Buddha at the Gas Pump

One fine morning when I was in my mid-twenties, I woke up and the life I had previously led was over. I was consumed by a longing to be truly intimate with God, the one truth. This great longing grew daily, and it first manifested as being aware of the unseen in nature. Nature invited me into itself, and I found myself taking very long solo trips deep into the wilderness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This naturally led to a resonance with Native traditions, and before long I met my first teacher, a highly-respected Lakota medicine man who was very committed to upholding the Old Way. With this association, the intimate awareness of spirit deepened. I met my master, Mata Amritanandamayi, in 1993. There was an immediate recognition that I needed to spend as much time as possible in her presence, so I spent most of the next nine years in her ashram in India. This was a period of intense de-conditioning where so much was exposed. Amma knew my longing for truth, and consequently pushed me quite hard, so that a natural, authentic surrender and love was all I knew. It is said in the scriptures that love leads to knowledge (Bhakti to Jnana), and knowledge leads to love. That they are two sides of the same coin-not separate. There arose in me a natural resonance with self-inquiry, and with Amma’s blessing I spent two years a Ramana Maharshi’s ashram in Tiruvannamalai. Then one day I knew I was done with India, and returned to the west. When I returned, I had nothing to hold on to. No family, home, money, job, car, or health. The body was quite weak and tired, and the old way of striving couldn’t survive. Surrender naturally deepened, and it was at this time that the personal self really lost its hold. In 2004, Pamela Wilson invited me to share my experience with others. After talking to Amma about it and receiving instruction from her, I felt an overflowing and a readiness to share. In recent years, Adyashanti has been and continues to be an invaluable guide and a support in this unfoldment and recognition of what’s true. He has my deepest gratitude. My heart bows down to all of my teachers and friends who make up the fullness of this life, and no words can describe how this heart bows to Amma. Joi's site Books: Embodying the Infinite and the Dissolution of the Separate self: Stories, Transmissions and Ancient Vedic Knowledge for the Complete Liberation of Source Consciousness Unpredictable Grace: My Adventure Recovering from Chronic Pain through Neuroscience and Quantum Mechanics Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/2/2011. Second BatGap interview with Joi YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Spiritual Awakening in Tahoe City 00:04:42 - A Total Inside Job 00:09:08 - The Power of Presence in Nature 00:13:47 - Spontaneous Prayer and Connection with Nature 00:18:37 - A Journey of Healing and Transformation 00:22:39 - Powerful Experiences and Native American Wisdom 00:26:32 - Surrender to the Divine Feminine 00:30:55 - Exploring Eastern Philosophy and Emotional Release Techniques 00:34:26 - Various Jobs and Meeting Amma 00:37:59 - A Moment with Shri Swami 00:42:16 - Claimed by Amma 00:46:04 - Receiving the Silent Transmission 00:50:37 - Seven Years of Restlessness 00:54:14 - Experiencing Total Oneness 00:58:04 - The Divine Intelligence within Amma 01:01:43 - A Spontaneous Invitation to Ramana Maharshi's Ashram 01:05:55 - Going deeper into the inquiry 01:09:24 - The Power of Being Seen 01:13:09 - The Other Side of the Coin 01:16:48 - A Silent Recognition of Presence 01:20:17 - The Depth of Presence and Clarity of Understanding 01:24:47 - Faint Remains of Ignorance and the Instrumentality of the Physical World 01:29:07 - Experiencing Grace and Presence Everywhere 01:33:18 - Letting Go of the Known 01:37:37 - Letting Go of the Need to Know 01:42:13 - Filling up the Space 01:46:16 - The Beauty of Living Fully 01:50:10 - The Danger of Identifying with Awakening 01:54:23 - The Different Approaches to Awakening 01:57:56 - Wrapping Up the Conversation 02:01:07 - Farewell and Next Time

IIn 1958, when I was sixteen and in tenth grade, I stole my parents' checkbook, booked a flight to New York with a bad check, and moved into the Plaza Hotel, where I assembled a wardrobe and other artifacts, went to a play on Broadway (J.B.), drank, ate high and finally bought a $2,500 Patek Phillipe watch in the hotel jewelry store — all paid for with bad checks from my parents checkbook (times were easier then for a child con man). In the end, they called my grandmother in New Jersey who wired enough money to bail me out and get me a train ticket to her. I lived with my grandmother for a while, got involved with a married woman, was found out by her ex-Marine husband, and escaped into the Army, where I soldiered poorly for three years or so in Germany. Upon my discharge from the Army, I returned to New Jersey and my grandmother and was hired on as an apprentice machinist at a shipyard in Camden, New Jersey, where my grandfather had worked. I learned a good trade to fall back on and embarked on a pretty good run of good jobs and bad and stupid adventures. Before long, a woman who worked for me left her husband and we took off for Southern California, where I settled into a career of poker, credit card scams, and fraudulent check operations. She didn't stay for long. When the police moved in to break up the ring of fences and check runners that I used to dispose of stolen merchandise and cash bad checks, I escaped by the skin of my teeth and ran away to Oregon with another woman who herself was on the run from her husband with her three kids in tow. I took a job there as a photocopy salesman and was soon arrested when the car I was driving was checked by the Oregon police and identified as having been bought in California with a bad check. After eighteen months in the hole, I was released from McNeil, and reunited with the woman with whom I had fled California, went to work for Boeing as a journeyman machinist in the R&D department, and joined the Revolutionary Communist Party. After several years, I left the RCP over an ideological dispute, and before long got involved with a ragtag bunch of anarcho-commies, led by my old comrade from McNeil, who called themselves with considerable grandiosity The George Jackson Brigade. I didn't stay caught for long. About six weeks later, I escaped with the help of friends who had evaded capture at the bank, and we left town for a while to lick our wounds and gather our strength. We returned about a year later to rob banks, sabotage capitalist institutions, and cause consternation among our enemies. We managed to do just that for another year or so, after which we were caught again, tried, convicted. I had been sentenced to a total of thirty years — an act of leniency that almost gave the prosecutor a stroke — and sent to the US Penitentiary at Lompoc, from which I escaped with the help of my new wife a couple of months later. I was put on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List, but this time I resolved to stay straight, as it were. We moved to Golden, Colorado, and I took a job as a precision machinist at Sundstrand, an aerospace company in Denver. All was going quite well until I undertook a campaign to unionize this rabidly anti-union company in the rabidly anti-union State of Colorado. I was fired but later was awarded a considerable settlement for violation of the labor laws that make it illegal to discharge an employee for union activities. I had made a record of very high productivity and accuracy in my work that made it impossible for Sundstrand successfully to claim that I had been fired for cause. During my years in prison, I studied philosophy, physics, metaphysics, etc. Early on, drawn by its unabashed celebration of a mystical reality, I even converted to Catholicism. Much later, in 1993, in a federal prison in Littleton, Colorado, I got involved with the Buddhists who were coming to prison from the Naropa Institute in Boulder. I was very quick to understand the teachings and successful in my practice. The Buddhists were very happy with me, and they soon brought in a Tibetan lama and I took refuge and bodhisattva vows. In 1994, fifteen years into my sentence, an American spiritual teacher named Gangaji came to the prison. In her presence, I discovered myself to be peace and freedom and love without condition. The next year was spent in an extreme state of bliss and in the clear seeing of the reality of the oneness of all being. The year of blissful experiences was followed by a year in hell, where I lost everything I had attained. I fell into abject despair. Finally, in desperation, I turned to Ramana Maharshi. I put all of my energy into the project of figuring out what he was asking us to do. I wanted to find an activity that would either put an end to my torment or show me that it was, as I suspected, all completely hopeless after all. In 1998, I was released from prison on parole and went to work for the Gangaji Foundation in Boulder, Colorado. Six months later the Foundation moved to Novato, California and took me with it. I worked for the foundation as a computer systems manager until July 1999. On a Friday afternoon in June 1999, Carla and I discovered without warning that we were meant to be together. We have been together ever since, meeting with people ever since and, since August of 2001, we have lived in Ojai, California with our magnificent Maine Coon cat, Switters. I was released from parole in 2007. John's site: justonelook.org Books: The Just One Look Method: Complete Instructions Meeting Ramana Maharshi: Conversations with John Sherman No More Fear, No More Anxiety Lookers Tell Their Stories Just One Look: Experience the Power of Human Consciousness to Free Itself of the Fear of Life The Fear of Life: And the Simple Act of Inward Looking That Snuffs It Out Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/19/2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Technical Tips for Watching the Video 00:05:52 - Motivation to Save Oneself and Escaping from Prison 00:11:51 - 17 Years in Prison 00:17:38 - Introduction to Gangaji 00:22:49 - A Shift in Perspective and Falling in Love with Gangaji 00:29:42 - The Quandary of Hopelessness and Yearning 00:35:29 - Lingering Involvement with the Idea of Death 00:41:27 - "Who am I?" and the Job at the Prison 00:47:10 - Feeling Inadequate in Satsang 00:52:21 - Finding a Way to Speak Clearly 00:58:01 - The Cause of Human Misery and the Way Forward 01:03:50 - The Authenticity of Ancient Wisdom Teachings 01:07:50 - Getting rid of resistance and reactive thoughts 01:12:15 - The Birth of Self-Consciousness 01:16:38 - The Problem of Separation from Life 01:20:45 - The Failure of Approaches to Human Insanity 01:25:36 - The Problem of Separation from Life 01:29:58 - The Reality of Our Nature 01:33:17 - Understanding the Concept of "Personness" 01:37:38 - The Certainty of Your Existence 01:41:29 - The Fear of Life and the Sense of Separation 01:45:05 - The Contrast of Sitting in Front of the Computer 01:48:17 - The End of Separation 01:52:29 - The Nature of Enlightenment 01:57:10 - The Faint Remains of Ignorance 02:00:10 - The Fulfillment of Backyard Gardening 02:03:53 - The Gradations of Self-Awareness 02:08:25 - The Gap and Restructuring of Experience and Expression 02:13:28 - The Core of Religious and Spiritual Teachings 02:18:30 - Final Thoughts and Contact Information 02:22:32 - A Conversation with John Sherman

Family, friends, clients, colleagues and the world, do not have to wonder if Martha loves them….the answer is lived out in Martha’s actions and words. It’s not just the welcoming hug that envelopes your heart. Or the endearing way that she recognizes your beauty from the inside out. Martha’s love is also demonstrated in the straightforward honest way that she will call out self-defeating and false patterns for those who are interested in discovering their higher, and usually much kinder, next best version of themselves. Martha has the courage and skill of the lion tamer, who steps into the ring with confidence and grace. The ring that she often serves within is called facilitator, teacher, mentor, and friend. Martha joins with whomever she is working with individually or collectively as a group, to meet the unquestioned and stressful thoughts running the show. These false thoughts are typically expressed in stressful, negative, unproductive and sometimes very destructive ways within individuals, relationships, families, organizations. Martha is a seeker of truth and a master of questions. Individual accomplishments include accredited degrees in Accounting/Human Resources and Organizational Management. She has a list of credentials from a myriad of sources that include: Mystery Schools, Hoffman Institute, Byron Katie International School Certification, Healthy Systems Certification, Mediation Skills, Conflict Resolution and a graduate degree from Emerson Theological Seminary. She has served in Religious Science and Unity Churches. She has trained in Transcendental Meditation, Reiki and beyond. As a speaker, minister, leader, coach, consultant, facilitator, Martha is often described by others as able to deliver a great deal of information in a profoundly simple and attainable way. She is dynamic, funny, personal, practical and generous in what she offers. Martha does not spend time with formalities such as being introduced by her extensive professional, education and certification credentials. She is more interested in being present to those she is with and serving. She exemplifies Mother Teresa's, "Do little things with great love". Martha’s mission and vision are as concise and clear as she is -- "Go within or go without". That’s where you’ll find Martha’s passion and heart. And if you pause and take a look, you’ll most likely see her lovebeam of a flashlight in one hand and the hand of another brave soul, willing to take the journey into their heart and minds, seeking to know the truth of who and whose they are. Pure and simple, Martha is an experience of love. Website: marthacreek.net Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/12/2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Martha Creek and her background 00:04:24 - The Conviction of God's Presence within 00:08:19 - Fearlessness in childhood and past lives 00:11:43 - Being an Old Soul with Strong Convictions 00:15:20 - Clear Thinking in a Crisis 00:17:59 - Sleeping and Addiction 00:20:59 - Following my Life's Calling 00:24:20 - Discovering The Work 00:26:58 - The Perception of Horrible Things 00:29:38 - The Power of Perspective 00:32:21 - The Illusion of Good and Bad 00:35:02 - The Concept of Preferences and Accepting What Is 00:38:25 - Humility and Not Insisting on a Specific Outcome 00:41:28 - Being Blurred Over 00:44:16 - Choosing Kindness and Honesty in Divorce 00:47:38 - The Mind's Resistance to Yes or No 00:50:55 - Questioning Unkindness 00:54:06 - Finding Kindness in Our Lives, Understanding Wholeness 00:57:10 - The Role of the Victim in Abuse 01:00:20 - Letting Go of Past Trauma 01:03:28 - The Innocence of Mistakes and Moving On 01:06:24 - The Limits of Describing Enlightenment 01:09:51 - Experiencing Joy and Energy 01:13:07 - The Power of Shadow Work and Questioning Thoughts 01:16:07 - The Meaning of Concepts 01:19:06 - Living Fearlessly and Dealing with Emotional Energy 01:21:37 - The Effect of Thought on Facial Expressions and Identity 01:24:19 - The Power of Questioning the Mind 01:27:46 - Accessing Resources for The Work 01:30:54 - The Power of Storytelling 01:34:06 - Reconnecting with an Old Friend

In the eighties, Julie Chimes-Laws worked in the media-based London’s Fleet Street. Company director, businesswoman and part-time racing driver her world underwent a dramatic change when an out-of-the-blue attempt on her life left her for dead. Viciously stabbed repeatedly within millimeters of her life her subsequent survival was considered to be something of a miracle. She wrote a profound yet humorous autobiographical account of her experiences, both in and out of body, A Stranger in Paradise, which was first published by Bloomsbury, London. The book was distributed on three continents and translated into five further languages creating a wave of positive media attention around the world. The extraordinary story was also the subject of a critically acclaimed BBC documentary, which she scripted and co-directed. Leaving the world of convention behind Julie has spent the last seventeen years living abroad. She has traveled extensively during this time whilst encountering the weird and wonderful. Stepdaughter of the great comedian Max Wall, daughter of one of the world’s most beautiful women, and sister to a wonderful soul with autism, her unconventional upbringing gave her a love of finding mirth in the midst of the mundane, and a passion for storytelling. A gifted speaker, she has addressed and entertained diverse audiences around the world sharing the experiences of her many adventures and fresh insights on life and death. After facing her own mortality she vowed to ‘try on’ as many lives as possible. Olive farmer, cleaner, facilitator of international retreats and workshops on meditation, garden designer, chief cook, host and bottle washer for an restaurant located in her own Andalusian patio, property and pet sitter, painter, decorator, and life counselor to name a few, whilst receiving an unorthodox training as a singer in the basement of a brothel and performing as a soloist in some equally unlikely venues. Having gathered a wealth of original material over the last seventeen years, Julie is now dedicated to full-time writing. Passionate about projects that have the power to uplift, amuse and inspire humanity, she is currently working on a book about forgiveness, with a feature film script, children’s stories, a drama and a comedy series for television and a second book about her adventures planned for the future. She shares her time between Spain and France, where she lives with her editor husband Richard in hidden places away from the marauding British investors. Website: juliechimes.com Facebook Page Transcript of this interview Interview recorded June 5, /2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Julie Chimes 00:03:21 - A Time of Reflection and Reminiscing 00:06:38 - A Bizarre Phone Call and an Unexpected Visitor 00:10:20 - Meeting the Woman on the Self-Awareness Course 00:14:20 - A Turbulent Meeting Turns Deadly 00:17:43 - A Shocking Encounter 00:21:18 - The Dimension of Love and Compassion 00:24:30 - A Glimpse of Sadness and Compassion 00:27:55 - The Mysterious Library and the Message from Spirit 00:31:33 - Relentless Attack and Escape 00:35:00 - The Brutal Attack in the Driveway 00:39:01 - A Violent Attack and a Sequence of Miraculous Events 00:42:25 - The Race to the Hospital 00:45:48 - The Awakening and the Promise 00:49:44 - The Unveiling of Other Realities 00:52:57 - Conversations with Veritas 00:56:21 - Discovering the True Self 01:00:23 - Life on a Hillside in Spain 01:03:15 - The Bartholomew Teachings 01:05:55 - The Quest for a Spiritual Master 01:08:53 - Healing and Reconnection 01:12:18 - Rediscovering the Inner Life 01:15:43 - Finding Balance and Writing A Stranger in Paradise 01:18:56 - A Spiritual Experience through Violence Recovery 01:21:49 - Finding Spiritual Nourishment in Siddha Yoga 01:25:32 - Finding the Right Spiritual Path 01:29:18 - Exploring Different Spiritual Paths 01:33:34 - Writing for a Wise and Catholic Man 01:38:23 - Trusting the Moment 01:42:24 - Embracing Change and Reinvention 01:46:59 - Introduction and Book Recommendation

My birth took place January 7, 1949, on a small rural farm in East Tennessee, but somehow, I did not forget my spiritual nature in the process of arriving here as a human. As a child, I remembered myself being free from the limitations of form and language, and I made two vows: first, never to forget who I am and the freedom I had prior to birth, and second, to find my way home no matter what it took. In my youth, I experienced a nagging urge to know the Truth of my existence. By the age of 19, this urge developed into a fierce determination to find that Truth at the risk of everything – career, relationships, physical and even mental health. My quest took me into many investigations including teaching the TM program of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for 12 years. Every investigation left me dissatisfied until the late 1980s when Sathya Sai Baba began to appear in my dreams and meditations. I finally journeyed to Baba’s ashram in July 1990. The moment I saw him step off the veranda, I recalled my childhood vow to find my way home. In that very moment, I knew He was living my home. In the fall of 1992, Shirdi Sai Baba appeared to me and took me into a state of union with His Presence. Over the following months, my personal identity completely dissolved. What remained was infinite formless Being, immense love, and the Truth I had sought. Over the next 12 years, I expanded in my understanding of Truth, and the knowledge that I am the originator of all existence took root in my innermost sense of subjectivity. Eventually, I found myself in a painful relationship with a woman and began investigating the human element I had been working diligently to overcome in the name of spirituality. I had difficulty justifying my intense feelings of distress with my very high sense of spiritual freedom as transcendent Consciousness. My investigation led me to an initial encounter with the embodied conscious awakening teachings of Saniel Bonder and Waking Down in Mutuality in 2002. I quickly concluded I needed help in balancing and integrating my Divine realization with my very human shadow and brokenness. When I experienced my embodied awakening, I witnessed Consciousness fall from my crown area into the Heart center on the right side of my chest. As the embodiment process has deepened, I have asked this question: ‘What does Life want of me?’ From that query, the role of teaching Waking Down in Mutuality has arisen. I am clearly teaching what I need to learn and have much love to share for those who dare the journey into the great Mystery of embodied awakening. Websites: nothingother.com trilliumawakening.org Facebook Page Books: Nothing Other Raindrops Falling on the Ocean Email: allan@nothingother.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/15/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Alan Morelock 00:06:59 - Losing the Memory of My Nature 00:12:18 - The Beginnings of Spiritual Seeking 00:17:27 - The Beginning of TM Practice 00:22:20 - The Transcendent Quality & Personal Life 00:26:37 - The Emergence of a New Mantra 00:32:45 - Intense Ecstasy and Overwhelming Presence 00:36:44 - The Awakening and Connection with a Small Child 00:41:59 - Shining through the Infinite Being 00:47:02 - Bodhisattva by Yogananda 00:51:39 - Personal Problems and the Transition to Embodiment 00:56:34 - The Soul as the Generator of Form 01:00:15 - The Empowerment of Embodiment 01:03:51 - The Value of Individuality 01:08:08 - Embodiment and Exploration of Devi's Creation 01:13:31 - The Intuition of Something Great About Ourselves 01:18:51 - Post-Awakening Quest for Service 01:23:35 - Embodying our Transcendent Nature 01:27:50 - The Aliveness of Questions 01:33:24 - The Soul and the Godhead 01:39:27 - The Power behind Consciousness 01:43:29 - The White Lie and Going to Hell 01:47:22 - The Supervisor of Spiritual Teachers 01:51:36 - The Dynamics of Waking Up 01:55:40 - The Learning Process of Teaching 01:59:14 - The Purpose of Waking Down in Mutuality 02:02:56 - Serving Others in Finding their Next Step 02:06:52 - The Origin of Western Civilization 02:10:32 - The Journey into the Human Experience 02:14:03 - The Nature of Awakening 02:17:32 - Listening to Podcasts While Cutting Grass

A clinical psychologist in private practice in Binghamton, NY, Michael studied and practiced Zen Buddhism for many years beginning in 1978. An initial experience of non-dual awareness emerged in 1982. Like virtually all first glimpses, this experiential awareness was fleeting. Still, the appetite for an enduring awakening had taken hold, as well as an absolute faith in the spiritual truths reported by Shakyamuni Buddha and the Zen teachers of ancient China and Japan. Years of frequent silent meditation retreats allowed this awareness to deepen and expand, yet there was still searching for true liberation. The continuous experiential Knowing that this is it emerged many years later after an apparent surrendering of the desire to become anything at all. With this much deeper and more pervasive understanding, there arose simultaneously a reconnection with his childhood roots in the Christian tradition. Michael now shares this knowledge of Self with a growing number of students. The teaching is consistent with the truths taught by awakened teachers of all religious traditions. He teaches awakening and the integration of non-dual awareness into daily life. Over 30 years of full-time psychological practice has provided a unique perspective on the roots of suffering and the end of it. He draws on the writing and teaching of contemporary and historical awakened teachers, joining the common threads in Christian, Buddhist, Advaita, and Non-Dual traditions to share a message of the possibility and promise of personal transformation and liberation from egoic illusion. Email:       WayBeyondPsychotherapy@gmail.com Blog:          AwakenToTruth.BlogSpot.com Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/22/2011 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Michael Hall 00:05:08 - Joining a Zen Meditation Group 00:07:29 - Discovering Anger and Blood Pressure 00:10:19 - Awakening and Zen Training 00:12:46 - A Journey of Awakening and Disillusionment 00:15:24 - The Ceasing of Identity 00:18:29 - Effort and the Final Threshold 00:21:21 - Surrendering the Ego 00:24:16 - The practice of seeing and releasing automatic beliefs 00:26:49 - The Illusion of Selfishness and the Power of Conditioning 00:29:34 - Letting Go of Feelings 00:32:10 - Finding Your Own Path 00:34:28 - Finding What Works for You 00:36:17 - Shift in Identity: Michael Hall to Universality 00:38:22 - The Dark Night and Inner Transformation 00:41:25 - The Dark Night of the Soul and Radical Reorientation 00:44:13 - Letting Go of the Past and Embracing the Present 00:46:49 - The Difference Between Channeling and Being Adyashanti 00:50:33 - A Zen Book Awakening 00:55:00 - The Progressive Deepening of Realization 01:00:16 - Stages of Enlightenment 01:03:58 - Embracing Challenges and Growth 01:07:41 - The Indescribable Nature of God 01:11:19 - Increased Effectiveness in Therapy 01:13:28 - Transformation through Empty Glass 01:15:16 - The Value of Ordinary People in Spiritual Awakening 01:18:18 - Living a Skillful and Less Stressful Life 01:21:45 - Paradigm Shifts and Awakening Consciousness 01:24:25 - Faith in Your Ability to Realize Truth 01:27:06 - Conclusion and Next Interview Announcement Save

Due to technical problems, this video only contains still shots of Richard, while Rick’s video is normal. Richard Sylvester is a humanistic psychologist, therapist and lecturer. For thirty years he engaged with a variety of spiritual practices while also training in psychotherapeutic techniques and teaching counselling. In 2002 Richard met Tony Parsons and as he writes in his first book "That was the end of what I thought had been my life." Richard writes “The most common misconception about liberation is that it is something an individual can gain. But actually it is a loss - the loss of the sense that there ever was a separate person who could choose to do something to bring about liberation. In liberation it is seen that thoughts, feelings and perceptions simply arise in Oneness - there is no one to whom they belong. “The sense of separation makes us take the everyday for granted and clamour for something more exciting to happen. But when separation is seen through, the ordinary becomes transformed into this wonderful play of consciousness, and it is seen that this is already it and this is already sufficient. “This is a recurring message. It overthrows all authority. It can’t be killed off. It requires nothing. It requires no churches, no philosophical tracts, no scriptures, no history. If everything that had ever been said or written about non-duality were to disappear in a moment, it would simply re-emerge. It would re-emerge because nothing has to be learnt, nothing has to be studied, nothing has to be done, no spiritual purification and no pleasing of God has to take place, for the seeing of liberation to occur. It arises spontaneously. One moment there’s somebody there, the next moment there isn’t. One moment there’s somebody crossing a field, the next moment there’s just crossing a field.” Richard has written three books about non-duality, 'I Hope You Die Soon', 'The Book Of No One' and 'Drink Tea, Eat Cake'.  He gives talks on non-duality in England and abroad. If you would like to know more, please visit www.richardsylvester.com or www.richardsylvester.co.uk. Interview recorded 5/8/2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Richard Sylvester 00:02:42 - Seeing through the Illusion of Individuality 00:05:16 - The Challenge of Non-Dual Language 00:07:16 - The Ineffability of Non-Duality 00:09:09 - The Joy of Communication 00:11:39 - The Significance of Spiritual Practice and Awakening 00:14:03 - Challenging the Mind and Natural Justice 00:16:38 - The Incidence of Spiritual Realization 00:19:38 - The Loss of Knowledge and the Collapse of the Sense of Self 00:22:37 - Seeing through the Past and Future 00:24:52 - The Illusion of Time 00:27:50 - Transparency and Spiritual Practices 00:30:38 - The Extraordinary in the Ordinary 00:33:40 - The Difficulty of Seeing Through Conditioning 00:36:49 - The Absurdity of Spiritual Practices 00:39:37 - The Power of Stories 00:43:00 - Non-duality and the Madness of the Mind 00:46:08 - Different Perspectives and Levels of Consciousness 00:51:59 - Awakening Without Personhood 00:55:27 - The Sense of Separation 00:59:36 - Rejecting Talk of Paths and Enlightenment 01:05:23 - The intention to be helpful 01:09:34 - Living life as it is now lived 01:12:36 - The Loss of Meaning and Purpose in Life 01:15:17 - The End of a Life 01:17:35 - The Effect of Clarity on Others 01:19:24 - The Power of Resonance and Silent Communication 01:21:33 - Conducting Meetings and Writing Books 01:23:31 - Emphasizing the Miracle 01:25:54 - Open to Possibilities 01:28:00 - Interviews and Discussions

Saniel Bonder is the author of Healing the Spirit/Matter Split and the founder of the Waking Down in Mutuality work. He has been a pioneer in the widespread embodiment and mutual, evolutionary exploration of awakened consciousness for over a decade. Linda Groves-Bonder is Saniel’s full partner in their transmission and teachings and a Senior Teacher of Waking Down in Mutuality. Together they are now co-authoring a forthcoming book, The Human Sun, and founding Human Sun University. Saniel and Linda's sites: sanielandlinda.com TheHumanSunSeries.com heartgazing.com Summary and transcript of this interview Recorded 4/23/2011. Part 1 of this interview, recorded a week earlier. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Discussion on the Continuation of Ego After Enlightenment 00:04:17 - The Awakening Process and the Extinction of Ego 00:08:20 - Transmission and Integration after Realization 00:12:03 - The Spirit-Matter Split 00:15:54 - Evolution of Ancient Traditions 00:19:21 - Holding Open the Possibility 00:22:55 - The Definition of Ego 00:27:02 - Ramana Maharshi and the Dissolution of the Ego 00:30:01 - Honoring the Soul of Loving Kindness and Forgiveness 00:32:07 - Mithya: The Concept of Dependent Reality 00:34:51 - The Mystery of Life's Paradoxes 00:37:56 - The Juiciness of Being Human 00:40:50 - Flexibility and Malleability 00:43:51 - Cultivating Awareness and Accessing the Transcendent Ground 00:46:45 - Fulfillment of the Drive 00:49:59 - The Intensification of Subjective Awareness 00:52:42 - A White Hot Moment 00:55:03 - White-Hot Fusion and Simultaneous Hugeness and Tininess 00:57:59 - Stages of Awakening 01:01:15 - The Second Birth Interview Process 01:05:18 - Ground Awareness: Continuous and Impersonal 01:09:09 - The Transition to Second Birth 01:11:58 - The Importance of Confirmation and Support during Spiritual Transformation 01:15:34 - The Maturing Process of Enlightenment 01:19:54 - The Core Wound and Consciousness 01:24:31 - The Vision for a University 01:28:38 - The Purpose of the University and Empowering Individuals 01:32:06 - How to Get in Touch for a Chat 01:35:09 - Embracing Different Spiritual Paths 01:38:29 - Gratitude and Empowerment 01:41:28 - Support the Project

Saniel Bonder is the author of Healing the Spirit/Matter Split and the founder of the Waking Down in Mutuality work. He has been a pioneer in the widespread embodiment and mutual, evolutionary exploration of awakened consciousness for over a decade. Linda Groves-Bonder is Saniel’s full partner in their transmission and teachings and a Senior Teacher of Waking Down in Mutuality. Together they are now co-authoring a forthcoming book, The Human Sun, and founding Human Sun University. Saniel and Linda's sites: sanielandlinda.com TheHumanSunSeries.com heartgazing.com Summary and transcript of this interview Recorded 4/17/2011. Part 2 of this interview, recorded a week later. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction of Saniel and Linda Groves Bonder 00:03:17 - A Quest for Spiritual Connection 00:07:17 - A Shift in Perspective 00:10:37 - The Door to a Whole Other World 00:14:08 - Discovering the Teachings of a Spiritual Teacher 00:18:20 - Awakening and the Awakening Process 00:22:26 - The Flamethrowers and the Opening They Created 00:26:48 - The Balance Between Self-Realization and Encountering Others 00:31:05 - The Awakening Process 00:35:15 - Integration and Awakening 00:38:35 - The Importance of Independent Thinking and Freedom from Dogma 00:42:29 - Questioning Catholic Beliefs 00:46:12 - Questioning the Catholic Faith 00:49:39 - A Journey of Exploration and Seeking 00:53:49 - Connectedness with Nature and Creatures 00:57:39 - Discovering Samuel Bonder 01:01:43 - Finding My Ground and Strength in Being 01:06:28 - Linda's Awakening Experience 01:10:16 - Awakening and the Pain of the World 01:13:41 - The Subtle Washing Machine Effect 01:17:34 - Awakening and Individual Capabilities 01:21:34 - The Post-awakening Process and the Challenges 01:25:36 - A New Developmental Model 01:30:15 - The Shift towards Differentiated Self-Awareness and Dissociation 01:34:48 - The Simultaneity of Consciousness and Matter Realizing Itself 01:38:35 - The Neo-Advaita Perspective 01:42:48 - The Emergence of a New Understanding 01:46:45 - The Agreement on Waking Down into Life 01:50:20 - The Importance of Guidance and Transmission in Awakening 01:54:56 - Awakened Leadership and Human Sun University 01:59:11 - Buddha at the Gas Pump

Chris Hebard is the founder and creator of StillnessSpeaks.com, a premier resource on the internet aggregating the text, audio, and film of authentic contemporary and traditional teachers of Non-Duality and Self Inquiry from within all spiritual disciplines. The website reflects his enthusiasm and love for its material. The approach of StillnessSpeaks is integral; it does not promote any particular path or methodology. Chris attempts to honor the many paths available to all Truth Lovers; in doing so, he hopes to demonstrate that there is only one destination. Chris writes, speaks and films on Self Inquiry, Advaita, and non-duality extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He can be reached at oncechris@stillnessspeaks.com. As you will hear in this interview, Chris’s own journey involved becoming a hard-driving, successful businessman, who dismissed spirituality as impractical nonsense, only to suffer a series of devastating losses which brought him literally to his knees, dismantled his ego, and ignited a burning desire for Self-Realization. Interview recorded 4/3/2011. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Chris Hebard 00:04:16 - Childhood Memories and Prep School Life 00:06:35 - The Beginning of My Rebellious Years 00:09:09 - Entrepreneurship and Spiritual Disconnect 00:11:36 - The Shift in Perception from LSD Experiences 00:14:13 - The Shift into Business and Ego-Inflation 00:17:08 - Embracing Change and Transformation 00:20:04 - Overcoming Adversity and Finding Inner Peace 00:24:21 - Feeling Lost and Searching for Identity 00:27:51 - The Power of Now and a Turning Point 00:30:15 - The Shift in Understanding 00:32:37 - The Beautiful Journey of Personal Growth 00:34:55 - Discovering Advaita Resources 00:37:55 - The Journey of Awakening 00:40:18 - Stumbling upon Francis Lucille 00:42:35 - Meeting Francis and Profound Experiences 00:44:59 - "Darshan" and the Power of Proximity 00:47:18 - The Shift in Perception and Direction of Life 00:50:12 - Enthusiasm and Criticism 00:53:15 - Magnificent People on the Unfolding Journey 00:56:19 - The Contagion of Awakeness 00:59:18 - The Substance of Awareness 01:02:06 - A Lukewarm Heart 01:05:02 - The Importance of Having Teachers 01:07:35 - The Nature of Reality and Self-Realization 01:09:47 - Fine-tuning the Physiology and Letting Go 01:11:46 - The Question of Free Will 01:13:28 - Following Your Heart's Desires 01:15:49 - The usefulness of teaching different perspectives 01:18:17 - Connecting and Collaborating 01:20:10 - Sign up for email notifications