Buddha at the Gas Pump

This video contains my Question and Answer session at the 2018 Science and Nonduality conference. and also an interview of me by Shakti Caterina Maggi, an Italian spiritual teacher who used to be a journalist. My SAND Q&A includes the following points: How BatGap started. Which guests have been the most interesting, provocative, intriguing, brilliant, mysterious, surprising, etc.? What insights have I gained? How has this process influenced my spiritual path? What do I experience while I’m interviewing people? What do I foresee for BatGap in the next few years? How to deal with family and friends who don’t understand your awakening or interest in spirituality? A consideration of sudden vs. gradual awakenings. How do I regard the urgency of humanity’s need to take a spiritual/cultural leap in response to the dire predicament facing us? The joy and challenge of speaking with people from such a broad range of spiritual backgrounds. Why science and spirituality need and can benefit one another. The importance of understanding consciousness to be the fundamental to the universe rather than merely a product of brain functioning. Shakti's interview includes the following points: In which direction are we as consciousness moving? How might the growing awakening of consciousness help humanity avert disaster? Embodied spirituality vs. avoidance of life through transcendence. Consciousness is relevant to every field of human endeavor. Consciousness is fundamental to matter. Finding the foundation of our being and dealing with individual planetary problems from that foundation. Ethical standards for spiritual teachers. The quality of awakening will vary according to one’s constitution. Awakening enhances individual differences while establishing our fundamental unity. Sticking with one teacher vs. working with many. The importance of sincerity. The principle of “the highest first”. Recorded October 27th and 28th, 2018, in San Jose, California. Discussion of this talk and interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this talk and interview Other talks by Rick on BatGap: SAND 2019 - Knowledge/Reality is Different in Different States of Consciousness YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Birth of Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:10 - The Enlivening Effect of the Industry Update 00:07:12 - The Power of Ordinary People 00:09:47 - Hidden Gems in Interviews 00:12:14 - Creating New Categories of Interesting Content 00:14:24 - The Transformative Power of Immersion in the Interview Process 00:16:44 - The Evolutionary Impact of Service 00:18:38 - Dealing with Family in the Awakening Process 00:20:04 - Cultivating Patience and Compassion in Relationships 00:22:16 - A Remarkable Awakening 00:24:14 - The Incremental Process of Spiritual Development 00:25:57 - A Tipping Point 00:28:44 - The Spiritual Awakening in Response to Crisis 00:31:40 - Awakening Within Everyone's Physiology 00:33:49 - Revival of Extinct Cultures and Convergence of Technologies 00:36:24 - Science, Spirituality, and the Balance of Evolution 00:38:37 - The Role of Science in Spirituality 00:41:02 - The Fundamental Nature of Consciousness 00:43:35 - Interview with Shakti Caterina Maggi 00:46:33 - The Earth's Immune System 00:49:56 - The Evolution of the Non-Duality Conference 00:53:59 - The Extension of Human Quest to Know the Universe 00:57:48 - The Dark Side of Spiritual Teachers 01:01:30 - Remaining a Student Forever 01:04:30 - Cultivating Discernment and Questioning in Spiritual Development 01:07:56 - The Boundaries of a Behavioral Teacher 01:11:28 - The Boundaries of Ethics and Honesty in Teacher-Student Relationships 01:14:46 - Transparency and Ethical Guidelines in Spiritual Teaching 01:17:15 - The Cognition and Integration of Awakening 01:20:27 - Different Perspectives in Spirituality 01:23:41 - Sincerity and Highest Priorities

Sandra Ingerman, MA, is an award-winning author of twelve books, including: Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self, Medicine for the Earth: How to Transform Personal and Environmental Toxins, Walking in Light: The Everyday Empowerment of a Shamanic Life(CD or eBook version), and The Book of Ceremony: Shamanic Wisdom for Invoking the Sacred in Everyday Life. She is the presenter of eight audio programs produced by Sounds True, and she is the creator of the Transmutation App. Sandra is a world-renowned teacher of shamanism and has been teaching for more than 30 years. She has taught workshops internationally on shamanic journeying, healing, and reversing environmental pollution using spiritual methods. Sandra is recognized for bridging ancient cross-cultural healing methods into our modern culture addressing the needs of our times. Sandra is known for gathering the global spiritual community together to perform powerful transformative ceremonies as well as inspires us to stand strong in unity so we do our own spiritual and social activism work while keeping a vision of hope and being a light in the world. She is passionate about helping people to reconnect with nature. Since the 1980’s thousands of people have healed from past and present traumas through the classic cross-cultural shamanic healing method Sandra teaches called Soul Retrieval. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and professional mental health counselor. She is also a board-certified expert on traumatic stress. Sandra was chosen as one of the Top 10 Spiritual Leaders of 2013 by Spirituality and Health Magazine. Sandra has two new books released in 2018. The Hidden Worlds was co-written with Katherine Wood and is a novel written for young adults to help them navigate the changing world. And The Book of Ceremony: Shamanic Wisdom for Invoking the Sacred in Everyday Life was written for a shamanic and general audience on how to bring the sacred into daily life by performing shamanic ceremonies designed for our times and the challenges we are facing. Audio programs: The Soul Retrieval Journey - Learn a shamanic practice for returning lost parts of the soul to the body for healing. 21st-Century Shamanism - Contemporary Practices for Direct Revelation Healing with Spiritual Light - The Shamanic Power of Transfiguration to Heal Ourselves, Each Other, and the Earth And many more at SoundsTrue. Websites: sandraingerman.com shamanicteachers.com Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Shamanism 00:04:23 - The Evolution of Consciousness and Contact with the Spiritual Realms 00:08:34 - Near-Death Experiences and Unconditional Love 00:12:48 - Appreciating the Beauty and Nurturance of Planet Earth 00:16:56 - Caring for Our Children and Future Generations 00:21:12 - Carrying the Energy into the Future 00:25:18 - Harnessing the Spiritual Heart to Deal with Suffering 00:29:42 - Death and Rebirth in Nature 00:33:58 - The Notion of Balance and Technology's Role 00:38:03 - Planetary Soul Loss 00:42:15 - Restoring the Soul of the Planet 00:46:19 - Evolution of Shamanism in the 21st Century 00:50:38 - Shamanism and Changing Ceremonies 00:55:11 - Guardian Angels and Spirits 00:59:10 - Poltergeists and Ghosts in Shamanic Journeying 01:03:17 - The Influence of Land Spirits 01:07:21 - The Discipline of Being Present 01:11:00 - Approaching Spirit Work with Respect and Honor 01:15:26 - Protecting Ourselves from Psychic Darts 01:19:04 - The Power of Omens and Connection to Nature 01:23:35 - The Soul's Decision to Live or Die 01:27:43 - The Spiritual Evolution and Escaping Suffering 01:31:25 - Balancing Sensitivity with Toughness 01:35:15 - Frustration with Interpretation of Visions 01:39:14 - Developing Subtle Senses in Shamanism 01:43:22 - The Development of Sensory Faculties and Soul Songs 01:47:05 - The Healing Power of Presence and Love 01:51:05 - Finding Your Unique Way to Contribute 01:55:02 - Developing Your Own Lexicon for Omens 01:59:02 - The Journey of Learning to Speak 02:02:36 - Wrapping up the Interview series

Rupert Sheldrake, PhD is a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 12 books, including Science Set Free and Science and Spiritual Practices. He was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge University, a Frank Know Fellow at Harvard, and a Research Fellow of the Royal Society. From 2005-2010 the Director of the Perrott-Warrick Project for research on unexplained human and animal abilities, funded by Trinity College, Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, California, and of Schumacher College in Devon, England. His website is sheldrake.org. Some of Rupert's books: Science and Spiritual Practices: Transformative Experiences and Their Effects on Our Bodies, Brains, and Health Science Set Free: 10 Paths to New Discovery The Presence of the Past: Morphic Resonance and the Memory of Nature Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: Fully Updated and Revised Transcript of this interview Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded November 20, 2018. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:14 - Morphic Fields and Morphic Resonance 00:06:30 - Controversy and Memory in Nature 00:09:48 - Morphic Resonance and Memory 00:12:47 - The Ultimate Morphic Field 00:16:02 - The Trinity Principle in Hinduism 00:19:09 - Levels of Consciousness and the Pervading Field 00:22:01 - The Subtle Body and the Dream Body 00:25:06 - Morphic Fields and Boundaries 00:28:14 - Promissory Materialism and the Wager 00:31:28 - The Unfathomable Complexity of the Universe 00:34:41 - The Belief in Science as a Faith 00:37:46 - The Potential of Analog Computing and the Rejection of Materialism 00:40:48 - The Materialistic Perspective on Spirituality 00:44:12 - Dismissing Dzogchen and the Arrogance of Atheism 00:47:13 - Accepting Your Own Experience 00:50:09 - The Fallacy of Winner-Takes-All Thinking and Scientific Fundamentalism 00:53:03 - The Tendency for "One True Path" Ideology in Religion 00:56:13 - The Phenomenon of Homogeneous Hydrogen 00:59:34 - The Divine Ordering Principles in Science and Spirituality 01:02:45 - The Impressive Buildings of Europe 01:06:09 - Exploring the Effects of Drugs on Consciousness  01:09:06 - Yin and Yang polarity in Taoist philosophy 01:12:27 - Morphic Resonance and Vibratory Patterns 01:15:34 - Father Bede Griffiths and the Ashram Experience 01:19:00 - Comparing Christian and Indian Traditions 01:22:20 - Morphic Resonance in Rituals and Pilgrimages 01:25:23 - Circumambulation in Different Religions 01:28:05 - The Consciousness of Nature and the Sun 01:31:20 - The concept of panentheism 01:34:11 - Interview Release Update

Leanne Whitney Ph.D. is an independent scholar in the fields of depth psychology and consciousness studies. She specializes in the intersection of Western psychology and the Eastern liberatory traditions. For over twenty-five years Leanne has researched the mind body connection and, over the last fifteen plus years, their interrelation with pure consciousness. Trained in depth psychology, yoga, and craniosacral therapy, in her private practice, Leanne works with clients one-on-one to resolve mental, emotional, and physical blocks which obscure the ever-present alignment of the authentic Self. Working with clients online as well as in person, her practice is international, spanning four continents. Her clientele is diverse; racially, socio-economically, and in sexual orientation. Leanne is the author of Consciousness in Jung and Patañjali (Routledge, 2018) as well as several academic papers. Her published papers for the open access journal Cosmos and History: The Journal of Natural and Social Philosophy include: Innate and Emergent: Jung, Yoga and the Archetype of the Self Meet the Objective Measures of Affective Neuroscience; Jung, Yoga and Affective Neuroscience: Towards a Contemporary Science of the Sacred; and Jung in Dialogue with Freud and Patañjali: Instinct, Affective Neuroscience, and the Reconciliation of Science and Religious Experience, Book: Consciousness in Jung and Patañjali (Research in Analytical Psychology and Jungian Studies) Website: leannewhitney.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded November 9, 2018 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:20 - A Burst of Light and Pure Consciousness 00:07:46 - The Radically Reordered Life 00:11:12 - The Reality of Consciousness and Power in the Universe 00:15:11 - Jung's Philosophy of Consciousness 00:19:30 - Tools and Experience in Consciousness Exploration 00:23:47 - Knowing the Boundaries of Knowledge 00:27:43 - The Importance of Grounding and Pure Consciousness 00:31:31 - Paradigm Shift and Predatory Capitalism 00:35:19 - Investigating religious and spiritual claims 00:39:18 - The Misinterpretation of Anatta in Buddhism 00:43:23 - The Agitation within Western Thought 00:47:28 - Managing the Pace of Life and Strengthening the Nervous System 00:51:30 - A Gradual Shift Towards a Return to Nature 00:55:25 - Yoga and the Philosophy of Integration 00:59:27 - The Dissociation between Mind and Body 01:03:24 - Awakening and Aligning Consciousness 01:07:31 - Integrating Thought Forms 01:12:03 - Submitting Questions for Interviews 01:16:00 - Ashtanga Yoga and the Yamas and Niyamas 01:19:42 - The Importance of Behavior in Spiritual Development 01:23:55 - The Clarification of Contemporary Spirituality 01:27:58 - The Boundlessness of Consciousness 01:31:48 - Exploring the Cosmic Mind 01:35:58 - Understanding Truth and the Spiritual Epidemic 01:40:12 - The Subjectivity of Consciousness and the Limits of Science 01:44:23 - The Dismantling of Structures 01:48:11 - Releasing on Different Levels: Individual, Family, and Culture 01:52:28 - Accessing Untapped Potential and Bridging the Gap in Financial Issues 01:56:19 - Navigating Financial Freedom and Spiritual Practice 02:00:14 - Transformational Coaching and Cranial Sacral Therapy

Maury Lee was raised on three continents. He was the oldest son of Baptist missionaries. The oldest son since the sixteenth century had been a minister. Maury Lee turned out to be the black sheep. Even as a small child he felt that something was not right with the theological interpretation of Jesus. He had a deep intuition that the missionaries did not know the truth, even though they proclaimed to. In childhood, Maury Lee was able to watch and observe the missionaries in the Belgian Congo close up. He did not feel that they were honest with themselves. He saw that their belief covered many fears. Maury Lee did not feel that belief based on fear could be open to experiencing truth directly. When all the kids began getting Baptized, he told his father that it would not be right to get Baptized just because others were doing it. He told his father that it would only be meaningful if he was out on his own, not dependent on his parents, or the church. His father saw the truth of this and respected Maury's wishes. Maury was never baptized. Maury moved every year until the age of fourteen. His parents took his family to Belgium at the age of eight. He was thrown into a French school there, taking the tram and walking to school. Then to the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo - DRC). He lived summers in the bush, and the school year in Kinshasa at a boarding school. He was just as deeply immersed in the primitive culture of the natives as he was in French schools. There was a lot of Bible study as well. Maury attended high school in Kinshasa, DRC; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Brussels, Belgium. He went to college in Southern California in the late sixties with the drug culture in full swing. He did not need any drugs to lose his mind. Being away from parents, relatives, and friends, all his doubts came up full-blown. All beliefs he was taught began to fall away. Existential questions arose that could not be easily answered. After getting a Master's degree in counseling and participating in Gestalt and Primal therapy, enlightenment became his primary pursuit. In time he realized that he was the open nondual awareness the sages speak of. That was the end of the search, but just the beginning of embodying what it means. Website Email Interview with James Vincent Plath - You Have Always Been Surrounded by Absolute Beauty! Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:36 - Escape from the Congo 00:08:23 - Jesus and Eastern Sages 00:11:46 - Questioning Everything 00:15:41 - The Search for Spiritual Answers 00:19:24 - The Pain of Killing Innocent Beings 00:23:11 - Confronting Repressed Anger Through Therapy 00:26:38 - Quietening the Mind through Therapy 00:30:33 - Childhood Pain and Emotional Release 00:34:04 - Maury Lee's Primal Scream Therapy Journey 00:37:45 - Facing and Releasing Pain 00:41:30 - Personal Path to Truth and Transformation 00:45:36 - The Correlation between Knowledge and Experience 00:50:04 - The Connection Between Knowledge and Experience 00:54:10 - A Mysterious Hospital Visit 00:57:47 - The Calmness and Peace within Me 01:01:22 - Losing the Sense of Self 01:05:11 - Finding Confidence in Others' Journeys 01:09:01 - The Awakening Experience and the Journey Ahead 01:13:00 - The Relationship Between Experience and Knowledge 01:17:17 - The Realization and Stopping of Seeking 01:21:25 - Alignment and Behavior 01:25:22 - Questioning Authority 01:29:02 - The Shift in Identity 01:33:04 - The Role of the Human Mind in Science and Spirituality 01:36:51 - The Human Mind in Science 01:40:54 - Discussion on Dedication and Contemplation 01:44:39 - Contemplating Spiritual Ideas 01:48:58 - The Emergence of Consciousness 01:52:55 - Freewill and Choice in Life 01:56:21 - Sharing Helpful Insights and Encouraging Conversations

Bonnie Greenwell Ph.D. is a transpersonal psychotherapist and non-dual teacher in the lineage of Adyashanti. After her kundalini awakening in graduate school, she wrote a dissertation and book on the kundalini process. In 2003 she met Adyashanti and experienced a deep shift in consciousness that led to editing his book "Emptiness Dancing" and an invitation to teach. She has worked as a mentor/guide for people in kundalini or awakening processes for over 30 years. Her 4th book is “When Spirit Leaps: Navigating the Process of Spiritual Awakening”. She was a founder and director of the Kundalini Research Network and has trained people internationally to work with spiritual emergence and understand kundalini phenomena. She believes the awakening of consciousness to Truth is a natural realization available to all who sincerely long for Self-Realization, and that kundalini is fundamentally a clearing and transformative energetic support for this process. She offers webinars and consultations on the web and can be contacted through her websites and her Awakened Living Blog. Websites: www.kundaliniguide.com www.awakeningguide.com Books: The Kundalini Guide: A Companion for the Inward Journey (Inward Journey Guides) (Volume 1) The Awakening Guide: A Companion for the Inward Journey (Companions for the Inward Journey) (Volume 2) Energies of Transformation: A Guide to the Kundalini Process When Spirit Leaps: Navigating the Process of Spiritual Awakening Being Awake Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded October 20, 2018 Bonnie's side of the audio in this video is choppy in places. The audio-only version is clear on both sides of the conversation. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:14 - The Journey of Spiritual Awakening 00:09:15 - The Longing for Awakening 00:13:23 - Moving Back and Forth between Freedom and Contraction 00:18:34 - The Struggle of Awakening 00:23:32 - The Importance of Understanding Energy Phenomena 00:28:19 - The Diversity of Awakening Experiences 00:33:12 - Developing Intuitive Knowing 00:37:36 - Following Inspiration and Discernment 00:42:03 - Surrendering to the Process 00:46:41 - Following Your True Passion 00:50:55 - Enlightenment and Perception 00:55:22 - A Clear and Crisp Mind 01:00:28 - The Importance of Being Ordinary 01:05:29 - The Role of Teachers in Kundalini Awakening 01:09:57 - Living in Samadhi amidst Dynamic Activity 01:13:14 - The Flow of Feelings 01:16:55 - The Longing for God 01:20:47 - The Evolution of Spiritual Practices 01:24:32 - Finding Stillness within a Chaotic World 01:28:02 - Kundalini Awakening and Coping with Difficulties 01:31:30 - The General Good Health of People in Spiritual Awakening Process 01:34:39 - The Importance of Getting Rid of Fear 01:38:12 - Exploring the Use of Psychedelics 01:41:44 - The Use of DMT and Its Effects 01:45:10 - The Effects of Drugs on Spiritual Awakening 01:48:04 - Exploring the Effects of Drugs on Brain Chemistry 01:51:10 - Cornerstones for Awakening and Inner Peace 01:54:40 - Harmonizing Chakras and Managing Energy 01:57:52 - Taking Care of the Body 02:01:05 - Music Intro

Childhood accustomed me to nature, solitude - a sense of God which needed no explaining. Stillness, beauty, depths of love called my heart back home where it belonged. But life grew out into the world, became possessed and lost the way. After a few unwilling years in business, I went to South America 'To make the world a better place'. It wasn't so easy. Alone on a mountainside one day, an inner voice said, 'To make whole, be whole'. I realised that, before being able to help others, I first had to work on myself. Once back in England, I looked for and found a source of meditation, which opened up a whole new way of seeing. How can I best help the world I love? This question led me through organic farming, much travel and many adventures to ever deeper understanding of the Work of Prayer. I wouldn’t call myself a mystic though some say I am. I’m not sure what it means besides “Not this – not that”. Neither (in a conventional sense) am I very religious. “Mystic” conveys to me a wise unknowing of morning mist with only the promise of a day to come. It’s not an intellectual approach defined by man but trusting, waiting, quietly still before each blade of grass, each little bird (Mat.6,26-28) reminding us of higher, nobler government than ours. This required attending to the moment “Now”, reminding me how much we live not present, here, but absent, lost in past or future - thought, desires and fear. But isn’t that reality? We need to look and see. Books: Wonders of Spiritual Unfoldment Mystic Approaches Website: spiritualunfoldment.co.uk YouTube Channel Transcript of this interview. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded October 13, 2018. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:08 - A Wise Unknowing of Morning Mist 00:05:56 - Connecting with Nature 00:10:21 - Finding Connection in Nature 00:15:16 - The Prodigal Son and Straying Away from Nature 00:19:11 - The Power of Silence and Presence 00:22:20 - The Gateway to the Infinite 00:26:08 - Stillness and the Impediments of the Mind 00:29:56 - Transcending the Ego and Accessing the Open Sky 00:34:28 - The Dandi Swamis and Effortless Meditation 00:38:02 - Experiencing Stillness and Spaciousness 00:42:13 - The Limitations of Words and Concepts 00:46:29 - The Fullness of Spirit 00:50:28 - The Illusion of Separation 00:54:11 - The Simplicity of Stillness 00:58:06 - Accessing Stillness in the Midst of Tumult 01:01:00 - The Peace and Stillness Within 01:04:58 - The Expansion of Spiritual Life 01:09:11 - The Absorption of Human Agony and Redemption 01:13:09 - Illuminating the Darkness 01:16:46 - The Journey from Darkness to Light 01:20:25 - The Lamb of God and the Miracle of Grass 01:24:23 - The Suffering and Sacrifice of Nature 01:28:12 - Reconciling the Slaughter of a Pet Pig 01:32:36 - The Nature of Light and Dark in the Real World 01:36:07 - Love and Surrender 01:39:38 - The 23rd Psalm and Christian Teachings 01:42:55 - The Soothing Voice and ASMR 01:46:15 - The Presence of God and the Real Experience 01:49:24 - Understanding Oneness and Unity 01:52:33 - A Chat with John

As a teenager, Steve Briggs met his guru at a meditation retreat in the Swiss Alps. After studying English Literature at the University of Arizona on a tennis scholarship, the author received an MBA and a Ph.D. in Vedic Studies and traveled internationally instructing thousands in the art of meditation. Steve is a devotee of Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma), whom he met in India in 1996. He has been practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) for the past 46 years and credits his guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, with showing him the path to enlightenment. Steve currently coaches the Maharishi School boys' tennis team. His players have won four state high school championships, including the 2014 triple crown. Steve has trained two national champions and a top 50 ATP professional tour player. In 1994, Steve Briggs was sent to India to teach TM to corporate executives. During his seven years in India, Steve traveled repeatedly to the high Himalaya where he encountered many yogis and sadhus. The author’s first book, India Mirror of Truth, was a popular memoir about his time in India. Steve's second book, The Tale of the Himalayan Yogis: The Nirvana Chronicles, is a novel set in India and Tibet. Website: stevebriggsauthor.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded September 24, 2018. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction with Rick Archer 00:04:56 - Tennis and the Zone 00:08:54 - The Search for an Advantage in Tennis 00:13:10 - The Role of Myelin in Performance 00:17:38 - The Beginning of Tennis 00:21:39 - Witnessing Consciousness & Athletes' Experiences 00:25:35 - Immersed in the World of Kali 00:29:51 - The Power of a Higher Vibration 00:33:41 - Perception Without the Senses 00:38:14 - Exploring Consciousness and Awakening 00:42:39 - The Meaning of the Mantra 00:47:19 - Devotion towards Higher Beings 00:51:49 - The Erosion of Fear and Emotional Discipline 00:56:10 - Shifting from Head to Heart 01:00:40 - Breathing Your Way to Enlightenment 01:04:55 - The Importance of Variety in Daily Life 01:09:02 - The Connection Between Emotions and Health 01:13:04 - The Importance of Checks and Balances 01:17:12 - The Dangers of Intense Spiritual Practices 01:21:21 - Meeting Babaji in Different Forms 01:25:27 - A Mysterious Encounter in Varanasi 01:29:26 - Encounters in the Himalayas 01:33:45 - Levitation and the Human Relationship to Laws of Nature 01:38:01 - Proper use of extraordinary abilities 01:41:57 - The Reality of Gurus and Ethics 01:46:25 - The correlation between higher states of consciousness and ethical behavior 01:50:21 - Trusting Your Inner Wisdom 01:54:34 - Feeding the Dogs and Learning Humility 01:58:38 - The Restless Devotee 02:02:53 - The Buddha Tradition and Feeding Tigers 02:07:09 - A Fellow Traveler on the Spiritual Path

Rob Schwartz is a hypnotist who offers Spiritual Guidance Sessions, Past Life Soul Regressions, Contact a Deceased Loved One Regressions, and Between Lives Soul Regressions to help you heal and discover your life plan - a plan you yourself created BEFORE you were born. Rob's first book, Your Soul's Plan: Discovering the Real Meaning of the Life You Planned Before You Were Born, explores the pre-birth planning of physical illness, having disabled children, deafness, blindness, drug addiction, alcoholism, the death of a loved one, and accidents. Rob's second book, Your Soul's Gift: The Healing Power of the Life You Planned Before You Were Born, explores the pre-birth planning of spiritual awakening, miscarriage, abortion, caregiving, sexuality, adoption, rape, incest, poverty, mental illness, and even the pre-birth planning we do with our future pets. Rob's books have been translated into 24 languages. Visit Rob online at yoursoulsplan.com or email him directly. Interview recorded September 22, 2018. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 .000 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:39 - A Calling and Meeting My Spirit Guides 00:08:17 - The Path to a New Life and Writing "Your Soul's Plan" 00:12:05 - Choosing the Highest Path 00:16:09 - Multiple incarnations and soul groups 00:20:08 - The Purpose of Challenging Lives 00:24:06 - Nothing is as it appears 00:28:07 - Understanding Evil and Negative Actions 00:32:17 - Self-Created Punishments and Realms 00:36:16 - The Consensual Reality of the Non-Physical Realm 00:40:15 - The Purpose of Forgetting our Pre-Birth Plan 00:44:10 - Memories of Past Lives and Higher Consciousness 00:48:29 - The Purpose of Backup Plans and Bump Contracts 00:52:39 - Group karma and large-scale events 00:56:45 - The Trump Experience and Shifting Direction 01:00:45 - Understanding the Deeper Meaning of Challenges 01:04:37 - The Eternal Core and Reincarnation 01:08:40 - Reincarnation and Getting off the Wheel 01:12:32 - Multiple Councils and Reincarnation on Planet Earth 01:17:03 - Exploring the Nature of God 01:21:14 - The Role of Pets in Reincarnation 01:25:14 - The Healing Power of Pets 01:29:35 - Amending Pre-Birth Plans 01:33:35 - Shifting from Victimhood to Empowerment 01:37:38 - The Affinity and Destiny of Victims of Massacres and Holocausts 01:41:57 - Courage and Self-Love to Leave an Abusive Situation 01:45:41 - Understanding the Transgender Experience 01:49:55 - The Eternal Soul and the Physical Experience 01:53:40 - Suicide and the Choice to Leave 01:57:43 - The Impact of Actions on Collective Consciousness 02:01:42 - Thank You and Upcoming Interview Recovery

 Sarah Taylor is an awakening trail guide, intuitive energy healer, and creative mystic who began her search as an anxious insomniac simply hoping to sleep. But really, she was a truth seeker. Through a dedicated Buddhist meditation practice, a series of profound awakenings unfolded — including a powerful kundalini process, intuitive openings, and eventually an abiding realization of nonduality and the terrain beyond. Awakening, however, did not instantly make life perfect. There were years that brought their share of healing, integration, and “cleanup work” — the necessary settling that allows these shifts to take root for continual embodiment.  While navigating these radical shifts, Sarah worked as an actor and stand-up comedian in Los Angeles, later blending those worlds in her touring show The Divine Mess Show. A late-realized AuDHD woman (autistic and ADHD), Sarah came to understand her neurodivergence long after awakening — and now recognizes how sensitive and neurodivergent people often experience both spiritual practice and integration in distinct ways. Her work emphasizes integration, healing, and embodiment, creating the safety needed to open more fully and awaken more deeply. She meets with individuals, holds groups and immersions, and invites people into a space where awakening becomes a lived expression of both our shared essence and our unique and beautiful humanity. For awakening and healing support: lightofyourbeing.com For Sarah’s work as a creative: SarahTaylor.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:32 - Childhood Escapes and Transcendence 00:08:38 - Healing from Trauma 00:12:44 - Stuffed Down Stuff 00:17:11 - The Search for Identity and Purpose 00:21:55 - Exploring Bipolar and Medication 00:26:19 - Discovering Meditation and Stand-Up Comedy 00:30:58 - Exploring the Jnana States 00:35:45 - Kundalini Awakening and Dark Material Resurfacing 00:39:54 - Dissolving Chaos and Finding Stability 00:44:06 - Teaching Meditation and Comedy Training 00:48:26 - Psychic Experiences and Mediumship 00:52:01 - Finding Peace after Awakening 00:55:20 - Surrender and Control 00:58:35 - Surrendering to the Present Moment 01:01:49 - Clearing the Nervous System through Spinal Analysis 01:04:56 - The Perceiver Dissolves 01:08:39 - Shift into Unity 01:12:17 - Conversations on the Falling Away of the Self 01:15:24 - Brahman Consciousness and the Experience of No Self 01:18:45 - The Development of Consciousness 01:22:12 - Dissolution and Rebirth of Consciousness 01:25:09 - Following Creative Impulses 01:28:20 - The Evolution of Consciousness 01:31:35 - The Healing Crisis and Awakening of Humanity 01:34:51 - Awakening into Unity and Clearing Primal Fear 01:38:11 - Clearing and Integration in Awakening 01:41:33 - The Continuous Process of Evolution and Growth 01:44:30 - Allowing Creativity to Flow 01:47:45 - Planning Future Interviews 01:50:46 - Subscription and Notification Options