Buddha at the Gas Pump

Andrew Hewson is a contemporary spiritual teacher whose focus is on the realization of the Presence of Divinity as one’s fundamental Source and Self. Emphasizing transcendence as a process that can not only be undergone in the midst of daily living but even facilitated by it, Andrew speaks from the experiential reality of having been carried by the Grace of total transformation in the context of daily life. Growing up in the Southeastern United States, Andrew’s childhood was characterized by a state of lightness, freedom, and underlying connection.  This effortless Way of Being was taken as an unspoken given until an intense qualitative shift took place in his early teens. The condition which once prevailed progressively became replaced by an acute sense of separation, limitation, and lack, leaving little room for functional participation in the common activities of human life.  With this radical drop into apparent fragmentation, Andrew began to seek relief wherever possible. This seeking eventually led to the discovery of altered states of consciousness through the use of alcohol and drugs which quickly spiraled into the pits of despair. After years of unsuccessfully attempting to live from such a constricted sense of identity, Andrew found himself in a medical isolation jail cell facing 30 years in prison. It was there, in the midst of absolute hopelessness and despair, that the Grace of Surrender shone forth, bringing about a profound shift in Consciousness. This transformation revealed a Still, Silent Presence, or Field, Divine in Its Nature, and ignited a fire for spiritual evolution. With a natural and impersonal application, Andrew was given to prayer, meditation, and spontaneous investigation into the nature of identity. The process of Transcendence took place in the day-to-day ebb and flow of human life, culminating in the replacement of the sense of a personal, separate self with the Infinite Context of Divinity.  This Reality has since lived and loved while engaged in the common activities of the human experience, serving wherever possible while still finding space for silent reflection in Nature and tasting the Infinite expansion of further refinement. The role of speaking and teaching is not something that was decided upon at a given point in time but is rather a spontaneous and uncontainable expression of the Love that prevails in the condition from which the words emerge. Andrew speaks effortlessly by the grace of Divinity and gives all Glory to the One that abides in the Hearts of All. He also lectures on the evolution of conscious experiencing and the application of this understanding in areas of human suffering such as addiction, mental illness, and eating disorders. Andrew currently resides in Western North Carolina with his wife and partner Elle Hewson where they are working together with devoted friends to be of greater service to those who have been called to Truth, Love, and the fulfillment of Our Highest potential. Website: nondual-devotion.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded July 25, 2020 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:07 - Addiction and Shift in Identity 00:08:00 - Spiritual Bypassing and Accountability 00:11:50 - Shifting from Dominance of Content and Form 00:15:33 - Moments of Deep Connection and Fragmentation 00:19:47 - Finding the Presence of God in Unexpected Places 00:22:49 - Past Life Development and Spiritual Continuum 00:26:30 - The Grace of Revelation 00:30:38 - The Emergence of Conscious Awareness 00:34:54 - The Full Spectrum of Development 00:38:42 - The Masculine and Feminine Aspects of Consciousness 00:43:23 - Devotion as an impetus to self-realization 00:48:07 - Devotion to truth and the transmission of light 00:52:40 - The Play of Divinity and the "Why" Question 00:57:01 - The Need for Support in Exploring Dark and Challenging Aspects 01:01:05 - The Blossoming Forth of Potential 01:05:58 - Moving from Seeking to Devotion 01:10:34 - The Sprouting of Possibilities 01:14:46 - The Four Pillars of Observation and Understanding 01:19:05 - The Dynamics of Silent Seeing and Pure Awareness 01:23:54 - The Hidden Potential of the Self 01:27:56 - Perception of Essential Nature 01:32:34 - The Kybalion and the Mind-Blowing Universe 01:36:36 - Transmutation and the Blossoming of Divinity 01:40:12 - Resolving the Split in Spiritual Identity 01:43:52 - Transmutation and Field of Attention 01:47:13 - Divine Displacement and the Four Pillars 01:50:13 - Quotes on Awareness and Impeccability 01:53:42 - The Blessing of Failure 01:57:34 - The Power of Divinity Revealed 02:00:45 - Farewell and Gratitude

Louise Kay was born in Lancashire, in the northwest of The UK. After graduating from university she worked as an English teacher for 15 years, and during this time began to question the deeper meaning of life. This led her to the path of spirituality, where she found a strong resonance with the teachings of non-duality. In her early thirties, Louise felt a deep call in her heart to visit India, where she experienced a profound spiritual awakening. Shortly afterward Louise began channeling and traveled around the world sharing this gift for several years. During this time she experienced a deepening and integration of her initial spiritual awakening and as she opened more to this non-dual truth the channeling faded away and a new form of expression revealed itself from deep in her heart. Louise now holds group events and retreats around the world and offers Embodied Awareness private sessions. Her passion is to sit together in presence and hold gentle, unconditionally loving space for all emotions, all sensations, and all experiences which arise in the moment in order to support the integration of unresolved energies and allow the unfolding of the divine in all who feel the call. Website: louisekay.net Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded July 18, 2020 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:42 - Unusual Accent and Cultural Experiences 00:07:35 - The Transformation in My Spiritual Journey 00:11:14 - The Influence of a Spiritual Awakening 00:15:27 - The Call to India 00:19:06 - The Overwhelming Experience of Parrot Ganj in Delhi 00:22:04 - Awakening in Rishikesh 00:26:22 - The Divine Play and the Cosmic Dance 00:30:30 - Connecting with Others through Empathy 00:34:33 - Emanating Peace and Joyfulness 00:39:14 - The Importance of Spiritual Practices in Functioning 00:44:04 - Releasing and Integrating Energies in the Body 00:48:32 - Using Trauma as a Tool for Deepening in Presence 00:52:42 - Actions born from deeper wisdom 00:57:33 - Opening to Channeling 01:01:16 - Channeling from the Unified Field 01:05:02 - Channeling and Connecting with Energy 01:08:14 - Channelers and Projection 01:11:57 - The End of Channeling 01:15:48 - Oneness and Many-ness 01:20:40 - The Importance of Balanced Perspectives 01:25:24 - The Importance of Ethical Teaching 01:29:34 - Abdicating Discernment and Planning for the Future 01:33:30 - Bringing Attention to Unprocessed Energy and Trauma 01:37:19 - Trusting the Ground of Being 01:41:23 - The Process of Deepening and Integration 01:45:23 - The Infinite Mind of the All 01:49:36 - The Wonder and Mystery of the Universe 01:54:10 - Deep Rest for Transformation 01:57:55 - Online Zoom Meetings and Retreats 02:00:52 - Subscribe to the YouTube Channel

Mark Pitstick, MA, DC, has over forty-seven years’ experience and training in hospitals, pastoral counseling settings, mental health centers, and private practice. His training includes a premedical degree, graduate theology/pastoral counseling studies, master's in clinical psychology, and doctorate in chiropractic health care.  He also has provided suicide prevention counseling and education to many people. Mark became aware of clairaudient experiences at age ten and has since been blessed with numerous miracles, revelatory, and spiritually transformative experiences. After working in hospitals with many suffering and dying adults and children, he was motivated to find sensible, evidence-based answers to the questions that many people ask: “Who am I?  Why am I here?  What happens after I die?  Will I see my departed loved ones again?  Is there a God?  If so, why is there so much suffering? and How can I best live during this brief earthly experience?” His books, documentary film, CDs, and experiential workshops address all of these questions and help you survive and even thrive through life’s biggest changes and challenges.  Further, his work helps you discover how to enjoy the greatest life you have envisioned—no matter what your current circumstances.  To learn more, visit SoulProof.com. Dr. Pitstick wrote the following books: Soul Proof: Compelling Evidence You Are an Infinite Spiritual Being Radiant Wellness: a Holistic Guide for Optimal Body, Mind, and Spirit The Eleven Questions: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Life, Death, and Afterlife Greater Reality Living, 2nd Edition: Integrating the Evidence for Eternal Consciousness (Volume 1) with Gary Schwartz PhD The Big Picture of Life (with Dr. Schwartz and Katta Mapes MA, MEd) Mark was the executive producer for the Soul Proof documentary film, a 93-minute movie featuring interviews with people who had evidentiary experiences.  He created twelve transformational CDs that use deep relaxation, breathing techniques, and guided imagery. A frequent radio guest, Pitstick hosted Soul-utions, a nationally syndicated radio show about practical spirituality, and Ask the Soul Doctors interviewing top consciousness experts. Mark is certified in Past Life Regression therapy by Brian Weiss MD and the Facilitated After-Death Contact technique by Raymond Moody Ph.D., MD.  Pitstick has given many nationwide workshops on spiritual awareness and holistic wellness at churches, retreats, and conferences. He directs the SoulPhone Foundation that supports R & D of technology to communicate with post-material (“deceased”) persons.  He also assists in the research conducted by Dr. Schwartz and other scientists at the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health at the University of Arizona. Mark founded Greater Reality Living groups to help prepare people for the great news that life after death has been definitively demonstrated scientifically by replicated multi-center studies.  To learn more about Dr. Pitstick’s outreaches, visit SoulProof.com. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded June 27, 2020. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:23 - Early Teachers and Meditative Experiences 00:10:11 - The Transformative Experience with OM 00:14:26 - Life as a Vast Continuum 00:18:56 - Affiliation with Stuart Hameroff and Consciousness Conference in Tucson 00:22:56 - The Credentials of Gary Schwartz and the Soul Phone 00:27:03 - The Power of Binary Communication 00:31:30 - Communication through Electromagnetic Fields and Motion 00:36:03 - Precursors of Advanced Technologies 00:39:58 - Capturing Anomalous Frames and Creating Soul Video 00:44:18 - Field Fluctuations 00:49:06 - Expanding Perception and Overcoming Bias 00:53:11 - The Galileo Project and the Importance of Looking at the Data 00:57:46 - Multilocation and the Electronic Soul Switch 01:02:00 - The Soul Switch Experiment 01:05:55 - Identifying Experts with the Expert Knowledge Test 01:09:26 - Facilitating Communication with Higher Beings 01:13:31 - Technology to handle large currents 01:17:57 - A Good Death: Discussing the concept with Dr. Schwartz 01:22:31 - Overcoming Fear of Death 01:26:22 - A Greater Reality for Kids 01:30:45 - Breaking Boundaries and Multiplying Awakenings 01:35:19 - The Concept of Heaven and Hell 01:39:29 - The Bible as a Hodgepodge of Information 01:43:31 - Ramifications of Fooling with Mother Nature 01:47:25 - The Benefits of Near-Death Experiences and Communication with Departed Loved Ones 01:51:34 - Death with Dignity 01:56:02 - Finding Purpose in Life 01:59:36 - Conclusion and How to Get Involved 02:04:11 - The Importance of Spiritual Development in a Critical Time 02:08:23 - Closing Remarks and Channel Promotion

Born in Wales, I emigrated with my parents and 4 siblings to NZ in 1962. Educated in Wellington completing an honours degree in philosophy and teacher training. Taught in a variety of special education positions until retiring. Politically active in teachers' union, Labour Party, and the Greens. My wife is Sue Middleton (Emeritus Prof Education), our only child daughter Kate is married with 3 sons. She founded the Reading Revolution charity in NZ. I worked with Men's groups, used various psychotherapy modalities, including doing a year of Primal Therapy in Los Angeles which led to more formal trading in Gestalt Therapy that precipitated ongoing profound experiences and transformations that ignited pilgrimage journeys to India and Bhutan. Also, involvement in Vipassana and other meditation methods confirmed the nature of the processes that have overtaken me and delivered me into the sacred world. Concepts such as Karma, transcendence, synchronicity, reincarnation, rebirth, pure consciousness energy, and indigenous encounters have led to an understanding of the truth power of myth and ancient truths. No website or books. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded June 20, 2020 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Winter Solstice and Synchronicity 00:04:54 - The Miracle of Birth 00:09:51 - Childhood Reflections on Belief in God 00:13:16 - An Interesting Family History 00:17:43 - The War and its Impact on Personal Experiences 00:21:58 - Pentecostalist Christian and Casting Out Demons 00:26:08 - Primal Therapy and Rastafarian Influence 00:30:08 - Bob Marley's Influence on Indigenous Culture 00:34:43 - Abuse of Power and Vulnerability in Therapy 00:39:12 - Personal Growth and Therapy Journey 00:44:10 - Breathing and Therapy Session 00:48:04 - Stopping Breathing and Going into Samadhi 00:52:05 - A Peculiar Year 00:57:28 - A Heightened State of Well-being 01:02:41 - The Story of Nachiketas in the Katha Upanishad 01:07:49 - The Earth as our Witness 01:13:24 - The Uniting of Shiva and Shakti in Consciousness 01:18:24 - The Relationship Between Science and Consciousness 01:23:42 - Balancing Scientific Exploration and Earthly Problems 01:28:06 - Establishing Awareness in Being 01:32:37 - The Importance of Experiential Spirituality 01:36:48 - Understanding the Meaning of Grace 01:41:06 - The Myth of Kali and Shiva 01:45:15 - The Mountain of Shiva and the Energy of Ganesha's Head 01:49:43 - Life Living You 01:54:51 - Experience during Spiritual Practice 02:01:59 - Living in Pure Consciousness 02:03:56 - Inner Light and Moonlit Night 02:07:44 - The Normality of Spiritual Experiences 02:11:35 - Balancing the Yin and Yang 02:15:28 - Conversation about New Zealand and future visit

Robin Aisha Landsong is a Transformational Speaker, Visual Artist, Medicine Singer, and Medical/Health Intuitive. She had two Near-Death Experiences during the Rhodesian War in 1977 when she was eight years old. When she was called back to life by the Medicine Song of a rural Zimbabwean woman it opened her intuition and her own Medicine Songs. She has had the privilege to give Singing Medicine to over 14,000 people. Her specialty areas as Shamanic Craniosacral Therapist are trauma resolution, understanding illness, and healing injury. She sees inside each person their gifts and strengths as well as the underlying cause of their physical, emotional, or spiritual distress. She helps people restore the natural rhythms in their bodies for their greatest health. She loves to help people integrate their own Near-Death Experiences. She has helped thousands of people regain their sense of wholeness, creativity, intuition, embodiment, self-confidence, and mindfulness in the present moment. Website: robinlandsong.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded June 13, 2020. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha At The Gas Pump 00:04:24 - The Motivation of the Kidnapper 00:11:54 - A Life-Threatening Encounter and Unexpected Help 00:15:40 - Learning to Listen to the Song in the Land 00:19:37 - Melting Defenses and Finding Shelter 00:23:35 - A Near-Death Experience and a Mysterious Journey 00:27:47 - Finding Peace in the Dark Cave 00:32:04 - The Meeting with the Royalty 00:36:57 - The Divine Encounter 00:41:30 - The Message and the Broken Record 00:45:56 - Rescued by Mialucy at the Well 00:50:00 - Abduction and Return from South Africa 00:53:58 - Traumatic Reveal of Childhood Experience 00:57:57 - Healing from Traumatic Events 01:01:59 - Investing in My Nervous System 01:05:45 - Reunion in Africa 01:10:47 - A Moment of Healing and Recognition 01:15:29 - Healing Through Singing Medicine 01:19:24 - Retrieving Life Force for Healing 01:23:16 - Healing Trauma through Connection and Singing 01:28:00 - Sound Healing and Mediumship 01:32:00 - The Importance of Shifting Perspectives and Broadening Awareness 01:36:07 - Patterns and Lessons in Relationships 01:40:00 - Distancing Ourselves from Suffering 01:43:58 - Near-Death Experiences and the Resilience of Life 01:47:52 - The Importance of Touch and Co-Regulation in Human Connection 01:51:46 - Healing Nervous Systems and Giving Hope 01:56:04 - The Purpose of God Manifesting the Universe 02:00:18 - The Connection Between Headaches and Repressed Memories 02:04:18 - George Middleton

Sally Kempton is a deeply practiced teacher of meditation and spiritual philosophy, and the author of the books Meditation for the Love of It and Awakening Shakti: as well as the audio course Doorways to the Infinite, recently put out by Sounds True. A former swami in the Saraswati order of India, she has been practicing and teaching devotional contemplative tantra for more than 40 years. Her teaching is powerfully sourced in the eastern meditative traditions of yoga and Kashmir Shaivism, yet highly contemporary in her focus on evolutionary practice. She offers a powerful transmission of meditative experience. Books: Meditation for the Love of It Beginning Meditation Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga Shakti Meditations Doorways to the Infinite: The Art and Practice of Tantric Meditation (audio program) Website: sallykempton.com First BatGap interview with Sally Sally Kempton in panel discussion on Kashmir Shaivism Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. This interview was recorded May 15, 2020, as part of an online conference offered by the Science and Nonduality Conference, held May 17-23, entitled Wisdom in Times of Crisis. The conference has finished, but you may sign up to access all of its content. Transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:21 - Awakening Kundalini and Applying Esoteric Wisdom 00:04:05 - Initiations and Retreats in Ancient Cultures 00:05:32 - The Experience of Retreat During Lockdown 00:07:15 - The Power of Retreat and Inner Reflection 00:08:56 - Global Initiation and the Power of Practice 00:10:55 - Awakening and Spiritual Transformation amidst Crisis 00:12:38 - Consequences of our actions 00:14:39 - The Power of a Clarified Mind 00:16:25 - Samskara, Vasanas, and Pragnya 00:18:09 - Karl Marx's Analysis of Capitalism 00:20:12 - The History of Conspiracy Theories and Real Consequences 00:21:46 - The Power of Ritambhara Pragyan 00:24:00 - Discerning Truth from Bullshit 00:25:53 - Hidden Spiritual Realities and Conspiracy Theories 00:27:33 - Clarifying Your Intelligence and Discernment 00:29:35 - Lingering Delusions and Finding Truth 00:31:34 - Seeking truth moment-to-moment 00:33:21 - Maintaining Clarity and Friendships 00:35:02 - Embodied Ascension and God's Will 00:36:34 - Discerning our Callings and Obligations 00:38:30 - Motivation during the pandemic 00:40:04 - The Subtler Levels of Creation 00:41:59 - Tension and Forces in the Universe 00:43:54 - The Non-dual Shaiva Perspective 00:45:55 - Tapping into Grace and Consciousness 00:47:34 - Enriching Positive Forces in Creation 00:49:19 - The Universal Form of Self-Help 00:51:17 - Settling the Mind and Connecting to the Breath 00:53:21 - Taking care of yourself during difficult times 00:54:58 - The Accumulation of Benefits in Meditation 00:56:13 - Wrap Up and Thanks

Dorothy Hunt serves as Spiritual Director of Moon Mountain Sangha, teaching at the request of Adyashanti.  She is the founder of the San Francisco Center for Meditation and Psychotherapy and has practiced psychotherapy since 1967. She is the author of Leaves from Moon Mountain, Only This!, and Ending the Search: From Spiritual Ambition to the Heart of Awareness. A contributing author to The Sacred Mirror, and Listening from the Heart of Silence: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy, Dorothy is also a featured spiritual teacher in the book, Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Wisdom: The Feminine Face of Awakening. Dorothy has a long and deep connection to the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and the path of Self-Inquiry, as well as the nondual teachings of Zen, Advaita, and the Christian mystics.  In meeting Adyashanti, she was invited beyond identification with either the absolute or relative, finding freedom in what is awake in each of us regardless of the changing faces of experience. Dorothy offers satsang, retreats, and private meetings in the San Francisco Bay area and elsewhere by invitation. For more information, visit www.dorothyhunt.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. First BatGap interview with Dorothy Hunt. This interview was recorded May 11, 2020, as part of an online conference offered by the Science and Nonduality Conference, held May 17-23, entitled Wisdom in Times of Crisis. The conference has finished, but you may sign up to access all of its content. Summary and transcript of this interview. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:02:19 - "Ending the Search, From Spiritual Ambition to the Heart of Awareness" 00:03:52 - Trying New Things and Keeping the Brain Lively 00:05:17 - Accepting Our Humanness 00:07:09 - Seeing the World as Yourself 00:09:01 - Transformation on a Global Level 00:10:26 - Awakening to True Nature 00:12:19 - Embracing the Shadow Places 00:13:52 - Embracing Growth and Continuous Improvement 00:15:33 - The Power of the Story 00:17:16 - Connecting to the Deepest Dimension 00:18:43 - Finding Balance Amidst Fear and Anxiety 00:20:37 - Finding Peace in the Midst of a Storm 00:22:11 - The temporary clearing of the environment 00:23:48 - The Uncertainty of the Future 00:25:27 - Embracing Impermanence and Paradox 00:27:07 - The Intensity of Dreams and Collective Consciousness 00:28:52 - A Time of Forced Retreat and Contemplation 00:30:41 - Reflections on a Different Experience 00:32:18 - The Power of Silence and Deep Peace 00:33:56 - Grounding in Inner Peace and Collective Consciousness 00:35:43 - Making Spiritual Progress 00:37:25 - Shifting attention to the deeper dimensions 00:39:05 - Experiencing True Nature 00:40:40 - Connecting to Spirit through Different Practices 00:42:26 - "Do the Next Obvious Thing": Embracing Natural Meditation 00:43:52 - The Silence in the Midst of Noise 00:45:18 - Exploring the Inner Silence 00:47:05 - The Fear of Being Nobody 00:48:51 - Motherhood of the Divine 00:50:53 - Wrapping Up the Talk

Lars Muhl is a Danish author, mystic, and musician, born in Aarhus, Denmark in 1950. Already as a 10-year-old, Lars Muhl had experienced glimpses of another reality. The shock following the sudden death of his younger sister, caused painful kundalini-like experiences, giving access to the ethereal worlds and a hypersensitive insight into other people’s pain. This lasted for three years. A turning point came when Lars was 15 and received a book anonymously in the post. Hazrat Inayat Khan’s ‘Gayan Vadan Nirtan’ became the start of a lifelong esoteric study. Like Paulo Coelho, Lars was for many years a successful singer/songwriter who, concurrently with his music, studied the world’s religions and esoteric knowledge. Then in 1996, he was struck down by an unexplained illness, which neither doctors nor alternative therapists could diagnose. For three years he lay in bed without being able to move or think straight. Through a close friend’s intervention, Lars was put in touch with a seer who, via the telephone, brought him back to life. That was the start of a completely new existence and the beginning of that quest he has so grippingly described in his trilogy book ‘The O Manuscript: The Seer, The Magdalene, The Grail’. Other books: The Gate of Light: Healing Practices to Connect You to Source Energy The Law of Light: The Secret Teachings of Jesus The Law of Light: The Aramaic Mystery Movie Lars referred to during the interview: The Gate of Light by Lars Muhl Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded May 30, 2020 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:54 - A Sensitive Perception in Childhood 00:09:08 - Visualization and the Power of Intention 00:13:35 - The Wisdom of the New Testament and the Essenes 00:17:28 - Jesus and the Essenes 00:22:01 - The Potential within Each of Us 00:26:07 - The Kingdom of Heaven in Aramaic 00:30:53 - The Possibility of Animals Being Enlightened 00:34:54 - Scribe at Qumran 00:38:47 - A Transformative Experience 00:43:07 - The Choice to Leave Showbiz 00:47:21 - The Profound Experience of Gazing 00:51:24 - Being True to Yourself and the Essence of Hypocrisy 00:55:41 - Prophets and Reincarnation 01:00:26 - The Departure of Yeshua and the Role of the Holy Spirit 01:04:32 - Higher Consciousness and Other Dimensions 01:08:44 - The Deep Level of Human Abilities 01:13:07 - The Power of Healing Wine 01:17:35 - Encounter with a Guardian Angel 01:21:32 - Nervous System Stress and Purification 01:25:52 - Dealing with dark and light forces; The role of guardian angels and fallen angels 01:29:53 - Introduction to the Chariot of Fire and Esoteric Christianity 01:34:09 - Investing Your Whole Being in Success 01:38:38 - The Feminine and Masculine in the Kingdom of Heaven 01:43:23 - Mary Magdalene and Her Misrepresentation 01:47:41 - The Marriage of Jesus and Mariam Magdalene 01:52:02 - Embracing Diversity and Fluidity 01:56:29 - Awakening to the Inner Abilities 02:00:33 - The Need for Activism and Spiritual Warriors 02:04:46 - Respecting Differences and Making the Best of Life 02:08:44 - Webinars and Upcoming Events

Chris Beal discovered Buddhism as an exchange student in Japan in the 1960s. Given her determination, she was sure she would succeed in getting enlightened. But enthusiasm doesn't always guarantee success, and she went home disappointed, depressed and demoralized. Thirteen years later, after a spontaneous awakening, she contacted the priest who had been her main teacher in Japan and began a six-year connection which deepened her understanding of what she had realized. Meanwhile, she sought a spiritual path in the States but found nothing that spoke to her as deeply as her first teacher had until she met Adyashanti twenty years ago. After almost a decade of absorbing his teachings, she found the realization gradually deepening on its own. Chris enjoys writing about spirituality and spiritual awakening. Her writing includes numerous published book reviews, author interviews, and articles, She is currently seeking publication of her novel, ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE FLESH, in which the main character's dilemma reflects that of many seekers: How do you know which way will lead to the ultimate Truth when what you are seeking is not in the realm of imagining? Chris's Blogs: Miracle of Awakening Literary Journeys to Truth Buddhist Fiction Blog (contributor) Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded May 16, 2020 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:25 - The Unimaginable Nature of Awakening 00:10:10 - Perspectives on Enlightenment and Awakening 00:13:54 - The Importance of Suffering in Enlightenment 00:18:09 - A Conversation about Suffering and Bliss 00:22:20 - Seeds of Enlightenment 00:26:09 - Entering Nirvana and the Struggle 00:30:07 - Dependency and Longing for Love 00:33:16 - Cultivating Discernment on the Spiritual Path 00:36:27 - Awakening and the Role of Teachers 00:40:33 - The Path of Everything Being Okay 00:44:47 - The Story of My Spiritual Journey 00:48:48 - The Deeper Place 00:52:40 - Neurophysiological Makeup and Purification 00:57:11 - Experiencing Lack of Separation 01:01:04 - Connecting with the Energetic Field 01:04:11 - The Illusion of Awakening as Effortless 01:07:42 - The Paradox of Separate Domains 01:11:31 - The Debate on Free Will and Choice 01:15:20 - The Pitfall of Comparing Yourself to Others 01:18:40 - The Razor's Edge on the Spiritual Path 01:21:52 - The Process of Awakening and Abiding 01:24:37 - Recognizing Awakeness vs Behavior 01:28:08 - Association for Spiritual Integrity 01:31:33 - The Role of a Teacher in Enlivening the Field 01:36:12 - The Role of Fiction in Understanding Ultimate Reality 01:39:33 - Spiritual Fiction Recommendations 01:42:14 - Discussing Buddhist Fiction and Mythical Stories 01:45:26 - The Transcendent Last Chapter 01:49:00 - Interactive Blogs and Literary Discussions 01:51:17 - Wrapping Up and Next Guest Announcement

Donald Hoffman received a Ph.D. from MIT and is a Professor of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. He is an author of over 120 scientific papers and three books, including The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes. He received a Distinguished Scientific Award of the American Psychological Association for early career research, the Rustum Roy Award of The Chopra Foundation, and the Troland Research Award of the US National Academy of Sciences. His writing has appeared in Scientific American, New Scientist, LA Review of Books, and Edge, and his work has been featured in Wired, Quanta, The Atlantic, Ars Technica, National Public Radio, Discover Magazine, and Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman. He has a TED Talk titled “Do we see reality as it is?” Website Other book: Visual Intelligence: How We Create What We See Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded May 9, 2020 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump with Donald Hoffman 00:04:52 - Meditation as an Exploration 00:09:08 - The Process of Transformation and the Endless Exploration 00:13:08 - Safety First 00:17:22 - The Illusion of Space-Time 00:22:25 - The Limitations of Space-Time and Measurement 00:26:32 - The Observer and the Observed 00:31:40 - The Oneness of Ultimate Reality 00:36:35 - The Illusion of Objective Reality 00:41:47 - Humility and Precision in Science and Spirituality 00:46:03 - Challenging Dogmatism & the Split between Science and Spirituality 00:50:57 - Rethinking Reductionism and Fundamental Reality 00:55:56 - The Role of Science and Reason in Spiritual Exploration 01:01:03 - The Humility of Scientific Spirituality 01:05:36 - Godel's Candy Store Theory of Consciousness 01:10:03 - The Dynamics of Consciousness 01:14:07 - The Nature of Scientific Progress 01:19:03 - The Science Game and Precision in Spiritual Experiences 01:23:23 - Exploring Consciousness beyond Space-Time 01:27:33 - The Fundamental Dynamical Principle of Consciousness 01:31:38 - The Fictions of Space-Time and Extraordinary Experiences 01:35:20 - Consciousness as Fundamental 01:39:32 - The Evidence for Consciousness as Fundamental 01:43:21 - The Dance Between Precision and No-Concepts 01:47:08 - The Importance of Avoiding Sloppy Thinking 01:51:20 - The Conscious Agent and Unity Consciousness 01:55:58 - The Nature of Consciousness and Emotions 02:00:16 - The Infinite Nature of Consciousness and Godel's Theorem 02:04:41 - Exploring Infinite Possibilities within the Source 02:08:20 - The Playfulness of Exploration 02:11:29 - Consciousness as Fundamental