618. Thom Krystofiak

Thom KrystofiakThom 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.

Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded October 2, 2021.

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

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

481. David Buckland, 2nd Interview

David BucklandDavid grew up on the SW coast of Canada. He began witnessing full time during a 6-month retreat in the mid-’70s then the lights came on and celestial perception began. It soon became clear that Self was awake within but had not woken up to Itself through this form yet. Self co-existed with an identified ego. Subtle perception continued to unfold in a myriad of ways.

With a more outward stroke into career, marriage, and family, inner
development continued but took a back seat to life’s responsibilities.

Then in 2005, much of the old life fell away and spirituality moved back to the foreground. After some feedback and darshan with Lorne Hoff, Self, at last, woke up to Itself here. Probably because of the long witnessing, this was quickly followed by a series of profound shifts in Being. (see my first BatGap interview) And then transcending Being into Brahman. In 2011, David was awarded a graduate degree in Vedic Science.

In this interview, we had an extended preamble to touch on the earlier shifts, then we discussed the ParaBrahman shift, pure Divinity, and how embodied Divinity is waking up laws of nature. This process will help raise the presence of Divinity in consciousness.

In the second part of the interview, we touched on the book Our Natural Potential describing the 7 stages of enlightenment, then explored some related topics.

For over a decade, David has been blogging on a wide range of subjects related to unfolding enlightenment. Under the nickname Davidya, he has posted close to 2,000 articles. During the Science and Nonduality Conference in 2017, David gave a talk on the stages described in this interview.

Website: davidya.ca

Book: Our Natural Potential: Beyond Personal Development, The Stages of Enlightenment (Rick Archer wrote the Foreword.)

Other BatGap shows with David:

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded October 25, 2018.

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:05:44 – The Shift in Thinking
  • 00:10:04 – Beings in the World Beyond Appearance
  • 00:15:18 – Experiencing Different Perspectives
  • 00:19:23 – Exploring Consciousness and God-Realization
  • 00:23:53 – The Illusion of Consciousness
  • 00:28:01 – Filling Up with Light and Profound Networkings
  • 00:32:35 – Awakening of the Devas
  • 00:36:36 – Devatas within the Cosmic Body
  • 00:41:06 – The Role of Devatas in Manifestation
  • 00:45:42 – The Complexity of Creation
  • 00:49:54 – Awakening of the Devas
  • 00:53:26 – Writing the Book about the Seven Stages of Enlightenment
  • 00:58:10 – The Three Gunas and Awakening Flavors
  • 01:03:14 – Different Perceptions of the World
  • 01:07:43 – Questioning the Sense of Self
  • 01:11:35 – Integration and Distinctions
  • 01:15:48 – The Role of Maps in Understanding Human Experience
  • 01:20:06 – The Vedas and Group Consciousness
  • 01:24:40 – Perspectives on the Universe and Self-Exploration
  • 01:29:13 – The Subtle Descent of the Chakras
  • 01:34:00 – Awakening and the Role of the Divine
  • 01:38:23 – Kundalini and Awakening
  • 01:43:08 – Importance of Experience and Knowledge
  • 01:48:28 – The Inner Guru and Clear Discrimination
  • 01:53:07 – Embracing the Awakening Journey
  • 01:57:42 – Different Stages of Consciousness Unfolding
  • 02:03:16 – Perception of Refined Values and Divine Forms
  • 02:07:38 – Understanding the Causes of Wars and Consequences
  • 02:12:27 – Recognizing and Clearing the Surface Issues
  • 02:17:20 – Upcoming Material Announcement

468. Suzanne B. Stryker, Ph.D.

Suzanne StrykerSuzanne B. Stryker, Ph.D. is an intuitive healer, artist, writer and teacher. She has always tended to have profound spiritual experiences.

For over 45 years Suzanne has experienced unity, with divine and Vedic perceptions. Yet she does not claim to have reached the pinnacle of evolution, if there even is such a thing. She feels she is a continual blissful work in progress.

Suzanne had a close student/teacher relationship with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In 1976 Maharishi said, “Suzanne is having a positive influence on other people and their experiences, a catalytic effect…”.

Since 1972 Suzanne has been the subject of numerous scientific studies, some of them published in peer-reviewed journals. One study suggested she could influence matter at the quantum mechanical level by mere intention. EEG studies recorded different types of brain wave coherence not typically seen, indicating harmonious and orderly functioning between different parts of her brain.

Oprah’s “Next Chapter” show has asked for an interview. She has been asked to be in a movie with David Lynch on Maharishi’s life.

Through distance healings and phone sessions, she assists people with issues ranging from addiction to dharma. Some of her webinars focus on cultivating intuition, healing and other abilities so that participants can heal themselves and help others as well.

You can sign up for notification of free webinars and the next free Global Group Healing at her website: revealwisdom.com.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded August 25, 2018.

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:04:15 – The Interview and Busy Schedule
  • 00:07:44 – Enhancing Spiritual Experiences through Writing
  • 00:11:52 – Taking Care of Mind and Body
  • 00:15:52 – The Importance of Physical Activity and Brainwave Coherence
  • 00:19:42 – Effect of Meditation on Brain Waves
  • 00:23:52 – Brainwave Coherence and Higher States of Consciousness
  • 00:28:03 – Witnessing Sleep and the Experience of Pure Awareness
  • 00:32:10 – The Anchor of Inner Peace
  • 00:36:14 – Expansion of Awareness
  • 00:41:17 – Questions and Suggestions
  • 00:45:01 – A Mind-Blowing Experience
  • 00:49:30 – Appreciating the Beauty of the Apple
  • 00:54:16 – Absorbing Challenging Experiences
  • 00:58:57 – Vedic Cognition: What is Veda?
  • 01:03:01 – Vedic Chanting and the Flow of Knowledge
  • 01:06:59 – Divine Sounds and Glorious Humming
  • 01:10:57 – Divine Music and Vedic Hymns
  • 01:15:25 – Experiencing Vedic Cognition
  • 01:19:54 – The Mechanics of Healing Others
  • 01:24:10 – Healing and Results
  • 01:28:34 – Living with an Addictive Personality
  • 01:32:05 – The Meaning of “Kamayante”
  • 01:36:22 – A Special Guest: The Beaver
  • 01:40:46 – Synchronicity with Nature and Owl Experiences
  • 01:45:03 – Resonance and the Pure State of Being
  • 01:49:15 – The Power of Intention
  • 01:53:25 – Visual Experiences of Veda
  • 01:57:32 – The Divine Dance of Love
  • 02:02:21 – Helping Others Can Reduce Karmic Overload
  • 02:06:41 – Interesting Discussion