Buddha at the Gas Pump

One spring afternoon in 2009, the last piece of the puzzle found its place, effortlessly. The simplicity of the information stared at me as I made my way back to the train station. While walking away from meeting Leo Hartong in Holland, his simple words “Yes, this is It,” had once and for all confirmed that I already knew the answers to the questions: “ Is it the Beingness of what we are?", "Is this what the search is all about?”, “Is this really It?”, “Is it really this simple?” It started as the trees lining the streets and the people walking and shopping. Nothing had changed and yet everything was different, direct, immediate. Not that I did not know this intimacy. I had been having Oneness experiences in which the little child, the adolescent, the adult disappeared, and the thing that remained was the field of awareness with sounds, sights, and smells in vibrant clarity. Only, it had taken a journey of 25 years to come to grasp that This is what it is all about. While I boarded the train, I wondered: “How come this obviousness had not been recognized before?”, “How can I have been so dense that I had failed again and again to notice it while it already stared at me right in the face all this time?” (Continued on Anamika's bio page.) Anamika's website: anamikaborst.com Book: Life at Zero distance: The freedom of being nothing and none The story of Anamika's owl. Interview recorded at the Science and Nonduality Conference, 10/23/2014 Wind noise may make parts of this interview difficult to hear. Here's a transcript that will help you follow it. Dutch transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Welcome to Buddha at the Gas Pump! 00:01:32 - Dutch people and speaking English 00:02:46 - Travel through Nepal and India 00:04:14 - The core of Sri Aurobindo's teachings 00:05:47 - Wrong ideas about enlightenment and the teachings of Sri Aurobindo 00:07:28 - Brahma Realization and the Interpretation of Teachings 00:08:57 - Understanding the system 00:10:27 - Loss of personality and self-exploration 00:11:43 - Discovering an unknown result 00:13:19 - Misuse of non-dual teaching 00:15:03 - Meeting with Leo Hartong in the Netherlands 00:16:10 - Deconditioning and experiential reality 00:17:43 - The spiritual quest 00:18:58 - No choice, everything is encounter and impulse in the direction 00:20:34 - Preference for Chocolate or Vanilla 00:22:27 - The Longing for Truth 00:23:41 - Releasing energetic tension 00:25:03 - Acceptance of what is 00:26:20 - The natural tendency towards health 00:27:40 - Unity that decides 00:29:06 - The Oneness of Things 00:30:45 - Ideas about something 00:31:43 - A caution about the tendency to say 00:33:36 - Meeting with Leo Hartong 00:34:45 - The process of personal growth and change 00:36:22 - The origins of the book 00:37:35 - The Old Age Home in Pondicherry 00:38:57 - Service as a spiritual practice 00:40:29 - Openness and inclusivity in life 00:42:15 - Interrogating concepts and beliefs 00:43:35 - A conversation with Anamika

Adyashanti, author of The Way of Liberation: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, Resurrecting Jesus, True Meditation, and The End of Your World, is an American-born spiritual teacher devoted to serving the awakening of all beings. His teachings are an open invitation to stop, inquire, and recognize what is true and liberating at the core of all existence. Asked to teach in 1996 by his Zen teacher of 14 years, Adyashanti offers teachings that are free of any tradition or ideology. “The Truth I point to is not confined within any religious point of view, belief system, or doctrine, but is open to all and found within all.” He teaches throughout North America and Europe, offering satsangs, weekend intensives, silent retreats, and a live internet radio broadcast. Other Batgap interviews with Adyashanti: First interview with Adyashanti Adyashanti and Susanne Marie on the Falling Away of Self Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on "The Embrace of Jesus and Buddha" Website: adyashanti.org Francis Bennett was an ordinary, sociable young man who answered the call to a life of spiritual adventure as a contemplative in the monastery of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, commonly known as Trappists. Thomas Merton, the pioneering Christian mystic of the 20th Century, was Francis’ inspiration and it was Merton’s influence that led Francis to explore the deepest reality of being, within the frameworks of Christianity, Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta and non-duality. Francis has worked with the sick and dying in parishes, hospitals, and hospices since he moved away from the monastic life. In 2010, while in the middle of mass, there came what Francis describes as, “a radical perceptual shift in consciousness”, which made it clear that the pure awareness at the heart of all is no different from the presence of God, which he had been seeking outside himself for so long. Other Batgap interviews with Francis Bennett: First BatGap interview with Francis. Francis Bennett and John Mark Stroud Francis Bennett, in Panel Discussion on Refined Perception Francis Bennett, with Jac O’Keeffe and Igor Kufayev at the SAND conference Francis Bennett in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Francis Bennett and Adyashanti on "The Embrace of Jesus and Buddha" Francis Bennett in panel discussion:: “Emptiness is also Form” Discussion recorded 10/23/2014 Transcript of this discussion. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Adyashanti and Francis Bennett: Resurrecting Jesus 00:04:45 - The Magic of Christianity 00:07:58 - Rediscovering the Magic of Mystical Texts 00:11:59 - Jesus as a Model of Enlightened Consciousness 00:16:00 - The humanity of the Buddhist tradition 00:20:09 - The Pendulum of the Relative and the Transcendent 00:24:52 - The unique manifestation of mystical truth 00:30:03 - The Extraordinary Nature of Human Potential 00:34:53 - The Infinite Levels of Reality 00:39:33 - The Teaching of Jesus and Miracles 00:43:29 - The Dangers of Power and the Necessity for Wise Utilization 00:46:46 - Being a Servant of Truth 00:50:03 - True Leadership and the Counterintuitive Nature 00:53:18 - Being a Servant of the Universe's Evolution 00:57:03 - Sacrifice and Love in Divine Incarnation 01:00:45 - Different Strokes for Different Folks in Spirituality 01:04:04 - Reaching Out for Help 01:07:33 - Teaching on Spiritual Childhood and the "Little Flower" 01:10:58 - The Authentic Shifts in Radical Teachings 01:14:18 - The Importance of Individual Discernment 01:17:30 - The Importance of Humility and Guidance in Personal Growth 01:20:58 - The Physical and Spiritual Connection 01:24:39 - The Power of Stories 01:28:21 - The Mystery of Truth 01:31:37 - The Power of Silence 01:35:05 - Nonlinear Communication and Awakening Journeys 01:38:38 - Healing through Authority 01:41:56 - The Orchestrated Arrangement of Riches 01:45:24 - Human Desires and Awakening 01:48:52 - The Difference Between Relative Happiness and Absolute Happiness Save Save Save Save Save

Panache Desai is a contemporary thought leader and author whose message of love and acceptance has drawn thousands of people from around the world to his seminars and workshops. Not aligned with any religious or spiritual tradition, he empowers people to free themselves of pain, suffering, sadness, and self-limiting beliefs. After a profoundly transformative experience more than a decade ago, he has committed his life to being a spiritual teacher empowering humanity in the deepest states of connection and awareness and helping people everywhere to directly experience divine consciousness for themselves. A highly sought-after speaker featured regularly in print, broadcast media, and online, Panache has appeared with Oprah Winfrey on the Emmy® Award-winning OWN series, Super Soul Sunday and was featured on their 2013 season finale, Soul 2 Soul: Asking Life’s Big Questions. He is a featured speaker OMEGA Institute for Holistic Studies and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health; he has addressed the United Nations Enlightenment Society; and in Spring 2014 he was a featured speaker at The Third Metric Conferences, hosted by Arianna Huffington and Mika Brzezinski.  Panache has also collaborated with internationally recognized spiritual teachers including Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith, Elizabeth Lesser, Brian Weiss, MD, James Van Praagh, Ram Dass, Alan Cohen, James Redfield, Colette Baron-Reid and Neale Donald Walsch. In May 2014, he published his first book, Discovering Your Soul Signature: A 33-Day Path to Purpose, Passion & Joy. Website: panachedesai.com Interview recorded 10/18/2014. Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview 00:04:03 - The Power of Presence and Vibrational Signature 00:07:32 - The Maturation of a Species 00:10:56 - The Revolution Within 00:14:30 - Participating at the Highest Level 00:17:48 - Impacting Others through Soul Signature 00:20:59 - Cultivating the "zombie-like" state in spirituality 00:24:25 - The Fluctuating States of Experience 00:27:48 - An All-Inclusive Awareness 00:31:44 - The Inclusive Nature of Hinduism 00:35:06 - Definition of an Avatar 00:38:24 - The Evolution of Humanity 00:41:50 - Falling from the Natural State 00:45:31 - The Underground Music Scene and Self-Discovery 00:48:56 - Profound Awakening and Life Changes 00:52:27 - Snoring in the Meditation Room 00:55:58 - Embracing the Divine Presence 00:59:33 - Shaking Out Fear and Density 01:02:57 - The Ultimate Energy Immersion Program 01:06:26 - Shifting Internal State and Accessing Peace 01:10:01 - Embracing All Aspects of Yourself 01:15:56 - Manipulation of Fear for Political Objectives 01:19:18 - Fear-Based Manipulation and Awakening to the Truth 01:22:42 - The World as a Cosmic Play 01:25:54 - Trusting Your Heart and the Power of Divine Recourse 01:29:15 - The Loneliness of Success 01:32:39 - Finding Balance and Acknowledging Growth 01:35:51 - Enlightenment and Scooby Doo 01:39:07 - The Infinite Intelligence within Everything 01:42:49 - Transcending Fear and Embracing Love 01:46:20 - The Structure of Soul Signature Save

Judith Blackstone is a nonduality teacher, spiritual psychotherapist, and co-founder of Nonduality Institute. She developed the Realization Process, a method of embodied nondual realization and psychological and relational healing.  In the Realization Process, the radical openness of nonduality is based on deep contact with the internal space of one’s body.  In this way, we discover an authentic, quality-rich experience of our individual being at the same time as we transcend our individuality.  We realize ourselves as unified consciousness, pervading everywhere. When two people have both realized nonduality, they experience mutual transparency: a single expanse of consciousness pervading them both as a unity.  Judith teaches workshops and teacher certification trainings in the meditation, embodiment, and spiritual psychotherapy aspects of the Realization Process. She is the author of Belonging Here The Realization Process: A Step-by-Step Guide to Embodied Spiritual Awakening An audio series of The Realization Process is available from Sounds True. The Intimate Life The Empathic Ground For information on Judith's teaching schedule, visit www.realizationprocess.org. To learn about Nonduality Institute, visit www.nondualityinstitute.org. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/4/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Judith Blackstone and the Realization Process 00:03:02 - Healing and attuning to oneself 00:06:06 - Seeking Healing and Letting Go 00:08:56 - A Journey of Healing and Spirituality 00:11:29 - Spiritual Awakening and Breakthroughs 00:13:58 - Discovering the Oneness of Everything 00:16:51 - The Awakening to Unified Consciousness 00:19:17 - Inhabiting the Internal Space of the Body 00:22:02 - The Nature of the Pervasive Space 00:24:50 - Total Integration of Body and Mind 00:27:37 - Being Present in the Body 00:30:57 - The Subtlety of Consciousness 00:33:32 - The Harm of Self-Erasure 00:36:32 - The Localization and Personalization of Experience 00:39:03 - Dismantling Childhood Constrictions 00:41:49 - Acquiring New Constrictions throughout Life 00:44:30 - Releasing Constrictions through Subtle Focus 00:47:11 - Penetrating Deep into the Internal Core 00:49:38 - Employing Nature's Intelligence in the Process 00:52:27 - The Healing Process 00:55:01 - Sexual Abuse and Spiritual Practices 00:58:07 - Sai Baba and the Mystery of His Influence 01:00:43 - Measuring Progress with Transparency and Bliss 01:03:30 - Acclimating to Extremes of Suffering and Happiness 01:06:05 - Attuning to the Innermost Core 01:08:37 - Retention rate of spiritual practices 01:10:49 - Teaching and Training Workshops 01:13:02 - Valuing Expertise and Compensation 01:15:12 - The Role of Spirituality in Modern Living 01:17:29 - Keeping Traditions Alive and Innovating 01:19:59 - Wrapping Up the Discussion

Mirabai Devi is an international spiritual teacher, facilitator for healer, author, and the founder of the Mirabai Devi Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to her mission of raising world consciousness through the awakening and healing of humanity. Mirabai Devi is a new paradigm spiritual teacher. Her teachings emphasize the importance of spiritual practice for self-realization, combined with a commitment to personal growth. She recognizes the importance of people working through their patterns and issues by means of self-reflection with the aim of becoming impeccable. As a conduit for the Divine Feminine, Mirabai's approach is receptive and inclusive, rather than dogmatic. She favors interaction, rather than hierarchy. More... Website: mirabaidevi.org Books & CDs: Samadhi: Essence of the Divine Golden Light Ishta Devata: Divine Form Forgiveness Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/21/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:15 - The Power of Consciousness in Fairfield 00:04:12 - Detoxing and Releasing Negativity during Light Transmission 00:06:22 - Returning to the Divine Light 00:08:17 - Remembering the State of Oneness 00:09:59 - Discovering the Realms of Light and Darkness 00:11:28 - Exploring Other Realms and Dimensions 00:12:52 - The Dimensions Within 00:14:20 - Traveling Between Dimensions 00:16:06 - Levels of Reality and the Illusion of the World 00:17:57 - Childhood Experiences and Suppression 00:19:57 - Shutting Down and Waking Up Again 00:22:28 - The Longing for the Beloved 00:25:08 - Seeking Enlightenment in India 00:27:20 - The Longing for God 00:29:19 - Meeting the Celestial Being and Awakening 00:33:08 - Learning to Function in Different Realms 00:34:57 - Burning and Purging in the Spiritual Awakening Journey 00:36:47 - Immersion into Everything 00:38:45 - The Integration of the Cosmic Self 00:40:20 - Amma, the Hugging Saint and Inner Masters 00:42:12 - Upgrading the Nervous System for Higher Frequencies of Light 00:44:14 - The Gift of Instantaneous Healing and Forgiveness Prayers 00:46:47 - The Purpose and Techniques of Prayer 00:49:40 - The Range of Spiritual Development 00:55:34 - The Need for Transformation 01:02:43 - Prophecy and the Path of Change 01:06:04 - The Light Within and Making a Difference 01:09:18 - Focusing on Love and Inner Transformation 01:11:46 - The Presence of Enlightenment

Barbara Marx Hubbard has been called “the voice for conscious evolution of our time” by Deepak Chopra and is the subject of Neale Donald Walsch’s book “The Mother of Invention: The Legacy of Barbara Marx Hubbard and the Future of YOU.” A prolific author of 7 books, visionary, social innovator and educator, she is founder of the Foundation for Conscious Evolution. Its purpose is to accelerate our conscious evolution. She is the producer and narrator of the award-winning documentary series entitled Humanity Ascending Series - OUR STORY. As a global ambassador for the conscious evolution movement she partnered with The Shift Network and formed a team to co-produce the world-wide multi-media event entitled, “Birth 2012: Co-Creating a Planetary Shift in Time” on Dec. 22, 2012 – a historic turning-point event; awakening the social, spiritual, scientific, and technological potential of humanity. Currently she is developing on-line courses on conscious evolution and co-creation on the Shift Network reaching many 1000s of students world-wide. She is activating The Wheel of Co-creation as a model for social synergy and whole system shift, with examples developing in Cairo, Egypt, in Monterrey, Mexico, as well as in Chicago and Tampa, Florida.   Her seminal book “Conscious Evolution: Awakening the Power of Our Social Potential” will be republished in an updated version in January 2015. Also her new “Evolutionary Testament: An evolutionary vision of the future inspired by the Gospels, Acts and Epistles,” will be published on January 2015. In 1984 her name was placed in nomination for the Vice Presidency of the United States on the Democratic ticket, calling for a “Peace Room” to scan for, map, connect and communicate what is working in America and the world. She also co-chaired a number of Soviet-American Citizen Summits, introducing a new concept called “SYNCON to foster synergistic convergence with opposing groups. She is a co-founder of The Association for Global New Thought and The World Future Society. Website: evolve.org Other books: 52 Codes for Conscious Self Evolution Emergence: The Shift from Ego to Essence Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 9/13/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Barbara Marks Hubbard 00:02:04 - Developing Online Courses and Co-Creators Rising 00:03:44 - The Awakening of Intelligence 00:05:32 - The Concept of a Conscious Force in the Universe 00:07:44 - The Universe's Direction and Purpose 00:09:36 - The Distortion of Religion 00:11:32 - Being a Co-Creator 00:13:30 - Directed chance and the freedom in the system 00:15:27 - The Wake-up Call 00:17:28 - The Meaning of Our New Power 00:19:24 - The Global Linkage of Technology 00:21:20 - The Shift to Zero-Point Energy and a New Economic System 00:23:08 - Evolution towards Higher Consciousness and Greater Freedom 00:25:12 - Social Synergy and Dysfunctional Systems 00:27:13 - The Nonlinear Exponential Interaction 00:29:28 - Shifting from win-lose voting to co-creation 00:31:21 - The Power of Connectivity 00:33:15 - Supra-sex and Co-Creativity 00:35:39 - The Ever-Fresh Experience of Sharing 00:37:45 - The Drama of the Moment and the Concept of Regeneration 00:39:48 - Continuity of Consciousness in New Forms 00:41:41 - Becoming a Universal Humanity 00:43:45 - Conscious Life Extension and Cosmic Beings 00:45:40 - Galactic Experience and Becoming a Universal Species 00:47:32 - Homo co-creator: The Emergence of a New Species 00:49:37 - The Caterpillar and the Butterfly 00:51:38 - The Metamorphosis of the Wet Winged Butterfly 00:53:28 - Motivation and Urgency in Making Contact with Extraterrestrials 00:55:06 - Different Levels of Reality 00:56:45 - Trusting Your Intuition and Avoiding Manipulation 00:58:21 - Conclusion and Farewell

Mukti, whose name means "liberation", is a teacher in the lineage of Adyashanti, her husband. Together they founded Open Gate Sangha in 1996 to cultivate the awakening of consciousness in those who yearn for truth, peace, and freedom. In teaching, Mukti brings flavors of feminine quietude and nurturing as well as kinesthetic, visual, and precise pointers to Truth. Many speak of her being particularly gifted in her offering of guided meditations. Her keen interest as a teacher is in the revelation of consciousness touching and transforming human experience. She is licensed in acupuncture and certified in yoga instruction. For sample teachings, audio clips and downloads, and further information, visit muktisource.org. Audio Book: The Self in Full Bloom Mukti in panel discussion:: “Emptiness is also Form” Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 9/6/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Mukti, Teacher in the Lineage of Adyashanti 00:03:38 - The Transformative Power of Awakening and Release 00:07:37 - Addressing the Complexity of Awakening 00:11:20 - Dealing with Intensity after Awakening 00:15:07 - The Complexity of Suffering and the Breakdown of Black and White Models 00:18:25 - Unpacking the Desire to Compete 00:22:05 - The Shift to the Universal Body 00:26:03 - The Zoom Lens Perspective 00:30:03 - Awakening to the Divine Experience 00:34:26 - The Marvelous Intelligence of Creation 00:37:57 - The Trajectory of Embodiment 00:41:32 - The Perceived Finality of Awakening 00:44:49 - Mukti's Journey from Catholicism to Direct Path Teachings 00:48:09 - The Inspiration of Spiritual Examples 00:52:41 - Incarnating the Divine 00:56:45 - The Nourishment of Infinite Expressions 01:01:01 - The Value of Different Paths 01:04:37 - Attracting a Spiritual Partner 01:07:43 - A Deep Recognition 01:11:10 - Dating and Getting to Know Each Other 01:14:13 - Adjusting to Married Life 01:16:40 - The Influence of Trust and Connection in Spiritual Growth 01:21:35 - The Influence of Shakti and Transmission 01:24:10 - The Paradox of Simplifying Spiritual Practice 01:27:32 - Awakening and the Question of Stillness 01:31:26 - Turning Inside Out and Looking at Itself 01:35:15 - The Ego and its Transformation 01:38:42 - Enriching the Human Experience through Awakening 01:43:03 - Liberating the Self and Welcoming the Expression of Spirit 01:46:47 - Resources and Updates 01:49:11 - BatGap Platform Overview Save Save

 Sally Kempton is a deeply practiced teacher of meditation and spiritual philosophy, and the author of the books Meditation for the Love of It and Awakening Shakti: as well as the audio course Doorways to the Infinite, recently put out by Sounds True. A former swami in the Saraswati order of India, she has been practicing and teaching devotional contemplative tantra for more than 40 years. Her teaching is powerfully sourced in the eastern meditative traditions of yoga and Kashmir Shaivism, yet highly contemporary in her focus on evolutionary practice. She offers a powerful transmission of meditative experience. Books: Meditation for the Love of It Beginning Meditation Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga Shakti Meditations Doorways to the Infinite: The Art and Practice of Tantric Meditation (audio program) Website: sallykempton.com Sally Kempton in panel discussion on Kashmir Shaivism 2nd BatGap interview with Sally Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/23/2014 YouTube Video Chapters:  00:00:00 - Introduction to Sally Kempton and her work  00:05:51 - The Miracles of Intelligence  00:10:48 - The Essentiality of Creativity in Consciousness  00:15:09 - Seeing the Energetic Field  00:19:17 - The Neurological System and Perception Shift  00:24:03 - The Subtle Quality in Consciousness  00:28:12 - The Miracle of Human Consciousness  00:32:41 - The Subtle World of Meditation  00:37:02 - The Division of Reality and the Subtle Realms  00:41:37 - Invoking Subtle Energies and Beings  00:46:27 - The Veiling and Revealing Process in Tantra  00:50:45 - The Consciousness of Beings and Celestial Bodies  00:55:01 - Science and the Dispelling of Goofy Notions  00:59:26 - The Journey and Contentment in the Present Moment  01:03:36 - The Importance of Dark Nights and Light Spots  01:07:59 - Holding Contradictory Ideas at the Same Time  01:12:38 - The Effort and Relaxation in Meditation Practices  01:17:15 - The Doorway to Open Awareness  01:21:35 - The Power of Mantras in Transforming Reality  01:25:52 - The Spontaneity of Surrender and the Power of Mantras  01:30:39 - Discerning Divine Guidance  01:35:01 - The Benevolent Forces of the Cosmos  01:39:13 - Understanding the Dynamics of Good and Evil  01:43:48 - The Deep Impact of Global Crisis  01:47:52 - Wesley Clark's Vision of the Future  01:52:02 - Symbolic Representations of Universal Forces  01:56:27 - Depicting Deities in Different Cultures  02:01:03 - Recognizing the Divine in All Forms  02:05:42 - The Divine Shakti and the Sacred Feminine  02:10:11 - Accessing Higher States of Consciousness through Practice  02:14:38 - Conclusion and Farewell

Shinzen Young became fascinated with Asian culture while a teenager in Los Angeles. Later he enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Buddhist Studies at the University of Wisconsin. Eventually, he went to Asia and did extensive training in each of the three major Buddhist traditions: Vajrayana, Zen and Vipassana. Upon returning to the United States, his academic interests shifted to the burgeoning dialogue between Eastern meditation and Western science. Shinzen is known for his innovative “interactive, algorithmic approach” to mindfulness, a system specifically designed for use in pain management, recovery support, and as an adjunct to psychotherapy. He leads meditation retreats throughout North America and has helped establish numerous mindfulness centers and programs. He also consults widely on meditation-related research, in both the clinical and the basic science domains. He often says: “My life’s passion lies in exploring what may arise from the cross-fertilization of the best of the East with the best of the West.” Websites: basicmindfulness.com (Phone-based retreats and classes) shinzen.org (Articles, CDs, onsite retreats) YouTube.com/user/expandcontract (Video talks) YouTube.com/user/ShinzenInterviews (Interviews with Shinzen) Blog Facebook Twitter Books: The Science of Enlightenment Science of Enlightenment CD series Natural Pain Relief The Five Ways to Know Yourself (Basic Mindfulness Practice Manual – Free PDF) What Is Mindfulness? – A Comprehensive Overview (Free PDF) Introduction to ULTRA (Free PDF) See, Hear, Feel (A basic introduction for beginners - Free PDF) And many more Second BatGap interview with Shinzen. Interview recorded 8/16/2014 Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Shinzen Young: A Systematic Approach to Mindfulness 00:04:32 - The Alternative to Suicide 00:08:25 - Perspectives on Euthanasia 00:12:21 - A Journey into Japanese Culture 00:16:38 - Altered Experiences and the First Noble Truth 00:21:10 - Meeting a Catholic Priest at a Zen Retreat 00:26:02 - Brain Waves of Zen Meditators in Japan 00:30:13 - East-West Cross-Fertilization 00:34:56 - Accessing Equanimity with Physical Pain 00:39:36 - The Power of Physical Pain 00:43:00 - The Inherent Ambiguity of Enlightenment and Siddhis 00:47:53 - Paradigm Shift and the Sensory Experience of Self 00:53:06 - The Nature of Identity and Enlightenment 00:58:02 - The Dimensions of Enlightenment 01:02:56 - The Consequences of Ultimate Liberation 01:06:46 - Subjective perspective in the face of destruction 01:11:12 - The Dimensions of Growth 01:16:35 - Behavioral Guidelines for Enlightenment 01:21:57 - Behaviorally Oriented Accountability and Support Structure 01:26:15 - The Human Nervous System as the Ultimate Scientific Instrument 01:30:32 - The Lack of Uniform Experiences in Enlightenment 01:35:33 - Books and the neuroscience of enlightenment 01:40:31 - Accelerating Enlightenment and the Future of Humanity 01:45:34 - The Importance of Spirituality and Science Integration 01:50:36 - The Unpleasantness of Meditation 01:55:38 - Finding Opportunity in Challenges 02:00:55 - The 'divide and conquer' 02:05:29 - The Importance of Realistic Expectations and Personal Growth 02:09:50 - The Goals of Mindfulness Practice 02:15:04 - The Potential of Saving the World Save Save

I was born in Oxford, England, in 1946, and I’ve been a practicing Buddhist for 40 years. I began training with Zen, practicing with the Venerable Myokyo-ni, a teacher from the Rinzai school, at the Buddhist Society in London. This was my practice for more than five years, before travelling to Sri Lanka in 1980. Here I lived for three years as a Theravada monk under the guidance of the Venerable Dhammaloka Maha Thera. It was while I was in Sri Lanka that my spiritual breakthrough took place in 1981, and it is this that forms the framework of my first book, A Record of Awakening, published in 1999. There is an interview made for television by conscious.tv that covers this period of my training. There is also an edited transcription version on this website. On my return from Sri Lanka I matured my practice by essentially living on my own for a number of years in east London. At the time of my breakthrough in Sri Lanka my teacher told me I should travel and begin to teach, but it was to be around 20 years before I took that role when I began leading retreats at centres of the Triratna Community in the UK and abroad. My association with this movement came to an end in 2006, and the DharmaMind Buddhist Group started independently the following year. Other books: Blue Sky, White Cloud The Five Pillars of Transformation Dharma Mind Worldly Mind A Question of Dharma On July 31st 2015, Āloka peacefully passed away.  His funeral service was in the Birmingham Buddhist Centre on August 13th.  He wrote this farewell letter before he died and asked that it be read out at the funeral as his final words to his Sangha and Dharma friends. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/9/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Aloka David Smith 00:04:59 - The Path of Self-Development 00:09:35 - Seeking Guidance and Support 00:14:11 - Trusting Intuition and Taking a Leap of Faith 00:18:57 - The Experience of Cutting Open and Revealing Reality 00:23:46 - Breaking Up the Illusion of Self 00:28:21 - Burrowing Into Who You Are 00:32:51 - Choosing a Path to Self-Improvement 00:37:21 - The Natural Process of Awakening 00:42:35 - The Difference Between Commitment and Willfulness 00:46:57 - Letting go of distractions and finding stillness 00:51:24 - Cultivating Inner Strength and Patience 00:56:07 - Surrendering to the Support of the Divine 01:01:00 - Equilibrium and the Collapse of the Conditioned Mind 01:06:32 - Revelation of Reality in the Dhammakaya 01:11:55 - Understanding Quantum Physics Beyond Objectivity 01:16:33 - The Advancing Host 01:21:17 - The Nature of Experience and Unattachment 01:25:35 - The Paradox of Non-Dual Enlightenment 01:30:20 - The Subtleties of Enlightenment 01:34:49 - Breaking Taboos in Buddhism 01:39:55 - The Need for a Teacher and Emotional Support 01:44:10 - The Evolution of Buddhist Practice in the West 01:48:14 - The Importance of Traditional Form and Practice 01:52:46 - Practices and Techniques in Zen and Theravada 01:57:35 - The Rejection of True Nature in Buddhist Practice 02:01:42 - The Importance of Authentic Teachers 02:06:13 - Authenticating Awakening and Seeking Approval 02:11:03 - The Importance of Humility on the Spiritual Path 02:15:56 - Being Challenged and Avoiding Complacency 02:19:55 - Conclusion and Farewell