Nipun Mehta is the founder of ServiceSpace, a global community at the intersection of technology, volunteerism, and the gift economy. Most recently, ServiceSpace's pandemic response has showcased the unique beauty of its global ecosystem. Nipun has catalyzed a global social movement of community builders grounded in their localities and rooted in practices for cultivating love, nonviolence, selfless service, and compassion. The ecosystem has reached millions, attracted thousands of volunteers, and mushroomed into numerous community-based service projects as well as inspiring content portals. ServiceSpace harnesses the collective power of networks and our deeper interconnectedness to create a distributed social movement founded on small, local individual acts of kindness, generosity, and service that ignite shifts in individual and collective consciousness. Nipun was honored as an "unsung hero of compassion" by the Dalai Lama, not long before former U.S. President Obama appointed him to a council for addressing poverty and inequality in the US. Yet the core of what strikes anyone who meets him is the way his life is an attempt to bring smiles in the world and silence in his heart: "I want to live simply, love purely, and give fearlessly. That's me."

In his mid-twenties, Nipun quit his job to become a "full-time volunteer". One of his most formative experiences was a walking pilgrimage across India, with his wife of six months, whose profound lessons also became the subject of his widely-read address at UPenn commencement. Over the last twenty years, he has addressed thousands of gatherings around the world, speaking next to wide-ranging leaders from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to author Elizabeth Gilbert to civil rights legend John Lewis. Germany's OOOM magazine named Nipun one of the Top 100 Most Inspiring People of 2020.

See links to these ServiceSpace websites at the bottom of their website.

And for some of Nipun's talks and articles, visit his personal website.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded December 4, 2021.

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Nipun Mehta

00:04:52 - An Unexpected Encounter on a Plane

00:08:37 - Reunion with a Compassionate Monk

00:12:00 - Inklings of Deeper Dimensions in Life

00:16:20 - Meeting and Marriage Journey

00:20:39 - The Meeting with Gauri and the Right Path

00:24:51 - The Impermanence of Life and Leaving a Lasting Impact

00:30:10 - Finding Your Inner Vows and Virtues

00:35:13 - Living with Compassion and Inner Transformation

00:40:10 - The Importance of Self-Reflection and Experimentation

00:44:49 - Being an Instrument of the Divine

00:49:33 - Letting Go of Outcome

00:53:56 - Quality of Motivation and its Impact on Outcome

00:58:23 - The Trap of Spiritual Detours

01:02:44 - Sticking to Your Path and Avoiding Spiritual Traps

01:07:25 - Causation vs. Correlation

01:13:18 - Noble Friendships and Resilience

01:18:11 - Functioning from a State of Oneness

01:22:28 - Laughter as a Tool for Transformation

01:26:56 - All Paths Lead to Deep Absorption

01:31:51 - Acting Without an Agenda

01:36:08 - From Websites to Acts of Service

01:40:47 - The Power of Listening and Offering Food

01:44:43 - Karma Kitchen: A Deeper Form of Transaction

01:48:55 - Reframing Transactions and Trust

01:52:33 - Wealth Inequity and the Future of Society

01:58:01 - The Urgent Question of Inequity and Service

02:03:33 - Building a Bigger Heart in Response to the World

02:07:48 - The Story of the Little Sparrow

02:12:21 - Peace and Compassion

02:17:13 - Signing off and looking forward to future interviews

Colin was born in a staunch protestant family into the war-torn east end of London in the aftermath of WWII, where austerity and food-rationing were the norms. At the age of 11 he was sent to a Methodist boarding school and from there went to Sheffield University. So, by his early twenties finding himself in Earls Court, West London, in the late 60s when the ‘hippie revolution' was in full swing he was fully ready to break out of the narrow confines that had dogged his life up until then. He discovered the power of high dose LSD to break the barrier between the subconscious and conscious allowing decades of religious (and social) conditioning to pour out, leaving him feeling totally cleansed as if his brain had been truly washed!  He also experimented with mescalin having read Aldous Huxley’s ‘The Doors of Perception’ and had many experiences which felt deeply spiritual in nature including ‘sitting’ above his body for hours and observing the world (and the body itself) from this vantage point. It was this that gave him glimpses as to what could be achieved by natural means which raised one’s consciousness to a ‘higher level’. He was reading Ouspensky at the time and could see that many of these experiences tallied with those that he described. He was fully convinced that Awakening was the purpose of life, but Ouspensky made the whole process sound so onerous that Colin decided to postpone the attempt and enjoy life while he was young and living in such a vibrant environment.

About ten years later his wife Janet persuaded him to accompany her to a yoga class given by an ex-Jesuit priest. who inspired us by quoting passages from the Upanishads, Dhammapada, and other scriptures during the class. He also emphasized the importance of relaxation and meditation.  There followed a few years of investigating various spiritual paths including a prolonged dalliance with the Brahma Kumaris (Raja Yoga) whose meditations were wonderful, but whose dogma he found very hard to take. They then moved into the country to start a pottery and immersed themselves in Satyananda Yoga, an organization that had no dogma but taught a wide range of yogic practices. They were both initiated into karma sannyas by Swami Satyananda and adopted a yogic lifestyle consisting of asanas, pranayama, yoga nidra, meditation, kirtan, and vegetarianism. During this time Colin was at a silent retreat when he happened to pick up a volume entitled The Gospel of Ramakrishna which introduced him to this amazing being who practiced many spiritual paths, within Hinduism and also Islam and Christianity, discovering that they all lead to the same result, and was then approached by many devotees from these various paths all of whom he was able to teach in their own path, whilst emphasizing the harmony of religions.

After ten years of meditating on Ramakrishna, having been initiated by a nun of that order, he encountered a disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi, Gangaji, who said ‘Stop! Be still, you are already That’.  The message being that the effort and search were masking that which is always present; all that was required was to ‘stop’ and see what is always here.  After many years of struggle and effort this news came like a breath of fresh air and he glimpsed the essence, that undeniable ever-present reality.  This was followed by a seven-day silent retreat, in 1996, which resulted in his first ‘Awakening’, and in an ecstasy that slowly faded over the following year. During this time, he began to be aware of the utter simplicity of the process, especially as it became more established through repeated self-inquiry. The realization that one is the Pure Awareness that underlies the whole of life, and in fact all things, became startlingly obvious; so much so that he became increasingly disillusioned by most spiritual writings which seemed to mystify this whole subject. This created the desire to put the matter in the simplest, most straightforward, way so that anyone could understand it … and through repeated inquiry (or investigation) ‘get it’. At the time he was writing the occasional article for his email group and it was the collection of these plus a few new ones that became his first book ‘Beyond the Separate Self’. He also completed an honours double-major degree in Comparative Religion and Philosophy and his honours thesis, which considered self-identity in the world’s major religions became the basis of his second book ‘Humanity – Our Place in The Universe’. Since then, answers to questions, interpretations of spiritual writings from all traditions, and new insights gained during meditation/contemplation have been compiled and published in another fourteen books. All of these are ‘stand-alone guides’ to Awakening as they all rely on the same ‘investigation into this moment of direct experience’ which is included in them all and is explained in full in each introduction. They have all also been converted into books of poems, one per chapter. For the full list visit Beyond Awakening Publications.

You are all welcome to visit his Facebook page where he posts poems, new articles, and photos of nature taken in his natural environment of sub-tropical rainforest with ocean views. Finally, all are invited to join his email group by contacting him at [email protected].

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded November 27, 2021.

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:04:31 - Initial Interest in Spirituality

00:08:34 - Profound Shift in Perception

00:12:27 - Exploring Yoga and Meditation

00:16:12 - Exploring Spiritual Influences

00:20:11 - The Impact of Gangaji's Teachings

00:24:41 - The Importance of Prior Practice in Awakening

00:29:08 - The Awakening and Compassion

00:32:40 - Investigating the Three Elements of Experience

00:36:22 - The Three Elements of the Mind and Awareness

00:40:12 - The Properties of Presence

00:44:44 - The Field of Awareness and the Absolute

00:48:58 - Reversing Damage through Spiritual Practice

00:52:27 - Pure Awareness and Stilling the Mind

00:56:21 - Universal Awareness

01:00:06 - The Awareness of Electrons and Consciousness in the Universe

01:04:15 - All motion arises in stillness

01:09:12 - Incorporating Gyana Yoga into Daily Life

01:13:32 - The Mind's Purification and Moral Behavior

01:17:45 - Attention to Karma

01:21:42 - The Beauty of Hatha Yoga and Morality

01:25:44 - The Meaning of Love and Ego Death vs Spiritual Awakening

01:29:45 - Efficiency and the Elasticity of Time

01:33:50 - Providing Pointers to Getting Started

01:37:38 - The Method of Self-Inquiry

01:41:51 - The Practice of Awareness of Awareness

01:46:29 - Negating Thoughts and Sensations

01:50:37 - Living as an Instrument of That

01:55:22 - The Importance of Experience and Actualization

01:59:51 - Using Awareness to Relieve Pain

02:03:55 - Sorting It All Out

Philip Goldberg has been studying the world’s spiritual traditions for more than 50 years, as a practitioner, teacher, and author. He trained as a Transcendental Meditation teacher with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1970 and later became an ordained Interfaith Minister and spiritual counselor. As a public speaker and workshop leader, he has lectured and taught at major venues throughout the U.S. and India. As a professional writer, his articles and blogs have appeared in numerous print and online publications, and he has authored or co-authored more than 25 books, including an upcoming novel and such celebrated nonfiction as:

The Intuitive Edge: Understanding Intuition and Applying it in Everyday Life;

Roadsigns: On the Spiritual Path--Living at the Heart of Paradox;

the award-winning American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation How Indian Spirituality Changed the West;

the seminal biography The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru;

and his latest book, the timely Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times: Powerful Tools to Cultivate Calm, Clarity, and Courage.

He has produced e-courses for Spirituality & Practice and has taught many online courses, most recently, The Yoga of Intuition and Creativity, Four Pathways to the Divine, How Hindu Dharma Transformed the West, and the forthcoming An Immersive Exploration of the Iconic “Autobiography of a Yogi.” His special 12-part series, Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times, for Unity Online Radio, features interviews with well-known spiritual teachers. He is currently working on two nonfiction books and a sequel to his novel. In addition, he blogs regularly on Elephant Journal and Spirituality & Health, cohosts the popular Spirit Matters podcast and YouTube channel and leads American Veda Tours to India. He serves on the board of the Association for Spiritual Integrity. His website is PhilipGoldberg.com.

Interview recorded November 21, 2021.

First BatGap interview with Phil.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview.

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:02:51 - Reminiscing with Uncle Phil

00:05:11 - Introduction to Philip Goldberg and his work

00:07:49 - Yogananda's Biography and Autobiography

00:11:24 - Filling the Gaps in Yogananda's Story

00:15:17 - The Rise of Yogananda and Amma

00:19:08 - Mission-Driven Yogis and the Challenges They Faced

00:23:07 - Returning to India: The Journey of a Monk

00:27:37 - Arguments about Yogananda's Alleged Affairs

00:31:05 - The Human Story of Yogananda

00:33:46 - The Indomitable Will of Yogananda

00:37:58 - Yogananda's Spiritual Pursuit and Visions

00:41:58 - Miracles and Wonders in Autobiography of a Yogi

00:46:49 - The Purpose of Miracles and Wonders

00:51:01 - Troubled by Lack of Recognition

00:56:03 - Balancing Consciousness and Action

01:00:35 - The Importance of Service in Spiritual Practice

01:03:28 - Acts of Service in Spiritual Practice

01:07:18 - The Service of Gurus and Spirituality

01:11:19 - The Last Night of the Guru

01:15:28 - Yoga, Cultural Appropriation, and Perennial Philosophy

01:18:58 - Universal Spiritual Experiences

01:24:59 - Transformative Experiences and Global Implications

01:30:00 - The Challenges of Society and the Potential of Consciousness

01:37:09 - Broadening Your Perspective in Spirituality

01:42:22 - The Pragmatic Approach to Spirituality

01:46:47 - Temptations and Fine-tuning the Path

01:51:27 - The Importance of Discernment and Viveka

01:54:42 - Yogananda and Dream Experiences

01:56:53 - The Association for Spiritual Integrity

Babaji Bob Kindler is the Spiritual Director of the Sarada Ramakrishna Vivekananda (SRV) Associations since 1993 with teaching centers on the Big Island of Hawaii and Portland, Oregon, USA. Babaji teaches Vedanta, Yoga, Sankhya, and other philosophical systems of Truth with an emphasis on learning to live a divine life and the attainment of direct spiritual experience.  He holds a twin spiritual heritage via initiation into the Ramakrishna lineage (Vedanta) and Kagyu Tibetan Buddhism.  Editor of Nectar of Non-Dual Truth, A Journal of Universal Religious and Philosophical Teachings, he is also the author of over a dozen books on spiritual topics, including

Dissolving the Mindstream

A Quintessential Yoga Vasishtha

Twenty-Four Aspects of Mother Kali

Footfalls of the Indian Rishis: Charting the Timeless Wisdom of Mother India

Babaji’s spiritual discourses can be found on YouTube, Livestream, and on the official SRV Associations website.

Online and residential retreats are listed here.

Email subscription and site index.

“Our path is mainly a blend of Advaita and Shaktism, with our devotion to Sri Ramakrishna making it Universal, and inclusive of all religions.”

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded November 13, 2021.

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Babaji Bob Kindler

00:04:43 - Babaji's Spiritual Discourses on YouTube

00:09:17 - Devotion to Shakti in Tantra and Kashmir Shaivism

00:14:03 - The Function of Maya

00:18:42 - Awakening from the Dream

00:22:42 - The Dangers of Jumping to Spiritual Enlightenment

00:26:54 - The Bliss of Meditation

00:30:55 - The State of Advaita Non-Duality

00:35:15 - The Field of All Possibilities

00:39:24 - Reincarnation and the Doctrine of Karma

00:43:24 - Remembering Atman and Buddha Nature

00:47:32 - Duality and Transcendence in Humanity

00:51:37 - The Value of Studying Secular Subjects

00:55:34 - Nonviolence and Money-making

00:59:40 - Kingdoms of Heaven and the Mind

01:03:49 - The Gods Within Us

01:07:56 - Different Levels of Consciousness and the Non-Dual Path

01:11:51 - Direct Path to Enlightenment

01:16:10 - The Forgetfulness of Ignorance and the Cyclic Nature of Time

01:20:09 - The Illusion of Change

01:24:09 - The Nature of Enlightenment

01:28:10 - Following Your Own Calling

01:31:52 - Realizing the Atman, the wasted life, and the refinement of the mind

01:35:35 - The Guru-Disciple Relationship

01:39:48 - The Qualification and Criterion for Sacred Sound

01:43:52 - The Universality of Religions and Swami Vivekananda

01:48:24 - Realizing the Inner Being and Inter-Religious Gatherings

01:52:23 - Deluding Pairs of Opposites and Rising Above

01:57:15 - Dharma and Morality

02:01:16 - Exploring the Cell of Knowledge

02:05:13 - Wrapping Up and Upcoming Interviews

Rhonda Byrne is the creator of The Secret, a documentary film that swept the world in 2006, changing millions of lives and igniting a global movement. Her follow-up book, also entitled The Secret, became a worldwide bestseller, translated into more than 50 languages. Rhonda has since released another five bestselling books covering such topics as the power of love, gratitude, the law of attraction, and the hero’s journey to success. Her latest and most important book to date, The Greatest Secret, is a quantum leap that takes the reader beyond the material and helps them discover who they truly are.

Rhonda also served as a producer on the inspirational 2020 family movie, The Secret: Dare to Dream, based on her book The Secret. The film stars Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas, and Jerry O’Connell.

For more information on Rhonda and her work, visit thesecret.tv.

Rhonda holds live Q&As from time to time on Facebook and Instagram. Past ones are archived here.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded November 6, 2021.

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:04:03 - The Power of Dreams and Discovering Purpose

00:08:24 - The Difficult Year and Opening the Mind

00:12:34 - The Journey of Making "The Secret" and Going Against the Norm

00:16:44 - Breaking the Limits of the Mind

00:20:08 - The End of the Search and the Awakening

00:24:20 - The Search Comes to an End

00:28:43 - The Adventure Continues

00:33:09 - Different Perspectives on the Path

00:37:07 - Encouraging seekers to go to the third level

00:41:02 - The Perceptiveness of a Teacher

00:44:48 - The Refinement of Consciousness

00:49:14 - The Fallibility of Investing in a Teacher

00:53:57 - The Teacher and The Wonder

00:57:57 - The Great Resignation and Questioning Society

01:02:11 - Using the Law of Attraction After Awakening

01:07:06 - Manifestation and the Power of Desires

01:11:00 - The Mechanics of Divine Timing

01:15:27 - Becoming a Hollow Bamboo

01:20:23 - The Power of a Settled Mind

01:24:30 - Discovering the Presence Within

01:29:11 - The Main Problem: Dog Pee

01:34:02 - The Power of Meditation and Mindfulness

01:38:28 - Letting Go and the Power of Non-Resistance

01:42:47 - Overcoming Mind Thoughts

01:46:59 - The Attachment to Desire

01:51:11 - The Fleeting Nature of Happiness

01:55:12 - Happiness as the Ultimate Purpose

01:58:58 - The Impact of Teachers on the Journey

02:03:17 - Global Enlightenment through Communication

02:06:52 - Thank you for having me

Connie Zweig, Ph.D., is a retired therapist, co-author of Meeting the Shadow: The Hidden Power of the Dark Side of Human Nature and Romancing the Shadow: A Guide to Soul Work for a Vital, Authentic Life, author of Meeting the Shadow of Spirituality, and a novel, A Moth to the Flame: The Story of the Great Sufi Poet Rumi. Her new book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul, extends shadow-work into late life and teaches aging as a spiritual practice. Connie has been doing contemplative practices for 50 years. She is a wife and grandmother and was initiated as an Elder by Sage-ing International in 2017. After investing in all these roles, she is practicing the shift from role to soul.

Website: conniezweig.com

Email: [email protected]

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded October 22, 2021.

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:03:59 - The Different Stages of My Life

00:07:38 - The Already Enlightened Governors of the Age of Enlightenment

00:10:58 - The Urgency of Enlightenment

00:14:30 - Understanding Enlightenment and Charismatic Teachers

00:17:46 - Spiritual Development at Every Stage of Life

00:21:21 - Transition in Identity

00:25:10 - Late Life Identity Crisis

00:29:38 - The Challenge of Finding Time for Everything

00:33:07 - The Unconscious and the Shadow in Conscious Aging Movement

00:37:25 - Witnessing and Shadow Work

00:40:54 - The Contents of Consciousness Spilled Out

00:44:35 - The Importance of Awareness and Mortality

00:48:43 - Ageism and Shifting Identity

00:52:50 - The Inner Work of Aging

00:56:42 - Unfinished Spiritual Business

01:00:44 - Unfinished Business in the Spiritual Journey

01:05:12 - Finding Guidance in Inner Work

01:08:56 - The Shift from Hero to Elder

01:13:06 - Finding Refuge in Spiritual Practice

01:16:49 - Completing the Ego Story

01:21:17 - The Orientation Towards Life and Death

01:24:32 - The Importance of Discernment on the Spiritual Path

01:28:24 - Cultivating Self-awareness for Contribution to the Common Good

01:32:25 - Improving the Level of Consciousness

01:36:13 - Preventing Mental Decline and Memory Loss

01:40:03 - Astonishing Moments in Deathbed Experiences

01:44:03 - Awakening Practices and Life Completion

01:47:32 - Expanding the Frame of Reference

01:51:05 - The Soul's Longing for Transcendence

01:54:36 - Farewell to Rick Archer

Stephen Wright works as a spiritual director and trustee for the Sacred Space Foundation (SSF). Before this, he had a long and distinguished nursing career in the National Health Service and academia, the Royal College of Nursing, and as a consultant to the WHO. He gathered a few glittering prizes along the way. Then his personal and professional life took an about-turn over 35 years ago through a series of life-changing spiritual experiences. Consequently, he developed an interest in spiritual matters and the connection with wellbeing, and cofounded the SSF, to support those in spiritual crisis. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Cumbria in 2013 for his work connecting spirituality and health. Three books explore the nature of healing relationships:

Therapeutic Touch: Theory and Practice;

Sacred Space: Right Relationship and Spirituality in Healthcare; and

Reflections on Spirituality and Health.

Coming Home: Notes for the Journey is a personal and scholarly account of spiritual awakening and support.

A new documentary from the Sacred Space Foundation: Fugue for a Spiritual Life

Stephen has received significant development in spirituality and spiritual direction in the presence of several renowned spiritual teachers, most especially his mentor Ram Dass, at the Interfaith Seminary, and in the depth of his relationship with his fellow trustee and SSF cofounder Jean Sayre-Adams. He works with individuals seeking spiritual guidance and organizations developing the practice of healing, spiritual care, conflict resolution, staff support, compassion, and leadership. He is a supporter of and an activist in several environmental movements. As an ordained interfaith minister, he brings a rich experience of spiritual practice from many faiths to his work, as well as being a member of the Iona Community. He is a trustee of TheWEL, a charity based in Scotland offering groundbreaking approaches to wellbeing. With the support of the Diocese of Carlisle (in 2021 he was made a member of the Synod), Stephen established the St. Kentigern School for Contemplatives in 2018. His other recently published works include

Burnout: a spiritual crisis: from stress to transformation;

Contemplation: words and silence for the Way Home;

The Kentigern Way: A life and Lakeland pilgrimage;

A Grasmere pilgrimage;

Heartfullness: The Way of Contemplation: 12 steps to freedom, awakening and the Beloved completes a quartet of related books on spiritual awakening and is a deep, experiential ‘course’ in liberation from addiction to the ego-self, opening to the way of contemplation, and becoming receptive to the Beloved and a path of service.

He lives with his partner in the English Lake District, deepening service and spiritual practice, participating in his local church community, taking care of his organic garden, and enjoying grandfatherhood.

Summary Transcript of this interview.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Interview recorded October 16, 2021.

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction and State of the Industry Update

00:04:25 - Reflections on receiving an honor

00:08:12 - Spiritual Crisis and Burnout

00:11:49 - A Spiritual Shift in Society

00:15:32 - The Pandemic as a Forced Spiritual Retreat

00:19:21 - Discovering the Inner Dimension

00:27:39 - Immunocompromised by Fear

00:31:58 - The Contemplative Way and Healing the World

00:35:12 - Finding your Path of Service in the World

00:39:01 - The Opening of the Heart

00:42:48 - Tapping into the Ground of Being

00:46:25 - Connecting and Integrating Levels of Reality

00:49:28 - Awakening and Service in the World

00:52:57 - Life-changing Spiritual Experiences

00:56:30 - Profound Personal Presence

01:00:08 - Shifting through Mental Blockages

01:03:55 - Creating a Mystical Experience

01:07:54 - The Shift in Perspective and Permanent Change

01:11:47 - Meeting Ram Dass

01:15:19 - The Blessings of a Spiritual Teacher

01:19:21 - Finding Acceptance in a Religious Tradition

01:22:41 - Living in Constant Uncertainty

01:26:23 - The Corrupted Nature of Religious and Atheist Traditions

01:30:45 - Awakening to Something Greater

01:34:31 - The Shift in Consciousness

01:38:09 - Finding Your Way Home in the English Countryside

01:41:33 - Retreat Houses and Volunteer Finances

01:44:42 - The Pandemic of Awakening

01:48:18 - Participating in the Awakening

01:51:49 - Music Intro

Lucy was raised in a low socioeconomic household and neighborhood, by a young single mother in New Zealand in the early 1980s.

The lack of resources available in childhood resulted in a shrinking of her outer world to what she thought of –  years later - as a kind of welfare-child ashram. Within the home, and outside of it, there were few distractions or ability to go anywhere else, and significant trauma – all forcing her to go within to what she thought of as “the deep stillness and light inside” to rest, find nourishment, solace, and strength.

At 19 she experienced her first shift, seeing through the personality, and subtle perceptions revealing themselves. She never thought much of it, there had already been so much light inside, and she was so thrilled to be in the world finally so she simply went on with living. Lucy spent 15 years in Europe and New Zealand working for international humanitarian aid agencies. On return to NZ at age 31, she suddenly became extremely ill.  For six months, she was mostly bedridden. Doctors, both natural and traditional, could not find the source of the illness. Over the next few years, she had to work to earn an income but there was no strength for much else. The pain in her body was ever-present, and the fear of not knowing if this was her life forever now, was sometimes crippling. She was forced to exist in a kind of in-between world again - of much aloneness and silence, aside from work. After a few years of significant illness, she recovered strength enough to live a semi-normal life. But any time she tried to do too much, she was knocked back into illness. By 35 she was in a leadership role at a non-profit, married, with a baby on the way, just surviving day-to-day with the pressure on her physical body. On becoming a mother, she was plunged into a level of blackness that was completely shocking and previously unknown. For more than two years she descended into complete separation and couldn’t hear the guidance that had always accompanied her in her life. For the first time ever she couldn’t feel God. In 2018, after more than two years of immense struggle, an unexplainable and absolute surrender took place within, in a moment, as her two-year-old cried and reached for her. Within two months she had left the career she loved to rest in what she thought of as silence. For around a year and a half, she couldn't do much else. Lucy had never been exposed to spirituality, nor did she know anything about its concepts or traditions. She thought meditation was for “those hippy people.” Because there had been no conscious spiritual search, she had no context for what was happening. Often it was so beautiful and joyful – she didn’t need to know. There was an innate sense of trust and recognition that went beyond what needed to be seen or understood with the mind. When the need to understand did arise - some online searches helped a little, but often it all felt overwhelming, and she preferred sitting in silence to hear from within. Guidance and teaching were always present and given through hearing and images. Despite this, when particularly strange things would occur the need for the mind to understand would return. One night in 2019, before sleep, in heartfelt prayer she asked for help to cut through all the online noise and finally really grasp what was going on. There was a felt sense of need for community. As she was awakening in the morning, she heard the words “Buddha at the Gas Pump”. Lucy says, "I was stumped. I had no idea what that meant, but Googled it and found BatGap. As a result, my life has changed. Over the years BatGap has supported me deeply in the process – nurturing trust and allowing everything to unfold as it wants to." From then until now, Lucy has been called over and over into deeper surrender. She has had further shifts and many clearings. Her career of 15 years, husband/partner of 16 years, many friends, and her home – all things she loved dearly - have fallen away. She has never had a teacher and has read very little. She makes no claim to know anything. It seems to her that there is nothing to know, or that can be known. There is no one way and no right way. There is only your way, to be honoured and cherished and fallen into more and more deeply in every breath.

Book: This Untameable Light

Website

Bi-Weekly Online Sangha

Facebook page

Email address

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded October 9, 2021.

Second interview with Lucy

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:05:28 - Childhood Darkness and Inner Light

00:10:39 - Childhood Connection with God

00:15:32 - Feeling a Presence and Being Guided in Life

00:20:35 - The Big Awakening of 2018

00:25:21 - A Shift in Perspective and Seeing Spirits

00:31:00 - Conversations with Spiritual Beings and Divine Guidance

00:35:49 - Making Tough Career Choices

00:40:26 - Trauma and Healing

00:45:13 - Hiding and Facing the Truth

00:49:33 - Lost Vibrancy and Exclusion from Life

00:54:12 - The Struggle of Illness and Support from Loved Ones

00:59:12 - The Feeling That Hasn't Landed

01:04:02 - The Violent Labor and Postpartum Depression

01:09:09 - The Birth Experience and Motherhood Challenges

01:13:02 - The Struggles of Motherhood: A Personal Story

01:17:42 - A Moment of Surrender to Motherhood

01:22:26 - The Language of Life Speaking to Us

01:27:11 - The Meaning of Lucy's Name

01:32:16 - Understanding Unbounded Awareness and the Personality

01:37:02 - Unraveling and Healing Deep Wounds

01:42:21 - Surrender and Breaking Open

01:47:02 - Discovering the Language of Experience

01:52:13 - A Profound Experience of Love and Compassion

01:57:48 - Deep Healings and Shifts in Consciousness

02:02:41 - The Stern Voice and Leaving a Relationship for Spiritual Growth

02:07:21 - Moving Energy through the Body

02:13:13 - Taking the Courage to Be True to Myself

02:18:31 - Living a Blessed Life

02:24:00 - Embracing Human Nature

Thom Krystofiak holds a B.A. from Harvard (magna cum laude) and an M.A. from Cambridge University, where he was a Knox Fellow. A trained teacher of Transcendental Meditation, he joined an intentional community in Fairfield, Iowa in 1983, where he and his wife continue to live. There he encountered a cornucopia of spiritual seekers. A rigorous and thoroughgoing skeptic surrounded by ready believers, he has developed unique perspectives on the eternal yet ever-new contest of doubt versus belief.

Website: krystofiak.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded October 2, 2021.

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introducing Buddha at the Gas Pump

00:04:49 - Extraordinary Beliefs and Skepticism

00:09:04 - Nurturing Skepticism and Exploring Extraordinary Beliefs

00:13:31 - Dangerous Beliefs and their Implications

00:17:42 - Strange Beliefs and the Link to Spirituality

00:21:57 - The Spectrum of Belief

00:26:25 - Perceiving the Unseen

00:30:36 - The Complementarity of Science and Spirituality

00:35:00 - Spiritual Experiences and Remarkable Coincidences

00:38:57 - Exploring Extraordinary Beliefs

00:43:39 - Encouragement of the Irrational

00:47:56 - The Allure of Hidden Knowledge

00:51:58 - The Manipulation of Beliefs by Powerful Industries

00:56:20 - Bucking science and climate denial

01:00:02 - Einstein's View on God

01:03:53 - The Nature of Consciousness and Embodied State

01:08:30 - Recognizing the Essential Nature

01:13:13 - The Profoundness of Self-Realization

01:17:14 - The Nature of Consciousness

01:21:16 - The Value of Skepticism and Certainty

01:25:32 - Anecdotes of Out-of-Body Experiences during Surgery

01:29:26 - Unexplained Phenomena at Dinner

01:33:12 - The Connection between Fascination with the Paranormal and Social Issues

01:37:26 - The Seductive Power of Claims About Truth

01:41:22 - Peer-Reviewed Science vs. Scientist Claims

01:45:16 - The Importance of Scientific Consensus

01:49:42 - The Consensus of Spiritual Experiences

01:54:04 - The Motivation and Benefits of Spiritual Practices

01:58:03 - The Cognition of Deeper Mechanics of Nature

02:01:48 - Yogic Flying and Levitation

02:05:53 - The Positive Reception of the Book

Lynne Twist is the founder of the Soul of Money Institute and author of the best-selling, award-winning books:

"The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life”, and

Living a Committed Life: Finding Freedom and Fulfillment in a Purpose Larger Than Yourself

Over the past 40 years, Lynne has worked with over 100,000 people in 50 countries in the arenas of fundraising with integrity, conscious philanthropy, strategic visioning, and having a healthy relationship with money. Her clients include Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble, the International Unity Church, Charles Schwab, United Way, The National Black Theater of Harlem, Harvard University, and others.

A sought-after speaker, she has presented for the United Nations Beijing Women’s Conference, State of the World Forum, Synthesis Dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the Governor’s Conference on California Women, among others.

A recognized global visionary, Ms. Twist has been an advisor to the Desmond Tutu Foundation, and The Nobel Women’s Initiative. Lynne is the recipient of numerous prestigious honors, including the "Woman of Distinction" award from the United Nations.

Lynne is a co-founder of The Pachamama Alliance — a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest to preserve their lands and culture.  In addition, Lynne serves on a number of nonprofit boards including the Fetzer Institute, The Institute of Noetic Sciences, Bioneers, Conscious Capitalism, and Women’s Earth Alliance.

From working with Mother Teresa in Calcutta to the refugee camps in Ethiopia and the threatened rainforests of the Amazon, Lynne’s on-the-ground work has brought her a deep understanding of the social tapestry of the world and the historical landscape of the times we are living in.

Websites:

soulofmoney.org

pachamama.org

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded September 28, 2021.

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:03:25 - Being an Instrument of Something Larger than Yourself

00:06:29 - Listening to the Power of the Amazon

00:09:38 - Journey with the Mayan Shaman

00:13:19 - Faces in the Forest

00:16:28 - A Mysterious Encounter in Ecuador

00:19:28 - The Mysterious Faces in the Rainforest

00:22:28 - Connection and Communication

00:25:18 - The Prophecy of the Eagle and Condor People

00:28:14 - The Pandemic as an Announcement

00:31:29 - The Caterpillar's Transformation

00:34:43 - Transforming the Brown Caterpillar into an Exquisite Butterfly

00:37:37 - The Prophecy of the Bird of Humanity

00:40:50 - Rise of the Feminine Values

00:44:20 - A Kinder Gentler World

00:47:44 - Humanity's Threshold

00:50:27 - The Paradigm of Enough

00:53:36 - The Source of The Hunger  Project

00:56:27 - Transformation in Business and Society

00:59:44 - Paying Attention to Progress

01:02:50 - Taking Action in Your Community

01:05:48 - The Scarcity Mindset and Inequality

01:08:53 - Shifting the Mindset and Building Caring Communities

01:11:45 - The Two Branches of Gratitude

01:14:54 - Turning Attention to What You Have

01:17:58 - Finding Fulfillment and Overcoming Scarcity

01:21:05 - Amending the Constitution

01:24:04 - Miracles and Progress in Our Lifetime

01:26:50 - Connecting with the Spirit World

01:30:10 - Mountains, Sun, Earth, and Everything: The Interconnectedness of Life

01:33:04 - Enriching Conversations with Lynne Twist