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

Nancy Rynes is an inspirational speaker, artist, and author of "Awakenings from the Light: 12 Life Lessons from a Near Death Experience",  "Messages from Heaven", and "Walking in the Light: A Daily Guidebook for Enhancing Peace, Love, and Connection", books detailing the lessons she learned from two near-death experiences (NDEs). She is a spiritual explorer, making the path to a peace-filled life clearer for seekers all over the world. Nancy is also a leading voice for bringing eternal, spiritual wisdom into our lives on Earth, developing our heart-centered intuition, and living a life of inspired creativity. Known for her fun, lighthearted, girl-next-door demeanor, Nancy loves teaching others how to live a more purposeful, joyful, creative, and spiritually-inspired life.

For more information on Nancy and her current classes, workshops, and events, see NancyRynes.com. Her artwork is available at: NancyRynesStudio.com.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded September 18, 2021.

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to "Awakenings from the Light" with Nancy Rynes

00:03:59 - Transition from Atheism to Open-Mindedness in Science

00:08:08 - The Quantum Effects on the Macro Scale

00:13:16 - Consciousness is Fundamental and Non-Duality

00:18:19 - In the Path of an Oncoming Vehicle

00:22:20 - The Accident and Out-of-Body Experience

00:27:36 - Consciousness outside of the body

00:32:18 - A Brush with Death

00:36:52 - A Beautiful Meadow in the Mountains

00:40:47 - Meeting my Spiritual Guide

00:45:14 - Spiritual Growth Through Hard Knocks

00:51:11 - The Impact of Words and Actions

00:56:35 - The Spiritual Echo of Words and Actions

01:01:29 - Embracing Self-Love and Love for the Earth

01:05:13 - Individual Lessons Learned

01:08:37 - Communication with the Other Side

01:12:08 - Remembering Under Anesthesia

01:16:24 - The Intersection of Science and Spirituality

01:20:25 - Trusting Your Intuition

01:23:55 - A Connection with the Past

01:27:28 - A Supernatural Encounter

01:30:44 - The Sound of Interconnectedness

01:33:58 - The Unearthly Beauty of Music

01:37:34 - Seeing the Energy in Nature

01:43:07 - Feeling Disconnected and Finding Connection with Spirits

01:47:35 - A Spooky Encounter

01:51:12 - Memories of Other Lives

01:55:09 - Gratitude, Love, and Appreciation

01:59:25 - Letting Go of Negativity and Moving On

02:03:23 - A Positive Change

02:05:48 - Indigenous Tribes and Environmental Preservation

Jeff Vander Clute is a spiritual coach and mentor, and an adviser to love-based businesses and organizations. He is committed to realizing a healed and transformed world through nondual awakening to and as the source of life.

Guided by deep listening and a sensitivity to Truth, Jeff helps people to navigate the complexity of these times and discover awakened pathways and possibilities. Every conversation unfolds in a field of loving presence that accelerates spiritual development and the flowering of one’s gifts – in service and in joy.

Those who are drawn to this work are committed to peace, unity, and enlightenment, and to sharing their gifts as an act of devotion. Clients include:

Professionals bringing spiritual insights into their work

Visionaries and change agents

Leaders in social transformation and humanitarian aid

Artists and authors

Executives transforming their businesses and industries

Technologists addressing the challenges of humanity

Healers of the body, mind, and soul

Jeff co-founded Enlightening Journeys and Expeditions and Sourcing The Way, and he is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders, the Global Compassion Council of Charter for Compassion International, and the Association for Spiritual Integrity. He serves on the board of directors for Alliance for the Earth and Garden of Light, and was previously the board chair of the Source of Synergy Foundation.

Jeff graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Mathematics from Williams College in 1995. Subsequently, he went on to help build or co-found a number of ventures, including a top-10 Internet service, a pioneering social media company, a consulting enterprise that serves awakened and awakening businesses, and several companies that are working to regenerate nature and uplift communities.

Website: jeffvanderclute.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded September 12, 2021.

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:05:27 - Flowing in Conscious Movement

00:10:04 - Living in Accord with the Yes and No

00:14:51 - Trusting and Following Wisdom in India

00:19:45 - The Lamp at the Door and Bi-Directional Illumination

00:24:39 - Experiencing the Multilevel Journey

00:30:06 - The Healing Power of Meditation

00:35:00 - Grounding in Soul Energy Systems

00:39:33 - The Power of Collective Consciousness

00:44:27 - Thriving on Restoring and Regenerating Nature

00:49:10 - The Wisdom of Crowds and Collective Conversation

00:53:42 - Transitioning to an Enlightened Society

00:58:44 - Coherence in Physics and Biology

01:03:35 - The Will to Use Technology: A Collective Effort

01:08:32 - The Neo-Advaita Phase

01:13:09 - The Shift from Intellect to Intuition

01:17:47 - Embracing the Whole: Integrating Primitive and Enlightened Civilizations

01:22:47 - Exploring Subjectivity and Consciousness

01:27:39 - A Hybrid of Subjective and Objective Experiences

01:32:29 - Perceiving Other Civilizations

01:37:06 - Exploring Consciousness and Other Beings

01:41:52 - Exploring the Territory by Owning the Fort

01:46:30 - Expanding Perceptual Abilities

01:51:22 - The Presence of God in Everything

01:56:22 - The Infinity and Complexity of the Universe

02:01:12 - Exploring Scientific and Spiritual Paradigms

02:05:51 - Living as if the End is Near

02:10:53 - Spiritual Integrity and Collective Evolution

02:15:30 - Becoming a Spiritually Awakened Collective

02:20:01 - Homecoming: A Seven-week Adventure of Awakening

Clay Lomakayu Miller lives in Cottonwood, Arizona, just outside of Sedona, where he has been serving clients from all over the world to assist them in living at the center of the circle of who they are. Medicine of One is the outcome of this service. It is a nondual shamanic path that has formed from his work with clients for 25 years and his time in the Ancient sacred land of the Southwest. He uses a unique form of healing called Soul Dreaming to help free people from the stories from their past so they may gift the world their true presence. He is also the creator of Primordial Movements for trauma and emotional integration. He considers his primary service as the sharing of Medicine of One. At his side are his Wolf-Dog Helpers assisting people with their presence and love. Medicine of One is summed up in the One Noble truth, which is to live at the center where, from true being, comes our true doing. The first action is the True Action of self Love.

Website: medicineofone.com

YouTube channel

Email address: [email protected]

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded September 4, 2021

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:03:26 - Connection and Mistakes in the Creative Process

00:06:35 - Living at the Center of the Circle

00:10:00 - The Medicine of One and the Circle

00:13:09 - The Power of Vibrations and Soul Dreaming

00:16:22 - Empowering Personal Growth through Emotional Release

00:19:43 - The Warrior's Disconnect from Emotion and Powerlessness

00:23:09 - The Transformation Process

00:26:30 - The Power of Hand Mudras in Expressive Dance

00:29:44 - The Role of Dogs in my Life

00:33:05 - The Connection Between Dogs and Consciousness

00:36:26 - Bartending in San Francisco and New York

00:39:47 - The Aftermath of the Car Accident

00:42:52 - Channeling Talent and Creativity

00:46:26 - Nisargadatta's Unique Style of Teaching

00:49:56 - Creating Sacred Power Spots

00:52:58 - The Healing Power of Objects

00:56:07 - Releasing Shame and Rage through Vibrational Healing

00:59:30 - Resistance to Engagement

01:02:22 - Softness towards oneself in camping trips and emotions

01:05:54 - Numbing out and avoiding discomfort

01:09:32 - Finding Worth and Value

01:13:06 - Helping Women Find Their Worth and Purpose

01:16:23 - Embodying the Spine of Your Life

01:19:45 - Flowing Without Resistance

01:23:02 - Reading the Stream and Staying in Balance

01:25:51 - The Stability of the Colorado Plateau

01:28:56 - Finding Inner Peace and Balance

01:32:36 - Bringing in the Vibration

01:35:47 - The Journey to Self-Love

01:38:39 - Conclusion and Farewell

When Christian Sundberg was a young child, he remembered his existence before coming to Earth. While that memory left him completely for his early adult life, it spontaneously returned at the age of 30 as Christian took up a meditation practice and went through a personal awakening journey. He also began to have Out of Body Experiences (OBEs). Christian has worked for over 15 years as a professional project manager for complex nuclear pump and valve manufacturing projects. Christian has also presented at over 80 public speaking events, as he now seeks to remind others in at least a small part of who we all really are beneath the human “play".

Book:

A Walk in the Physical: Understanding the Human Experience Within the Larger Spiritual Context

A Walk in the Physical (Free online version)

Website: awalkinthephysical.com

Email Christian at: [email protected]

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded August 28, 2021

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:04:56 - Transcending Physical Reality

00:09:03 - The Challenge of Expressing Subtle Experiences

00:13:12 - A Deep Healing Experience

00:17:27 - Meeting a Highly Evolved Being and Past Lives

00:21:41 - Integrating Fear for Expansion

00:25:58 - The Fear of Being Unable to Escape Pain

00:30:28 - The Evolutionary Purpose of Challenges

00:34:57 - The Plunge into Physical Existence

00:39:21 - The Flowchart of Life Possibilities

00:43:30 - A Holy Moment of Connectedness

00:47:23 - Remembering Our True Existence

00:51:38 - The Experience of Different Realities

00:55:40 - Perspectives on Reincarnation in Different Traditions

00:59:42 - Experiential Learning and the Purpose of Veiling

01:04:03 - The Purpose of Every Experience

01:08:44 - The Play is Not Scripted

01:12:59 - Organizing and Collaborating on the Other Side

01:16:52 - The Evolving Soul and the Imperfect Government

01:21:23 - Evolution and the Manifestation of Love and Joy

01:25:54 - The Curiosity of Creation

01:30:16 - Unbounded Awareness and Unique Experiences

01:34:21 - Investigating Consciousness with Meditation

01:38:45 - Living in a Dense Dimension: An Opportunity for Evolution

01:43:22 - Unconditional Love and Personal Responsibility

01:48:06 - The Thickness of the Veil

01:52:39 - Letting go of the story and rising up to the surface

01:56:57 - Connecting with Inner Reality

02:01:10 - Effect on Closest Relationships

02:05:26 - The Importance of Making Distance

02:09:23 - One-on-One Consultations and Webinars

Eva Natanya is Co-Founder and Resident Teacher at the Center for Contemplative Research at Miyo Samten Ling.

A scholar of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, Christian theology, and comparative religion, Dr. Natanya has served in many capacities as a spiritual teacher, academic lecturer, translator, and editor of Tibetan texts, writer, and retreat leader. Following a nine-year career as a professional ballet dancer with both the New York City Ballet and the Royal Ballet of England, she earned an MA in Christian Systematic Theology at the Graduate Theological Union and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia. Her dissertation examined the complex interactions of Madhyamaka, Yogācāra, and Abhidharma teachings as they underlie the Vajrayāna philosophy of Je Tsongkhapa. She has worked closely with Dr. B. Alan Wallace on his translations for several books, including Open Mind: View and Meditation in the Lineage of Lerab Lingpa and Fathoming the Mind: Inquiry and Insight in Dudjom Lingpa's Vajra Essence, and has co-taught meditation retreats with Dr. Wallace around the world. In a Christian context, she co-authored Living Resurrected Lives: What It Means and Why It Matters with Veronica Mary Rolf. She has spent more than three years in solitary meditation retreat, and remains in residence at Miyo Samten Ling in Crestone, Colorado, guiding fellow retreatants in the details of contemplative training. Her website is: evanatanya.com.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded August 21, 2021

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:05:22 - Mystical Longing and Spiritual Quest

00:09:59 - The Discipline and Demands of Rehearsal and Performance

00:14:11 - Transition to Deep Education and Meditation

00:18:22 - Preparation for Solitary Retreat

00:23:26 - Challenges of Long-term Retreat Practice

00:27:50 - The connection between mind and pr??ic system

00:32:00 - Sensations of Pr??a and the Inner Body

00:36:14 - The Dangers of Kundalini and Inner-body Practices

00:40:35 - The Proper Meditation Posture and Settling the Mind

00:45:25 - The Process of Settling the Mind

00:49:54 - Integrating Meditation with Daily Life

00:54:20 - The Depths of Loving-Kindness

00:58:30 - Meditation and the Transformation of Worldview

01:02:51 - The Notion of a Person as a Temporary Conglomerate

01:08:02 - The karmic cause of suffering and purification possibilities

01:12:21 - Reincarnation and Hypotheses of Past Lives

01:16:16 - Dream Lives and Illusion of Self

01:20:56 - Pratityasamutpada and the Two Realities

01:25:34 - The Illusory Nature of Things

01:29:51 - The Trinity in Christian Theology and Buddhism

01:35:06 - The Divine Light and Celestial Perception

01:39:40 - The Manifestation of Divinity in Every Little Thing

01:44:55 - The True Nature and Buddha Nature

01:50:25 - The transcendence of death in different cultures

01:55:27 - The Vastness of Awareness in Buddhism

01:59:28 - Finding a Path and Authentic Teachers

02:04:15 - Authenticity and Discernment in Choosing a Teacher

02:08:53 - Unconventional Behavior in the Name of Crazy Wisdom

02:13:19 - The Concept of Enlightenment

02:17:51 - Taking a Step towards Enlightenment

Peter Russell is a leading thinker on consciousness and contemporary spirituality. He coined the term "global brain" with his 1980s bestseller of the same name in which he predicted the Internet and the impact it would have on humanity. His new book, Letting Go of Nothing: Relax Your Mind and Discover the Wonder of Your True Nature, is published this August. He is the author of ten other books, including Waking Up in Time: Finding Inner Peace in Times of Accelerating Change and From Science to God: A Physicist’s Journey into the Mystery of Consciousness.

He studied theoretical physics, experimental psychology, and computer science at the University of Cambridge, and pioneered the introduction of personal growth programs to corporations, running courses for senior management on creativity, stress management, and sustainable development.

His mission is to distill the essential wisdom on human consciousness found in the world’s various spiritual traditions and to disseminate their teachings on self-liberation in contemporary and compelling ways.

Peter's website: peterrussell.com

Peter's YouTube channel

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

First BatGap interview with Peter.

Interview recorded August 14, 2021

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:04:22 - Exploring Intelligent Design and Nature's Orchestration

00:07:34 - The Release of Letting Go

00:11:19 - Letting Go of Attachments through Body Awareness

00:16:56 - The Fundamental Motivation

00:21:56 - The Search for Inner Peace

00:26:06 - The Natural Mind

00:31:36 - Falling and Finding Contentment

00:41:50 - Distractions and Inner Quietness

00:47:37 - The Limitations of Books on the Spiritual Path

00:51:40 - Starting with Simple Meditation Techniques

00:55:08 - The Effects of Technological Acceleration

00:58:24 - The Innovative Power of Humans

01:01:18 - The Potential Limits of Technological Acceleration

01:04:20 - The Unsustainability of our Civilization

01:07:09 - Understanding the Trajectory

01:10:03 - The Importance of Becoming Better Human Beings

01:13:14 - The Importance of Confidence and Speculation

01:16:11 - The Power of Now

01:19:01 - The Two Aspects of Emotions

01:22:12 - Letting Go and Moving On

01:25:19 - The Doer and the Divine

01:29:07 - Synchronicity and Nature's Favor

01:32:37 - Attuning to Divine Intelligence

01:36:11 - The Natural Tendency of the Mind

01:39:32 - Letting Go: The Essence of Forgiveness

01:42:31 - Letting go of Judgments and Grievances

01:45:46 - The Vicious Circle of Attack and Defense

01:48:55 - The Power of Apologizing and Being Kind

01:52:01 - Mindfulness of Being Webinars

01:54:41 - Reflecting on the Talk with Peter