Philip Goldberg has been studying the world’s spiritual traditions for more than 50 years, as a practitioner, teacher, and author. He trained as a Transcendental Meditation teacher with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1970 and later became an ordained Interfaith Minister and spiritual counselor. As a public speaker and workshop leader, he has lectured and taught at major venues throughout the U.S. and India. As a professional writer, his articles and blogs have appeared in numerous print and online publications, and he has authored or co-authored more than 25 books, including an upcoming novel and such celebrated nonfiction as:
- The Intuitive Edge: Understanding Intuition and Applying it in Everyday Life;
- Roadsigns: On the Spiritual Path–Living at the Heart of Paradox;
- the award-winning American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation How Indian Spirituality Changed the West;
- the seminal biography The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru;
- and his latest book, the timely Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times: Powerful Tools to Cultivate Calm, Clarity, and Courage.
He has produced e-courses for Spirituality & Practice and has taught many online courses, most recently, The Yoga of Intuition and Creativity, Four Pathways to the Divine, How Hindu Dharma Transformed the West, and the forthcoming An Immersive Exploration of the Iconic “Autobiography of a Yogi.” His special 12-part series, Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times, for Unity Online Radio, features interviews with well-known spiritual teachers. He is currently working on two nonfiction books and a sequel to his novel. In addition, he blogs regularly on Elephant Journal and Spirituality & Health, cohosts the popular Spirit Matters podcast and YouTube channel and leads American Veda Tours to India. He serves on the board of the Association for Spiritual Integrity. His website is PhilipGoldberg.com.
Interview recorded November 21, 2021.
First BatGap interview with Phil.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:02:51 – Reminiscing with Uncle Phil
00:05:11 – Introduction to Philip Goldberg and his work
00:07:49 – Yogananda’s Biography and Autobiography
00:11:24 – Filling the Gaps in Yogananda’s Story
00:15:17 – The Rise of Yogananda and Amma
00:19:08 – Mission-Driven Yogis and the Challenges They Faced
00:23:07 – Returning to India: The Journey of a Monk
00:27:37 – Arguments about Yogananda’s Alleged Affairs
00:31:05 – The Human Story of Yogananda
00:33:46 – The Indomitable Will of Yogananda
00:37:58 – Yogananda’s Spiritual Pursuit and Visions
00:41:58 – Miracles and Wonders in Autobiography of a Yogi
00:46:49 – The Purpose of Miracles and Wonders
00:51:01 – Troubled by Lack of Recognition
00:56:03 – Balancing Consciousness and Action
01:00:35 – The Importance of Service in Spiritual Practice
01:03:28 – Acts of Service in Spiritual Practice
01:07:18 – The Service of Gurus and Spirituality
01:11:19 – The Last Night of the Guru
01:15:28 – Yoga, Cultural Appropriation, and Perennial Philosophy
01:18:58 – Universal Spiritual Experiences
01:24:59 – Transformative Experiences and Global Implications
01:30:00 – The Challenges of Society and the Potential of Consciousness
01:37:09 – Broadening Your Perspective in Spirituality
01:42:22 – The Pragmatic Approach to Spirituality
01:46:47 – Temptations and Fine-tuning the Path
01:51:27 – The Importance of Discernment and Viveka
01:54:42 – Yogananda and Dream Experiences
01:56:53 – The Association for Spiritual Integrity
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