Buddha at the Gas Pump

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

Lucy was raised in a low socioeconomic household and neighborhood, by a young single mother in New Zealand in the early 1980s. The lack of resources available in childhood resulted in a shrinking of her outer world to what she thought of –  years later - as a kind of welfare-child ashram. Within the home, and outside of it, there were few distractions or ability to go anywhere else, and significant trauma – all forcing her to go within to what she thought of as “the deep stillness and light inside” to rest, find nourishment, solace, and strength. At 19 she experienced her first shift, seeing through the personality, and subtle perceptions revealing themselves. She never thought much of it, there had already been so much light inside, and she was so thrilled to be in the world finally so she simply went on with living. After a brief stint in television journalism, Lucy spent 15 years in Europe and New Zealand working for international humanitarian aid agencies. On return to NZ at age 31, she suddenly became extremely ill.  For six months, she was mostly bedridden. Doctors, both natural and traditional, could not find the source of the illness. Over the next few years, she had to work to earn an income but there was no strength for much else. The pain in her body was ever-present, and the fear of not knowing if this was her life forever now, was sometimes crippling. She was forced to exist in a kind of in-between world again - of much aloneness and silence, aside from work. After a few years of significant illness, she recovered strength enough to live a semi-normal life. But any time she tried to do too much, she was knocked back into illness. By 35 she was in a leadership role at a non-profit, married, with a baby on the way, just surviving day-to-day with the pressure on her physical body. On becoming a mother, she was plunged into a level of blackness that was completely shocking and previously unknown. For more than two years she descended into complete separation and couldn’t hear the guidance that had always accompanied her in her life. For the first time ever she couldn’t feel God. In 2018, after more than two years of immense struggle, an unexplainable and absolute surrender took place within, in a moment, as her two-year-old cried and reached for her. Within two months she had left the career she loved to rest in what she thought of as silence. For around a year and a half, she couldn't do much else. Lucy had never been exposed to spirituality, nor did she know anything about its concepts or traditions. She thought meditation was for “those hippy people.” Because there had been no conscious spiritual search, she had no context for what was happening. Often it was so beautiful and joyful – she didn’t need to know. There was an innate sense of trust and recognition that went beyond what needed to be seen or understood with the mind. When the need to understand did arise - some online searches helped a little, but often it all felt overwhelming, and she preferred sitting in silence to hear from within. Guidance and teaching were always present and given through hearing and images. Despite this, when particularly strange things would occur the need for the mind to understand would return. One night in 2019, before sleep, in heartfelt prayer she asked for help to cut through all the online noise and finally really grasp what was going on. There was a felt sense of need for community. As she was awakening in the morning, she heard the words “Buddha at the Gas Pump”. Lucy says, "I was stumped. I had no idea what that meant, but Googled it and found BatGap. As a result, my life has changed. Over the years BatGap has supported me deeply in the process – nurturing trust and allowing everything to unfold as it wants to." From then until now, Lucy has been called over and over into deeper surrender. She has had further shifts and many clearings. Her career of 15 years,

Chris Niebauer earned his Ph.D. in cognitive neuropsychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in the differences between the left and right sides of the human brain. He is the author of No Self, No Problem: How Neuropsychology Is Catching Up to Buddhism and The No Self, No Problem Workbook: Exercises & Practices from Neuropsychology and Buddhism to Help You Lose Your Mind. He was a professor at a state university in Pennsylvania for 22 years, where he taught courses on consciousness, mindfulness, left- and right-brain differences, and artificial intelligence. Website: chrisniebauerphd.com YouTube Channel Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded June 3, 2023 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:21 - Disappointment with Daniel Dennett's book on consciousness 00:11:55 - The Value of Intelligence and Happiness 00:17:39 - The Dominance of Language in Reality 00:23:31 - Breaking the Cycle of Mental Excitation 00:29:04 - Non-Thinking Forms of Consciousness 00:34:24 - The Power of Numbers and Abstractions 00:40:01 - Observing the Interpreter and Letting Go of Intrusive Thoughts 00:45:55 - The Need for a Tiny Shift 00:51:17 - The Inventive Storytelling of the Left Brain 00:57:17 - Holistic Development of the Brain 01:02:52 - The Playfulness of Debates and the Power of Music 01:08:41 - The Nature of Skepticism and Strange Beliefs 01:14:25 - The Shift to Right Brain Awareness 01:19:53 - The Left Brain on Trial 01:25:32 - Individual Paths and Categorization 01:31:05 - Liberation and the Illusion of Self 01:36:54 - The Paradox of the Soul and Individuality 01:43:02 - Embracing Paradoxes 01:48:22 - The Connection between Light and Consciousness 01:53:31 - The Role of Faith in Materialism and Consciousness Studies 01:58:37 - The Inadequacy of Neuroscience 02:03:46 - The Limitations of Understanding and Balance in Life

Jeff Carreira is a meditation teacher, mystical philosopher and author who works with a growing number of people throughout the world. As a teacher, he offers retreats and courses guiding individuals in a form of meditation he refers to as The Art of Conscious Contentment. Through this simple and effective technique, he has led thousands of people in a journey beyond the confines of fear and self-concern into the expansive liberated awareness that is our true home. As a philosopher, Jeff is interested in defining a new way of being in the world that will move us from our current paradigm of separation and isolation into an emerging paradigm of unity and wholeness. In his books and lectures, he explores revolutionary ideas in the domains of spirituality, consciousness, and human development. He creates courses and programs that encourage people to question their most foundational experience of reality until previously held assumptions fall away leaving space for a dramatically new understanding to emerge. Jeff is passionate about the potential ideas have to shape how we perceive reality and how we live together. His enthusiasm for learning is infectious, and he has taught at colleges and universities throughout the world. Jeff is the author of numerous books including: The Path of Spiritual Breakthrough: From Awakening to Cosmic Awareness American Awakening: Evolutionary Spirituality, Non-Duality, and Free Thinking in the Tradition of American Philosophy Philosophy Is Not a Luxury: Four Reasons to Start Thinking About How You Think The Soul of a New Self: Embracing the Future of Being Human Paradigm Shifting: Guiding Evolution from the Inside The Art of Conscious Contentment Website: jeffcarreira.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded May 20, 2023. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:24 - Discovering Conscious Contentment 00:11:12 - The Influence of Past Experiences 00:18:53 - The Bright, Clear Awareness 00:26:00 - The End of Seeking: Letting Go and Contentment 00:32:29 - Letting go in Meditation 00:40:10 - Overcoming Sleepiness in Meditation 00:45:28 - Lucid Dreaming and Spiritual Experience 00:49:39 - Interpreting Spiritual Experiences 00:54:07 - The Role of Interpretation in Spiritual Progress 01:00:44 - Exploring New Paths and Spiritual Growth 01:04:51 - P.D. Ospensky and Cosmic Consciousness 01:10:53 - Embracing Creative Expression 01:16:32 - Expressing Ourselves and Taking a Break 01:21:24 - "Partners on the Spiritual Path" 01:29:07 - The Effects of "Crazy Wisdom" Teaching 01:34:21 - The End of an Experiment 01:38:12 - Transparency and Spiritual Integrity 01:41:57 - The Intensity of Spiritual Practice 01:46:09 - Spiritual Experiences and Seeking Alone in the Mountains 01:49:01 - Embracing the Opportunities in Your Circumstances 01:54:02 - The Middle Realms of Being 01:58:23 - The Importance of Non-Dual Awakening & the Advaita Tradition 02:02:10 - Higher Realms of the Soul

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard trained and published neuroanatomist who is now affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list. Her most recent 2021 book is WHOLE BRAIN LIVING: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life. Dr. Taylor is a dynamic teacher and public speaker who loves educating all age groups, academic levels, as well as corporations about the beauty of our human brain and how we can work with ourself to live a more peaceful life. In 2008 she gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the Internet, which now has well over 28.5 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Taylor was chosen as one of TIME Magazine's “100 Most Influential People in the World” and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series” web-cast. Website: drjilltaylor.com Dr. Taylor's "My Stroke of Insight" TED talk Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 14, 2023. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:33 - The Evolutionary Goal of Humanity 00:11:07 - The Experience of the Present Moment 00:17:04 - Developing the Whole Brain 00:23:18 - Understanding the Dynamics of Relationships 00:28:43 - Understanding Character Two and Emotional Pain 00:33:33 - Understanding the Little Character Two 00:38:03 - The Richness of Human Emotions 00:42:05 - Autism and Brain Circuitry 00:47:10 - The Potential Risks of Whole Brain Living and Psychedelics 00:52:44 - Exploring the Options for Bipolar Disorder and PTSD 00:59:58 - The Beauty of Humor 01:07:06 - The Interface of Individuality and Universality 01:16:07 - Bringing Balance and Meaning Into Life 01:25:16 - The Differences in Perception and Information Processing 01:32:07 - The Absurdity of Language and Consciousness 01:37:18 - The Value Structure of Character Four 01:44:01 - Changing the Model of Enlightenment 01:48:18 - The Existence of Free Will 01:53:44 - The Subtle Work of Cells and Neuronal Networks 01:59:21 - The 90-Second Rule & Addiction in the Brain 02:04:19 - Exploring Selective Mutism and Addiction 02:11:27 - Dealing with Fear of the Future and Worry 02:17:51 - Farewell and Thank You