Deep Transformation

Ep. 188 (Part 2 of 2) | Dr. Sally Adnams Jones has pioneered the field of art therapy as an agent of transformation and healing, choosing to work particularly with people living with no economic infrastructure: refugees, and victims of natural disasters, genocide, war, pandemics, and more. What Sally has found is that creating art within a community works miracles for the dispossessed and traumatized, in that it provides an embodied, practical method of engendering feelings of pride, a sense of belonging, finding one’s voice, and perceiving the future as something one can affect and shape. In fact, this work is applicable to everyone everywhere—it is in accessing our creativity that we come to ask, “How do we start to build the world we need?” An Integral Taoist, Sally shares her perspective on the yin and yang of creativity, explaining that ultimately, creativity is emergence working through the human body.At the heart of Integral Taoism is an understanding that the nature of emergence itself is to become aware of your polarity and integrate it. The more you do that, the more creative you become. The discussion transitions from the dance of polarity in creativity to how the polarities of yin and yang are playing out in politics today. Sally is a Canadian therapist and exceptionally well informed about politics—here we gain a perspective on current U.S. – Canadian relations and world politics that is revelatory. Recorded May 29, 2025.“Every single Canadian is deeply traumatized right now.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2How the movement between parts and whole, yin and yang, plays out in politics (01:21)The threat to Canada’s sovereignty, what Canada is doing in response, and Canada’s unifying, integral leader (03:12)How did it feel when Trump started talking about annexing Canada? (06:44)Under the Trump regime, the U.S. has become an arms dealer (10:21)How Sally’s growing up in South Africa under constant threat of civil war informs her views of fascism and the reversal of the American ideal of democracy (13:12)Advice for political resisters: establish a line that cannot be crossed (18:54)Coordinated resistance to the U.S. from external sources (24:14)Global politics, macroeconomics, and the rise of authoritarianism (27:36)Misinformation and the radicalization of young white men through the fourth estate (30:22)New challenges we face with fascism, and why American tech bros think Western Civilization is under threat (34:54)The future: who has control of the skies? (39:49)What is the most strategic thing one can do? (41:16)How do you stay grounded and balanced? Learning self-regulation, connecting with nature (43:56)Resources & References – Part 2Sally Adnams Jones, Art-Making with Refugees and Survivors: Creative and Transformative Responses to Trauma After Natural Disasters, War and Other CrisesSally’s website: sallyadnamsjones.com Sally’s podcast: Radical EmergenceGandhi and Non-violenceNelson Mandela: The Freedom Fighter (YouTube documentary)Sinclair Lewis, It Can’t Happen HereFrank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention, “It Can’t Happen Here”Great Replacement conspiracy theory---Dr. Sally Adnams Jones is an Expressive Arts Therapist, Psycho-Spiritual Educator, podcaster, writer, and artist. A South African-Canadian, Sally lives on Vancouver Island, amongst the old-growth forest, owls, elk, and wild lupines. Her interests are in human development; the phenomenology of creativity; the emergence of intelligent, natural systems; her grandchildren; and a healthy future for all. Sally has developed a theory called Integral Taoism that explores polarity as a cosmic principle of emergence, including through human sexuality, power dynamics, and creative flow. You can find her at her website, sallyadnamsjones.com; her podcast, radicalemergence.org; on YouTube at Dr Sally Adnams Jones; or read her book, Art-Making with Refugees and Survivors: Creative and Transformative Responses to Trauma After Natural Disasters, War and Other Crises.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Sally Adnams Jones is a South African-Canadian expressive arts therapist and pioneer in transformative creativity. She shares how art serves as a powerful healing tool for marginalized communities, fostering connection and agency. The discussion also touches on the integral duality of creativity, linking it to current political dynamics in North America. Sally draws on her experiences as an Integral Taoist, emphasizing the balance of strength and surrender and the necessity of embracing polarity in both art and politics.

Ep. 186 (Part 2 of 2) | In this lively, mind and heart-opening conversation, Miranda Macpherson, contemporary spiritual teacher and author, shares the extraordinary wisdom she has gained from experience—both from the initial life-changing transmission of boundless love she received in Ramana Maharshi’s cave, and from the subsequent need for integration of the deeper truths that were revealed upon being called back “down the mountain,” back to the West to teach and serve. For her, the trick of navigating ordinary life without reconstructing an ego boiled down to three words: What’s needed now? Miranda discusses how to show up in the world of today and not let resistance to right action win. “Wake up and love,” she offers. “Take inventory, ask, is there anything in the way of me being openhearted and awake in this moment?” She explains a practice she developed called ego relaxation, emphasizes the power of devotion—the source of strength, love, courage, and motivation—and shares several of the key questions she asks herself in her own practice to keep her receptive to existential grace. Miranda’s inspiring teachings are infused with her foundational sense of divine benevolence; “Grace is alive!” she tells us. And being human, we can embody grace; we can become “grace delivery devices.” Recorded November 1, 2024.“Being human is a grace delivery device.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2After the ascent the descent; "coming down the mountain" (01:28)The power of devotion (04:12)A mantra carries with it the love, spiritual energy, and devotion of countless beings before us (06:28)The power of pilgrimages (08:58)Miranda’s practice now: Can I open my heart to all the suffering, let it be understood more completely, and be transformed? (12:22)Wake up and love: ask "Is there anything in the way of me being openhearted and awake in the now?" (15:44)Practicing with our blind spots (18:46)Multitasking is a disaster for spiritual practice (20:22)Ramana Maharshi’s transmission in the cave: Be nothing, do nothing, get nothing… be as you are. Rest in God. (22:24)Ego relaxation as a practice (23:40)Showing up and resting in God at the same time (26:50)The divine dance—here we are, learning how to be the best human beings we can be (30:41)The divine force always brings forth what is needed, but the gate is humility and surrender (34:24)What helps us into a posture of humility? (35:39)Appreciating Roger Walsh: do-er and be-er, curious and humble (38:15)Being human is a “grace delivery device;” embodying grace—grace is alive! (40:35)The importance of yes, of thank you (43:38)Resources & References – Part 2Miranda’s website: MirandaMacpherson.com, The Living Grace Global SanghaMiranda Macpherson, The Way of Grace: The Transforming Power of Ego RelaxationA. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School, home of The Diamond Approach, see also Deep Transformation podcast’s A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series (also available on YouTube)Rupert Sheldrake, Science and Spiritual Practices: Transformative Experiences and Their Effects on Our Bodies, Brains, and HealthAndrew Harvey, author & founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism, The Hope (free audiobook)Ramana Maharshi, Indian sage and liberated being, 1879-1950G. I. Gurdjieff, In Search of Being: The Fourth Way to ConsciousnessA Course in Miracles, Helen Schucman and the Foundation for Inner PeaceSri Aurobindo, The Life DivineRoger’s article looking at A Course of Miracles through a Hindu lens: The Perennial Wisdom of A Course in MiraclesRoger Walsh & Frances Vaughan’s book of excerpts from A Course of Miracles, Accept this Gift ---Miranda Macpherson is a contemporary spiritual teacher who has been guiding others into direct experience of the sacred for over thirty years internationally. In her twenties she founded the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation in London, where she trained and ordained over 600 ministers and counsellors. Today Miranda leads the Living Grace Global Sangha, leads retreats internationally, broadcasts extensively, and serves as core faculty at The Shift Network. Unapologetically feminine, joyful, and down to earth in her way of being, Miranda is dedicated to loving people all the way back into the freedom and wholeness of our true nature.Miranda’s books include The Way of Grace: the Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation (Sounds True), Boundless Love (Rider) and Meditations on Boundless Love (Sounds True), and the Cultivating Grace Card Deck. Miranda is also a kirtan musician and singer with two mantra albums: Streams of Grace and The Heart of Being. Find out more at www.mirandamacpherson.com.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 185 (Part 1 of 2) | In this lively, mind and heart-opening conversation, Miranda Macpherson, contemporary spiritual teacher and author, shares the extraordinary wisdom she has gained from experience—both from the initial life-changing transmission of boundless love she received in Ramana Maharshi’s cave, and from the subsequent need for integration of the deeper truths that were revealed upon being called back “down the mountain,” back to the West to teach and serve. For her, the trick of navigating ordinary life without reconstructing an ego boiled down to three words: What’s needed now? Miranda discusses how to show up in the world of today and not let resistance to right action win. “Wake up and love,” she offers. “Take inventory, ask, is there anything in the way of me being openhearted and awake in this moment?” She explains a practice she developed called ego relaxation, emphasizes the power of devotion—the source of strength, love, courage, and motivation—and shares several of the key questions she asks herself in her own practice to keep her receptive to existential grace. Miranda’s inspiring teachings are infused with her foundational sense of divine benevolence; “Grace is alive!” she tells us. And being human, we can embody grace; we can become “grace delivery devices.” Recorded November 1, 2024.“There’s always more evolution, openness, clarification, expansion, and possibility—because God is exponential.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1A prayer for all of us—for the human family and the highest possibilities (01:03)Introducing interfaith minister, spiritual teacher, author, and leader of the Living Grace Global Sangha, Miranda Macpherson (02:53)What brought Miranda to the spiritual path? (03:56)Miranda’s early prayer of resistance (I’m done here!) and the subsequent explosion of boundless love (08:37)Miranda’s opportunity at a young age to learn what a soul grapples with, hanging out with adults in a psych ward (12:14)Were there mentors to help Miranda after her opening? (17:01)How much harder it must be for teenagers to copy with existential crisis today (21:59)The G word: what is the authentic language of our own soul? (24:17)The fear we all have of remembering the ancient, forgotten song (25:14)Ultimately it asks for full surrender; then there is only God (27:18)It’s in the edgiest places that the biggest openings often happen (28:38)For every realization you have to ask, what is its wisdom? How can it be expressed & embodied so its only impact is a blessing? (30:20)Are there more people waking up now? (33:39)Not knowing what anything is for: being receptive to existential grace (38:17)Being absorbed into the depth of the nonconceptual: pure being in its thunderous, unshakable, silent depth (39:48)The experience in the cave obliterated everything—all spiritual concepts were erased (42:46)How to navigate ordinary life without reconstructing an ego (43:46)Resources & References – Part 1Miranda’s website: MirandaMacpherson.comThe Living Grace Global SanghaMiranda Macpherson, The Way of Grace: The Transforming Power of Ego RelaxationMiranda Macpherson, Boundless Love: Transforming Your Life with Grace and InspirationMiranda Macpherson, Meditations on Boundless Love (Sounds True audiobook)Miranda’s oracle card deck, Cultivating Grace: Access Inner Peace, Clarity, and Joy on Your Spiritual PathRamana Maharshi, Indian sage and liberated being, 1879-1950Gerald G. Jampolsky, Love is Letting Go of FearA Course in Miracles, Helen Schucman and the Foundation for Inner PeaceKen Wilber, The Religion of Tomorrow (waking up, growing up, cleaning up, showing up) ---Miranda Macpherson is a contemporary spiritual teacher who has been guiding others into direct experience of the sacred for over thirty years internationally. In her twenties she founded the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation in London, where she trained and ordained over 600 ministers and counsellors. Today Miranda leads the Living Grace Global Sangha, leads retreats internationally, broadcasts extensively, and serves as core faculty at The Shift Network. Unapologetically feminine, joyful, and down to earth in her way of being, Miranda is dedicated to loving people all the way back into the freedom and wholeness of our true nature.Miranda’s books include The Way of Grace: the Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation (Sounds True), Boundless Love (Rider) and Meditations on Boundless Love (Sounds True), and the Cultivating Grace Card Deck. Miranda is also a kirtan musician and singer with two mantra albums: Streams of Grace and The Heart of Being. Find out more at www.mirandamacpherson.com.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 184 (Part 2 of 2) | In the tenth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali addresses what co-host Roger Walsh calls perhaps Inner Journey Home’s most profound chapter of all, the chapter on True Nature, as well as subjects he writes about in his autobiographical fragment, Luminous Night’s Journey. In the second turning of the Diamond Approach teaching, we transition from exploring individual true nature to boundless true nature—the absolute, ground of all manifestation. Following the mystery of truth, you come to absolute truth, Hameed tells us, and you find a mystery that not only liberates but makes everything happen. Hameed describes the absolute as the radiant blackness before the light, its luminosity awareness, and relates how, in the absolute, the feeling of intimacy is palpable. Here, the soul recognizes “I am home.”Hameed relates how being and nonbeing are integrated, and about how time and space emerge out of true nature. Every moment is a new creation, he explains, not formed by the past or present, but new, instant to instant, from nonbeing to being. Hameed says true nature is the essence of freedom, and that in these troubled times the important thing is to recognize “I am free” and ultimately indestructible, and to be ourselves, grounded by the truth of our inner nature. Towards the end of the conversation, co-host John Dupuy asks Hameed, “What motivates you? Why aren’t you simply hanging out being true nature?” Hameed laughs and responds, “I am.” Recorded April 10, 2025.“The idea is to be free. Inwardly.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Beingness is what Hameed calls presence; everything is both being and non-being (00:52)Being in the world but not of this world (04:12)The effects of studying Reichian therapy and breathwork on Hameed’s experience and way of teaching (06:32)The body needs to be open and at ease to experience presence; this is why yoga is widely practiced in East Indian traditions (09:17)Is having an ego a necessary stage for waking up? (13:01)Space and time are created by true nature, even though it is timeless (14:43)True nature is the essence of freedom; it is “radically unqualifiable” (19:38)The depths of our experience set the limit on our intellectual understanding (22:53)In these troubled times, the important thing is to recognize “I am free” and be ourselves, grounded by the truth of our inner nature (25:07)Profound equanimity allows deeper compassion to emerge (28:29)The values of true nature are fundamental and eternal; how do we manifest these all the time? (29:20)After all the amazing, mind-shattering realizations, life becomes ordinary and simple (32:21)What motivates Hameed now? (35:24)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 RealityA. H. Almaas, Luminous Night’s Journey: An Autobiographical FragmentSri Nisargadatta Maharaj, I Am ThatMahamudraWilhem Reich, Reichian therapyNāgārjuna, central philosopher of Mahayana BuddhismPlato’s cardinal virtuesThe Ten Ox Herding Pictures from the Zen traditionViktor Frankl, “Everything can be taken away from one except…” 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.---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. 183 (Part 1 of 2) | In the tenth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali addresses what co-host Roger Walsh calls perhaps Inner Journey Home’s most profound chapter of all, the chapter on True Nature, as well as subjects he writes about in his autobiographical fragment, Luminous Night’s Journey. In the second turning of the Diamond Approach teaching, we transition from exploring individual true nature to boundless true nature—the absolute, ground of all manifestation. Following the mystery of truth, you come to absolute truth, Hameed tells us, and you find a mystery that not only liberates but makes everything happen. Hameed describes the absolute as the radiant blackness before the light, its luminosity awareness, and relates how, in the absolute, the feeling of intimacy is palpable. Here, the soul recognizes “I am home.”Hameed relates how being and nonbeing are integrated, and about how time and space emerge out of true nature. Every moment is a new creation, he explains, not formed by the past or present, but new, instant to instant, from nonbeing to being. Hameed says true nature is the essence of freedom, and that in these troubled and times the important thing is to recognize “I am free” and ultimately indestructible, and to be ourselves, grounded by the truth of our inner nature. Towards the end of the conversation, co-host John Dupuy asks Hameed, “What motivates you? Why aren’t you simply hanging out being true nature?” Hameed laughs and responds, “I am.” Recorded April 10, 2025.“In the absolute, everything dissolves; the absolute is the universal solvent.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing the 10th dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, focusing on The Inner Journey Home‘s chapter, True Nature (00:55)What is the phenomenological experience of presence? (02:07)The soul can feel like presence—but more often it is structured by our history and appears as our ego self (05:14)Presence is the true nature of everything: perfect, complete, totally blissful (06:24)Love of truth naturally appears in the heart along the inner journey (09:04)The concern with talking about true nature is if you describe it, people look for something that isn’t it (11:57)Hameed wrote Luminous Night’s Journey to elucidate the experience of the soul, the absolute, and how soul and absolute are integrated (13:48)In the second turning of the teaching, we transition from individual true nature to boundless true nature: the absolute, the ground of all manifestation (18:11)The visible and invisible, manifest and unmanifest (19:58)Everything happens not from present to future, but from nonbeing to being (21:04)Everything dissolves in the absolute: it is the universal solvent (21:41)The absolute is the luminous, radiant blackness before the light (24:57)In the absolute, the soul recognizes “I am home” (26:47)Looking into the absolute, there is nothing; looking away from it, you see the manifest (28:48)The concept and experience of cessation (30:44)Hameed’s distinction between consciousness and awareness (32:40)Awareness = luminosity + emptiness (34:25)Emptiness is not empty space, it’s being and nonbeing unified (36:39)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 RealityA. H. Almaas, Luminous Night’s Journey: An Autobiographical FragmentFourth Way teacher E.J. Gold, The American Book of the DeadSaccidānanda, a description of the subjective experience of ultimate unchanging reality: existence, consciousness, blissSt. John of the Cross, “The Dark Night of the Soul” (poem)DharmakāyaSri Nisargadatta Maharaj, I Am That, “Every moment is a new creation.”The cessation of perception as recognized by the Buddha (Wisdom Library website)Fana, the Sufi experience of cessationNirodha refers to the cessation or renouncing of craving and desire; it is the third of the Four Noble TruthsDzogchenThe 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.---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

Robert Lawrence Kuhn, creator and host of the PBS series "Closer to Truth," dives deep into humanity's most profound questions about consciousness and existence. He describes exploring over 200 theories of consciousness, revealing how inquiry generates more questions rather than answers. Kuhn emphasizes the importance of diverse worldviews and the unifying power of these discussions across cultures. He also shares transformative experiences in nature that elevate consciousness, blending art, philosophy, and human connection.

Ep. 181 (Part 1 of 2) | Robert Lawrence Kuhn, producer of the popular PBS series Closer to Truth, which explores consciousness, the mystery of existence, and related topics with an open-minded approach, recently authored a remarkable article: “A Landscape of Consciousness,” in which he surveyed over 200 theories about what consciousness is. Robert tells how he inhabited each theory for a few days while writing it up, and discovered that unlike with other fields of knowledge, a study of consciousness produces more theories the more we know, rather than narrowing the field down. He emphasizes we need to be expansive with our universe of understanding of what consciousness is, and realize that how we engage with the Big Questions of life depends upon our particular theory of consciousness.Robert tells how the Big Questions, notably what is consciousness and why is there something rather than nothing, have called him all his life, leading him to create the Closer to Truth series, to explore these questions with the leading minds of our time. What Robert didn’t know to begin with, but marvels about now, is how the passion for delving into the most fundamental, existential questions we face as humans unifies people around the world, from every demographic, providing a unique and wonderful point of integration. This is a fascinating, warm, engaging conversation that draws us ever farther into an exploration of the mysteries of life, where we glimpse what lies at the core of humanity. Recorded April 17th, 2025.“Consciousness is perhaps the single most unifying question that humanity can explore.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing Robert Lawrence Kuhn, author, public intellectual, producer of the PBS series Closer to Truth, which explores fundamental questions of existence (01:02)How did it feel to be writing “A Landscape of Consciousness,” a 175k-word article that surveys over 200 theories about what consciousness is (02:50)Now Robert is building a website with notated theories of consciousness that allows for theories to grow and change (11:33)Consciousness theories, unlike other fields of knowledge, grow the more we know (14:59)All the “big questions” are dependent on your theory of consciousness (18:57)Why is there something rather than nothing? What is consciousness? Two fundamental questions that have been with Robert all along (23:17)Nine levels of nothing and the deep nature of phenomenal consciousness (25:36)Why Robert didn’t include his own theory in his survey, and then did—in 71 words (26:58)What does the explosion of consciousness theories say about consciousness? (30:27)The self-referential paradox of understanding consciousness (35:04)How to structure and organize the amalgam of theories (37:08)Roughly half the theories went into materialism categories (39:02)Challenge theorists conclude we can never understand consciousness (41:03)Robert’s theory categories: materialism, non reductive physicalism, quantum, integrated information, panpsychism, monism, dualism, idealism, illusory, anomalies and altered states (42:18)What kind of knowledge do psychedelics and altered states offer? (49:20)Resources & References – Part 1Robert Lawrence Kuhn, creator, producer, and host of the PBS series, Closer To TruthRobert Lawrence Kuhn, “A Landscape of Consciousness,”article in Progress in Biophysics & Molecular Biology, August 2024Anil Seth & Tim Bayne, Theories of Consciousness (Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2022)Computational + functionalismRobert Lawrence Kuhn, “Levels of Nothing”Progress in Biophysics & Molecular Biology (Journal)Denis Noble, visionary, one of the pioneers of systems biologyRaymond Tallis, philosopher, poet, cultural critic, neuroscientist, coined the term neuromaniaSir Roger Penrose & Dr. Stuart Hameroff, Consciousness and the Physics of the Brain (YouTube video)John Torday, PhD, physiologist at UCLA, investigator at the Lundquist InstituteNon-reductive physicalismIntegrated information theory, led by Giulio Tononi and Christof KochPanpsychismColin McGinn, British philosopher best known for his work in philosophy of mindPaul Davies, quantum physicist, director of BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science---Robert Lawrence Kuhn is a public intellectual; he is the creator, writer, host, and executive producer of Closer To Truth, the long-running PBS/public television series and leading global resource on Cosmos (cosmology/physics, philosophy of science), Life (philosophy of biology), Mind (consciousness, brain/mind, philosophy of mind), and Meaning (theism/atheism/agnosticism, global philosophy of religion, critical thinking). Kuhn’s comprehensive review article on theories of consciousness—“A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a Taxonomy of Explanations and Implications”—is published in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology (August 2024, pp. 28-169). In its review, IAI News says, “Kuhn has written perhaps the most comprehensive article on the landscape of theories of consciousness in recent memory.” Dr. Kuhn has written or edited over 30 books, including The Mystery of Existence: Why is there Anything At All? (with John Leslie); Closer To Truth: Challenging Current Belief; Closer To Truth: Science, Meaning and the Future; The Library of Investment Banking; How China’s Leaders Think (featuring President Xi Jinping); The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin (China’s best-selling book in 2005 and in December 2022); and The Origin and Significance of Zero: An Interdisciplinary Perspective” (with Peter Gobets). He is chairman of The Kuhn Foundation, and has a BA in Human Biology (Johns Hopkins), a PhD in Anatomy/Brain Research (UCLA), and an SM (MBA) in Management (MIT).---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 180 (Part 2 of 2) | In this podcast, John Prendergast, spiritual teacher, depth psychotherapist (retired), and prolific author, eloquently lays out the territory we encounter on the spiritual path as we move towards opening to our deepest ground. John defines deepest ground as “ungraspable and unfathomable, something we can know intimately as a quality of awareness, unbounded and open.” “When we touch into this,” he continues, “we move from a place of love, peace and groundedness.” In working with students and clients over four decades, John says the presence or absence of ground has been the most important theme. John has a gift for communicating exactly what is most useful for a spiritual practitioner to hear: taking an integral and nondual approach different from traditional psychotherapy, he invites us to evoke presence—welcome the experience, welcome the fear of annihilation—let go of ordinary knowledge and allow a translucent, transformative space to emerge around ordinary mind. Blending archetypal wisdom and guidance with spacious emptiness, John explains that opening to unbounded awareness supports the process of individuation and actualization; he also weaves in an intriguing version of the hero’s journey, where the hero emerges from the underground, not as a figure of accomplishment and victory, but as a simple, humble being, void of ego. The rich wisdom and gentle guidance offered here is invaluable, worthy of listening to many a time. Recorded November 7, 2024.“We are on the wave of life waking up to itself through humanity.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Gaining an experiential understanding of the archetypal teachings of Carl Jung to better understand multidimensional ground (01:19)  Jungian archetypes are subtle ground; Ramana Maharshi’s focus is no ground (05:09)Trusting the wisdom of our own psyches (09:07)Blending archetypal wisdom and guidance with spacious emptiness (12:07)The collective unconscious: linking consciousness to our ancestors (14:29)Multidimensional healing: healing ancestral lineages (15:20)Eastern transcendence and Western focus on living life: opening to unbounded awareness supports the process of individuation and actualization (16:51)The living question: What is life asking of you? (21:20)The first encounter is with darkness, stillness, emptiness; then comes a sense of pure potentiality and an upwelling current of life (22:41)What does engaged nonduality look like? Existential crisis and climate change (27:18)Frequency holders and/or frequency actors (31:56)Invitation to nondual communities: what is the natural response to this genuine existential threat? (33:02)The hesitancy people feel about bringing out the light of awareness (34:37)Opening the heart to collective suffering (35:30)Our love of truth will bring us to our deepest ground: let that be our guide (37:18)Resources & References – Part 2Carl Jung, Memories, Dreams, ReflectionsCarl Jung, The Red Book: A Reader’s Edition Advaita Vedanta Kashmir ShaivismRamana Maharshi, Indian sage and liberated being, 1879-1950John Prendergast’s website: Listening from SilenceJohn Prendergast, Your Deepest Ground: A Guide to Embodied SpiritualityJohn Prendergast, The Deep Heart: Our Portal to PresenceJohn Prendergast, In Touch: How to Tune In to the Inner Guidance of Your Body and Trust YourselfJohn Prendergast, The Sacred Mirror: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy---A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, John J. Prendergast, PhD. is a nondual teacher, author, retired psychotherapist, and retired Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco where he taught masters level counseling students for twenty-three years. John studied for many years with the European sage Dr. Jean Klein, as well as with Adyashanti. He was invited to share the dharma by Dorothy Hunt in 2011 and received dharma transmission (authorization to teach) from Adyashanti in 2023. John has been offering residential retreats with his wife, Christiane, since 2015, in both the U.S. and, more recently, in Europe. He also has extensive experience teaching online.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 179 (Part 1 of 2) | In this podcast, John Prendergast, spiritual teacher, depth psychotherapist (retired), and prolific author, eloquently lays out the territory we encounter on the spiritual path as we move towards opening to our deepest ground. John defines deepest ground as “ungraspable and unfathomable, something we can know intimately as a quality of awareness, unbounded and open.” “When we touch into this,” he continues, “we move from a place of love, peace and groundedness.” In working with students and clients over four decades, John says the presence or absence of ground has been the most important theme. John has a gift for communicating exactly what is most useful for a spiritual practitioner to hear: taking an integral and nondual approach different from traditional psychotherapy, he invites us to evoke presence—welcome the experience, welcome the fear of annihilation—let go of ordinary knowledge and allow a translucent, transformative space to emerge around ordinary mind. Blending archetypal wisdom and guidance with spacious emptiness, John explains that opening to unbounded awareness supports the process of individuation and actualization; he also weaves in an intriguing version of the hero’s journey, where the hero emerges from the underground, not as a figure of accomplishment and victory, but as a simple, humble being, void of ego. The rich wisdom and gentle guidance offered here is invaluable, worthy of listening to many a time. Recorded November 7, 2024.“Transcendence is a beautiful first step… but there’s a very important process of embodying awareness more and more deeply, in the physical body, in the subtle body.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing John Prendergast, Ph.D., retired psychotherapist, spiritual teacher, and author, whose most recent book is Your Deepest Ground (00:57)What is our deepest ground? (01:55)What is the difference between presence and ground? (04:29)The fear of losing control, of annihilation, that comes up in the process of healing and awakening (06:47)Using the myth of the underground descent, but emerging not as a hero, but simple and humble—devoid of egoic will (09:29)A translucency of the body/mind emerges: a core illumination (13:18)Meditation, self-inquiry, and time with authentic teachers are what have brought John to luminosity (15:09)The connection to one’s teacher: for John, this was Jean Klein and Adyashanti (16:25)Back to returning to the world—not as a hero, but where there’s no sense of accomplishment and hierarchy disappears (17:55)The tyranny of the enlightenment drive (20:42)Willfulness gradually transforms into willingness (24:07)Individual guidance can come as the small, still voice but also in kinesthetic form (25:25)Are there specific practices that facilitate opening to our deepest ground? (27:24)Evoking presence: John leads an invitation to welcome the experience, welcome the fear of annihilation (29:14)The difference between John’s work and traditional psychotherapy (31:31)Beyond welcoming, John teaches a self-inquiry practice that asks, “Do I really want to know what is true?” (36:15) Working not just on personal limiting beliefs but existential limiting beliefs—e.g., “I am a separate self” (39:19)Recognizing the limitation of rational thought, a transformative space emerges around ordinary mind (41:59)What is the experience of transrational knowing? (43:01)Resources & References – Part 1John Prendergast’s website: Listening from SilenceJohn Prendergast, Your Deepest Ground: A Guide to Embodied SpiritualityJohn Prendergast, The Deep Heart: Our Portal to PresenceJohn Prendergast, In Touch: How to Tune In to the Inner Guidance of Your Body and Trust YourselfJohn Prendergast, The Sacred Mirror: Nondual Wisdom and PsychotherapyJoseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand FacesArnold Toynbee, A Study of History (abridgment by D.C. Somervell)Carl Jung, Memories, Dreams, ReflectionsJ.R.R Tolkien, The HobbitDante Alighieri, Dante’s InfernoAdyashanti, spiritual teacher, Open Gate SanghaJean Klein, spiritual teacher, The Ease of BeingThe 10 Ox Herding PicturesParamahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a YogiA. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School, home of The Diamond Approach, see also Deep Transformation’s A. H. Almaas Wisdom SeriesStanislav Grof---A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, John J. Prendergast, PhD. is a nondual teacher, author, retired psychotherapist, and retired Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco where he taught masters level counseling students for twenty-three years. John studied for many years with the European sage Dr. Jean Klein, as well as with Adyashanti. He was invited to share the dharma by Dorothy Hunt in 2011 and received dharma transmission (authorization to teach) from Adyashanti in 2023. John has been offering residential retreats with his wife, Christiane, since 2015, in both the U.S. and, more recently, in Europe. He also has extensive experience teaching online.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell