Deep Transformation

Ep. 55 (Part 2 of 3) | A frank, hard-hitting conversation with TV producer David Riordan about the dangers democracy faces in this country, the fact that we are in a state of transition whether we like it or not, and the power of shifting our narratives to create change and a sustainable future. David has long been fascinated by the power of story, and has set up Vital Signs of Democracy, a platform that tracks and analyzes the narratives told and reported in the U.S. today—narratives that are foundational to our culture, our culture wars, our politics, and our future. Is there hope for American democracy? The good news is that studies show 65-70% of the population actually agree on and support the core principles of democracy—so if we could shift our narrative to reflect the majority view, we might be okay. The other news is that neither democrats or republicans, MAGA conservatives or progressives, have stepped up to represent this majority. David explains that we urgently need an alternative narrative from what we have to move forward—and we all need to ask what kind of country we want America to be. Recorded November 16, 2022 (on the heels of the 2022 midterm elections).“If you don’t like the story that’s driving you, you can change it.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Is our democracy under threat? We seem to be in love with the story that we are heading into dystopia (00:50)Since the Civil War, we’ve believed in our democratic political system (02:45)It used to ebb and flow, back and forth; liberals would be elected, then conservatives, in both Congress and the Supreme Court (05:14)What is happening, different from political turbulence in the past, that is putting our democracy under threat now? (07:05)Are the guardrails of the political system still working? Did the 2022 midterms bring us back on course? (9:30)Beginning to work in a healthy perspective is going to depend on what both parties learn from this last election (10:59)The Overton window, a range of ideas and values that are acceptable to discuss (14:17)What are the two parties going to learn from this midterm election? (15:29)The quality of the candidates matters: what the voters have said is we want more reasonable candidates (16:36)What part of America is Make America Great Again referring to? (18:53)Trump, the white, nationalist, Christian-driven narrative, and the fact that we are now a multicultural society (21:32)David’s adventure through red states with progressive Evangelicals, “We cannot imagine living in your progressive narrative as much as you can’t imagine living in our America.” (23:42)What is it we’re doing as progressives that so frightens people? Could we change the narrative to where people feel included rather than excluded? (27:00)The “unify message”: can we find common ground so each side can talk to each other? (28:27)What can be done to stop the polarization? (31:43)The abortion conversation, Roe vs Wade, and the part it played in the last two elections (32:16)We have to decide, as a country, what America we want to be going forward, and establish a template to work with without getting into the weeds of logistics (37:39)Trump is selling the story that a minority view should dictate what the country will do instead of the majority view that democracy is based on (42:11)Resources & References – Part 2The Overton window, a range of ideas and values that are acceptable to discussVote Common Good, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to mobilize people of faith to make the common good their voting criteriaIndra Idnan, founder of The Alternative Global, a socio-political platform serving systemic transformation, author of The Politics of Waking Up: Power and Possibility in the Fractal Age*, and Deep Transformation podcast guest, Reimagining Power, Politics, and PossibilitiesDavid Riordan’s website: The Evolution of Intelligence: Storycatching the Now and FutureVital Signs of Democracy analyzes our cultural condition, providing biweekly reports on the formative narratives being told in the United States* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---David Riordan is a transmedia producer who has years of experience creating and producing documentary television series, interactive entertainment, and participatory AR/VR experiences. Before founding Story Studio, David was the Vice President of Media for Ken Wilber’s Integral Life, where he was responsible for strategic planning, talent development, and content and conference development. He was also the producer for Random 1, a documentary television series on A&E Networks and the Executive Producer for the award-winning documentary film Lost in Woonsocket.Previously, David was the VP of Production at Time Warner Interactive, Disney Interactive, and Philips Media. He has won numerous awards from major interactive societies including seven Interactive Academy Awards. David also directed the documentary film The Future of Christianity, co-created Google Ocean on Google Earth, and directed the Ken Wilber Biography Project. David Riordan, Wikipedia. The Evolution of Intelligence: Storycatching the Now and Future.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 54 (Part 1 of 3) | A frank, hard-hitting conversation with TV producer David Riordan about the dangers democracy faces in this country, the fact that we are in a state of transition whether we like it or not, and the power of shifting our narratives to create change and a sustainable future. David has long been fascinated by the power of story, and has set up Vital Signs of Democracy, a platform that tracks and analyzes the narratives told and reported in the U.S. today—narratives that are foundational to our culture, our culture wars, our politics, and our future. Is there hope for American democracy? The good news is that studies show 65-70% of the population actually agree on and support the core principles of democracy—so if we could shift our narrative to reflect the majority view, we might be okay. The other news is that neither democrats or republicans, MAGA conservatives or progressives, have stepped up to represent this majority. David explains that we urgently need an alternative narrative from what we have to move forward—and we all need to ask what kind of country we want America to be. Recorded November 16, 2022 (on the heels of the 2022 midterm elections).“If you don’t like the story that’s driving you, you can change it.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing David Riordan, Integral documentarian & storyteller (01:05)David Riordan, Story Studio, and discovering the power of stories (02:22)Asking, “What are the stories we are telling about the now and the future?” (06:02) The surfacing of the “democracy story” and taking the independent political perspective (07:07)From conventional up to postconventional developmental stages, our stories usually aren’t even examined (09:54)Our stories are what drive us, and we are usually driven by a sense of uncomfortableness (11:34)Taking our power back: if we don’t like the story that’s driving us, we can change it (13:09)How does David identify the stories? (14:10)How the news is reported is a focal point for identifying cultural stories (15:25)Did the news used to honor the truth? (16:20)How Dan Rather was set up to report a false story (18:54)Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN: each tell a different story (20:01) Looking for an ethical higher ground or synthesis of the progressive narrative and the MAGA conservative narrative (23:01)How each developmental stage of the Integral map has a different narrative (25:27)MAGA: Who are we making America great for? (26:18)The old stories are falling away and new stories have yet to stabilize: the very definition of transition (27:45)The polarization story in the polls seems hopeless – where is the hope? 65-70% of Americans are in general agreement about the principles of democracy this country needs to represent (28:31)There is agreement about the principles of democracy in this country but neither party is addressing the majority view (33:03)The 65-70% needs to exercise itself and get our political structures to support and reflect their preferences (36:48)What are the characteristics of healthy, healing stories vs divisive stories? (38:11)David’s AI-driven platform that reads and records news over time, helping to identify what spikes a story (39:13)Roe vs Wade, the unfolding story of a woman’s right to choose, and its effect on the 2022 midterm elections (41:09) Resources & References – Part 1David Riordan’s website: The Evolution of Intelligence: Storycatching the Now and FutureVital Signs of Democracy analyzes our cultural condition, providing biweekly reports on the formative narratives being told in the United StatesKen Wilber, Integral Theory, Ken Wilber’s books* IntegralLife.com supports the growth, education, and application of Integral Philosophy and integrative metatheory to complex issues in the 21st century (a great place to learn the Integral Map and much more)Walter Conkrite, beloved CBS Evening News anchorman from 1962 to 1981Dan Rather, anchorman for CBS Evening News for the 24 years following Walter Cronkite up until the Killian documents controversyElon Musk, business magnate, investor, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---David Riordan is a transmedia producer who has years of experience creating and producing documentary television series, interactive entertainment, and participatory AR/VR experiences. Before founding Story Studio, David was the Vice President of Media for Ken Wilber’s Integral Life, where he was responsible for strategic planning, talent development, and content and conference development. He was also the producer for Random 1, a documentary television series on A&E Networks and the Executive Producer for the award-winning documentary film Lost in Woonsocket.Previously, David was the VP of Production at Time Warner Interactive, Disney Interactive, and Philips Media. He has won numerous awards from major interactive societies including seven Interactive Academy Awards. David also directed the documentary film The Future of Christianity, co-created Google Ocean on Google Earth, and directed the Ken Wilber Biography Project. David Riordan, Wikipedia. The Evolution of Intelligence: Storycatching the Now and Future.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 53 (Part 2 of 2) | Saniel Bonder and Linda Groves-Bonder live and guide others along the path of embodied awakening, using the tools of transmission, mutuality, self-inquiry, evocation, and more. They have named their process of spiritual embodiment “waking down,” to distinguish working the nuts and bolts of an individual’s unique path of spiritual development from the more general transcendent state described by the term “waking up.” Saniel and Linda not only mentor people on the road to awakening, but also through the challenges and never-ending process of purification that characterize post-awakening stages.How do we speak to our present state of divinity? What really leads to the stabilization of awakening? In this heartfelt, open conversation, Linda and Saniel share practical wisdom about nonduality, self-sense, and radical transcendence; the importance of fostering communion and appreciation; using “HEART” to point to ultimate reality; and also describe their own unique and beautiful ways of sanctifying and ritualizing everyday life. Saniel and Linda's system of opening people up to an awakened life, is very much an individuated one; their 10-year vision is one million hearts illumined. Recorded October 27, 2022.“Practicing one’s identification as the Great Mystery.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2The importance of self-acceptance while also understanding change is possible (00:56)The post-awakening process and Daniel Brown’s map of maps (06:39)The stages of awakening: the unawakened persona, awakened personhood, and personification of the awakening cosmos (12:39)Post-awakening opens us up to new challenges: wake down, shake down (16:18)The inquiry process in post-awakening stages (20:44)Bringing people to confidence in awakened stages (23:57)Contributing not only by what you do but by your very being (25:53)Becoming a HEART activator and managing the other side of the transmission process (28:49)Evocation: how to speak to your present state of divinity (30:15)The need to foster individuation, communion, and appreciation and living in gratitude (31:20)Sanctifying and ritualizing everyday life (34:40)The feminine aspect Linda brings to the teaching: empathetic, motherly, a whole-being welcoming (37:28)What are Linda and Saniel’s daily practices? (40:02)Saniel & Linda’s 10-year vision: 1 million hearts illumined (51:00)Resources & References – Part 2Six Step Recognition Yoga (YouTube video)Samjama, one-pointed absorption in the object of meditationDr. Daniel Brown, meditation teacher who mapped the process of awakening and beyond: a map of mapsSaniel Bonder, Great Relief*Christopher Bache,  LSD and the Mind of the Universe*, and the Deep Transformation podcast episode The Evolution of Collective ConsciousnessGospel of John 3:3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”Brother David Steindl-Rast, Gratefulness.orgSufism’s seven stages of awakeningSaniel & Linda’s website: Waking Down and the Human Sun InstituteSaniel Bonder, Waking DownSaniel Bonder, The White-Hot Yoga of the Heart*Saniel Bonder, Great Relief: Nine Sacred Secrets Your Body Wants You to Know About Freedom, Love, Trust, and the Core Wound of Your Life*Waking Down in Mutuality* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Saniel Bonder is a pioneer of embodied, integrative, non-dual realization. An Honorary National Scholar at Harvard with a B.A. in Social Relations, he devoted himself to a long spiritual quest and, for the last thirty years, to “democratizing awakening.” He and his wife and full partner Linda’s breakthrough, HEART-transmission based work is best known as Waking Down in Mutuality®. Coaching in a spirit of peership, they present their full suite of offerings, the Human Sun HEART Work, through Human Sun Institute. Saniel has authored Waking Down, Healing the Spirit/Matter Split, The White-Hot Yoga of the Heart, Great Relief, and two novels. He plays indigenous flutes and “would like to play more — and better! — golf.” Ken Wilber praises Linda Groves-Bonder as “a brilliant teacher in her own right.” Since the 1990s she has created key expressions of her and Saniel’s teachings and personally assisted many people into awakened living. A multi-talented artist, she holds a B.S. in Art Education from Ball State University. She has sung internationally and recorded two albums, I’m Here, jazz standards and her original songs, and Joy of Being, her non-verbal vocal toning. Among those who know her, Linda is cherished for both her heart of immense love and her discerning, simply stated wisdom. Saniel and Linda are Founding Members of Integral Institute, Charter Members of the Integral Spiritual Center, faculty for The Shift Network, conference speakers, and sought-after podcast guests. They’ve helped hundreds achieve unshakable realizations of boundless Spirit in natural unity with their everyday lives, lightened and brightened the souls of thousands, and mentored dozens who’ve become effective mentor-transmitters, inspired artists, and wise leaders. They both feel their greatest contribution is only now beginning, through their “Million Hearts Illumined” 10 Year Vision. As improvisational artists of liberating empowerment, they are co-manifestors with many others of the global “Deep Transformation” now emerging. Their message to all: “The Sun in your Heart is rising!”---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 52 (Part 1 of 2) | Saniel Bonder and Linda Groves-Bonder live and guide others along the path of embodied awakening, using the tools of transmission, mutuality, self-inquiry, evocation, and more. They have named their process of spiritual embodiment “waking down,” to distinguish working the nuts and bolts of an individual’s unique path of spiritual development from the more general transcendent state described by the term “waking up.” Saniel and Linda not only mentor people on the road to awakening, but also through the challenges and never-ending process of purification that characterize post-awakening stages.How do we speak to our present state of divinity? What really leads to the stabilization of awakening? In this heartfelt, open conversation, Linda and Saniel share practical wisdom about nonduality, self-sense, and radical transcendence; the importance of fostering communion and appreciation; using “HEART” to point to ultimate reality; and also describe their own unique and beautiful ways of sanctifying and ritualizing everyday life. Saniel and Linda's system of opening people up to an awakened life, is very much an individuated one; their 10-year vision is one million hearts illumined. Recorded October 27, 2022.“Practicing one’s identification as the Great Mystery.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1John talks about his early experience with cults, shadow, Integral (01:01)What does it mean to be enlightened/awakened? Saniel’s capacity for transmission and mutuality (06:20)Cult leaders and what really leads to the stabilization of awakening (10:29)What is waking down (versus waking up)? (15:43)“Onlyness” and the down aspect of waking down: embodiment (19:09)Nonduality, the self-sense, and radical transcendence: the simultaneity of being here as a divinely human being (20:04)Sahaj samadhi: living in a transcendental condition while also participating in everyday life (24:30)Using “HEART” to point to ultimate reality (25:28)The nature of human evolution is not human seeking God, but God seeking human (26:11)The unique ways individuals find to open up to the greater reality are often a surprise (31:36)What are the specific elements of Saniel & Linda’s process? (33:20) Tanking up on the transmission aspect: meeting in mutuality together, and exploring the precepts and practices that have emerged for Saniel over the last 3 decades (35:43)Individuating the system (38:42)Self-inquiry and Saniel & Linda’s own working kōans (40:22)12 gateways to realizing yourself as a divine human being, 6-step recognition yoga, and active conscious dreaming (43:08)Ethics, emotional work, shadow, community, and waking down in mutuality are all part of the “down” aspect of the work (45:58)Broken-off zones in relationships can be a chokehold on the transformational process (53:27)Crystalizing a deeper identity as the “all”: recognizing each person’s uniqueness and appreciating the other (55:40)The effectiveness of Six Step Recognition Yoga: see it, feel it, live it, be it, transcend in place, and speak it all along the way (59:10)Resources & References – Part 1Saniel & Linda’s website: Waking Down and the Human Sun InstituteSaniel Bonder, Waking DownSaniel Bonder, The White-Hot Yoga of the Heart*Saniel Bonder, Great Relief: Nine Sacred Secrets Your Body Wants You to Know About Freedom, Love, Trust, and the Core Wound of Your Life*Waking Down in MutualitySix Step Recognition Yoga (YouTube video)Adi Da (aka Da Free John), controversial American spiritual teacherJohn Gebser, Swiss philosopher focused on the structures of human consciousnessSahaj samadhi, deep spiritual bliss arising spontaneouslyCarl Jung, The Answer to Job*Roger Walsh, The Transpersonal Movement: A History and State of the ArtSaniel Bonder, The Conscious Principle (ebook), The Conscious Principle (printout)Pointing-out instructionsMartin Buber, philosopher and prodigious mystic, I and Thou*, Tales of the Hasidim*Thich Nhat Hanh, Interbeing** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Saniel Bonder is a pioneer of embodied, integrative, non-dual realization. An Honorary National Scholar at Harvard with a B.A. in Social Relations, he devoted himself to a long spiritual quest and, for the last thirty years, to “democratizing awakening.” He and his wife and full partner Linda’s breakthrough, HEART-transmission based work is best known as Waking Down in Mutuality®. Coaching in a spirit of peership, they present their full suite of offerings, the Human Sun HEART Work, through Human Sun Institute. Saniel has authored Waking Down, Healing the Spirit/Matter Split, The White-Hot Yoga of the Heart, Great Relief, and two novels. He plays indigenous flutes and “would like to play more — and better! — golf.” Ken Wilber praises Linda Groves-Bonder as “a brilliant teacher in her own right.” Since the 1990s she has created key expressions of her and Saniel’s teachings and personally assisted many people into awakened living. A multi-talented artist, she holds a B.S. in Art Education from Ball State University. She has sung internationally and recorded two albums, I’m Here, jazz standards and her original songs, and Joy of Being, her non-verbal vocal toning. Among those who know her, Linda is cherished for both her heart of immense love and her discerning, simply stated wisdom. Saniel and Linda are Founding Members of Integral Institute, Charter Members of the Integral Spiritual Center, faculty for The Shift Network, conference speakers, and sought-after podcast guests. They’ve helped hundreds achieve unshakable realizations of boundless Spirit in natural unity with their everyday lives, lightened and brightened the souls of thousands, and mentored dozens who’ve become effective mentor-transmitters, inspired artists, and wise leaders. They both feel their greatest contribution is only now beginning, through their “Million Hearts Illumined” 10 Year Vision. As improvisational artists of liberating empowerment, they are co-manifestors with many others of the global “Deep Transformation” now emerging. Their message to all: “The Sun in your Heart is rising!”---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 51 (Part 2 of 2) | Robert Masters, psychospiritual guide, shadow work expert, and author of Spiritual Bypassing and To Be A Man, tells the story of his life-shattering psychedelic experience with DMT, from which it took 9 months to recover. Following this experience, Robert found himself transformed in many ways, heart broken (not just open but broken), embracing ordinariness instead of the limelight, attuned to his own mortality, and intimate with all that is. Here, Robert shares about how to learn from such an experience, how to unseat fear from its place of power, recognize grief’s wisdom, and the always-important need to turn into our pain—under all conditions at all times.Robert Masters also talks about men’s work: the need for men to reclaim their integrity as well as be vulnerable in relationship; include heart in their anger; and sexuality, shame, and how to outgrow porn habits. And our existential metacrisis. Can we become a species reborn in a good way as we confront our current challenges? This conversation blends psychotherapeutic brass tacks with transcendent insights into the nature of reality and opening to the divine mystery. As Robert says, “If there was a time for waking up, this is it.” Recorded August 17, 2022. “My path is becoming intimate with all that I am.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 2What are some of the unique challenges facing men at this time? (00:59)On men (and women) reclaiming their integrity of being: it’s all about embodied awakening and the stakes are very high (05:21)We are all on a journey of endless discovery (10:20)How nonduality tends to favor the nondual aspect rather than the unique aspect (11:24)What is the anatomy of choice? Who is doing the choosing? (14:34)More on men reclaiming integrity, becoming more mature, entering deeply into relationship, and embracing vulnerability in relationship (14:58)Promoting intimate relationship as a path of awakening (16:12)Communicating about mortality in intimate relationship (20:56)The problem of denial of our existential crisis (22:36)Unresolved shadow elements run us until we are aware of them (25:06)How to work with nightmares; turning towards the pain (26:10)Out of the existential crisis and mounting challenges, can we become a species that is reborn in a good way? (28:10)Why some people are interested in spiritual and psychological development and others not (31:52)What is Robert’s current transformational practice? (34:58)Resources & References - Part 2A.H. Almaas, founder of the Diamond Approach A. H. Almaas, Runaway Realization*, The Alchemy of Freedom*, A.H. Almaas: Nonduality and Beyond: The Exhilarating Adventure of Discovering the Nature of Reality and How Awakenings Can Unfold Endlessly (Deep Transformation Podcast episode 43)Frances Vaughan, one of the great pioneers of transpersonal psychology, psychotherapist, teacher, author Rajneesh, controversial Indian mystic guruVipassana coursesRobert Masters’ website: https://www.robertmasters.comRobert Masters, Spiritual Bypassing*Robert Masters, To Be a Man, A Guide to True Masculine Power*Robert Masters, Darkness Shining Wild: An Odyssey to the Heart of Hell & Beyond: Meditations on Sanity, Suffering, Spirituality, and Liberation*Robert Masters, Bringing Your Shadow Out of the Dark: Breaking Free from the Hidden Forces That Drive You*Robert Masters, Emotional Intimacy: A Comprehensive Guide for Connecting with the Power of Your Emotions*Robert Masters, Transformation through Intimacy, Revised Edition: The Journey toward Awakened Monogamy*Robert Masters, Knowing Your Shadow: Becoming Intimate with All That You Are* (audiobook)Robert Masters, Shadow Work: Turning Towards Our Pain (Integral Recovery podcast YouTube video)* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Robert Masters, PhD, is a psychospiritual guide and trainer, with a doctorate in psychology.  He’s also the author of many books — including Transformation Through Intimacy, Spiritual Bypassing, Emotional Intimacy, To Be a Man, and Bringing Your Shadow out of the Dark — and the audio program Knowing Your Shadow. His intuitive, uniquely integral work blends the psychological and physical with the emotional and spiritual, with an emphasis on full-blooded awakening, emotional authenticity and literacy, deep shadow work, and the develop­ment of relational maturity. At essence, his work is about becoming more intimate with all that we are, in the service of the deepest possible healing, awakening, and integration. His website is robertmasters.com.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 50 (Part 1 of 2) | Robert Masters, psychospiritual guide, shadow work expert, and author of Spiritual Bypassing and To Be A Man, tells the story of his life-shattering psychedelic experience with DMT, from which it took 9 months to recover. Following this experience, Robert found himself transformed in many ways, heart broken (not just open but broken), embracing ordinariness instead of the limelight, attuned to his own mortality, and intimate with all that is. Here, Robert shares about how to learn from such an experience, how to unseat fear from its place of power, recognize grief’s wisdom, and the always-important need to turn into our pain—under all conditions at all times.Robert Masters also talks about men’s work: the need for men to reclaim their integrity as well as be vulnerable in relationship; include heart in their anger; and sexuality, shame, and how to outgrow porn habits. And our existential metacrisis. Can we become a species reborn in a good way as we confront our current challenges? This conversation blends psychotherapeutic brass tacks with transcendent insights into the nature of reality and opening to the divine mystery. As Robert says, “If there was a time for waking up, this is it.” Recorded August 17, 2022. “My path is becoming intimate with all that I am.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1Introducing Robert Augustus Masters, author, shadow work expert, psychospiritual guide (01:15)Robert’s terrifying and transformative psychedelic experience with 5-methoxy-N (5-MeO-DMT) (03:19)Working with deep fear states (09:32)Who should use psychedelics (DMT) and who shouldn’t? (10:45)How to learn from the experience: embracing ordinariness, compassion and gratitude (16:55)Fear: loving and protecting the fearful part (21:38)The importance of attuning to mortality: becoming intimate with death (22:51)Turning into the pain under all conditions at all times (27:43)Individual grief, collective grief—grief is a very beautiful emotion. It has its own wisdom (29:07)Working with men: transforming emotional emptiness and including heart in anger (33:34)Sexuality, shame, and how to outgrow porn habits (35:44)Women’s groups are about getting their voice back, establishing firm boundaries (36:21)Internet porn is an epidemic: recognizing loneliness, sadness, frustration (36:50)The clarifying capacity of intimacy and the importance of curiosity (42:42)Awakened innocence, plugging into the divine, opening to the mystery (46:46)Resources & References - Part 1Robert Masters’ website: https://www.robertmasters.comRobert Masters, Spiritual Bypassing*Robert Masters, To Be a Man, A Guide to True Masculine Power*Robert Masters, Darkness Shining Wild: An Odyssey to the Heart of Hell & Beyond: Meditations on Sanity, Suffering, Spirituality, and Liberation*Robert Masters, Bringing Your Shadow Out of the Dark: Breaking Free from the Hidden Forces That Drive You*Robert Masters, Emotional Intimacy: A Comprehensive Guide for Connecting with the Power of Your Emotions*Robert Masters, Transformation through Intimacy, Revised Edition: The Journey toward Awakened Monogamy*Robert Masters, Knowing Your Shadow: Becoming Intimate with All That You Are* (audiobook)Robert Masters, Shadow Work: Turning Towards Our Pain (Integral Recovery podcast YouTube video)5-MeO-DMT, psychedelic DMT Facts: 10 Must Know Facts About DimethyltryptamineStanislov Grof, The Way of the Psychonaut Vol. 1: Encyclopedia for Inner Journeys*Alcoholics Anonymous, Using HALT to prevent relapseRam Dass: Living the Mystery (“Death is the ultimate mystery”)* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Robert Masters, PhD, is a psychospiritual guide and trainer, with a doctorate in psychology.  He’s also the author of many books — including Transformation Through Intimacy, Spiritual Bypassing, Emotional Intimacy, To Be a Man, and Bringing Your Shadow out of the Dark — and the audio program Knowing Your Shadow. His intuitive, uniquely integral work blends the psychological and physical with the emotional and spiritual, with an emphasis on full-blooded awakening, emotional authenticity and literacy, deep shadow work, and the develop­ment of relational maturity. At essence, his work is about becoming more intimate with all that we are, in the service of the deepest possible healing, awakening, and integration. His website is robertmasters.com.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 49 | In this fast-paced dialogue, Dr. Dawson Church, best-selling author, scientist, EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) coach, and Energy Psychology Journal editor, explains what an incredibly effective treatment meridian tapping is in the healing of veterans and others suffering from PTSD. “Tapping while remembering” creates a cognitive shift to where something intensely traumatic can be transformed into something positive. And EFT is not only for individuals suffering from trauma. Dawson reveals how unconditional self-love is crucial in creating space for personal growth and together with exposure therapy—all part of energy psychology and emotional freedom techniques—is an amazing tool for transforming our lives so we can experience the sheer joy of living to our full potential. “Why do we shut down our laughter, our joy, our creativity, and tell ourselves all these stories about our limitations? They’re lies! Self-perpetuating loops in our head. It’s time to dump them,” says Dawson. Dawson packs the conversation with fascinating research statistics that are very convincing as to the enormous healing and transformative potential of EFT and other body based therapies. His passion for making these new energetic, psychotherapeutic, and contemplative tools known and available to people is palpable, and he is a vibrant example of someone who has indeed transformed his life into one of positive energy, service, and joy. Recorded on August 31, 2022.“Meditate, tap, shift yourself—love yourself enough to apply these techniques in your life.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time StampsIntroducing Dawson Church and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) (01:37)Our quest for answers and the intersection of science, Western psychotherapeutic techniques, and contemplative spirituality (03:51)The old Vedanta theory that we can clean our “dirty cistern” (mind/body/trauma) with infusions of “pure water” and transcend our trauma is not true (06:57)A quarter of the soldiers fighting the war in Iraq developed PTSD – what was different about them? (08:47)Unresolved childhood trauma is the key reason some develop PTSD and others do not (09:39)Why we need EFT and other body-based therapies (10:29) What is EFT exactly? Stimulation of acupressure meridians to shift consciousness, awareness, and PTSD symptoms in 10 individual sessions (11:39)Working in groups, the importance of social support, and “borrowing benefits” (12:14)The surprising emergence of techniques/therapies that can effectively treat PTSD (14:06)Positive emotional contagion, transferred or acquired PTSD, and the amazing effectiveness of group work with veterans and their spouses (15:43)EFT is not a magic wand: the work is done with people “memory by memory” (17:24)EFT removes the emotional tags: in one study, the gene expression of veterans changed over the course of 10 sessions to where microRNA molecules associated with traumatic stress literally popped off the genome (19:49)EFT borrows from exposure therapy: reliving the experience intensely and lighting up and de-conditioning the neuro-bundles in the brain (20:30), andCognitive acceptance, or self-acceptance, learning to love yourself unconditionally—with all of your problems—just the way you are (22:46)With tapping, signals travel through connective tissue and the physical symptoms of stress decrease amazingly quickly—in a couple of minutes, the limbic system quiets right down (24:05)How EFT frees up energy for creativity, productivity, and flow states (29:10)Dawson’s personal practice: meditation, hanging out in nonlocal space (32:15)Why meditation has such radical effects on your creativity: flow states double and problem solving goes up 490% (33:51)Binding—making unexpected mental connections—occurs in the brainwave state of gamma (38:15)Growing up in quiet desperation (42:39)When Dawson’s house burned down, all his practices are put to the test (44:00)Post traumatic growth: two thirds of people end up stable or moving to higher levels of psychological development following a trauma (49:40)What really bugs Dawson: we have this gift of a lifetime but so many people live only a tiny fraction of their potential (51:35)Don’t live anything less than your grandest life: laugh like a baby! (54:23)Resources & ReferencesDawson Church, 21-day Tapping Challenge (free)Dawson’s website EFT Universe.comTapping and Transformational WorkshopsDawson Church, Bliss Brain: The Neuroscience of Remodeling Your Brain for Resilience, Creativity, and Joy*Dawson Church, The Genie in Your Genes*Dawson Church, Mind to Matter*Dawson Church, editor, Energy Psychology Journal: Theory, Research & TreatmentDawson Church, founder, National Institute for Integrative HealthcareDr. Paul Brunton, A Search in Secret India*Ramana Maharshi, Indian sage who introduced the idea of nondualism to the WestAlan Watts, writer and speaker who popularized Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu philosophy in the West, The Way of Zen*, The Wisdom of Insecurity*, The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are*Aldous Huxley, author, poet, and pacifist interested in philosophical mysticism, The Doors of Perception*, The Perennial Philosophy*, Brave New World*Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score*EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Yoga TherapyGuidelines for the Treatment of Clinical PTSD Using EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), published by NIH National Library of Medicine online at PubMed.gov (by Dawson Church, Peta Stapleton, Phil Mollon, David Feinstein, Elizabeth Boath, David Mackay, Rebecca Sims)Emotional Freedom Techniques to Treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans: Review of the Evidence, Survey of Practitioners, and Proposed Clinical Guidelines, published by NIH National Library of Medicine online at PubMed.gov (by Dawson Church, Sheri Stern, Elizabeth Boath, Antony Steward, David Feinstein, Morgan ClondCarl Rogers, On Becoming A Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy*Deborah Miller, EFT for Cancer*Carl Jung, “Self acceptance is the acid test of one’s whole outlook on life,” Psychology and Religion: West and East, Vol II*Larry Dossey, physician and author, Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine*Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)Albert Einstein, one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all timeNapoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich*Louis Pasteur, “Chance favors the prepared mind”iAwake Technologies filtered for products to enhance focus & flow using gamma brainwave entrainment technologyHenry David Thoreau, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Walden*Winston Churchill, “Men occasionally stumble over truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.”* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Dawson Church, PhD, is an award-winning science writer with three best-selling books to his credit. The Genie in Your Genes was the first book to demonstrate that emotions drive gene expression. Mind to Matter showed that the brain creates much of what we think of as “objective reality.” Bliss Brain demonstrates that peak mental states rapidly remodel the brain for happiness. Dr. Church has conducted dozens of clinical trials and founded the National Institute for Integrative Healthcare to study and implement promising evidence-based psychological and medical techniques. Its largest program, the Veterans Stress Project, has offered free treatment to over 20,000 veterans with PTSD over the past decade.Dr. Church’s groundbreaking research has been published in many prestigious scientific journals. He is the editor of Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, & Treatment, a peer-reviewed professional journal, and Dawson shares how to apply these breakthroughs to health and athletic performance through EFTUniverse.com, one of the most-visited alternative healing sites on the web. View Dr. Church’s full Curriculum Vitae, list of scientific papers, and visit the Events page to register for Dr. Church’s upcoming workshops.---Free 21-day Tapping ChallengeA series of 21 tapping meditations to guide you toward mastery in the 5 key areas of your life: Health-Money-Love-Work-Spirituality. Designed by Dawson Church, each one is only 7 minutes long, yet they’re a powerful combination of tapping, meditation, and affirmations. Find out more here: https://eftuniverse.com/21-day-tapping-challenge-free/.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 48 (Part 3 of 3) | “Don’t miss it!” says James Baraz, author of Awakening Joy and creator of the very intriguing 5-month Awakening Joy course. “Don't miss it'' refers to the present moment—the gladness, the beauty, the uniqueness. James explains that in order to awaken our joy, we need to savor the wholesome moments and not turn away distracted, slipping back into our habitual mental ruts. James’ teachings take us deeply into states like gratitude and compassionate presence, to where we can focus our attention on how it feels to feel good somatically, thereby creating new neural pathways that strengthen awareness and aliveness. James has witnessed a lot of people learn to love themselves and turn their lives around as a result of this teaching. Why are we the last ones to see the goodness inside ourselves? he wonders. How can we so radically underestimate ourselves? Rest in the landscape of gratitude when James guides a short meditation in part 2, and be inspired that transformational change is indeed possible for all of us—to where we can know the joy of loving ourselves, of connecting with others, the joy of letting go, of service, and the joy of simply being—as we undertake the fundamental experiment of discovering who we really are. Recorded September 14, 2022.“A simple shift of perspective is transformative.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 3Joy and awakening take a lot of courage; fear is really saying, “About to grow!” – Jack Kornfield (00:51)Reaching out for support is a reflection of health, not weakness (05:25)We are all transmitters of the energy of life: the ripple effects of joy (08:34)Why doesn’t everyone see the power in seeing the good? (14:00)What are the most life-changing discoveries that people make in the Awakening Joy course? (15:57)What are James’ practices today? Showing up for the world: joy and activism, opening to the pain in the world (19:32)Looking through 3 lenses: gratitude, compassion, and equanimity—to avoid denial, overwhelm, and disengagement (21:02)How can we be agents of healing, agents of consciousness? (25:47)This is the moment we were born for (27:41)We have made the face of the world into a reflection of the state of our minds (30:17)The wealth of giving to life, serving life (32:41)One Earth Sangha, virtual ecodharma center (34:59)Resources & References - Part 3Gerald Jampolsky, Love is Letting Go of Fear*Jack Kornfield, meditation teacher, author, founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center, A Path with Heart*The Buddha, “Good friends…are the whole of the spiritual life.”Leonard Orr, Rebirthing Breathwork Kuan Yin, the Bodhisattva of great compassionThe 4 brahmavihārās: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimityAngeles Arrien, Living in Gratitude*Terry Patten, A Republic of the Heart*Belvie Rooks, co-founder of Growing a Global HeartDuane Elgin, Choosing Earth*The Buddha, “With our thoughts, we make the world.”Shantideva, Miracle of AwakeningOne Earth Sangha, virtual EcoDharma center devoted to Buddhist responses to climate changeJames Baraz’ Awakening Joy 5-month Course: 10 Steps to a Happier LifeJames Baraz & Shoshana Alexander, Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness*James Baraz & Michele Lilyanna, Awakening Joy for Kids** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Being Here Now: A 2-Day Online Celebration of Ram Dass, November 5-6, 2022With Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Krishna Das, Sharon Salzberg, Trudy Goodman, Mirabai Bush, Jai Uttal, East Forest, Debra Chamberlin-Taylor, James Baraz, and others. For more information and to register, click here:https://spirit-rock.secure.retreat.guru/program/being-here-now-a-celebration-of-ram-dass-dc1b22/?_ga=2.188608556.529866604.1664737501-1907087178.1632963128&lang=en.---Brahma Vihara 4-week Online Course, Tuesdays, November 1-22, 2022 6:30-8:30pm PTFour Buddhist Heart Practices (Brahma Viharas): Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity, taught by James Baraz. Formal meditation instructions for developing each of these qualities along with talks on how to apply them in our lives. For more information and to register, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-four-buddhist-heart-practices-brahma-viharas-tickets-310766409697.---5-Month Awakening Joy Course, January 31-June 6, 2023For information about the 5-month course and James Baraz’ teaching schedule, click here: www.awakeningjoy.info.---James Baraz has been teaching mindfulness meditation for over 40 years in the U.S. and internationally, and is a founding teacher of the Spirit Rock Meditation Center. James has been leading the online course Awakening Joy since 2003 and is co-author of Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness and Awakening Joy for Kids. He also serves as a guiding teacher to One Earth Sangha, a Virtual EcoDharma Center devoted to Buddhist responses to Climate Change.Mind Our Democracy is a new project/movement to help meditation, yoga, and other spiritual students navigate these perilous and fraught times with engagement, wisdom, and heart. It's completely non-partisan, encouraging folks to vote for compassion, kindness, and inclusivity in this pivotal moment. Visit the mindourdemocracy.com website to see the inspiring video with Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Seane Corn, and other leaders, as well as a set of resources to inspire civic engagement within contemplative communities like yours. Then join our movement and share it with others.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 47 (Part 2 of 3) | “Don’t miss it!” says James Baraz, author of Awakening Joy and creator of the very intriguing 5-month Awakening Joy course. “Don't miss it'' refers to the present moment—the gladness, the beauty, the uniqueness. James explains that in order to awaken our joy, we need to savor the wholesome moments and not turn away distracted, slipping back into our habitual mental ruts. James’ teachings take us deeply into states like gratitude and compassionate presence, to where we can focus our attention on how it feels to feel good somatically, thereby creating new neural pathways that strengthen awareness and aliveness. James has witnessed a lot of people learn to love themselves and turn their lives around as a result of this teaching. Why are we the last ones to see the goodness inside ourselves? he wonders. How can we so radically underestimate ourselves? Rest in the landscape of gratitude when James guides a short meditation in part 2, and be inspired that transformational change is indeed possible for all of us—to where we can know the joy of loving ourselves, of connecting with others, the joy of letting go, of service, and the joy of simply being—as we undertake the fundamental experiment of discovering who we really are. Recorded September 14, 2022.“A simple shift of perspective is transformative.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 2Train your mind to be on the lookout for the good and notice how it feels to feel good somatically; this will deepen the neural pathways (00:59)James guides a short experiential gratitude practice, where we deepen into feeling how gratitude itself actually feels (05:14)When James lost his joy: how unwholesome states lead to more suffering (11:27)Cultivating wholesome states: maintain and increase wholesome states, but don’t hold onto them (16:06)Awakening Joy’s 10 steps to happiness relate to the 10 states we want to cultivate (18:52) Intention is the beginning; choosing how to process what’s happening (19:49)Mindfulness: presence deepens the healthy states (21:44)Gratitude “opens our satellite dish to all the blessings in life”(23:00)Opening to the hard stuff, all the suffering in life (23:13) Integrity, the foundation of well-being (23:31)The joy of letting go: of stuff, of busyness, of our stories (24:52)The joy of loving ourselves and learning to see who we really are (26:47)The difference between narcissism and loving yourself, and the Judeo-Christian myth of needing redemption (27:41) The joy of connection with others, includes forgiveness (31:07)Compassion, the caring heart that wants to relieve suffering (31:34)The joy of simply being and the underlying nature of reality (32:13)States of contraction vs states of expansion: Sat Chit Ananda (34:39)Resources & References - Part 2C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life*Rick Hanson, Neurodharma*, see also Deep Transformation episode How We Can Hack Our Brain Using Neuroscience to Become Happier, Healthier, More Transcendent, and Turn Altered States to Enduring TraitsRam Dass, one of James’ main teachers, Be Here Now*Ram Dass, Miracle of Love: Stories About Neem Karoli Baba*His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living*The 4 Noble Truths of BuddhismMeher Baba, Indian spiritual master, Meyer Baba’s Life & Message (YouTube video)His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama: Compassion and the Individual (on selfish altruism)The Gospel of Thomas, “The kingdom of heaven is within you!”Satcitananda, the nature of ultimate reality James Baraz’ Awakening Joy 5-month Course: 10 Steps to a Happier LifeJames Baraz & Shoshana Alexander, Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness*James Baraz & Michele Lilyanna, Awakening Joy for Kids*One Earth Sangha, virtual EcoDharma center devoted to Buddhist responses to climate change* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Being Here Now: A 2-Day Online Celebration of Ram Dass, November 5-6, 2022With Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Krishna Das, Sharon Salzberg, Trudy Goodman, Mirabai Bush, Jai Uttal, East Forest, Debra Chamberlin-Taylor, James Baraz, and others. For more information and to register, click here:https://spirit-rock.secure.retreat.guru/program/being-here-now-a-celebration-of-ram-dass-dc1b22/?_ga=2.188608556.529866604.1664737501-1907087178.1632963128&lang=en.---Brahma Vihara 4-week Online Course, Tuesdays, November 1-22, 2022 6:30-8:30pm PTFour Buddhist Heart Practices (Brahma Viharas): Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity, taught by James Baraz. Formal meditation instructions for developing each of these qualities along with talks on how to apply them in our lives. For more information and to register, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-four-buddhist-heart-practices-brahma-viharas-tickets-310766409697.---5-Month Awakening Joy Course, January 31-June 6, 2023For information about the 5-month course and James Baraz’ teaching schedule, click here: www.awakeningjoy.info.---James Baraz has been teaching mindfulness meditation for over 40 years in the U.S. and internationally, and is a founding teacher of the Spirit Rock Meditation Center. James has been leading the online course Awakening Joy since 2003 and is co-author of Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness and Awakening Joy for Kids. He also serves as a guiding teacher to One Earth Sangha, a Virtual EcoDharma Center devoted to Buddhist responses to Climate Change.Mind Our Democracy is a new project/movement to help meditation, yoga, and other spiritual students navigate these perilous and fraught times with engagement, wisdom, and heart. It's completely non-partisan, encouraging folks to vote for compassion, kindness, and inclusivity in this pivotal moment. Visit the mindourdemocracy.com website to see the inspiring video with Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Seane Corn, and other leaders, as well as a set of resources to inspire civic engagement within contemplative communities like yours. Then join our movement and share it with others.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Ep. 46 (Part 1 of 3) | “Don’t miss it!” says James Baraz, author of Awakening Joy and creator of the very intriguing 5-month Awakening Joy course. “Don't miss it'' refers to the present moment—the gladness, the beauty, the uniqueness. James explains that in order to awaken our joy, we need to savor the wholesome moments and not turn away distracted, slipping back into our habitual mental ruts. James’ teachings take us deeply into states like gratitude and compassionate presence, to where we can focus our attention on how it feels to feel good somatically, thereby creating new neural pathways that strengthen awareness and aliveness. James has witnessed a lot of people learn to love themselves and turn their lives around as a result of this teaching. Why are we the last ones to see the goodness inside ourselves? he wonders. How can we so radically underestimate ourselves? Rest in the landscape of gratitude when James guides a short meditation in part 2, and be inspired that transformational change is indeed possible for all of us—to where we can know the joy of loving ourselves, of connecting with others, the joy of letting go, of service, and the joy of simply being—as we undertake the fundamental experiment of discovering who we really are. Recorded September 14, 2022.“A simple shift of perspective is transformative.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps - Part 1Roger introduces James Baraz, creator of the Awakening Joy course and dedicated Vipassana meditation teacher (01:31)What is it like witnessing so many people in the midst of their transformation? To James, all are bodhisattvas in training and there’s nothing quite like seeing people transforming their pain (04:27)We are the last ones to see the goodness inside us, to see who we really are, we need to see ourselves through our friends’ eyes! (09:04)How can we avoid feeling righteous anger towards people we see as ignorant, who seem to be living in a world of alternate facts? (11:20)Anyone can change and learn how much better it is to love than to hate—though the intention to change is key (22:02)Recognizing we are divine expressions of life with an innate inner goodness (24:50)How can we be the one mistake? How can we so radically underestimate ourselves? (29:14)Look in the mirror, look deeply, and see who you really are (30:30)Opening to pain, metabolizing grief: Awakening Joy is not a feel-good program, it’s a feel-everything program (33:52)With the right tools, we can integrate our pain and the pain of the world; we need to practice grief together as a sacred act (36:51) Awareness heals; whatever part of you you’re not willing to embrace will run your life (39:49)Resources & References - Part 1James Baraz’ Awakening Joy 5-month Course: 10 Steps to a Happier LifeJames Baraz & Shoshana Alexander, Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness*James Baraz & Michele Lilyanna, Awakening Joy for Kids*One Earth Sangha, virtual EcoDharma center devoted to Buddhist responses to climate change where James is a guiding teacherRam Dass, one of James’ main teachers, Be Here Now*The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBCBob Dylan, “You’ve got a lot of nerve…” (Positively 4th Street) on YouTubeLuke 23:34, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, “If only it were all so simple!” The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956*Mary Trump, The Biography of Mary Trump*“Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it” (often attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe from a translation of Faust* by John Anster, but exact quote is by William Hutchison Murray)A Course in Miracles*, “Your grandeur is God's answer to the ego, because it is true. Littleness and grandeur cannot coexist, nor is it possible for them to alternate.”Zen Master Dogen, “To study the Way is to study the Self…”SUN article by Tim McKee, The Geography of Sorrow: Francis Weller on Navigating our Losses and Francis Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow*Thomas Hardy, “If a way to the Better there be…”Robert Bly, Iron John: A Book About Men** As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.---Being Here Now: A 2-Day Online Celebration of Ram Dass, November 5-6, 2022With Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Krishna Das, Sharon Salzberg, Trudy Goodman, Mirabai Bush, Jai Uttal, East Forest, Debra Chamberlin-Taylor, James Baraz, and others. For more information and to register, click here:https://spirit-rock.secure.retreat.guru/program/being-here-now-a-celebration-of-ram-dass-dc1b22/?_ga=2.188608556.529866604.1664737501-1907087178.1632963128&lang=en.---Brahma Vihara 4-week Online Course, Tuesdays, November 1-22, 2022 6:30-8:30pm PTFour Buddhist Heart Practices (Brahma Viharas): Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity, taught by James Baraz. Formal meditation instructions for developing each of these qualities along with talks on how to apply them in our lives. For more information and to register, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-four-buddhist-heart-practices-brahma-viharas-tickets-310766409697.---5-Month Awakening Joy Course, January 31-June 6, 2023For information about the 5-month course and James Baraz’ teaching schedule, click here: www.awakeningjoy.info.---James Baraz has been teaching mindfulness meditation for over 40 years in the U.S. and internationally, and is a founding teacher of the Spirit Rock Meditation Center. James has been leading the online course Awakening Joy since 2003 and is co-author of Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness and Awakening Joy for Kids. He also serves as a guiding teacher to One Earth Sangha, a Virtual EcoDharma Center devoted to Buddhist responses to Climate Change.Mind Our Democracy is a new project/movement to help meditation, yoga, and other spiritual students navigate these perilous and fraught times with engagement, wisdom, and heart. It's completely non-partisan, encouraging folks to vote for compassion, kindness, and inclusivity in this pivotal moment. Visit the mindourdemocracy.com website to see the inspiring video with Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Seane Corn, and other leaders, as well as a set of resources to inspire civic engagement within contemplative communities like yours. Then join our movement and share it with others.---Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell