Jim Grove is a lifelong practitioner of yogic meditation who grew up in a small logging town on the West Coast of Canada. At age thirteen, he was introduced to a teacher who was one of the few ministers directly ordained by Paramahansa Yogananda during his lifetime, Mother Yogacharya M. Hamilton of Seattle. A series of early transcendental experiences convinced him to commit himself to continued yogic practice under her tutelage. His recent memoir, A Curious Spiritual Journey, recounts some of the prominent experiences that have arisen from his practice over four decades, starting from early adolescence, in the interests of providing some insight into the often unpredictable process of spiritual unfoldment. He likes to speak plainly about spiritual experience and practice, avoiding the vague, abstract, and sometimes inflated language used in much spiritual and new age writing. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Website: jimgrove.ca

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and transcript of this interview

Interview recorded February 15, 2025

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 Jim Grove's Journey in Yogic Meditation  

00:03:42 Editing a Manuscript: From 80,000 to 55,000 Words

00:07:23 Discovering a Life-Changing Teacher  

00:11:24 A Humorous Encounter at Denny's  

00:16:23 Spiritual Awakening and Motivation Changes

00:21:30 The Ripple Effect of Everyday Actions

00:25:47 Mariana Kaplan's Global Soccer Mission  

00:30:15 The Importance of Spiritual Integrity and Ethical Conduct

00:34:29 The Importance of Integrity in Organizations and Community

00:38:25 Cultural Ethics vs. Universal Values

00:42:13 The Importance of Humility and Kindness in Life

00:47:09 Leadership Dynamics and Corporate Culture  

00:51:16 The Purpose of Suffering and Spiritual Growth

00:55:51 Embracing Mortality in Tibetan Buddhism

00:59:10 Exploring Shamanic Practices and Cross-Cultural Spirituality  

01:03:24 Exploring the Life and Teachings of Joel Goldsmith

01:06:55 Joel Goldsmith and Spiritual Anecdotes  

01:10:33 Exploring Multiverse and Other Dimensions

01:14:40 The Role of Specialists in Reincarnation Research  

01:18:30 Exploring Past Life Regressions and Reincarnation  

01:23:25 Vision of Furry Boots with Curly Toes  

01:27:52 Healing Through Past Life Regression

01:31:46 Balancing Depth and Breadth in Personal Growth

01:36:04 Exploring Kundalini Activation and Spiritual Growth  

01:40:49 The Metaphor of the Ring: Ego and Humility Lessons from Tolkien

01:45:52 The Concept of Humility in Spiritual Teachings  

01:49:50 The Spiritual Lessons of the Prodigal Son and Christ's Doubt

01:54:11 Career Shift: From Private Sector to Provincial Government

01:59:06 Embracing Change and Trusting the Universe

02:03:47 Instilling Inner Guidance in Children

02:07:44 Future of Humanity: Transitions and Endgames