Buddha at the Gas Pump

I simply awoke. I suffered for more than 20 years with depression, fear, guilt, anger, judgment, confusion, a lack of connection and dis-ease. I lost friends and three lovers over 9 years to AIDS and then was diagnosed with cancer and AIDS in 2003 and thought that I was going to die. But upon introspection I realized that I was more than my thoughts because I was being aware of my thoughts. I realized also that I was more than birth and death. With this realization, all fears of being were absolved and a peace enveloped me that revealed that all is in divine order. I went through “the dark night of the soul”. And as layer upon layer of who I thought I was dissolved, I slowly became more and more self-aware. At one moment I remembered that I am more than any created form and so ultimately they have no true effect on me. Now I am here grateful to utilize the gifts of this body to express the one love from which all flowers. Life is not about something else or something other, it is what is happening now. And when our mind calms we then have eyes to "see". I am listening, singing, writing, sharing, and just playing and enjoying the blessings of each moment. Richard's Book, "From Suffering to Soaring" First live-action video for the song Be Here Now, by Richard Schooping Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/22/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - From Suffering to Soaring Through God I Transcended AIDS 00:03:35 - The Burden of the World 00:07:21 - Losing everything and finding music 00:10:23 - From Research to Spiritual Awakening 00:13:30 - Vipassana and Self-Simplification 00:16:12 - The Mummy in the Infirmary 00:18:42 - The Ocean Becomes Conscious of Me 00:21:16 - Embracing Different Spiritual Practices 00:23:46 - Diversity and Intricacy of Life 00:26:11 - Becoming Light and Presence 00:28:09 - Letting go of Attachments 00:30:20 - Transition from Duality to Unity 00:32:06 - The Path of Awareness 00:34:04 - The Shift to a Spiritual Personality 00:36:33 - Finding Joy in Creative Expression 00:38:39 - Love and Relationships 00:40:10 - Resting in the Wholeness of Life 00:42:42 - Experiencing Emotions and Healing 00:44:48 - The Illusion of Creating Heaven 00:46:39 - Letting the Ocean Be 00:48:05 - The Nature of Simplicity and Awareness Awareness 00:50:19 - The Evolution of Communication 00:52:47 - The Simplicity of Life and Resonance 00:55:07 - The Act of Imagining Creates Reality 00:57:56 - Contentment and Awareness 01:00:17 - Allowing the Unfolding of Awareness 01:02:49 - Clarity and Realization of Truth 01:05:06 - Waves and Clinging 01:07:42 - The Dissolution and Unraveling of Beliefs 01:09:57 - Living a Simple Life 01:12:11 - Richard Schuping Interview Save

I was born on June 14,1946 in Elizabeth, NJ and now live in Northwest Jersey. As a child I was aware of a vast stillness each night when I would close my eyes and lay down for sleep. The world seemed to dissolve in a blissful silence each night until waking in the morning. This experience was forgotten until found again while learning Transcendental Meditation. That profound first encounter with meditation set my feet on a path which culminated years later in the realization that our true nature is vast empty stillness that at the same time is full with life. In a very practical sense, this shift in perception has greatly changed reactions to daily life. Every aspect of life is underscored by a spontaneous peaceful acceptance that is beyond intellectual understanding. The world is experienced as arising and dissolving in unconditional knowing. There is no sense of a separate individual struggling or accomplishing anything. Life goes on without anxiety, worry and obsessively mulling over a past that is gone and future that hasn't happened. Seeing life this way allows a freedom to totally embrace experiences as they unfold. Even as the mind continues to judge situations as good or bad there is a deeper knowing that it’s all ok. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/15/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction with Joel Rumbolo 00:03:19 - Childhood Blissful Experience 00:06:49 - From Marijuana to Yoga 00:09:34 - First Initiation Ceremony 00:11:59 - Car Accident in Edison 00:14:40 - Witnessing and the Shift in Perception 00:17:36 - Witnessing and the Ego 00:20:36 - Meeting Nila and Discovering Deep Silence 00:22:55 - Letting Go and Realizing Stillness 00:26:18 - Experiencing the Shift into Silence 00:29:48 - The Peace of Non-Identification 00:32:45 - The Wonder of Life and the Experience of Sleep 00:35:53 - Experiencing Sleep and Awareness 00:38:43 - The Experience of a Unified State 00:41:41 - The Perception of Vastness in Unity 00:44:02 - The Power of Visualization 00:47:26 - Having an Open Mind 00:52:07 - Being Contained and Defined 00:55:53 - The Perception of Silence and Subtle Realities 01:01:53 - The Flow of Life and Coincidental Experiences 01:07:16 - The Illusion of the Individual I 01:12:26 - The Possibility of Taking Questions from the Audience 01:15:59 - The Insanity of the Human Race 01:19:44 - The Wastefulness of Wars and the Path to World Peace 01:23:02 - Awakening to Different Paths 01:25:46 - The Power of Guided Meditation 01:27:58 - Retirement and Hobbies 01:30:19 - Neo-Advaita and the Misconception of Stillness 01:33:40 - The Misleading Nature of Enlightenment Experiences 01:38:21 - The End of Your World and Adyashanti 01:41:23 - Background Music

Takuin Minamoto was born on May 24th, 1973. Despite not having an interest in spiritual seeking, on December 1st, 2006, Takuin exploded into a being devoid of search and searcher. This destructive event ended everything other than what was naturally present. It was an 'accident' beyond the touch of structured teachings. “People have asked about this event and seem to assume that it was a peaceful transition, as if I had cultivated something through time and blissfully 'became the real me,' whatever that means. Still, others think it led to gaining what was desired. But none of that is true. The realization was an explosion that destroyed everything that came before. Nothing was gained, and everything was lost. There were only sensations, and the perception of things happening.” After a short period of re-adjustment, Takuin began writing and exploring words that arose from day to day events and meetings with other people. This led to the eventual creation of Takuin.com - Life Beyond the Image. Today, Takuin spends most of his time meeting with others, either in-person or online. Summary and Transcript of this interview YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Awakening at the Sound of a Car Horn 00:04:00 - The Experience of the Car Incident 00:07:20 - Loss of Personal Identity 00:10:19 - The Self as a Tightly Compressed Ball 00:13:48 - The Shift to Vastness 00:17:46 - Writing for Clarity and Self-Expression 00:22:35 - Interest in Exploring the Mind 00:27:32 - The Influence of Bruce Lee and Krishnamurti 00:31:58 - The Unique Expression of Spiritual Awakening 00:36:24 - The Unique Offering of Each Individual 00:40:05 - Social Consequences of Speaking Out 00:43:54 - Awareness of Our Own Functioning 00:48:01 - Levels of Consciousness and Spiritual Progress 00:53:03 - The Paradox of Life 00:57:37 - The Different Stages of Awakening 01:01:44 - Embracing Individuality and Personal Growth 01:05:12 - Transitioning from a Spiritual Teacher 01:08:16 - The Joy of Personal Interaction and Spiritual Gatherings 01:11:04 - Seeking the Truth 01:14:34 - The Nature of Seeking 01:18:04 - The Richness of Human Relationships 01:21:31 - The Unusual Experience of Hearing All Sounds 01:25:01 - A Stage of Transition 01:29:05 - The Unnoticed Changes in a Relationship 01:32:34 - Openness and Inclusivity in Spirituality 01:35:35 - Casual Conversations and Connection 01:39:38 - The Fascination of Various Ways of Expressing Awakening 01:43:41 - The Journey of Enlightenment and Continuous Growth 01:48:00 - The Development of Richness in Awakening 01:51:44 - The Flowering of Life and Evolutionary Unfoldment 01:56:22 - Richard Schooping: Recovering from AIDS through Spiritual Awakening Save

Guru Swami-G was born March 24, 1950, and started the search to find God and Truth at a young age. Her journey began in earnest when at the age of 18 while within an esoteric order Kundalini was awakened during the evening prayers blessings. The ongoing journey took numerous twists and turns through everything from new age philosophies - scientology - deep bible study - through a very eclectic scenic unfolding. Life brought visiting Navaho medicine men for ceremonial undertakings to being one of the first initiates receiving the Kalachakra Buddhist empowerments in the west. The name given within the Buddhist traditions is Karma Sonam Wangmo which means one that dedicates all their actions to the good of humanity. There has been an immersion into not only Buddhist but also Hindu traditions such as Bhakti (ISKON) - Tantra - Naga Shaivite and finally the Reality of Advaita. It was a 30 plus year journey from Kundalini Awakening until all imploded under the Guidance and direction of her Sat Guru in India.  Guru-G was given the admonition and challenge to go forward as a Guru to aide humanity.  As a Kundalini Shaktipat Guru it is imperative to understand the workings of the mind, how to bring balance to kundalini and how to move one forward from fear and phenomena to Realization and liberation. There is much more to being a Shaktipat Guru than simply  awakening Kundalini and the way is working one to one so the seekers  may go fully forward to Liberation versus teaching how to manifest and  be even more caught up in the transient. Guru-G stresses a path that is within the fullness of life i.e.:since you have to  breathe, do it in a way to bring balance.  The path is about walking the way of Simplicity - Honesty - Integrity and Transparency.  Surrendering into the  transmission during Darshan. Guru-G has two books currently out Kundalini from Hell to Heaven and also Truth Unbound authors name is listed as Ganga Karmokar. Swami G's website Interview recorded 8/25/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Swami G's Sanskrit Name 00:04:17 - Starting the Spiritual Journey in a Challenging Environment 00:08:24 - Beginnings of the Spiritual Journey 00:12:58 - The Beginning of the Awakening 00:17:04 - Phenomena and Difficulties 00:21:45 - The Uddhava Gita and Krishna's Final Admonitions 00:25:05 - From Jail to the Search for Tantra 00:28:51 - The Spiritual Journey Begins 00:32:12 - The Dark Night of the Soul 00:35:50 - Praying for Death and Intense Suffering 00:39:11 - Insights and Self-Reflection 00:42:57 - The Tantric Connection 00:47:01 - A Turning Point with a Tantric Master 00:50:26 - Progress and Unfoldings 00:53:56 - The Shaivite tradition and the dhuni 00:57:35 - The Devastating Effects of Trauma and PTSD 01:01:11 - Surrendering to the Terror 01:04:24 - The Implosion of the Illusion of Self 01:07:55 - Past Life Trauma and Its Effects 01:10:53 - Insight and Compassion 01:14:49 - The Challenge of Communicating Beyond Speech 01:18:46 - The Limitations of Words and Concepts 01:22:12 - Reading Diaries and Falling Away 01:26:09 - The Naga Baba's Influence 01:29:39 - A Baba's Warning 01:32:51 - Kundalini Experiences 01:36:12 - Living in an Ashram and Connecting with Students 01:39:38 - Layers and Levels of Realization 01:42:51 - The Nature of Emotions in Realization 01:46:12 - Concluding Thoughts 01:49:27 - Upcoming Interview with Musician who Overcame AIDS Save

Richard Quentin 'Rick' Laird was a jazz musician, born on 5 February 1941 and died on July 4, 2021. He was a bass player best known for his place in The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Laird was born in Dublin, Ireland. He played music from a young age and enrolled for guitar and piano lessons. He started playing jazz after moving to New Zealand at the age of 16 with his father. He played guitar in jam bands in New Zealand before buying an upright bass. After extensive touring in New Zealand he moved to Sydney, Australia where he played with many top jazz musicians including Don Burrows. He moved to England in 1962 and became house bassist at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, playing with many greats including the guitarist Wes Montgomery and Sonny Stitt. From 1963-4 Laird then at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was recorded on Sonny Rollins's soundtrack for the movie Alfie and played in The Brian Auger Trinity (July 1963-February 1964) and The Brian Auger Group (Feb-October 1964). His next step was to go to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied arranging, composition, and string bass. He then teamed up with John McLaughlin and The Mahavishnu Orchestra to play electric bass until 1974, when the band broke up. After that, he moved to New York and played with Stan Getz (a tour in 1977) and Chick Corea (a tour the following year). Laird put out one album as a leader, Soft Focus. Today, he is a successful photographer as well as a private bass tutor, and an author of a number of intermediate to advanced-level bass books. In 1962, just before leaving Sydney for London, a friend gave him a copy of J.Krishnamurti’s book “The First and Last Freedom”. This began a long journey as a seeker which included drugs, alcohol, meditation, Scientology, EST, AA, etc. In early 2008, after reading Gangaji’s book “The Diamond in Your Pocket” everything changed, what had always been there became obvious and spontaneously the seeking ended. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/18/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Musical Background 00:03:58 - Discovering Krishnamurti's Book 00:08:29 - Troublemaker in School, Early Experiences with LSD 00:12:22 - Different Perspectives and Seeking 00:16:43 - Joining the Monte Vigne Orchestra in New York 00:21:33 - Life on the Road with Mahavishnu Orchestra 00:25:23 - Samsara in Action 00:28:30 - Personal Demons and Inadequacy 00:31:06 - The Benefits of the e-meter 00:33:33 - The Early Days of Scientology 00:35:10 - Transitioning from Scientology to Photography 00:36:54 - Rediscovering my Passion for Photography 00:39:20 - Discovering a Niche Market 00:41:32 - From Drinking to Spiritual Seeking 00:43:21 - Finding Sobriety and Spiritual Growth 00:45:30 - Seeking Spiritual Teachings, from Osho to Buddhism 00:48:30 - A Profound Time in New York 00:51:55 - The Shock of Realization 00:54:39 - The Immersion in Reality 00:57:00 - The Power of Language and Stories 00:59:48 - Different Approaches to Non-duality 01:02:11 - Qualifying Claims of Awakening 01:05:00 - The Infinite Room for Improvement in Awakening 01:08:05 - Different Strokes for Different Folks 01:10:50 - Something Wonderful is Taking Place 01:13:37 - Evolving Perspective and Less Engagement with Thoughts 01:15:26 - The Journey to Inner Freedom 01:18:09 - The Value of Difficult Experiences 01:21:12 - Ram Dass and the Power of Now 01:24:04 - Humility and Relaxation in Awakening 01:26:59 - Conclusion and Farewell Save

Gary Crowley was born in 1965 and was raised in Massachusetts as a practical-minded New Englander. He graduated from Stanford University in 1987 with degrees in Economics and Political Science. At a young age, he was attracted to Eastern philosophy and spiritual writings that seemed to offer a glimpse of something greater than the life he had known growing up. However, by 2001, Gary finally gave up on all forms of spiritual seeking after decades on the path. He surrendered under the weight of the many well-intended spiritual teachings he'd accumulated over the years. All the study had not caused the shift in awareness that he'd so earnestly sought and had been so often promised. The problem, he then realized, was that he had been simply piling up concepts without addressing the very foundation - his sense of "self" - that was doing the seeking. He discovered that it is only by dismantling our assumptions about "who we are," rather than merely describing a state of being such as oneness or wholeness, that we can bring about a natural opening to a new way of experiencing life. Gary's site: http://garycrowley.com/ Gary's books: Pass the Jelly: Tales of Ordinary Enlightenment From Here to Here: Turning Toward Enlightenment Interview recorded 8/11/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Past the Jelly, Tales of Ordinary Enlightenment 00:03:00 - The Surprising Repetition of the Same Stuff 00:05:44 - Compassion for Ourselves and Others 00:08:32 - The Process of Change 00:11:18 - Insights from the Book 00:13:12 - Exploring Eastern Philosophy and Spiritual Writings 00:16:02 - A Shift in Perspective and Understanding 00:18:36 - The True Nature of Self 00:21:39 - The Experiencing of Living 00:24:51 - Observing the Soup of Life 00:28:06 - The Illusion of Perception 00:30:54 - Quantum Possibilities and Everyday Miracles 00:34:06 - Athletes in the Zone 00:36:59 - The everythingness of experiencing 00:40:00 - The Mystery of the Human Condition 00:42:49 - Perspectives on Politics 00:46:01 - The Illusion of Conscious Will 00:48:48 - Embracing the Actuality of the Human Condition 00:51:48 - Freedom from Illusion 00:55:03 - Helping People in Need 00:57:54 - The Tapping Technique for Change and Healing 01:00:23 - The Diagnosis of a Bone Spur 01:02:24 - Relieving Neck Pain with Body Work 01:05:21 - The Distraction of Physical Pain 01:07:47 - A Shift in Perspective 01:10:03 - The ebb and flow of experiencing everythingness 01:13:04 - The Impact of Stress on Brain Development 01:16:08 - Trading Spiritual Jokes 01:19:06 - The Mantra Meditation Challenge 01:20:26 - Discussing distribution of the interview 01:22:18 - The Error of Premature Claims to Enlightenment

Until I was nine, I lived in one of New York City's "melting pot" neighborhoods, where a wonderful mix of freely mingling cultures, languages and races welcomed me into life on Earth. God, or my conception of God, was always at the center of my life and I conversed freely with the being I had inwardly invented to right wrongs, heal whatever hurt and generally keep the world just and flowing. Facing East I attended college on the West Coast (Portland and San Francisco) in the late sixties, where I discovered many kindred souls seeking deeper meaning and expanded purpose in their lives. Some of these friends turned my attention to teachings from the East—first Zen, and then masters from India. After a focused exploration of some of the life-enhancing modalities available at the time—and there were lots—I learned the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique offered by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Berkeley in 1967. TM's gifts were unmistakable and I started a thirty-year career of devoted service to the Vedic tradition. For many of these years, I taught the TM technique. This work was indescribably rewarding—an act of pure love that took me all around the U.S. and to many parts of Europe and Asia. I also spent a lot of time simply meditating, including seven years in a non-denominational, convent-style setting. This whole period precipitated vast spiritual and personal growth which remains fully integrated into my life, a gift that keeps on giving. Facing West After spending most of my adult life looking East, in about 1996, I began to discover the indigenous traditions of the West, or the Americas. I spent several challenging years working with Chanté Ishta, a Ho-Chunk teacher, who helped me clear many deeply-rooted spiritual and personal belief systems. During that period, I also opened to a profound and intimate relationship with the Earth: her wondrous creative nature, her healing and nourishing gifts and her deep wisdom. I felt like every cell in my body turned around 180 degrees as I learned to embrace life on Earth with a grounded kind of joy and openness that I had never before known. I have also been privileged to know a great Lakota wisdom keeper, Sun Dance leader, healer and teacher, Naça Wa'Anata. Through him, I received a personal pipe, a precious and powerful source of blessing, inspiration, and transformation. Both Wa'Anata's teaching and my personal experience with the pipe and other Lakota sacred ceremonies, especially the Sundance, have saturated every material and non-material aspect of my life with divine light. Eternal Silence I spent five years (2002-2007) living largely in silence in beautiful northern New Mexico, merging with the Earth and ultimately with the infinite Silence that is the reality of creation. Through this process and many others, I was blessed by the unconditional love, wisdom, mentoring, humor and eternal friendship of Bill Bauman, an indescribably special gift from the Infinite in my life and the life of many friends. It is beautiful beyond all words to live in eternal freedom. Website: First Light Transformations Transcript of this interview Second BatGap interview with Cynthia. Interview recorded 8/4/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:04:22 - A Journey of Wisdom and Transformation 00:07:31 - A Shift in Perspective 00:10:16 - Traveling with Maharishi to Austria and the British Isles 00:13:26 - The Inner Reality of Non-doing 00:16:49 - The Experience of Being Everywhere 00:20:31 - The Devata and the Senses 00:23:14 - The Self as a Universal Spirit 00:25:33 - The Experience of Witnessing 00:27:24 - Coming Back to the United States and Teaching 00:30:33 - Difficulties and Challenges 00:32:44 - Embracing Non-Linear Paths 00:35:53 - The Professor's Change of Mind 00:38:32 - Confronting Deep Emotions on Mother Divine 00:40:53 - The Fear Phase 00:43:41 - Rediscovering Myself 00:48:22 - Embracing Uncertainty 00:52:04 - Transition to a Personal Life 00:54:48 - Embracing Change and New Teachings 00:57:52 - Everything Just Is 01:00:41 - First Light Transformations 01:03:39 - Living the Infinitely Inspired Version of Yourself 01:07:19 - The Importance of Integration and the Native American Path 01:10:44 - Clearing Belief Systems and Receiving a Pipe 01:13:48 - Teacher in Des Moines 01:15:36 - Surrendering to God's Gifts 01:18:00 - The Nature of Preferences and Opinions 01:20:59 - Being Present in Life 01:24:32 - Living in the Infinite 01:27:31 - Finding Inspiration in Life's Moments 01:30:00 - How to Subscribe to the RSS Feed Save

The moment for me was instantaneous. The old me died literally, the new “me” emerged. More accurately stated, awakening took over the life of Doc Roberts as if this worldly life was stamped onto the infinite. Absolutely everything changed from that moment, yet all strangely remained just the same as it was. I’ve been a seeker since the age of 5. I knew a profound truth existed just beneath the surface of the everyday, though somehow ever illusive. Thanks to my capital “D”, Dark Night of the Soul, all my years of meditating, researching, attending retreats, listening to enlightened masters and endless self-improvement programs came to an abrupt halt. The bliss of Truth had dawned. I know from my first moment of conscious realization that life is an incredible gift to be relished and played in. I know there is absolutely nothing to fear, including death, for I did have a direct personal experience of this as well. We are bathed in Divine love and grace every moment. Absolutely everything that occurs in life is for the highest good – everything (whether we like it or not). Our job in this life is to simply enjoy what is and the continued unfolding of Divine awakening. My work in the world is internet-based, though I also conduct seminars and counseling. Skiboards.com, my retail winter sports business, is focused on a new form of snow riding – skiboards. I also offer vocational guidance, assisting individuals to get their passions online, and manage a number of other websites. I have a B.S. in Psychology, M.S. in Vocational Counseling, and a PhD. in Human Potential Psychology. My books include Instant Skiing, Instant Fun – Skiboards: the Best Kept Secret on the Slopes, and Discover Your Life’s Work. Upcoming books include Awaken to Your True Vocation and Discover Your Internet Niche – Get your Passion Online. Website: drrichardlroberts.com Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 7/28/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Doc Roberts and his Awakening Journey 00:04:12 - Starting the TM Journey 00:07:37 - Moving to California and meeting my wife 00:09:34 - Skiing and Business Disasters 00:11:20 - A Journey of Loss and Survival 00:14:05 - Dwelling in Eternity 00:16:51 - A Fresh Start 00:19:50 - The Second Dark Night of the Soul 00:22:49 - Letting Go of the Past 00:25:24 - Remembering the Cosmic Joke 00:28:18 - The Experience of Transformation 00:30:22 - The Blessing of Non-Attachment 00:33:46 - The Importance of Non-Attachment and Letting Go 00:36:38 - Letting Go of Ego 00:39:00 - Awakening and Global Consciousness 00:42:18 - Recognizing the Twist in Your Knowledge 00:45:17 - Witnessing Sleep and Grounded Awareness 00:47:26 - The ongoing sense of bliss 00:49:35 - The value of awake people in today's world 00:52:35 - Trusting the Flow of Life 00:55:23 - Recognizing the Right Time 00:57:32 - Relaxing into the Process 01:00:18 - Living in the Present Moment 01:03:05 - Exploring the Impulse to Teach and Share Spirituality 01:06:25 - The Confirmation of Awakening 01:10:47 - Embracing the Mystery of Life 01:14:26 - The Nature of Awakening 01:17:04 - The Illusion of Past Lives 01:20:42 - The Unique Drop in the Ocean 01:23:58 - Speculation on Reincarnation and Belief 01:26:51 - Conclusion and Farewell Save

Chuck Hillig is a modern spiritual teacher, author and licensed psychotherapist whose clarity of expression has earned him the admiration and praise of many notable writers and lecturers in this area. Chuck writes personally and directly about the essence of non-dual spirituality and presents its astonishing truths to the average reader in ways that are totally unique, completely accessible and absolutely life-changing. Using his studies in both eastern philosophy and western psychology, Chuck’s five unique books present a world view that shows his readers how to fully live a truly enlightened and authentic life in the 21st Century by waking up to who they really are. His books and interviews about non-dualism have been published in nine languages. Chuck appears in the new Leap 3.0 movie as well as in many recent videos on youtube. Chuck Hillig makes his home in Locust Grove, Virginia, and has one heck of a good time living life.   You can contact him at: chuck@chuckhillig.com. Website Chuck Hillig in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Chuck's books: Looking for God: Seeing the Whole in One The Way IT Is, 2nd Edition: Realizing the Truth About Everything Seeds for the Soul: Living as the Source of Who You Are Enlightenment for Beginners, Second Edition: Discovering the Dance of the Divine The Way It Is What Are You Doing in My Universe? The Magic King Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/21/10. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:10 - A Double Life in Catholicism 00:06:10 - Discovering Eastern Philosophy 00:08:58 - A Shift in Consciousness 00:12:09 - The Perfection of Everything 00:15:17 - Simplifying Enlightenment 00:18:16 - From Psychotherapy to Spiritual Awakening 00:21:42 - Integration and Conversation about Awakening Experiences 00:24:00 - Becoming a Parent and a Psychotherapist. 00:26:25 - Exploring Different Paths of Spiritual Awakening 00:28:31 - Embracing the Shifting Spectrum 00:30:55 - Subtle Seeds of Awakening 00:33:27 - The Path to Enlightenment and Supplementary Practices 00:36:01 - The Illusion of Spiritual Practices 00:38:09 - Addressing the Ultimate Primordial Question 00:40:03 - The Ungraspable Nature of Spiritual Awakening 00:42:29 - Transforming Lives through Conversation 00:44:48 - Connecting with Different Paths 00:47:20 - Krishnamurti's Intellectual Style 00:49:53 - Living Life with Humility and Joy 00:52:38 - Life is a Dream, Enjoy the Play 00:54:53 - The Illusion of Separation 01:00:00 - Embracing and Transcending Emotions 01:00:41 - Honoring the Great Drama of Life 01:03:13 - Neo-Advaita and Spiritual One-upmanship 01:05:53 - The Three Types of Aspirants 01:08:16 - Discussions about "Leap 3.0" and Chuck Hillig's DVD 01:10:06 - Daily State of the Industry Update and Personal Hobbies 01:12:03 - Unplanned Wisdom 01:13:43 - Concluding the Interview 01:15:16 - Final Farewells Save

This “insubstantial figure in the dream, pointing to the Divine Dreamer,” has lived and studied the nondual essence of our sacred tradi­tions for 40 years since an utterly life-changing, spontaneous awakening to God or Reality in his 16th year in the hills of Southern California. Fortunately, Timothy met many enlightened masters, esp­ec­i­ally in Advaita Vedanta (Sri Nisarga­datta Maharaj, Annamalai Swami, and others among Sri Ramana Maharshi’s immediate followers, Amma Amritanandamayi, Anandamayi Ma, Mother Krishnabai, Dadaji of Calcutta, et al.) and various lines of Buddhism (Taungpulu Sayadaw, Shifu Hsuan Hua, H.H. the Dalai Lama, Seung Sahn, et al.), as well as spiritual adepts in Taoism, Sufism, and mystic Christianity and Judaism. Timothy has freely shared the “pathless path” of deep spirituality for over 25 years in satsangs and in free ongoing education classes at Santa Barbara City College. Books: Women of Power & Grace: Nine Astonishing, Inspiring Luminaries of Our Time and the forthcoming India's Sages-- Volume 1, India's Sages: Nondual Wisdom from the Heart of Freedom, which profiles 40 authentic sages from the modern era; the even more massive Volume 2, India's Sages Source Book: Nondual Wisdom from Hindus, Buddhists, Jainas, Tantrics, Sants, Sikhs & Sufis, features over 120 wonderful sages and scriptures from India's "living past." A trilogy of works focusing on nondual spirituality, religion, science, and political justice is also in preparation. Print interview with Timothy can be found at: The Sun magazine, April 2003 cover story See also: Homepage for Timothy's massive website on many aspects of our Sacred Traditions The Nondual Spirituality section of the website For lightening up via humor, includes a link to an illustrated Zen humor page compiled by Timothy Free downloadable audio recordings of Timothy's weekly satsangs Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 7/14/10. Second BatGap interview with Timothy. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:17 - Tim's Personal Journey and Interest in the Personal 00:08:00 - Struggling with Depression and Identity Crisis 00:11:15 - The Profound Opening 00:15:09 - Divine Intervention and the Transformation 00:19:05 - The Franciscan Way and the Suchness of Being 00:23:33 - A Life-Changing Experience 00:27:05 - A Profound Change in Perception 00:30:55 - The Bedrock Sense of Joy and Maintaining Pure Awareness 00:34:37 - Astrological Background and Opening to Spiritual Vertigo 00:38:26 - The Presence of God and the Separation 00:42:22 - Challenging Non-Mystical Religiosity 00:46:10 - Meeting Dan, the History of Consciousness 00:49:26 - Who are you beyond concepts, beyond self-labels? 00:53:03 - Dan: A Significant Influence  00:56:59 - The Power of Stillness and Letting God Take Over 01:00:45 - The Fascination with God 01:03:48 - A Tragic Loss 01:06:14 - From Burma to India: A Spiritual Journey 01:09:16 - Divine Encounters in the Cave 01:13:10 - Sri Maharaj's Different Aspect 01:19:33 - Multiple facets of Maharaj 01:21:04 - The Struggle with Different Teachings 01:24:35 - The Paradox of Instruction 01:28:29 - The Vitality Meditation and the God of Your World 01:32:57 - The Dangers of One-upmanship in Spiritual Teachings 01:36:43 - Abuse of Power and Loneliness in Spiritual Communities 01:40:33 - The Evolution of Teachers and Their Contributions 01:44:44 - The Reasons for Intense and Painful Situations 01:48:46 - Concluding Remarks and Farewell 01:51:26 - End of Audio