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  • 752. Robert Lawrence Kuhn – Closer to Truth
    2026/04/10

    Robert Lawrence Kuhn is a public intellectual; he is the creator, writer, host of Closer To Truth, the long-running PBS/public television series and leading digital resource on Cosmos (cosmology/physics, philosophy of science), Life (philosophy of biology), Mind (consciousness, brain/mind, philosophy of mind), and Meaning (theism/atheism/agnosticism, global philosophy of religion, critical thinking). Peter Getzels is Closer To Truth co-creator and producer/director. Kuhn is the author of the comprehensive review article on theories of consciousness – “A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a Taxonomy of Explanations and Implications” – and editor-in-chief of the expanded, continuously updated Landscape of Consciousness website (with more than 400 theories of consciousness in ten categories), Kuhn has written or edited over 30 books, including The Mystery of Existence: Why is there Anything At All? (with John Leslie); Closer To Truth: Challenging Current Belief; Closer To Truth: Science, Meaning and the Future; The Library of Investment Banking; How China’s Leaders Think (featuring President Xi Jinping); The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin (China’s best-selling book in 2005 and in December 2022); and “The Origin and Significance of Zero: An Interdisciplinary Perspective” (with Peter Gobets). Dr. Kuhn is chairman of The Kuhn Foundation. He has a BA in Human Biology (Johns Hopkins), PhD in Anatomy/Brain Research (UCLA), and SM (MBA) in Management (MIT).


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    2 時間 12 分
  • 751. Kogen Czarnik – Endless Depths of Enlightenment
    2026/03/27

    From my teenage years I had an unquenchable thirst to see beyond the veils that growing up had created in my mind. I tried different avenues of exploration, and soon found my spiritual home in the Zen tradition. After graduating from college, I went straight to Japan and became a Zen monk at the Bukkoku-ji monastery. For over a dozen years I practiced in the monastic context, mostly in Japan and Korea, living a life dedicated fully to this investigation, going through an awakening process, and deepening my realization and embodiment. Later I also explored approaches of other traditions and followed several secular non-traditional teachers. I have spent about 4 years total in silent meditation retreats, and have worked directly in the retreat setting and one-on-one with teachers such as my root monastic teacher, Tangen Harada Roshi, as well as with Jakusho Kwong Roshi, Shodo Harada Roshi, Wu Bong Sunim, Adyashanti and Angelo Dilullo.

    Even though the years of meditation and the simplicity of monastic life had a powerful effect, most important on my path were three breakthroughs at age 23, 30 and 37, each stripping down a different layer of illusion and revealing bare truth, without any sense of separation, or any sense of personal nor universal “self.” I have also explored and continue to explore various approaches of somatic work to aid embodiment and the uprooting of habitual tendencies, as I consider myself, and all human beings, a work in progress.

    Following my monastic Dharma grandfather (Daiun Harada Roshi)’s example, I vowed to spend all of my twenties and thirties only on my own practice, deepening and embodiment. Now in my forties, I make myself available as a resource to those who seek support in their own process of finding freedom from self-created suffering. Despite my love of the monastic life and the Zen tradition, I have decided to share outside of the confines of those systems. I stay true, however, to the essence and marrow of Zen as defined by Bodhidharma, the Indian monk considered the founder of what we now know as Zen:

    “Transmission outside of scriptures
    Not dependent upon words and phrases
    Directly pointing to each person’s mind
    See your nature – become a buddha”

    Feel free to reach out if you feel so inclined.

    May all beings find liberation!

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    2 時間 2 分
  • 750. Purnima Sinha – NDEs, After‑Death Communication, & Guidance from Beyond
    2026/03/14

    Purnima Sinha is a spiritual director and coach whose life has been shaped by meditation, near‑death experiences, and a deep commitment to seva (selfless service). Raised in a highly spiritual Indian family steeped in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, she began meditating in her teens and was trained in Ultra Transcendental Meditation and Surat Shabd Yoga in India. She has now practiced meditation for over 50 years.

    After an intense emotional crisis around the year 2000, Purnima had a near‑death‑type experience in which she found herself in a tunnel, received a powerful life review and “downloads” about her future, and understood that her life’s purpose was far from complete. This, along with subsequent experiences—including warnings before a later collapse, shared‑death experiences with family members, and long‑term after‑death communication with her mother—reoriented her life around service, self‑love, and trust in inner guidance.

    Professionally, Purnima worked for many years as a graphic designer before feeling an inner compulsion to serve in a hospital setting. Guided “voices” and a series of striking coincidences led her into over 3,500 hours of volunteer work and a formal role as a patient advocate in a major hospital, where she visited patients one‑on‑one, listened to their concerns, and supported them and their families through serious illness, cancer treatments, and end‑of‑life transitions. Repeatedly, nurses and staff invited her to sit with patients who were actively dying, and she became known informally as someone who could help people cross over peacefully.

    Out of this work grew hospital meditation and wellness programs. Purnima has served as a meditation, chair‑yoga, balance and strength, and “Fit for Life” facilitator, as well as a spiritual life coach for county wellness programs and cancer support networks. She holds certificates in Lifestyle Medicine and in Meditation & Psychotherapy from Harvard Medical School. Drawing on clinical research supplied in part by her physician son, she helped establish a hospital‑based meditation initiative before the COVID‑19 pandemic.

    Purnima has been a frequent presenter at the International Association for Near‑Death Studies (IANDS), including on after‑death communication panels, and has shared many of her experiences publicly only in recent years. Her article on healing the “pain body” was published in Eckhart Tolle’s newsletter. She emphasizes practical spirituality: starting and ending the day with gratitude, cultivating stillness and prayer, listening to inner guidance, and practicing self‑love as the foundation for serving others.

    Her core messages include: no one ever dies alone; we are always guided and supported, even when we cannot see it; every experience, including painful ones, can serve the evolution of consciousness; and “Self‑Care = Self‑Love.”

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    1 時間 49 分
  • 737. Swami Padmanabha - Evolution in Divine Love
    2025/09/09

    Swami Padmanabha is a Gaudiya Vaishnava monk, scholar, and spiritual teacher known for his eloquent synthesis of devotion, unconditional love, and contemplative theology. A prolific author and global speaker, he has written hundreds of articles and three books—translated into various languages—which have been widely praised by academics, practitioners, and general readers alike. He is the founder of the Tadatmya Alliance and hosts The Free Radical Podcast, where he engages voices from diverse traditions in heartfelt dialogue. Fluent in English and Spanish, Swami regularly lectures at universities, spiritual communities, and interfaith gatherings around the world. His writings and teachings are cherished for their intellectual richness, poetic insight, and transformative clarity. For over twenty-five years, Swami Padmanabha has traveled extensively, mentoring others and leading retreats, while drawing inspiration from the wisdom of his many guides. His talks and seminars are freely accessible at swamipadmanabha.com, inviting listeners into a space of thoughtful inquiry, inner stillness, and sacred relationship. Books: Inherent or Inherited? Bhakti in the Jiva According to Gaudiya Vedanta Radical Personalism: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion Evolution in Divine Love: The Eternal Becoming of God, Soul, and Matter Websites: swamipadmanabha.com tadatmya.org Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Transcript of this interview Interview recorded August 24, 2025 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: A Brother from Another Mother  00:03:01 - Swami Padmanabha's Background  00:05:01 - What is Gaudiya Vaishnavism?  00:06:45 - The Tadatmyā Sangha: A Community of Empathy  00:08:02 - Life on the Road: Home as a State of Consciousness  00:12:31 - How Do We Know What We Know? Faith vs. Certainty  00:15:46 - The Value of a "Working Hypothesis" in Spirituality  00:20:26 - The Danger of Religious Certainty  00:22:41 - The "My Thing is the Best Thing" Syndrome  00:25:23 - The Evolving Nature of Vows on the Spiritual Path  00:28:40 - Do Our Beliefs Shape Our Experience?  00:32:13 - What is God? The Problem with the Word  00:35:58 - The Problem of Evil and the Paradox of Free Will  00:42:30 - Appreciating Paradox as a Sign of Spiritual Maturity  00:44:44 - The Sweet Absolute: Magnificent vs. Intimate Aspects of God  00:47:01 - Are We God? The Paradox of Oneness and Difference  00:50:08 - The World-Negating View vs. Seeing Divinity Everywhere  00:53:40 - Spirituality is Not an Evacuation Plan  00:57:40 - The Cosmic Perspective: Trillions of Galaxies  01:02:49 - The End of "The Search" and the Beginning of Wonder  01:04:21 - Let's Talk About Love  01:08:42 - The Prerequisite of Self-Realization for God-Realization  01:12:47 - The Problem of Spiritual Teachers "Gone Wrong"  01:17:40 - Systemic Issues Behind Guru Scandals  01:22:56 - Revelation and Scripture are Ever-Evolving  01:28:20 - The Dynamic, Expanding Nature of Brahman  01:31:42 - Is Global Disorder a Prelude to a Higher Order?  01:34:28 - The Central Role of Radha, the Divine Feminine  01:38:40 - What is Your Subjective Experience of Love?  01:43:26 - Is Ecstatic Devotion Always Genuine?  01:48:51 - Humility as a Vaccine Against Ego  01:53:50 - The Sacredness of Matter  01:58:14 - The Ecological Crisis as a Symptom of a Spiritual Problem  02:04:10 - The Lesson of the Ant: Life Beyond Our Perception  02:06:06 - Conclusion & Swami Padmanabha's Schedule

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    1分未満
  • 735. Dan Kelso
    2025/08/07
    While expanding his education and eventually working at a number or companies as an HF engineer, Dan's first love was always spiritual exploration. In 2011, after a number of years of trial and error refining the process of self inquiry into deep self investigation, there came an undeniable recognition that he was not a separate self. Simply no one at all. There was only the selfless THIS, "aware existence". This became his permanent condition. Soon after, (from a certain perspective), Dan left a successful corporate position and his old life, following an intuited impulse to be in a more free, natural and creative circumstance. He now lives with his wife Victoria in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, loving nature, exploring various forms of artistic expression and guiding others to awakening. Website: deepselfinvestigation.com Book: Deep Self Investigation: A Modern Guide to Awakening Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Transcript of this interview Interview recorded July 19, 2025 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Dan Kelso  00:02:00 - What is Deep Self Investigation (DSI)?  00:03:52 - The Scientific Approach: Direct Experience Over Intellect  00:06:20 - The Paradox of "Who" is Doing the Inquiry?  00:08:40 - Are Humans Different from Nature?  00:11:20 - The Sense of Self as a Fiction  00:15:20 - Association vs. Identification with the Body  00:17:20 - Detachment During Intense Experiences  00:19:36 - The Paradox of Being the Doer and Not the Doer  00:22:20 - The "I Got It, I Lost It" Phase  00:24:56 - The Impact of Awakening on Daily Life and Relationships  00:29:04 - Distinguishing Detachment from Psychological Dissociation  00:33:04 - Awakening's Influence on the Body-Mind  00:36:16 - Is the Sense of Self a Prerequisite for Awakening?  00:39:52 - Life Changes and the Pace of Integration  00:42:48 - Don't Dig a Bunch of Shallow Holes  00:45:24 - Q&A: Knowing Physical Pain Without Being In It  00:48:08 - Q&A: Does Formal Practice Continue After Awakening?  00:52:40 - Tapping into Other Dimensions of Existence  00:56:56 - Q&A: Handling Family Triggers and Maintaining Realization  01:00:40 - Q&A: Is the Sense of "Me" Always in the Middle?  01:03:56 - Guided Self-Inquiry with Rick  01:09:08 - Detachment vs. Inappropriate Behavior  01:12:00 - The Importance of Spiritual Integrity and Confronting Unethical Teachers  01:17:52 - The Intuitive Knowing of Right and Wrong  01:22:36 - The Degeneration of the Dao  01:23:52 - Conclusion
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    2 時間 24 分
  • 723. Eli Recht
    2025/01/14
    Eli Recht - The Transformative Power of Psychology and Spirituality Born and raised in San Diego, CA, and currently residing in Carlsbad, CA, Eli Recht is a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT), EMDR clinician, spiritual counselor, editor, and teacher of Self-realization. In 2020, Eli experienced a falling away of ego identity and an awakening to the true nature of Reality. As a result, Eli has dedicated his life to service – to help alleviate suffering, cultivate connection, guide people through the often-confusing journey of Life, and invite others to recognize our shared unconditioned essence. Eli’s specialty is blending contemporary psychological knowledge with timeless spiritual wisdom and advocating for the integration of these two disciplines. Website: elirecht.com Books (Editor and Foreword): Grace Happens: An Awakening of Consciousness Reflections of Consciousness: Essays on the Journey of Awakening and the Nature of Reality Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded January 11, 2025 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump Series  00:03:56 Discovering Spiritual Insights through "Buddha at the Gas Pump"  00:09:14 Discovering Eastern Thought at Deer Park Monastery  00:15:21 Exploring Higher States of Consciousness Through Music  00:19:32 The Challenges of Kriya Yoga Practice  00:24:04 Struggles with Kriya Yoga and Finding Purpose  00:28:25 Journey to Emotional and Psychological Healing  00:33:16 Understanding Kundalini Activation and Its Effects  00:38:00 Discovering My Higher Self  00:41:31 Differentiating Awakening from Psychosis  00:45:44 The Path of Perseverance and Enlightenment  00:49:48 Realization of Oneness and Unity  00:54:33 The Importance of Service Post-Awakening  01:00:47 Understanding the Transition from Ego-Identification to Ego-Transcendence  01:04:41 The Influence of Meher Baba and the Journey to Self-Realization  01:09:36 Embracing a Different Memory Post-Awakening  01:13:03 Navigating Non-Doership and Embodiment  01:18:00 Understanding the Ego and Brahman  01:21:01 Rocket Ship as a Metaphor for Awakening  01:25:44 Understanding Psychosis and Spiritual Awakening  01:30:48 Illuminating the Ego: Pre and Post Awakening  01:35:40 Challenges of Kundalini Awakening  01:39:29 The Relationship Between Ego and Self-Realization  01:44:19 Navigating the Role of a Spiritual Teacher  01:49:30 The Role of Spirituality in Addressing Mental Illness  01:53:13 Humanity's Journey Through Suffering to Awakening  01:58:20 The Role of Donations in Spiritual Endeavors  02:02:07 Vision for a Peaceful Humanity  02:06:18 Exploring Life's Big Questions: Meaning, Reality, and Participation  02:10:52 Embracing the Present Moment: The Power of What over Why  02:16:25 Upcoming Interview with Lisa Carrillo
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    2 時間 4 分
  • 722. Tanis Helliwell
    2025/01/04
    Tanis Helliwell has seen higher realms and spoken with Masters, angels and elementals since childhood. Walking in many worlds, she led tours to sacred sites for two decades, was a management consultant working for over 30 years, and founded the International Institute for Transformation specializing in spiritual transformation in 2000. A true mystic who has worked with Masters in higher realms since childhood, her gift is assisting others to develop a soul-infused personal life in harmony with spiritual laws. Her knowledge and understanding of other worlds and spiritual realms can be found in some of her most popular books: Summer with the Leprechauns, The Leprechaun’s Story, HYBRIDS: So you think you are human, The High Beings of Hawaii, The Dragon's Tale, and Good Morning Henry: An In-Depth Journey With the Body Intelligence. Website: tanishelliwell.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded December 16. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction to Tanis Helliwell and Her Mystical Experiences  00:05:06 Yogananda's Astral Universe Exploration  00:09:55 The Intersection of Science and Spirituality  00:13:25 Navigating Spiritual Breakthroughs in Modern Life  00:17:29 Ken Wilber's Lines of Development Explained  00:21:34 Evolution of Souls: From Microbes to Humans  00:26:07 Canadian Identity and Its Global Influence  00:30:21 Interacting with Human Frequencies  00:35:14 Exploring Universal Reality and Intuition  00:38:38 Overcoming Past Life Traumas and Societal Norms Shifts  00:42:18 The Impact of Collective Consciousness  00:46:40 Exploring Human-Elemental Hybrids  00:49:47 Introduction to Elementals and Their Longevity  00:54:15 The Mythical Origins of Dragons and Mermaids  00:58:01 Near-Death Experience and Spiritual Awakening  01:01:29 Notable Figures as Elves in Mythology  01:04:54 Understanding Star Beings and Their Qualities  01:09:08 The Role of Elementals in Universal Orchestration  01:13:16 The Rise in Earth's Frequency and Cosmic Energies  01:16:56 Aligning with Higher Consciousness and Personal Responsibility  01:20:53 Seeds of Change and Global Consciousness  01:25:15 The Power of Frequency and Personal Transformation  01:28:42 Understanding the Role of Dragons in Higher Consciousness  01:33:29 Encounter with a Dragon in the Forest  01:37:48 Understanding Brahman and Totality in Vedic Literature  01:41:47 The Story of the Old Chinese Farmer  01:45:17 The Legacy of Rudolf Steiner  01:49:45 The Importance of Ethics in Spirituality  01:53:25 The Importance of Critical Thinking and Discernment  01:57:50 Understanding Hybrids and Unique Identities  01:59:52 Raising Your Frequency through Magical Worlds
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    1 時間 47 分
  • 721. Efrat Shokef
    2024/12/20
    Efrat Shokef - NDE and Sacred Parenting Efrat Shokef, Ph.D., is a mother to three spiritually aware teens. A daughter, wife, sister, writer, teacher, cosmic journeyer, a shamanic energy healing practitioner working primarily with children, teens, parents, and families, and the Author of The Promise We Made: Three Universal Soul Promises We Made to Our Children – Near Death Experience and the Parenting Teachings It Invites. Efrat was severely injured in a car crash and experienced a profound near-death experience (NDE) when her three daughters were all still younger than four. Her journey of physical recovery, the integration of her NDE, and, at the same time, her inability to participate in the caretaking of her daughters sent her on a quest to the essence of motherhood. What makes us our child(ren)’s parent beyond the doing? A quest and insights she shared in her book, and on her website. Efrat believes that when parents know/remember that they are more than their physical bodies or their confused, wounded emotions, they can recognize the luminosity of their child(ren). When we all accept that we are on a journey of growth, we can mirror the possibility of this Earthly journey to the children in our lives. When we walk our essence and connect to who we are at our core, we can see that same luminosity in everyone, beyond gender, race, ethnicity, or age. Respecting all others, including our children— dependent humans, yet also powerful, experienced souls—becomes a way of life. Explore articles and resources for Spiritually Aware Families and Contact Efrat through her website: https://efratshokef.com/ Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded December 8, 2024. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Efrat Shokef  00:04:14 - Efrat's Academic Background  00:05:33 - Premonition: "I want to be their mother"  00:10:26 - The Car Crash and Near-Death Experience (NDE) Begins  00:13:08 - Do We Pre-Arrange Difficult Life Experiences?  00:15:08 - Averting Danger and Giving Children Tools for Alignment  00:19:36 - Navigating Social Media Use for Children  00:21:09 - Description of the NDE Realm  00:25:06 - The Balcony Vision: Observing Humanity  00:26:36 - Returning to the Injured Body  00:29:40 - Waking Up and Acceptance After the Crash  00:31:13 - Why We Have NDEs: Medicine and Craving Reminders  00:32:33 - How Understanding Death Changes How We Live  00:34:13 - Death as a Beautiful Transition Home  00:35:40 - NDEs vs. Other Methods (Shamanic Journeying, Meditation)  00:36:50 - More on the Balcony Vision: Human Confusion  00:37:53 - Channeled Information vs. Self-Sufficiency  00:44:48 - Efrat's Approach to Working with Children and Parents  00:47:32 - Grounding and Expanding for Spiritually Aware Children  00:49:37 - Supporting Teens with Psychic Abilities  00:53:11 - Special Souls Are Everywhere  00:55:00 - Why Souls Choose Difficult Circumstances  01:00:30 - The Challenge of Incarnating on Earth  01:03:57 - Earth's Evolutionary Potential  01:06:40 - Signs on Our Life Path and Saying Yes  01:08:43 - Allowing Children Space to Listen Within  01:13:54 - The Power of Parental Intention (Energetic Communication)  01:17:37 - Indigo, Crystal, Star Seed Children: An Influx of Evolved Souls?  01:21:30 - How We Know About Souls from Other Places  01:24:20 - The Importance of Grounded Spirituality  01:25:28 - Validating Sensitive Children's Experiences  01:31:09 - Reflections on Autism and Neurodivergence  01:35:40 - Final Message: Find Your Essence  01:37:38 - Hope, Optimism, and Bringing in Evolved Souls  01:59:17 - Conclusion and Contact Information
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    1 時間 45 分