Buddha at the Gas Pump

Natalie Sudman is an author, artist and psychic intuitive. Natalie worked as an archeologist in the Great Basin states for 16 years before accepting a position managing construction contracts in Iraq. In 2007 Natalie was injured by a roadside bomb. During this incident, she had a near-death experience that she details in her book Application of Impossible Things. After recovering from her injuries, Natalie retired from government service to concentrate on art and writing, both long-time passions. Raised in Minnesota, Natalie has lived most of her adult life in eastern Oregon, Montana, and South Dakota. She now lives in southern Arizona. Facebook Page Book: Application of Impossible Things: A Near-Death Experience in Iraq Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded January 14, 2018 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:48 - Psychic Abilities and Childhood Experiences 00:07:49 - The Spiritual Nature of Doing  00:11:12 - Downloading Information on the Stage 00:14:30 - The Perception of Time in the Non-Physical Realm 00:18:10 - Leaving Room for Uncertainty 00:21:33 - The Multi-Dimensional Nature of Life 00:25:22 - Communing with Beings in a Stadium-like Setup 00:29:46 - Regaining Consciousness and Memories 00:32:55 - The Functions of Different Beings 00:37:38 - Expanded Awareness 00:41:53 - Handling Perception and Concentration 00:45:29 - Cultivating Focus in Sports 00:48:46 - Playing with Possibilities 00:52:28 - Finding Value in Difficult Experiences 00:56:27 - Trusting the Reasons for Choosing 01:00:19 - Enhanced Confidence in Psychic Readings 01:04:28 - The Influence of Consciousness in Reality 01:08:49 - The Value of Consciousness and Perspectives 01:12:11 - Choosing Injuries for a Purpose 01:15:40 - A New Perspective on the World 01:19:14 - The Change in Relationship with Entities 01:23:23 - The Power of Individual Influence 01:26:55 - The Value of Challenging Experiences 01:31:09 - Cultivating Balance and Peace 01:35:06 - Non-attachment and the Erasure of Fear 01:38:40 - Fear of Life and a Broad Perspective 01:42:47 - Pondering the Universe and Free Will 01:46:37 - The Nature of Knowledge and Awareness 01:50:28 - Cultivating Abilities and Application of Impossible Things 01:53:47 - Farewell and Thanks to Natalie Sudman

A completely spontaneous, life-altering experience of satori or enlightenment shook Lesley Skylar’s world at about age 9 or 10. Everything, in every facet, shifted unimaginably - nothing was ever the same again. This set her on a life course dedicated to understanding, honoring and living what had been revealed. Lesley has spent years as a renunciate, living in ashrams and working deeply with direct teachings of enlightenment, in both the East and West. She has studied and practiced Zen Buddhism, Dzogchen and the Nonduality teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj. She has a Degree in Psychology, has counseled, and worked in numerous non-profit, peace and human rights endeavors. Lesley is a teacher of spiritual awakening. The approach and teaching she shares comes directly from her extensive experience and was developed and refined through her own realization. It is based on decades of integration and rigorous work with liberation teachings and realized teachers. Her teaching offers individual or small group guidance for awakening, and also focuses specifically on the post-awakening terrain. Many are confused or struggle after awakening as they don’t realize that awakening is a beginning – it is not stabilized and abiding, involves a coming and going of clarity and higher states, a persistent self-sense, and incomplete seeing or depth. She helps people to move beyond the initial phases of awakening, to clarify and resolve sticking points, subtle aspects of identification, shadow, unconscious beliefs and so on. This creates a deepening, integrating and embodying, which allows liberation and enlightened living to unfold. She has traveled extensively and lived in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. She is currently based in Vancouver, Canada. Lesley offers private sessions worldwide, via Skype/ online video or in person. Learn more about Lesley and her work: Website: lesleyskylar.com Facebook: facebook.com/lesley.skylar facebook.com/From.Awakening.To.True.Liberation Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded December 30, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - A Life-Altering Experience at Age 9 00:04:27 - A Deep Homecoming 00:08:02 - Leaving Everything behind 00:11:14 - A Life in Ashrams: Seeking Truth and Learning from Contradictions 00:14:58 - Personal Growth and Shadow Work 00:18:59 - The Magnification of Ego in Spiritual Contexts 00:22:20 - The Journey of Awakening and Deepening 00:25:58 - The Rockets Taking Off into Space 00:29:57 - Deep Purification and Holistic Transformation in Spiritual Practice 00:33:33 - Accessing Deeper States of Consciousness 00:37:40 - Living Outside the Bubble of the Self 00:41:30 - The Importance of Experience and Physiology in Spiritual Practice 00:44:46 - Surrendering to Your True Nature and Rewiring the Being 00:48:23 - The Importance of Coaching and Feedback in Practice 00:52:24 - The Joy of Practice and Self-Inquiry 00:56:10 - The Marvel of the Human Mind and Nervous System 01:00:35 - The Mystery of Being 01:05:22 - The Illusion of Selfhood 01:10:30 - The Illusion of Identity 01:15:01 - The Illusion of Self 01:19:51 - Questions from Tim in Canada 01:24:50 - Sticking around after enlightenment 01:30:00 - Expanding Awareness and Letting Go of Patterns 01:35:12 - Overcoming Boredom and Restlessness 01:39:59 - Resting in the Depth of the Ocean 01:45:04 - Overcoming the Egoic Patterning 01:49:10 - Practical Tips for Meditation  01:53:25 - The Clues in Your Point of View 01:58:27 - Engaging with Cosmic Intelligence 02:03:13 - Anyone Can Do It, Stick with It 02:07:42 - Ongoing Series: Explore the menus on batgap.com

Joi was aware of the unseen magic of Presence at a very early age. She remembers being more drawn to this mystery than anything else. This led her to delve into many traditions of spirituality. After a spontaneous awakening at age 28, Joi spent two years on a blissful honeymoon of Spirit before plunging into a deep period of emotional purging and healing. Among her healers were a powerful Lakota medicine man, with whom she traveled for two years, and a group of Yogananda disciples who had developed a powerful way of unlocking unconscious beliefs using kinesiology. She worked with them 3x/week for two years. During this period that the formless aspect of the Divine Mother appeared to Joi and she began a very intense journey. Joi met Amma in 1993, and she realized that Amma was the same Mother that had captured her heart and soul. Joi spent nine years in Amma's Indian Ashram, and then two years in Tiruvannamalai at Ramana's Ashram. When Joi came home from India, she was completely exhausted, and her "seeker drive" fell away. She began sitting with Adyashanti, who helped her understand all that had taken place within her being. Joi began teaching in 2006, with Amma's and Adya's blessings. Joi continues to be inspired and moved toward what Life could be if we let go to our inner potential, which is the ultimate intelligence of all creation. Joi's Website Books: Embodying the Infinite and the Dissolution of the Separate self: Stories, Transmissions and Ancient Vedic Knowledge for the Complete Liberation of Source Consciousness Unpredictable Grace: My Adventure Recovering from Chronic Pain through Neuroscience and Quantum Mechanics Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview First BatGap interview with Joi Interview recorded Dec. 17, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:43 - The Importance of Devotion and the Nervous System 00:07:11 - The Evolution of Devotion 00:11:15 - The Value and Sweetness of Devotion 00:15:38 - The Importance of Devotion and Inspiration 00:19:47 - The Deeper Intelligence Within Us 00:23:41 - The Validity of Wanting Awakening 00:27:52 - Discovering the Capacity for Devotion 00:32:11 - Radical Transformation through Association with Presence 00:36:10 - Neuroplasticity and the Transformation of the Brain 00:39:48 - Recognizing Presence within Ourselves 00:44:01 - Physiological Transformation Through Being 00:48:05 - The Capacity of Clarity 00:52:58 - Using Clarity to Purify and Heal 00:57:31 - The Subtle Beings Within Us 01:01:42 - The Evolution of My Relationship with Amma 01:06:15 - The Role of Teachers and Dependency 01:09:55 - Finding Clarity and Resonance 01:14:02 - Cultivating Discernment 01:18:06 - Strengthening the Muscle of Discernment 01:22:46 - The Importance of Openness and Personal Experience 01:26:53 - The Freedom of Not Having a Place to Rest Our Head 01:31:11 - The Integration of Form and Consciousness 01:35:33 - Moving towards a collective consciousness 01:39:33 - The Shift to a Many-to-Many Model 01:43:17 - The Satisfaction of Working with People 01:46:33 - The Gifts and Ordinary Life 01:50:55 - Importance of Solitude and Integration 01:54:50 - The Importance of Integration and Engagement 01:58:57 - Finding Intimacy Everywhere 02:02:22 - Farewell and Happy Holidays

When John Samsen first contacted us several months ago, he said, "I'm 90 years old, I've had both my feet amputated, and I've never been happier". We soon learned that John designed the Ford Thunderbird, Plymouth Barracuda, and other "muscle cars", and later had a profound and abiding spiritual awakening. Over a course of many decades, John Samsen followed a quest to understand the “big questions” of Life; why are we here, what is Life all about, and who am I, really? Along with careers in Aerospace Engineering and car designing, John studied the sciences, mythologies, religions, philosophies, and psychologies, to expand his understandings. A pattern of paranormal experiences opened his mind to areas of experience beyond the paradigms of Science. In 1970, he embarked on a quest of Self Discovery, participating in hundreds of hours of intensive consciousness exploration with such noted researchers as Drs. Jean Houston and Robert Masters, Dr. Lawrence LeShan, Robert Monroe, and others involved in the “human potentials” movements of the 1970s. After a series of traumatic events in his life, John experienced a “metanoia”, what some call a transformation or “awakening”. John's quest ended, and in the years since, he has been enjoying Life, knowing peace of mind, “unconditional love” of self and world, and freedom from fear and anxiety. John has been working on a verbal description of his experiences that does not rely on traditional metaphysical or religious ideas but is consistent with modern scientific concepts of space, time, matter, and energy. He believes that a dramatic experience of “awakening”, which is rare and very difficult to achieve, is not necessary for enlightened living; that with proper guidance and consistent effort, most people can achieve that state of being. His Book: A Journey to Metanoia: My Life Transformed You may email John. More about John's automotive design career here and here. Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded December 9, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:07 - From Airplanes to Car Design 00:05:29 - Terrifying Experiences in the Realm of Geometric Principles 00:07:54 - Trance States and Otherworldly Experiences 00:10:22 - A Strange Flying Object 00:12:27 - Mysterious Events and Poltergeist Activity 00:14:59 - The Little Man in the Restroom 00:17:36 - The Encounter with the Weird Man 00:20:00 - The Breakdown and Regeneration of Belief Systems 00:23:08 - The Illusion of Reality 00:25:39 - A Blissful Awakening 00:28:15 - Happiness in the Face of Pain and Resistance 00:30:42 - A Shift in Perspective 00:33:19 - Trading Commodities and Design Work 00:35:30 - The Impact of Jean Houston's Workshops 00:38:09 - The Preciousness of Life and Growing Older 00:40:49 - The Decision of Euthanasia and Following a Deeper Mind 00:43:22 - A Vision of Love Energy 00:46:14 - The Evolutionary Trajectory of the Universe 00:48:45 - The Interaction of the Divine Intelligence 00:51:10 - The Nature of Opposites 00:53:17 - Embracing Diversity and the totality of existence 00:55:19 - Fear of Death and Valuing Life 00:57:30 - The Earth as a Host 00:59:56 - The Drive Behind Human Activities 01:02:13 - The Potential End of Human Life by the End of the Century 01:04:45 - The Possibility of Metanoia and an Enlightened World 01:07:07 - Motivation to Contribute 01:09:17 - Ordinary Spiritually Awakening People 01:11:26 - Journey to Metanoia 01:13:31 - Getting to Know the Guest Speaker

Paul was born in 1961 and lived most of life in the coastal county of Pembrokeshire, UK. He always loved the sea and aspired to be a professional football (soccer) player. One day, at the age of 15, while playing football, unbounded awareness dawned. Everything was the "ocean". He didn't know what this was, or whether anyone else had experienced it, but later on he discovered the Upanishads in a bookstore, which led to his joining a Vedanta Monastery for five years. For a time after that, he lived a hermit-like life. One day in meditation, a woman's name came to him. He had never heard of her, nor did he even know whether she existed, but he knew he would marry her. He later did, opened a gallery and had two boys. He now spends his time supporting the boys and their business and chatting about the ocean. Facebook Page Email Paul. Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded December 3, 2017. Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:31 - Changing Sense of Identity 00:10:17 - Kundalini and Energetic Experiences 00:15:04 - The Beauty of Human Experience 00:20:02 - Assimilation and Adjustment Challenges 00:24:42 - Falling in Love with the Ocean and Finding Books 00:29:34 - An Old Monk's Experiences 00:34:02 - Shake-up of Central Structures of Authority 00:38:32 - The Limitations of Words and Language 00:42:25 - Non-verbal communication and the limitations of language 00:46:24 - Insecurity in Identity 00:50:21 - The Paradox of Movement 00:54:19 - The Process of Creative Intelligence 00:57:53 - The Importance of Individual Paths 01:01:37 - The Wholeness of Everything 01:05:36 - A Journey of Awakening 01:09:06 - The Power and Intoxication of Authority 01:12:58 - Power and Abuse in Spiritual Circles 01:16:28 - The Role of Teachers and Students 01:20:13 - The Power of Humility 01:24:29 - An Unexpected Journey 01:28:30 - The Nature of Reality in Words 01:32:03 - Conversations and Tea 01:36:02 - Chatting and Helping People with Awakening 01:39:45 - Unsettling Experiences and Fear 01:43:52 - Dancing in the Bedroom 01:47:47 - The Presence of Subtle Beings. 01:51:49 - The Paradox of Existence 01:55:52 - A Delightful Virtual Tea and the Dance of Words 02:00:04 - The form and the formless 02:03:41 - John Sampson: A Life of Fascinating Experiences

Kabir Helminski is a Shaikh in the lineage of Rumi, and co-director of The Threshold Society. His translations of Rumi and books on spirituality, Living Presence and The Knowing Heart, have been published in at least eight languages. In 2009 and subsequent years Kabir was named as one of the "500 Most Influential Muslims in the World" by the Royal Strategic Studies Center (Jordan). He has toured North America as Shaikh with the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey bringing Sufi culture to more than 100,000 people. His latest book is Holistic Islam: Sufism, Transformation, and the Needs of Our Time. Other books: Love's Ripening: Rumi on the Heart's Journey The Rumi Daybook: 365 Poems and Teachings from the Beloved Sufi Master Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded November 28, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:11 - Inspiration and Exploration in the 60s 00:10:06 - Working with Contemplative Teachers 00:15:31 - Sufism and Islam: Distinguishing Between the Two 00:20:47 - Sufism and its Practices 00:25:49 - The Prophet Muhammad's Revelation and the Quranic Language 00:31:26 - Sufism and the Value of a Teacher 00:36:17 - Embodiment of Non-Dual Reality 00:41:05 - The Growing Awareness of Embodied Enlightenment 00:44:32 - The Knowing Heart and Spiritual Development 00:48:16 - Transformation through Love and Acceptance 00:51:50 - The Healing Power of Whirling 00:55:46 - The Whirling Dervishes: A Profound Spiritual Practice 00:59:24 - The Power of Spiritual Energies 01:03:03 - The Whirling Ceremony and the Revelation in the Sufi Tradition 01:06:58 - Self-awareness and servanthood 01:14:09 - The Stupidity of Spending a Year Doing Worthless Things 01:17:34 - Finding Mercy in Pain and Suffering 01:25:17 - The Assimilation of Deeper Reality 01:29:03 - The Essential Self and the Personality Self 01:33:01 - Plugging into the Divine Energy 01:36:21 - The Qualitative Development of the Human Being 01:39:50 - The Beauty of the Ritual 01:43:02 - Disorganizing Higher Energies 01:46:39 - The Beauty of Islam's Rejection of Idols 01:50:14 - The Love and Strictness of a Parent 01:53:37 - The Presence Within Us 01:57:16 - The Nearness to God 02:00:19 - Concluding Remarks and Farewell

Matthew Fox is a spiritual theologian, an Episcopal priest, and an activist.  As a spiritual theologian he has written 34 books that have been translated into over 60 languages. Among them are Original Blessing, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, A Spirituality Named Compassion, The Reinvention of Work, The Hidden Spirituality of Men, Christian Mystics, and The Pope's War. He has contributed much to the rediscovery of Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart and Thomas Aquinas as pre-modern mystics and prophets. Fox holds a doctorate in the history and theology of spirituality from the Institut Catholique de Paris. The founder of the University of Creation Spirituality in California, he conducts dozens of workshops each year and is a visiting scholar at the Academy for the Love of Learning in Santa Fe, NM. In joining the Episcopal church over 20 years ago, Fox has been working with young people to reinvent forms of worship by bringing elements of rave such as dance, dj, vj and more into the Western Liturgy.  The Cosmic Mass has been celebrated over 100 times and in dozens of cities in North America. Fox is recipient of the Abbey Courage of Conscience Peace Award (other recipients being the Dali Lama, Mother Teresa, Ernesto Cardenal and Rosa Parks), the Gandhi King Ikeda Award, the Tikkun National Ethics Award and other awards. His latest books are Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action; Stations of the Cosmic Christ; and A Way to God: Thomas Merton's Creation Spirituality Journey. He teaches regularly at the Fox Institute for Creation Spirituality in Boulder, CO and resides in Vallejo, CA. Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded November 11, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:07 - The Everyday Buddha 00:08:31 - Democratizing the Mystical Experience and Contemplative Wisdom 00:13:09 - Taming the Reptilian Brain 00:17:28 - Celebrating Love as a Theophany 00:25:39 - Shifting Human Consciousness and its Impact on the Planet 00:30:08 - Laudato Si and the Destruction of Coral Reefs 00:33:59 - The Environmental Crisis 00:38:25 - The Impact of War and Peace 00:42:27 - Becoming an Episcopal Priest  00:46:14 - The Difference Between Spirituality and Religion 00:50:37 - The Beginnings of the Creation Tradition 00:55:17 - Creation Spirituality and the Cosmic Christ 00:59:15 - Cosmic Imagery in Religious Teachings 01:03:05 - The Immensity of Intelligence in Creation 01:06:56 - The Relationship Between Enlightenment and Compassion 01:11:00 - The Power of Denial and Its Consequences 01:14:50 - Chosen Ignorance 01:19:02 - The Four Paths of Spiritual Journey 01:23:06 - The Power of Compassion and Healing 01:26:50 - A Doctorate in Spirituality 01:30:35 - The Murder of Thomas Merton 01:34:18 - Merton's Mystical Experience in Downtown Louisville 01:38:15 - Reality and Metaphysics 01:43:03 - Joy and Consciousness in the Universe 01:47:06 - Sat-chit-ananda and the Joy of Creating 01:51:09 - Accessing the Inner Joy and Happiness 01:55:25 - The Intellect and Values 01:58:37 - Invitation to All Lifestyles and Traditions 02:01:42 - Thinking outside the box

Amoda Maa is a contemporary spiritual teacher, author, and speaker. After years of spiritual seeking, meditation, and immersion in psychospiritual practices, an experience of the dark night of the soul led her to a profound inner awakening. Then, after a long period of integration, she began speaking from silence in small gatherings. Today she offers meetings and retreats, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and events, attracting spiritual seekers and people looking for peace and fulfillment in an increasingly chaotic world. Her teachings are free of religion and tradition, and she brings to them a deep understanding of the human journey, born out of her own experience. She is the author of Radical Awakening (originally released as How to Find God in Everything) and Change Your Life, Change Your World: Ten Spiritual Lessons for a New Way of Being and Living. Both books were written shortly after her awakening and before she began to speak in public. Her new book Embodied Enlightenment — written 15 years after her awakening — is based on the many conversations at the cutting edge of spiritual inquiry in her meetings with people from all around the world, and addresses many of the questions relevant to today’s seeker. It has been acclaimed as “a beautiful and precious gift to an emerging new humanity.” Amoda lives with her husband and beloved, Kavi, in New Mexico. Website: amodamaa.com Previous BatGap interviews with Amoda: First Interview Amoda Maa in panel discussion: Birthing Radiant Being into Our Humanity Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded November 5, 2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:36 - Recognizing Spiritual Maturity 00:06:54 - The Maturation of Awakening 00:12:11 - The Natural State of the Nervous System 00:16:40 - The Ongoingness of Awakening 00:20:56 - The Impact of Awakening on Humanity 00:25:32 - The Passing on of Spiritual Awakening 00:29:16 - The Importance of Integrating Inner Divisions 00:33:49 - Returning to the Human Heartbreak 00:38:11 - The Wound of Aloneness 00:41:46 - Fear of Separation and Oneness 00:46:08 - Breaking Free from Victimhood in Relationships 00:49:53 - The Permeability of Boundaries in Oneness and Love 00:54:38 - Intimacy in Every Moment of Life 00:58:24 - The Energy of the Sexual Act 01:02:28 - The Art of Listening 01:06:08 - The Manifestation of Oneness in the Relative 01:10:21 - Becoming a Servant of Cosmic Intelligence 01:13:57 - The Maturation Process and the realization of no-self 01:18:43 - Integration of the Self and the No-Self 01:22:39 - Navigating the Tricky Inner Terrain 01:26:43 - Opening Spirituality to a Wider Audience 01:30:51 - Concepts and Intrinsic Reality 01:34:01 - The End of Division and the Catalyst for Change 01:38:03 - The Divine Feminine and the Infusion of Love 01:42:19 - Non-violence towards our inner experience 01:47:01 - Tenderness towards Loss 01:51:36 - The Clinging to Loss 01:56:07 - The Illusion of Punishment 01:59:17 - The Power of Direct Experience and Belief 02:02:48 - Conclusion and Thank You

Kittisaro and Thanissara have been married since 1992. They spent 7 years as guiding teachers of the Buddhist Retreat Centre KwaZulu S. Africa and then went on to found Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat on the border of Lesotho and South Africa. They co-founded several HIV/Aids Outreach Programs and currently support Kuluingile Project, a home for children left vulnerable due to HIV/Aids run by Sister Abegail Ntleko, award winner of the Dalai Lama Unsung Hero Award. They lead retreats in S.Africa, UK, U.S.A and Israel and regularly host one to three-month retreats at Dharmagiri. They currently reside in Sebastopol, CA. Kittisaro is from Tennessee, USA. He graduated from Princeton as a Rhodes Scholar. He ordained with Ajahn Chah in 1976 in the Thai Forest Tradition. He was a monk for 15 years and helped found several monasteries in the UK. His practice has also been informed by the Chinese school of Master Hua since 1980. Kittisaro completed two one year silent self retreats and is co-author of 'Listening to the Heart.' He has taught extensively since the 1980's and is a core teacher at Insight Meditation Society, MA, founding teacher of Chattanooga Insight, TN and affiliated teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA. Thanissara is from an Anglo-Irish family in London. She started Buddhist practice in the Burmese school in 1975. She spent 12 years as a Buddhist nun in the Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah where she was a founding member of Chithurst Monastery and Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in the UK. Thanissara has an MA in Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy Practice from the UK. She has taught extensively since the late 1980's, is the author of several books, including two poetry books. Her latest is Time to Stand Up: An Engaged Buddhist Manifesto for Our Earth. Books: Listening to the Heart: A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism Time to Stand Up: An Engaged Buddhist Manifesto for Our Earth -- The Buddha's Life and Message through Feminine Eyes (Sacred Activism) Empty Hands, A Memoir: One Woman's Journey to Save Children Orphaned by AIDS in South Africa (Sacred Activism) The Heart Of The Bitter Almond Hedge Sutra Website: dharmagiri.org Discussion of this video in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded Oct. 28, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Kittisaro and Thanissara 00:04:27 - Background and Experiences 00:07:52 - Setting up a non-profit and training programs for the planetary emergency 00:11:29 - Bringing the Buddhist Community on Board 00:14:47 - Profound Impact on Consciousness Shifts 00:18:44 - Mandela's Courageous Act 00:22:27 - The Tipping Point and Profound Shifts 00:25:29 - Overcoming Overwhelm and Finding Balance 00:29:21 - Unlocking the Power of Deep Intelligence 00:32:28 - Standing Rock and the Energy Revolution 00:36:00 - Reducing Consumption and Shifting to Plant-Based Diets 00:39:53 - Mindsets and Awareness 00:43:21 - Surrendering to Sickness and Opening to the Teaching 00:47:11 - Lying Down Meditation and Letting Go 00:50:35 - Permission to Die 00:54:02 - The Power of Different Meditation Techniques 00:57:21 - The Shift from Warrior to Lover Archetype 01:01:05 - The Living and Responsive Universe 01:04:33 - Being Embodied in the Web of Life 01:08:01 - Universal Love and Compassion 01:11:12 - Challenges of Spiritual Upbringing in the West 01:14:27 - The Importance of Calling Out Inappropriate Behavior 01:17:33 - Breaking the Silence, Revealing the Shadow 01:20:58 - The Importance of Impeccable Awareness 01:24:29 - Returning to Primary Patterning 01:27:48 - The Role of Spiritual Practice in Emotional Suppression 01:31:24 - The Balance of Male and Female 01:34:53 - Embracing the Both And Paradox 01:38:16 - Buddha as a Human Being 01:41:38 - A Profound Inner Awakening 01:45:00 - Thank You and Goodbye

Recorded at the Science and Nonduality Conference. There is a perennial debate in spiritual traditions regarding whether realization is direct (sudden) or progressive (gradual). But is this a false distinction? Realization is often sudden, no matter how many years of practice may have led up to it, and even after realization, most people find that refinement, clarification, and the working out of personal shortcomings continue indefinitely. Who wouldn’t prefer direct realization to years of purification and practice? But how many examples of purely direct realization can we find? Can a path be both direct and progressive? Is it possible to have a taste of our true nature from the outset, and then spend a lifetime clarifying and embodying it? Also, is there one watershed breakthrough which can be universally agreed upon as final “Realization”, or are there many degrees and stages of realization, each of them important stepping stones in a never-ending journey? Proponents of the direct path sometimes argue that if we regard spiritual development as progressive, we will forever be anticipating, never arriving. But some spiritual seekers, not appreciating the distinction between understanding and experience, mistake intellectual understanding with enlightenment, and consider themselves “finished” when they are just getting started. Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D. is the Founding Director of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream, a school for consciousness studies in Berkeley, CA. Isa is also the creator of the spiritual counseling model, Depth Hypnosis, and author of two books, Coming to Peace and Return to the Great Mother. In addition to her teaching schedule that includes teaching classes in Applied Buddhist Psychology, Applied Shamanism, Integrated Energy Medicine and Depth Hypnosis, she has active practices in Depth Hypnosis and Applied Shamanic Counseling in San Francisco, CA. For more information, please see sacredstream.org. Batgap interview with Isa and Robert Thurman. David F. Buckland has a graduate degree in Vedic Science and researches and writes on subjects related to the approach, shift, integration, and embodiment of the stages of enlightenment. This reflects a 40 year unfolding that has been prominent for much of his life. But with a more recent series of profound shifts, the exploration became the life itself. Under the pen name Davidya, he brings ancient teachings into modern life. After many years of research, he published the book Our Natural Potential: Beyond Personal Development, The Stages of Enlightenment in 2017. Previous Batgap discussions with David: Individual interview Panel Discussion at Sofia University, Part 1 Panel Discussion at Sofia University, Part 2 Michael Rodriguez - Drawing always from his direct experience, Michael speaks with great clarity and compassion about the undivided nature of Life or Consciousness, pointing to reality in a way that is free from dogma, ritual, or adherence to any particular tradition. He also draws skillfully from the world's wisdom traditions and integrates Jungian psychology, literature, music, and art into his work to address the full range of human potential. He offers meetings, retreats, and private sessions here in the United States and abroad. Book--Boundless Awareness: A Loving Path to Spiritual Awakening and Freedom from Suffering Previous Batgap discussion with Michael Discussion of this video in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Recorded October 22, 2017 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Sudden or Gradual? Two Paths to Realisation 00:04:33 - Understanding the Direct Path 00:09:16 - The Both/And Path of Integration 00:14:10 - The Experience of Self on a Soul Level and Relative Level 00:19:16 - Holding Dual Perspectives in the Awakening Process 00:23:46 - The Continuous Process of Unfolding 00:28:04 - The Momentum of the Old Way 00:32:08 - Dissolution of the Self and Healing 00:36:02 - Genuine Insight vs Mechanical Statements 00:40:36 - The Importance of Healing and Clarity 00:45:00 - Embracing Residual Traumas and Awakening 00:50:25 - Accessing the Core Wound 00:54:27 - The Illusion of Separation 00:58:07 - Resolving the Core Wound of Separation 01:03:00 - Audience Questions 01:05:12 - The Challenge of Embracing the Concept of "No Self" 01:09:37 - The Inability to Grasp the Concept of No Self 01:13:53 - Exploring Different Perspectives 01:17:09 - Clearing Thought Processes and Genuine Expression 01:21:36 - When the Spiritual Path is of No Use 01:26:00 - The Importance of Resonance and Finding the Right Teacher 01:28:44 - The Unified Field of Attaining Enlightenment 01:32:58 - The Beauty of Non-Progression 01:36:49 - An Integration Process of Years 01:41:32 - Sharing Perspectives on Vedic and Buddhist Thought 01:45:31 - The Consciousness of Black Oaks 01:49:30 - A Path of Gradual and Sudden Shifts 01:53:18 - Maintaining the Lightness 01:57:03 - The Journey of Self-Realization and Shifting Realities 02:01:18 - Connecting with the Felt Experience