703. Constance Casey

Constance Casey, MDiv, is an author and teacher providing spiritual guidance for those interested in living a gentle and peaceful life.

Constance offers guidance for those entering deeper practice into the nature of reality and adjusting to a shift in consciousness. Her awakening occurred in 2008.
She has been practicing in the contemplative arts for over 40 years– first through her years in recovery, and then, as she deepened in Buddhist practice in 2007—which she shares in her memoir.

She’s a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader Program. Some of her teachers include Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield.

Constance obtained a Master of Divinity focusing on religious studies and went on to do hospital chaplaincy work. As an interfaith hospital chaplain, she offered compassionate care for patients and families while embracing the spectrum of human experiences. She is also authorized by Naropa University to teach meditation.

Constance’s practice is primarily informed by the suttas in Theravāda Buddhism where she has developed her own online classes, the most recent one is called Clearing Skies: Dispelling the Clouds that Hinder Us, and she leads support groups for dedicated meditation practitioners.

Through her experience she respects and values your unique spiritual practice and journey while supporting you to find balance and significance in the face of adversity. Constance will encourage you to attune toward being more mindful and aware for release and serenity.

Her first book called Time for Awakening: A Memoir shares her story of awakening and deeper meditation practice and is what brings her to our meeting today.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group

Interview recorded March 30, 2024

Video below. Audio coming soon.

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Welcome to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:05:13 – The Levels of Receptiveness to the Dharma
  • 00:09:13 – “Just Who Do You Think You Are?”
  • 00:13:05 – A Snowy Awakening
  • 00:16:54 – Healing and Bonding with My Sons
  • 00:20:17 – Parenting as a Spiritual Practice
  • 00:24:11 – A Fly on the Wall
  • 00:28:09 – Tools of Recovery
  • 00:31:31 – Ethical Structure in Spiritual Circles
  • 00:35:14 – The Vicious Cycle of Repressed Discomfort
  • 00:40:09 – Seeking Further
  • 00:43:44 – Simplifying and Finding Fulfillment Within
  • 00:47:39 – Expressing Experiences Through Art
  • 00:51:17 – Finding Balance in Self-Care
  • 00:54:59 – Honoring the Need for Rest and Balance
  • 00:58:35 – The Power of Meditation and Personal Growth
  • 01:01:38 – Constance’s Carpentry Journey
  • 01:04:44 – The Importance of Speaking Out and Trauma (Conversation)
  • 01:07:29 – Seeing the Teacher as a Human Being and the Absence of Hierarchy
  • 01:10:27 – The Indescribable Experience of Awakening
  • 01:14:19 – Following the Way
  • 01:18:32 – Psychological, Theological, Sociological Perspectives
  • 01:22:14 – The Power of Kindness in Movies
  • 01:26:42 – The Intimacy of Stream Entry
  • 01:30:45 – The Support of a Teacher
  • 01:33:33 – The Association for Spiritual Integrity
  • 01:37:43 – Factors of Enlightenment and the Hindrances
  • 01:41:38 – Hindrances in Meditation Practice
  • 01:45:49 – Cultivating Tranquility and Equanimity in Meditation
  • 01:49:05 – The Benefits of Meditation and Inner States of Being
  • 01:51:48 – Closing Remarks

702. Neil Theise

Neil Theise is a professor of pathology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Through his scientific research, he has been a pioneer of adult stem cell plasticity and the anatomy of the human interstitium. Dr. Theise’s studies in complexity theory have led to interdisciplinary collaborations in fields such as integrative medicine, consciousness studies, and science-religion dialogue. He is a senior Zen student at the Village Zendo in NYC. His life long Jewish practice has involved both traditional observances and formal academic study. In recent years, (to his surprise) he has also undergone shamanic initiation.

Books: 

Website: neiltheiseofficial.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group

Summary and transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded March 9, 2024

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:04:25 – Complexity Theory and the study of life
  • 00:08:34 – Dynamic Healing of the GI Tract
  • 00:12:40 – Artificial Life and Complexity Theory
  • 00:17:26 – Awakening through the Koan “Mu”
  • 00:22:41 – The Fascinating Idea of Biocentrism and Organizing Complexity
  • 00:25:45 – Discovering Complexity Theory
  • 00:28:37 – The Illusion of Materiality and the Nature of Pure Awareness
  • 00:33:37 – The Non-dual Fundamental Awareness
  • 00:37:38 – Complementarity in Quantum Physics and Beyond
  • 00:42:36 – The Quantum Field of the Body
  • 00:46:29 – Direct experiences of quantum level reality
  • 00:49:14 – The True Nature of Conscious Reality
  • 00:53:25 – The Illusion of Reality
  • 00:56:56 – The Mechanism of Human Consciousness
  • 01:01:23 – Challenging Empirical Science and Promissory Materialism
  • 01:04:51 – The Intimacy of Subject and Object in Quantum Science
  • 01:08:53 – The Limitations of Mathematics and Empirical Science
  • 01:13:30 – Gödel and Turing’s Implications for Mystical Exploration and Consciousness
  • 01:17:33 – Shifting Paradigms and the Nature of Consciousness
  • 01:21:20 – Self-Organization and Complexity in the Universe
  • 01:24:44 – Negative and Positive Feedback Loops
  • 01:29:02 – The Adjacent Possibles and Creativity
  • 01:32:16 – The Subtle Dimensions of Living Beings and the Universe
  • 01:35:26 – Language Limitations and Perspective
  • 01:39:02 – Awakening through Traumatic Experiences
  • 01:42:35 – Wondering about Luck and the Beloved Name
  • 01:45:28 – The Universe’s Construction and Spiritual Practices
  • 01:48:30 – The Divine Feminine and Unconditional Love
  • 01:52:57 – The Nature of Reality and True Compassion
  • 01:55:56 – Conclusion

701. Kimberly Lafferty

Kimberley Theresa Lafferty is a seasoned teacher-practitioner specializing in constructive adult developmental psychology and Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. She completed over 12 years of intensive Indo Tibetan study including the required retreats. She leads both open and advanced adult educational cohorts aligning developmental psychology and Buddhist theory. Kimberley co-leads, with Terri O’Fallon, the penultimate Minds I year-long developmental course of Stages International. She is an active Board member for the Association for Spiritual Integrity. Kimberley is also a householder as a wife and mother, living in a remote valley of the North Cascades of North America which deeply impacts her worldview and practice.

Website: The Confluence Experience | Making sense of what doesn’t make sense

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded February 10, 2024

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction and Welcome
  • 00:03:33 – Finding Peace in the Forest
  • 00:06:27 – A Blissful Awakening
  • 00:11:15 – Deep Inner Resources and Spiritual Experiences
  • 00:15:10 – Connecting with our Ultimate Selves
  • 00:18:26 – The Wave and Ocean Metaphor
  • 00:23:24 – Diving into Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
  • 00:27:59 – Tantric Retreats and Solitary Meditation
  • 00:32:26 – Experiences on the Retreats with Vajrayogini
  • 00:35:33 – The Red Lady and the Retreat
  • 00:40:01 – The Lesson of Treating Practice Seriously
  • 00:44:18 – The Precious Gift of Tibetan Buddhism
  • 00:47:58 – Spirituality and Integration
  • 00:51:02 – Understanding the Intersection of Waking Up and Identity Change
  • 00:55:31 – The Evolution of Perception and Consciousness
  • 01:00:08 – Supporting Spiritual Teachers
  • 01:03:59 – Shadow Work and Holistic Development
  • 01:07:16 – The Integration of Wisdom and Compassion
  • 01:10:57 – Waves of Human Becoming and Non-Duality in Daily Life
  • 01:14:06 – Anomalous Experiences: Exploring the Extraordinary
  • 01:18:57 – Anomalous Experiences and Meaning Making
  • 01:23:49 – Anomalous Experiences and the Search for Answers
  • 01:28:03 – The Cautionary Use of Psychedelics and the Self
  • 01:32:01 – The Need for Spiritual Integrity among Teachers
  • 01:35:58 – The Preciousness of a Spiritual Life
  • 01:39:58 – Realizing Inner Bliss
  • 01:43:44 – Experiencing Fulfillment in Tantra
  • 01:47:41 – Finding Your Path in Spiritual Practice
  • 01:52:16 – The Role of Spiritual Psychotherapists
  • 01:56:28 – Strengthening Ourselves Psychologically and Spiritually
  • 02:00:00 – Continuing the Conversation with Kimberly