The iconography and texts of most spiritual traditions depict and describe realms of existence more subtle than ordinary sensory perception reveals. The most commonly portrayed phenomena are halos in paintings of saints. But in addition to this evidence of the human “subtle body”, the traditions are abundant with paintings and stories of subtle beings such as angels, gods, devas, demons, etc.

Is this mere mythology or does it suggest that subtle perception is part of spiritual development? So far, the non-dual community has not discussed this at all. The New Age community has, but often in a fanciful way that the non-dual community has, perhaps wisely, chosen to eschew. Yet many who have had abiding awakenings that non-dual traditions predict and respect discover, in time, that subtle perception begins to dawn. They begin to perceive auras, angels, devas, and the like as routinely as most of us see other human beings.

This panel discussion included five such people:

 Name

Website

Other Batgap Interviews

Francis Bennett

8/4/2012, 4/21/2013* 10/26/2013*, 5/24/2014*, 10/23/2014*, 10/22/2015*, 10/21/2016, 10/25/2016*

Harri Aalto

harriaalto.com

3/22/2014, 7/19/2014, 11/12/2016

Kristin Kirk

kristinkirk.com

11/2/2013, 10/22/2015*

Ruffina Farrokh Anklesaria

bestagainststress.com

Facebook page

Stan Kendz

stankendz.com

12/2/2009

*Part of group discussion

Transcript of this discussion

Recorded 5/24/2014

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Refined Perception

00:06:23 - Reluctance to Participate and Cultural Norms

00:10:34 - Personal Experiences with Spiritual Beings

00:14:07 - Experiencing Consciousness as Everything 

00:19:11 - The Sublime Area of Consciousness

00:23:24 - A Life-changing Experience

00:26:59 - The Transformative Experience and Past Lives

00:31:09 - Past Lives and Reincarnations

00:35:40 - Enlivening the Shakti

00:40:12 - The Richness of an Enlightened World

00:45:05 - The Kingdom of Heaven Within Us

00:49:33 - The Golden Hue of Consciousness

00:53:14 - Shifting Consciousness and Expanded Self

00:57:05 - Releasing Beings through Meditation

01:00:25 - Aging and the Laws of Nature

01:04:19 - The Recognition of Love and Compassion

01:08:27 - The Expansion of Consciousness

01:11:20 - The Unfoldment of States of Consciousness

01:14:40 - Parallels in Maps of Consciousness

01:17:13 - The Vast Range of Possibilities in Consciousness

01:20:01 - Universal Phenomenon of Consciousness Growth

01:22:12 - Shifting Awareness and Refined Perception

01:24:34 - Celestial Perception and Spiritual Awakening

01:26:48 - Unfolding States of Awareness

01:29:50 - Overpowering Experiences and Support

01:33:43 - The Journey of Unfolding Consciousness and Surrender

01:38:28 - Surrender and Devotion in Spiritual Practice

01:43:07 - The Phenomenon of Channeling

01:47:23 - Experiences of Lord Vishnu and Celestial Levels

01:51:40 - The Celestial Levels of Consciousness

01:56:24 - Concluding Remarks

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