The Clear Light with Steve Taylor

A meditation to spread the radiance of gratitude into every part of your being, your life, and the world itself. 

The last part of my conversation with Zak Khan, which took place two weeks before his passing from cancer. It was most powerful conversation I've ever had. I miss Zak, and am sad I won't be able to connect with his physical presence anymore, but feel grateful and privileged to have shared this profound encounter with him. 

In my book Extraordinary Awakenings I told the story of Zak Khan, who had a powerful spiritual awakening in 2009, as a result of a near-death experience, at a time when he was seriously ill with cancer. Early in April 2023, Zak was told that his cancer had returned and that he may only have two months left to live. I spent an afternoon with Zak, three weeks after his diagnosis, and it was the most powerful and profound conversation I’ve ever had. Zak sadly died around two weeks after the conversation. It was a blessing to share his presence, to feel his acceptance and serenity in the face of imminent death. Zak shares his feelings about what is fundamentally important, what death can teach us about life, and how the qualities we develop in this life affect our transition into the next life. There is a third and final part of the conversation, which I will release soon.  

In my book Extraordinary Awakenings I told the story of Zak Khan, who had a powerful spiritual awakening in 2009, as a result of a near-death experience, at a time when he was seriously ill with cancer. Early in April 2023, Zak was told that his cancer had returned and that he may only have two months left to live. He was offered treatment but has declined it, wishing to meet death with acceptance and serenity. I spent an afternoon with Zak, three weeks after his diagnosis, and it was the most powerful and profound conversation I’ve ever had. Zak shares why he has decided not to have treatment, how he senses that death is unreal, and describes the tremendous sense of surrender and well-being he is experiencing. 

The second in a series of short spiritual reflections to start the day, so that we can set our intentions for each day and live more contentedly. This episode is on the importance of living with presence, aware of the reality of our experience, rather hurrying towards the future. 

Slow down - don’t be so desperate to reach the future
that push the present away.
Treat each moment with respect
as a friend that deserves your attention.

The first in a series of spiritual reflections by Steve Taylor, based on his book The Clear Light, designed as a short listen to start your day and help you live fully each day. This reflection is on presence, and why the present is the only reality, and why it's so important to live in harmony with it. Steve recites his poem 'Slow Down.'

In the first in a series of conversations with some of the "shifters" featured in my book Extraordinary Awakenings, I speak to Zak Khan, who underwent an amazing transformational experience while seriously ill with cancer. Zak died for a short time, and his description of the dying process is profound and inspiring. His encounter with death brought about a spiritual awakening that changed his life radically. He has lost all fear of death, and has faced his ongoing health challenges with acceptance. 

Steve reads several spiritual poems, including 'The Alchemy of Attention,' 'None of this is now,' 'You can only be sure of the present,' and 'Your being belongs to the present.' Steve leads a short meditation to recapture the natural state of presence that children experience. Our bodies are always in the present, even if our minds are not, and when we bring our attention back into the present, it always feels right, as if we are coming back home.  

How can we learn to live in the present? Why do human beings find it difficult to live in the moment? What are the obstacles that stop us becoming present? We explore some of these obstacles - such as thought-chatter, rushing and unnecessary activity - and I suggest how we can overcome them, with a 'gentle mental nudge' back into the present. I lead a presence meditation, bringing our awareness into our different senses. This episode includes the poetic pieces 'The Two Worlds,' 'The Alchemy of Attention' and 'The Clear Light of the Present.' 

In this podcast, Steve reads three poems (two from The Clear Light, one unpublished) and guides you through short meditative exercises, helping you to integrate with the body and sense its sacredness. We should see the body as sacred, as an expression of spirit. We should integrate it into our spiritual practice, and appreciate all of the miraculous things it does to keep us healthy and alive.