Michael A. Rodriguez is a spiritual teacher who works with people in meetings, retreats, and private sessions on a full-time basis in the United States and abroad. He holds four academic degrees, including a master’s degree in comparative religion from Harvard and a Ph.D. in English literature from Florida State University; taught at the university level for well over a decade; and has lived long-term in two monasteries. Drawing always from his direct experience, Michael illuminates the undivided nature of Life or Consciousness with great clarity and compassion, pointing to reality in a way that is free from dogma, ritual, or adherence to any particular tradition.
Michael draws skillfully from the world’s wisdom traditions and also integrates Jungian psychology, literature, music, and art into his work to address the full range of human potential. His book–Boundless Awareness: A Loving Path to Spiritual Awakening and Freedom from Suffering–distills the essence of his teaching and is now available on Amazon.
- Website: BoundlessAwareness.org
- Book: Boundless Awareness: A Loving Path to Spiritual Awakening and Freedom from Suffering
- YouTube Channel
- Michael in a panel discussion on the direct vs. progressive paths.
- Transcript of this interview
Interview recorded 10/20/2016
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
- 00:00:00 – Introduction and Background
- 00:03:44 – The Glimmer
- 00:06:58 – The Depths of Literary Texts
- 00:10:16 – The Path of Literature and Teaching
- 00:13:38 – The Source of Absolute Knowledge
- 00:17:09 – Zen and Spiritual Teachings in Academia
- 00:20:33 – Literature and Spirituality
- 00:23:29 – The Limitations of Academic Education
- 00:26:31 – The Disconnect Between Education and Spiritual Development
- 00:29:48 – Rediscovering Wonder and Imagination
- 00:32:37 – Finding Moments of Stillness in Daily Life
- 00:35:51 – The Importance of Effective Practice
- 00:38:57 – Becoming More Earnest About Spirituality
- 00:41:48 – Facing Fears and Following Your Truth
- 00:45:00 – Being True and its Impact on Society
- 00:48:29 – The Societal Implications of Understanding Conscious Presence
- 00:52:11 – The Aliveness of Consciousness
- 00:55:59 – The Non-Dual Awareness of Jesus and “Do unto others”
- 00:59:33 – Marinating in the Felt Sense of Being
- 01:02:31 – The Gift of Sitting with Conscious Beings
- 01:05:55 – The Invitation of Suffering
- 01:09:26 – Being Consciousness, Not Conscious
- 01:12:46 – Seeking Abiding Contentment
- 01:15:40 – The Shift to Pure Awareness
- 01:19:11 – Returning to the Natural State
- 01:22:13 – Embracing the Perfection of the Moment
- 01:25:45 – The Relaxed Journey of Awakening
- 01:29:04 – The Flow of Experience and Consciousness
- 01:32:11 – Influential Teachers in the Journey of Self-Realization
- 01:35:28 – A Journey of Self-Awareness
- 01:38:34 – Enhancing the Spiritual Resource
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