647. Moshe Gersht

Moshe GershtMoshe Gersht is a sought out spiritual teacher in Jerusalem. A student of Torah, Kaballah, and Chasidus, he shares ancient mystical and philosophical wisdom in a way that is practical, relatable, and enjoyable.

For nearly a decade Moshe toured the states as the singer and songwriter for a popular Los Angeles-based rock band. Only two years after signing a record deal, Moshe had a spiritual awakening that sent him journeying to Jerusalem.

The next fourteen years were spent in the deep spiritual practice and in-depth study of Torah. Today, Moshe seamlessly connects and expresses these fundamental spiritual ideas with universal principles of psychology, spirituality, and self-development. He understands the true nature of the human mind and our collective struggles and has devoted his life to helping people align with their purpose, peace, and inner joy.

In 2021 Moshe released his Wall Street Journal bestselling spiritual book titled It’s All The Same To Me: A Torah Guide To Inner Peace and Love of Life, which Deepak Chopra has called “a contribution to the world’s enlightenment.”

A free sample of his book can be downloaded from his website: moshegersht.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded May 22, 2022

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:03:29 – In Theory and YouTube’s Popularity
  • 00:06:21 – A Deep Success Beyond Externalities
  • 00:09:54 – A Shift in Life’s Direction
  • 00:12:37 – The Oneness and Duality of Existence
  • 00:18:04 – The Opportunity of Life
  • 00:23:20 – The Trajectory of Positive Human Evolution
  • 00:26:19 – Shakespeare and the Contrast of Comedies and Tragedies
  • 00:28:55 – Finding Peace in Any Circumstance
  • 00:31:54 – The Teen Years and the Search for Connection
  • 00:34:12 – Finding the Goodness in Humanity
  • 00:36:53 – The Clarity and Truth of Life Before Birth
  • 00:39:27 – The Ne-ra-nkha-i and the Five Elements of the Soul
  • 00:42:48 – The Integration of Science and Spirituality
  • 00:45:51 – The Marriage of Science and Spirituality
  • 00:49:02 – The Potential of Turning Around and Returning to Greatness
  • 00:52:27 – Contemplating the Vastness of Space and the Significance of the Small
  • 00:56:47 – Reflection and Peaceful Perspective
  • 01:03:02 – The Profundity of Amma’s Atmosphere
  • 01:08:59 – Discovering the Intellectual Side of Torah
  • 01:14:56 – Deep Meditation and Kabbalistic Practices
  • 01:21:08 – Juggling Work and Family Life
  • 01:24:18 – The Shift and the Desire to Understand and Share Life’s Depth
  • 01:27:55 – Teaching and the Physiology of Flow
  • 01:31:21 – Robin Williams and Humor
  • 01:34:58 – The Teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
  • 01:41:00 – The Power of Appreciation and Meditation
  • 01:46:15 – Teaching on All Levels
  • 01:52:01 – Meditating on the Water Within You
  • 01:59:59 – Finding Awakening in Special Places
  • 02:08:21 – Sources for Further Reading

591. Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Rabbi Rami ShapiroA Jewish practitioner of Perennial Wisdom, Rabbi Rami Shapiro is an award–winning author of over thirty-six books on religion and spirituality. He received rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and holds a PH.D. in religion from Union Graduate School. A rabbinic chaplain with the USAF for 3 years, a congregational rabbi for 20, and a professor of religious studies for 10, Rabbi Rami currently co-directs the One River Foundation, is a Contributing Editor at Spirituality and Health magazine, and hosts the magazine’s bi-weekly podcast, Essential Conversations with Rabbi Rami.

Website: rabbirami.com

Books:

Some points discussed in this interview:

  • Rabbi Rami’s spiritual journey through superficial Judaism through various traditions to a deep mystical Judaism.
  • Humanity’s transition from matriarchy to patriarchy is the root cause of most of our problems. A collapse of norms is coming. Will it be mindful or mindless?
  • Widespread spiritual practice will help the best outcome to manifest.
  • Escape to another planet, to the transcendent, to heaven is not the answer. We need a balance between transcendence and immanence. The 10 ox herding pictures.
  • Social justice work without a spiritual practice can be draining and ego-driven.
  • Fundamentalist misinterpretations of Scripture.
  • Perennial wisdom is a 4-fold teaching at the heart of all religions.
  • As consciousness expands, personal shadows are illuminated and must be dealt with.
  • Non-dual Judaism is a very rich religion. Tribal Judaism is ‘craziness’.
  • Religions take advantage of people’s fear of death.
  • Emo Phillips – Golden Gate Bridge skit
  • Different perspectives on reincarnation.
  • Out-of-body experiences suggest the existence of a subtle body.
  • Metaphor: the brain as a radio receiver.
  • Body, heart, mind, soul, spirit – We need to develop practices on each of those dimensions.
  • Rami’s mystical experiences, including instruction from the Divine Mother.
  • From a relative perspective, there are separate beings, but ultimately, it’s all God.
  • Discussion on food addiction.
  • Holy Rascals introduce mystical elements not necessarily welcomed by mainstream religion. Administrators are always threatened by the mystics.
  • Perhaps in the coming years experiential, mystical religions rather than dead ones will predominate. The dead ones are rapidly losing membership.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded March 14, 2021

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:03:06 – Introductions and Background
  • 00:05:41 – Transitioning to Buddhism and Zen Rabbi
  • 00:08:31 – The Resurrection of the Mother and the Collapse of Civilization
  • 00:12:30 – Three Scenarios for the Future
  • 00:16:06 – Shifting Consciousness and the Fourth Alternative
  • 00:19:40 – The Hugging Saint, Amma
  • 00:22:36 – Mistaken Identity
  • 00:26:22 – The Life-Changing Power of Meditation
  • 00:29:55 – The Delicate Balance of Humility and Spiritual Practice
  • 00:36:09 – The Yearning for God
  • 00:40:13 – The Four Points of Awakening in Judaism
  • 00:44:12 – The Fallibility of Teachers and Their Teachings
  • 00:47:28 – Spirituality and the Behavior of Spiritual Teachers
  • 00:51:52 – The Tribal Jingoism of Judaism
  • 00:56:16 – Facing the Fear of Death
  • 01:01:42 – Perspectives on Reincarnation
  • 01:05:59 – The Ego and Reincarnation
  • 01:09:44 – The Limitations of Perception and Consciousness
  • 01:13:28 – Out-of-Body Experiences and the Survival of Consciousness
  • 01:16:26 – The Essence of Spiritual Development
  • 01:20:10 – Developing Practices on all Dimensions
  • 01:24:07 – Experiencing Divine Mother Manifestations
  • 01:28:03 – Communing with Lady Wisdom (Chochma)
  • 01:33:14 – The Essential Non-Duality
  • 01:37:40 – Shifting modes of functioning and integration
  • 01:42:59 – The Allure of Salt, Sugar, and Fat
  • 01:47:49 – Holy Rascals and Mystics of History
  • 01:53:47 – Embracing the Dark Side of Consciousness
  • 01:58:51 – Embracing the Dark Side
  • 02:02:26 – Farewell and Thanks

528. Zvi Ish-Shalom

Zvi Ish-ShalomRabbi Zvi Ish-Shalom, Ph.D., is a professor of wisdom traditions at Naropa University and is the founder of Kedumah, a universal mystical school that teaches a step-by-step approach to spiritual awakening and personal development.

Integrating the timeless wisdom of the great mystical traditions with cutting edge knowledge of psychology, science, and the somatic healing arts, Zvi gently points us toward the primordial light of boundless freedom that abides at the heart of our experience.

He is the author of the book The Kedumah Experience: The Primordial Torah and teaches retreats, workshops, and inner work groups internationally.

Website: kedumah.org

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded November 30, 2019

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:05:02 – Understanding the Vibration of Texts
  • 00:09:32 – Early Religious Experience and Discovery of Mystical Texts
  • 00:15:13 – The Shifting Inner Transformation
  • 00:19:23 – Early Devotional Phase
  • 00:23:54 – Diving into Devotion and Meditation
  • 00:29:59 – Shuckling and Divine Presence
  • 00:34:11 – A Deepening Journey of Annihilation
  • 00:39:24 – Connection with a Divine Presence
  • 00:44:37 – Annihilation of the Self
  • 00:49:31 – The Black Annihilation Fire and the Primordial Point of Light
  • 00:54:04 – The Primordial Starlight
  • 00:59:05 – Experiences of the Kabbalistic teachings
  • 01:03:22 – Anointing with Divine Oil
  • 01:08:03 – The Power of Ritual and Symbolism
  • 01:12:23 – The Colors of Creation and Manifestation
  • 01:17:13 – The Essence of Formlessness
  • 01:22:02 – The Meaning of Torah, Kabbalah, and Kedumah
  • 01:27:00 – Revealing the Kedumah Teachings
  • 01:32:13 – The Five Dimensions of Experience
  • 01:37:34 – Contraction and Concentration in Life
  • 01:42:43 – Integrating the Inside and Outside
  • 01:48:10 – The Culmination of the Spiritual Journey
  • 01:52:44 – Contractions and Radical Awakening
  • 01:57:08 – The Primordial Light of the Sun
  • 02:02:01 – Reincarnation and Karma in Kabbalah and Kedumah
  • 02:06:29 – Simultaneous Lives and Realities
  • 02:10:49 – Worship through Materiality and the Feminine Principle
  • 02:15:52 – The Vastness of Intelligence and the Soulship
  • 02:20:39 – Nondimensional Soulship and the Next Buddha
  • 02:26:06 – Farewell and Blessings