While out in California for the Science and Nonduality Conference, I had some downtime before the conference started, so I decided to tape a long panel discussion with a rather large group of friends, most of them previous guests on Batgap. Sofia University in Palo Alto (where transpersonal psychology was founded by Abraham Maslow and others), generously provided a room and video equipment. I'm especially grateful to Dr. Jeffery Martin, who conducts research there, for offering and organizing this. It was an experiment, and some were skeptical that it would work, but it did! This is part 1. The link to Part 2 is below.

Participants in the morning session included:

Name

Other Batgap Interview(s)

Website(s)

Chuck Hillig

7/21/2010

chuckhillig.com

Clare Blanchflower

clareblanchflower.com

Craig Holliday

1/3/2015, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019*

craigholliday.com

Dana Sawyer

9/29/2010, 2/9/2014*, 3/19/2016

dana-sawyer.com

David Buckland

9/25/2015, 10/27/2017*

davidya.ca

David Ellzey

1/16/2016

davidellzey.com

Francis Bennett

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

Jeffery Martin

1/25/2017

drjefferymartin.com

nonsymbolic.org

Kiran Trace

11/2/2013, 09/24/2015

kirantrace.com

Kristin Kirk

2/16/2014, 5/24/2014*

kristinkirk.com

Laurie Moore

7/21/2012, 10/24/2013

counselingscottsvalley.us

animiracles.com

Mariana Caplan

2/3/2012, 1/6/2013, 10/25/2019*

marianacaplan.com

Rick Archer

6/5/2010, 3/16/2013, 5/11/2014, 10/23/2015, 10/24/2016, 10/21/2017, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019*, 10/27/2019

You're on it.

Susanne Marie

7/7/2013, 10/24/2014*, 10/23/2016*

susannemarie.org

*In group discussion.

Part 2 of this discussion

Transcript of this discussion

Recorded 10/22/2015

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to the Group Conversation

00:04:03 - Introducing the Panel

00:06:55 - What is Enlightenment or Awakening?

00:10:12 - Individual Experiences of Awarenesses

00:13:30 - Integration and Human Integration

00:17:55 - Direct experience and the recognition of pure emptiness

00:22:17 - The Sonar-ic Being and Enlightenment

00:25:34 - Embracing the Silence, Recognizing Mind Activity

00:29:44 - Embracing the Present Moment

00:33:29 - Awakening as an Ever-Evolving Process

00:36:37 - Becoming Sensing Beings 

00:40:09 - The Uniqueness of Being

00:43:13 - The Value of Words and Identity

00:45:51 - Awakening from Awakening

00:48:30 - Awakening into Divinity Plus Humanity

00:51:42 - The Movement of Formlessness to Form

00:54:38 - Exploring the Layers of Identity

00:57:51 - Dissolution of Self and Unity Consciousness

01:01:17 - Oneness in Brokenness

01:04:04 - The Challenges of Teaching and Compassion

01:06:43 - Enlightenment and Torture

01:09:38 - The Journey of Growth and Enlightenment

01:12:52 - Finding Peace in the Chaos

01:15:57 - Surrendering to Love

01:19:01 - Practical Integration and Life Decisions

01:21:53 - The Changing Landscape of Awakening

01:24:58 - The Diversity of Experiences

01:29:51 - The Spacious Quality of Experience

01:34:18 - Exploring Emotion and Persistence

01:38:43 - The Dance of Love and Joy

01:43:12 - Musical Interlude

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