Buddha at the Gas Pump

Deepak Chopra, MD, serves as the Founder and Chairman of the Board for The Chopra Foundation. As a global leader and pioneer in the field of mind-body medicine, Deepak Chopra transforms the way the world views physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness. Known as a prolific author of more than seventy-five books with twenty-one New York Times best sellers in both fiction and non-fiction, his works have been published in more than thirty-five languages. Chopra’s medical training is in internal medicine and endocrinology and he is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. He serves as the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, Founder of The Chopra Well on YouTube, Adjunct Professor at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, Columbia University,  Senior Scientist with The Gallup Organization and board of directors, HESA. Time magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century and credits him as “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine". A few of Deepak's many books: Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide, Revised and Updated Edition https://www.deepakchopra.com Interview recorded 10/25/2013 at the Science and Non-Duality Conference in San Jose, California. Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - An Interview with Dr. Deepak Chopra 00:01:49 - The Importance of Self-Awareness 00:03:16 - The Rarity of Self-Knowledge 00:05:11 - The Evolution of Human Society 00:07:09 - The Cycle of Yugas and the Epidemic of Awakening 00:08:30 - The Lord's intervention in times of negativity 00:10:01 - Transcending Duality and Improving Collective Being 00:11:45 - Perception of the world as heaven or hell 00:13:18 - Balancing Public Image and Medical Practice 00:15:02 - Being Used in God's Service 00:17:00 - Slipping into witnessing awareness 00:18:43 - The Experience of Existence 00:20:13 - The Nature of Perceptual Reality 00:22:00 - Perception as species-specific and culture-specific 00:24:02 - Perceptual reality and the unknown 00:25:36 - The Consistency of Perceived Reality 00:27:32 - The Cosmic Dreamer 00:29:11 - Conflicts between Dreams 00:30:48 - Moving towards a more wholesome and loving environment 00:33:05 - The Nature of Qualia 00:34:43 - Living in a state of consciousness 00:37:30 - The Inexplicability of Experience 00:38:41 - Remembering Candice Pert 00:40:23 - Naming Perceptions and Creating Reality 00:41:57 - The Consciousness of Mathematics 00:43:09 - The Fall from the Garden of Naming 00:45:01 - The problem with naming and conceptualizing 00:46:13 - The Illusion of Perception 00:47:38 - Embracing the Paradox and Ambiguity 00:48:35 - BATGAP.com

At the 2013 Science and Non-Duality Conference in San Jose, I moderated a panel with Igor Kufayev, Jac O'Keeffe, and Francis Bennett as participants. We decided to videotape a discussion the night before in which we could develop and refine what we would discuss in the conference presentation. We had begun doing that in a hotel meeting room, when we were informed that due to contractual agreements between conference organizers and the hotel, the room had to be vacated and locked. So we took our discussion outside where it became a much more informal dialog. It was taped on an iPhone, with background music for the first several minutes, jets flying overhead, etc. So the audio quality isn't ideal, but many in the audience which gathered felt it was a very useful discussion which deserved a wider audience. So I'm posting it here, in audio only. Here's the published abstract of the panel discussion. This "pre-panel" discussion covers a lot more ground: Is Awakening, as it’s commonly understood, merely the realization of the Absolute, non-dual reality, or is it a stage or stepping stone to a much more mature development – a larger wholeness, inclusive of both absolute and relative? Francis Bennett, Jac O'Keeffe, and Igor Kufayev will posit that the latter is the case, and discuss the necessity of integrating absolute and relative after awakening, including practical methodologies to facilitate it. They will discuss how a more holistic path before awakening as found in Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian traditions, leads to smoother integration after awakening. These traditions include moral, meditative/contemplative, and wisdom strands designed to develop a "human vehicle" capable of skillfully and effortlessly containing the non-dual wisdom in a relative, human existence. The neglect of this insight has caused many to become stranded on the "island" of unhealthy "spiritual dissociative disorder". This integration does not pertain merely to being able to function in practical life. It is a critical foundation for a vast range of potential development that may unfold after the sort of awakening many mistake as final or ultimate. Perception, appreciation, emotions, and intellect can be refined far beyond what is generally regarded as “normal” or even optimal. Recorded 10/26/2013 Other BatGap interviews with these participants: Francis Francis Bennett Francis Bennett & Adyashanti on "Resurrecting Jesus" Francis Bennett, in Panel Discussion on Refined Perception Francis Bennett, with John Mark Stroud Francis Bennett in Batgap 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” Igor Igor Kufayev with David Loy Igor Kufayev, in Panel Discussion with John Hagelin and Mark McCooey Igor Kufayev, in Panel Discussion on Kashmir Shaivism A Touch of Grace – (Short Film) Wikipedia Page Jac Jac O’Keeffe Panel discussions on ethics and spiritual teaching SAND Panel Discussion on Sexual Misconduct, Money, Power, Trauma & Ethics in Spiritual Communities Audio below and as a Podcast. No video recording. Save

Jerry Freeman has been practicing Transcendental Meditation, the advanced techniques of TM, and the TM Sidhis program beginning shortly before turning nineteen, over 40 years ago. He was trained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as a teacher of Transcendental Meditation the following year, lived for some years in the semi-monastic program Maharishi founded, and has continued to study Maharishi’s teachings to this day. He writes about Maharishi’s insights into the development of higher major states of consciousness, as they relate to today’s discussions of Advaita, Vedanta, awakening, Self-realization and enlightenment. He is presently working on a book on this subject, tentatively titled: The Enlightenment Puzzle: what everyone should know about awakening. In the book’s introduction, he states, “What I have to say here is not my own invention. … What I will say here is not an official presentation of Maharishi’s teaching, as it includes numerous observations and conclusions that are my own. However, the great insights about awakening, human consciousness, enlightenment, etc. are not mine. They are Maharishi’s Jerry supports a family of adopted children, working as a musical instrument maker. His penny whistles are recommended by many Irish music instructors for their students, as they are affordable and very high quality, and they are played in performance and recordings by many of the most renowned performers of Irish music. Jerry's Facebook page www.tm.org www.davidlynchfoundation.org what Jerry’s whistles sound like Jerry's essay, "Why There are no Perfect Teachers" Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/19/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Childhood days 00:02:59 - Searching for Deeper Meaning 00:06:36 - Influenced by Ramana Maharshi 00:10:28 - Laziness and Resistance to Meditation 00:14:00 - Starting Transcendental Meditation and Meeting Maharishi 00:18:17 - Taming the Monkey Mind 00:22:09 - The Quicksand of the Mind 00:25:43 - The Benefits of TM and Open-mindedness to other Teachings 00:29:15 - Building the Maharishi Patanjali Golden Dome of Pure Knowledge 00:33:04 - The Unified Field and Universal Consciousness 00:36:46 - The Significance of Maharishi's Teachings 00:40:15 - Finding Identity Beyond Purusha 00:43:54 - The Complexity of States of Consciousness 00:47:53 - Gradual Unfolding of States of Consciousness 00:51:42 - Unfoldment of Human Consciousness 00:55:32 - The Three Common States of Consciousness 00:58:58 - Awakening the Inner Silence 01:04:00 - The First Permanent Awakening 01:08:30 - Witnessing Sleep and Awakening 01:12:31 - Awakening and the Progression to Subtle Perception 01:16:45 - The Development of Devotion and Unity Consciousness 01:21:25 - Unity Consciousness in Brahman Consciousness 01:25:52 - The Nature of Brahman Consciousness 01:30:16 - The Faint Remains of Ignorance 01:34:10 - The Faint Remains of Ignorance 01:37:59 - The Mind and Ego 01:41:35 - The Power of Atma-vichara to Destroy the Mind 01:45:17 - Awakening to the Subtle Ego 01:47:56 - Description of God Consciousness 01:50:36 - Wrapping it up and links to further information 01:53:20 - End Credits

David Godman has lived in India since 1976, mostly in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. He spent his time there studying and practicing the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi. His anthology of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings, Be As You Are, is probably the most widely read book on Sri Ramana’s teachings. During his fourteen-year stay at Ramanasramam (1978-92), he managed the ashram’s library, cataloged its archives, and recorded the stories and experiences of devotees who had had direct contact with Sri Ramana. David is the authorized biographer of two devotees of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Lakshmana Swamy and Papaji) who realized the Self in Sri Ramana’s presence and who later went on to become gurus themselves. He has written and published several other books that contain first-person accounts of devotees who moved closely with Sri Ramana Maharshi and who were transformed by his power and presence. In collaboration with two Tamil scholars, T. V. Venkatasubramanian and Robert Butler, he translated and edited several Tamil texts including two authoritative collections of Ramana Maharshi’s teachings that were originally recorded in Tamil verse. The three of them joined forces to bring out David’s most recent book, Sorupa Saram, a translation of a poem in which a 15th-century Tamil saint and Guru, Sorupananda, speaks authoritatively of his experience of the Self. In the 1970s David frequented Nisargadatta Maharaj’s satsangs in Mumbai. In the 1980s he was a regular visitor to the ashram of Lakshmana Swamy and Saradamma in Andhra Pradesh. When they moved to Tiruvannamalai in the early 1990s, he helped them to establish and landscape their new property at the foot of Arunachala, the holy mountain where Sri Ramana Maharshi spent all his adult life. For four years in the 1990s, he lived with Papaji in Lucknow and ended up writing or editing five books about him. In recent years he has written several long articles on Tamil saints, particularly those whose lives and works were often cited by Sri Ramana Maharshi. He is also engaged in a book-length project to bring out the biography and poetry of Guhai Namasivaya, a 16th century Tamil saint who lived on Arunachala and wrote extensively about its power and greatness. David Godman is married to Miri Albahari, a philosophy lecturer who teaches in Perth, Australia. He is based in India, but nowadays spends part of the year with Miri in Australia. Books: Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Compass) No mind, I am the self: The lives and teachings of Sri Lakshmana Swamy and Mathru Sri Sarada Living By the Words of Bhagavan Papaji: Interviews Nothing Ever Happened (three volumes): a 1,200-page biography of H. W. L. Poonja, also known as ‘Papaji’. Annamalai Swami Final Talks- teaching dialogues between Annamalai Swami and visitors to his ashram, recorded in the last six months of his life. The Power of the Presence -Transforming Encounters with Sri Ramana (Vol1) (three volumes): chapter-long accounts by devotees of Sri Ramana Maharshi that record their experiences of living with and being transformed him. The Power of the Presence (Part Two) The Power of the Presence (Part Three) Padamalai: Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi: Recorded by Muruganar Ramana Puranam- an edited and annotated 540-line poem that was jointly composed by Ramana Maharshi and Muruganar. The Fire of Freedom, Satsang with Papaji (The Fire of Freedom, Volume 1)- dialogues between Papaji and visitors that took place in his Lucknow home in 1991. Guru Vachaka Kovai (The Garland of Guru's Sayings)- a translation of 1,254 verses, recorded in Tamil by Muruganar, that record Ramana Maharshi’s teachings. Website:  www.davidgodman.org Blog:   http://sri-ramana-maharshi.blogspot.com YouTube channel Transcript of this interview. Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group Second BatGap interview with David. Interview recorded October 12, 2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of Buddha at the Gas Station 00:04:19 - The importance of personal experience 00:08:04 - The ardent desire to pursue Lord Krishna 00:11:30 - Exploring the potential of Ramana’s existence 00:15:38 - The importance of not giving up on work and family 00:19:44 - A long road. 00:23:57 - "Real meditation" 00:27:53 - Don't expect one person to do someone else's job, it won't happen. 00:31:16 - The self that fulfills its mission 00:35:27 - The nature of happiness and self-exploration 00:39:55 - Obsessed with seeing visions of God 00:43:56 - His Topic: Qualifications to Become a Guru 00:47:53 - Definition of Guru 00:51:55 - The natural state of Ramana 00:58:08 - The Role of a True Guru 00:59:58 - The issue of high standards of enlightened beings and direct lineage 01:04:02 - Rick and David's discussion 01:08:28 - Behavior rooted in the Self 01:12:45 - Addiction beyond the body 01:16:55 - Differentiating Habits: Bandha and Bhoga 01:21:01 - Story: Judgment and characterization of truly enlightened people 01:25:32 - Your uncle and enlightenment 01:30:10 - Fear strikes. 01:34:41 - The attraction of Arunachal Hills 01:38:39 - How to personify absolute truth 01:42:34 - Explanation of heart and "heart" 01:46:45 - To function in this world 01:50:57 - A character in a dream world 01:55:29 - The relationship between physics and consciousness 01:59:45 - Creation, that's what Ramana means. 02:03:14 - Pop-ups and donation windows

Swami Khecaranatha has been teaching Kundalini Sadhana since 1972. With a mastery etched from five decades of inner practice and selfless service, he is an authentic adept of Tantric Shaivism and an initiated carrier in the Shakti Transmission Lineage of Bhagavan Nityananda and Swami Rudrananda (Rudi). Khecaranatha is the spiritual leader of Heart of Consciousness, which is based at Nityakash, his retreat center on Maui, Hawaii. Swami Khecaranatha was not born to privilege or in a spiritual environment, but to an American family in circumstances comparable to those of most of his readers. While living in an ashram for thirty years he also held several “real-world” jobs, including that of CEO of a multimillion-dollar publishing/consulting business. This personal experience has strengthened Swami Khecaranatha's conviction that it is possible to live fully in the world while developing and maintaining one's conscious connection with the Divinity within. From this platform, he is able to discuss spiritual growth in language that is relevant to students' daily lives, giving them specific tools to actualize the radical transformation of consciousness that is available to anyone willing to work in-depth, over time. Books: Merging With The Divine: One Day at a Time Depth Over Time: Kundalini MahaYoga: A Path of Transformation and Liberation The Heart of Recognition: The Wisdom and Practices of the Pratyabhijna Hrdayam Shiva's Trident: The Consciousness of Freedom and the Means to Liberation Website: heartofc.org Transcript of this interview Interview recorded October 5, 2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Swami Khecaranatha (Nathaji) 00:03:29 - From Disbelief to Spiritual Awakening 00:07:12 - The Grace of Meeting Rudi 00:11:39 - Rudi's Break from Muktananda 00:15:14 - The Kundalini Awakening and Meditation Techniques 00:19:18 - Kundalini Yoga: Becoming aware of energy frequencies 00:22:44 - The Transmission of Shaktipat 00:26:26 - The Initiation from Rudi 00:30:28 - Kundalini Awakening and the Potential Dangers 00:34:17 - The Intensity of Kundalini Awakening 00:38:02 - Burning with Emotions 00:41:35 - The Divine Force that Created Us 00:45:25 - The Zoomed-In Microscope and God's Plan 00:48:53 - The Four Upayas 00:52:29 - Rudi's Accelerated Growth 00:55:45 - The Intensity After Rudi's Passing 00:59:02 - Siddhis and Enlightenment 01:02:34 - Finding Joy in Life 01:06:01 - The Seduction of Enlightenment 01:09:44 - The Challenge of Describing Enlightenment 01:13:46 - The Origins and Development of Shaivism 01:17:15 - Awakening the Psychic Body and Ascending Consciousness 01:21:15 - The Ultimate Reality within Ourselves 01:24:01 - Tantra as a Practice in Kashmir Shaivism 01:27:59 - The Journey to Becoming a Swami 01:31:42 - Rudi's Teaching and Tantric Shaivism 01:35:21 - Swami's Personal Life and the Levels of Sannyas 01:39:09 - Surrendering to God and the creation of Rudramandir 01:42:43 - Thriving Amidst Challenges and Authenticity 01:45:57 - Concluding Remarks and Next Episode Preview 01:48:19 - End credits

Peter Francis Dziuban (pronounced Joobin) is a writer and speaker on awareness and spirituality. His first book, Consciousness Is All: Now Life Is Completely New, has helped thousands enjoy greater happiness, freedom, and clarity in Life. Peter has just completed his second book, Simply Notice: Clear Awareness Is the Key To Happiness, Love and Freedom. Simply Notice is intended to be a series of books, designed to make the deeper points of Awareness clear and accessible to the general public. Peter's work benefits so many because it is not tied to any one teaching or religion. He has studied this field for over 40 years, since attending the University of Notre Dame; he also worked many years in corporate America. Now residing in Arizona, Peter enjoys the outdoors. Peter is available for workshops, webinars, and consultations. Please visit: consciousnessisall.com. Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 9/28/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:20 - The Peace and Ease of Infinite Reality 00:10:27 - The Formlessness of Reality 00:14:47 - The Appearance of Separation but the Oneness of Consciousness 00:19:03 - Incorporating the Paradox of Consciousness 00:22:43 - Life is not on Earth 00:26:19 - Shifting Perspectives on Life and Consciousness 00:29:56 - The Vastness of Consciousness and Perception 00:33:03 - The Illusion of Separate Consciousness 00:37:16 - The Oneness and Manyness of Existence 00:40:57 - The Dream Universe 00:44:10 - The Illusion of Control in Daily Life 00:47:56 - The Manifestation of Reality is Mental 00:51:34 - The Illusion of Time and Separateness 00:54:40 - The Paradoxes of Dreams and Reality 00:58:02 - The Illusion of Substantiality 01:01:23 - The Illusion of Time and the Present Moment 01:04:59 - The Newness and Freshness of Life 01:08:20 - The Nature of Time and Space 01:11:23 - The Illusion of Continuity 01:15:20 - The Simultaneity of Everything 01:18:50 - The Manifestation of Consciousness 01:22:13 - The Dissipation of the Dream 01:26:00 - Maintaining Unbounded Awareness 01:29:22 - The Unlimitedness of Consciousness 01:32:47 - The Horror Movie Switches to Cheerios 01:36:01 - Working with Teachers and Practices 01:39:06 - Gentle Effort and Seeing the Whole 01:42:23 - The All-Embracing Awareness 01:45:51 - The All-Pervading God 01:49:04 - Additional Resources and Upcoming Interviews

The defining moment of my life came when I was a 21-year-old college student. I had the undeniable experience that I am one with God, one with all that is. This experience has never left me. The rest of my life has been dedicated to going deeper into that experience and all its ramifications. As I looked deeply and honestly within my self, Divine qualities were revealed. First, Divine Light appeared, then the nurturing quality of Divine Love manifested. Other Divine qualities emerged. I discovered that these Divine qualities could be called upon to improve my daily life and the lives of my family and friends. As I worked with the Divine qualities, I began to receive guidance and knowledge from a Divine Presence. At first, it came from Jesus. Later, Mother God made her self known to me and offered a great wealth of Divine wisdom. In time I began working with people outside my own family. The situations and challenges they presented brought forth from me a depth of divine wisdom to guide and transform their lives. It is this Divine Knowledge that I want to bring to as many people as possible. I have developed a personal relationship with Divine Mother. I converse with Her all of the time. It is the most powerful, passionate and loving experience I have ever known. I want to help others develop this Divine Relationship. I have created simple tools and techniques to help you enter into your own very personal relationship with Divine Mother. I now live in Fairfield, Iowa with my husband. We have 2 children. I’m also an Ordained Minister. The verbal vibrational healing tools that I developed to get to know Divine Mother are called Transformational Prayer®. Since 1999 I have been teaching energy healing classes and giving private consultations in partnership with Divine Mother, bringing her transforming wisdom and guidance to thousands of people. divinemotheronline.net Transcript of this interview. Interview conducted 9/14/2013. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Connie Huebner: A Spiritual Journey Begins 00:04:02 - The Experience of Oneness 00:07:52 - Seeking Others with the Oneness Experience 00:12:31 - Meeting of Consciousness 00:17:19 - Experiencing the Oneness with Maharishi 00:21:56 - Yearning for a Personal Relationship with God 00:26:09 - The Search for God Within 00:29:58 - Searching for the Kingdom of Heaven 00:33:46 - Discovering the Power of Inner Light and Vibrational Tools 00:38:41 - Discovering the Divine Light 00:43:03 - Conversations with Jesus 00:48:04 - Resolving Disagreements and Finding Personal Peace 00:52:25 - Telling Light what to do 00:55:45 - Accessing Higher Consciousness and Vibrational Tools 01:00:01 - Softening and Moving Towards Unboundedness 01:04:07 - Paying Attention to the Subtle Levels 01:08:59 - Moving into the Heart 01:12:59 - Breathing into the Heart 01:15:49 - Awakening the True Self in the Heart 01:20:45 - Connecting with Divine Beings 01:24:30 - The Presence of Divine Mother 01:29:18 - Divine Mother's Message: Profound Love for Humanity 01:33:56 - Connecting with Divine Mother 01:38:38 - Connecting with Divine Mother 01:43:39 - The Connection with the Divine 01:47:37 - Staying Grounded and Practical 01:52:15 - Working for the Shift 01:56:40 - Healing Mother Earth  02:02:58 - The Power of Love in Evolution 02:08:20 - How to Connect with Divine Mother 02:11:48 - Podcast and Discussion Group

Catherine Ingram is an international dharma teacher with communities in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Since 1992 she has led Dharma Dialogues, which are public events that focus on directing awareness toward greater wellbeing in an ethical and happy life. Catherine also leads numerous silent retreats each year in conjunction with Dharma Dialogues. She is president of Living Dharma, an educational non-profit organization founded in 1995. A former journalist specializing in issues of consciousness and activism, Catherine Ingram is the author of two books of nonfiction, which are published in numerous languages: In the Footsteps of Gandhi: Conversations with Spiritual Social Activists (Parallax Press, 1990) and Passionate Presence: Seven Qualities of Awakened Awareness (Penguin Putnam, 2003); and one novel, A Crack in Everything (Diamond Books, 2006). Over a fifteen-year period beginning in 1982, Catherine published approximately 100 articles on issues of consciousness and activism and served on the editorial staffs of New Age Journal, East West Journal, and Yoga Journal. For four years she wrote the Life Advice column for Alternatives Magazine based in Oregon. For the past thirty five years, Catherine has helped organize and direct institutions dedicated to meditation and self-inquiry and, more recently, human and animal rights. She is a co-founder of Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts (1976). She also co-founded the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) in The Hague, Netherlands (1991) and is a member of the Committee of 100 for Tibet. For six years (1988-1994), Catherine also served as a board director for The Burma Project, dedicated to raising international awareness about the struggle for democracy in Burma. She is currently serving on the board of Global Animal Foundation, which works on behalf of the world’s animals. catherineingram.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview Recorded 9/7/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Catherine Ingram's Journey 00:04:07 - Finding Meaning in Life 00:08:16 - Mind Exploration and Drug Use 00:11:13 - The Embodiment and the Physical System 00:14:33 - Knowing When to Move On 00:17:23 - Qualities that Emerge in the Simplicity of Being 00:20:05 - Holy Yearning and the Relaxation of Seeking 00:23:06 - The Inner Awakening in His Presence 00:25:55 - The Role of the Spiritual Community in the Coming Years 00:29:27 - Inner Qualities: Contentment and Empathy 00:32:30 - The Suffering of Animals and Spiritual Hypocrisy 00:35:23 - Finding Solutions to Global Problems 00:38:18 - The Complexity of Moral Certainty 00:40:39 - The Commitment to Goodness and Letting Go 00:43:35 - Letting Go and the Power of a Broken Heart 00:46:16 - The Fluidity of Emotions 00:48:48 - The Journey Back to the Marketplace 00:51:09 - The Falling Away of Beliefs 00:53:17 - Dwelling in Eternity and Transitoriness 00:56:07 - Recognizing the Shift to Being That Silence and Eternity 00:58:34 - The Importance of Participating and Caring 01:00:28 - The Depth of Inner Reality 01:02:46 - Being Like an Ocean 01:05:08 - The Emergence of Qualities in People 01:08:22 - Being Like an Awake Animal 01:12:07 - The Deluge of Information in Modern Life 01:15:41 - The Power of Simplifying and Finding Elegant Solutions 01:19:10 - The Tipping Point and Survival 01:21:43 - The Importance of Taking Action and Staying Steady 01:24:50 - Embracing Change and Potential Disruptions 01:29:23 - End of Interview and Invitation to Subscribe

Kosi is a spiritual teacher and author who offers a simple invitation to stop and discover the freedom that you are. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech and had a successful career in computer software sales, but was surprised that her financial success offered no lasting happiness or fulfillment and her spiritual search began in 1996. In June of 2001, after spending time with several of the world's most renowned spiritual teachers and traditions, she reached a point of profound disillusionment and prayed for an enlightened master. Fourteen days later in she was introduced to Gangaji and the life-changing teaching of Ramana Maharshi. Kosi immediately recognized Gangaji as the master she prayed for and with Gangaji's sublime guidance and support, she realized the freedom of being—indescribable happiness and fulfillment. Since her very first meeting with Gangaji, Kosi felt that she was her true and final teacher, but this unexpectedly changed with the mysterious appearance of her Holiness Sri Amma Karunamayi who is recognized throughout India and the world as a living saint—an Avatar—one who is born enlightened as the embodiment of the Divine Mother. Kosi views the purity of Ramana Maharshi's silence and self-inquiry combined with Amma's indescribable omniscience, as well as the continuous and long-term support that she received from Gangaji, as the teaching and transmission that offers true Liberation. She is the author of Absence of Doubt: When the Search for Enlightenment Stops (Includes and Interview with Gangaji), The Secret Teaching of Jesus Christ, and Arunachala Siva – Heart of Ramana. Website: kosi.org Transcript of this interview 2nd BatGap interview with Kosi Interview recorded 8/31/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Name Kosi and its Spiritual Significance 00:04:48 - Mysterious Name and Mystical Experiences 00:09:03 - Crucified with Christ 00:12:31 - The Profound Love Experience 00:16:34 - Mysterious Voice and Profound Love 00:20:55 - Profound Mystical Experiences and Meeting Gurus 00:26:03 - Introduction to Advaita with Guru Maya 00:30:41 - The Razor's Edge: Walking the Path of Self-Realization 00:34:57 - Meeting Guru Mai and the Search for Enlightenment 00:38:35 - A Profound Relationship with Gangaji 00:42:22 - The Holy Moment of Release 00:46:16 - Jerusalem Calling 00:50:10 - Searching for the Cross in the Church 00:53:36 - The Vision of the Risen Christ and Profound Experiences 00:57:59 - The Great Mystery 01:02:34 - Doubt the Doubter 01:06:28 - Following the Longing 01:10:02 - True Awareness 01:14:11 - Clarity of Presence and Happiness 01:18:00 - The Divine Mother and Silent Teaching 01:21:50 - Learning to Ride a Bicycle 01:25:25 - Awakening and Compassion 01:30:13 - The Neo-Advaita Trap 01:34:42 - The Profound Revelations of Shiva 01:38:56 - Atma-vichara: An Inquiry into the Self 01:44:09 - The Shift in Planetary Alignment and its Impact on Consciousness 01:50:01 - Trauma and the Global Connection 01:54:21 - The purpose of discovering the Atman 01:57:40 - Papaji's Miraculous Journey to Save His Family 02:01:29 - The Importance of Choosing a Path 02:05:00 - Exciting Discoveries and Farewell

Thomas Hübl is a modern mystic, spiritual teacher, author, and systems-thinker. His work integrates the essence of the great wisdom traditions, scientific knowledge, and his own personal experience.  Thomas offers a unique approach to life as a 'mystic in the marketplace' and helps people to attain a deeper level of self-awareness and personal relationship and to transcend a 'culture of the personal' and a self-centered worldview. Through his work, people from all walks of life learn how to become a living expression of spirit and how to participate in 'we cultures' through an embodied inner and outer connection. His teachings combine transformation through the integration of trauma, somatic sensitization, advanced meditative practice, and a deepening understanding of cultural processes.  Since 2004, Thomas' leading-edge work has spread worldwide through workshops, multi-year training programs, and online courses. The non-profit 'Celebrate Life Festival' brings together more than 1,200 people every year and has showcased a wide network of experts in various disciplines, through dialogue and exchange. In 2008 Thomas founded the 'Academy of Inner Science'. This provided a framework for dialogue between the inner science of consciousness and the external scientific-academic exploration of life. Over the years Thomas has also organized several major healing events, aimed at healing the Holocaust's cultural shadows. Thousands of Germans and Israelis have been brought together through these processes.  In 2016 Thomas and his wife Yehudit founded the non-profit 'Pocket Project', with the aim of exploring collective trauma and shadow work and integrating this through large-scale group processes. A global organization has been launched, intended to research and explore specific aspects of local traumatization. This applies both to past traumas and also to current conflict zones. Thomas was born in Austria in 1971 and now lives in Tel Aviv, Israel, with his wife, the Israeli artist Yehudit Sasportas and their daughter Eliya. thomashuebl.com Interview recorded 8/18/2013 Transcript of this interview. Second interview with Thomas. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Thomas Hubl 00:03:46 - Following Inner Guidance 00:07:14 - The Fundamental Opening 00:10:56 - Changes in Life and Relationships 00:14:07 - Deep Meditation in Teaching and Individual Work 00:17:30 - Overview of Teaching and Spiritual Development 00:21:06 - Developing for the Greater Context 00:24:52 - Integration of Shadow Aspects in Practice 00:28:30 - Simultaneous Inner and Outer Directedness in Spiritual Practice 00:31:57 - The Dangers of Saying "The World Is an Illusion" 00:35:15 - The Paradox of Existence 00:38:28 - The Fullness of Creation and Stillness 00:41:43 - Aligning with Cosmic Flows 00:45:15 - Overcoming Conditioned Reality 00:48:59 - The Balance Between Monastic Life and Culture 00:52:31 - The Challenges of Conditioning and Freedom 00:56:12 - The Importance of Meditation in Awakening 00:59:49 - Awakening Intelligence in All Expressions 01:03:22 - Embracing Complexity and Human Excellence 01:06:45 - The Fusion of Scientific and Mystical Realizations 01:13:21 - Healing the Shadow of the Holocaust 01:16:52 - Healing the Collective Unconsciousness in Europe 01:20:23 - Creating a Massive Impact with a Group 01:23:46 - The Importance of Cracks in Society 01:27:19 - Reaching through the Ceiling of Consciousness 01:30:45 - Signs of Healthy Spiritual Development 01:34:16 - The Influence of Collective Consciousness on Leadership 01:37:39 - Beings of Pure Light 01:40:57 - Inner and Outer Competencies for Global Challenges 01:44:18 - Introduction to Thomas H-you-ble