Awareness Explorers

Awareness Explorers episode 214: Approaches to Spiritual Growth

In this episode, we discuss different models of spiritual growth, exploring the advantages and disadvantages of each, and sharing our personal experiences across multiple approaches, including books, coaching, religion, satsang, peer support, AI chatbots, retreats, 12-step programs, YouTube teachings, transmissions, communes, and workshops.

• Includes a guided meditation helping you to intuitively assess which models might be most suitable for your personal spiritual journey.

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one.

To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

Photo by Call Me Fred on Unsplash

Awareness Explorers episode 213: Eric Zimmer Guest Explorer

In this episode we talk to Eric Zimmer, host of the podcast, "The One You Feed," about his new book, How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life, his approach to personal transformation combining both inner spiritual practices and outer behavioral changes, and how to balance both acceptance and change. We also discussed the importance of community and social connections in spiritual development.

• Includes a guided meditation from Eric moving us through three different modes of experience—body sensations, sounds, and breathing—and then noticing them at the same time, and letting the three merge into one field of awareness.

To learn more about Eric Zimmer, please visit: https://www.oneyoufeed.net/

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one.

To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

Awareness Explorers episode 212: Life Force

In this episode Jonathan and Brian explore the nature of life force energy, two paths to access the life force, and possible obstacles to its full expression.

• Includes a guided meditation focusing on how we can get out of its way and allow the universal life force to express itself through our temporary form with all of its talents, gifts, abilities, and limitations.

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one.

To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

Photo by Juan Cruz Mountford on Unsplash

Awareness Explorers episode 211: Salvadore Poe, Guest Explorer

In this episode we talk to Salvadore Poe, a spiritual teacher and author who shared his journey from rock musician to spiritual awakening, and described his concept of "having a holiday," that is, recognizing pure being without fixing on any particular experience. The discussion covers topics including spiritual bypassing, doership, and meditation practices.

• Includes a guided meditation leading you to relax the focus of attention, notice the movements of life, and see that what you are is not moving. This pure being at the core of all of the movement is that which never moves, and is who you essentially are.

To learn more about Salvadore Poe, please visit: https://www.liberationis.com/

Books by Salvadore Poe: https://www.liberationis.com/books Liberation IS: The End of the Spiritual Path The Way of Freedom: Conversations with Salvadore Poe Blown Wide Open: A Collection of Holidays The Audacity of Freedom: A Journey of Spiritual Liberation

Discussed in this episode:

Jnani: A Sanskrit term for a wise person, sage, or "knower of the Self" within Hindu philosophy, particularly in jnana yoga, the Hindu "path of knowledge" or wisdom.

Bhakti: A Sanskrit term meaning intense love, devotion, attachment, and surrender to a personal deity or guru, often serving as a path to spiritual liberation. It is often practiced as bhakti yoga, focusing on devotion through service.

Karma: Karma Yoga, or the "yoga of action," is a spiritual path focused on selfless service, purifying the heart, and reducing ego by performing duties without attachment to results.

Shiva Shakti Amma https://sivasakthiammaiyar.com/

Ajja https://myajja.weebly.com/

Dolano:: https://www.friendsofdolano.org/

Dzogchen: Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection," is the highest teaching in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, focusing on recognizing the innate, radiant, and empty nature of the mind. It emphasizes that enlightenment is not a distant goal but is already inherently present and requires only recognition through effortless, non-conceptual awareness.

I Am That book by Nisargadatta Maharaj https://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/I-Am-That-by-Sri-Nisargadatta-Maharaj.pdf

POK (Perfectly Okay): Perfectlyokay.org is the social and support center of Jeffery Martin's Finders Course alumni community,

Tiruvannamalai and Mount Arunachala: Arunachala hill has been considered sacred for centuries and is located within the temple town of Tiruvannamalai, one of the most ancient heritage sites of India and the home of the Ramana Maharshi Ashram.

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one.

To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

Awareness Explorers episode 210: The Problem of Compartmentalization

In this episode we explore the problem of compartmentalization and how applying spiritual awareness to some areas of life (such as meditation), but not others (such as money or relationships) creates a spiritual identity that fails to integrate shadow material, thereby inhibiting the cultivation of non-dual awareness alongside engagement in ethical, human action.

• Includes a guided meditation helping you to visualize a challenging compartment in your life and to bring impartial witnessing to that compartment, while gaining insight into what obstacles trigger reactivity and impede your true nature.

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one.

To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

Awareness Explorers episode 209: Neelam, Guest Explorer

In this episode we talk to Neelam about her awakening with H.W.L. Poonja, known as Papaji, the role of trust in awakening, how the nervous system's capacity to be present is the "missing link" between a desire for truth and the ability to experience it, and how a true feeling of "okayness" enables us to rest in our true nature.

•Includes a guided meditation leading us to the direct experience of presence by noticing the spaciousness that is already here and has always been here, thereby nurturing the growing capacity of the nervous system to rest in presence.

To learn more about Neelam, please visit: https://neelam.org/ And on YouTube: @NeelamSatsang https://www.youtube.com/@NeelamSatsang

And here are some upcoming 2026 events with Neelam: 1. Sunday 3/29 Free Open Zoom - Set Your Heart on Fire Ask questions, connect, and engage with Neelam. Explore the themes: Freedom is your Final Destination, and Challenges are Stepping Stones to Awakening! Details and registration on Neelam.org at Upcoming Events: https://neelam.org/events-2/

2. April 3-Week Intensive - Sundays 4/12, 19, 26 The intensives are always a beautiful opportunity to engage directly with Neelam and the Sangha. Join for one, two or all three weeks. Freedom is your Final Destination, and Challenges are Stepping Stones to Awakening! Details and registration on Neelam.org at Upcoming Events: https://neelam.org/events-2/

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one.

To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

Awareness Explorers episode 208: Trina Dawn, Guest Explorer

In this episode, we talk to Trina Dawn about the "seeker" identity as a mind-created story, which perpetuates suffering by resisting the present moment.

•Includes a guided meditation using questions to help you notice what's shining right here, right now without any effort, and without words or labels, and that's already awake.

To learn more about Trina Dawn, please visit: https://www.trinadawn.com/

Or watch on these platforms: YouTube: @trinadawn111 https://www.youtube.com/@trinadawn111 TikTok: @trinadawn111 https://www.tiktok.com/@trinadawn111 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Trina-Dawn-61579360482172/ Instagram: trinadawn111 https://www.instagram.com/trinadawn111/

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one.

To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

Awareness Explorers episode 207: Tani Thole and Leslie Rogers, Guest Explorers

In this episode we talk to Tani Thole and Leslie Rogers, founders of the Light Dark Institute, about their philosophy of integrating shadow work for spiritual growth, by bringing love to the most unloved parts of the self, which are the source of internal and external conflict.

• Includes a guided meditation from Tani inviting you to explore some part of yourself that you struggle with or reject, to notice the drain on your life force as a result of rejecting this part, and to bring appreciation and gratitude for how this part is actually watching out for you.

Tani Thole and Leslie Rogers are the founders of the Light Dark Institute, devoted to helping people fall in love with the parts of themselves and the world that they've most rejected. Their work weaves shadow exploration, embodied power play, and bold encounters with the raw, untamed places we usually turn away from. Known for making even the most challenging inner terrain feel safe and accessible, they support leaders and seekers alike to meet the darkness with love — and to live, lead, and relate from a place of wholeness.

To learn more about Tani Thole, Leslie Rogers, and the Light Dark Institute, please visit: https://www.lightdarkinstitute.com/

Awareness Explorers listeners can receive $100 off Tani and Leslie's "Playing With Darketypes" 9-week online course that starts on March 30, 2026. Just go to… https://www.lightdarkinstitute.com/playing-with-darketypes-online-course …and use the discount code: AWARENESSEXPLORERS The discount code is valid through March 15th. 2026.

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one.

To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

In this episode, Jonathan and Brian debate the value of pre-meditation rituals for enhancing meditation. We outline several practices to enhance meditation, and we also contrast pre-meditation rituals to create deep experiences, versus viewing meditation as simply allowing "what is."

• Includes a guided meditation helping you to transition from your busy day by breathing into any part of your body that is tense or contracted, and by putting aside any story going on in your head.

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one.

To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian

Photo by Sage Friedman on Unsplash

In this episode we review the core non-duality teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj, including their inquiries into the nature of the Self. These teachings have been among the most influential in the present-day satsang and nonduality movements in the West.

• Includes a guided self-inquiry meditation to trace the "I" thought to its source as the knower of all experience, and to help the listener identify as pure, choiceless, allowing, loving awareness.

A good place to get a feel for the teachings of both Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj is the YouTube channel, "Eternal Life | Non-Duality" from @EternalLife7, here: https://www.youtube.com/@EternalLife7

The "Spiritual Laughter" YouTube playlist mentioned in this episode can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5MGGRY0HO9ftghd8xwKE9pPL_LmJkz7G

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one.

To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian