality of teacher/student, inmate/not inmate, victim/offender to where everyone joins in a mutual journey of healing, transformation, and liberation.The program is so transformative that ripple effects from GRIP students can be felt throughout the prison, and GRIP graduates often struggle with how little emotional intelligence and trauma healing work the rest of us have done when they get out.Kim and Fateen shine a bright light on the inestimable value of a caring, compassionate community, pointing out that deep personal transformation and taking responsibility doesn’t happen in isolation. They share illuminating stories of their own experiences, and the dedication and gladness they exude in this talk is itself impactful and inspiring. There is something in this conversation, maybe because it touches our deepest brokenness and then lifts it up and redeems it, that reaches right into one’s heart and infuses it with inspiration, hope, compassion, and love. Recorded November 21, 2024.“The wisdom that is born in these groups goes way beyond prison.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing GRIP CEO Kim Moore, facilitator/trainer Fateen Jackson, and the remarkable program Guiding Rage into Power (01:15)How did Kim come to have a life purpose of facilitating transformation? (04:06)Moving out of privilege into direct relationship with the realities of criminal justice (06:25)Fateen’s story and how GRIP allowed him to source the trauma that led to prison and transform it (09:19)The morning Fateen was released and the ripple effects of GRIP (16:03)4 foundations of GRIP: cultivating mindfulness, developing emotional intelligence, doing no harm, understanding victim & survivor impact (19:39)The importance of building a safe container and building trust (20:52)GRIP assignments: the unfinished business letter, apology to the victims letter, and more (22:18)The emotional/energetic arc the group goes through, ending with a deep sense of empathy for the survivors or victims (25:33)What is the power and the magic of GRIP? 1) instruction, 2) practice/tools, 3) processing (28:36)The incredible power of a healing community (30:07)Leaving prison mentally, emotionally, spiritually can happen even while still in prison, without hope of release (30:55) The healing itself is the reward—that’s where the freedom comes from (32:12) How GRIP students affect the rest of the prison: flipping the culture of the yard (33:20)Becoming peacemakers: taking responsibility for your own healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community (34:39)What happens when you get out of prison? (36:22)Recidivism and Fateen’s story of looking for a job (37:46)GRIP’s reentry support for prisoners who are released (42:50)The extraordinarily low 1.7% recidivism rate of GRIP students (46:28)Resources & References – Part 1Guiding Rage into Power program, the GRIP Training Institute (where you can watch a moving and impactful short video of a group in process)Jacques Verduin, founder of GRIP, Leaving Prison Before You Get Out: A Transformational Healing Journey for Incarcerated People to Learn How to Guide Their Rage Into Power (GRIP)john a. powell, director of The Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley, advancing groundbreaking approaches to transforming structural marginalization and inequalityMC Hammer, Pray (Just to Make it Today), YouTube music video---Kim Moore has spent more than two decades working to make the San Francisco Bay Area a more just and equitable community through her work as a community organizer on issues of affordable housing, healthcare, immigration, violence prevention, and criminal justice reform. She has dedicated the last eight years to The GRIP Training Institute, a restorative justice organization serving hundreds of incarcerated individuals across seven California prisons, where she serves as Executive Director, and the entirety of her career to advancing justice and building a Beloved Community. A strong believer in the principle, “The first revolution is internal,” Kim considers meditation and the Dharma the foundation of her work for justice in the community. Kim is also a Buddhist chaplain in the Theravada tradition, and holds degrees in anthropology from Stanford University and Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.---Fateen Jackson, Sr, is from Long Beach, California, and currently resides in Northern California. Fateen completed the GRIP program as a student while still in San Quentin, in 2013. After graduation, he went on to facilitate several groups while still inside. He performed a spoken word piece called the Apologetic Salute, at a TEDx event, which was held at San Quentin in 2016. The spoken word piece was dedicated to the people who have suffered violence at the hands of another person. Fateen regained his freedom in 2019 after former governor Jerry Brown commuted his sentence. He joined the GRIP staff the same year, and is now a Senior Facilitator as well as the Senior Facilitator Trainer/Coordinator for the GRIP organization. He goes inside several institutions to deliver the GRIP program and to train people in the work.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 159 (Part 2 of 2) | In the 5th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, spiritual teacher and author Hameed Ali discusses the dynamic, ever changing, infinitely creative nature of the universe, and explains that our individual souls are in some sense a microcosm of this energy, with endless potentials and possibilities. We can experience creative dynamism, Hameed says, as “a sense of infinite energy, pulsing and throbbing, where we see the whole universe in continual emergence, every moment new.” Although the soul has boundless potential, we tend to take the limited approach that what we already know is the extent of things; the key to loosening the limits we place upon ourselves is to practice inquiry and remain open to all directions of possibilities. Each individual experiences the dynamism in a different way and expresses the potentiality of reality in a different way, says Hameed. When we are in touch with our true nature, we share in the creativity of the divine. In this conversation, Hameed also talks about death: how we can be curious about it, how it is the ultimate in finality, one more possibility of reality, and that he doesn’t presume to know it, only that true nature is the source of time and does not die. Life can be experienced like a fountain rather than a flowing river, Hameed relates. And the more our ego structures are released, the more we can open to its beautiful array of endless possibilities. Another profoundly intriguing, subtly humorous, and absolutely enlightening conversation with Hameed Ali. Recorded October 10, 2024.“We are thoughts in the mind of God, but God’s thoughts are not like human thoughts, they are creations.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Ordinary knowledge is a subset of basic knowledge, which is implicit in the beingness of what is manifesting; spirituality has to do with basic knowledge (00:59) What Hameed would like to add to the theory of evolution (04:47)It is possible for the soul to know itself; nothing else we achieve in life will bring total fulfillment (07:44) The logos is manifesting the potential of reality; part of this potential is for true nature to know itself through the organs of perception of the individual soul (10:06)The human being is designed to fill its purpose, but when you get into true nature, purpose doesn’t apply (12:08)Beyond Maslow’s motivation of self-transcendence: selfless service, transpersonal spontaneity, and the motivation to go beyond what we know (15:14)What about death? Nothing else has the finality of death (21:39)True nature doesn’t die; it is the source of time, pure timelessness (24:35)Dogen drops causality: ash is ash, wood is wood; life is life, death is death (26:48)Death is another possibility of reality (29:06)Experiencing life as a fountain rather than a flowing river (31:51)The more ego structures are released, the more we open to a beautiful array of possibilities & potentials (36:29)The ego is not false, it’s just limited (40:12)What the human being is free to actualize is to be open to all directions of possibilities (41:16)Resources & References – Part 2Charles Darwin’s theory of evolutionAbraham Maslow called the two major kinds of motives deficiency-based and sufficiency-based Roger Walsh & Lindsay Briner, The Farther Reaches of Motivation: Three Novel Motives from The World’s Contemplative TraditionsThe Supreme Source: The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde: Kunjed Gyalpo,* one of the original Dzogchen books, translated by Chogyal Namkai Norbu & Adriano Clemente,Dogen, founder of the Sōtō School of Zen, “Ash is ash, wood is wood.”The Tibetan Book of the Dead,* edited by Graham Coleman & Thupten Jinpa, translated by Gyurme Dorje, with introductory commentary by the Dalai LamaA. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School, home of The Diamond ApproachA. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home: Soul’s Realization of the Unity of Reality*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.---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.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 158 (Part 1 of 2) | In the 5th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, spiritual teacher and author Hameed Ali discusses the dynamic, ever changing, infinitely creative nature of the universe, and explains that our individual souls are in some sense a microcosm of this energy, with endless potentials and possibilities. We can experience creative dynamism, Hameed says, as “a sense of infinite energy, pulsing and throbbing, where we see the whole universe in continual emergence, every moment new.” Although the soul has boundless potential, we tend to take the limited approach that what we already know is the extent of things; the key to loosening the limits we place upon ourselves is to practice inquiry and remain open to all directions of possibilities. Each individual experiences the dynamism in a different way and expresses the potentiality of reality in a different way, says Hameed. When we are in touch with our true nature, we share in the creativity of the divine. In this conversation, Hameed also talks about death: how we can be curious about it, how it is the ultimate in finality, one more possibility of reality, and that he doesn’t presume to know it, only that true nature is the source of time and does not die. Life can be experienced like a fountain rather than a flowing river, Hameed relates. And the more our ego structures are released, the more we can open to its beautiful array of endless possibilities. Another profoundly intriguing, subtly humorous, and absolutely enlightening conversation with Hameed Ali. Recorded October 10, 2024.“The soul is a living expression of the fundamental nature of reality. There’s no end to the potentiality.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing the fifth A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series with Hameed Ali, focusing on the soul’s infinite potential and the creative dynamism of reality (01:07)The soul has boundless potential, but we tend to take the limited approach that what we know already is the extent of things (04:07)We don’t have to look for the boundless possibilities—we just need to be open (08:16)The main tool for fostering this openness is inquiry: what is presenting itself? (10:01)We all share the potential; we are all fundamentally connected (12:16)Reality, true nature, is in constant creative dynamism (13:34)The logos of the integration of spirituality and rational knowing can be applied to every field of knowledge (14:33)Imagine a community of scientists who are all realized spiritually, their inquiry powerfully infused by spiritual understanding (15:50)We are just at the beginning of understanding the physical world (18:22)Just because something is true doesn’t mean it’s complete (21:55)Einstein’s theory of relativity and the Riemannian manifold (26:03)The nondual is never separate from the dual (28:25)Distinguishing between the fundamental nature of pure awareness and the nature of the soul (30:27)The close connection between individual potential and creativity and universal dynamism and creativity (32:24)We can experience creative dynamism: a sense of infinite energy, where we see the universe in continual emergence, every moment new (34:14)Each one of us is a miniature logos (35:40)Each individual experiences the dynamism in a different way and expresses the potentiality of reality in a different way (36:51)God’s thoughts are not like human thoughts—they are creations (39:17)Resources & References – Part 1A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School, home of The Diamond ApproachA. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home: Soul’s Realization of the Unity of Reality*Dzogchen, a tradition of teachings in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Bön aimed at discovering and continuing in the ultimate ground of existenceAlfred North Whitehead, “Every moment is a creative advance into novelty.”Gödel’s incompleteness theoremsEinstein’s theory of relativityRiemannian manifoldKashmir ShaivismHeraclitis, pre-Socratic Greek philosopher who had great influence on both ancient and modern Western philosophyThe 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.---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. ---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 157 (Part 3 of 3) | Integral polymath Sean Esbjörn-Hargens is the first comparative scholar to undertake differentiating the myriad varieties of nonduality. A longtime spiritual practitioner within several nondual traditions, Sean wanted to find out how we can understand the relationship between reality, consciousness, and practice. He decided to delve into a comprehensive study of nonduality and was surprised and excited by what he found: 40 distinct nondual traditions, ancient and new, from East and West, fascinating in their differences, their similarities, their uniqueness, and their depth. Sean’s hope is that his comparative analysis of nondual traditions will open the door to a global, cross-tradition dialogue that will supersede centuries of misunderstanding and conflict among people arguing that their realization is the best and/or only correct interpretation of reality and allow nondual traditions to enrich and empower one another.Enthusiasm and excitement flow throughout the conversation as Sean reveals provocative patterns he has uncovered in nonduality's history and the distinctions he has mapped so far. It becomes clear that nondual realizations evolve in a way similar to developmental models in terms of subject/object relationship, psychology of self, and taking new perspectives, and that they will continue to evolve. As Sean puts it, “the ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization.” “What will our nondual traditions look like in a thousand years? In two thousand years!” Sean wonders. Hang on to your hats for a thoroughly enjoyable and eye opening ride through a goldmine of information about the many faces and potentials of our nondual traditions. Recorded September 12, 2024.“I want to come back to how we can operationalize this in our own lives…and how it can inform ourselves as practitioners in our journey of realization.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 3Is there a process for stabilization of these realizations? (01:25) 4 primary polarities across traditions: the goal, path, context, and practices (04:16)2 types of practice: apophatic and cataphatic (07:06)Service is another profound approach to “not two” nonduality (09:49)Enlightened action: no self, being in the flow; reality serves itself through awakened beings (11:46)What is going on psychologically as people move into nondual experiences? (17:18)Like in developmental models, the subject/object relationship, psychology of self, and taking new perspectives all evolve in nondual awareness (20:42)Invitation to explore the richness of different nondual traditions and the potential for a deeper cross-tradition dialogue (25:47)  Sean’s 10-week online course Varieties of Nonduality beginning in January 2025 (26:51)Resources & References – Part 3Advaita VedantaKashmir ShaivismRoger Walsh, Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind*David Loy, Nonduality: A Study in Comparative Philosophy*, Nonduality in Buddhism and Beyond*, see also Deep Transformation podcast Growing from Bodhisattva to Ecosattva with David LoyAlan Watts, The Supreme Identity*Understanding the Subject-Object Relationship with Ken Wilber (short YouTube video)The 10 Ox Herding PicturesSean Esbjörn-Hargens, Dean of Integral Education & Integral Noetic Sciences Program Director, California Institute of Human Sciences (CIHS), founder of MetaIntegral, a global transdisciplinary social impact organizationSean’s course coming up in January 2025: Varieties of Nonduality: A 10-Week Course in a Metaintegral Analysis of 10 Contemplative Traditions* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Varieties of Nondualityby Sean Esbjörn-HargensA 10-Week Course in a Metaintegral Analysis of 10 Contemplative TraditionsBeginning January 2025---Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, Ph.D. has spent his life developing “metaintegral” approaches to the fields of ecology, mixed-methods research, psychology and consciousness studies, philosophy of science, holistic education, and post-capital models of measuring social impact. He has been a long time serious meditator and practitioner within several nondual traditions: Tibetan Buddhism, The Russian Orthodox Church (Christianity), A. H. Almaas’ The Diamond Approach, The Ceile De Celtic tradition, and the Hermetic tradition. He is the Founder and Program Director of the MA/PhD program Integral Noetic Sciences at the California Institute for Human Sciences in Encinitas, CA.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 156 (Part 2 of 3) | Integral polymath Sean Esbjörn-Hargens is the first comparative scholar to undertake differentiating the myriad varieties of nonduality. A longtime spiritual practitioner within several nondual traditions, Sean wanted to find out how we can understand the relationship between reality, consciousness, and practice. He decided to delve into a comprehensive study of nonduality and was surprised and excited by what he found: 40 distinct nondual traditions, ancient and new, from East and West, fascinating in their differences, their similarities, their uniqueness, and their depth. Sean’s hope is that his comparative analysis of nondual traditions will open the door to a global, cross-tradition dialogue that will supersede centuries of misunderstanding and conflict among people arguing that their realization is the best and/or only correct interpretation of reality and allow nondual traditions to enrich and empower one another.Enthusiasm and excitement flow throughout the conversation as Sean reveals provocative patterns he has uncovered in nonduality's history and the distinctions he has mapped so far. It becomes clear that nondual realizations evolve in a way similar to developmental models in terms of subject/object relationship, psychology of self, and taking new perspectives, and that they will continue to evolve. As Sean puts it, “the ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization.” “What will our nondual traditions look like in a thousand years? In two thousand years!” Sean wonders. Hang on to your hats for a thoroughly enjoyable and eye opening ride through a goldmine of information about the many faces and potentials of our nondual traditions. Recorded September 12, 2024.“Our nondual traditions are one of the best things people have created – ever!”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Science and the new relationship between subject and object (00:50) 6 subject-object strategies that nondual traditions embrace (02:51)Roger’s acknowledgment of the enormous contribution Sean is making as the first comparative scholar to differentiate the varieties of nonduality (04:59)Provocative patterns in the history of nonduality and the mysterious flourishing of nondual traditions from around the 11th to the 14th century (09:28)Nondual texts that only emerged in the last 100 years have expanded our nondual horizons—and there’s a lot more to discover (13:08)The ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization (16:04)What are our nondual traditions going to look like in 1,000 years? (17:32)The concept of endless realizations and awakenings liberates us from needing to find the ultimate nondual realization (18:29)Dr. Jeffery Martin’s research: 32 fundamental positions on nonduality (20:29)Sequential realizations and why you might go back to a previous realization (21:43)What makes a global, comparative nondual analysis so worthwhile (26:04) You have to become someone before you become no one; and now you can become everyone (27:48)Merging consciousness with another’s unique realization: all one, empty, while also distinct and unique (30:02)Resources & References – Part 2The Axial AgeElaine Pagels, Beyond Belief: The Secret of Gospel of Thomas* Meister Eckhart, Catholic priest, theologian, philosopher & mysticJulian of Norwich, author of Revelations of Divine Love, a medieval book of Christian mystical devotionsMarshall Davis, Experiencing God Directly: The Way of Christian Nonduality*Advaita VedantaAdi Shankara, Vedic scholarSwami Gambhirananda, Eight Upanishads, with the Commentary of Sankaracarya, Vol. I*A. H. Almaas, Runaway Realization: Living a Life of Ceaseless Discovery*A. H. Almaas’ Diamond Approach, see also Deep Transformation podcast’s A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series (also available on YouTube)Dr. Jeffery Martin, The Finders*Center for Consciousness Studies’ Science of Consciousness ConferenceCarl Rogers’ fully functioning person, On Becoming A Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy* A. H. Almaas with Tami Simon, Endless Enlightenment: The View of Totality in the Diamond ApproachMarc Gafni, Your Unique Self: The Radical Path to Personal Enlightenment*Roger Walsh, Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind*Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, Dean of Integral Education & Integral Noetic Sciences Program Director, California Institute of Human Sciences (CIHS), founder of MetaIntegral, a global transdisciplinary social impact organizationSean’s course coming up in January 2025: Varieties of Nonduality: A 10-Week Course in a Metaintegral Analysis of 10 Contemplative Traditions* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Varieties of Nondualityby Sean Esbjörn-HargensA 10-Week Course in a Metaintegral Analysis of 10 Contemplative TraditionsBeginning January 2025---Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, Ph.D. has spent his life developing “metaintegral” approaches to the fields of ecology, mixed-methods research, psychology and consciousness studies, philosophy of science, holistic education, and post-capital models of measuring social impact. He has been a long time serious meditator and practitioner within several nondual traditions: Tibetan Buddhism, The Russian Orthodox Church (Christianity), A. H. Almaas’ The Diamond Approach, The Ceile De Celtic tradition, and the Hermetic tradition. He is the Founder and Program Director of the MA/PhD program Integral Noetic Sciences at the California Institute for Human Sciences in Encinitas, CA.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, an integral polymath and Dean of Integral Education at CIHS, explores the rich tapestry of nondual traditions. He discusses over 40 distinct interpretations of nonduality from both Eastern and Western philosophies. Excitement builds as he reveals how nondual realizations evolve like developmental models, and examines concepts of emptiness and omnipresence in Buddhism. Sean envisions a global dialogue that connects these diverse traditions, transforming our understanding of reality and consciousness.

Ep. 154 (Part 2 of 2) | In this 4th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, spiritual teacher Hameed Ali explains that much of the beginning of the spiritual path is spent clarifying our individual consciousness from the conditioning of the past in order to wake up and discover our true nature. In the Diamond Approach, this is accomplished using the practice of inquiry, and as we inquire deeply within, qualities intrinsic to consciousness emerge in our awareness. These qualities—like truth, courage, steadfastness, curiosity, and love—each have their own particular sensory expression: a certain color, texture, warmth or coolness, varying degrees of sweetness. The more these qualities emerge, Hameed says, the more powerful our practice and the more authentic our life. He calls these qualities treasures of the soul. This beautiful conversation ranges from profoundly moving, as Hameed evokes specific qualities of presence, to humorous, when he tells a funny story about Maharishi Yogi, to intensely illuminating as Hameed talks about the teaching of the first turning, the miracle of ordinary life, what it means to be spiritually mature, the nature of true sorrow, the fact that we are the universe being conscious, and how fundamental nature lies deeper than consciousness, deeper than awareness. It is a multifaceted gem, not to be missed. Recorded September 19, 2024.“The soul is the organ of knowledge of the universe.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2We have to take the dualistic world into account (00:59)Mature spirituality: just live your life; you have to start with ordinary life (02:31)The second (nondual), third & fourth turnings recognize there are other ways that reality appears (05:43)You can be pure consciousness living in a world of matter: in some sense, this is more miraculous than that everything is consciousness (07:01)Courage’s presence is like red lava, fiery and ruby red (09:39)Truth is also a quality: when I experience myself as truth, I feel myself as made out of pure gold, the gold of consciousness (10:24)Roger is deeply touched when Hameed evokes the sensory characteristics of the essential qualities; Hameed agrees it is very moving (13:43)To what extent are these sensory experiences specific to Hameed? Or are they universal? (15:02)Sincerity is a quality of presence (17:55)What do all these inherent qualities tell us about the nature of reality? (19:09)Fundamental nature is deeper than consciousness, deeper than awareness: I am is completely indeterminate (20:43)The nature of rational thought, discriminating awareness (24:22)Can we integrate ordinary knowledge with true knowing? (27:15)It’s important for people to know that consciousness can appear as a particular quality (29:13)These qualities are the treasures of the soul and the journey of learning about them is a beautiful adventure of discovery (31:41)The word brings out the quality and the quality brings out the word (35:21)Resources & References – Part 2A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School, home of The Diamond ApproachA. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home: Soul’s Realization of the Unity of Reality*Kashmir ShaivismThe Platonic Forms of the Socratic DialoguesRamana Maharshi, Who Am I? The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi*Parmenides, the first philosopher to inquire into the nature of existence itselfSufi mystic Ibn Arabi, “God needs a soul just as much as a soul needs God”Maharishi Yogi, creator of Transcendental MeditationTibetan Buddhist masters Chögyam Trungpa & Dilgo KhyentseThe 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.---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.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 153 (Part 1 of 2) | In this 4th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, spiritual teacher Hameed Ali explains that much of the beginning of the spiritual path is spent clarifying our individual consciousness from the conditioning of the past in order to wake up and discover our true nature. In the Diamond Approach, this is accomplished using the practice of inquiry, and as we inquire deeply within, qualities intrinsic to consciousness emerge in our awareness. These qualities—like truth, courage, steadfastness, curiosity, and love—each have their own particular sensory expression: a certain color, texture, warmth or coolness, varying degrees of sweetness. The more these qualities emerge, Hameed says, the more powerful our practice and the more authentic our life. He calls these qualities treasures of the soul. This beautiful conversation ranges from profoundly moving, as Hameed evokes specific qualities of presence, to humorous, when he tells a funny story about Maharishi Yogi, to intensely illuminating as Hameed talks about the teaching of the first turning, the miracle of ordinary life, what it means to be spiritually mature, the nature of true sorrow, the fact that we are the universe being conscious, and how fundamental nature lies deeper than consciousness, deeper than awareness. It is a multifaceted gem, not to be missed. Recorded September 19, 2024.“Courage, steadfastness, curiosity, and love are all expressions of our pure consciousness appearing as specific qualities.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing the 4th dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, focusing on the soul as “organism of consciousness” (00:59)The distinction between universal consciousness and individual consciousness (03:04)Much of the beginning of the path is spent clarifying individual consciousness from the conditioning of the past (05:50)The practice of inquiry is for the individual consciousness to wake up and discover what it is fundamentally (07:25)Courage, steadfastness, curiosity, and love are all expressions of pure consciousness appearing as specific qualities (11:04)Why we need these essential qualities: the more these qualities emerge, the more powerful the practice (13:21)How can you live your life authentically, without the qualities of integrity, courage, intelligence, clarity, inner peacefulness, and true sorrow? (16:02)True sorrow is a quality of presence—sorrow for the suffering, for what’s happening in the world (16:57)These qualities are the closest thing to the Platonic forms, necessary for the spiritual path and necessary for living (19:47)The incomparable or precious pearl at our center and the difference between personal essence and the individual soul (20:58)Psychological individuation is a forerunner for true individuation (23:33)Free of conditioning, we wake up to what we really are (24:59)The essential qualities are implicit in pure consciousness but they become differentiated in the soul (27:24)The teaching of the first turning is that the ordinary world is one way reality manifests—it’s not the product of our ignorance; it has its own spirituality (28:37)Ordinary life is miraculous! (34:36)As Parmenides said, order is the basis of reason (36:36)The universe becomes conscious through the beings who awaken: we are the universe being conscious (37:48)The inner world has more in it than the outer universe (41:52)The story of Maharishi Yogi and the bank accounts (43:46)Resources & References – Part 1A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School, home of The Diamond ApproachA. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home: Soul’s Realization of the Unity of Reality*Kashmir ShaivismThe Platonic Forms of the Socratic DialoguesRamana Maharshi, Who Am I? The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi*Parmenides, the first philosopher to inquire into the nature of existence itselfSufi mystic Ibn Arabi, “God needs a soul just as much as a soul needs God”Maharishi Yogi, creator of Transcendental MeditationThe 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.---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.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 152 (Part 2 of 2) | Life coach, recovery coach, and plant medicine ceremonialist Ron Interpreter has created a multidimensional, whole person healing modality that integrates Navajo spiritual teachings and traditions with Ken Wilber’s Integral Model and Integral spirituality. Humanity is shifting, Ron explains, and is now looking to the teachings of the ancestors and Indigenous practices that can bring a sense of authenticity, purpose, and meaning to our lives. Native spirituality teaches us how we can relate to the elements of earth, fire, water and air in terms of remedies and medicines, and also in terms of beliefs and emotional connections. Plant medicine and other mind-altering ceremonies provide us with the means to get beyond the psychological limitations we put on ourselves, attain higher states of consciousness, and receive answers to our deepest questions.With a calm, articulate fervency, Ron shares the ancestral wisdom he teaches to people in recovery or who are suffering from trauma, including special ops forces and veterans: the Native concepts of taking responsibility, being accountable, forging a relationship with God or Spirit, and living from a profound understanding of what it means to be a human being. “We are in the creation of self—how do we practice our selves?” Ron asks. The Indigenous teachings that Ron brings forward provide a deep sense of grounding in Nature and Spirit, as we come to a better understanding of our place in the universe and the practices that can open us up to living in a sacred way, in connection with divine being. Recorded August 1, 2024.“We have to see ourselves as human beings first.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Stopping the blame game—blaming colonialism—and healing intergenerational trauma (01:28)How do we practice our selves? Get back to our ancestral ways, see ourselves as human beings first (05:06)The future of recovery depends on the expansion of the practitioner’s approach and getting back to the elementals (11:00)What are the most valuable Native practices for healing and recovery? (18:10)Psychedelic medicines are tools to get beyond the psychological limitations we put on ourselves (23:52)Ceremony is vitally important to give context and reverence to a plant medicine experience (25:04)Building character in young people (26:11)In order for you to receive the medicine, you need to have a spiritual practice (28:29)At Ron’s church, a long period of practicing breathwork and other modalities will often precede the use of psychedelic tools (32:15)Facilitating plant medicine ceremonies for special ops forces and veterans (34:55)Native traditions are now accessible to help people understand what it means to be human (40:02)The future of addiction, especially with addictive potentials increasing exponentially (42:49) We have to stop looking at addiction as your experience, my experience (48:49)Resources & References – Part 2Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMasaru Emoto, The Hidden Messages in Water*Hanzi Freinacht, The Listening Society*, Nordic Ideology*Bildung, linking philosophy and education for both personal and cultural maturationiAwake Technologies, transformative sound technologies for an evolving world, co-founded by John DupuyThe Coming Home Project, founded in 2021 by Navy SEAL veteran Nate BrownThe Mission After, founded by Mike Bledsoe, empowering veterans to thrive in civilian lifeRon Interpreter’s consulting company, Interpretive Solutions LLC, specializes in business management solutions Ron Interpreter, co-founder of the church Sanctuary of ConsciousnessWesly Feuquay’s Psylogia Institute of Consciousness EvolutionJohn Dupuy, Integral Recovery: A Revolutionary Approach to the Treatment of Alcoholism and Addiction** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Ron Interpreter is a member of the Navajo Nation, with indigenous relations to the Apache and Yaqui Nations. As an Integral Certified Life Coach, Yoga YTT 200 HR Instructor, and Plant-Medicine Ceremonialist, Ron is motivated by an individual’s commitment of deepening their personal health and spiritual wellbeing. Ron facilitates a healing modality he calls “Beeh Ji Zhoni – Beauty Within,” an integrative practice incorporating Integral Theory and Navajo Principles of wellness to create a divine state of being; in which One’s alignment of consciousness and spirituality is attained by setting positive intentions, practicing self love, and initiating self discipline to create an abundant and healthy lifestyle. In his professional endeavors, Ron has expanded the Integral Theory framework into his Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery practices by utilizing the Integral Recovery Model to help individuals overcome substance abuse disease. Furthermore, as a co-founder of the church Sanctuary of Consciousness, whose ministry is to elevate consciousness throughout the planet, Ron integrates the Integral Spirituality Model—an approach to cultivating higher states of consciousness in the development of psychodynamic psychology, stimulating enlightenment experiences to cultivate sound life practices to heal the mind/body/soul connection. More about Ron here: The Psylogia Institute and Sanctuary Of Consciousness.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 151 (Part 1 of 2) | Life coach, recovery coach, and plant medicine ceremonialist Ron Interpreter has created a multidimensional, whole person healing modality that integrates Navajo spiritual teachings and traditions with Ken Wilber’s Integral Model and Integral spirituality. Humanity is shifting, Ron explains, and is now looking to the teachings of the ancestors and Indigenous practices that can bring a sense of authenticity, purpose, and meaning to our lives. Native spirituality teaches us how we can relate to the elements of earth, fire, water and air in terms of remedies and medicines, and also in terms of beliefs and emotional connections. Plant medicine and other mind-altering ceremonies provide us with the means to get beyond the psychological limitations we put on ourselves, attain higher states of consciousness, and receive answers to our deepest questions.With a calm, articulate fervency, Ron shares the ancestral wisdom he teaches to people in recovery or who are suffering from trauma, including special ops forces and veterans: the Native concepts of taking responsibility, being accountable, forging a relationship with God or Spirit, and living from a profound understanding of what it means to be a human being. “We are in the creation of self—how do we practice ourselves?” Ron asks. The Indigenous teachings that Ron brings forward provide a deep sense of grounding in Nature and Spirit, as we come to a better understanding of our place in the universe and the practices that can open us up to living in a sacred way, in connection with divine being. Recorded August 1, 2024.“What life am I practicing? Am I understanding who I am?”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing business consultant, integral life coach, recovery coach, and co-founder of the Sanctuary of Consciousness, Ron Interpreter of the Navajo tribe (00:59)How Ron came to work in recovery as well as teach wellness, yoga & personal development (02:59)Growing up on the Navajo Nation learning about our spiritual relationship with the universe, how to cultivate meaning & purpose, and using peyote medicine as a sacrament (08:11)On to architecture, consulting, wellness, and life coaching (10:01)Enter Integral Theory, which covered all the fundamental bases of Native traditions and philosophies (11:46)From integral coaching to recovery coaching, discovering John’s book Integral Recovery & Ken Wilber’s Integral Spirituality (13:38)In the ancestral teachings of the Navajo Way, the peyote way, and the Presbyterian Church, the voice of God is all the same (18:21)How humanity is starting to look to Indigenous people to understand relating to elementals, cultivating community & authenticity, and finding the meaning of life in psychedelic experiences (20:10)John’s experience of Native American spirituality, the mystical spirituality of AA, awakening to Integral, and writing Integral Recovery (23:08)Everything in life is really up to you (28:23)Ancestral 4-quadrant teachings: the mystical & spiritual; the human experience; what are the practices; where is community in this? (29:31)Integral medicine—the whole person approach (31:22)Integral’s process: wake up, grow up, clean up, show up (33:28)Spirituality is a practice of self (37:20)Cultivating skills to become self-sustainable and free of medications (39:11)Taking responsibility, growing beyond victimhood (41:10)The technique of reframing (49:38) Resources & References – Part 1Ron Interpreter’s consulting company, Interpretive Solutions LLC, specializes in business management solutions Ron Interpreter, co-founder of the church Sanctuary of ConsciousnessThe Wim Hof MethodThe Aubrey Marcus podcast, Biohacks for a Better Human Experience with Dr. De (podcast)Wesly Feuquay’s Psylogia Institute of Consciousness EvolutionRapid Rewire MethodJohn Dupuy, Integral Recovery: A Revolutionary Approach to the Treatment of Alcoholism and Addiction*Ken Wilber, Integral Spirituality: A Startling New Role for Religion in the Modern and Postmodern World*Wallace Black Elk, Native American shamanic teacher, Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota*SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Ron Interpreter is a member of the Navajo Nation, with indigenous relations to the Apache and Yaqui Nations. As an Integral Certified Life Coach, Yoga YTT 200 HR Instructor, and Plant-Medicine Ceremonialist, Ron is motivated by an individual’s commitment of deepening their personal health and spiritual wellbeing. Ron facilitates a healing modality he calls “Beeh Ji Zhoni – Beauty Within,” an integrative practice incorporating Integral Theory and Navajo Principles of wellness to create a divine state of being; in which One’s alignment of consciousness and spirituality is attained by setting positive intentions, practicing self love, and initiating self discipline to create an abundant and healthy lifestyle. In his professional endeavors, Ron has expanded the Integral Theory framework into his Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery practices by utilizing the Integral Recovery Model to help individuals overcome substance abuse disease. Furthermore, as a co-founder of the church Sanctuary of Consciousness, whose ministry is to elevate consciousness throughout the planet, Ron integrates the Integral Spirituality Model—an approach to cultivating higher states of consciousness in the development of psychodynamic psychology, stimulating enlightenment experiences to cultivate sound life practices to heal the mind/body/soul connection. More about Ron here: The Psylogia Institute and Sanctuary Of Consciousness.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell