141. Rafael Stoneman

Rafael StonemanRafael Stoneman and his wife Natalia live in Ojai, California and are doing work through AH. Nonprofit that includes making films and other spontaneous acts that revolve around living a life of Self-inquiry.

In addition, Rafael is currently working as a Community Service Coordinator for Community Solutions, Inc. in Santa Barbara, CA with people on parole and attending college on G.I. Bill Benefits.

Interview recorded 10/7/2012

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Raphael Stoneman
  • 00:02:28 – From Darkness to Acting and Identity
  • 00:04:56 – Losing the Function of Being
  • 00:07:46 – From Manual Labor to Self-Realization
  • 00:10:02 – The Bhagavad Gita in the Army
  • 00:11:43 – Training Ground for Breaking Free
  • 00:13:31 – Trauma in Combat and Boot Camp
  • 00:15:06 – A Pilgrimage to Ramana Ashram
  • 00:16:57 – Creative tendencies and personal growth
  • 00:00:18 – The Space of Self-Inquiry
  • 00:20:44 – The Power of Awareness
  • 00:22:39 – Dealing with Anger and Finding Inner Peace
  • 00:24:56 – The Samurai’s Duty in a State of Anger
  • 00:26:51 – The Explosive Nature of Anger
  • 00:28:39 – The Use and Management of Anger
  • 00:30:48 – Reacting vs. Letting Go
  • 00:32:47 – Going Beyond Effort and Effortlessness
  • 00:35:34 – Blasting Him in Intensity
  • 00:38:25 – The Impact of Interactions
  • 00:40:27 – Self-realization and Liberation
  • 00:43:09 – Life Using You as an Instrument
  • 00:45:29 – Seeking Enlightenment and the Guru-Disciple Relationship
  • 00:48:06 – Dualistic Confusion and Harmonizing Paradoxes
  • 00:51:07 – The Silence Within and Aikido Metaphor
  • 00:53:59 – Judgment and Authenticity in Spiritual Teachers
  • 00:56:04 – The variety of experiences in the Absolute
  • 00:57:42 – The Ongoing Process of Spiritual Unfoldment
  • 00:59:39 – Awakening and Integration
  • 01:01:33 – Wrapping up the Interview
  • 01:03:19 – Continuation of Seeking and Discovery
  • 01:05:12 – Concluding Remarks and Updates
  • 01:06:41 – An Audio Podcast Available