Conscious.tv

Benjamin Zephaniah is a poet, a musician and an author. In this interview he talks about his life, how he was brought up in Birmingham, ended up in jail for burglary, and then decided to completely change his life, moved to London and became a successful poet and author. He talks about his poetry, his music, why he turned down an OBE and spending time in China studying Tai Chi. He now leads a quiet life living in the English Countryside. Benjamin's published works include, "Talking Turkeys", "Teacher's Dead", "Refugee Boy", "Face", "Gangsta's Rap" and "Too Black, Too Strong". His albums include, 'Naked', 'Us An Dem' and 'Belly Of The Beast.'

In the Vietnam War a mortar landed nearby that blew Bart into a clear and brilliant blackness that, "Felt like home. I would have gladly stayed in that blackness, but instead I was brought back into a world I could no longer view in the same way." When he returned in 1968 he experimented with LSD, read everything he could find that might offer clues to what had happened to him, studied meditation and attended workshops. After 20 years he hit a wall as a seeker and then met the teacher Richard Rose whom he studied with for 5 years. It was after a weekend with Douglas Harding that a breakthrough finally happened. "Being the source of everything that is nothing - everything and nothing, only this emptiness."

Author of the book 'Solid Ground Of Being' Art talks about his search for The Truth as his life, though perfect in one way, lacked purpose and meaning. After many years working with Richard Rose's TAT groups and many individual retreats and Douglas Harding's work a breakthrough occurred. 'Art Ticknor was never alive, something broke the identification with the observer, there was no regret in seeing the sense of separate self go.'

Author of 'In The Dark And Still Moving'. Anne talks about the sudden death of her son Tim Guest and how that started her journey to find out what death means for her. Anne Geraghty is a writer, lecturer and psycho-spiritual therapist. She runs workshops on love, relationships, planetary homoeopathy and the geoMystery. 'My life as a: cocktail shaker, psychotherapist, writer, shampoo girl, educational psychologist, taxi driver, cleaner, mother, researcher for the M.R.C., waitress, clinical psychologist, socialist feminist, factory worker, disciple of a tantric guru, maths tutor, relationship counsellor, adventurer into the psycho spiritual wild-side, shop keeper and cook - though not all at once or in that order, has taught me - everything is in everything.' Anne's autobiography is entitled, "In The Dark And Still Moving".

Anita worked in the corporate field before being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Four years after being diagnosed her body began shutting down. As her organs failed she entered into an extraordinary near-death experience where she realised the cause of her disease as well as waking up to who she truly is. On regaining consciousness she found her condition had improved so rapidly that she was released from hospital within weeks.

Into The Rock’N’Roll Universe And Beyond’ and ‘The Book Of Enlightened Masters – Western Teachers in Eastern Traditions.’ Andrew Talks about his life and how he was aware that he was continually ‘hit’ by realisations, small and large, that enabled him to see through his conditioning. ‘The HIT is both a grace and a disturbance.

All worlds are a show..

Reality is open.

It is constantly transforming itself.

It goes beyond itself.

It is where illusion begins.

All derangements are connected. Like sub atomic particles they just keep reflecting each other jumping between each other and turning into each other. Just like a magic trick where certainty and deception change places.

There is really no reality without identity, and identity is a show.’

Author of 30 books including 'Hidden Journey,' 'The Hope,' and his forthcoming book 'Radical Passion' talks about his life, his awakenings, his 'dark nights' and his work these days encouraging people to explore and engage in Sacred Activism. Talks about his time with Mother Meera, the importance of shadow work, and how as a human race we are right on edge of death, but also a new birth. 'Compassion in Action is the marriage of practical action and spiritual wisdom to create a holy force capable of transforming our world crisis and preserving our planet.'

Ananta has had to face many challenges in her life. She spent much of her 20's living with a Billionaire; became addicted to cocaine and then heroin. She spent 2 1/2 years in solitary confinement in a prison in Japan. Here she woke up to who she truly is. She was then deported to London where she had the challenge of integrating her realisation into daily life. She now travels and leads Satsangs in different countries.

Amoda Maa Jeevan is a spiritual teacher and the author of: Finding God in Everything and Change your Life, Change your World and of the forthcoming book Radical Awakening - The Birth of a New World and a New You. In this interview Amoda Maa talks about the need of a truly holistic spirituality and of the need to reframe our understanding of what it means to be an awakened human being. Awakening is just the beginning... the real journey is the Embodiment of this Awakening. It appears as if the outer world of form is breaking down, but it is the inner World of Consciousness that has reached a Crisis Point and we are called to turn around and join forces with Evolution itself.

At the moment of 'coming back to life' after awakening the 'awakened Mind is born'. Before awaking there is only the ordinary mind, a mind that is always deluded. After years of practice this mind develops wisdom into the nature of itself and becomes more and more refined in that respect until it finally reaches the point where it cannot know any more about itself and falls into equanimity. There is a popular misconception that with awakening the everyday ignorant mind is swept away leaving just the pure wisdom of enlightenment. There remains a paradox which many find hard to accept, the transcendental is awakened but shortly after that, the small mind comes back with all its ignorance and power - everyday living doesn't change much at all. The practice that takes place afterward, the 'breakthrough' is precisely about these two.