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Buddha at the Gas Pump
Author: Rick Archer
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Copyright © by Rick Archer, 2010-2024
Description
The implication of the title - Buddha at the Gas Pump - is that ordinary people are experiencing higher states of consciousness once thought to be rare and difficult to attain.
People everywhere are undergoing a shift or awakening to their true nature. For some, this shift has been abrupt and dramatic. For others, it has been so gradual that they may not have realized it has occurred.
Such shifts, or awakenings, are not new: Christ spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven within, Buddhists speak of Nirvana, Zen masters of Satori, Hindus of Moksha, but these traditions generally regard these states as rare and difficult to attain.
Many people are therefore skeptical of claims of higher states of consciousness. They find it hard to believe that apparently ordinary friends and neighbors might be experiencing something extraordinary. Maybe they expect Enlightenment to look as remarkable on the outside as it is reputed to be on the inside.
This show will attempt to dispel skepticism and misconceptions by week after week, allowing otherwise ordinary people to relate their experience of spiritual awakening. The terminology is tricky, because there are no universally agreed upon definitions to describe this experience. So please forgive us if we use some unfamiliar terms. We will try to clarify our definitions as we go along.
Perhaps, after a while, those listening will become convinced that genuine and permanent spiritual awakenings are not just a pipe dream, but are real and are becoming relatively commonplace.
These podcasts are the audio track of a weekly interview show which may be seen as videos on our YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/buddhaatthegaspump). Also see the main site: https://batgap.com.
For search purposes, I will add the following to this description - batgap, Buddha at the Gaspump, Buddah at the Gas Pump.
People everywhere are undergoing a shift or awakening to their true nature. For some, this shift has been abrupt and dramatic. For others, it has been so gradual that they may not have realized it has occurred.
Such shifts, or awakenings, are not new: Christ spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven within, Buddhists speak of Nirvana, Zen masters of Satori, Hindus of Moksha, but these traditions generally regard these states as rare and difficult to attain.
Many people are therefore skeptical of claims of higher states of consciousness. They find it hard to believe that apparently ordinary friends and neighbors might be experiencing something extraordinary. Maybe they expect Enlightenment to look as remarkable on the outside as it is reputed to be on the inside.
This show will attempt to dispel skepticism and misconceptions by week after week, allowing otherwise ordinary people to relate their experience of spiritual awakening. The terminology is tricky, because there are no universally agreed upon definitions to describe this experience. So please forgive us if we use some unfamiliar terms. We will try to clarify our definitions as we go along.
Perhaps, after a while, those listening will become convinced that genuine and permanent spiritual awakenings are not just a pipe dream, but are real and are becoming relatively commonplace.
These podcasts are the audio track of a weekly interview show which may be seen as videos on our YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/buddhaatthegaspump). Also see the main site: https://batgap.com.
For search purposes, I will add the following to this description - batgap, Buddha at the Gaspump, Buddah at the Gas Pump.
641 Episodes
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Neil Theise is a professor of pathology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Through his scientific research, he has been a pioneer of adult stem cell plasticity and the anatomy of the human interstitium. Dr. Theise’s studies in complexity theory have led to interdisciplinary collaborations in fields such as integrative medicine, consciousness studies, and science-religion dialogue. He is a senior Zen student at the Village Zendo in NYC. His life long Jewish practice has involved both traditional observances and formal academic study. In recent years, (to his surprise) he has also undergone shamanic initiation.
Books:
General Audience:
Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being
Of academic interest:
Awakening: Exploring Spirituality, Emergent Creativity, and Reconciliation
Transforming: Applying Spirituality, Emergent Creativity, and Reconciliation
Website: neiltheiseofficial.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded March 9, 2024
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:25 - Complexity Theory and the study of life
00:08:34 - Dynamic Healing of the GI Tract
00:12:40 - Artificial Life and Complexity Theory
00:17:26 - Awakening through the Koan "Mu"
00:22:41 - The Fascinating Idea of Biocentrism and Organizing Complexity
00:25:45 - Discovering Complexity Theory
00:28:37 - The Illusion of Materiality and the Nature of Pure Awareness
00:33:37 - The Non-dual Fundamental Awareness
00:37:38 - Complementarity in Quantum Physics and Beyond
00:42:36 - The Quantum Field of the Body
00:46:29 - Direct experiences of quantum level reality
00:49:14 - The True Nature of Conscious Reality
00:53:25 - The Illusion of Reality
00:56:56 - The Mechanism of Human Consciousness
01:01:23 - Challenging Empirical Science and Promissory Materialism
01:04:51 - The Intimacy of Subject and Object in Quantum Science
01:08:53 - The Limitations of Mathematics and Empirical Science
01:13:30 - Gödel and Turing's Implications for Mystical Exploration and Consciousness
01:17:33 - Shifting Paradigms and the Nature of Consciousness
01:21:20 - Self-Organization and Complexity in the Universe
01:24:44 - Negative and Positive Feedback Loops
01:29:02 - The Adjacent Possibles and Creativity
01:32:16 - The Subtle Dimensions of Living Beings and the Universe
01:35:26 - Language Limitations and Perspective
01:39:02 - Awakening through Traumatic Experiences
01:42:35 - Wondering about Luck and the Beloved Name
01:45:28 - The Universe's Construction and Spiritual Practices
01:48:30 - The Divine Feminine and Unconditional Love
01:52:57 - The Nature of Reality and True Compassion
01:55:56 - Conclusion
Kimberley Theresa Lafferty is a seasoned teacher-practitioner specializing in constructive adult developmental psychology and Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. She completed over 12 years of intensive Indo Tibetan study including the required retreats. She leads both open and advanced adult educational cohorts aligning developmental psychology and Buddhist theory. Kimberley co-leads, with Terri O’Fallon, the penultimate Minds I year-long developmental course of Stages International. She is an active Board member for the Association for Spiritual Integrity. Kimberley is also a householder as a wife and mother, living in a remote valley of the North Cascades of North America which deeply impacts her worldview and practice.
Website: The Confluence Experience | Making sense of what doesn't make sense
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview
Interview recorded February 10, 2024
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
00:03:33 - Finding Peace in the Forest
00:06:27 - A Blissful Awakening
00:11:15 - Deep Inner Resources and Spiritual Experiences
00:15:10 - Connecting with our Ultimate Selves
00:18:26 - The Wave and Ocean Metaphor
00:23:24 - Diving into Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
00:27:59 - Tantric Retreats and Solitary Meditation
00:32:26 - Experiences on the Retreats with Vajrayogini
00:35:33 - The Red Lady and the Retreat
00:40:01 - The Lesson of Treating Practice Seriously
00:44:18 - The Precious Gift of Tibetan Buddhism
00:47:58 - Spirituality and Integration
00:51:02 - Understanding the Intersection of Waking Up and Identity Change
00:55:31 - The Evolution of Perception and Consciousness
01:00:08 - Supporting Spiritual Teachers
01:03:59 - Shadow Work and Holistic Development
01:07:16 - The Integration of Wisdom and Compassion
01:10:57 - Waves of Human Becoming and Non-Duality in Daily Life
01:14:06 - Anomalous Experiences: Exploring the Extraordinary
01:18:57 - Anomalous Experiences and Meaning Making
01:23:49 - Anomalous Experiences and the Search for Answers
01:28:03 - The Cautionary Use of Psychedelics and the Self
01:32:01 - The Need for Spiritual Integrity among Teachers
01:35:58 - The Preciousness of a Spiritual Life
01:39:58 - Realizing Inner Bliss
01:43:44 - Experiencing Fulfillment in Tantra
01:47:41 - Finding Your Path in Spiritual Practice
01:52:16 - The Role of Spiritual Psychotherapists
01:56:28 - Strengthening Ourselves Psychologically and Spiritually
02:00:00 - Continuing the Conversation with Kimberly
After receiving his doctorate in the sensory neurosciences from The Ohio State University, Bob Davis, Ph.D., served as a professor for the State University of New York for over thirty years, where he conducted research in the behavioral and neurosensory sciences, taught, and held many high-level administrative roles. He published his research in over 60 articles in scholarly journals, and presented numerous lectures worldwide, which included invited lectures at Harvard, Cambridge, and Peking University. Bob was also awarded numerous grants by the National Science Foundation and The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to conduct research in sensory neuroscience.
Following retirement, Bob published several articles in the Journal of Scientific Exploration and Edge Science and presented lectures at national and international conferences on consciousness, spiritually transformative experiences, and unidentified aerial phenomena. Bob has also published three highly popular books:
The UFO Phenomenon: Should I Believe?
Life after Death: An Analysis of the Evidence, and,
Unseen Forces: The Integration of Science, Reality and You.
More recently, he has turned his recent book, Unseen Forces, into a planned documentary entitled - The Consciousness Connection - with Emmy Award winner Dave Beaty of Dreamtime Entertainment and Wilson Hawthorne of Eyeland Telemedia.
Website: bobdavisspeaks.com
Bob Davis is an administrator of the Facebook Site called: The Consciousness Connection Facebook group.
Bob's email
Bob says, "If you'd like to learn more about the film project or consciousness in general, please subscribe to the Consciousness Connection YouTube channel.
Summary and Transcript of this interview
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded February 3, 2024.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:35 - Types and Evidence of Extraordinary Human Experiences
00:08:03 - A Profound Shared Death Experience
00:12:21 - A Spiritual Awakening and Kundalini Awakening
00:15:53 - The Misdiagnosis of Spiritual Awakening
00:19:27 - The Unstoppable Spread of Information
00:23:58 - The Need for a Paradigm Shift in Understanding Consciousness
00:27:49 - The Evidence of White Crows in DMT Experiences
00:31:40 - Exploring Consciousness Beyond Traditional Science
00:36:04 - The Relationship Between Science and Spirituality
00:40:27 - Brain Development and Spiritual Transformation
00:44:35 - Humans as Light Beings and Quantum Mechanics
00:48:22 - Veridical Perceptions in Near-Death Experiences
00:52:34 - Near-Death Experiences and Perception
00:56:44 - Novel Interactions in the Brain
01:01:02 - Consciousness and the Bohmian Paradigm Shift
01:05:16 - Ego Dissolution and Positive After-Effects
01:09:03 - Spiritual Practices and Physiological Treatments
01:12:56 - Quantum Mechanics and Premonition
01:16:55 - ESP and Autistic Savants
01:21:20 - Photonic Emissions and Healing Abilities
01:26:00 - The Power of Spiritual Practice
01:29:26 - Personal Transformation and Spreading the Word
01:32:32 - Transformation in Beliefs and Experiences
01:36:00 - The Importance of Spiritual Development
01:38:40 - Tapping into the Language of Nature
01:42:11 - Conclusions about UFOs and their Spiritual Implications
01:45:57 - The Mystery and Wonder of the Universe
01:50:26 - The Long-Term Nature of Spiritual Development
01:54:04 - The Power of Changing Perspectives
Brad Laughlin is the author of Living with Enlightenment—A Journey of Love, which is about his 25-year life-partnership with Leslie Temple-Thurston, a teacher of enlightenment, and the profound spiritual transformation he experienced. With Leslie, he is co-author of two books, The Marriage of Spirit—Enlightened Living in Today’s World and Returning to Oneness—The Seven Keys of Ascension.
Brad is dedicated to finding innovative ways of helping people to awaken spiritually and to find love, joy and inspiration during these times of great change. Using ancient Truth teachings, yogic practices and spiritual psychology, he offers simple yet powerful practices for dissolving old, limiting ego structures that keep us trapped in negativity, pain and fear. Brad’s transformative events are based on the principles of integration and unity consciousness, which help us to know our own inner Divinity—who we truly are.
Brad and Leslie are co-founders of the nonprofits, CoreLight.org and Seeds of Light.org, CoreLight’s humanitarian arm, serving marginalized communities and AIDS orphans in South Africa. Brad has a bachelor’s degree from Duke University. He is an American by birth, considers himself a global citizen and lives in both South Africa and the United States.
Anna Breytenbach is an internationally acclaimed professional interspecies communicator with over 20 years’ experience. Native to South Africa and currently based in Europe, she mentors and consults globally. Her focus is exclusively with wild places and beings, facilitating peaceful interventions and greater understanding. This includes predator research, wilderness protection, anti-poaching assistance, reforestation initiatives, wildlife management and rehabilitation. She is currently taking a sabbatical from her usual teaching and public appearances to write a book.
Anna’s passion is raising awareness and advancing the relationships among human and nonhuman animals, on both the personal and spiritual levels. Her work is the subject of the documentary movie "The Animal Communicator”, watched by tens of millions of people (and a few of their pets), available on YouTube.
Anna's website: The Animal Communicator | AnimalSpirit
YouTube Channel
Anna's first BatGap interview
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded January 28, 2024
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:56 - Introduction and Background
00:07:26 - From Cheetah Handler to Animal Communicator and Author
00:11:55 - Following Your Inner Calling
00:16:10 - Holding Space for Elephants
00:20:35 - Collective Consciousness and Communication
00:23:42 - The Collective Expressions of Consciousness and Earth Energies
00:27:34 - The Joy of Whales Breaching
00:31:16 - Rediscovering the Intelligence of Nature
00:34:08 - The Importance of Functioning with Intelligence in Society
00:38:08 - The Intelligence of Stones and Non-Moving Beings
00:42:05 - Cruelty to Vegetables and Choosing Love for Animals
00:47:06 - An Evergreen Online Course on Interspecies Communication
00:51:36 - Valuing Different Paths in Life
00:56:41 - Profound Mystical Experiences and the Search for Answers
01:01:07 - The Ball of Light and Healing Energy
01:05:42 - Transitioning into a Higher State
01:11:02 - Pure Joy and Presence
01:16:50 - Quantum Entanglement and Communication
01:19:46 - Perception and the Importance of Clearing Ego Noise
01:24:03 - Rethinking Human Love for Animals
01:27:32 - Animals' Compassion and Journey to Loving Humans
01:31:00 - Communicating with Plants and the Tragedy of the Rabbits
01:33:40 - The Oak Trees' Compassion and Rabbit Friendships
01:36:49 - The Sensitivity of an Enlightened Being
Swami Medhananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and an academic philosopher, currently serving as Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy at the Vedanta Society of Southern California in Hollywood. He is also the Hindu Chaplain at both UCLA and the University of Southern California. He is Section Editor for the International Journal of Hindu Studies (Springer), overseeing submissions in Hindu and Cross-Cultural Philosophy of Religion. From 2010 to 2021, he was Associate Professor and Head of the Program in Philosophy at the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute in Belur Math, West Bengal. He received his PhD in 2009 from the University of California at Berkeley, where he specialized in German aesthetics. He was also a Fulbright Scholar at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (2006–7) and a Visiting Student at Oxford University (2000–1). His current research focuses on global philosophy of religion, the epistemology of mystical experience, cosmopsychism, Indian scriptural hermeneutics, and Vedāntic philosophical traditions, especially the philosophies of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, and Sri Aurobindo.
He is the author of three books: Swami Vivekananda’s Vedāntic Cosmopolitanism (Oxford University Press, 2022), Infinite Paths to Infinite Reality: Sri Ramakrishna and Cross-Cultural Philosophy of Religion (Oxford University Press, 2018), and The Dialectics of Aesthetic Agency: Revaluating German Aesthetics from Kant to Adorno (Bloomsbury, 2013). He is the editor of The Bloomsbury Research Handbook of Vedānta (2020) and co-editor, with Benedikt Paul Göcke, of Panentheism in Indian and Western Thought: Cosmopolitan Interventions (Routledge, 2023). He is also the editor of two special issues of the International Journal of Hindu Studies, one on “Swami Vivekananda as a Cosmopolitan Thinker” (2023) and one on “Vedāntic Theodicies” (2021). He has published over thirty articles in leading academic journals.
He is currently working on two book projects: Karma and Rebirth in Hinduism (Cambridge University Press, under contract) and An All-Embracing Oneness: Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Advaita and the Legacy of Sri Ramakrishna (Oxford University Press, under contract).
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded January 22, 2024.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:04 - Agnostic to Swami: My Spiritual Journey
00:09:28 - Conversations with an Atheist and Finding Common Ground
00:13:36 - The experience of mystics and the standards of proof
00:17:49 - The Pissed-off Response to Vedanta
00:22:01 - Anecdote about Eligibility in Advaita Vedanta
00:26:13 - Shankara's understanding of Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya
00:30:16 - Different Paths to Realizing the Divine
00:34:00 - Contradictions in Shankara's writings
00:37:57 - The Vijnani's Perspective and the Colorful Chameleon
00:41:51 - Different Perspectives in Vedanta
00:45:59 - The Benefits of Science and Spirituality
00:50:07 - Embracing Christianity in Vedanta
00:54:30 - Shakti and the Manifestation of the World
00:58:16 - Manifestation of Brahman in the World
01:02:02 - The Validity of Personal Perception
01:05:22 - Epistemic Principles: Credulity and Perceptual Testimony
01:09:05 - The Importance of Critical Thinking on the Spiritual Path
01:12:45 - The Problem with Neo-Advaitins
01:16:54 - Panentheism and Spiritual Practice
01:21:02 - Vijnana Vedanta and the Path to Liberation
01:24:59 - Embracing the Dual Nature of God
01:29:27 - Ramakrishna's First-Line Response to the Problem of Evil
00:01:32 - The Doctrine of Karma and Rebirth
01:36:34 - The Challenge of God's Attributes
01:40:04 - Dissolving the Problem of Evil
01:44:58 - Gaudapada's doctrine of Ajatavada and the Di...
David Doyle lives on the water in the island city of Alameda in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, their teenage son, and Merlin, a rambunctious Rat Terrier. At an early age he set upon a spiritual path and soon put down the books and turned inward. David’s path has been by most standards a very traditional inner practice, starting with Hatha Yoga and quickly moving to Raja Yoga. Meditation was his main practice, with asanas as an adjunct to meditation.
Early on in his spiritual practice a teacher said that if you master the basics of yoga, and if you practice in earnest, all will unfold – everything you need will come to you. David took this to heart, beginning a life-long practice that for the most part was a solitary journey.
At 20 years old his third eye opened in a dramatic unfolding, and from there came the never-ending gift of insight and abilities including: clairvoyance, clairsentience, clairaudience, precognition, telepathy and more.
Some years later David joined the Berkeley Psychic Institute during its heyday and befriended the founder, Dr. Lewis S Bostwick, whom he considers to be his first great spiritual teacher, and friend. He spent over a decade with this group and at its many (at the time) institutes and thousands of students and teachers.
In 2012, David came to an abiding awakening, and since that time, many changes have taken place in an ongoing process of daily and weekly energetic and auspicious unfoldings, many of which have left him nearly incapacitated.
Since awakening, David has also become an adept Qi Gong Master under the guidance of Grand Master Shi Yong Yao, formerly an elite teacher-monk at the Northern Shaolin Temple in China. Additionally, many siddhis have developed as byproducts along The Way as well as a massive kundalini awakening and other extraordinary happenings.
Now, with ten years having passed since awakening, David is ready to share experiences from his fifty+ year journey with a wider audience. He created Monk with Family, a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to the householder, but inclusive of anyone for whom The Way is their life’s focus. David leads a weekly Satsang open to all those interested, and is available for speaking engagements and other spiritual events.
David A. Doyle: Inventor, entrepreneur, manufacturer, publisher, sailor, skier, burning man (burner), householder.
Founder: Monk with Family Website
Founding member of Shaolin Master Qi Gong, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to sharing the teachings of Master Yao. David is registered in China as the: Deputy Director of the U.S. Regional Department of Shaolin Fohanmen.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded December 30, 2023
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Background
00:04:34 - Introduction to Monk with Family and David's Spiritual Journey
00:09:27 - The Serious Effects of Kundalini
00:14:08 - The Wall in Meditation
00:17:38 - Types of Meditation and Overcoming Resistance
00:22:14 - Meditation Tips: Finding the Center of the Head
00:26:49 - Proper Posture and Alignment in Meditation
00:30:03 - Energy Flying in Meditation Space
00:34:49 - Skiing in Cold Weather with a Surprising Warmth
00:38:48 - Tummo Practice and Yogis in Nepal
00:42:58 - The Bizarre Experience
00:47:01 - Telepathic Communication and Kundalini Experiences
00:51:01 - The Kundalini Experience
00:55:00 - Profound Spiritual Experiences
01:00:22 - The Unawareness of Our Own Abilities
01:03:35 - Energetic Phenomena and Thought Forms
01:06:45 - A Fortunate Tire Blowout and Unexpected Help
01:11:27 - The Spiritual Warrior and Negative Entities
01:16:56 - Dealing with the Demonic
01:20:42 - Unleashing Unnatural Abilities
01:25:54 - The Faint Remains of Ignorance
01:30:37 - The Changing Landscape of Work and Invention
After dying of a heart attack on the doorstep of a hospital in 2006 and being brought back to life, Mary knew it was time to write about her lifetime of astonishing mystical experiences which began with a visitation from the mystic Jesus in 1984 during a defining life crisis. It was then that Jesus spoke seven revelations: on forgiveness, judgment, the bible, weight problems, disease, aging and the ego.
A few years later in 1986 Mary met a monk who initiated her into deeper states of consciousness and in 1988 she experienced the highest state of awareness, self-realization, and received the message that divinity awaits all mankind. A few months following her transformative experience of self-realization, Mary was given a spontaneous experience of her own death while meditating on a bench inside a lobby where she worked at MIT. From that moment she no longer feared death.
A number of years later during a health challenge Mary had a experience of nature’s healing law of “like cures like” after being introduced to the consciousness-based system of homeopathic medicine, resolving areas in her consciousness that held the root of disease brought on by traumatic events in her early years.
She enjoys lecturing on these topics and sharing the truth of our divinity and letting go of the false notion of death by embracing our eternal nature. She shares how consciousness is all and why it is so important to embrace consciousness-based medicine to heal our physical, emotional and mental bodies by restoring our consciousness to harmony. As humanity awakens to itself through the upheavals of our times, this book will serve as a testimony to what is possible for humanity as the old paradigms fall away and new paradigms arise.
This book will bring comfort to the seeker who wants to know their true Self and to answer the questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Does death truly exist? Is self-realization truly possible? If you want to connect with Mary personally, please consider booking a Conversation with Mary.
Website: Mary Terhune | Awakening Now To Our Higher Consciousness
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump interview with Mary Terhune
00:04:14 - The Mystical Encounter at the Window
00:08:23 - Inner Awakening and Forgiveness
00:11:04 - Past Lives and Spiritual Path
00:14:19 - The Misuse of Mystics' Words in the Bible
00:18:37 - The Impact of Stuck Emotions on Health and Disease
00:23:30 - The Experience of Love and Envy
00:26:48 - Seeking a Context for Enlightenment
00:30:05 - The Awakening and Reunion
00:34:24 - Meeting the Monk and the Path of Love
00:37:38 - Clearing Out Karmic Relationships
00:42:02 - Being Nourished by the Light
00:45:33 - Kundalini Awakening and Divine Realization
00:47:34 - Reclaiming our divinity
00:50:09 - The Natural State of Being
00:54:41 - Agony of Separation and the State of Bliss
00:59:25 - Out-of-body experience and return to the physical body
01:04:10 - The Veil Between Here and There
01:08:12 - The End of Experience after Realizing Brahman
01:12:10 - The State of Divinity and the Space Between Thoughts
01:14:30 - Living in the World, but Not of the World
01:17:52 - The Death of the Egoic Structure
01:20:51 - Near-Death Experience and Miraculous Recovery
01:24:38 - Seeking a Spiritual Teacher
01:27:34 - Interacting from a State of Oneness
01:30:53 - Turia: A Continuum of Consciousness
01:35:27 - Uncovering the Mother Loss
01:40:03 - Healing with Homeopathic Medicine
01:44:04 - The History and Suppression of Homeopathic Medicine
01:47:57 - The Precipice of Something Huge
01:51:06 - Farewell and Gratitude
Scott Hiegel lives in La Quinta, CA and runs a business consulting and investment banking business called Solquest. He has a BBA from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from UCLA. He’s been a former CPA, CFA, Vice President of Corporate Finance, and entrepreneur.
He enjoys writing and talking about his experiences with Kundalini, and his lifelong roller coaster and, at times, perilous search for inner peace, the Divine, Love, and higher consciousness. Through speaking, outreach, film, poetry, and other creative expression, his goal is to entertain and inform people about the gifts and profound importance of Gopi Krishna's work, Kundalini, higher states of consciousness, and Love. Scott has written two books:
"Reaching Heaven on Earth: A Soul’s Journey Home", in which he shares his personal story and mystical poetry, and
"Love’s Design: Reaching Heaven on Earth", which he co-authored with Christopher Wrigley. In this book they share their unique expressions of love, hope, and knowledge through an exchange of 12 poetic verses.
Scott's interests include visiting museums and historical sites, traveling, listening to holiday music and oldies, and watching movies. He enjoys sports, hiking, and attending 12-step meetings. He loves reading books about spirituality and the inspirational people who have helped make the world a better place.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded November 18, 2023.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:49 - Regular People with Extraordinary Potential
00:09:04 - Enlightenment and Inner Fulfillment
00:12:45 - Childhood Dreams and Shyness
00:18:32 - Descending into Hell, Exile to the Desert, and the Dark Night of the Soul
00:21:42 - Surrender and Transformation
00:25:13 - Letting go of Attachment to Achieve Spiritual Progress
00:29:34 - Working Hard Spiritually
00:34:42 - The Inner Voice and Purity of the Body
00:39:42 - The Law of Evolution and the Path of Healthy Evolution
00:43:27 - The Awakening and Transformation
00:47:34 - Purifying Energy and Spiritual Practices
00:50:25 - Spiritual and Paranormal Experiences
00:54:17 - Time and Space Disappear
00:57:11 - Unfolding of Latent Faculties and Spiritual Experiences
01:02:00 - Connecting through Vulnerability
01:05:10 - "Living with Kundalini, the Autobiography of Gopi Krishna" discovery
01:09:31 - Distorted Evolution and the Need for Change
01:13:46 - Societal Collapse and the Evolution of Consciousness
01:17:47 - The New Science of Consciousness Evolution
01:21:37 - Exploring Higher Levels of Beauty and Consciousness
01:24:49 - The Vastness of the Universe
01:30:36 - The Power of Consciousness On the Next State of Consciousness
01:34:31 - The Shift in the Perception of the Universe
01:38:28 - The Influence of Spielberg and Lucas
01:42:40 - Joy and Connection with Others
01:45:30 - Titanic Presence and Deeper Connection to Inner Voice
01:49:32 - Eagle with a Thousand Heads
01:53:49 - Expanding Consciousness and Freedom from Fear
01:56:40 - Quotes on Love and Fulfillment
01:59:52 - Starting the tasks
Professor Jem Bendell is a world-renowned scholar on the breakdown of modern societies due to environmental change. Downloaded over a million times, his Deep Adaptation paper is credited with inspiring the growth of the Extinction Rebellion movement in 2018, and created a global network of to reduce harm in the face of societal collapse. He completed his PhD at the University of Bristol and his Geography BA (Hons) at the University of Cambridge. For decades he worked on Sustainable Development as a researcher and NGO manager, as well as a consultant to businesses, political parties and UN agencies. One of his specialisms since 2011 is pro-social currency innovation, with his TEDx from that year explaining reasons for Bitcoin and similar. In 2017, he co-led the development of the UK Labour Party’s communications plan for the General Election and co-wrote speeches for their top politicians. Although recognised in 2012 as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Jem has been increasingly critical of the globalist agenda on sustainable development. Away from that work, he is partner in an organic farm school in Bali (bekandze.net) and supports meditation retreats at the main Buddhist Temple on the island.
Website: jembendell.com
Books:
Breaking Together: A Freedom-Loving Response to Collapse
Deep Adaptation: Navigating the Realities of Climate Chaos
Evolving Partnerships: A Guide to Working with Business for Greater Social Change
Healing Capitalism: Five Years in the Life of Business, Finance and Corporate Responsibility
The Corporate Responsibility Movement: Five Years of Global Corporate Responsibility Analysis from Lifeworth, 2001-2005
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded October 28, 2023
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Professor Jem Bandel
00:03:58 - Introducing "Breaking Together" and its Hypothesis
00:07:56 - The Shift in Collective Consciousness
00:11:47 - The Importance of the Dark Night of the Soul
00:15:32 - The IPCC's Desire for Consensus
00:19:03 - Siloed Science and the Denial of Climate Change
00:22:44 - A New Form, A New Identity Structure, A New Kind of Safety
00:26:24 - Finding Inner Presence in Times of Chaos
00:30:21 - Faith and the Sense of Time
00:34:18 - The Catastrophic Risks of Climate Change
00:38:04 - Climate Change and Public Dialogue
00:41:35 - Debunking the Study on Free Will
00:45:06 - The Importance of Ocean Health to Climate Change Awareness
00:48:47 - Rejecting Activist Stunts and Embracing Community Preparedness
00:53:20 - Indigenous Environmental Stewardship
00:57:28 - Eternity and the Meaning of Life
01:01:31 - A Vision for Freedom and Connection
01:05:04 - Consciousness and Reincarnation
01:08:40 - Collapse Acceptance and Joy
01:12:30 - The Source of the Theory of Spiritual Awakening
01:15:26 - The Possibility of Human Extinction
01:18:54 - Examining Deep Stories and the Importance of Consciousness
01:22:15 - Collective Consciousness and Spiritual Awakening
01:26:14 - The Scientific Attitude and the Future of Human Society
01:29:14 - Implications and Perspectives
01:32:54 - Love Beyond Hope and Social Engagement as a Gift
01:36:23 - The Cultural Breakthrough of the Beatles
01:38:52 - Feeling Empathy for Others
01:42:51 - Becoming Oceanic in Consciousness
01:46:54 - The Meaning of Life and Personal Values
01:50:05 - Conversation with Jem about his book
Ruth E. Kastner earned her M.S. in Physics and Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Maryland. Since that time, she has taught widely and conducted research in Foundations of Physics, particularly in interpretations of quantum theory. She was one of three winners of the 2021 Alumni Research Award at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is the author of 3 books: The Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Theory: The Reality of Possibility (Cambridge University Press, 2012; 2nd edition just published, 2022), Understanding Our Unseen Reality: Solving Quantum Riddles (Imperial College Press, 2015); and Adventures In Quantumland: Exploring Our Unseen Reality (World Scientific, 2019). She has presented talks and interviews throughout the world and in video recordings on the interpretational challenges of quantum theory, and has a blog at transactionalinterpretation.org. She is also a dedicated yoga practitioner and received her 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Instructor Certification in February, 2020.
Website: ruthekastner.org
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Transcript and summary of this interview
Interview recorded October 21, 2023.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:03 - The Importance of Physical Fitness and Yoga
00:08:00 - Discovering the Transactional Interpretation
00:11:58 - The Connection between Consciousness and Spirituality
00:16:28 - The Yin-Yang Nature of Quantum Theory
00:21:50 - The Reality of Quantum Possibilities
00:26:08 - The Blind Men and the Elephant
00:29:38 - The Measurement Problem and Consciousness
00:36:21 - The Orthodox Position on Dark Matter and Dark Energy
00:41:10 - Events and the Illusion of Space-Time
00:44:08 - The Analogy of Enlightenment and the Game of Life
00:47:10 - The Shimmering Intelligence in Every Particle of Creation
00:53:15 - Pathology and the Neglect of Yin
00:55:34 - The Taboo of Passivity and Eastern Wisdom
00:58:00 - The Debate on Free Will
01:00:39 - The Ad hoc Nature of the Feynman Propagator
01:01:21 - The Flatland Analogy
01:04:48 - Mr. Flatland and the Sphere
01:08:16 - The Controversy Surrounding the Term "Consciousness"
01:11:50 - Volition and Symmetry Breaking in Nature
01:15:01 - The Relationality of Charged Particles
01:18:22 - Understanding outcomes in the transactional picture
01:21:52 - Mastery over the Laws of Nature
01:24:56 - The Holographic Principle and its Significance
01:29:23 - Quantum Theory and the Physical World
01:33:25 - The Power and Limitations of Physical Science
01:43:30 - The Interconnectedness of String Theory
01:49:12 - The Flow of Time and Phenomena
01:54:24 - The Cosmos: Conscious Being or Product of Chance and Necessity
Jennifer Lisa Vest is a scientist, philosopher, and intuitive. She holds a PhD in Indigenous Philosophy from UC Berkeley, an MA in History from Howard, and a BA in Physics from Hampshire College. Her first career was as a philosophy professor at Seattle University and the University of Central Florida. Spiritually, Vest is a Medical Intuitive, an Akashic Records reader, a certified Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique practitioner, and a Master Reiki practitioner, and has been trained in the traditions of African American Hoodoo., Native American Sweatlodge, Jamaican Revivalism, Trinidadian Shango, and Spiritualism from community elders.
Books:
The Ethical Psychic: A Beginner's Guide to Healing with Integrity, Avoiding Unethical Encounters, and Using Your Gifts for Good
Ancestor Count: Four Corner Poems (Philopoetics)
Website: drvestmedicalintuitive.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Transcript and summary of this interview
Interview recorded October 7, 2023.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:40 - Childhood Experiences with Spirits and Mediumship
00:10:31 - Helping Stuck Souls Cross Over
00:15:33 - Simultaneous Lifetimes
00:20:35 - The Unsustainability of Society and Potential Collapse
00:25:43 - The Importance of Being of Service in Spiritual Work
00:30:36 - Indigenous Apprenticeship Programs
00:35:22 - Dangers of Pretending to be a Medicine Person
00:40:16 - Preparing for an Altered State Experience
00:44:59 - The Importance of Humility in Psychic Work
00:49:40 - Importance of Humility and Sensitivity to Client Needs
00:54:02 - Client Needs vs Practitioner's Perspective
00:58:18 - Tapping into Higher Sources
01:02:58 - The Vulnerability of Mediums
01:07:54 - Risks of Mediumship and Channeling
01:13:09 - Causes of Mental Illness in Indigenous Contexts
01:18:04 - Financial Responsibility in the Spiritual Community
01:22:57 - The Ethics of Charging for Healing Services
01:27:42 - The Harm of Brutal Honesty
01:32:28 - Ethics of Controlling Others with Magic
01:37:21 - Ethical Use of Spiritual Gifts, Misuse of Spiritual Gifts and Sexual Energy
01:42:12 - Spiritual Affair and its Consequences
01:47:01 - Assisting Spirits in Crossing Over
01:51:53 - Interference with Spirits
01:56:44 - The Phenomenon of "Walk-Ins"
02:01:31 - Choosing Teachers and Company
02:06:24 - Examining Influences and Doing Emotional Work
02:11:09 - The Harm of Inaccurate Readings and Lack of Compassion
02:15:53 - Becoming a Hollow Bone & Living a Balanced Life
02:20:43 - The Importance of Balance in Healing
02:25:41 - Exploring the Connection between Quantum Physics and Spirituality
Bill Witherspoon is a life-long visual artist, serial entrepreneur, and lover of sky. In his six decades, living on and off in the High Steppe desert in southeastern Oregon, he has painted watercolor skies, practiced ancient art as spiritual discipline, and weathered that pristine geological expanse.
As an artist, over the last four decades, Bill has mounted 40 one-man exhibitions of paintings, prints, and sculptures (1968 – 2020), in addition to desert public art projects. He is also the founder and Creative Director of The Sky Factory, a fine arts, digital technology, and cognitive science studio that designs and manufactures the world’s only research-verified virtual skylights—Luminous SkyCeilings and Luminous Virtual Windows.
His first book, Enter Space—Stories from the High Desert, lays witness to a life surrounded by that rare, unsummoned vastness; one that those of us steeped in the ceaseless churn of urban life can now imagine living through the faithful record of the artist’s experience.
Book: Enter Space: Stories from the High Desert
Sri Yantra: The Oregon Desert Mystery FULL MOVIE
Transcript and Summary of this interview
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded September 3, 2023.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Bill Witherspoon
00:04:49 - A Life of Adventure and Silence
00:09:25 - Being Swept Away by the Waterfall
00:12:52 - A Life-Threatening Water Rescue
00:16:34 - The Near-Drowning Experience That Changed My Life
00:21:02 - The Transcendent Experience of Meditation
00:24:35 - Climbing the Radio Tower and Facing Danger at Sea
00:29:01 - Seeing More Deeply
00:32:33 - Healing the Eye of the Heart
00:36:42 - The Burning Shell
00:40:15 - Learning and Growth through Perseverance
00:43:50 - The Sri Yantra: An Instance of a Law of Nature
00:48:10 - The Bindu
00:52:38 - The New Kind of Seeing
00:57:00 - The Essence of Memory and Love
01:01:06 - A Slideshow of Photographic Events in the Wilderness
01:05:39 - Living in Harmony with Rattlesnakes
01:08:46 - Witnessing Violence and the Impact
01:12:55 - Encounters with Rattlesnakes
01:16:22 - The Strange Book and its Contents
01:20:36 - The Presence of Divine Intelligence
01:24:30 - Accessing Deeper Levels of Consciousness through Meditation
01:32:35 - The Horrors of Being on Death Row
01:35:35 - The Influence of Human Presence
01:40:37 - "Goodbye," when we went looking for wild horses
01:44:58 - Reflections on an Interesting Life
01:49:33 - Going Deeper in Consciousness
01:53:02 - Building a Beautiful Corporation
01:56:56 - The Skill of Self-Reflection
02:00:18 - Gratitude and Farewell
Spiritual teacher, international bestselling author and philanthropist Lorna Byrne has dedicated her life to remind humanity of the spiritual potential within us all. She is the author of seven best-selling books including Angels in My Hair, A Message of Hope From the Angels, and Angels at my Fingertips and has been published in more than 50 countries and 30 languages around the world.
Her teachings are the result of a remarkable gift, a divine connection providing her with incredible, detailed knowledge of the spiritual side of life. Unlike others this gift is not from meditation, visualisation or even from books or study, it exists as a natural part of her waking life. Lorna Byrne has physical sight of the unseen world, of the angels, spirits and other spiritual beings that she says are guiding and teaching us every second of every day. Lorna says we all have this potential and it is part of humanity’s evolution for people to connect back to their spiritual self so the body and soul intertwines.
Lorna’s vision of the future is one where there is no division or boundaries between people. Where our spiritual side is accepted and transcends all beliefs. To accept we are all one. To live in peace with each other and nature, our home.
Lorna is also a philanthropist and founder of the Lorna Byrne Children’s Foundation helping vulnerable and marginalised children across the globe and the Seraph Foundation which is developing Sanctuary her centre in County Kilkenny Ireland. In 2019, she was named as one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People in the World.
Website: lornabyrne.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Transcript and summary of this interview
Interview recorded August 27, 2023.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Lorna Byrne and her Spiritual Teachings
00:03:56 - Interaction with Angels and Subtle Beings
00:08:16 - The Unconditional Love of Guardian Angels
00:11:06 - The Spark of Light: Angels, Humans, and Souls
00:14:20 - The Love between Humans and Animals
00:17:45 - God's Existence and Understanding Humanity
00:21:52 - Connecting with Nature and Ourselves
00:24:35 - Guardian Angels and Job Changes
00:27:16 - Overcoming Dyslexia and Writing a Bestseller
00:30:48 - The Importance of Hope and Faith
00:34:27 - Signs from Your Guardian Angel
00:36:54 - The Power of Kindness and Giving
00:40:17 - Listening to Your Guardian Angel
00:43:07 - The Role of Angels and Prayers
00:46:38 - Divine Guidance in Job Search
00:50:32 - An Encounter with Archangel Michael
00:53:54 - The Unemployed Angels
00:57:00 - Unemployed Angels and Acts of Compassion
00:59:23 - The Unemployed Angel
01:02:54 - The Concept of Conception
01:06:12 - Angels in Everyday Life
01:10:04 - Visits from Deceased Saints
01:13:45 - The Importance of Being Yourself and Believing in Guardian Angels
01:15:40 - Communicating with Children's Guardian Angels
01:18:20 - Living life to the fullest as a dyslexic person
01:21:40 - A Glimpse of Heaven
01:24:07 - Walking on Water and Miraculous Abilities
01:27:22 - The Power of Hope and Love
01:30:05 - Executives Connecting with Nature
01:32:16 - Building on to the Farmhouse
01:36:41 - Farewell and Well Wishes
Between the age of 20 and 40 I was consumed with a wide range of existential questions, but despite endless thinking and reading, I never found a single answer. Due to some business-related stress at the age of 40, I started a simple meditative exercise as a way to acquire some peace of mind, and within two weeks a major insight occurred that led to more meditative activities. Five months later a huge cosmic-consciousness event answered seven of my questions and catapulted me into a different reality. I then concluded that all answers were "within," and for the next 15 years I went on silent meditation retreats with Christians, Buddhists, and Advaita groups during which all of my other questions got answered. Nevertheless, I still did not feel free. Then, a new question arose, "How is it possible to stay in a unity-conscious state of mind permanently rather than oscillating between a sense of selfhood and no-self?" In 1999, after a deep experience of gratitude on a solo hiking retreat, "the little guy in the head" (the sense of a personal "me") totally vanished, and the result was freedom, contentment, and understanding.
Book: Pouring Concrete: A Zen Path to the Kingdom of God – Expanded Edition
Bob's email
Transcript and summary of this interview
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded August 19, 2023
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump00:04:43 - Questioning Beliefs and Exploring Existential Questions00:08:25 - The Journey of Seeking Answers in Zen Philosophy00:12:17 - The Shift in Perception00:16:07 - A Reality Shift00:19:54 - The End of the Construction Company00:24:03 - Realization of the Incomprehensible00:28:16 - Simple answers to Zen riddles00:32:17 - Finding Freedom in the Middle of Responsibilities00:35:50 - Questioning Selfhood and Freedom in the Mountains00:38:59 - The Dissolution of the Sense of Self00:42:30 - The True Self and Identity00:46:00 - The Silence of the Mind00:49:19 - Non-Abidance in the Mind00:52:39 - The Kingdom of God Inside and Outside of You00:55:59 - Shifting Attention Beyond the Mind01:02:47 - The Benefits of Practice and Reconfiguration01:06:16 - The Natural Inclination to Help Others01:09:50 - The Depth of Awakening01:13:12 - Falling Asleep During Meditation01:16:26 - Realizing the Irrelevance of a Silent Mind01:20:00 - Seeking Benefit in the Present Moment01:23:32 - Intuition and the Home of All Knowledge01:27:00 - Knowing and achieving specific things in life01:30:50 - The Blissful State on the Deathbed01:34:07 - Embracing the Unknowable Future01:37:31 - The Universal Sound01:40:44 - The Challenges of Maintaining Friendships01:48:00 - Wrapping Up with Bob
Carter Phipps is the author of Evolutionaries and coauthor of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller Conscious Leadership with John Mackey and Steve McIntosh. He is co-founder of the Institute for Cultural Evolution, which addresses political polarization though focusing on the cultural roots of America’s challenges. He hosts the Thinking Ahead podcast and is a former award-winning journalist and executive editor of What Is Enlightenment? Magazine. His website is http://www.carterphipps.com.
Essay we discussed in the interview: Mysticism and Its Discontents: Does Spiritual Illumination Create its own Intrinsic Blindness?
Summary and Transcript and of this interview
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded July 29, 2023
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:50 - The Paradox of Spiritual Teachers' Behavior
00:07:52 - The Subtleties of Enlightenment and the Dangers of Blind Spots
00:11:24 - The Complications of Spiritual Awakening
00:14:40 - Defining Enlightenment
00:18:42 - Strengths and Weaknesses in Areas of Genius
00:22:31 - The Transformative Power of Mystical Awakening
00:26:15 - The Tradeoffs of Enlightenment
00:29:31 - Levels of Reality and Integration
00:35:06 - The Goal of Our Own Practice
00:37:33 - Delusion in Deep Mystical Experience
00:41:43 - The Path of Renunciation and Self-Brainwashing
00:45:46 - The Complex Psychology of Seeking Enlightenment
00:50:24 - The Evolution of Culture and Consciousness
00:55:17 - The Dangers of Unhealthy Self-Doubt and Lack of Self-Criticism
00:59:32 - The Delusion of Pure Motive
01:03:22 - The Dangers of Spiritual Confidence
01:08:15 - Blurring the Line between the Spiritual and Manifest World
01:14:10 - The Interface between Science and Spirituality
01:17:50 - The Tradition of Debate and Mythical Stories
01:21:35 - The Power and Deception of Inner Intuition
01:25:41 - The Relationship Between Enlightenment and Psychological Instability
01:28:35 - Psychological Traces and Vulnerability to Mystical Experiences
01:31:49 - Spiritual Breakthroughs and Psychological Breakdowns
01:35:11 - The Role of Responsible Psychedelic Therapists
01:39:44 - The Importance of Understanding Cultural Evolution and the Adjacent Possible
01:45:18 - The Myth of the Perfect Enlightened Figure
01:50:09 - The Importance of Understanding the Self-Structure
01:55:00 - The Importance of Questioning Spiritual Myths and Beliefs
01:59:38 - Being Discerning and Questioning
02:07:06 - Future Teaching and Updates from Carter Phipps
Lucy was raised in a low socioeconomic household and neighborhood, by a young single mother in New Zealand in the early 1980s.
The lack of resources available in childhood resulted in a shrinking of her outer world to what she thought of – years later - as a kind of welfare-child ashram. Within the home, and outside of it, there were few distractions or ability to go anywhere else, and significant trauma – all forcing her to go within to what she thought of as “the deep stillness and light inside” to rest, find nourishment, solace, and strength.
At 19 she experienced her first shift, seeing through the personality, and subtle perceptions revealing themselves.
She never thought much of it, there had already been so much light inside, and she was so thrilled to be in the world finally so she simply went on with living.
After a brief stint in television journalism, Lucy spent 15 years in Europe and New Zealand working for international humanitarian aid agencies.
On return to NZ at age 31, she suddenly became extremely ill. For six months, she was mostly bedridden. Doctors, both natural and traditional, could not find the source of the illness.
Over the next few years, she had to work to earn an income but there was no strength for much else. The pain in her body was ever-present, and the fear of not knowing if this was her life forever now, was sometimes crippling.
She was forced to exist in a kind of in-between world again - of much aloneness and silence, aside from work.
After a few years of significant illness, she recovered strength enough to live a semi-normal life. But any time she tried to do too much, she was knocked back into illness.
By 35 she was in a leadership role at a non-profit, married, with a baby on the way, just surviving day-to-day with the pressure on her physical body.
On becoming a mother, she was plunged into a level of blackness that was completely shocking and previously unknown.
For more than two years she descended into complete separation and couldn’t hear the guidance that had always accompanied her in her life. For the first time ever she couldn’t feel God.
In 2018, after more than two years of immense struggle, an unexplainable and absolute surrender took place within, in a moment, as her two-year-old cried and reached for her.
Within two months she had left the career she loved to rest in what she thought of as silence. For around a year and a half, she couldn't do much else.
Lucy had never been exposed to spirituality, nor did she know anything about its concepts or traditions. She thought meditation was for “those hippy people.”
Because there had been no conscious spiritual search, she had no context for what was happening. Often it was so beautiful and joyful – she didn’t need to know. There was an innate sense of trust and recognition that went beyond what needed to be seen or understood with the mind.
When the need to understand did arise - some online searches helped a little, but often it all felt overwhelming, and she preferred sitting in silence to hear from within. Guidance and teaching were always present and given through hearing and images. Despite this, when particularly strange things would occur the need for the mind to understand would return.
One night in 2019, before sleep, in heartfelt prayer she asked for help to cut through all the online noise and finally really grasp what was going on. There was a felt sense of need for community.
As she was awakening in the morning, she heard the words “Buddha at the Gas Pump”. Lucy says, "I was stumped. I had no idea what that meant, but Googled it and found BatGap. As a result, my life has changed. Over the years BatGap has supported me deeply in the process – nurturing trust and allowing everything to unfold as it wants to."
From then until now, Lucy has been called over and over into deeper surrender. She has had further shifts and many clearings. Her career of 15 years,
Chris Niebauer earned his Ph.D. in cognitive neuropsychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in the differences between the left and right sides of the human brain. He is the author of No Self, No Problem: How Neuropsychology Is Catching Up to Buddhism and The No Self, No Problem Workbook: Exercises & Practices from Neuropsychology and Buddhism to Help You Lose Your Mind. He was a professor at a state university in Pennsylvania for 22 years, where he taught courses on consciousness, mindfulness, left- and right-brain differences, and artificial intelligence.
Website: chrisniebauerphd.com
YouTube Channel
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded June 3, 2023
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:06:21 - Disappointment with Daniel Dennett's book on consciousness
00:11:55 - The Value of Intelligence and Happiness
00:17:39 - The Dominance of Language in Reality
00:23:31 - Breaking the Cycle of Mental Excitation
00:29:04 - Non-Thinking Forms of Consciousness
00:34:24 - The Power of Numbers and Abstractions
00:40:01 - Observing the Interpreter and Letting Go of Intrusive Thoughts
00:45:55 - The Need for a Tiny Shift
00:51:17 - The Inventive Storytelling of the Left Brain
00:57:17 - Holistic Development of the Brain
01:02:52 - The Playfulness of Debates and the Power of Music
01:08:41 - The Nature of Skepticism and Strange Beliefs
01:14:25 - The Shift to Right Brain Awareness
01:19:53 - The Left Brain on Trial
01:25:32 - Individual Paths and Categorization
01:31:05 - Liberation and the Illusion of Self
01:36:54 - The Paradox of the Soul and Individuality
01:43:02 - Embracing Paradoxes
01:48:22 - The Connection between Light and Consciousness
01:53:31 - The Role of Faith in Materialism and Consciousness Studies
01:58:37 - The Inadequacy of Neuroscience
02:03:46 - The Limitations of Understanding and Balance in Life
Jeff Carreira is a meditation teacher, mystical philosopher and author who works with a growing number of people throughout the world. As a teacher, he offers retreats and courses guiding individuals in a form of meditation he refers to as The Art of Conscious Contentment. Through this simple and effective technique, he has led thousands of people in a journey beyond the confines of fear and self-concern into the expansive liberated awareness that is our true home.
As a philosopher, Jeff is interested in defining a new way of being in the world that will move us from our current paradigm of separation and isolation into an emerging paradigm of unity and wholeness. In his books and lectures, he explores revolutionary ideas in the domains of spirituality, consciousness, and human development. He creates courses and programs that encourage people to question their most foundational experience of reality until previously held assumptions fall away leaving space for a dramatically new understanding to emerge.
Jeff is passionate about the potential ideas have to shape how we perceive reality and how we live together. His enthusiasm for learning is infectious, and he has taught at colleges and universities throughout the world.
Jeff is the author of numerous books including:
The Path of Spiritual Breakthrough: From Awakening to Cosmic Awareness
American Awakening: Evolutionary Spirituality, Non-Duality, and Free Thinking in the Tradition of American Philosophy
Philosophy Is Not a Luxury: Four Reasons to Start Thinking About How You Think
The Soul of a New Self: Embracing the Future of Being Human
Paradigm Shifting: Guiding Evolution from the Inside
The Art of Conscious Contentment
Website: jeffcarreira.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded May 20, 2023.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Background
00:05:24 - Discovering Conscious Contentment
00:11:12 - The Influence of Past Experiences
00:18:53 - The Bright, Clear Awareness
00:26:00 - The End of Seeking: Letting Go and Contentment
00:32:29 - Letting go in Meditation
00:40:10 - Overcoming Sleepiness in Meditation
00:45:28 - Lucid Dreaming and Spiritual Experience
00:49:39 - Interpreting Spiritual Experiences
00:54:07 - The Role of Interpretation in Spiritual Progress
01:00:44 - Exploring New Paths and Spiritual Growth
01:04:51 - P.D. Ospensky and Cosmic Consciousness
01:10:53 - Embracing Creative Expression
01:16:32 - Expressing Ourselves and Taking a Break
01:21:24 - "Partners on the Spiritual Path"
01:29:07 - The Effects of "Crazy Wisdom" Teaching
01:34:21 - The End of an Experiment
01:38:12 - Transparency and Spiritual Integrity
01:41:57 - The Intensity of Spiritual Practice
01:46:09 - Spiritual Experiences and Seeking Alone in the Mountains
01:49:01 - Embracing the Opportunities in Your Circumstances
01:54:02 - The Middle Realms of Being
01:58:23 - The Importance of Non-Dual Awakening & the Advaita Tradition
02:02:10 - Higher Realms of the Soul
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard trained and published neuroanatomist who is now affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list. Her most recent 2021 book is WHOLE BRAIN LIVING: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life.
Dr. Taylor is a dynamic teacher and public speaker who loves educating all age groups, academic levels, as well as corporations about the beauty of our human brain and how we can work with ourself to live a more peaceful life. In 2008 she gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the Internet, which now has well over 28.5 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Taylor was chosen as one of TIME Magazine's “100 Most Influential People in the World” and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series” web-cast.
Website: drjilltaylor.com
Dr. Taylor's "My Stroke of Insight" TED talk
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded May 14, 2023.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:33 - The Evolutionary Goal of Humanity
00:11:07 - The Experience of the Present Moment
00:17:04 - Developing the Whole Brain
00:23:18 - Understanding the Dynamics of Relationships
00:28:43 - Understanding Character Two and Emotional Pain
00:33:33 - Understanding the Little Character Two
00:38:03 - The Richness of Human Emotions
00:42:05 - Autism and Brain Circuitry
00:47:10 - The Potential Risks of Whole Brain Living and Psychedelics
00:52:44 - Exploring the Options for Bipolar Disorder and PTSD
00:59:58 - The Beauty of Humor
01:07:06 - The Interface of Individuality and Universality
01:16:07 - Bringing Balance and Meaning Into Life
01:25:16 - The Differences in Perception and Information Processing
01:32:07 - The Absurdity of Language and Consciousness
01:37:18 - The Value Structure of Character Four
01:44:01 - Changing the Model of Enlightenment
01:48:18 - The Existence of Free Will
01:53:44 - The Subtle Work of Cells and Neuronal Networks
01:59:21 - The 90-Second Rule & Addiction in the Brain
02:04:19 - Exploring Selective Mutism and Addiction
02:11:27 - Dealing with Fear of the Future and Worry
02:17:51 - Farewell and Thank You
Daniel Stone is a follower of Meher Baba. He came to Meher Baba in 1972 after a period of spiritual search that led him to travel overland to India in search of a master. While there he found and received an awakening with Neem Karoli Baba, who then inwardly guided him to Meher Baba, who Daniel recognized and accepted as his master.
Meher Baba is widely known and regarded my many throughout the world as the Avatar of our current age, as God in human form, and as a source of spiritual guidance and awakening for all who approach him. Since becoming a follower of Baba, Daniel has been actively engaged in sharing about Baba’s teachings and life-work through talks, publications, radio programs, video programs, and music. He serves on the board of directors for the Meher Spiritual Center, the major center for Meher Baba in the West, and has consulted extensively for Baba groups around the world.
Videos:
Journey in Consciousness - A 7-part series that provides an overview of the teachings and life-work of Avatar Meher Baba.
God in Human Form
“Avatar Meher Baba: Highlights of His Life and Work”
Meher Baba ~ Human Side Of God
Books:
God Speaks, by Meher Baba (Meher Baba’s cosmology)*
Discourses, by Meher Baba (Teachings about the spiritual life)*
The Silent Messenger, by Tom and Dorothy Hopkinson (an easily accessible overview of Meher Baba’s life and his teachings)
The God Man: The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an Interpretation of his Silence and Spiritual Teaching
* Digital copies can be downloaded for free at https://avatarmeherbabatrust.org/online-library/
Websites:
Meher Spiritual Center in S. Carolina
Journey in Consciousness
In his professional life, Daniel is a strategic organizational consultant, providing assistance to a wide variety of organizations including the Centers for Disease Control, the United Nations, World Economic Forum, and many others. He lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with his wife, two cats and a grand-dog. Daniel is also a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle where he co-leads a group focused on helping achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. He is also a recording musician, whose first CD of songs dedicated to Meher Baba is entitled “Decorate With Song”.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded April 16, 2023
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:06:30 - Meeting Neem Karoli Baba
00:15:18 - Introduction and Background: Meher Baba's Early Life
00:21:37 - The Wanderings and Encounters
00:26:34 - The Role of the Avatar
00:32:28 - The Concept of an Avatar
00:37:59 - The Limitations of Human and Divine Capabilities
00:43:24 - Meher Baba and His Ability to Make Contact with Multiple Beings Simultaneously
00:50:06 - The Male Form of the Avatar
00:56:49 - A Life of Hopelessness and Helplessness
01:05:34 - Earning Trust Before Obedience
01:13:07 - Baba's Silence and Communication
01:20:15 - Accessing Higher Levels of Consciousness
01:25:21 - The Fourth Layer of the Heart and Divine Guidance
01:31:11 - Revitalization of Sufism and World Religions
01:36:10 - The Miracles and Love of Meher Baba
01:39:55 - Insightful Film and Atheism of Zeffirelli
01:44:48 - The Masts and their Spiritual States
01:50:08 - The Ripple Effect of Baba's Work
01:56:45 - Awakening All Over the World
02:04:01 - The Role of the Master in Eliminating Sanskaras
02:08:38 - The Journey of the Soul and Higher Planes
02:15:13 - Finding Me Inside Your Heart
02:19:51 - Links and Resources
Good healer
Beautiful weekly practice, day one, feeling, two seeing, three smelling, tasting, hearing, sensing, being.
...so many delicious, gentle, accessible, and profound pearls of wisdom in this interview!
I loved this interview! it was really refreshing to hear an "ordinary" awakening person again! Those interviews have all been my favorites, I think!
it's an interesting subject, but it's frustrating that Tim doesn't give the same space to Lisa as Lisa does for Tim. it's very obvious that Tim doesn't understand what Lisa is trying to say. instead, Tim tries to explain his perspective as an unintended defense of not understanding..
Really great program! Rick is always so lighthearted and engaging with every guest, and offers the perfect blend of curiosity, experience, knowledge, and humor to keep the conversations moving along. I’ve learned so much from BATGAP...thanks!