513. Shyamji Bhatnagar

Shyamji BhatnagarSri Shyamji was born and raised in India. At age 12, he met his spiritual teacher in the Himalayas and spent several years under his guidance. The Guru initiated Shyamji into the Saivite tradition of Tantra—imparting a rare oral tradition of sacred sounds (naada yoga), breath (svara yoga), and spiritual wisdom.

The grace of the guru (guru krippa) and the spiritual practices he imparted (sadhana) are the basis for Sri Shyamji’s extraordinary intuition and unique chanting of sounds and mantra. For millennia this tradition was passed down from generation to generation through an oral tradition which preserved its purity. It is a rare opportunity to learn the science of sound from a true master.

Website: chakrainstitute.com

Book: Microchakras: InnerTuning for Psychological Well-being

Email: [email protected]

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded August 13, 2019

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Meeting the Spiritual Teacher
  • 00:05:46 – The Power of Breathing with the Nose
  • 00:11:10 – The Brain’s Role in Thinking and Feeling
  • 00:16:03 – The Nature of Love and Subtle Matter
  • 00:21:08 – Blocked Micro Chakras
  • 00:25:56 – The Importance of Breastfeeding and the Belief that Babies Have no Feelings
  • 00:30:34 – The Importance of Pronouncing Sounds Properly
  • 00:35:52 – Discontentment and Addiction
  • 00:40:44 – The Importance of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
  • 00:45:44 – Ingmar Bergman and the Colors of the Week
  • 00:50:28 – Understanding the Mind and Mantras
  • 00:54:50 – The Subject and the Ego
  • 00:59:05 – The Story of a Human Being
  • 01:02:40 – The Meaning of Meditation
  • 01:06:41 – The Stages of Meditation
  • 01:10:52 – Purification of the Body and Sexual Energy
  • 01:14:35 – Understanding the Prana Calendar and Nostril Dominance
  • 01:18:21 – Calming Anger and the Power of Water
  • 01:22:01 – Controlling the Ego
  • 01:25:57 – The Seven Sister Powers
  • 01:29:36 – Awakening Kundalini and Siddhis
  • 01:33:38 – The Value of Teachers and Subjective Science
  • 01:38:10 – Music Compilation
  • 02:03:13 – Sri Radhe Mantra and Purifying the Second Chakra
  • 02:08:33 – The Power of Stories
  • 02:12:12 – The Three-Body Purification Practice
  • 02:16:12 – Individual Fitness and Surviving Challenges
  • 02:19:45 – The Meaning of Tantra and Its Misconceptions
  • 02:24:16 – The Importance of Sleep in Relation to the Sun
  • 02:28:42 – Many more years to come

500. Dani Antman

Dani AntmanDani Antman is an internationally known energy healer and interfaith minister in Santa Barbara, CA. She has been at the forefront of energy medicine and healing since 1992 when she graduated from the Barbara Brennan School of Healing.

Dani is a graduate of The School for Nondual Healing and Awakening, where she taught for over nine years. She has led workshops at the Esalen Institute, La Casa de Maria, and The Lionheart Institute for Transpersonal Energy Healing. She is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and helps people recover from the effects of trauma and PTSD.

She has received spiritual direction and assistance for over 17 years from Patanjali Kundalini Yoga Care (see BatGap interview with Joan Shivarpita Harrigan). Through this consistent guidance, she completed a challenging Kundalini process related to her Jewish past. She is dedicated to guiding others on their spiritual path.

Silvia Eberl is the new lineage holder of Patanjali Kundalini Yoga Care, as designated by Swami Chandrasekharanand. She is working in Austria and Rishikesh, India. Her contact info is: [email protected]. Websites:

Dani’s website: daniantman.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded April 27, 2019

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction and Background
  • 00:03:59 – The Misleading Nature of Spiritual Purification
  • 00:07:07 – Early Life and Tumultuous Times
  • 00:11:27 – The Zen of Art and Focus during All-nighters
  • 00:14:53 – Discovering Healing and Self-Transformation
  • 00:18:57 – The Existence of a Subtle Body
  • 00:22:57 – Distance Healing Mechanisms and Limitations
  • 00:26:57 – Wholeness and Integrated Perception
  • 00:30:59 – Seduction and Deception in Spiritual Teachers
  • 00:35:30 – The Dark Side of Spiritual Teachers
  • 00:39:38 – The Living Tradition of Kabbalah
  • 00:44:00 – The Living Tradition of Enlightened Sages
  • 00:47:46 – The Importance of Spiritual Activism and Seva
  • 00:51:57 – The Sex Rising and its Effects
  • 00:56:15 – A Rising in Spiritual Seekers
  • 00:59:48 – Kundalini Awakening and Progressions
  • 01:03:50 – Kundalini Awakening Journey
  • 01:08:17 – Addressing the Root of the Problem
  • 01:11:56 – Milestones in Spiritual Awakening
  • 01:15:45 – Kundalini Awakening and Brain Support
  • 01:19:23 – Repairing the Chakra System
  • 01:22:50 – Kundalini Yoga and the Advaita Vedanta
  • 01:26:21 – Loss and Grief, Near Death Experience
  • 01:31:03 – Grounding into the Body, Running and Returning
  • 01:35:06 – Surrendering to Grace
  • 01:38:48 – The Power of Sincere Intentions and Desires
  • 01:42:17 – Near Death Experience
  • 01:46:24 – A Life-Changing Experience and Fearlessness
  • 01:50:10 – Returning to the Jewish Lineage
  • 01:53:57 – Connecting with Dani Antman
  • 01:57:42 – Preserve the Teachings of Jesus

499. Giovanni Dienstmann

Giovanni DienstmannGiovanni Dienstmann is a spiritual practitioner and teacher, and the creator of Live and Dare, one of the top five most visited meditation blogs on the planet. As an author, meditation coach and speaker, Giovanni helps people overcome anxiety and stress to live a more calm and centered life, through spiritually-inspired personal development work.

Since the age of 14, spirituality has been the center of his life. In his journey, he practiced over 9,000 hours of meditation, tried 70 different techniques, and nearly became a monk twice.

His spiritual thirst and eclectic approach led him to be formally initiated into the traditions of Zen Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta, Raja Yoga, and Mantra Yoga—by the masters Moriyama Roshi, Lakshamana Swami, Shivarudra Balayogi, and Nikhileshwarananda (respectively). In February 2010 he experienced a powerful awakening in the presence of Mooji in South India, and that has been a point of no return in his path.

Giovanni is the author of the best-selling book Practical Meditation: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide, which has been translated to 5 different languages and has popularly been called “The Meditation Bible”. As a coach, Giovanni’s clients range from stay at home parents to entrepreneurs, C-level executives and pro athletes.

In the field of meditation, he brings a contemporary and pragmatic approach to help both meditation novices and spiritual seekers alike. In his role as a spiritual writer, he balances deep reverence for traditional teachings with critical thinking and a comparative study of spiritual traditions.

To learn more about Giovanni and his work, visit LiveAndDare.com.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded April 20, 2019.

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

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introducing Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:04:43 – Different Meditation Techniques
  • 00:09:24 – Discovering Zen and Meeting the Roshi
  • 00:14:05 – The Zen Tradition and Lineage
  • 00:18:51 – Disappointment and Closure in Zen Practice
  • 00:23:24 – Doubts on Enlightenment and the Value of Knowledge
  • 00:27:25 – The Value of Reading and Studying in Spiritual Paths
  • 00:31:38 – Integrating aspects of the human experience
  • 00:35:45 – The Path of Advaita and Integration
  • 00:40:32 – Surrender to the Lord within
  • 00:45:15 – Neo Advaita: Mistaking Temporary Realization
  • 00:49:57 – Different Categories of Spiritual Practitioners
  • 00:54:45 – The Role of Practice and Spiritual Bypassing
  • 00:59:01 – Tuning in to Spiritual Books
  • 01:03:33 – The Enjoyment of Spiritual Practice
  • 01:07:48 – Benefits of Lowering Stress and Relieving Depression
  • 01:12:10 – The Silence and Self-awareness
  • 01:17:13 – A Powerful Milestone in my Spiritual Journey
  • 01:22:02 – Maintaining Discernment in Spiritual Teachings
  • 01:26:34 – The Importance of Purification and Discernment in Self-Realization
  • 01:30:45 – The Dangers of Following Gurus
  • 01:35:11 – Concentrating the Mind with Objects
  • 01:39:26 – The Importance of Having Different Levels of Teachers
  • 01:43:31 – Exploring Different Spiritual Paths
  • 01:47:43 – The Bodhisattva and Continuing Existence
  • 01:52:02 – The Concept of Leela in Tantra
  • 01:56:35 – The Importance of Choosing the Right Meditation Practice
  • 02:00:39 – The role of charging for meditation and spirituality
  • 02:04:46 – The Role of Dakshina in Spiritual Exchange
  • 02:09:09 – The Responsibility of Siddhis and their Role in Science and Society
  • 02:13:26 – Demonstrating Siddhis through Scientific Means