While expanding his education and eventually working at a number or companies as an HF engineer, Dan's first love was always spiritual exploration. In 2011, after a number of years of trial and error refining the process of self inquiry into deep self investigation, there came an undeniable recognition that he was not a separate self. Simply no one at all. There was only the selfless THIS, "aware existence". This became his permanent condition.

Soon after, (from a certain perspective), Dan left a successful corporate position and his old life, following an intuited impulse to be in a more free, natural and creative circumstance. He now lives with his wife Victoria in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, loving nature, exploring various forms of artistic expression and guiding others to awakening.

Website: deepselfinvestigation.com

Book: Deep Self Investigation: A Modern Guide to Awakening

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded July 19, 2025

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Dan Kelso

00:02:00 - What is Deep Self Investigation (DSI)?

00:03:52 - The Scientific Approach: Direct Experience Over Intellect

00:06:20 - The Paradox of "Who" is Doing the Inquiry?

00:08:40 - Are Humans Different from Nature?

00:11:20 - The Sense of Self as a Fiction

00:15:20 - Association vs. Identification with the Body

00:17:20 - Detachment During Intense Experiences

00:19:36 - The Paradox of Being the Doer and Not the Doer

00:22:20 - The "I Got It, I Lost It" Phase

00:24:56 - The Impact of Awakening on Daily Life and Relationships

00:29:04 - Distinguishing Detachment from Psychological Dissociation

00:33:04 - Awakening's Influence on the Body-Mind

00:36:16 - Is the Sense of Self a Prerequisite for Awakening?

00:39:52 - Life Changes and the Pace of Integration

00:42:48 - Don't Dig a Bunch of Shallow Holes

00:45:24 - Q&A: Knowing Physical Pain Without Being In It

00:48:08 - Q&A: Does Formal Practice Continue After Awakening?

00:52:40 - Tapping into Other Dimensions of Existence

00:56:56 - Q&A: Handling Family Triggers and Maintaining Realization

01:00:40 - Q&A: Is the Sense of "Me" Always in the Middle?

01:03:56 - Guided Self-Inquiry with Rick

01:09:08 - Detachment vs. Inappropriate Behavior

01:12:00 - The Importance of Spiritual Integrity and Confronting Unethical Teachers

01:17:52 - The Intuitive Knowing of Right and Wrong

01:22:36 - The Degeneration of the Dao

01:23:52 - Conclusion