Buddha at the Gas Pump

Dr. Anneloes Smitsman (Ph.D., LLM), is a futurist, evolutionary systems scientist, coach, healer, and award-winning bestselling author. She is the Founder and CEO of EARTHwise Centre. Her programs, practices, and strategies are sought after around the world for actualizing our future human potential, and catalyzing the next steps in human consciousness and systemic design for thrivability. She was awarded the Visioneers Lifetime Achievement Award in May 2022, and was crowned overall African winner in the category "Human Development" of the 2022 Africa’s Most Respected CEOs Awards. She is the co-author of the award-winning Future Humans Trilogy with Dr. Jean Houston, and a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle. Website: earthwisecentre.org Other books: The New Paradigm in Politics Love Letters from Mother Earth: The Promise of a New Beginning Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded September 5, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:19 - Two Futures: Sustainability Crisis and Emerging New Era 00:08:12 - The Regenerative Renaissance 00:12:11 - A Higher Order of Possibility 00:15:59 - Engaging Youth Creativity in Shaping the Future 00:19:44 - Engaging the Mind in Learning 00:23:28 - Global Collapse and Planetary Conditions 00:27:11 - The Balancing Act: Mother Earth and Human Consciousness 00:30:36 - Emergence of a New Narrative and Maturation of Our Species 00:34:05 - The Power and Manifestation of Consciousness 00:37:26 - Harnessing the Power of Consciousness 00:41:11 - A Coherent Pattern of Collaboration 00:45:34 - Creating a Heavenly World 00:50:07 - Wake-up Call and Systems Change Begins Within 00:54:47 - Living in Harmony with Nature 00:59:31 - The Detail in Creating New Economic and Financial Systems 01:04:13 - The Rising Tide: Consciousness as a Field 01:08:18 - Solidarity with Ukraine and the Emerging Collective Consciousness 01:11:31 - The Risk of Becoming the Next Dominator 01:15:35 - The Power of Dedication and Assistance 01:19:43 - Maintaining Coherence in the Face of Disinformation 01:24:27 - Finding Common Ground 01:28:59 - Social upheaval and the American spirit 01:33:22 - The Pioneering Spirit of Americans and the Challenges of Division 01:37:49 - The Need for a Different Kind of Politics 01:42:35 - Renewal and Evolution in Society 01:46:58 - Rethinking Growth and Expansion 01:51:30 - The Journey of Living Within Planetary and Social Boundaries 01:56:10 - The Future of Companies and Adaptation 02:00:39 - The Future of Creativity and Innovation 02:04:39 - Co-creating a World that Works for All

Alaya first experienced brief glimpses leading to a spontaneous awakening in 1997. This left her with a burning fire for truth and a determination to find a release from her suffering. She was drawn to satsang and to the feet of her beloved Neelam: a teacher of the Ramana Maharshi lineage. From that very first meeting there arose a profound recognition of unconditional love but also a strong sense of separation and resistance. However, Alaya instinctively knew that penetrating the resistance was exactly what was needed to penetrate the suffering. With Neelam’s unconditional love this separation fell away shortly after the birth of Alaya’s first child in 2001. With a new husband and baby, Alaya moved to Asheville. She found in her daily experience of being a householder and working mother, that there was much abiding awareness/living in present Reality. But the non-abiding dream state kept arising which created an even deeper desire to investigate what was still appearing as separation. She realized that what was needed was already in the life she was leading and that every moment was a gift and opportunity to return to the natural awakened Self. “My husband, my children, my job, everything is my teacher, and true love is laying down whatever pulls on you, turning back to this life with an open heart and open palms.” With the realization that ordinary everyday life was sacred and that each moment was the Beloved pointing us home, she continued to question and inquire into her ideas, perspectives, and feelings until the veil of separation finally fell away. “With tenderness and openness, conditioning can unmanifest - leaving what naturally remains, as stillness, presence and love.” As people began to ask her to teach, Grace appeared as the non-dual teacher Adyashanti and with his support and friendship she began to give satsang in 2011. “Grace is like gravity, it will continue to pull you within for the truth of who you are isn’t found in doing. It is found in the silence – in stillness.” Website: alayasatsang.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded August 27, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:08 - The Awakening Experience at a Young Age 00:07:43 - Following Intuitive Knowing 00:11:14 - Unknowing and Reformulation 00:14:34 - The Unknowingness of Grass 00:18:00 - The Fishiness of Life 00:21:39 - A Diverse Community in a Double Wide Trailer Bar 00:24:59 - A Transformational Experience 00:28:39 - Deepening of Presence and Surrendering to the Vaster State 00:32:16 - The Primal Resistance to Opening Up 00:36:06 - The Trauma of Duality 00:39:37 - The Stages of Spiritual Development and Societal Growth 00:43:01 - Being of Service by Becoming Nobody 00:47:11 - Different Roles and Different Paths 00:51:06 - Unconditional Love and the Collapse of Searching 00:55:26 - Carried by Grace 00:58:56 - Deepening into Oneness with Neelam 01:03:04 - The Decision to Move On 01:07:08 - The Fear of Suffering and Awakening 01:10:55 - Dissolving the Ego and Aligning with the Deeper Gift 01:14:55 - Meeting Neelam and the Veil on My Face 01:18:41 - The Role of a Teacher in Spiritual Awakening 01:22:16 - The Gift of Healing and Transmission 01:25:47 - Degrees of Receptivity and Awakening 01:29:06 - Deeper embodiment of awakening 01:32:47 - The Beauty of Constant Change 01:35:59 - The Nature of the Path and the Danger of Feeling Accomplished 01:39:31 - The Pitfall of Idolizing Teachers 01:42:55 - Being of Service to Others 01:46:49 - Expansion of Zoom Retreats and In-Person Meetings 01:50:22 - Experiencing Psychological Trauma of Separation

After years of radical liberation in my own absence eventually became another kind of prison, I found freedom from "Enlightenment" in the freedom to live a richly human bittersweet life, in a new way, the way of transimmanence, in which the spiritual and the material are unified, and everything including suffering is a sacred expression of the divine. Discovering how many other people have been harmed by modern adaptations of liberation via self-negation teachings, I've become a Spiritual Emergence Coach, and run peer support groups for people experiencing spiritual crisis, especially related to Neo-Advaita. Website: thegloriousbothand.com Subscribe to monthly newsletter YouTube Channel Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded August 21, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:02 - Childhood Panic Attacks and Existential Thoughts 00:07:49 - Dissolution of the Sense of Self 00:11:20 - The Beginnings of Pure OOCD and Existential Thoughts 00:15:26 - Awakening Beyond Thought and Self 00:19:43 - The Path of Jnana Yoga 00:23:34 - Exploring the Demise of Ego and Boundaries 00:27:20 - The Dark Side of Radical Contentment 00:31:35 - Concerns about Neo-Advaita in Self-Help Books 00:35:20 - The Relief of Realizing Nothing Matters 00:39:45 - The Fear of Death and Martyr Complex 00:44:23 - Embracing Paradox in Spiritual Awareness 00:47:58 - The Erosion of Language and Relationships 00:51:59 - The Pitfall of the Spiritual Ego 00:55:35 - The Shift into Depersonalization 00:59:26 - The Value of Going through Different Phases 01:03:32 - Exploring New Paradigms of Reality 01:07:40 - The Illusion of Selflessness and Awakening 01:11:09 - The challenge of Neo-Advaita spiritual teachings 01:14:48 - The Non-permanence of Flashy Experiences and the Misunderstanding of Realization 01:18:32 - Interpretations of the Ultimate Truth 01:22:24 - Embracing Fear and the Process of Rebirth 01:26:02 - Realization of the larger aspect of one's nature 01:29:25 - Dissolution of Physicality and Meditation Process 01:32:59 - Kundalini Awakenings and the Dangers of Neo-Advaita 01:36:27 - The Nothing Conference 01:40:17 - The Oneness of Individuals 01:43:30 - Eye Gazing and Unividuality 01:47:23 - The Severe Consequences of Toxic Teachings 01:50:52 - Living in Boundlessness and Boundaries 01:54:18 - Subscriber Notification System

Growing up, a burning desire to seek truth took hold. After years of searching, the need to see reality overtook the need to avoid suffering. Through the marriage of inquiry and surrender, realization unfolded in ways that could never have been imagined by my former self. After seeing through the illusion of separation, there is now a keen interest in exploring the mystery of reality and the human form. The stage of integrating this non-dual understanding into daily life is ongoing and beautiful, and something I return to daily. Not just to help myself, but to look for ways to alleviate suffering for anyone who is interested. Website: matt-garrett.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded August 14, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:32 - Finding Freedom through Surrender and Inquiry 00:13:07 - The Paradox of No Self 00:20:28 - The Empty Body and the Aliveness Within 00:26:32 - Inquiry into the Self and Objects 00:30:48 - Spiritual Development and Full Blossoming 00:35:31 - Tapping into Non-Duality and Expressing It 00:39:23 - The Relationship between Free Will and Determinism 00:42:57 - Different Levels of Spiritual Maturity 00:46:23 - The Importance of Discernment and Checking Desires 00:49:05 - The Pendulum Analogy 00:52:32 - The Courage to Pursue Inner Development and Incorporate it into Daily Life 00:55:54 - The Fullness Within Yourself 00:59:43 - Resistance and Trusting the Universe 01:02:57 - The Play of Life and the Power of Surrender 01:06:48 - The Awakening after Giving Up Seeking 01:10:28 - Going Beyond the Self 01:13:57 - Beyond Awakening 01:17:28 - The Calling to Go Deeper 01:21:28 - The Flexibility of Reality and the Dilemma of Purpose 01:25:54 - Transitioning from Purpose to No Purpose 01:30:01 - Finding Freedom Beyond Purpose 01:33:40 - Surrender and Inquiry 01:37:10 - The Wisdom to Accept the Unchangeable 01:40:22 - The Transformation of Inquiry 01:43:25 - Emotional Work and the Inquiring into the Self 01:46:55 - The Impersonal Nature of Suffering 01:50:53 - Surrendering Personal Suffering for Humanity 01:54:45 - The Balance of Selfishness and Altruism in Helping Others 02:00:23 - Knowing the Self and Helping Others 02:05:21 - Farewell and Outro

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, The PK Man, and Psi Development Systems. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "Parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. Website: newthinkingallowed.org YouTube Channel Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded August 6, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Jeffrey Mishlove 00:04:35 - A Dream of Uncle Harry's Death 00:08:58 - The Paranormal Capabilities of the Human Mind 00:12:49 - Followed a Dream to Pursue My Interests 00:17:00 - Consciousness and the Universe 00:20:51 - The Significance of Parapsychology and Consciousness 00:24:42 - Society with Fundamental Consciousness Understanding 00:28:49 - Believing in the Power of Manifestation 00:32:57 - White Crows and Psychical Research 00:37:16 - The criticism of research with Mrs. Piper and the Dark Age of scientism 00:41:31 - The Rise of the Spiritual but Not Religious Movement 00:45:28 - Potential Capabilities of Humans and Moral Development 00:49:28 - The Cosmic Game of Life and Suffering 00:53:38 - Levels of Creation and the Unknown Mysteries of the Universe 00:58:05 - The Reality of Macro Psychokinetic Phenomena 01:02:12 - Interface between Dreams and the Bardo Planes 01:06:22 - Similarities between mystical and near-death experiences 01:10:49 - The Bardo Planes and Higher Dimensions 01:14:28 - Living Agent Psi and the Afterlife 01:18:20 - The Fisher Hoffman Process and the Dictated Therapy 01:22:10 - Pre-birth Communication 01:26:20 - Electronic communication with the deceased 01:30:18 - Difficulty in Identifying Authentic Psychic Occurrences 01:35:03 - A Game of Chess with a Deceased Chess Master 01:39:16 - Physical Mediumship and Materialization 01:43:20 - Houdini's Attempt to Expose Marjorie the Medium 01:47:45 - The Reality of the Witnessed Experience 01:51:38 - Remembering Dean Brown 01:55:45 - The Fate of the Human Species 02:01:46 - The Possibility of Past Lives 02:02:38 - Closing Remarks

Bernard Carr is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Queen Mary University of London. As an undergraduate, he read mathematics at Cambridge University and for his Ph.D. he studied the first second of the Universe, working under Stephen Hawking. He was elected to a Fellowship at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1975, and in 1980 spent a year traveling around America as a Lindemann Fellow before taking up a Senior Research Fellowship at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge. In 1984 he was awarded the Adams Prize, one of the UK’s most prestigious mathematical awards. In 1985 he moved to Queen Mary and he became a Professor there in 1995. He has also held Visiting Professorships at various institutes in America, Canada, and Japan. His professional area of research is cosmology and astrophysics and includes such topics as the early universe, black holes, dark matter, and the anthropic principle. He is the author of around 300 papers and the books Universe or Multiverse? and Quantum Black Holes. He is also very interested in the role of consciousness as a fundamental rather than incidental feature of the Universe. In particular, he is developing a new psychophysical paradigm linking matter and mind which accommodates normal, paranormal, and mystical experiences. He also has a long-standing interest in the relationship between science and religion, especially Buddhism, having been the coholder of a grant from the Templeton Foundation for a project entitled “Fundamental Physics, Cosmology and the Problem of our Existence". He is President of The Scientific and Medical Network and a former President of the Society for Psychical Research. Summary and Transcript of this interview Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded July 24, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump with Rick Archer 00:06:07 - The Three Books that Awakened My Interests 00:11:41 - The Origins of the Anthropic Principle 00:17:09 - Fine Tunings in Physics 00:23:05 - The Number of Fundamental Constants in Physics 00:28:41 - The Fine Tuning and Theology 00:34:21 - The Changing Nature of Science 00:39:47 - The Possibility of Primordial Black Holes as Dark Matter 00:44:55 - The Possibility of Life in Different Universes 00:50:31 - The Complexity Principle and the Hierarchy of Complexity 00:56:20 - The Origin of Order in the Universe 01:01:49 - The Existence of a Pre-Big Bang Mind 01:07:31 - God's Presence in the Universe 01:12:42 - The Limits of Physics and Mathematics 01:17:57 - Anomalies in the Standard Big Bang Model 01:23:32 - Indirect Evidence of Fine Tuning and Containment of Superintelligence 01:29:02 - Primordial Black Holes and Astronomical Observations 01:34:07 - Connecting Science, Spirituality, and Psychical Research 01:39:55 - Expanding Physics to Accommodate Consciousness 01:45:51 - Expanding Science for Spirit 01:51:53 - The Possibility of Levitation 01:56:49 - Building a Bridge Between Mind and Spirit 02:01:56 - The Reconciliation of Science and Religion 02:07:34 - The Human Psyche and Probing Reality 02:13:03 - Exploring the Mysteries of Reality 02:18:26 - Extra dimensions and their implications 02:23:55 - Hyperspatial Higher Dimensions and Consciousness 02:29:40 - The Perception of Time and Consciousness 02:34:51 - The Nature of Consciousness and Self-Identity 02:40:09 - The Programmer of the Simulation 02:44:54 - Wrapping up the Topics

In 2014, I awakened to the realization that being aware is my true nature. The experience of just being aware without the identity of a person who is aware was at once exhilarating and disorienting. This simple but profound realization transformed my experience of life to one of effortless being. A wonderful result of this awakening is a lasting peace that transcends all experience. In this awakened sense of pure being, the physical body is experienced as an objective sense of being, and the mind is experienced as an objective sense of knowing. There is no longer the need for an individual identity as a person who ​is living life. There is only awareness and the experience of the objective sense of awareness in various forms of expressions. The illusion of a person being aware of objects dissolved and was replaced with a pervasive sense of joy and freedom. Before 2014, my life was based on the story of a woman named Victoria Ukachukwu who is a trained scientist with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and is a divorced mother of two daughters. All of my experiences derived from this core identity. Over time, this identity became very limiting and questions about God and the nature of reality began to arise. Science offered no satisfactory answers nor did the Catholic religion in which I was raised. In 2010 I discovered the teachings of non-duality. In particular, the teachings of Mooji and Rupert Spira. In 2012, I went to my first ​retreat with Rupert Spira and came away with more questions. It was not until June 2014 when I went to a second retreat with Rupert Spira that all questions dissolved with the recognition of my true nature. Subsequently, in 2019, I discovered the timeless teaching of Joel Goldsmith which further reaffirmed and expanded my burgeoning understanding of spiritual principles that illuminate the nature of being.  In his book, The Master Speaks, Joel Goldsmith reminds us that the Truth of being is eternal regardless of how many different ways it is presented. Consciousness is the creative principle of life. Consciousness is the eternal truth of being. In my experience, being aware or Awareness Itself is our true nature and our only purpose. It is Absolute. Victoria's email address Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded July 16, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:04:36 - Growing up Catholic and questioning belief in God 00:09:15 - The Bookstore Encounter and Meditation Journey 00:13:21 - Being More and Doing Less 00:17:29 - Discovering Rupert Spira 00:22:53 - Exhilaration and a sense of being aware 00:28:01 - The Nature of Being and Pure Awareness 00:33:17 - The simplicity of realizing true nature 00:38:09 - The Secret of Harmonious Living in the Bible 00:42:54 - Unity of All Beings 00:47:18 - The Presence of God and Harmony 00:52:13 - The Power to Overcome 00:56:56 - Right Action and Restoring Peace 01:00:36 - A Near-Drowning Experience 01:04:19 - The Limits of Tools and Identity 01:09:59 - The Personal and Universal Self 01:14:19 - The Illusion of Separation 01:18:00 - The Power of Clarification 01:22:25 - Elevating the Level of Consciousness 01:26:48 - The Release of Identity 01:31:27 - Seeking the Kingdom of God 01:35:43 - The Fear of Contagion and the Vaccine 01:40:34 - The Eternal Nature of Being 01:45:33 - Integration and Belief Systems in Psychology 01:49:39 - The Master-Student Relationship 01:54:25 - Freedom from Negative Emotions 01:59:15 - Addressing from a Place of Power and Compassion 02:03:26 - The Two I's and the Conscious Realization of God 02:08:51 - The Power of Stillness and Self-Realization 02:12:51 - Rupert's Teachings and Intellectual Rigor 02:16:23 - Farewell to the Team

Stephen Doetsu Snyder began meditating daily in 1976. he has practiced since in the Zen tradition as well as extensive practice in Theravada Buddhism. he is a lineage Zen teacher as well as a lineage Theravada teacher. He was also influenced by Diamond Heart teachings and practices. He combines the ancient Buddhist heart practices with awakening practices of the Zen tradition into a heartfelt journey of realization and embodiment. Books: Demystifying Awakening: A Buddhist Path of Realization, Embodiment, and Freedom Buddha's Heart: Meditation Practice for Developing Well-Being, Love, and Empathy Practicing the Jhanas: Traditional Concentration Meditation as Presented by the Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw Website: awakeningdharma.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded July 10, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:03 - The Importance of Heart Practices in Zen 00:07:34 - Dropping the Sense of Self and Transcending Identity 00:11:16 - The Importance of Stability and Trust in Spiritual Experiences 00:14:43 - The Nature of the Absolute 00:18:25 - The Importance of Direct Experience in Understanding 00:21:47 - Different Teachings on God and Jesus 00:25:08 - Levels of Realization 00:28:37 - The Journey of Self-Realization and Integration 00:31:54 - The Importance of Ethical Behavior in the Spiritual Community 00:35:24 - Addressing Doubts and Hierarchy 00:38:38 - Integrating Spirituality and Law 00:42:00 - The First Awakening: A Satori Experience 00:45:24 - The Progress of Personal Growth 00:48:54 - The Experience of the Absolute 00:52:26 - Overdoing Meditation and the Need for Balance 00:56:11 - Concentration and Jhana Factors 00:59:17 - Releasing Effort and Deepening Meditation 01:02:33 - Exploring Different Paths and Awakening Experiences 01:05:58 - Retreating and Progressive Practices 01:09:25 - Progression of Practice and Integration of Personal Issues 01:12:59 - The Need for Personal Work and Practice 01:16:20 - Difference between prana rising and Kundalini rising 01:19:41 - Resistances to Awakening 01:23:08 - Fear and Shifts in Consciousness 01:26:25 - Balancing Heart Practices and Awakening Practices 01:29:55 - The practice of innate goodness meditation and journaling 01:33:16 - Working with the Inner Critic and Therapist Recommendations 01:36:32 - The Shift in Consciousness 01:39:42 - Retreats and Personal Journey 01:43:03 - Zen Jazz and Life's Improvisations

Clare Goldsberry has been a life-long student of religion and spiritual traditions. Having been reared Protestant Christian, her goal was to study for the ministry after completing her BA in Journalism at Arizona State University. However, a few semesters into those studies in a cooperative study program with Claremont School of Theology (Claremont, CA), she was called away into the study of Buddhism. For the past 27 years, she has been engaged in the practice of Buddhism, as well as the study of Hinduism, Gnosticism, Theosophy, philosophy (from the ancients to modern philosophers), and modern Christian religions. She has even added the study of Quantum physics to the mix after noticing that modern quantum ideas parallel those of Buddhism as the science of mind. She has always followed her inner voice, as it is that call that is the true call on her path. She teaches classes on all of those topics and tries to encourage people to follow their inner light/voice and not to be led astray. The questions are always more important than the answers, as she tells her students. Website: claregoldsberry.com Books: The Illusion of Life and Death: Mind, Consciousness, and Eternal Being The Teacher Within: Finding and Living Your Personal Truth: Finding and Living Your Personal Truth A Stranger in Zion Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded July 2, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Clare Goldsberry 00:03:41 - Learning from Brent's Illness 00:07:51 - Remembering Death 00:11:30 - The Mystery of Different Opportunities 00:15:21 - The Meaning and Purpose of Karma 00:19:23 - The Intelligence of the Universe 00:23:24 - Guardian Angels and Grace in Life 00:27:06 - The Search for Answers Outside Oneself 00:30:31 - Believing in Leaders and Having All the Answers 00:34:24 - Excommunicated from the Church 00:38:01 - The Importance of Discernment in Beliefs and Truth 00:41:34 - Reincarnation in the Judeo-Christian Tradition 00:45:24 - Making Choices in Life 00:49:14 - Embracing the Twists and Turns in Life 00:52:56 - The Chinese Farmer Story and Embracing All Perspectives 00:56:12 - Why We Don't Know How to Die 01:00:00 - Attachment and the Fear of Death 01:03:21 - Reincarnation and Beliefs in India 01:07:27 - Quantum Physics and Creating Reality 01:10:46 - Making a Difference in Your Practice 01:14:13 - The Possibility of Transcending Suffering 01:17:47 - Non-attachment and Letting Go 01:21:34 - Grief to Growth and Finding Meaning 01:25:02 - A Shift in the World 01:28:42 - The Buddha's Awakening 01:32:25 - The Dying Process and Embracing Death 01:36:14 - Loving without Attachment 01:40:04 - Letting Go of Attachments and Embracing Fulfillment 01:43:42 - Living Life on Your Own Terms for the Time You Have 01:47:12 - Reflections on Aging and Death 01:50:03 - Farewell in Phoenix

Penny Sartori became interested in death and dying early in her nursing career after a connection she developed while caring for a dying patient in the ICU. That event motivated Penny to question what happens when we die and this led to Penny undertaking a long-term study to investigate the near-death experiences of patients in ICU. Penny worked as a nurse for 21 years and currently lectures at the nursing department of Swansea University. Website: drpennysartori.com YouTube Channel Books: The Wisdom of Near-Death Experiences: How Understanding NDEs Can Help Us to Live More Fully The Transformative Power of Near-Death Experiences: How the Messages of NDEs Can Positively Impact the World Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded Sunday, June 26, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Dr. Penny Sartori 00:03:50 - Reflections on Death and Near-Death Experiences 00:07:09 - The Disconnection from Nature and Primal Selves 00:10:38 - Long-term Impacts of Near-Death Experiences 00:14:00 - Impact of Near-Death Experiences 00:17:23 - The Purpose of Near-Death Experiences 00:20:36 - Beings from Higher Dimensions 00:23:58 - Medications and Near-Death Experiences 00:27:01 - The Importance of Understanding Near-Death Experiences 00:30:10 - After Effects of Near-Death Experiences 00:33:34 - Unexplainable Experiences during Near Death Experience 00:36:39 - Heightened State of Awareness during Unconsciousness 00:39:51 - Profound healing experiences through altered state of consciousness 00:42:57 - A Profound Understanding of Quantum Physics 00:46:11 - Consciousness as a Transmitter or Receiver 00:49:30 - Different Experiences of Consciousness 00:52:57 - Out-of-body experiences and consciousness after death 00:55:48 - Wisdom of Ancient Traditions 00:58:56 - Experiencing the Life Review 01:01:53 - The Profound Effect of Actions on Individuals 01:05:00 - Tactile and Auditory Experiences in NDEs 01:07:59 - The Challenges of Verifying Out-of-Body Experiences 01:11:03 - Near-Death Experiences and Perspective Shifts 01:13:49 - Distressing Near-Death Experiences 01:17:08 - Heavenly and Hellish Realms 01:20:32 - Pleasant Experiences of Dying 01:24:22 - Visited by Deceased Loved Ones During the Dying Process 01:28:20 - The Transformative Potential of Near-Death Experiences 01:32:28 - Transformative Experiences and Helping Others 01:36:29 - Messages and Symbols After Death 01:39:57 - Near-Death Experience and Empowering Communities