While out in California for the Science and Nonduality Conference, I had some downtime before the conference started, so I decided to tape a long panel discussion with a rather large group of friends, most of them previous guests on Batgap. Sofia University in Palo Alto (where transpersonal psychology was founded by Abraham Maslow and others), generously provided a room and video equipment. I’m especially grateful to Dr. Jeffery Martin, who conducts research there, for offering and organizing this. It was an experiment, and some were skeptical that it would work, but it did! Main points of discussion in this part include:
- The panel reflects on the morning session from direct experience after meditating together.
- Discussion of spiritual teachers and how awakening can come with new charisma and confidence along with an ability to enliven others which can lead to ego aggrandizement. The panel discusses what to be aware of and how to share with humility and grace.
- Spiritual Maturity – Importance of ongoing psychological growth and healing post-awakening. The benefit of peer check-in, therapy, and support.
- Sharing of ideas of a new paradigm for spiritual teaching to include humanness and meeting students as equals. Importance of honesty and sharing humanity and personality and not playing a role.
- Experiences of subtle realms and beings, psychic powers, siddhis that can naturally arise. Refinement and exploring dimensions of consciousness,
- Skilfully sharing gifts and graces that arise with awakening for the good of all.
- Importance of developing spiritual maturity and continued growth and healing.
- When is mystical experience useful and the benefit of guides in such openings?
- A discussion of healing and wellness in association with awakening.
- Are awakening and healing interrelated or separate journeys?
- Is it important to heal before awakening or can healing take place afterward? Refinement and purification of physiology.
- Is healing necessary for an abiding awakening?
- Functioning in daily life after an initial awakening.
- The panel shares their leading/learning edge right now to enter the conversation with vulnerable truth.
Participants included:
| Name | Other Batgap Interview(s) | Website(s) |
| Canela Michelle Meyers | 12/18/2011, 9/24/2015 | canelamichelle.com |
| Chuck Hillig | 7/21/2010 | chuckhillig.com |
| Clare Blanchflower | clareblanchflower.com | |
| Craig Holliday | 1/3/2015, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019* | craigholliday.com |
| Dana Sawyer | 9/29/2010, 2/9/2014*, 3/19/2016 | dana-sawyer.com |
| David Buckland | 9/25/2015, 10/27/2017* | davidya.ca |
| David Ellzey | 1/16/2016 | davidellzey.com |
| Francis Bennett | 8/4/2012, 4/21/2013* 10/26/2013*, 5/24/2014*, 10/23/2014*, 10/21/2016, 10/25/2016* | |
| Jeffery Martin | 1/25/2017 | drjefferymartin.com nonsymbolic.org |
| Kiran Trace | 11/2/2013, 09/24/2015 | kirantrace.com |
| Kristin Kirk | 2/16/2014, 5/24/2014* | kristinkirk.com |
| Laurie Moore | 7/21/2012, 10/24/2013 | counselingscottsvalley.us animiracles.com |
| Mariana Caplan | 2/3/2012, 1/6/2013, 10/25/2019* | marianacaplan.com |
| Rick Archer | 6/5/2010, 3/16/2013, 5/11/2014, 10/23/2015, 10/24/2016, 10/21/2017, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019*, 10/27/2019 | You’re on it. |
| Susanne Marie | 7/7/2013, 10/24/2014*, 10/23/2016* | susannemarie.org |
*In group discussion.
Recorded 10/22/2015
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
- 00:00:00 – Silence and Self-Reflection
- 00:09:12 – The Sense of Expanded Living
- 00:16:29 – The Pitfalls of Spiritual Awakening
- 00:22:43 – The Value of Mainstream Context and Therapist Category
- 00:30:58 – The Beauty and Service of Pain
- 00:36:33 – The Blossoming of the Heart and Devotion
- 00:44:06 – The Importance of Growth and Honesty
- 00:50:19 – The Exploration of the Human Condition
- 00:55:50 – Surrender and Humility in the Awakening Process
- 01:03:34 – Opening to Multiple Worlds and Listening to God
- 01:09:38 – Channeling Angelic Guidance
- 01:15:58 – Accessing Universal Energy and True Nature
- 01:22:55 – Capturing the Fort and Exploring the Territory
- 01:28:38 – Different Dimensions and Spiritual Ego
- 01:32:55 – The Importance of Meaningful Conversations
- 01:39:00 – The Irrelevance of Truth and Reality
- 01:45:43 – Discussions on various spiritual phenomena and dangers of believing in them blindly
- 01:50:25 – Discriminating Subtle Beings
- 01:53:51 – The Variability of Awakening Experiences
- 01:56:40 – The Six Bhavas in Ayurveda
- 01:59:52 – The Healing Question and Awakening
- 02:02:59 – The Importance of Healing and Psychological Maturity after Awakening
- 02:06:33 – The Pressure of Awakening and Awakening Levels
- 02:10:22 – Surrendering through Pain, Healing and Awakening
- 02:13:54 – Awakening and Healing
- 02:17:12 – Awakening and Healing in the Journey
- 02:21:29 – Life as a Single Parent and the Shift in Functioning
- 02:26:33 – Living in a Beautiful Apartment
- 02:30:23 – Embracing the Human Experience
- 02:36:19 – Surrendering to the Unknown
- 02:41:50 – Updates on BatGap
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