Stephen Cope is the Scholar Emeritus at the renowned Kripalu Center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He is the author of many best-selling books on the topic of yoga and meditation. For over thirty years, his interest has been in bringing important but esoteric yoga scriptures to the mainstream, including, most recently, the two-thousand-year-old spiritual classic called The Bhagavad Gita, or "The Song of God." His new book on The Gita, entitled The Dharma of Difficult Times, will be released later this year.

Books:

The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling (Discussed in this interview)

Yoga and the Quest for the True Self

The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker's Guide to Extraordinary Living

Deep Human Connection: Why We Need It More than Anything Else

Website: stephencope.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded May 29, 2021

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump

00:04:14 - The Definition of Dharma and Its Connection with the Common Good

00:07:48 - The concept of dharma and its impact on individuals, families, and society

00:11:13 - Higher Beings and Our Relationship with Them

00:14:48 - Discovering the Dharma

00:18:11 - The Importance of Underrating Oneself

00:21:42 - Everything is Already Okay

00:25:04 - The Effects of Meditation on Young Musicians

00:28:37 - The Contemplative Tradition's View on Mastery

00:31:55 - Finding Your Dharma

00:35:14 - Finding Your Duty

00:38:40 - Finding Fulfillment in Your Dharma

00:42:21 - Finding the Open Door

00:45:57 - Fulfilling your Dharma and making a significant impact

00:49:16 - Listening for the Call of the Times

00:53:05 - Beethoven's Dedication to his Gift

00:56:43 - The Practice of Letting Go

01:00:17 - The Self's behavior and suffering leading to enlightenment

01:03:46 - Gandhi's View on Violence and War

01:07:17 - Exceptions to Oppression

01:10:40 - Living Unknown

01:14:22 - The Mystery of Sacrifice and Dharma

01:17:43 - The Period of Certitude and Doubt

01:20:59 - The Conflict of the Heart and Mind

01:24:33 - All is Brahman

01:27:54 - The Power of Taking Risks and Committing

01:31:17 - Support from Higher Intelligence

01:35:00 - The Fruition and Importance of Ethical Practice

01:38:12 - Finding Fulfillment through Balance and Wisdom

01:41:37 - The Impact of Concentration Levels on Book Publishing

01:45:12 - Schedule Change: Lawrence Freeman - Work with the Dalai Lama