People have always loved sitting and sharing in the presence of an awakened human being and experiencing that tender beingness. For about 7 years Florian Tathagata and his life companion Julia have travelled around the world untiringly inviting seekers to recognize in their own experience who they really are and to live as an embodiment of truth in everyday life.

In his unmistakable manner he embraces the daily and simple life that he is sharing with a constantly increasing number of 'friends of truth', as he calls all those being interested. Again and again visitors of meetings tell of spontaneous awakening, of an all penetrating silence, of simple clarity and presence and of overflowing love and gratitude which they experience in Florian Tathagata‘s presence.

With both legs firmly rooted in normal everyday life and at the same time in the heart deeply connected with Ramana Maharshi, Papaji, Jiddu Krishnamurti and his teacher and friend Isaac Shapiro, Florian Tathagata speaks and is silent, laughs and cries, is present with everyone who would love to savour the truth of awareness.

Florian is the author of two books: Being and Given.

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded 9/18/2011.

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Spiritual Names

00:04:00 - The Influence of Past Experiences and Memory

00:07:47 - Connection and Communion

00:12:03 - Relaxing the Focus:

00:16:05 - The Experience of Overwhelm

00:20:04 - Disembodiment and Traumatic Experiences in Awakening

00:24:08 - The Tragedy of Denying Unconscious Triggers

00:27:48 - The Shift of Attention during Awakening

00:31:06 - Natural Awakening and Self-Exploration

00:34:45 - The Exploration of Attention and Connection

00:38:17 - The Impact of Early Life Experiences on Connection

00:41:20 - Disembodied Spirituality

00:44:40 - The Cultural Background and the Importance of Embodiment

00:47:53 - Identification with Nothingness and Accumulating Exhaustion

00:50:43 - The Transformation of Exhaustion into Rest

00:53:45 - Connecting to the Natural State

00:57:09 - The Seduction of Spiritual Winners

01:00:17 - The Integration of Ramana and Muktananda

01:03:41 - Removing Tricks and Natural Methods for De-stressing Soldiers

01:07:32 - Inviting Awareness and Relaxing Attention

01:11:14 - The Reality Beneath the Surface

01:14:55 - Connecting with Inner Reality

01:18:47 - Layers of Conditioning in Healing and Integration

01:22:06 - Learning to Listen to the Body

01:25:37 - Being Present and Self-Aware

01:29:44 - The Importance of Female Moderation

01:33:52 - Unraveling Protective Beliefs for Relaxation

01:38:04 - Options arise when conscious

01:41:36 - Cultivating Self-Referral Awareness

01:44:41 - Discussion on upcoming website and video

01:47:45 - Interviews and Conference Updates