327. John Astin

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John Astin is the author of three collections of poetic and prose reflections on the non-dual nature of reality, Too Intimate for Words, (2005) This Is Always Enough(2007), and Searching for Rain in a Monsoon (2012). He is presently at work on a new book, It’s Not What You Think It Is: Reflections on the Inconceivable Nature of Reality. Along with his writing and teaching, John is also a singer, songwriter and recording artist who since 1987 has produced seven CDs of original spiritual/contemplative music including his most recent release, What We’ve Always Been.

In addition to his writing and music, John also holds a PhD in health psychology and is an internationally acclaimed scholar in the field of mind-body medicine, his research focusing on the applications of meditative/contemplative practices in psychology and health care.

For information about John’s work, visit www.johnastin.com.

Music CDs:

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded 1/9/2016

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:04:18 – The Beginning of a Journey of Self-Exploration
  • 00:09:43 – Struggling and Seeking for Enlightenment
  • 00:16:13 – The Paradox of Awakening
  • 00:23:10 – The Mystery of God and the Absolute
  • 00:30:30 – The Continuous Awareness That Doesn’t Change
  • 00:35:18 – The Unfathomable Nature of Reality
  • 00:39:26 – The Indescribability of Experience
  • 00:42:59 – The Equalness of Experience
  • 00:46:58 – Applying Curiosity to Our Own Experience
  • 00:50:53 – Investigating the Experience of Anxiety
  • 00:54:49 – The Abstraction of Anxiety
  • 00:58:16 – The Practical Utility of Spiritual Development
  • 01:02:32 – Exploring the Nature of Experience
  • 01:05:58 – Awe-Inspiring Complexity and Intelligence
  • 01:10:00 – The Universe Inside the Touch
  • 01:13:53 – The Sensitivity of Non-Conceptual Dimensions of Experience
  • 01:17:42 – The Authority of Spiritual Teachers
  • 01:22:04 – Letting Experience be the Authority
  • 01:26:20 – The Nature of Devotion and the Role of the Teacher
  • 01:30:46 – The Value of Transmission and Devotion
  • 01:34:21 – Treating Others with Respect and Devotion
  • 01:40:07 – Reflections on the Spiritual Path
  • 01:48:31 – The Wholesome Way and Discovering What Truly Interests Us
  • 01:51:47 – The Importance of Personal Experience in Spiritual Practice
  • 01:55:12 – Picking up on the Little Things
  • 01:58:24 – Finding Ease within the Flow of Experience
  • 02:02:50 – Embracing uncertainty and holding perspectives loosely
  • 02:06:30 – A Chuckle at Materialists
  • 02:11:34 – Beyond ideas of right and wrong
  • 02:17:22 – Conclusion and Thank You

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