

Buddha at the Gas Pump
Rick Archer
Conversations with spiritually awakening people.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 13, 2019 • 2h 6min
509. Georgi Y. Johnson
Born in Sheffield, England, Georgi has led a life of charm, intoxication, collision and perpetual re-awakening. Having experienced her parent’s divorce and later her father’s death to alcoholism, Georgi was a born seeker for a stable home that was somehow prior to the broken home that she knew. As a teenager, she attended evening classes at the School of Philosophy in Belgium, that offered a ‘sanitized’ version of Vedanta. While it gave a lot, the experience became oppressive, and when she left to Oxford University, she instead delved into Jungian psychology and the application of psychoanalytic and feminist literary theory.
When she was 20, Georgi arrived in Jerusalem, in search of a midway point between the mysticism of the east and the decay of the west. She experienced a part of the earth that is charged with bliss. Yet it was also a country where it seemed that nobody belonged. In this, she found a sense of belonging (in the field of not belonging).
Georgi’s life in Israel would include a compulsion for conflict. She worked as an investigative journalist exposing lies told about terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Later, she would undergo a high-conflict divorce in which she was condemned by rabbinical courts as a fake convert, a home-breaker and a naughty woman.
All this served to re-awaken her deeper purpose: the exploration of the mysteries of consciousness. After she met the love her life - spiritual teacher Bart ten Berge - this passion would express through escalating processes of liberation.Today, she is deeply fulfilled in sharing this journey with others through workshops, and one-on-one mentorship.
A free spirit, citizen of the world and a poet, Georgi is presently pioneering Nondual Therapy, which she sees as part of a paradigm shift in the evolution of psychology.
Books:
Nondual Therapy: The Psychology of Awakening
Stillness of the Wind: A Collection of Nondual Poetry
I Am Here: Opening the Windows to Life and Beauty
Website: perception.inner-growth.org
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded July 6, 2019
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Importance of Donations in Supporting BATGAP
00:04:47 - The Value of Individual Responsibility and Volunteer Work
00:08:37 - A Jacob's Ladder of Light
00:12:30 - The Connection Through Meditation and Mantras
00:17:09 - Forbidden Mantras and Spiritual Contemplation
00:21:19 - Surrendering to Genius
00:26:10 - Mystical experiences and the power of sound
00:30:11 - The Death of the Author and the Fluidity of Texts
00:34:28 - The Negative Effects of Trusting Outer Authority
00:38:58 - Cannabis and Coffee-induced Psychosis
00:42:16 - From Anxiety to Apocalyptic Depression
00:46:42 - Finding Healing and Service
00:50:53 - Overcoming Anxiety and Finding Joy
00:55:05 - Closing of the Heart
01:00:00 - Visitations from Enlightened Beings
01:03:01 - The Cone of Non-Duality
01:07:34 - The Paradox of Existence and Nonexistence
01:12:37 - Qualities of Awakening: Love, Peace, Joy
01:17:21 - The Peace Within Conflict
01:22:26 - The Spoiled Nature of Humanity
01:26:14 - The Impulse to Incarnate in a State of Nondual Quality
01:31:16 - The Innocence and Guilt of Humanity
01:35:35 - The Non-Dual Nature of Inheritance and Purpose
01:39:53 - Embracing Natural Empathy and Unity with Others
01:44:16 - Different Experiences of Enlightenment Based on Nervous System
01:49:14 - The Sensitivity of the Nervous System
01:53:17 - The Vision of Two Figures
01:58:06 - The Tragic Effects of Psychiatric Drugs
02:02:49 - The Mind as a Receiver
02:07:57 - Embracing Diversity and Non-Conformity
02:11:43 - Conclusion and Donation Reminder

Jul 5, 2019 • 1h 56min
508. Beth Miller
My deepest devotion, throughout my life has been to the discovery and embodiment of our truest nature. I studied organized and mystical religions, I traveled to many countries in our world, getting a taste of different cultures and people, I lived a conventional suburban life as a wife and mother, I lived in chronic confusion, and I studied psychology, all with the gnawing question of ‘what is all this really about?’ tugging at my sleeve.
I was born in Brooklyn New York, into a world where appearances were everything, but I tended an inner world that I kept to myself. When I look back on how I was “companioned” throughout my childhood by my inner world that was full of comfort and promise I marvel at the wisdom and strength of this stream of consciousness.
After raising my two sons, I went to graduate school to study psychology and find professional legitimacy, and to focus on my interior. I had, for a long time, known I needed to heal from childhood trauma and I also felt a calling to help others. But, like so many of us, I had looked to the external world for this elusive happiness and healing I felt was missing.
After completing my degree, I built a satisfyingly delicious career – with the same gnawing question in my heart – how do I reconcile pain and confusion with a life-long intuited knowing of a greater consciousness or awareness? In addition to a private practice of psychotherapy, I taught at California Institute of Integral Studies and the University of California at San Francisco. I was the therapist for a pilot study at Stanford and led workshops and presentations for cultivating resilience. (My first book is The Woman’s Book of Resilience – twelve qualities to cultivate).
I began to follow and study spiritual teachers: Adyashanti, David Hawkins, Mooji and Jan Frazier. After decades of devoted searching, I was guided by Jan Frazier and experienced a profound shift in consciousness at the age of 70. (Poster child for it never being too late) This realization allowed the inner and the outer world to melt into each other. After decades of healing and opening to larger and larger states of consciousness, the search ended. This shift set my course, in a humbling and wondrous way, to deeper and further understanding, to embodying and, most importantly, living what had been revealed.
In the sweet presence of now, I am along for the ride of intimate contact with whatever life has in store from moment to moment and day to day. In my bones, I understand what it means to be intimate with 10,000 things.
Website: bethmillerphd.com
Book: Waking Up on the Couch
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded June 29, 2019
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:24 - Childhood in the Atmosphere of War and Powerlessness
00:11:17 - The Dream of Unbounded Presence
00:15:05 - Dreams as Messages from God
00:19:25 - The First and Biggest Disillusionment
00:24:15 - The Metaphor of the Movie
00:27:47 - Becoming Radically Honest with Ourselves
00:33:40 - The Play of God
00:38:29 - The Wisdom in Life's Buffeting
00:42:11 - The Transformative Power of Psychotherapy
00:47:18 - Becoming a Better Human Being
00:51:59 - A Familiar Presence
00:56:52 - The Contagiousness of Intimacy and Awakening
01:00:06 - Losing Sense of Boundaries
01:04:29 - The Love That Showed Up
01:08:53 - The Shift on the Last Day of the Retreat
01:11:59 - The Value of Presence in Integration
01:15:29 - Awakening and the Body
01:19:36 - The Power of Pure Consciousness
01:23:16 - Trusting Life and Comprehending Something
01:26:59 - Being Grounded in Being
01:31:28 - The Importance of Facing and Feeling Human Pain
01:35:20 - Becoming Transparent and Clear with Ourselves
01:40:16 - A Shift in Perspective
01:43:51 - A Deepening Sense of Being Gone
01:47:50 - The Depth of Being in Direct Contact
01:52:10 - Understanding Awareness and Self-Referral
01:56:17 - The Realization and the Pinch Me Moment
01:59:42 - The Hope for Societal Shift
02:02:05 - The Pleasure of Interviewing
02:04:07 - Conclusion and Next Interview Announcement

Jun 25, 2019 • 1h 57min
507. Hans Wilhelm
Some of the opinions expressed on certain topics in this interview do not reflect BatGap’s point of view. While this may be true of any of our interviews, we wanted to make a special point of it here since the opinions were stated rather emphatically.
Hans Wilhelm has created over 70 short YouTube videos in which he explores and visually explains the dynamic of the universal laws. This ‘back of a napkin’ approach has been so appealing that his YouTube channel has more than 100,000 subscribers. Hans says, “My mission is to offer these videos to inspire viewers to question and explore spirituality and their own relationship to the universe.”
He is the author and illustrator of over 200 books for all ages – including some together with Byron Katie. His books have sold over 40 million copies and are translated into 30 languages.
Websites:
LIFEexplained.com
YouTube Channel
hanswilhelm.com
Facebook
Books:
Tiger-Tiger, Is It True?: Four Questions to Make You Smile Again
The Four Questions: For Henny Penny and Anybody with Stressful Thoughts
I'll Always Love You
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded June 15, 2019
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:29 - From Belief to Knowing: The Spiritual Path
00:08:36 - Applying the Golden Rule in Daily Life
00:12:38 - Living by the Laws of Not Hurting and Loving
00:19:38 - The Purpose of Our Existence
00:21:45 - The Purpose of the Detour
00:27:19 - The Universality of the Christ Energy
00:33:31 - The Sun Shines with the Sunrise
00:38:00 - Soul Groups and Reincarnation
00:42:58 - The Soul's Connection to Abortion
00:47:31 - Explaining and providing information is better than banning
00:52:16 - Guardian Angels and Their Purpose
00:57:36 - Guardian Angels and Negative Entities
01:01:54 - Negative Entities and Protection
01:06:36 - The Power of our Aura and Negative Forces
01:10:51 - The Gift of Being Born on Earth
01:15:46 - The Cosmic Teaching by Jesus of Nazareth
01:19:36 - Animals as our Little Brothers and Sisters
01:23:52 - Listening to the Heart instead of the Intellect
01:27:17 - What Happens After Death
01:30:30 - The Perspective Shift on Life and Death
01:34:03 - The Limitations of Communicating with Ancestors and Spirits
01:37:18 - Help and Guidance for Higher Evolved Beings
01:41:13 - The Power of YouTube Videos
01:44:19 - Understanding the Purpose of Life
01:47:29 - The Consequences of Organ Transplants
01:50:09 - Organ Donations and Acts of Service
01:53:28 - The Importance of Saying "I Love You"
01:56:16 - Becoming Independent and Strong in Relationships
02:01:49 - Contacting Karl via Email
02:03:03 - The Joy of Interviews

Jun 15, 2019 • 1h 35min
506. Leah Cox
After graduating in French from the University of Exeter and working for several years in conventional jobs in London, Leah found herself deeply unhappy; struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety, disordered eating, an intense feeling of being a ‘wrong’ human being, and desperation to ‘find her purpose’.
In 2012, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery, but even after several years of personal and spiritual growth, she found herself in all the same cycles.
In 2016, through grace, good luck, and some wonderful people, Leah experienced her first true spiritual awakening, seeing through the illusion of the separate self and knowing herself clearly as the one Love that we all are. For the very first time, she knew true peace, happiness, and freedom. Most importantly, the feeling of being a ‘wrong’ human being left her completely.
Since that time, her journey has been one of ongoing learning, integration, and unfolding.
Leah works with clients one-on-one and runs online and in-person classes and workshops to support others’ journeys of healing, awakening, and following the call of the heart. Known for her tender, playful and (sometimes) fiery spirit, her message is simple: you are already whole, you are already worthy and you are never, ever outside the gates of Love.
Website: leahmarjoriecox.com
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded June 8, 2019.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:27 - Starting the Spiritual Journey
00:10:13 - Awakening to No Separate Self
00:14:54 - Overwhelming Compassion and Self-Worth
00:18:34 - Unhealthy relationship with food and body image
00:22:06 - Overcoming Obsession and Finding Joy in Life
00:24:24 - The Only Way Out is Up
00:26:30 - Changing Perspective
00:28:55 - The Paradox of Meaning in Life
00:32:50 - The Profound Meaning of Concepts
00:35:13 - Finding Meaning in Challenging Times
00:38:22 - Instilling a Perspective of Continuous Unfolding Journey
00:41:04 - Trusting Your Inner Knowing
00:43:47 - A Period of Inner Emptiness and Vacillation
00:47:21 - Settling into the Experience
00:51:19 - Spiritual Paradoxes with Dan
00:54:53 - The Multidimensionality of Truth
00:58:34 - Embracing Paradox and Opposing Views
01:01:53 - Beauty and Sorrow at the Same Time
01:05:02 - Effortless and Harmonious Work
01:08:17 - Changes in Work with Clients after Awakening
01:11:13 - Openness and Vulnerability in Relationships
01:14:39 - Shrieking the Madness of the World from My Bed
01:17:28 - Unlocking Inner Potential
01:20:38 - Discovering Your Life Purpose
01:23:54 - Finding Meaning in Life
01:27:33 - Kundalini Awakening and the Process of Spiritual Progress
01:33:08 - Pondering the Temporal and the Eternal
01:38:50 - Dan's Paradox Points
01:43:22 - Private Sessions on the Spiritual Path
01:46:43 - Appreciating the Beauty of the Lake District

Jun 8, 2019 • 1h 58min
505. Justin Gold (J Jaye Gold)
J. Jaye Gold has been assisting people in their search for inner meaning for 35 years. He is currently living in the Sierra foothills of Northern California where he works with several dozen seekers of truth.
Over the years he has deliberately resisted the trend to become a “traveling guru” with thousands of followers, in favor of preserving an element that he considers precious – that of maintaining opportunities for developing a meaningful teacher/student relationship. He is available to anyone who seeks his guidance, and asks for no payment in return.
Websites:
justingold.net
The Center for Cultural and Naturalist Studies, Inc.
Books:
Justin Time: Autobiographical Stories from an American Spiritual Master
Another Heart in His Hand: A Spiritual Anomaly
Highway of Diamonds: An International Travel Adventure
The Roca Group: A Tale of Financial Espionage
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded June 1, 2019
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:40 - Embracing Uncertainty
00:09:09 - Establishing Credentials and Background
00:12:46 - A Multi-Religious Background
00:17:44 - The Importance of Real World Experience
00:22:17 - Reexamining the Equipment and Support Systems
00:26:46 - The Value of Metaphors and Fairy Tales in Understanding
00:31:08 - Starting from the Outside in Education
00:36:12 - Dealing with Trauma and Embarrassment in the Present Moment
00:40:47 - Internal Reactions to External Difficulties and Humility
00:45:25 - A Humble Perspective on the Universe
00:50:02 - Language and Culture
00:54:33 - The Spiritual Quest and Temptations of the West
01:03:00 - The Importance of a Living Teacher
01:03:14 - Updating Ancient Teachings
01:07:40 - An Arduous Journey to an Exotic School
01:12:04 - Meditation in Central America, Iran, and the Uncovering Process
01:16:17 - Exploring Obstacles in Human Life
01:21:10 - The Unique Ideas of No Church and No Ministers
01:25:15.000 - Working with David Shapiro in Northern California
01:29:20 - The Invention of Patterns and Patents
01:33:35 - The Importance of Having Something to Take Care Of
01:38:08 - The Power of the Thinking Process
01:42:55 - The Creative Capacity of Human Beings
01:47:18 - Exploring the Realm of the Unknown
01:51:29 - Growing Up in New York City and the Evolution of Kindness
01:55:57 - The Guru Maharaj-ji Investigation
02:00:31 - Becoming a Premi and Getting Exposure to Maraji
02:04:42 - The Next Buddha: The Power of Small Groups
02:09:06 - Music and Cultural Exchanges
02:12:35 - Interview with Leah Cox from the UK

May 31, 2019 • 1h 46min
504. Kate Gustin
Kate Gustin, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area. She received her education from Princeton University and the University of California, Berkeley; and has worked in a variety of settings over the past twenty-five years as a mental health practitioner: outpatient psychiatry, community mental health clinics, VA Hospital, college counseling services, and currently in private practice. Gustin integrates the science of positive psychology into her psychotherapy, teaching, and consultation, and leads classes and trainings for students, patients, and health care professionals.
Book: The No-Self Help Book: Forty Reasons to Get Over Your Self and Find Peace of Mind
Websites:
kategustin.net
no-selfhelp.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded May 25, 2019
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:54 - The Influence of Eastern Thought
00:07:58 - Spiritual Practice and Influences
00:12:05 - Choosing Where to Rest Your Attention
00:15:50 - The Importance of Regular Practice
00:19:32 - The Levels of Self Concept
00:23:18 - The Development of Self-awareness: From Ahamkara to Brahman Consciousness
00:27:03 - Connection and Accessing Inner Resources
00:30:35 - The Illusion of Self
00:34:09 - Shifting Perspectives: From Self to No-Self
00:38:05 - The Irrelevance of Self-Esteem
00:41:53 - The Shift in Culture and Paradigm
00:45:42 - The Erosion of Self
00:49:12 - The Illusion of Self and the Effort to Protect It
00:53:04 - The Self as a Thief
00:56:45 - The Longing for Self
01:00:28 - The Influence of Past Experiences on the Present Moment
01:04:05 - Processing Traumatic Experiences in Therapy
01:07:55 - Life as an Instrument of Wisdom
01:12:00 - The Fading Self-Referencing Narrative
01:15:40 - Detaching from Self and Suffering
01:19:31 - Letting go of attachment to opinions
01:23:08 - Disidentifying from Beliefs and Building Understanding
01:26:37 - Infusing Collective Consciousness
01:30:21 - The Illusion of Self
01:34:19 - Near-Death Experiences and the Beauty of Death
01:38:20 - The Shift Towards a More Unified Reality
01:42:04 - A Glimpse of Possibilities
01:45:49 - The Importance of Digging Deeper
01:49:37 - Cultivating Compassion and Empathy
01:53:29 - Workshops and Website Updates

May 23, 2019 • 1h 40min
503. Kylea Taylor
Kylea Taylor, M.S., LMFT, found two gaps in ethics education in the early 1990s while simultaneously studying to be a Marriage and Family Therapist and working as a senior trainer at the Grof Transpersonal Training where she assisted Stanislav Grof in training practitioners of Holotropic Breathwork®. Kylea observed that working with clients in non-ordinary states of consciousness requires different ethical awarenesses. She drew upon the tenets of several of the great religions to create InnerEthics™, a model for ethical self-reflection. The model clarifies the unique ethical territory of understanding and working skillfully with people who are experiencing profound and extra-ordinary states of consciousness and also provides a scaffolding for recognizing our semi-conscious, inner motivations as practitioners, teachers, and caregivers in order to avoid client and student harm and increase client and student benefit. Her book, The Ethics of Caring: Finding Right Relationship With Clients for Profound, Transformative Work in Our Professional Healing Relationships, illuminates transference, countertransference, power dynamics, dual relationship, and other topics important to relational ethics. The book won the 2017 Nautilus Book Award in the category, “Relationships & Communication.”
Kylea teaches, writes, and consults about ethics. She is also currently President and co-founder of SoulCollage Inc., which since 2003 has been training facilitators worldwide to share an expressive arts method that promotes deep self-discovery, individually and in community. Kylea’s focus as a therapist has been on assisting clients in integrating the meaning and extra-ordinary gifts of spiritual emergence, awakening or transpersonal experiences, and what she calls “personal paradigm shift” phenomena.
Website
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded May 18, 2019.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Kylea Taylor and InnerEthics
00:03:14 - The Importance of Inner Motivations in Ethics
00:07:14 - Changing the Culture: A Mission for Ethical Behavior
00:10:29 - Development and Impediments in Different Ways
00:13:36 - Right Relationship and Learning from Mistakes
00:16:56 - The Interconnectedness of All Beings
00:20:24 - An Ethical Crisis in the Spiritual Community
00:24:14 - The Importance of Discernment in Spiritual Teachers
00:27:26 - Peer Supervision and the Johari Window
00:31:22 - The Importance of Self-Reflection for Teachers
00:34:39 - Power dynamics in spiritual communities
00:38:27 - Ethical Fading and the Detriment to Clients
00:42:01 - The Rajneesh community and the ethics of the student
00:45:13 - The Importance of Protection, Permission, and Connection
00:49:28 - Healing from Spiritual Wounding and Trauma
00:53:27 - Non-traditional therapy for PTSD
00:57:47 - Trusting the Inner Healer in Psychedelic Therapy
01:01:29 - Holotropic Breathwork and Psychedelics Comparison
01:05:33 - The Mechanics of Holotropic Breathwork and Prana Awakening
01:09:12 - A Powerful Kundalini Opening
01:13:07 - Caution in Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness
01:16:25 - Moving towards positive change with #MeToo movement
01:20:01 - Types of Individuals Who Might Benefit from Self-Reflection
01:23:51 - Learning from Mistakes and Apologizing
01:27:08 - Redemption and Transformation
01:31:10 - The InnerEthics Model and Self-Reflection
01:35:15 - Switching Hats: Finding Balance in Therapy
01:38:46 - The Importance of Ethics in Spiritual Development
01:42:21 - Different Experiences in Spiritual Emergence
01:46:06 - Surrendering Control
01:49:45 - Justification through illusion

May 15, 2019 • 2h 7min
502. Michael Pollan and Chris Bache
Michael Pollan is the author of eight books, including:
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence,
Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation,
Food Rules: An Eater's Manual,
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto,
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, and
The Botany of Desire, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. A longtime contributor to the New York Times Magazine, he also teaches writing at Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley where he is the John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Science Journalism. In 2010, Time magazine named him one of the one hundred most influential people in the world. Website
Christopher M. Bache is professor emeritus in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University where he taught for 33 years. He is also adjunct faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies and a Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. An award winning teacher, Chris’ work explores the philosophical implications of non-ordinary states of consciousness, especially psychedelic states. Chris has written three books: Lifecycles- a study of reincarnation in light of contemporary consciousness research; Dark Night, Early Dawn - a pioneering work in psychedelic philosophy and collective consciousness; and The Living Classroom, an exploration of teaching and collective fields of consciousness. His new book is LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven (2019). Website
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Christopher Bache in Panel Discussion on Ayahuasca and Psychedelics as Potential Catalysts for Personal and Societal Evolution
Interview recorded May 11, 2019
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of the Guests
00:04:44 - The Evolutionary Strategy of Gratifying Human Desire in Plants
00:09:20 - The Intelligence of Plants
00:13:30 - Relief for Existential Distress
00:17:28 - Psychedelics and Mental Habit
00:23:34 - The Potential of Psychedelics in Treating Mental Health
00:28:54 - The Effects of Psychedelics on Consciousness and the Brain
00:33:31 - Changes in Belief and Perspective
00:37:35 - The Price of Admission to a Mysterious Other Ground
00:41:17 - Exploring the Nature of Mind
00:45:32 - The Complementarity of Science and Spirituality
00:49:50 - The Question of Consciousness and Mind Preceding Matter
00:53:47 - Evidence for Continuity of Awareness
00:58:08 - The Subtle Body and Psychedelic Experiences
01:02:56 - The Demanding Work of High Dose Psychedelic Sessions
01:07:47 - The Healing Process in Psychedelic Sessions
01:12:50 - Healing the Collective Psyche
01:17:24 - The Shift from Individual to Collective Perspective
01:22:15 - Taking Psychedelic Inquiry Seriously
01:26:34 - Boundaries of Consciousness Exploration
01:31:16 - Merging with the Mind of the Universe
01:35:59 - The Exploration of Consciousness Through Psychedelics and Meditation
01:40:26 - Connections between Psychedelic and Mystical States of Consciousness
01:44:27 - The Relationship Between Psychedelic Experiences and Behavior
01:48:42 - Publishing Michael's book in paperback
01:52:32 - The Receptive Nature of Children's Consciousness
01:56:45 - The Potential Negative Consequences of Legalizing Psychedelics
02:00:53 - The Evolutionary Dynamics of Humanity
02:05:54 - The Birth of the Diamond Soul
02:10:46 - The Crisis of Consciousness and the Future Human
02:15:05 - Closing Remarks and Appreciation

May 9, 2019 • 2h 1min
501. Daniel Schmidt
Daniel is the creator of the award-winning film "Inner Worlds Outer Worlds" as well as the ongoing "Samadhi" series. He is also the founder of the Awaken The World initiative whose purpose is to bring the ancient teachings of Samadhi back to the world for free (in as many languages as possible) Daniel's approach combines self-inquiry with traditional forms meditation so that participants have the opportunity to simultaneously realize their transcendent nature, and to purify themselves of conditioned patterns. The pathless path is to realize an ever-deepening development process within the self-structure, and to simultaneously realize what is always already beyond the self-structure. Samadhi is when the world that is constantly changing merges or unites with the changeless.
Website: awakentheworld.com
YouTube Channel
Inner Worlds Outer Worlds - Part 1 - Akasha
Inner Worlds Outer Worlds - Part 2 - The Spiral
Inner Worlds Outer Worlds - Part 3 - The Serpant and the Lotus
Inner Worlds Outer Worlds - Part 4 - Beyond Thinking
Samadhi Parts 1 and 2 - DVD Blu-ray Combo Pack
Samadhi Free Guided Meditations and Instructions
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded May 6, 2019
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:28 - Kundalini Awakening and Terrifying Experiences
00:08:44 - The Terror of Ego Dissolution in Spiritual Awakening
00:13:18 - Exploring Christian Influences
00:18:18 - Battling Diabetes & Discovering Meditation
00:23:44 - Identification with the Dan Structure and the Truth of What We Are
00:28:59 - Techniques for Purifying the Mind and Body
00:33:55 - Cultivating Stillness and Grace
00:38:12 - The Physiology of Spiritual Practice
00:42:25 - The Benefits of Regular Meditation Practice
00:46:51 - Levels of Existence: The Energy and Mind
00:52:07 - The Illusion of Self
00:57:06 - The Persecution of Galileo and the Search for Truth
01:02:30 - The Profound Intelligence of Creation
01:07:19 - The Value of Ruthless Honesty
01:12:24 - Experiencing Reality in Different Ways
01:17:19 - The Ineffability of Spiritual Experience
01:21:34 - The Proliferation of Ancient Esoteric Teachings
01:26:18 - The Importance of Experiencing Life for Energetic Growth
01:31:27 - Finding Freedom: Breaking Conditioned Patterns
01:35:11 - A Beer and the Awakening
01:39:15 - The Self-Organizing Aspect of Existence
01:43:51 - The Unfathomable Intelligence
01:48:41 - Alignment with Awareness and Dancing the Dance
01:53:11 - Playing with our True Nature
01:58:03 - Daily Meditation Practice and Dropping Mind Patterns
02:02:38 - Sharing and Learning on the Spiritual Path
02:07:06 - Yoga, Meditation, and Chainsaw Healing
02:11:40 - Healing through Diet and Skepticism
02:14:57 - Meditation Retreats and Self-Directed Practice
02:18:55 - Closing Remarks

May 2, 2019 • 1h 52min
500. Dani Antman
Dani Antman is an internationally known energy healer and interfaith minister in Santa Barbara, CA. She has been at the forefront of energy medicine and healing since 1992 when she graduated from the Barbara Brennan School of Healing.
Dani is a graduate of The School for Nondual Healing and Awakening, where she taught for over nine years. She has led workshops at the Esalen Institute, La Casa de Maria, and The Lionheart Institute for Transpersonal Energy Healing. She is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and helps people recover from the effects of trauma and PTSD.
She has received spiritual direction and assistance for over 17 years from Patanjali Kundalini Yoga Care (see BatGap interview with Joan Shivarpita Harrigan). Through this consistent guidance, she completed a challenging Kundalini process related to her Jewish past. She is dedicated to guiding others on their spiritual path.
Silvia Eberl is the new lineage holder of Patanjali Kundalini Yoga Care, as designated by Swami Chandrasekharanand. She is working in Austria and Rishikesh, India. Her contact info is: bharatpkyc@yahoo.com. Websites:
German version
English version
Dani's website: daniantman.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded April 27, 2019
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Background
00:03:59 - The Misleading Nature of Spiritual Purification
00:07:07 - Early Life and Tumultuous Times
00:11:27 - The Zen of Art and Focus during All-nighters
00:14:53 - Discovering Healing and Self-Transformation
00:18:57 - The Existence of a Subtle Body
00:22:57 - Distance Healing Mechanisms and Limitations
00:26:57 - Wholeness and Integrated Perception
00:30:59 - Seduction and Deception in Spiritual Teachers
00:35:30 - The Dark Side of Spiritual Teachers
00:39:38 - The Living Tradition of Kabbalah
00:44:00 - The Living Tradition of Enlightened Sages
00:47:46 - The Importance of Spiritual Activism and Seva
00:51:57 - The Sex Rising and its Effects
00:56:15 - A Rising in Spiritual Seekers
00:59:48 - Kundalini Awakening and Progressions
01:03:50 - Kundalini Awakening Journey
01:08:17 - Addressing the Root of the Problem
01:11:56 - Milestones in Spiritual Awakening
01:15:45 - Kundalini Awakening and Brain Support
01:19:23 - Repairing the Chakra System
01:22:50 - Kundalini Yoga and the Advaita Vedanta
01:26:21 - Loss and Grief, Near Death Experience
01:31:03 - Grounding into the Body, Running and Returning
01:35:06 - Surrendering to Grace
01:38:48 - The Power of Sincere Intentions and Desires
01:42:17 - Near Death Experience
01:46:24 - A Life-Changing Experience and Fearlessness
01:50:10 - Returning to the Jewish Lineage
01:53:57 - Connecting with Dani Antman
01:57:42 - Preserve the Teachings of Jesus


