Buddha at the Gas Pump

 Scott Hiegel lives in La Quinta, CA and runs a business consulting and investment banking business called Solquest. He has a BBA from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from UCLA. He’s been a former CPA, CFA, Vice President of Corporate Finance, and entrepreneur. He enjoys writing and talking about his experiences with Kundalini, and his lifelong roller coaster and, at times, perilous search for inner peace, the Divine, Love, and higher consciousness. Through speaking, outreach, film, poetry, and other creative expression, his goal is to entertain and inform people about the gifts and profound importance of Gopi Krishna's work, Kundalini, higher states of consciousness, and Love. Scott has written two books: "Reaching Heaven on Earth: A Soul’s Journey Home", in which he shares his personal story and mystical poetry, and "Love’s Design: Reaching Heaven on Earth", which he co-authored with Christopher Wrigley. In this book they share their unique expressions of love, hope, and knowledge through an exchange of 12 poetic verses. Scott's interests include visiting museums and historical sites, traveling, listening to holiday music and oldies, and watching movies. He enjoys sports, hiking, and attending 12-step meetings. He loves reading books about spirituality and the inspirational people who have helped make the world a better place. Summary and transcript of this interview Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Interview recorded November 18, 2023. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:49 - Regular People with Extraordinary Potential 00:09:04 - Enlightenment and Inner Fulfillment 00:12:45 - Childhood Dreams and Shyness 00:18:32 - Descending into Hell, Exile to the Desert, and the Dark Night of the Soul 00:21:42 - Surrender and Transformation 00:25:13 - Letting go of Attachment to Achieve Spiritual Progress 00:29:34 - Working Hard Spiritually 00:34:42 - The Inner Voice and Purity of the Body 00:39:42 - The Law of Evolution and the Path of Healthy Evolution 00:43:27 - The Awakening and Transformation 00:47:34 - Purifying Energy and Spiritual Practices 00:50:25 - Spiritual and Paranormal Experiences 00:54:17 - Time and Space Disappear 00:57:11 - Unfolding of Latent Faculties and Spiritual Experiences 01:02:00 - Connecting through Vulnerability 01:05:10 - "Living with Kundalini, the Autobiography of Gopi Krishna" discovery 01:09:31 - Distorted Evolution and the Need for Change 01:13:46 - Societal Collapse and the Evolution of Consciousness 01:17:47 - The New Science of Consciousness Evolution 01:21:37 - Exploring Higher Levels of Beauty and Consciousness 01:24:49 - The Vastness of the Universe 01:30:36 - The Power of Consciousness On the Next State of Consciousness 01:34:31 - The Shift in the Perception of the Universe 01:38:28 - The Influence of Spielberg and Lucas 01:42:40 - Joy and Connection with Others 01:45:30 - Titanic Presence and Deeper Connection to Inner Voice 01:49:32 - Eagle with a Thousand Heads 01:53:49 - Expanding Consciousness and Freedom from Fear 01:56:40 - Quotes on Love and Fulfillment 01:59:52 - Starting the tasks

Dr. Yvonne Kason MD, MEd, CCFP, FCFP, is the President and Co-Founder of Spiritual Awakenings International and the Past-President of IANDS (2019-2020). Dr. Kason is the person who in 1994 first coined the phrase “Spiritually Transformative Experiences” or “STEs”. She is also the Group-Leader and Co-Founder of Toronto Awakenings Sharing Group. Dr. Kason has had 5 Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), 2 in her childhood and 3 in her adult life, as well as multiple Spiritually Transformative Experiences (STEs) of many kinds. Dr. Kason is a retired family physician and MD-psychotherapist, previously on faculty at the University of Toronto, and an internationally renowned medical expert on NDEs, Kundalini Awakening, and other STEs. In 1990, Dr. Kason was the first Canadian medical doctor to specialize her medical practice in the research and counseling of patients with diverse types of STEs. She has over 40 years’ experience counseling STE Experiencers. She co-founded the Kundalini Research Network in 1990, was the Chair of the Kundalini Research Network’s Questionnaire research project, results published in Explore, July 2020. She co-founded the Spirituality in Health-Care Network in 2000. Dr. Kason has six published books, her most recent, Soul Lessons from the Light: How Spiritually Transformative Experiences Changed My Life (December 2022) and Touched by the Light: Exploring Spiritually Transformative Experiences (2019). She has made hundreds of professional presentations, has given scores of media interviews, and is in demand as a keynote speaker. Websites: dryvonnekason.com spiritualawakeningsinternational.org torontoawakenings.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded November 5, 2023 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:58 - Yvonne's Near-death Experiences and Past Lives 00:06:43 - Childhood Near-Death Experience and Flying 00:10:37 - Near-Death Experience in a Car Accident 00:14:50 - Seeing Ghosts and Near-Death Experiences 00:18:44 - A Powerful Meditation Experience 00:23:21 - Meeting Gopi Krishna and the Revelation of Kundalini Awakening 00:27:39 - Different Experiences of Awakening 00:31:57 - Psychiatric illnesses and spiritual awakening 00:35:53 - Balanced Approach to Spiritual Awakening 00:40:30 - The Harrowing Plane Crash Experience 00:44:29 - The Voice's Guidance and Ignoring it 00:49:06 - Experiencing Infinite Intelligence 00:52:44 - The Miraculous Rescue 00:56:28 - Transformative Aftereffects of a Near-Death Experience 01:00:36 - Clairvoyant Experiences and the Truth-O-Meter 01:04:37 - Advocate for Experiencers of Kundalini and Spiritual Transformation 01:09:06 - Spiritual Awakenings International and the Global Awakening 01:12:51 - The Concept of Peace and Harmony in Warfare and Defense 01:15:55 - Judicious use of drugs in Kundalini awakening 01:20:33 - Premonitions and Near-Death Experiences 01:24:54 - A Benevolent Being in an Unusual Posture 01:29:41 - The Shift in Spiritual Goals 01:33:22 - Deepening and Exploring 01:37:42 - Crossing Over and the Realm of Light 01:41:23 - A Profound Awakening: Remembering Past Lives and Understanding Interconnectedness 01:46:21 - Perceiving the Complexity of Time 01:50:12 - A Miracle Healing Journey 01:54:45 - Never give up hope 01:58:00 - Collaborating with Beings for Reincarnation 02:00:46 - Coughing Fits and Goodbyes

Renowned scholar Jem Bendell discusses the breakdown of modern societies due to environmental change. He criticizes the manipulation of climate change data and explores the concept of collective consciousness. The podcast also delves into the complexity of the human nervous system and the possibility of a future conscious species. They discuss the potential collapse and its aftermath, the idea of living hope-free, and the importance of empathy and practicing self-love. The concept of oceanic consciousness and mindfulness are explored as well.

Ruth E. Kastner earned her M.S. in Physics and Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Maryland. Since that time, she has taught widely and conducted research in Foundations of Physics, particularly in interpretations of quantum theory. She was one of three winners of the 2021 Alumni Research Award at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is the author of 3 books: The Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Theory: The Reality of Possibility (Cambridge University Press, 2012; 2nd edition just published, 2022), Understanding Our Unseen Reality: Solving Quantum Riddles (Imperial College Press, 2015); and Adventures In Quantumland: Exploring Our Unseen Reality (World Scientific, 2019). She has presented talks and interviews throughout the world and in video recordings on the interpretational challenges of quantum theory, and has a blog at transactionalinterpretation.org. She is also a dedicated yoga practitioner and received her 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Instructor Certification in February, 2020. Website: ruthekastner.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Transcript and summary of this interview Interview recorded October 21, 2023. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:03 - The Importance of Physical Fitness and Yoga 00:08:00 - Discovering the Transactional Interpretation 00:11:58 - The Connection between Consciousness and Spirituality 00:16:28 - The Yin-Yang Nature of Quantum Theory 00:21:50 - The Reality of Quantum Possibilities 00:26:08 - The Blind Men and the Elephant 00:29:38 - The Measurement Problem and Consciousness 00:36:21 - The Orthodox Position on Dark Matter and Dark Energy 00:41:10 - Events and the Illusion of Space-Time 00:44:08 - The Analogy of Enlightenment and the Game of Life 00:47:10 - The Shimmering Intelligence in Every Particle of Creation 00:53:15 - Pathology and the Neglect of Yin 00:55:34 - The Taboo of Passivity and Eastern Wisdom 00:58:00 - The Debate on Free Will 01:00:39 - The Ad hoc Nature of the Feynman Propagator 01:01:21 - The Flatland Analogy 01:04:48 - Mr. Flatland and the Sphere 01:08:16 - The Controversy Surrounding the Term "Consciousness" 01:11:50 - Volition and Symmetry Breaking in Nature 01:15:01 - The Relationality of Charged Particles 01:18:22 - Understanding outcomes in the transactional picture 01:21:52 - Mastery over the Laws of Nature 01:24:56 - The Holographic Principle and its Significance 01:29:23 - Quantum Theory and the Physical World 01:33:25 - The Power and Limitations of Physical Science 01:43:30 - The Interconnectedness of String Theory 01:49:12 - The Flow of Time and Phenomena 01:54:24 - The Cosmos: Conscious Being or Product of Chance and Necessity

Jennifer Lisa Vest, scientist, philosopher, and intuitive, discusses the importance of proper training in the spiritual genre. She explores early experiences with spirits, the significance of humility in psychic abilities, being sensitive to client needs, client dependency, and ethical considerations. Additionally, she explores manipulating others, the influence of magnetic auras, the purpose of gifts and traditions, misuse of sexual energy, ceremonies to help spirits move on, choosing teachers and colleagues, and ethics, balance, and healing energy.

Bill Witherspoon is a life-long visual artist, serial entrepreneur, and lover of sky. In his six decades, living on and off in the High Steppe desert in southeastern Oregon, he has painted watercolor skies, practiced ancient art as spiritual discipline, and weathered that pristine geological expanse. As an artist, over the last four decades, Bill has mounted 40 one-man exhibitions of paintings, prints, and sculptures (1968 – 2020), in addition to desert public art projects. He is also the founder and Creative Director of The Sky Factory, a fine arts, digital technology, and cognitive science studio that designs and manufactures the world’s only research-verified virtual skylights—Luminous SkyCeilings and Luminous Virtual Windows. His first book, Enter Space—Stories from the High Desert, lays witness to a life surrounded by that rare, unsummoned vastness; one that those of us steeped in the ceaseless churn of urban life can now imagine living through the faithful record of the artist’s experience. Book: Enter Space: Stories from the High Desert Sri Yantra: The Oregon Desert Mystery FULL MOVIE Transcript and Summary of this interview Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Interview recorded September 3, 2023. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Bill Witherspoon 00:04:49 - A Life of Adventure and Silence 00:09:25 - Being Swept Away by the Waterfall 00:12:52 - A Life-Threatening Water Rescue 00:16:34 - The Near-Drowning Experience That Changed My Life 00:21:02 - The Transcendent Experience of Meditation 00:24:35 - Climbing the Radio Tower and Facing Danger at Sea 00:29:01 - Seeing More Deeply 00:32:33 - Healing the Eye of the Heart 00:36:42 - The Burning Shell 00:40:15 - Learning and Growth through Perseverance 00:43:50 - The Sri Yantra: An Instance of a Law of Nature 00:48:10 - The Bindu 00:52:38 - The New Kind of Seeing 00:57:00 - The Essence of Memory and Love 01:01:06 - A Slideshow of Photographic Events in the Wilderness 01:05:39 - Living in Harmony with Rattlesnakes 01:08:46 - Witnessing Violence and the Impact 01:12:55 - Encounters with Rattlesnakes 01:16:22 - The Strange Book and its Contents 01:20:36 - The Presence of Divine Intelligence 01:24:30 - Accessing Deeper Levels of Consciousness through Meditation 01:32:35 - The Horrors of Being on Death Row 01:35:35 - The Influence of Human Presence 01:40:37 - "Goodbye," when we went looking for wild horses 01:44:58 - Reflections on an Interesting Life 01:49:33 - Going Deeper in Consciousness 01:53:02 - Building a Beautiful Corporation 01:56:56 - The Skill of Self-Reflection 02:00:18 - Gratitude and Farewell

Spiritual teacher, international bestselling author and philanthropist Lorna Byrne has dedicated her life to remind humanity of the spiritual potential within us all. She is the author of seven best-selling books including Angels in My Hair, A Message of Hope From the Angels, and Angels at my Fingertips and has been published in more than 50 countries and 30 languages around the world. Her teachings are the result of a remarkable gift, a divine connection providing her with incredible, detailed knowledge of the spiritual side of life. Unlike others this gift is not from meditation, visualisation or even from books or study, it exists as a natural part of her waking life. Lorna Byrne has physical sight of the unseen world, of the angels, spirits and other spiritual beings that she says are guiding and teaching us every second of every day. Lorna says we all have this potential and it is part of humanity’s evolution for people to connect back to their spiritual self so the body and soul intertwines. Lorna’s vision of the future is one where there is no division or boundaries between people. Where our spiritual side is accepted and transcends all beliefs. To accept we are all one. To live in peace with each other and nature, our home. Lorna is also a philanthropist and founder of the Lorna Byrne Children’s Foundation helping vulnerable and marginalised children across the globe and the Seraph Foundation which is developing Sanctuary her centre in County Kilkenny Ireland. In 2019, she was named as one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People in the World. Website: lornabyrne.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript and summary of this interview Interview recorded August 27, 2023. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Lorna Byrne and her Spiritual Teachings 00:03:56 - Interaction with Angels and Subtle Beings 00:08:16 - The Unconditional Love of Guardian Angels 00:11:06 - The Spark of Light: Angels, Humans, and Souls 00:14:20 - The Love between Humans and Animals 00:17:45 - God's Existence and Understanding Humanity 00:21:52 - Connecting with Nature and Ourselves 00:24:35 - Guardian Angels and Job Changes 00:27:16 - Overcoming Dyslexia and Writing a Bestseller 00:30:48 - The Importance of Hope and Faith 00:34:27 - Signs from Your Guardian Angel 00:36:54 - The Power of Kindness and Giving 00:40:17 - Listening to Your Guardian Angel 00:43:07 - The Role of Angels and Prayers 00:46:38 - Divine Guidance in Job Search 00:50:32 - An Encounter with Archangel Michael 00:53:54 - The Unemployed Angels 00:57:00 - Unemployed Angels and Acts of Compassion 00:59:23 - The Unemployed Angel 01:02:54 - The Concept of Conception 01:06:12 - Angels in Everyday Life 01:10:04 - Visits from Deceased Saints 01:13:45 - The Importance of Being Yourself and Believing in Guardian Angels 01:15:40 - Communicating with Children's Guardian Angels 01:18:20 - Living life to the fullest as a dyslexic person 01:21:40 - A Glimpse of Heaven 01:24:07 - Walking on Water and Miraculous Abilities 01:27:22 - The Power of Hope and Love 01:30:05 - Executives Connecting with Nature 01:32:16 - Building on to the Farmhouse 01:36:41 - Farewell and Well Wishes

Between the age of 20 and 40 I was consumed with a wide range of existential questions, but despite endless thinking and reading, I never found a single answer. Due to some business-related stress at the age of 40, I started a simple meditative exercise as a way to acquire some peace of mind, and within two weeks a major insight occurred that led to more meditative activities. Five months later a huge cosmic-consciousness event answered seven of my questions and catapulted me into a different reality. I then concluded that all answers were "within," and for the next 15 years I went on silent meditation retreats with Christians, Buddhists, and Advaita groups during which all of my other questions got answered. Nevertheless, I still did not feel free. Then, a new question arose, "How is it possible to stay in a unity-conscious state of mind permanently rather than oscillating between a sense of selfhood and no-self?" In 1999, after a deep experience of gratitude on a solo hiking retreat, "the little guy in the head" (the sense of a personal "me") totally vanished, and the result was freedom, contentment, and understanding. Book: Pouring Concrete: A Zen Path to the Kingdom of God – Expanded Edition Bob's email Transcript and summary of this interview Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Interview recorded August 19, 2023 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump00:04:43 - Questioning Beliefs and Exploring Existential Questions00:08:25 - The Journey of Seeking Answers in Zen Philosophy00:12:17 - The Shift in Perception00:16:07 - A Reality Shift00:19:54 - The End of the Construction Company00:24:03 - Realization of the Incomprehensible00:28:16 - Simple answers to Zen riddles00:32:17 - Finding Freedom in the Middle of Responsibilities00:35:50 - Questioning Selfhood and Freedom in the Mountains00:38:59 - The Dissolution of the Sense of Self00:42:30 - The True Self and Identity00:46:00 - The Silence of the Mind00:49:19 - Non-Abidance in the Mind00:52:39 - The Kingdom of God Inside and Outside of You00:55:59 - Shifting Attention Beyond the Mind01:02:47 - The Benefits of Practice and Reconfiguration01:06:16 - The Natural Inclination to Help Others01:09:50 - The Depth of Awakening01:13:12 - Falling Asleep During Meditation01:16:26 - Realizing the Irrelevance of a Silent Mind01:20:00 - Seeking Benefit in the Present Moment01:23:32 - Intuition and the Home of All Knowledge01:27:00 - Knowing and achieving specific things in life01:30:50 - The Blissful State on the Deathbed01:34:07 - Embracing the Unknowable Future01:37:31 - The Universal Sound01:40:44 - The Challenges of Maintaining Friendships01:48:00 - Wrapping Up with Bob

Carter Phipps is the author of Evolutionaries and coauthor of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller Conscious Leadership with John Mackey and Steve McIntosh. He is co-founder of the Institute for Cultural Evolution, which addresses political polarization though focusing on the cultural roots of America’s challenges. He hosts the Thinking Ahead podcast and is a former award-winning journalist and executive editor of What Is Enlightenment? Magazine. His website is http://www.carterphipps.com. Essay we discussed in the interview: Mysticism and Its Discontents: Does Spiritual Illumination Create its own Intrinsic Blindness? Summary and Transcript and of this interview Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Interview recorded July 29, 2023 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:50 - The Paradox of Spiritual Teachers' Behavior 00:07:52 - The Subtleties of Enlightenment and the Dangers of Blind Spots 00:11:24 - The Complications of Spiritual Awakening 00:14:40 - Defining Enlightenment 00:18:42 - Strengths and Weaknesses in Areas of Genius 00:22:31 - The Transformative Power of Mystical Awakening 00:26:15 - The Tradeoffs of Enlightenment 00:29:31 - Levels of Reality and Integration 00:35:06 - The Goal of Our Own Practice 00:37:33 - Delusion in Deep Mystical Experience 00:41:43 - The Path of Renunciation and Self-Brainwashing 00:45:46 - The Complex Psychology of Seeking Enlightenment 00:50:24 - The Evolution of Culture and Consciousness 00:55:17 - The Dangers of Unhealthy Self-Doubt and Lack of Self-Criticism 00:59:32 - The Delusion of Pure Motive 01:03:22 - The Dangers of Spiritual Confidence 01:08:15 - Blurring the Line between the Spiritual and Manifest World 01:14:10 - The Interface between Science and Spirituality 01:17:50 - The Tradition of Debate and Mythical Stories 01:21:35 - The Power and Deception of Inner Intuition 01:25:41 - The Relationship Between Enlightenment and Psychological Instability 01:28:35 - Psychological Traces and Vulnerability to Mystical Experiences 01:31:49 - Spiritual Breakthroughs and Psychological Breakdowns 01:35:11 - The Role of Responsible Psychedelic Therapists 01:39:44 - The Importance of Understanding Cultural Evolution and the Adjacent Possible 01:45:18 - The Myth of the Perfect Enlightened Figure 01:50:09 - The Importance of Understanding the Self-Structure 01:55:00 - The Importance of Questioning Spiritual Myths and Beliefs 01:59:38 - Being Discerning and Questioning 02:07:06 - Future Teaching and Updates from Carter Phipps

Dr. Etta D. Jackson was born in Kingston, Jamaica and migrated to the USA as a student in 1965. For twenty-five years she worked in education and retired in 1994 to travel. She has authored four books: Understanding Your Choice Unveiling the Secrets of the Feminine Principle The Role of Consciousness in Governance The Idea That Is the United States of America-Its Occult Foundation Audible.com versions: Understanding Your Choice Unveiling The Secrets Of The Feminine Principle She founded an international NGO non-profit organization, The Institute for Conscious Global Change (ICGC) in 2007 to assist the United Nations and Member States in eradicating extreme poverty through development. ICGC is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. Etta holds a BA in Biology, MS degrees in Guidance and Counseling and in Administrative Leadership and Supervision. Etta holds a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. She has one daughter and one grandson. Website Etta's blog, where she writes on many topics including mysticism and occultism. Mentioned during the interview: Builders of the Adytum Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded July 8, 2023 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:26 - Communicating with the Light 00:10:30 - Receiving Instructions from the Light 00:14:41 - Writing in London with the Golden Light 00:18:55 - The Back Story of Dr. Whitworth 00:23:57 - A Divine Encounter 00:29:44 - The Divine Feminine Unveiled 00:34:54 - Understanding Your Choice 00:39:40 - Mysticism vs. Occultism 00:45:03 - The Occult Knowledge of Ancient Religions 00:49:50 - Transitioning into the Aquarian Age 00:54:20 - The Authenticity of Experience and the Role of Older Souls in Guiding the Young 00:58:34 - A Relationship Based on Mutual Respect 01:03:33 - The Symbolism of the Journey to Jerusalem 01:08:51 - The Journey of Knowledge and Experience 01:14:00 - The Paradox of Good and Evil 01:18:49 - The Purpose of the Earth Experiment 01:24:23 - Embracing Change and Shifting Paths 01:29:07 - Understanding the Power of the Mind 01:33:59 - The Inner Lodge and the Role of Consciousness in Governance 01:38:13 - Masonry and Divine Inspiration 01:43:21 - Developing your Relationship with Yourself 01:47:47 - Kneeling at the Feet of the Soul 01:52:56 - Wrapping Up the Interview