Gloria Agrelius, (Gloriji), had been a bartender for more than 25 years and owned a blues biker bar. In 1999 her brother died of an overdose. Upon hearing the news, her mother died of a heart attack the following day. Gloriji closed the bar, went home, and fell apart.

She writes, “It felt like I was dropping through a dark space, feet first -- rapidly dropping. I couldn't find anything to hold onto. It felt like I was being stripped of everything that made me me. It was all gone.” While on her knees crying out for help, the room she was in filled with radiant light and she recognized herself as that light. An overwhelming sense that all is well filled her being. She told the light that while she didn't know what this was, she would dedicate the rest of her life to finding out. A thirst for truth filled her heart and gave her strength to step more deeply into the unknown.  She spent the next decade deepening and healing.

While on retreat with Adyashanti, after hearing of her awakening experiences, Adya encouraged her to share herself with others. Adya’s encouragement helped her to trust the strange new territory of teacher, mentor, healer... all held lightly in the open hand and heart that knows there is no other than the Supreme Reality... the Mystery she has come to Love.

For discussion of this interview, click here.

Transcript of this interview

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:03:31 - Insecurities and Nightmares

00:06:59 - Battling Addiction & Personal Tragedy

00:10:31 - The Bar Closure and Personal Struggles

00:13:54 - Compassion and Evolutionary Impulse in Intelligence

00:18:08 - The Blueprint of Life and Deep Inquiries

00:22:09 - Thirst for Understanding

00:25:42 - Discovering the Beauty of the World

00:28:50 - Natural Contemplation and Meditation

00:31:56 - Discovering a Spiritual Community

00:34:27 - From Scars to Stars

00:38:07 - The Freedom of Meeting Each Other in Truth

00:42:03 - Surrendering into Something Greater

00:46:02 - Holding Things Lightly

00:49:52 - The Power of Inquiry and Self-Exploration

00:53:44 - The Process of Deepening and Letting Go

00:57:07 - Breadcrumbs to the Source

01:00:36 - Witnessing the Unfolding

01:04:28 - Embracing the Wholeness Within

01:09:09 - The Healing Power of the Human Heart

01:12:18 - Following the Call of the Heart

01:15:28 - Awakening Within the Dream

01:19:38 - Finding Balance in Creativity and Knowledge

01:23:48 - Exploring the Fort

01:27:03 - Trusting Your Inner Wisdom

01:30:31 - Embracing Authenticity and Being Yourself

01:34:00 - Supporting the Community through Love Offerings

01:36:43 - Opening to the Wisdom of Mother Earth

01:40:14 - Reconnecting with the Earth

01:43:52 - Reluctance to Be a Spiritual Teacher

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James Wood works with groups and individuals to discover the fundamental Reality of our essential nature. Having awakened in 2002 after years of study, he began to express a spontaneous teaching whose form continues to evolve. His message is that awakening is possible for anyone committed to finding Truth.

Originally, James studied philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin and transformational studies with Richard Moss, M.D. He has combined his education and experience to express a modern, integrated vehicle for others to use as a means of growth in consciousness leading to awakening. He is dedicated to communicating the essence of the true Teaching to those who are ready to receive it.

Book: Ten Paths to Freedom: Awakening Made Simple

Website: jameswoodteachings.com

Discussion of this in interview in the BatGap Community Facebook group.

Transcript of this interview

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:06:12 - The Illusion of Self and World

00:11:25 - Embracing the Reality of Suffering

00:16:53 - The Dharmakaya, Nirmanakaya, and Sambhogakaya

00:21:53 - Hiding out in the transcendent

00:25:55 - Growth in Consciousness and Working with a True Teacher

00:30:15 - Being Careful with Teachers

00:34:41 - Finding balance and authenticity

00:38:54 - Awakening and Clarity

00:43:06 - The Mystery of Awakening and Realization

00:47:24 - Richard's Journey with Energy and Healing

00:51:23 - Awakening and Maintaining Physiological Purity

00:55:14 - The Source of Happiness

00:59:36 - The Zen Monk's Enlightenment Experience

01:03:53 - The Power of Oceanic Consciousness

01:07:53 - The Importance of Honesty

01:11:58 - The Reflection of Ego

01:15:47 - Following Intuition and Being Honest

01:19:55 - The Role of Study and Instruction

01:23:56 - The Inner Teacher and Awakening

01:28:03 - Embracing the Journey

01:32:01 - The Paradox of Doership and Non-Doership

01:35:42 - The Attitude of a Beginner

01:39:42 - The Nature of Awakening and Behavior

01:44:10 - Awakening and the Purpose of Existence

01:48:16 - The Complexity of Human Actions

01:52:23 - Spirituality as an Alibi

01:56:14 - Contrasting Perspectives on the Body

02:00:22 - Devotion and the End of the Nightmare

02:04:34 - Ego Death and Faith

02:08:42 - Signing up for Interview Notifications

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Trained in the 90’s as a teacher in spiritual therapy. The search stopped, among other ‘things’, mainly through the confrontation with Nisargadatta’s I am That, and Ramana Maharshi’s glare and words and the spontaneous recognition of Awareness (Consciousness) as reality. ‘After’ that awakening the ‘I Am/Consciousness’ was recognized to be the first identification.

Since ’98 Hans has led hundreds of satsangs, retreats and private sessions. He published eight books and a booklet, many many articles and columns, YouTube satsang video’s (one in English) and seven homemade music cd’s. Hans is sometimes judged as being too confrontational or direct, or, more kindly, as very clear. On the other hand people credit him for his creativity and patience. Funny, right?

Website:

hanslaurentius.nl

English section of website.

Private Skype Sessions with Hans (in English) will become available in September 2017 for those outside The Netherlands and Belgium. Please check the ‘English’ Section on the website for details.

Transcript of this interview.

Discussion of this in interview in the BatGap Community Facebook group.

Interview recorded 8/5/2017.

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:04:20 - Childhood Experiences

00:08:12 - Awakening to the Paradox

00:12:19 - The Concept of Compassion

00:15:47 - Confronting Hiding and Judgments

00:20:03 - Confronting Fears and Beliefs

00:24:02 - The Shocking Element of Spirituality

00:28:32 - The Silence Already Here

00:32:13 - The Value of Persistence and Authenticity

00:36:27 - The Illusion of Separateness

00:40:23 - Kundalini Experiences and the Dangers Involved

00:43:49 - Investigating the Fear of Being Present

00:48:12 - Looking and Feeling Without Judgment

00:52:02 - The Trouble in the Mind

00:56:26 - The Illusion of Awakening

01:00:13 - The Crystal Clear Flipping and Unripe Mangoes

01:04:22 - An Incredible Journey: Relying on Nature and Strangers

01:08:13 - Grumpiness vs. Happiness

01:12:00 - Love and Separateness

01:15:37 - Feeling Through and Letting Go

01:20:13 - Caring for the Environment: Taking Action

01:23:53 - Reflections on the future of humanity

01:27:18 - The State of Being and Letting Go

01:31:19 - The Link between Humility and Creativity

01:35:46 - Music and Creative Energy

01:39:21 - Evidence for Reincarnation

01:43:30 - Living by Beliefs

01:47:09 - The Illusion of Individuality and Learning

01:51:07 - The Illusion of Free Will

01:54:07 - The Illusion of Free Will and Ownership of Thoughts

01:57:58 - Conclusion and Next Episode Announcement

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Sri M - spiritual guide, social reformer and educationist – was born into a Muslim family on November 6, 1949 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His transformational journey, from a young boy to a living yogi, is a fascinating story symbolized by single-minded discipline and dedication.

Entranced by mystical stories of Sufi saints and a brief encounter with a numinous Swami at a relatively young age, he was not only drawn to the ‘truth’ but also the compelling landscape of the snow-clad Himalayas. At the age of nine, his spiritual transformation was initiated by his future Master, Babaji (also known as Maheshwarnath Babaji), who miraculously appeared under a jackfruit tree in the compound of his house in Thiruvananthapuram. Though only fleeting, this meeting definitively set the stage for their future reunion in the Himalayas at Sri M’s age of nineteen.

The next three and half years, he lived and travelled extensively through the Himalayas with his Master. Maheshwarnath Babaji guided him right through his initiation, his Kundalini awakening, the grueling journey to Tholingmutt and, the eventual meeting with the Grand Master, Sri Guru Babaji also known as Sri Mahavatar Babaji. A few years after his Master passed away, he received the spiritual go-ahead to commence his mission. In 1998, he started his teachings, eventually leading to formation of the Satsang Foundation.

In response to a query on the spiritual progress of a person and the path to that evolution, he responds, “Though, my parampara is kriya yoga, I don’t think it suits all aspirants. I propound satsang even between two people. It cuts across barriers of caste and creed. Spiritual evolution is not diverse from regular living. Intervals of solitude are necessary but you cannot shut yourself totally. The world around you is your touchstone to spiritual practice.” Conversant with teachings of most major religions, Sri M says: “Go to the core. Theories are of no use.” His message seeks to transcend the outer-shell of all religions, by exploring their mystical core to nurture the innate goodness in every human being.

Website: satsang-foundation.org

Books:

Journey Continues: A Sequel To Apprenticed To A Himalayan Master

Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: A Yogi's Autobiography

Wisdom of the Rishis: The Three Upanishads: Ishavasya, Kena & Mandukya

Jewel in the Lotus: Deeper Aspects of Hinduism

The Little Guide To Greater Glory And A Happier Life

First Batgap interview with Sri M.

Discussion of this in interview in the BatGap Community Facebook group.

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded 7/30/2017

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome

00:04:47 - The Beginning of the Journey with Babaji

00:09:25 - Continual Growth and Evolution

00:13:22 - Possibility of Evolved Beings on Other Planets

00:17:44 - The Importance of Having a Guru

00:21:31 - The Significance of Initiation

00:26:21 - Recalling Past Lives

00:30:48 - From Krishna to the Life of a Prostitute

00:35:05 - A Touching Experience with Nisargadatta Maharaj

00:39:39 - Spiritual Integrity in a World of Lies and Deceit

00:43:43 - Meditating in College

00:48:16 - The Importance of Siddhis in Spiritual Growth

00:53:10 - Mind over Physical Phenomenon

00:56:59 - The Slap from Nityananda of Ganeshpuri

01:01:45 - Extraordinary Capacities and Divine Association

01:06:00 - Free will and the capacity for change

01:10:00 - Exploring Deeper Consciousness

01:14:37 - The Shadow of the Bodhisattva

01:18:57 - The Power of Spiritual Armor

01:23:12 - Grounding and balancing spiritual experiences

01:27:15 - The Possibility of Astral Projection

01:31:25 - Spiritual Experiences and Extraterrestrial Encounters

01:35:28 - The Hidden Secrets of the Natural Rock Formation

01:39:37 - The Importance of Physical Health in Spiritual Practice

01:44:11 - The Power of Chanting Aum

Stephen D'Amico is a spiritual teacher, mystical poet, and author. At age 22, Stephen went through a profound spiritual transformation that culminated in a permanent realization of his true nature. Since then his life has been devoted to understanding the spiritual path from an evolutionary perspective and helping others reconnect with their true nature to help bring about a global awakening in human consciousness. The main way he does this is through the direct transmission of the enlightened state of being, which connects others with their own true nature.

In the past, Stephen has worked in the field of conflict resolution and restorative justice as a mediator, facilitator, trainer, and project leader for youth social action groups. He has also taught at both the elementary and high school levels, focusing on the special needs of students with learning disabilities. Currently, he and his wife, Aniko, run Millwood Melt, a lively grilled cheese restaurant in their beloved community of Leaside, in Toronto. Customers and students playfully refer to Stephen as "the grilled cheese guru."

When not feeding bodies, Stephen lives and breathes to feed souls. He currently hosts transformational gatherings/satsang and offers individuals enlightened guidance and support via phone, Skype, or in person. He is the author of two books:

The Incredible State of Absolute Nothingness: A Personal Account of Spiritual Enlightenment

Heaven on Earth: A Guide to Enlightenment & Human Unity.

Website: stephendamico.com

Facebook Page

Discussion of this in interview in the BatGap Community Facebook page.

Summary and Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded 7/23/2017

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:05:04 - Losing Connection to True Nature

00:10:06 - Lucid dreaming and maintaining awareness

00:14:39 - Childhood Spiritual Experiences

00:19:42 - The Practice of Witnessing

00:24:18 - Witnessing and Subtle Beings

00:28:52 - Beings from the Intermediate Realm

00:33:32 - Transitioning into teenage years

00:37:47 - Exploring Human Sexuality and Selfless Service

00:41:10 - Providing for Others

00:45:31 - The Perennial Search for Happiness

00:49:05 - Dissolving into the Voidness

00:53:41 - The Immersion in Bliss and Realizations

00:58:03 - A Radical Self-Change

01:01:45 - Detached State during Physical Work, Ascending and Descending

01:05:08 - Taking on Cosmic Stress

01:08:36 - The Perspective of Choice and Free Will

01:12:28 - Evolution and Freedom of Choice

01:16:07 - The Desire to Escape from the Body

01:19:22 - The Importance of Sentience and Reverence for Food

01:22:58 - The Process of Discovering the Ability to Channel Energies

01:26:51 - The Mechanics of Enlightenment

01:29:56 - The Maturing Soul and Outward Behavior

01:34:08 - The Transformation into the Non-Dual State

01:38:35 - The Transformation of Self

01:41:54 - The Net of Indra and Interconnectivity

01:46:27 - Agreement on the Mystery of Existence

01:50:35 - Distinguishing True Realized Beings from Fake Gurus

01:54:26 - Scrutinizing and Challenging Facades

01:57:42 - A Dream Come True

02:00:43 - Subscribe and Stay Updated

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Hoksila Lakota, commonly known as Lakota John is a Native American whose heritage comes from Oklahoma and the Great Plains of North America. Many generations ago his people lived in harmony with all things Universal, "uni" meaning One and "verse" being Song. When a system came in that crippled the people, making them dependent, some stayed and accepted the system, and some left seeking broader horizons.

Rejecting the life of poverty and struggle he was born into, as a young man Lakota John fully embraced the illusion of glamour, bright lights, and the fast pace of a big city. Trading in his cultural identity and the ways of his ancestors - a way of prayer and Spirit - he was lured by the seductive power of the city’s underworld, chasing the counterfeit lifestyle of money and self-gain.

After traveling down many dead-end roads in a reckless disregard for life, the light finally dawned, and Lakota awakened to the prompting of Spirit and ancient ancestors calling him back to the Red Road of Sobriety. Finding his innocence, or inner sense, by working through his past, he began to walk the straight and narrow path that leads to the sacred Tree of Life and reunion with the Highest Good, God or Wakan Tanka.

The impact his own restoration had on his life moved him to reach out to others, and ever since he has been involved in the mental health sector and working with keepers of the sacred pathways and knowledge for over twenty years. Through the lifestyle he once lived he is able to recognize the unseen enemy that binds and captivates the soul of man and woman through separation, suppression, and sedation. Using the time-tested spiritual wisdom of his ancestors he helps guide others back from the dark world that he himself used to live in; the world of illusion, delusion, and separation.

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded 6/10/2017

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - A Conversation with Lakota John

00:04:18 - Traumatic Events and the Betrayal of the Inner Self

00:08:36 - The Power of Connecting with the Sacred Feminine

00:12:26 - The Sacredness of Trees and the Unseen Enemy

00:16:35 - The Split Tongue: Speaking from the Heart

00:20:11 - The Degeneration of Indigenous Cultures

00:23:45 - A Rough Journey for the Indigenous People

00:27:18 - Connecting with Ancestors and the Unseen World

00:30:36 - Healing Through Accessing the Vertical

00:34:01 - The Mind's Influence on the Soul and Spirit

00:37:51 - Helping Special Souls in a Transition

00:41:09 - The Importance of Self-Knowledge and Connecting with Spirituality

00:44:41 - The Inner Self and Knowledge

00:48:34 - Healing Traumatic Events

00:51:52 - Native American Culture and Healing

00:54:50 - Sublimating Energy and Living from the Heart Chakra

00:57:37 - The Proposal, Engagement, Marriage, and Reception

01:01:05 - Healing and Wellness through Native American Traditions

01:04:23 - Holistic Therapies and Cultural Integration

01:07:36 - Mending the Nets

01:11:13 - The Importance of Water and Protecting the Environment

01:14:22 - The Future of Governance

01:18:01 - Embracing Unity and Overcoming Historical Struggles

01:21:35 - Being attuned to unseen intelligences

01:25:33 - Cousins in Culture and Intermarriage

01:28:54 - Peeling the Onion on Traumatic Events

01:32:31 - The Importance of Spiritual Awakening in the East

01:35:56 - Genetic Manipulation and Control of the Food Industry

01:42:49 - Clearing Genetic Lines for Healing

01:46:21 - Four Winds Wellness Organization

In the midst of his career as an artist and photographer, Robert Saltzman experienced a sudden and profound awakening—a deep vision into the actual nature of “myself.” That abrupt change in point of view, along with a subsequent long illness and slow recovery, changed the course of his life. He left the art world, obtained a doctorate in Depth Psychology, and began his practice of psychotherapy, a work he describes as "days in a small room, face to face with pain and suffering."

As an adjunct to his therapy practice, Robert established a website that featured his replies to questions about psychology, consciousness, and ordinary problems of living such as relationships, personality disorders, sexuality, mental illness, death and dying, etc. That site became the most popular "ask the psychologist" web page on the internet, and has welcomed over four million visitors.

In 2012, Robert moved his question and answer work to a Facebook page where it continues to this day. The Ten Thousand Things is a book of words and images about awakening, consciousness, philosophy, and spirituality. Forty chapters--each beginning with a photograph--based upon Robert’s replies to questions posed to him on Facebook and in private correspondence.

Book: The Ten Thousand Things(Free book excerpt)

Facebook Pages:

Robert Saltzman

The Ten Thousand Things

Website: dr-robert.com

Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.

Jude Currivan, Ph.D., is a cosmologist, futurist, planetary healer, author, member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, and previously one of the most senior business women in the UK. She has a master’s degree in physics from Oxford University specializing in quantum physics and cosmology and a doctorate in archaeology from the University of Reading researching ancient cosmologies. She has travelled extensively, worked with wisdom keepers from many traditions and is a life-long researcher into the nature of reality and consciousness. She is the author of seven books, most recently The Cosmic Hologram (2017), and The Story of Gaia: The Big Breath and the Evolutionary Journey of Our Conscious Planet (2022) and is co-founder of WholeWorld-View.

Websites:

wholeworld-view.org

judecurrivan.com

Earlier books:

CosMos: A Co-creator's Guide to the Whole World

The 13th Step: A Global Journey in Search of Our Cosmic Destiny

The 8th Chakra: What It Is and How It Can Transform Your Life

The Wave : A Life Changing Journey into the Heart and Mind of the Cosmos

Transcript of this interview.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group

Second BatGap interview with Jude

Interview recorded July 1, 2017

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Jude Currivan

00:04:13 - Multidimensional Experiences and Communication with Thoth

00:07:54 - Validating Subtle Reality

00:11:48 - Engaging Multidimensionally and Consciousness Activation

00:15:41 - Inner Journeys and Divine Initiations

00:19:13 - Kundalini Experience and Siddhis

00:23:06 - Experiencing the Ordinary in the Extraordinary

00:27:00 - The Nature of Reality: Information as Fundamental

00:31:14 - The Nature of Physical Reality

00:35:03 - The Universal Algorithms of Existence and Evolution

00:39:00 - The Origins of Thermodynamics and Entropy

00:43:00 - The Individuation of Information Entropy

00:47:13 - The Evolving Universe and Cosmic Mind

00:51:14 - Healing Our Fragmented Perspectives

00:55:12 - The Need for a Holistic Understanding

00:59:03 - The Three Books of Unified Reality and Holograms

01:02:49 - The Holographic Principle and the Pixilation of Space-Time

01:06:50 - The Consciousness of the Universe

01:10:49 - The Relationship Between Earthquakes and Human Conflicts

01:15:05 - Manipulating Attention and the Power of Thoughts

01:19:03 - Harnessing the Impulses of Intelligence

01:23:17 - The Multidimensionality of Realities and Attractor Basins

01:27:24 - The Cosmic Intelligence and the Holographic Worldview

01:31:20 - Supernormal Phenomena and the Holographic Nature of the Universe

01:35:08 - The Universe Observing Itself

01:38:30 - The Simplicity of the Universe

01:41:51 - Effortlessness and Going with the Flow

01:45:24 - The Purpose of the Universe and the Existence of Life

01:49:23 - The Choice to Breakdown or Breakthrough

01:53:11 - The Flickering of the Old and New Systems

01:57:03 - Wrapping Up with Jude

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Together, Bill & Patricia support you to build a foundation, providing tools for strength in the emotional and spiritual domain, yielding flow and freedom to be who you have come here to be. A life of awakening is not one in which we never fall into a dark valley, it is one in which when we fall, we have learned how to move through it. We develop emotional muscle in order to rise. This is the inner work of the soul.

Bill & Patricia guide you to that which is unhealed, exposing how these hurts and emotions rule our lives. You are able to face yourself, learn to untangle from these aspects that have a powerful impact and influence. In the discovery of new awareness and integration you begin to experience wholeness.  Embrace all emotion, letting go of resistance and live in the present moment. With sensitivity, strength and skill, Bill and Patricia facilitate working through levels of trauma, pain, grief and anger in order to guide people to their own divine nature. As these wounds heal, you are able to discover the depths of self-acceptance and forgiveness.

Website: evolutionoftheheart.com

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded 6/25/2017

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:03:24 - The Ripple Effect of Retreat and Opening to New Ways of Being

00:10:29 - Healing and Transmuting the Unconscious Mind

00:13:46 - Self-Care and Spiritual Teaching

00:16:39 - Accessing Inner Strength and Self-Sufficiency

00:19:50 - The Practices for Grounding and Solidifying Emotions

00:23:30 - Moving Beyond Victimhood and Healing the Emotional Body

00:27:00 - Moving Beyond Fear and Grief

00:29:47 - Resolving Emotions through Physiological Awareness

00:33:01 - Dissolving the Mud in the Cup

00:36:37 - Acts of Kindness in Everyday Life

00:39:10 - The Ripple Effect of Awakening Hearts

00:43:15 - The Medicine of Pain

00:46:32 - Evolving into Emotional Maturity and Depth of Healing

00:50:12 - The Loneliness of Separation

00:53:41 - Exploring Emotions and Possibilities

00:56:32 - Belief, trust, and getting to know oneself

00:59:34 - Deepening the Connection with Divine Consciousness

01:03:08 - Connecting and Building Communities

01:06:27 - The Power of Connection in Relationships

01:09:49 - The Importance of Healing and Deep Connection in Relationships

01:13:04 - The Evolution of Our Work Together

01:15:31 - Finding Balance Between Expressing and Discerning

01:18:33 - Opening to Loving Curiosity

01:21:27 - Bridging the Gap: Reconnecting with Visitors

01:24:38 - Being Instruments of Divine Intelligence

01:27:57 - Teaching Activities and Future Adventures

01:30:34 - The Importance of Inclusion and Support

01:33:12 - Webinars, Meditations, and Virtual Calls

01:35:56 - Upcoming Interviews

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Tony Samara, author of ‘Shaman's Wisdom,’ ‘The Simplicity of Love Meditation,’ ‘Different Yet the Same,’ ‘Discover Your Inner Buddha’ and 10 other titles, spent his early years in England, Egypt and also in Norway, where he discovered the Zen Buddhist philosophy. This discovery eventually led him to the Mount Baldy Zen Centre in California, USA, where he received the spiritual teachings of Roshi Sasaki.

His first spiritual teacher, at the age of 12, was the question - Who Am I? - and for a few years, he immersed himself more deeply into this question. He had the curiosity to explore further the essence of spirituality and ventured to many different countries, learning much about the various spiritual traditions and cultures, in a non-dualistic and open-minded way.

Whilst making pilgrimages to numerous sacred sites in India and other parts of the world, Tony was able to dwell deeply upon the ancient Vedic and Jain philosophies and various mystical practices and work profoundly with the essence of these teachings.

Tony Samara believes that: “The vast majority of people go through life without directly experiencing the depth of their true self or understanding their connection to life or their relationship to others and to the world at large. We are often taught to only relate to the world through our senses. We think, we reason, we feel - but we do not know from our hearts what it means to be connected to what is beyond the senses.”

He recognizes that direct experiences have the potential to radically transform an individual and his or her life, as well as promote a profound and effortless letting go of past emotional, mental and physical pain and suffering.

Tony Samara teaches with humour, humility and with infinite patience, empowering the individual with courage, trust and inner strength to continue on this journey back into wholeness, a path that leads towards real freedom.

Website: tonysamara.com

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded 6/18/2017.

YouTube Video Chapters:

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

00:03:30 - A Different Way of Perceiving

00:06:22 - Sensitivity to the Environment

00:09:24 - The Transformative Power of Pain and Initiation

00:12:10 - A Child's Influence on Vegetarianism

00:15:20 - The Complexity of Being Human

00:18:18 - Starting the Journey of Meditation

00:21:26 - The Joy of Meditation and the Search for Awakening

00:24:34 - The Joy of Sitting in Meditation

00:27:42 - The Importance of Internal Positivity in Meditation

00:30:43 - The Quality of Experience

00:33:48 - The Mind's Role in Confusion and Happiness

00:36:56 - The Positive Effects of Meditation

00:39:49 - The Benefits of Morning and Evening Meditation

00:42:28 - Leaving the Zen Monastery

00:45:32 - Adapting to Change and Exploring India

00:48:48 - Nonverbal Transmission in Spiritual Practice

00:51:55 - Multi-dimensionality and the Expression of Reality

00:54:50 - Spirituality as Diving into a Deep Ocean

00:58:07 - Shifting into a Different Dimension

01:01:26 - Awakening and Gradual Transformation

01:04:42 - The Importance of Cultivating Consciousness

01:07:40 - The Use of Psychedelics in Spiritual Practice

01:10:40 - Importance of Diet for Meditation

01:13:48 - The Importance of Transformative Food and Exercise

01:16:50 - The Correlation between Happiness in the Body and Mind

01:19:45 - Spiritual Awakening and Adjusting to Change

01:22:41 - The Intense Energy of the World and Manifestation Opportunities

01:25:37 - Opportunities in Crisis

01:28:34 - Accessing Consciousness in Challenging Moments

01:31:21 - Connecting to Transmission and Intuition