Buddha at the Gas Pump

Lama Surya Das, whom the Dalai Lama affectionately calls the “American lama”, has spent over forty years studying with the great spiritual masters of Asia. He is an authorized lama in the Tibetan Buddhist order and the founder of the Dzogchen Center. Surya Das is the author of the international bestseller Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World and twelve other books, including his latest release, Buddha Standard Time: Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now. His blog “Ask the Lama” can be found at askthelama.com. To see Surya's lecture and retreat schedule please visit surya.org. Other Books: Buddha Is as Buddha Does: The Ten Original Practices for Enlightened Living Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss, and Spiritual Transformation Awakening to the Sacred: Creating a Personal Spiritual Life Awakening the Buddha Within: Eight Steps to Enlightenment Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning, and Connection into Every Part of Your Life The Snow Lion's Turquoise Mane Natural Radiance: Awakening to Your Great Perfection Natural Meditation: A Tibetan Buddhist Practice for Clearing the Mind and Opening to Effortless Awarness The Big Questions: How to Find Your Own Answers to Life's Essential Mysteries Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/5/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Lama Surya Das on Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:41 - From Drugs to Meditation, A Journey of Transformation 00:05:33 - Importance of Enlightenment 00:07:52 - The Meaning of Enlightenment 00:11:04 - Being There While Getting There: The Path to Enlightenment 00:14:25 - The Four Steps on the Path to Enlightenment 00:17:50 - The Powers of Enlightenment 00:20:57 - The Importance of Clear Understanding in Spiritual Engagement 00:24:08 - The Names of God and the Spectrum of Wisdom 00:27:26 - Swooping Down and Climbing Up 00:30:46 - The Inner Light and Ultimate Reality 00:34:07 - Swoopers and Climbers 00:37:04 - The Balancing Act of Life in Duality 00:39:58 - Cultivating a Sane, Mindful, Unselfish Life 00:43:25 - Cultivating Mindful and Ethical Relationships 00:46:11 - Mindfulness and Meditation in Schools and Prisons 00:49:28 - Integrating Eastern Thought Traditions into Daily Life 00:53:31 - Building Blocks of a Spiritual Life 00:57:04 - Enlightenment through Sweeping 01:00:00 - Buddha's Perspective on God 01:02:22 - Buddha's Enlightenment and the Concept of God 01:04:17 - Hinduism and the Concept of God 01:06:06 - The Presence of God in Buddhism 01:08:25 - God's Transparent Eyeball and Cosmic Consciousness 01:10:04 - The Inner Power in Buddhism 01:11:31 - The State of Consciousness 01:13:04 - The Journey of Enlightenment 01:14:25 - Finding Freedom in Imprisonment 01:16:12 - Harmony in the Slum 01:17:34 - Details about BatGap.com 01:19:35 - Lamp of Enlightenment

With Chris Bache, Ph.D., Jeffrey and Cielle Backstrom, Talat Jonathan Phillips, and Rak Razam Chris Bache, Ph.D., is professor emeritus in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University where he taught for over 30 years in the psychology of religion, transpersonal studies, Buddhism, and world religions. He is also an adjunct professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and for two years was the Director of Transformative Learning at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, CA. An award-winning teacher and international speaker, his work explores the philosophical implications of deep non-ordinary states of consciousness, especially psychedelic states.  He has written a pioneering book in psychedelic philosophy and collective consciousness, Dark Night, Early Dawn: Steps to a Deep Ecology of Mind. In addition, he has written Lifecycles: Reincarnation and the Web of Life, a comprehensive study of reincarnation and karma in light of new information emerging in contemporary consciousness research.  In his book The Living Classroom: Teaching and Collective Consciousness, Chris presents his revolutionary ideas concerning the transpersonal dimensions of teaching.  In addition to working with sacred medicines, Chris has been a Buddhist practitioner for many years. Website Christopher Bache at SkyBlue Symposia - Pt 1 of 2 Christopher Bache at SkyBlue Symposia - Pt 2 of 2 BatGap interview with Chris Bache and Michael Pollan Jeffrey and Cielle Backstrom call their work "Stepping Into Freedom", explaining that "with each step we release or transcend old, limiting patterns of being-seeing-acting... and open to the beings our souls are calling us here to become." They offer shamanic healing work and deep practices to facilitate embodied awakening and opening to the soul's calling. In the past several years, Jeffrey and Cielle have studied with indigenous medicine workers and teachers in the Andes and the Amazon basin, who represent ancient traditions grounded in the Sacred Feminine and Mother Earth. Since 2009 they've been welcoming their students to accompany them to experience these connections for themselves. Websites: ciellebackstrom.com steppingintofreedom.com Talat Jonathan Phillips is a co-founder of the cutting edge web-magazine Reality Sandwich and The Evolver Network and is a well-regarded life coach and Bioenergetic healer who has been practicing for over a decade. His memoir, The Electric Jesus: The Healing Journey of a Contemporary Gnostic, has become one of the must-read books of the new consciousness movement for its honest portrayal of life on the emerging edge of the transformational culture. He is the creator of The Ayahuasca Monologues: Tales of the Spirit Vine, a religion blogger for the Huffington Post, a Reiki Master and Bioenergetic Healer who does Skype sessions for clients around the world and in his San Francisco office. Individual BatGap interview with Talat Rak Razam is the author of two books: Aya: a Shamanic Odyssey, a travel-memoir of his time with shamans in the Peruvian Amazon. His film AYA: Awakenings is a documentary journey into the world and visions of Amazonian shamanism adapted from this book. The Ayahuasca Sessions: Conversations with Amazonian Curanderos and Western Shamans, published by Icaro. In 2006 he visited Peru on a feature magazine assignment to see what the almost mythical archetype of the shaman was really like in the 21st century. Excerpts from AYA, A Shamanic Odyssey have been published in Australian Penthouse (Sept 2006); High Times (Aug 2007); and Filmmaker magazine online (Oct 2007). He was also interviewed and appears in the CBC’s 2007 audio documentary In Search of the Divine Vegetal talking about his Ayahuasca experiences, which has been broadcast twice due to special demand to millions of people throughout North America. A founding editor of Undergrowth, Australia’s leading counterculture arts and literature magazine, Razam is an “experiential journalist” that participates in the experiences he writes about, giving his global audience an intimate familiarity with his subjects. For more information visit www.rakrazam.com. "Like" Aya Awakenings on Facebook. Summary and Transcript of this discussion Discussion recorded 12/28/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Ayahuasca and Psychedelics: Exploring Consciousness and Facilitating Awakening 00:04:37 - Traditional Practices with Sacred Plants in Healing and Transformation 00:09:26 - The Thirst for Connection to Spirit 00:13:26 - Deep Sincerity and Purposefulness in Approaching Psychedelic Experiences 00:17:50 - Healing in the Jungle 00:21:59 - The Effects and Influences of Meditation and Drugs 00:26:07 - Ayahuasca: a Pathway to Healing and Integration 00:30:13 - The Purging and Cleanliness in Ayahuasca Ceremony 00:34:40 - Safety and Regulation in Psychedelic Healing 00:39:47 - Energetic Realities and Integration 00:44:03 - The Collective Psyche and Planetary Change 00:48:37 - The Role of MDMA in Spiritual Awakening 00:52:41 - Exploring the Territory without Capturing the Fort 00:56:53 - Pathways for Hyperdimensionality 01:00:41 - Connecting with the Energy of the River 01:05:26 - Exploring the Chakra Systems and Elemental Journey 01:09:23 - The Tipping Point in Spiritual Evolution 01:14:31 - Reconnecting with Nature and Spirituality 01:18:42 - The Meaning of Pachacuti 01:22:38 - Riding the Wave and the Potential Extinction of Humanity 01:27:13 - The Planetary Initiation 01:30:41 - The Planet's Journey on the Verge of Collapse 01:34:55 - The Expansion of Consciousness and the Evolutionary Crisis 01:39:35 - Contextualizing Our Practice 01:44:04 - Letting Go of Attachments 01:48:44 - The Value of Group Work in Altered Realms 01:53:28 - Manifesting through Psychedelics and Entheogens 01:59:08 - The Grounded, Embodied, Feminine Path to Awakening 02:04:09 - The Mystical Experience of Ayahuasca and 5-MEO DMT 02:08:23 - Conclusion and Gratitude 02:12:12 - Conclusion and Next Week Preview

Miranda Macpherson is a spiritual teacher, counselor, and author of 'Boundless love'. Known for her depth of presence and refined capacity as a guide into direct experience of the sacred, Miranda teaches and transmits a powerful synthesis of self-inquiry, depth psychology, devotion, and meditation. Inspired by Ramana Maharshi, A Course in Miracles, and extensive study into the world's wisdom traditions, Miranda has over twenty years of teaching experience internationally. In 1996 she founded the groundbreaking 'Interfaith Foundation' in London, and during her 10 years as spiritual director, she trained and ordained over 600 ministers and spiritual counselors. She is now based in the San Fransisco Bay Area, and leads retreats and ongoing programs internationally for those wanting to substantially deepen their practice. Miranda offers an integrated and feminine approach to non-dual realization oriented at facilitating direct spiritual experience while providing a practical foundation for authentic transformation. Her clarity and love offer a deep holding in which to rest undefended in the present, taste deeper levels of consciousness and discover how to embody wisdom in daily life. Books: The Way of Grace - The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation (Book) Boundless Love: Transforming Your Life with Grace and Inspiration CDs: The Way of Grace - The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation (CD) Meditations on Boundless Love 'The Heart of Being' - Mantra CD 'Awakening the Soul' - Meditation CD Website: http://mirandamacpherson.com Second BatGap interview with Miranda. Miranda in SAND Panel Discussion on Sexual Misconduct, Money, Power, Trauma & Ethics in Spiritual Communities Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded 12/21/2013 Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Miranda Macpherson 00:03:04 - The Presence of God and Confusion with Religion 00:05:53 - Awakening to Boundless Love 00:09:03 - Formative Awakening and Spiritual Evolution 00:11:42 - The Interaction of the Soul with the Universe 00:14:43 - Soulful Spiritual Development and Healing Wounds 00:17:40 - Serving the Unchurched People 00:20:28 - An Encounter with Ramana Maharshi 00:24:12 - The Process of Integration and Identity Transformation 00:27:10 - Standing on the Edge of the Void 00:29:37 - Integration and Cultivating Trust 00:32:39 - Trusting the Beneficent Force 00:35:32 - Awakening in the Midst of Everyday Life 00:38:29 - The Elements of Devotion and Embodiment Practices 00:41:17 - Cultivating the Virtues 00:44:23 - The Power of Curiosity and Open-Mindedness 00:47:23 - Non-attack and the Ego 00:50:13 - Disengaging from the Ego 00:52:51 - The Ego as a Form of Thievery and Compassion 00:55:28 - The Relationship between Ultimate Reality and the Relative 00:57:57 - The Fullness and Diversity of Experience 01:00:21 - Walking with Great Suffering 01:03:19 - Genuine Spiritual Practice and Personal Choice 01:05:59 - The Importance of Spiritual Practice 01:08:28 - Gentle Effort and Mantras as a Way of Being 01:11:03 - Awareness during sleep and expanded perception 01:13:25 - Nectar-like Experiences in the Wilderness and the Presence of Deities 01:16:13 - A Nuanced Understanding of Possibilities 01:18:56 - Connections and Collaborations 01:21:14 - Building a Strong Foundation for Realization 01:23:45 - Where to Find More Content

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and New York Times best-selling author. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom and on the Advisory Board of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, he’s been an invited speaker at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. An authority on self-directed neuroplasticity, Dr. Hanson’s work has been featured on the BBC, NPR, CBC, FoxBusiness, Consumer Reports Health, U.S. News and World Report, and O Magazine, and his articles have appeared in Tricycle Magazine, Insight Journal, and Inquiring Mind. He has several audio programs with Sounds True, he edits the Wise Brain Bulletin, and his weekly e-newsletter – Just One Thing – has over 100,000 subscribers, and also appears on Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and other major websites. A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA, Dr. Hanson has been a trustee of Saybrook University, and he served on the board of Spirit Rock Meditation Center for nine years and was President of the Board of FamilyWorks, a community agency. He began meditating in 1974, trained in several traditions, and leads a weekly meditation gathering in San Rafael, California. He enjoys rock climbing and taking a break from emails. He and his wife have two adult children. Books and other media: Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence (in 4 languages), Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom (in 25 languages), Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time (in 12 languages), and Mother Nurture: A Mother's Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relationships Stress-Proof Your Brain Meditations to Change Your Brain The Enlightened Brain Meditations for Happiness Self-Directed Brain Change Letting Go: A Key to Lasting Happiness Steadying Your Mind Awaken Your Brain For more information, please see his full profile at rickhanson.com. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 12/14/2013. Second BatGap interview with Rick Hanson. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Rick Hanson and the Mind-Brain Connection 00:03:11 - The Brain's Bias towards Over-learning from Negative Experiences 00:06:11 - The Mystery of Brain Transformation 00:08:45 - The Root of Suffering and the End of Craving 00:11:23 - The Nature of Heartfelt Emotions 00:13:54 - Changing the Conditioning of the Mind 00:17:07 - Overcoming Aversion and Grasping 00:19:32 - The Brain of a Buddha 00:22:42 - The Ultimate Truth and Brainwaves 00:25:32 - The Nature of Consciousness and the Transcendental 00:28:25 - The Thicket of Views and the Woo-Woo Stuff 00:31:10 - Exploring the Transcendental State 00:33:45 - The Stable Shift of Awakening 00:35:59 - Installing Wholesome States of Mind 00:38:38 - The Art of Receptive Learning 00:41:30 - Internalizing the Mind of No Grasping 00:43:53 - Neurobhavana: Mo' Bettah 00:46:31 - Cultivating Positive Experiences 00:49:08 - Factors for Enriching Experiences 00:51:31 - Cultivating Inner Strengths for Healing and Awakening 00:53:58 - Overcoming the Stone Age Negativity Bias 00:57:05 - The Negativity Bias and its Impact on Well-being 00:59:19 - Mindfulness Programs for Prisoners and PTSD Sufferers 01:02:05 - Adapting Practice and Dealing with Negative Experiences 01:04:27 - The Impact of Negative Experiences 01:07:07 - The Power of Fear and Disgust 01:09:48 - The Possibility of a Utopian Planet 01:12:12 - The Tipping Point: From Frustration to Contentment 01:14:46 - Letting the Good Sink In 01:17:14 - Physiological Correlates of Higher States 01:19:35 - Music interlude

Fred Davis studied and practiced Eastern wisdom for twenty-five years prior to 2006 when his seeking ended, and his true awakening commenced. He is the creator and editor of Awakening Clarity Now and the founder of The Living Method of Awakening. He is also the author of The Book of Undoing: Direct Pointing to Nondual Awareness Beyond Recovery: Nonduality and the Twelve Steps Awakening Clarity: A Spiritual Sampler The Living Method of Awakening is an extraordinarily successful process of direct pointing that encourages immediate recognition of our shared True Nature. Hundreds of people on five continents have found the door to freedom using The Living Method. His work has appeared on Advaita Vision, Nonduality Living, Meeting Truth, ONE: The Magazine, and it shows up frequently in Nondual Highlights. He is happily married, deeply loves animals, and lives as a chiefly ignored, urban hermit in Columbia, South Carolina. It has recently come to public attention that Fred was convicted in 2006 for sex offenses he committed as a teenager, in the 1960s. He addresses the issue on his blog. Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 12/1/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Fred Davis 00:05:43 - Awakening in the Insane Asylum 00:09:24 - My Journey with Zen Meditation and Self-Inquiry 00:13:33 - Knocking Your Head Against the Walls Spirituality 00:18:45 - Losing it All, Finding Sobriety, and Seeking True Nature 00:23:51 - Finding Freedom through Surrender 00:28:38 - The Mysterious Collapsing Flower Pots 00:32:15 - Struggles and Finding Relief 00:35:26 - The Awakening Experience 00:39:12 - The Real Deal Breaker 00:42:38 - A Unique Jail Experience 00:46:00 - The Journey of Suffering and Awakening 00:50:45 - A Shift in Perspective and Awakening 00:55:45 - The Mind Wants Either/Or 00:58:46 - The Unfolding Process of Enlightenment 01:03:26 - The Mind's Either/Or Dilemma 01:08:00 - Starting Awakening Clarity 01:10:57 - Surprise Awakening and Egoic Pleasure 01:14:42 - The Awakening Process and Sharing Insights 01:18:48 - Awakening and the Importance of Context 01:23:05 - Clarity about the I Am 01:27:43 - Discovering Oneness 01:32:05 - The possibility of anyone becoming a spiritual teacher 01:35:27 - The Drive Towards Self-Recognition 01:39:28 - The Subtleties of Non-Duality to Guide Awakening 01:42:58 - Stabilizing and Refining the Mind 01:46:29 - Beliefs, Opinions, and Positions 01:51:10 - The Difficulty of Getting Out of Bed 01:55:37 - Continuous Thinning of Conditioning 02:02:53 - Challenges of On-Camera Sessions 02:08:52 - Signing up for the iTunes podcast

Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society (where he is one of the resident guiding teachers) and the Barre Center for Buddhist studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts.  He is the author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening, A Heart Full of Peace, One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism, Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom, and The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation (Shambhala Dragon Editions). He has also coauthored books with Sharon Salzberg and Jack Kornfield. Joseph has studied and practiced meditation since 1967 under the guidance of eminent teachers from India, Burma, and Tibet and he leads Insight Meditation retreats around the world. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/23/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Joseph Goldstein: Insight Meditation and the Enlightened Mind 00:03:22 - The Nature of the Mind 00:06:25 - The Purpose of Skillful Means 00:09:08 - The Hindu View of Enlightenment 00:12:15 - Stages of Awakening and Mistaking Preliminary Enlightenment 00:15:31 - The Reassurance of Being Done with Spiritual Practice 00:18:13 - Levels of Ignorance and Obstructive Forces 00:21:10 - The Effort and Investigation of Awakening 00:23:45 - The Importance of a Teacher and Study in Spiritual Practice 00:26:55 - Recognition and examination of the mind 00:30:08 - The Role of Monastics in Deepening Practice 00:32:57 - The Manifestation of Awakening in Behavior 00:35:22 - The Importance of Traits and States of Consciousness 00:38:06 - The Universal Experience of Enlightenment 00:41:13 - The Correlation Between Ethical Behavior and Enlightenment 00:44:08 - Wrathful Compassion and Ethical Grey Areas 00:46:27 - Manifestation of Compassion in Different Ways 00:49:28 - The Power of Mindfulness 00:51:49 - What is Mindfulness? 00:54:31 - Mindfulness as an Ethical Dimension 00:56:54 - The Analogy of the Changing Images 00:59:37 - The Unmanifest Quality 01:02:51 - The Purpose of Mindfulness 01:05:39 - The Effort and Nature of Mindfulness 01:07:45 - Mindfulness and the Effortless Approach 01:09:40 - Balancing Effort and Relaxation 01:12:18 - The Buddha Boy and the Atman-Anatman Debate 01:14:35 - Tathagata and Tattvamasi: Exploring the Difference 01:17:26 - Compassion as the Manifestation of Non-Clinging 01:20:34 - The Power of Bodhicitta and Awakening for the Benefit of All 01:23:23 - Conclusion and Next Week's Interview

Stewart Cubley is founder of The Institute for Art & Living, dba The Painting Experience. His work has carried him throughout the world to work with groups in a process of inner exploration using the tool of expressive painting to access the potential within the human heart and imagination. For more than three decades he has taught his unique approach to literally thousands of people at growth centers such as Esalen and Omega Institutes, multinational corporations, programs in prisons and countless other public forums. Stewart lives in Fairfax, CA. He is co-author of Life, Paint & Passion, Reclaiming the Magic of Spontaneous Expression, Tarcher/Putnam 1996. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/16/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Retreat in Alaska 00:03:58 - Early Spiritual Interests 00:08:07 - Obsessiveness and Yoga in Solitude 00:11:44 - The Compelling Force and Higher Purpose 00:15:33 - Recognizing the Potential in Approaching Painting 00:20:27 - In the Presence of Truth 00:23:56 - Exploring the Nature of Self and True Being through Painting 00:28:38 - Artistic Expression and Authority 00:32:14 - The Importance of Spontaneous Creation and Non-authority 00:36:25 - Creating Freedom in Art and Spirituality 00:41:25 - Embracing Confusion and Being Lost in the Creative Process 00:46:11 - Getting Out of Your Own Way 00:50:04 - Embracing Chaos in Art and Life 00:54:19 - The Authenticity of Being Yourself 00:59:42 - Attaining an Experience of the Self 01:04:41 - The Power of Community and Working with Difficulty 01:08:52 - The Space of Freedom 01:12:35 - Stabilizing in a More Expanded State 01:15:55 - The Evolution of Artistic Expression 01:20:39 - Wendell Berry and Deep Connectedness to the Earth 01:24:02 - The Development of Refinement 01:28:28 - Standing in Fear: Expressing and Overcoming Judgement 01:32:27 - The Importance of Emphasizing Authenticity 01:36:40 - Apprenticeship and the Power of Individual Expression 01:40:56 - Nurturing the Sadness Through Painting 01:44:46 - Dealing with Edgy Moments in Art Therapy 01:48:27 - The Influence of a Suffering Artist 01:52:22 - The Holiness of the Heart's Affections and the Truth of the Imagination 01:56:21 - Tapping into Imagination and Energy 02:00:32 - Perceiving through the Lens of Feeling 02:04:07 - Conclusion and Next Interview Announcement

Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee Ph.D. is a Sufi teacher and author. Born in London he moved to Northern California in 1991 and founded the Golden Sufi Center, (goldensufi.org). In recent years the focus of his writing and teaching has been on spiritual responsibility in our present time of global crisis, and an awakening global consciousness of oneness (workingwithoneness.org) (Working with Oneness). More recently he has written about the feminine (The Return of the Feminine and the World Soul), and the emerging subject of Spiritual Ecology (emergencemagazine.org) He has been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on Super Soul Sunday and featured on the Global Spirit Series shown on PBS. His most recent book is Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth. Much of this interview focused on the topic of that book. Other books: Darkening of the Light: Witnessing the End of an Era Fragments of a Love Story: Reflections on the Life of a Mystic Prayer of the Heart in Christian and Sufi Mysticism Sufism: The Transformation of the Heart Alchemy of Light: Working with the Primal Energies of Life Love Is a Fire: The Sufi's Mystical Journey Home Catching the Thread: Sufism, Dreamwork, and Jungian Psychology Spiritual Power: How It Works The Signs of God The Face Before I Was Born: A Spiritual Autobiography The Bond with the Beloved: The Inner Relationship of the Lover and the Beloved Travelling the Path of Love: Sayings of Sufi Masters Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/10/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Llewellyn Vaughan- Lee and his work 00:02:23 - The Key to a Different World 00:04:57 - The Beginning of My Spiritual Journey 00:07:04 - The beginning of my spiritual journey above Mrs. Tweedie 00:08:53 - The Decision to Go to America 00:10:37 - Spiritual Freedom in California 00:12:37 - Learning from a Spiritual Teacher 00:14:52 - A State of Pure Light and Bliss 00:16:32 - Oneness and Shattered Ego 00:18:48 - Reconstituting the ego around a different center of consciousness 00:20:58 - "Abiding after Passing Away" 00:23:44 - The Compilation of Essays 00:26:47 - Our Responsibility Towards Creation 00:29:41 - Becoming Responsible spiritual citizens of the world 00:32:09 - The Next Step: Servanthood 00:34:18 - The Contribution of Spiritual People 00:36:25 - The Listening of the Heart 00:38:13 - The Forgotten Spiritual Body of the Earth 00:40:23 - Sustainability and the Responsibility to Creation 00:42:48 - The Great Chain of Being and the Ecological Crisis 00:45:13 - The Quest for the Grail 00:48:19 - The Awakening and Service to the Whole 00:48:41 - Keeping Integrity Amidst Commercialization 00:50:50 - Embracing the responsibility of awakening 00:53:00 - Connecting through the Web of Light 00:55:11 - Beneficial and Less Beneficial Forces in the World 00:57:22 - Censored from an Awareness of Inner Beings 00:59:29 - The Inclusiveness of Oneness 01:01:32 - Prayer for the Earth and Spiritual Intimacy 01:03:55 - A Connection between People and the World 01:06:10 - Music

Kiran Trace is an internationally known spiritual teacher and author. She died of massive spontaneous awakening into her true nature, then eight years later, and at the encouragement of Moni Vangolen, Thomas Stubbs, Adyashanti, and others, she began to talk and teach. Because she spontaneously awoke, with no prior spiritual background, orientation or understanding, she is known for her unique point of view. Folks often call her teachings “fresh” because she doesn't have any spiritual language or point to any lineage. She sees primarily from vast stillness and embodies "the world" from an "inside-outside" point of view.  Seeing the coding of the universe in order to see the universe, it’s very “matrix” like. Visit more of her works and teachings at kirantrace.com, or visit her YouTube channel. Interview recorded 11/2/2013 Transcript of this interview. Kiran's 2nd Batgap interview. Kiran Trace in Batgap Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Kiran's Name and Background 00:04:44 - Awakening into Your True Nature 00:09:31 - The Relationship Between Spiritual Practice and Awakening 00:13:54 - Distortions in Spiritual Teachings 00:18:58 - Disillusionment with Traditional Teaching Methods and Distorted Interpretations 00:23:46 - The Experience of Oneness and Expanded Perception 00:27:59 - Picking up on Different Frequencies 00:31:53 - Awakening in Sleep 00:35:53 - Narrow Definition of Awakening 00:40:23 - The Beauty of Your Own Present Moment 00:44:41 - The Movement of Love and Creativity 00:49:39 - The Creative Power of Joy and Pain 00:54:20 - Effortlessness and True Nature 00:58:56 - Effortlessness and Awakening into True Nature 01:03:26 - The Effortless Approach to Welcoming What Arises 01:07:53 - Cultivating a State of Love and Compassion 01:12:25 - Cultivating Awareness; Beginning the Unwinding 01:16:49 - The Effortlessness of Love 01:21:34 - Touching Pain with Love: The Alchemy of Healing 01:26:03 - Different Teachers on the Planet 01:30:11 - Following Your Authentic Yes 01:34:47 - Trusting Life's Provision 01:38:54 - Awakening and Oneness Experience, Part 2 01:43:20 - The Night of Beauty and Bliss 01:48:01 - The Mess After the Rapture 01:51:53 - Awakening and Accessing Vast Fields of Information 01:56:43 - The Healing Journey 02:01:04 - The E-Word: Embodied with Projections 02:05:46 - The Liberation of Love and Honesty 02:09:51 - Gratitude and Friendship 02:13:39 - Continuing to Grow and Evolve Save Save

Rick's mic malfunctioned, so his voice is muffled, but intelligible. Laurie Moore, LMFT, CHT, Ph.D. offers human sessions and readings as well as animal readings in person, by phone, and by Skype. Dr. Laurie Moore’s website. I was an activist from age 7 on. With surging love in my heart, I set up social change and social service movements at school and learning programs in the neighborhood. I appeared on the capitol steps with a petition to ban aerosols presented to Congress Man Gilbert Gude at age 14 with my friend, Jennifer. Deep inside I vacillated between a longing for Heaven on Earth and stepping into this complete love. When I was 40, I was still immersed in numerous ways to assist humans in upliftment by opening new doors of communication within self and with others. That year, I made a spontaneous prayer to life…or rather a prayer beyond any choice surged through my heart, soul, and bones: “Please take me back to Heaven on Earth consistently!”. Soon my beloved cat’s body was taken by coyotes. When he reincarnated to my amazement, taking me into spaceless, timeless oneness with all life I was humbled. Awakening after awakening became my norm. Soon I was leading Satsang seminars all over Hawaii, USA and sometimes in other countries. During this period I met Gangaji and re-united with Sh. Ahmed whose generous outpourings surged through my work, grounded in the love and wisdom of my beloved feline Guru Jessie and my beautiful Buddha-like mate Ray. Divine Mother was with me constantly, nudging and cleansing me. I continue my work as a licensed therapist (LMFT), certified hypnotherapist (CHT), human reader, and certified animal communication, specialist. I also spend hours in uproarious laughter with friends - human and animal. It has been delightful and fun to appear in hundreds of venues as Universal Love and Animal Communication Satsang Leader, and a multiple species and dimensions communication teacher. I was the founder of The Miracle Ground later known as The Love Climate from 2005-2011. I now work solo with a very small and trusted team of behind the scene helpers. To see me for a human or animal session, contact me at lauriemoore.sessions.seminars@Gmail.com. Books: Animal Communication Course: Heart-to-Heart Telepathy with Animals The Cat's Reincarnation: Transformative Encounters with Animals Success Love NOW: A Formula for Living in Love and Success Now Healing & Awakening the Heart: Animal Wisdom for Humans Creative Intimacy: A Practical Guide to Better Relationships 111 Messages to Humanity: From Jessie Justin Joy, a Cat Intelligent Love: Choosing a Lifemate Wisely Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/24/2013 at the Science and Nonduality Conference, San Jose, California. 1st Batgap Interview Laurie Moore in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Evolving Perspectives on Consciousness 00:02:22 - The Unmanifest and Manifest Qualities 00:04:13 - The Pragmatic Application of Spirituality 00:06:06 - The Goal of Deepening and Bringing It Out into the World 00:07:55 - Finding Solutions by Returning to a Deeper State 00:09:38 - Balancing Spirituality and Practicality 00:11:30 - States of Consciousness and Levels of Being 00:13:20 - Non-duality and the Foundation of Oneness 00:15:22 - Using Prayer to Stay in a Deepening Place of Peace 00:17:14 - Praying from the Deeper Levels of the Mind 00:19:05 - Surrendering to the Unknown 00:21:00 - The Multiverse Theory and the Existence of Intelligence 00:22:56 - The Impact of Recognizing the Universe's Intelligence 00:24:49 - The Gift of Life and Intelligence 00:26:45 - Social changes and the power of energy 00:28:34 - The Power of Joining Together for Change 00:30:18 - The Power of Meditation and Collective Energy 00:31:59 - The Tipping Point for Global Change 00:33:51 - Achieving World Peace 00:35:36 - The Reflection of Obama and Collective Consciousness 00:37:22 - The Connection Between Thoughts, Feelings, and Physical Sensations 00:39:08 - Shifting Consciousness for Physical and Emotional Health 00:40:53 - The Instrument of Biofeedback 00:43:01 - The Pre-Trans Fallacy and Trans-Rational Development 00:44:57 - The Evolving Consciousness of Animals 00:46:54 - The Intelligence of Animals 00:48:28 - The Mysterious Nature of Choice 00:50:04 - Instrument refinement and consciousness 00:51:51 - Perspectives on Vegetarianism and the Circle of Life 00:53:56 - Conclusion and Resources 00:55:58 - Fixing the Discussion Registration Issue