Buddha at the Gas Pump

I was born in Germany in 1940 and have lived in France, Greece, India, China, and seven states within the U.S. When I was fifteen, I taught my first class of ESL and, eight years later, began to develop my own approach. I’ve taught Literature, Writing, Creative Writing (publishing a couple of chapbooks of poetry) and have teaching experience at every level of instruction from pre-school to grad school. I’ve also taught History, Linguistics, German, French, and Russian. Two Ph.D.s—one in English, one in Comparative Studies—didn’t turn out to be a career advantage.  They made men with only one of them too nervous, but I hear that too much education is no longer a problem for women. Is it true?  Spending 28 years in an inter-racial marriage and raising a family was as valuable an education as my stint in academe. I’m still teaching, taking care of teenage boys in my home, and enjoy art in my spare time. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/18/2009. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Shifting Consciousness and Spiritual Awakening 00:03:26 - The First Clear Experience of Witnessing 00:06:46 - Riding Through a Hellish Battle 00:10:37 - The Silent Battle Experience 00:13:22 - The Tone of Silence 00:15:32 - Growing up with Multiple Languages 00:18:38 - The Experience of Different Personalities in Different Languages 00:21:22 - Learning Meditation at a Young Age 00:24:55 - A Man Protected by an Invisible Glass Bell 00:27:42 - Following the Rocks to the Bottom 00:30:43 - Meditation and the Nazis 00:33:42 - Reconnecting with the Past 00:37:00 - Learning Transcendental Meditation 00:39:50 - A Phone Call with Maharishi 00:42:57 - A Celestial Experience and Enameling on Silver 00:46:55 - The Angelic Silver Experience 00:50:16 - Uncomprehended Experiences 00:53:12 - Silent Awareness and Spiritual Experiences 00:56:10 - Discovering the Bhagavad Gita and William Blake 01:00:24 - A Shift in Perspective 01:03:54 - Overcoming Gender Bias in Academia 01:06:52 - Playing the game and asking unconventional questions 01:09:10 - Greece: A Necessary Development and Emotional Trauma 01:12:53 - A Journey Through Emotional Pain and Healing 01:16:45 - Inner Development and the Journey to China 01:20:47 - Lightning Strikes and China Adventures 01:23:49 - The Unexpected Turn of Events 01:26:52 - A Vision for the Future 01:30:01 - Individuality and Universality 01:33:12 - Nourishing Others with a Fulfilling Life 01:36:05 - Future Developments and Contact Information

When I recorded this first interview, my intention was to produce a radio show, so this is the pilot for that. I started this interview by reading a prepared introduction to the series, which at the time I was calling "Awakenings". George Foster: George Foster is a retired book cover designer who spent much of his life in Fairfield, Iowa, both immersed in the local spiritual community and professionally designing covers for authors. Deeply committed to spiritual practice, George experienced a lasting shift in consciousness—what he describes as the realization of infinite, unchanging silence as his fundamental identity. Alongside his involvement in the Transcendental Meditation movement (including belonging to an informal support group, the "Dome Dogs"), George has also played in local bands for many years. Now retired from design work, George enjoys a vibrant second career as a musician, performing bass in "Commotion", a popular Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band. Mary Foster: Mary Foster began her spiritual journey in 1969, learning to meditate at age seventeen in Wisconsin. Her lifelong path included training as a Transcendental Meditation teacher and helping bring meditation courses to Midwestern communities. After moving to Fairfield, Mary’s spiritual aspirations were rekindled upon meeting George. She experienced a profound awakening—a transformative shift in perception—leading to a lasting sense of infinite silence and fulfillment that pervades her daily life. Mary enjoys sharing her wisdom and calm presence, and she is both a mother and grandmother, known for her warmth, clarity, and unwavering spiritual commitment. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 10/7/2009. Interview with Mary Foster YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Special Community of Fairfield, Iowa and Beyond 00:02:26 - Overcoming Skepticism and Misconceptions of Spiritual Awakening 00:04:23 - Introduction to the Show 00:06:24 - Meeting George and a Spiritual Awakening 00:08:41 - The Dome Dogs and Group Commitment 00:10:28 - Childhood Fascination and Spiritual Awakening 00:12:50 - Attracted to Meditation and the Pursuit of Reality 00:14:28 - The Brightness and Clarity with TM Meditation 00:15:57 - Introduction to "Awakenings" radio show 00:18:15 - Teaching Transcendental Meditation 00:20:27 - Remarkable Experiences along the Way 00:22:05 - Unity Consciousness and the Shift 00:24:15 - The Shift to Silence as Identity 00:25:54 - An Amazing Experience 00:27:30 - The self-defining concept 00:28:25 - The Infinite Consciousness and Labels 00:29:48 - The Moment of Realization 00:31:52 - Accepting All Parts of Myself 00:33:59 - Revealing the Silence Within 00:35:39 - Mary's Awakening Experience 00:38:10 - The Revelation of Ultimate Truth 00:40:12 - The Beautiful Void 00:41:42 - Recognizing the Infinite Silence 00:43:52 - Fulfillment Beyond Accomplishments 00:45:38 - The Quality of Stillness 00:47:16 - The Unshakeable Happiness 00:49:11 - Experiencing Infinite Silence 00:51:11 - The Fourth State of Consciousness 00:53:20 - The Role of Spiritual Practice 00:55:16 - Identifying with the Boat 00:56:47 - Discovering Your True Self