Buddha at the Gas Pump

In my youth, I was not prone to easy laughter or the common jokes that circulated among human beings. I lived in a world all by myself, thinking, feeling and being led innocently toward a life of relentless spiritual evolution. It would be many years before my spiritual sadhana, or spiritual practices, would reveal the memory of my inherent oneness with the Divine. My parents did not hesitate to inform me that my destiny was to attend “college,” a word they spoke with joy and enthusiasm, emotions that stood out starkly in my young attention, since those emotions were so deeply absent in almost every other part of my childhood. My early religious background was coincidental and predetermined by my parents’ educational choices. I attended Roman Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school, schools selected for their reputation for academic excellence. My fate unfolded several months before my graduation when I was given an early graduation present, instruction in an East Indian form of meditation. In the meditation center, I looked past the sundry forms of decor and what to me were superficial, distracting (and even disturbing) proclamations of the “benefits” of meditation. Nevertheless, I went forward to receive initiation into a unique form of Indian meditation. On April 26, 1975, I learned to meditate with a quiet and eager anticipation for “enlightenment.” It was a day of joy I will never forget. I practiced meditation for over twenty years, adding various asanas (yoga postures) and pranayama (yogic breathing exercises), reading every form of non-dualistic mysticism and scripture I could acquire from Europe, India, Tibet, China and Japan. I also read poetry avidly. Again, and again, I surrendered into psychological/emotional/spiritual dissolution, dying into Consciousness. I was madly in love with oblivion, ecstasy and self-transcendence. While others were busily preparing for a conditioned life in the world, I was ceaselessly going beyond the conditioned mind and its world of disappointments and illusions. I still recall the various forms and flavors of intense spiritual raptures and samadhi (transcendental awakenings) that I experienced in my third year of undergraduate study. The pinnacle of these raptures culminated in the state of nirvikalpa samadhi in March or April of 1980. During this time, I also experienced other forms of exquisite and exalted Transcendental Realizations in my active and meditative life, as well as during sleep. In sleep I tasted intoxicating, ambrosial nectars flowing from my heart to my brain in a cosmic circle. I’d wake up each morning feeling as though I had ascended into the worlds of Gods and Goddesses. It was a time of unspeakable ecstasy in the subtle regions beyond the body-mind. Simultaneously, I began to feel the palpable manifestation of the Primordial Energy of the universe, the Shakti. It was brilliant, active, and sparking. Shakti had simultaneously been born in that Being of Pure Light. Sharing this Radiant Energy and Divine Light became a natural capability: a radiation without circumference, effort or knowledge. A spiritual magnificence, a superabundance of Being, a Transmission of Radiant Awakening–that which has been written about in every religious scripture–was born within that Ultimate Meditation. Primordial Bliss was now free to enjoy Its own spontaneous play in the world. Yet, the Bliss of Perfect Unity in the Self and its ever-present Shakti still needed to migrate more deeply throughout the physical body, toward the outskirts of the flesh, right to the surface of the skin; divinizing and transforming it further. Amrita sahaja samadhi (the nectarous, ambrosial, natural state) dawned, displaying itself as this further evolution: a God-Intoxicated Condition wherein the body became a living host for Devotional Rapture, Kundalini-Shakti, and Divine Light. These qualities revealed a Dynamically-Interactive, Embodied-Form of Ecstatic Bodily-Love. Through my fleshly location, a virtually infinite number of human beings could participate in a passionate and endless relationship with Kali: the expressed, condensed and ferocious form of Adi Para-shakti, the Supreme and Primordial Energy of the Universe. David's main site David's book: Beyond the Place of Laughter and Tears in the Land of Devotion Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/27/10. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to David Spero and his Spiritual Journey 00:03:47 - Catapulted into a Golden Love World 00:06:56 - A State of Bliss and Dissolution 00:10:23 - A False Reality and a Divine Consciousness 00:13:16 - The Dual Nature of My Personality 00:15:38 - Initiation into Meditation Practice 00:18:41 - Maturing in Divine Company 00:22:32 - Yogic Journey and Progression through Sheaths 00:26:50 - Immersing in Spiritual Texts and Influences 00:29:51 - Attending Maharishi International University 00:33:53 - Levels of Development and the Concept of Enlightenment 00:37:44 - The Prohibition of Successors in Ramana Maharshi's Teaching 00:41:28 - The Process of Awakening and Jadedness 00:44:24 - The Dawning of Perpetual Consciousness and the Experience of Nirvikalpa Samadhi 00:46:56 - The Unbearably Deep Transformation 00:49:21 - The Fury to Accomplish 00:52:21 - Sahaja Samadhi and the Loss of Spiritual Identity 00:55:32 - The Sahaja State: Beyond Consciousness 00:58:08 - Different Levels of Realization 01:00:35 - Sahaja Samadhi and the Unproducible Condition 01:02:48 - The Meaning of Avatar 01:05:25 - Understanding Avatars and their Consciousness 01:08:43 - The Remarkable Friend Who Didn't Belong Here 01:11:35 - The Sahaja State of an Avatar 01:14:21 - The Uniqueness of Sahaja Samadhi 01:16:38 - The Natural State of Sahaja Samadhi 01:18:53 - The Nature of Human Development 01:21:23 - Ways to Access David Shapiro's Interviews 01:23:06 - Public Meetings and Retreats 01:24:30 - Live Events and Webcasts 01:26:02 - Opening music

Rahasya is a mystic, physician, spiritual teacher and author who has been working with people for more than 33 years. Meeting his master in 1980 revolutionized his life and led to a deep understanding of his being. Rahasya's teaching is simple, profound and deeply transformative. http://www.livingunity.com/ Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/23/10. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Rahasya 00:02:34 - A Life of Travel and Freedom 00:05:35 - A Journey to India: From France to Nepal 00:08:42 - Encountering Osho and Pune 00:11:26 - Meeting an American Guru in Goa 00:14:13 - Primal Therapy and Childhood Traumas 00:17:03 - Osho's Vision on Therapy and Meditation 00:19:51 - The Moment of Desperation and the Search for Freedom 00:22:50 - Realizing Oneness and Letting Go of the Seeking 00:26:23 - The Illusion of Individual Improvement 00:29:17 - Experiences of Cosmic Super-consciousness 00:32:15 - The Unfolding of Life 00:34:49 - The Flow of Consciousness and Rapid Awakening 00:37:12 - Awakening in Ordinary Lives 00:40:32 - The Energy of Your Participants 00:42:55 - The Danger of Self-Proclaimed Gurus 00:45:13 - Spiritual Powers and the Trap of Self-Identification 00:47:42 - Enlightenment on a Phone Call 00:51:00 - Spreading of Consciousness and Transformation 00:55:23 - Awakening and Degrees of Stability 01:00:07 - Profound Celestial Experiences and Awakening 01:03:56 - Awakening through the Chakras 01:06:37 - Awakening through Different Doors 01:08:59 - The Embodied Experience of Awakening Through Different Chakras 01:11:08 - Unfolding Different Facets of Awakening 01:12:59 - The Meeting of Love and Meditation 01:15:11 - Awakening and Manifestation 01:17:45 - The Spectrum of Experience 01:20:13 - The Dissolution of the Ego Structure 01:22:51 - Embracing Uniqueness and Individuality 01:25:23 - Musical Interlude Save

As a child, I had many experiences of the limitless side of my Being, but perhaps nothing extraordinary. I think most people have such experiences quite naturally. As I grew older, I felt increasingly overwhelmed by my own wounds and by all the separation and denial I felt inside and out. By the time I left grammar school, I was confused and repressed. But I was telling myself and the world I was fine and everything was OK. By the time I’d reached my teens, I was in crisis and I found myself reaching out for something beyond the ordinary world. I began my spiritual search (as did many of my peers) reading books by J. Krishnamurti, Yogananda, Carlos Casteneda, Ram Dass, and Richard Bach. Soon thereafter, I began using hallucinogens as a tool in my self-inquiry process. I glimpsed my future realization in this life, but I also saw that I couldn’t reach it through drugs. At 17, I took initiation into TM and began to practice regularly. After meeting Maharishi, I found myself preparing to become a TM teacher. I took years of training, (over a year in deep meditations and fasting in the Switzerland), spent lots of time with Maharishi, and finally was endowed by him with the knowledge I needed to initiate others. I taught TM to hundreds of seekers, thinking that this simple technique would eventually bring them (and myself) freedom. It was around this time that it became perfectly clear to me that, until I and many others around me had awakened into some fundamental self-recognition and integrity of Being, nothing else was going to make the world any better. Website: trilliumawakening.org Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded June 12, 2010 Batgap interview with Ted Strauss and Carole Griggs YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:34 - The Magical Encounter at the Fair 00:06:09 - Falling in Love and Kissed Feet 00:08:58 - A Friendship Begins 00:12:06 - The Depth of the Heart 00:15:14 - The Tantric Challenge of Coming into the World with Awakened Consciousness 00:18:18 - The Awakening of Consciousness 00:21:30 - Cultivating the Recognition of Consciousness Embodied 00:24:16 - Different Experiences of Awakening 00:27:04 - Beyond the Ultimate Awakening 00:29:36 - Introduction of Samuel Bondar and his role in awakening 00:32:22 - Overcoming Pain and Suffering 00:35:19 - The Avoidance of Duality and Fundamentalism 00:38:13 - The Discomfort of Being Human 00:41:24 - Being with Discomfort 00:44:47 - The Evolution of Human Consciousness 00:48:02 - The Process of Disillusionment and Surrender 00:51:04 - The Rot Out of Illusion 00:54:02 - Evolution and Growth in Spiritual Development 00:56:56 - The Genius of Being is Guiding the Shell 01:00:12 - Evolution of Relationship Dynamics 01:03:30 - Partners in Waking Down 01:05:48 - The Three Components of Waking Down 01:08:44 - The Importance of Awakening in Personal Growth 01:11:25 - Reflections on the Awakening Experience 01:14:34 - The Breakthrough Moment 01:17:25 - Falling Into Embodiment 01:19:59 - Awakening and Centers of Consciousness 01:22:36 - Wrap-up and Final Thoughts 01:24:53 - Embracing Spiritual Variety 01:27:15 - Closing Credits Save Save Save

(Photo taken in front of the American Gothic House in Iowa and is jokingly meant to emulate the famous painting American Gothic. We don't usually dress like that! Or hold pitchforks!) Richard Miller hosts a interview show called Never Not Here. Somehow we connected and he asked to interview me, not necessarily as an awakened being or teacher, but as a fellow spiritual aspirant. In the summer of 1967, when I was 17 years old, I was driving through Westport, CT with three friends in the car. One of them in the back seat was reading from a commentary on the Tibetan Book of the Dead by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (Ram Dass). A quiet but memorable realization dawned in me that there was such a thing as "enlightenment" and that realizing it was life's ultimate goal. I rather recklessly explored that possibility through drugs for a year, then saw the futility of that approach and learned Transcendental Meditation. I taught TM for 25 years and still meditate regularly but am not affiliated with any particular spiritual organization. I respect any of them which seem to offer genuine benefits to their participants. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 6/5/2010. Other talks by or interviews of Rick on BatGap: SAND 2019 - Knowledge/Reality is Different in Different States of Consciousness 2018 SAND Conference Q&A and Interview by Shakti Caterina Maggi SAND 2017: "The Ethics of Enlightenment" Talk at Berkeley Open Circle Center SAND 2015: Science and Spirituality: Potential Allies in Discovering Truth Interviewed by Fax Gilbert YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Welcome to Never Not Here 00:02:56 - The Growth of Transcendental Meditation in Fairfield 00:05:45 - A Diverse Spiritual Community in Fairfield 00:08:12 - The Blurring of Cultural Boundaries 00:11:23 - The Awakening Moment 00:13:59 - Sincerity and Genuine Practice 00:16:48 - The Profound Effects of Long Meditation 00:19:36 - The Process of Re-Entry from Meditation Retreats 00:22:28 - Unwinding Deep Stresses 00:24:52 - The Benefits of Dissolving Negative Experiences 00:26:35 - The Continuous Practice of Meditation 00:28:26 - The Reflection of Consciousness in the Nervous System 00:30:25 - Becoming a Better Reflector 00:32:21 - The African man's interpretation of the surroundings 00:34:31 - The Correlation of Concept and Experience 00:38:11 - The Presence of Babbling Saints and Articulating Experience 00:41:28 - Different Orientations and Experiences 00:45:27 - The Origins of Spiritual Traditions and Their Relevance Today 00:48:16 - The Qualities of Enlightenment 00:50:06 - Layers of Ignorance and the Essence of Consciousness 00:51:56 - Preferences and Enlightenment 00:54:03 - The Limitations of Conceptual Thinking 00:56:25 - Duality in Concepts: The Positive and Negative 00:58:40 - The Tragedy of Locked Perspectives 01:01:23 - Living in a State of Enlightenment 01:04:27 - Leaving the Incubator and Awakening 01:07:11 - The Illusion of Movement in Enlightenment 01:10:21 - Embracing Further Unfoldments in Education 01:13:33 - The Paradox of Seeking Answers 01:16:05 - Remembering the Nature of Thoughts 01:18:28 - Farewell for this Episode

After thirty years of seeking liberation, James Braha had nearly given up on finding fulfillment. His mind began to change, however, when he encountered the Hindu/Vedic philosophy of non-duality. Upon reading “Sailor” Bob Adamson’s book What’s Wrong with Right Now Unless You Think About It, James immediately invited Bob to come from Australia to share his knowledge with Americans.  For five glorious weeks in the summer of 2004, Bob and his wife stayed with the Braha family at their home in Florida. Spiritual talk with arguably the greatest non-duality teacher alive continued from morning till night, as James’ dearest friends and spiritualists from around the country joined the investigations into the truth of reality versus the illusion of appearance. James Braha's Site Sailor Bob's Site Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/19/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:03:52 - Seeking Spiritual Techniques and Paths 00:07:41 - Understanding Non-duality and True Nature 00:11:51 - The Illusion of the Self 00:14:45 - The Fear of Not Being Here 00:17:04 - Eliminating the Craziness 00:18:50 - Living in the Present Moment 00:20:38 - Freedom and Clarity 00:22:45 - The Search for Enlightenment beyond Experiences 00:25:07 - The Paradox of Reality and Illusion 00:27:53 - The Freedom of Psychological Suffering 00:30:56 - The Illusory Nature of the World 00:33:49 - The Importance of Wanting Enlightenment 00:36:30 - The Illusory Elephant and the Illusory Me 00:39:49 - Maturing Desires and Shifts in Understanding 00:43:34 - The False Reference Point in Enlightenment 00:47:35 - Enlightenment in Prison 00:50:57 - Following Your Dharma 00:53:35 - The Nature of Growth and Deepening 00:56:32 - The Fallacy of Final Understanding 00:59:31 - The Dream and the Laws of Nature 01:01:46 - The Marvel of the Illusion 01:05:11 - The Illusion of Suffering and Existence 01:07:29 - There is No You 01:09:31 - The Role of Desire in Liberation 01:12:17 - Dealing with an Annoying Woman 01:14:50 - The Founder of Advaita 01:17:11 - The Illusion of Duality 01:19:33 - Being Yourself and Embracing Unfoldment 01:22:23 - Letting Go of Past Suffering 01:24:39 - Buddha at the Gas Pump Save

Am a Zoroastrian by birth but a theosophist by inclination; was educated in South India as a civil engineer and worked in Pakistan from 1950. I learned TM in 1974 from an American teacher who introduced it for the first time in the country. Realizing its great value, I traveled to Switzerland in early 1975 and graduated as a teacher of TM under the guidance of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who had popularized its practice in the West. As the only teacher in Pakistan initially, I organized the TM Movement there and was its National Leader for 12 years until my wife and I left in 1987 to settle in the US. Several thousand were taught during this period. In 1981, at Maharishi's invitation, I visited India and graduated as a TM-Sidhi teacher at his ashram in Rishikesh. Have been a member of the Theosophical Society for 44 years and am at present the president of the Houston Lodge, which is 98 years old. The motto of the Society is "There is no religion higher than Truth", to which all seekers would subscribe. Interview recorded 4/28/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Fali Engineer and his background 00:05:06 - The Global Ripple Effect of Emotional and Mental Energies 00:09:19 - The Infancy of Consciousness 00:12:54 - Understanding Global Energies and Managing Polarization 00:15:45 - Extreme Polarization and Lack of Understanding 00:18:46 - The Vulnerability of Consciousness 00:22:08 - Strengthening the Etheric Body 00:24:45 - The Influence of Non-Physical Levels 00:27:34 - Shifting Priorities to Diminish Polarization 00:30:36 - Teaching Relaxation in Muslim Countries 00:33:22 - The Power of Mantras and Sufi Masters 00:36:29 - Deeper Reasons for Disharmony 00:39:16 - The Transmission of Traumatized States 00:41:57 - The Impact of Historical Traumas 00:44:00 - Indigo Children and the Egyptian Civilization 00:45:58 - The Transformation and Preparation for Change 00:48:24 - The Flaws of the Two-Party System 00:51:08 - The People's Party and the Voice of the People 00:53:28 - Creating Islands of Peace 00:56:07 - Calming the Nation and Duplicating Peace 00:58:05 - Upgrading the American Dream 01:00:23 - The Price to Pay 01:06:07 - The Arrival of the Ruler 01:08:50 - The Path to Immortality 01:11:26 - The Way of Accumulated Wisdom 01:14:08 - Theosophical Hallmarks and Higher States of Consciousness 01:17:02 - Evolution of Consciousness 01:19:44 - The Limitation of Normal Meditation 01:22:23 - The Process of Evolution and Elevating the Perishable Part 01:25:08 - Batgap.com and other platforms

Igal Moria was infected with the spiritual bug in his teens has no plans of recovering. He joined Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at 19 (in 1973) and was involved with the TM movement for 25 years, working with Maharishi on developing courses and course materials on Maharishi Vedic Science and world religions. He was a member of Andrew Cohen’s core body of students. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/21/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:16 - Leaving the Ashram and Seeking Independence 00:09:42 - A Traumatic Event and Its Aftermath 00:12:44 - The End of an Era 00:16:03 - Introduction to Andrew Cohen and Enlightenment 00:20:17 - A Rekindling of the Spirit 00:24:14 - The Allure of Spiritual Leadership 00:27:46 - The Recognition of a Bigger Reality 00:31:53 - Overcoming Inertia and Embracing Change 00:35:36 - Liberation from Anxiety and Gratitude for Maharishi 00:41:03 - The Meeting of Papaji and Ramana Maharshi 00:45:04 - The Power of Trust and Shifting Consciousness 00:48:13 - The Classical Idea of Enlightenment 00:51:21 - The Origins and Development of Monotheism 00:54:55 - Enlightenment through engagement with others 00:58:49 - The Power of Coming Together Beyond Ego 01:02:04 - Coming together beyond ego 01:05:19 - The Five Tenets of Enlightenment 01:08:08 - Facing What You're Made Of 01:11:23 - The Bigger Picture 01:13:56 - The Eye of the Universe 01:16:25 - The Evolution of Consciousness and the Motivation for the Spiritual Life 01:19:04 - Seriös Arbeit und Entwicklung 01:22:09 - The Value of Meditation for Freedom 01:25:31 - Cultivating Freedom from Mind and Emotions 01:29:06 - Contrasting meditation techniques 01:32:54 - The Three Instructions for Meditation 01:36:54 - Cultivating a Position of Freedom 01:42:32 - Various Perspectives on Spiritual Teachings 01:48:31 - The New Enlightenment: Embracing Inner and Outer Existence 01:55:00 - The Radical Becoming of Enlightenment

Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/7/2010. Interview with George and Mary Foster YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:09 - The Power of Hearing in Consciousness 00:09:44 - The Realization of Being Stuck in the Body 00:13:53 - The Ultimate Connection with All of Existence 00:18:00 - The Experience of "I" in Consciousness 00:21:09 - Awareness of the Self and the World 00:23:20 - The Natural State of Man is Seeking More 00:25:56 - The Persistence of Awareness Beyond the Body 00:28:20 - A New Sensory Experience 00:31:40 - The Expansion of Awareness 00:34:31 - The Power of Meditation and Automatic Progress 00:37:34 - Connecting with the Celestial Realms 00:40:43 - Connecting with the Celestial Realm 00:43:20 - The Connectedness of All Beings 00:45:44 - Celestial Nervous Systems and Consciousness 00:48:48 - The Job of Celestial Beings 00:51:55 - The Experience of Wholeness 00:55:17 - Witnessing the Birth of a Universe 00:57:56 - The Significance of Experiences 00:59:54 - The Roadmap to Enlightenment 01:02:04 - The Experience of Being Awake 01:04:11 - Unfolding the Spiritual Journey 01:06:23 - Differences in Physiology and Consciousness 01:09:09 - The Certainty of an Ongoing Journey 01:11:26 - Near-Death Experiences and Leaving the Physical Body 01:14:07 - The Connectedness of Everything 01:16:19 - The Universe as an Interconnected Arrangement of Beads 01:18:15 - Fine-tuning and Awareness 01:20:04 - Building Spiritual Muscles 01:21:57 - Engaging with batgap.com 01:23:34 - Conversations and Gratitude

John Speer is a spiritual teacher and psychotherapist whose awakening journey is grounded in authenticity, acceptance, and integration. John candidly shares how his deep transformation unfolded—not through seeking exotic states or escaping daily life, but by embracing his full humanity. 🌟 Topics explored include: The nature of spiritual awakening and nonduality How trauma and shadow work support real awakening The danger of spiritual bypassing The value of ordinary experiences on the path The role of therapy in spiritual development How awakening impacts relationships, identity, and daily life This conversation is ideal for seekers interested in integrating spirituality with psychology, working through personal wounding, or navigating life post-awakening with presence and compassion. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/31/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of John Speer 00:03:45 - Questioning Existence and Meaning of Life 00:06:50 - Puzzling Reality and Spiritual Awakening 00:09:23 - The Feeling of Joy and Destiny 00:12:09 - Discovering Maharishi Mahesh Yogi 00:14:41 - A Chance Encounter with Transcendental Meditation 00:17:03 - Introduction to Meditation Journey 00:19:27 - Meeting Elaine and Falling in Love 00:22:14 - A Profound and Loving Experience 00:25:00 - A Profound Sense of Joy and Witnessing Human Emotions 00:28:00 - The Death of Our Son 00:31:05 - The Science of Free Will and Determinism 00:34:06 - Returning to Fairfield 00:36:41 - Resonating with a Spiritual Experience 00:39:25 - Discovering Raja Ram 00:42:01 - Freedom from Belief and Dependency 00:45:00 - The Freedom of Experience 00:47:52 - A Near-Death Experience 00:50:10 - The Dome and TM City Program 00:53:06 - The Experience of Oneness 00:56:29 - The Embodiment of the Universe in Christ 00:59:05 - The Omnipresence of God 01:01:43 - Christ as the Savior for Each Other 01:04:37 - Finding Fulfillment on the Spiritual Path 01:07:39 - Reflecting the Essence of the Soul 01:10:36 - "Light that is one, though the lamps be many" 01:13:00 - The Awakening Moment 01:15:34 - The Essence of Seeking and Finding 01:18:10 - Ramana Maharshi and the Essence of Spiritual Awakening 01:20:42 - The Mahavakya and a Good Stopping Point 01:23:09 - Conclusion and Farewell

I remember having the thought at age 26, “what am I going to do, I will never make it through the second year of graduate school”? Having just completed my first year in training as a psychiatric social worker it was obvious that I felt more like a patient, who needed intense help, than the person charged with helping others. At that moment, I became a seeker.  The subsequent initiation into Transcendental Meditation forever set the direction of my life in ways I could not have imagined and it was a blessing that I did not. The road was bumpy quite a bit of the time yet there were always people there to help. Nature was always there giving both challenges and help necessary to see my way through them. Then one day not knowing how it happened or why, silence was now present all the time. Everything had changed yet nothing was different.  The change was both ordinary and profound. It was not the end of the journey but a new beginning and way of experiencing it. Life is now spent in the deepening of that silence and removal of the remaining junk. One can indeed know “One’s Self” and yet have much more work to do. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 3/17/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Motivations for creating the show and the different paths to enlightenment 00:03:48 - Awakening and the Impact of Spiritual Practice 00:07:41 - The Impact of TM Meditation on Personal Growth 00:12:23 - The Shift in Consciousness 00:17:19 - The Solvent of Silence 00:21:15 - The Separation of Thinking from Awareness 00:25:33 - Exploring Heart-Oriented Practices 00:29:06 - Gratitude and Appreciation 00:32:49 - The Importance of Development and Meditation in Life 00:36:20 - Meditation as a Vehicle for Growth 00:39:11 - The Value of Seeking Help 00:42:18 - Working through Thoughts and Achieving Peace 00:45:25 - Overcoming Fear and Wrong Thinking 00:47:48 - Recognizing and Accepting Personal Strength 00:50:07 - Dealing with Habits and Tendencies 00:52:32 - The Byron Katie Work and the Journey of Self-Discovery 00:55:20 - The Fulfillment of Silence 00:57:53 - Getting Along Better with People in Silence 01:00:19 - The Value of Peaceful Relationships and Cordiality 01:02:35 - Varieties of Awakened People 01:04:47 - The Similarity of Silence 01:07:33 - The Illusion of Enlightenment 01:10:25 - Overcoming Fear through Faith in God 01:13:44 - Nature's Help in Moving Forward 01:16:28 - Shifting Perspective: From Individual to Ocean 01:19:13 - Life's Supportive Events 01:21:23 - Support and Spontaneity in Doing the Work 01:24:09 - Relaxing into Vastness 01:26:29 - Letting Go of Control and Accepting Life 01:29:09 - The Gift of Fairfield 01:31:44 - Living in Fairfield: A Fascinating Place