Practical Transcendence

It's retreat time. Become aware of the love that breathes through you, animates you, expands you. Later this autumn we are bringing together awakening and transformation in the most beautiful landscape in the world. On this episode we discuss what is different about our Highlands retreat and how it will deepen your experience of oneness. It's time to get out of the spiritual comfort zone.....Retreat dates: Thursday 23rd - Sunday 26th November 2023. More information can be fou...

In this episode, I’m talking with Nick Oakley-Smith. An astrologer, a student of the I-Ching, an executive coach and leadership trainer. I loved this conversation, and look forward to listening back to it many times to remind me of the many pearls of wisdom he shares. We have a wide ranging discussion in which he provides a clear and modern interpretation of astrology and how the I-Ching is the natural partner to these ancient ways of interpreting and guiding our lives. Towards the end of the...

Hello, and welcome back to Practical Transcendence, a podcast in which we have grounded discussions on the tangibility of spiritual awakening, where we explore the guiding and common principles, as well as what is unique to each individual. Today I’m talking to Paul Eyers, a Buddhist in the lineage of Nichiren Daishonin which has been revived in todays world by Soka Gakkai International. He provides an overview of this slightly different take on the teachings of the Buddha and the centra...

In today’s episode I’m talking with Matthew Henderson, Senior Pastor of Gerrard Street Baptist Church in Aberdeen. I found this to be a very eye opening conversation that helped to reduce some of my ignorance in regard to the Christian faith. Matthew talks at length about his true awakening to God that came from the realisation that he could be in relationship with God as opposed to just the 'doing' aspects of faith. He outlines practices and ways of communing with God that I found were ...

Today’s episode is part two of a conversation I had with Norton Bertram-Smith, a founder and director of the mindfulness association, and an expert in authentic leadership. We pick up where we left off in episode 6, again discussing much, including where goals fit in on the spiritual path, an overview of mindfulness association and what it offers, how bringing mindfulness and compassion together develops our courage to look within, and his own experiences of oneness and connectedness. If you ...

Our first interview! Today, I’ll be talking with Norton Bertram-Smith, a founding director of On Purpose, a specialist organisation and leadership development consultancy. Norton is also a director and founder of the Mindfulness Association. And as you’ll hear, we get stuck into those two aspects of his life. We had a wide ranging and in-depth discussion, and as such, it has been split into two parts. This episode, part 1, covers Norton’s early years, where he had a strong spiritual conn...

Abraham Maslow was a visionary psychologist who sought to understand and model human potential. We take an in depth look at a contemporary book on his work called Transcend by Scott Barry Kaufman. If you are looking to integrate mysticism into the wider context of your life and development, this is the episode for you!We want the podcast to reach more people. You can help! Please review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe through your favourite podcast platform. Please get in contact and let us k...

Episode Four – In which we discuss the power and necessity of forgiveness on the spiritual path. Awakening is not possible without forgiving yourself and others, and a purely cognitive approach is unlikely to be effective. Ian tells a moving family story to illustrate the point.Please get in contact and let us know what you thought of the episode or join the discussion. You can do so through our Facebook page, just search for Practical Transcendence and ask to join. You can do so ...

In today's podcast, we discuss expanding meditative practice using sound and feeling. A spiritual path can become stagnant on the cushion, and engaging with somatic awareness can renew the flow and provide the ground for the consistent experience of transcendent states. We link the neuroscience of safety and connection to the importance of moving practice beyond the thinking mind into the magic of acoustics and direct contact with nature, becoming Buddhas with muddy feet!Please get...

In our second episode, we discuss the holistic and individuated aspects of our spiritual process - what has brought us to where we are today. We cover much, from the seemingly unconnected subjects of nutrition to forgiveness or art to finding purpose. We really hope there are some helpful take-aways for you. And as befitting this long form method of communication, we don’t come up for air for quite some time. So, strap in, pause when you need to, and please get in contact and let us know what...

First Episode! In which we introduce ourselves and try to give some context and background to our experiences of transcendence. We look back and try to identify the (pathless) path to awakening and Buddhahood. Books, meditation cushions and a friendship in freefall in New York City…Join us as we talk about the power of moving from theory to practice to experience, and listen with a wry smile as we try and envelop our daily lives in Samadhi with a vast range of approaches. To quote...