094. Jeff Foster

Jeff Foster graduated in Astrophysics from Cambridge University in 2001. Several years after graduation, following a period of severe depression and illness, he became addicted to the idea of ‘spiritual enlightenment’, and embarked on an intensive spiritual search which lasted for several years. The spiritual search came crashing down with the clear recognition of the nondual nature of everything. In the clarity of this seeing, life became what it always was: open, loving, spontaneous, and fully alive.

Jeff presently holds meetings and retreats in the UK, Europe, and around the world, clearly and directly pointing to the frustrations surrounding our seeking activities, to the nature of the mind, and to the clarity at the heart of everything. His uncompromising approach, full of humour and compassion, enlightens and exposes the seeking mechanism – the mechanism behind all suffering – shattering our hopes for a future salvation, revealing the unconditional freedom and ease that is always already present, right in the midst of the human drama, and within every experience.

Jeff belongs to no tradition or lineage but has a deep respect for traditions and lineages. Jeff is not an ‘authority’ on life. His words are equal to the sound of a bird singing, or a cat meowing. All are expressions of the One Life. And when all words have disappeared, as they do, all that’s left is laughter.

Jeff’s site: Life Without a Centre

Jeff’s books: An Extraordinary Absence: Liberation in the Midst of a Very Ordinary LifeThe Wonder of Being: Awakening to an Intimacy Beyond Words

Interview recorded 10/30/2011

Interview summary and transcript

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to the Interview with Jeff Foster
  • 00:03:24 – The Mystery of Non-Duality
  • 00:06:21 – The Stuck-ness and Freedom
  • 00:09:49 – Discovering the Ocean Behind Things
  • 00:12:30 – Embracing our Humanity
  • 00:16:04 – A Total Embrace of Life and Non-Duality
  • 00:18:54 – The Longing for Completeness and the End of Seeking
  • 00:22:07 – Seeking Completeness in Relationships
  • 00:25:42 – The Natural Movement of Seeking Completeness
  • 00:29:06 – The Completeness of Seeking
  • 00:32:33 – The Paradox of Seeking and Completeness
  • 00:35:55 – The Constant Invitation of Waves
  • 00:39:25 – Embracing Relationships and Self-Acceptance
  • 00:42:26 – The Adventure of Relationships
  • 00:45:30 – The Pain of Honest Self-Reflection
  • 00:48:38 – The Possibility of Recognizing Who You Really Are
  • 00:52:28 – A Journey of Self-Discovery
  • 00:55:47 – The Messy Path to Self-Realization
  • 00:59:26 – The Myth of Dramatic Stories
  • 01:02:03 – The Sun and the Waves
  • 01:05:02 – The New Doing: Rejecting All Doing
  • 01:08:00 – Meeting People at Their Level
  • 01:10:54 – Meeting Without Defenses
  • 01:14:06 – The Man or Woman at the Cash Register
  • 01:17:28 – Reflections on Crucifixion and Acceptance
  • 01:20:51 – The Crucifixion and the Resurrection
  • 01:23:40 – The Evolution of Language and Understanding in Non-duality
  • 01:27:29 – The Natural Expression of Sharing
  • 01:31:11 – Singing Our Song
  • 01:35:02 – Allowing and Acceptance in Spiritual Teachings
  • 01:37:44 – Introduction to the Show and Guest