Fax and Sharon Gilbert met on a Transcendental Meditation teachers course in 1972 in Santa Barbara California and have been teaching together ever since. They’ve administered meditation centers and retreat facilities and inspired and taught thousands of people to meditate throughout the United States and in several foreign countries.
They became involved in the Waking Down work in 2002. Several awakenings and dark nights of the soul later they became mentors and then teachers of this work in 2007.
They both enjoy the freedom to express this teaching in their own way and marvel at the unique unfolding of each person in this mysterious process of awakening.
Fax is also an artist/educator and uses the performance skills of mime, magic, masks and comedy to teach and inspire students of all grade levels. Since 1990 he has presented over 5,000 school assembly programs, residencies, and community concerts, and keynoted many regional educational events. He now splits his time between his Waking Down work and delivering a range of educational and performance programs throughout the Midwest. Fax grew up in Boston and attended Brandeis University.
Sharon has been the president of the Waking Down Teachers Assn. for the past six years, is on its governing board and facilitates the monthly teachers meeting. In addition to her teaching and administrative activity she spends her time writing, editing, gardening, reading a wide range of books, and watching cooking shows.
Interview recorded 12/16/2009.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
- 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha in the Gas Pump
- 00:03:26 – Sharing Artwork and Programming
- 00:05:46 – Coming into Alignment with Myself
- 00:08:38 – Finding Purpose in God-Realization and Enlightenment
- 00:11:56 – Discovering Inner Peace
- 00:14:55 – Peace as a Component of Being
- 00:18:45 – Expressing Human Emotions
- 00:22:29 – Activating Sense of Presence
- 00:24:34 – Connection between Consciousness and Facts
- 00:27:18 – Reconnecting with Consciousness and the Fullness of Being
- 00:30:27 – The Definition of Enlightenment
- 00:33:48 – Questioning the Doubt
- 00:36:23 – Self-realization and spiritual growth
- 00:38:49 – Embracing Uncomfortable Emotions
- 00:41:48 – The Power of Awareness and Integration
- 00:44:58 – The Different Stages of Awakening
- 00:48:07 – The Fullness of Being and the Poignancy of Life
- 00:51:15 – Appreciating the Polarity of Limitations and Unlimited Aspect
- 00:54:35 – The Pain of Different Opinions
- 00:58:58 – The Nature of Awakening and its Effects
- 01:02:14 – The Recognition of Living Itself
- 01:05:14 – The Recognition of Who You Are as Consciousness
- 01:08:04 – The Power of Company in Awakening
- 01:11:21 – Confidence in Being and Uniqueness of Expression
- 01:14:02 – The Paradox of Truth
- 01:16:53 – Questions from Viewers
- 01:19:35 – The Buddha’s Death
- 01:23:19 – Being Who You Are
- 01:26:16 – The Value of Meditation
- 01:30:09 – Awakening and Self-Improvement
- 01:33:55 – The Courage to Come Forward
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