Fax and Sharon Gilbert met on a Transcendental Meditation teachers' course in 1972 in Santa Barbara California and have been teaching together ever since. They’ve administered meditation centers and retreat facilities and inspired and taught thousands of people to meditate throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. They became involved in the Waking Down work in 2002. Several awakenings and dark nights of the soul later they became mentors and then teachers of this work in 2007. They both enjoy the freedom to express this teaching in their own way and marvel at the unique unfolding of each person in this mysterious process of awakening. Fax is also an artist/educator and uses the performance skills of mime, magic, masks and comedy to teach and inspire students of all grade levels. Since 1990 he has presented over 5,000 school assembly programs, residencies, and community concerts, and keynoted many regional educational events. He now splits his time between his Waking Down work and delivering a range of educational and performance programs throughout the Midwest. Fax grew up in Boston and attended Brandeis University. Sharon has been the president of the Waking Down Teachers Assn. for the past six years, is on its governing board and facilitates the monthly teachers meeting. In addition to her teaching and administrative activity she spends her time writing, editing, gardening, reading a wide range of books, and watching cooking shows. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 12/16/2009. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha in the Gas Pump 00:03:26 - Sharing Artwork and Programming 00:05:46 - Coming into Alignment with Myself 00:08:38 - Finding Purpose in God-Realization and Enlightenment 00:11:56 - Discovering Inner Peace 00:14:55 - Peace as a Component of Being 00:18:45 - Expressing Human Emotions 00:22:29 - Activating Sense of Presence 00:24:34 - Connection between Consciousness and Facts 00:27:18 - Reconnecting with Consciousness and the Fullness of Being 00:30:27 - The Definition of Enlightenment 00:33:48 - Questioning the Doubt 00:36:23 - Self-realization and spiritual growth 00:38:49 - Embracing Uncomfortable Emotions 00:41:48 - The Power of Awareness and Integration 00:44:58 - The Different Stages of Awakening 00:48:07 - The Fullness of Being and the Poignancy of Life 00:51:15 - Appreciating the Polarity of Limitations and Unlimited Aspect 00:54:35 - The Pain of Different Opinions 00:58:58 - The Nature of Awakening and its Effects 01:02:14 - The Recognition of Living Itself 01:05:14 - The Recognition of Who You Are as Consciousness 01:08:04 - The Power of Company in Awakening 01:11:21 - Confidence in Being and Uniqueness of Expression 01:14:02 - The Paradox of Truth 01:16:53 - Questions from Viewers 01:19:35 - The Buddha's Death 01:23:19 - Being Who You Are 01:26:16 - The Value of Meditation 01:30:09 - Awakening and Self-Improvement 01:33:55 - The Courage to Come Forward