642 episodes
Buddha at the Gas Pump Rick Archer
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- Religion & Spirituality
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4.7 • 567 Ratings
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The implication of the title - Buddha at the Gas Pump - is that ordinary people are experiencing higher states of consciousness once thought to be rare and difficult to attain.
People everywhere are undergoing a shift or awakening to their true nature. For some, this shift has been abrupt and dramatic. For others, it has been so gradual that they may not have realized it has occurred.
Such shifts, or awakenings, are not new: Christ spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven within, Buddhists speak of Nirvana, Zen masters of Satori, Hindus of Moksha, but these traditions generally regard these states as rare and difficult to attain.
Many people are therefore skeptical of claims of higher states of consciousness. They find it hard to believe that apparently ordinary friends and neighbors might be experiencing something extraordinary. Maybe they expect Enlightenment to look as remarkable on the outside as it is reputed to be on the inside.
This show will attempt to dispel skepticism and misconceptions by week after week, allowing otherwise ordinary people to relate their experience of spiritual awakening. The terminology is tricky, because there are no universally agreed upon definitions to describe this experience. So please forgive us if we use some unfamiliar terms. We will try to clarify our definitions as we go along.
Perhaps, after a while, those listening will become convinced that genuine and permanent spiritual awakenings are not just a pipe dream, but are real and are becoming relatively commonplace.
These podcasts are the audio track of a weekly interview show which may be seen as videos on our YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/buddhaatthegaspump). Also see the main site: https://batgap.com.
For search purposes, I will add the following to this description - batgap, Buddha at the Gaspump, Buddah at the Gas Pump.
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704. Anna Yusim
Dr. Anna Yusim is an internationally recognized, award-winning, Board-Certified, Stanford, and Yale-educated Mind Body Spirit Concierge Psychiatrist & Executive Coach with a Private Practice in New York, California, Connecticut, and Florida. She is the best-selling author of Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life. As a Clinical Assistant Professor at Yale Medical School, Dr. Yusim is presently creating a Mental Health & Spirituality Center at Yale. With clients including Forbes 500 CEOs, Olympic athletes, A-list actors and actresses, and the Chairs of academic departments at top universities, Dr. Anna Yusim helps influential people achieve greater impact, purpose, and joy in their life and work.
After working as a neurobiology researcher with Dr. Robert Sapolsky Ph.D. and completing her studies at Stanford, Yale Medical School, and the NYU Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Dr. Yusim felt that something was missing from her life. In her quest to find it, she traveled, lived and worked in over 70 countries, while studying Kabbalah, learning Buddhist meditation, and working with South American shamans and Indian gurus.
Dr. Yusim has published over 150 academic articles, book chapters, scientific abstracts, book reviews, and articles for the lay public on various topics in psychiatry. A frequent contributor to CNN, Fox News, ABC, and NBC, she has been a guest on hundreds of national and international TV shows, radio programs, and podcasts.
As a highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Yusim gives keynotes for physicians and professionals all over the country and the world on topics related to mental health and spirituality, preventing burnout, physicians as meaning-makers, and resilience. For healthcare professionals, corporate leaders, and community members, she also conducts workshops to empower individuals to sharpen their intuition, cultivate authenticity, awaken self-compassion, enhance their capacity for empathy, and improve their ability to connect with others.
Website: annayusim.com
YouTube channel
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Interview recorded April 14, 2024
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast. -
703. Constance Casey
Constance Casey, MDiv, is an author and teacher providing spiritual guidance for those interested in living a gentle and peaceful life.
Constance offers guidance for those entering deeper practice into the nature of reality and adjusting to a shift in consciousness. Her awakening occurred in 2008.
She has been practicing in the contemplative arts for over 40 years-- first through her years in recovery, and then, as she deepened in Buddhist practice in 2007—which she shares in her memoir.
She’s a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader Program. Some of her teachers include Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield.
Constance obtained a Master of Divinity focusing on religious studies and went on to do hospital chaplaincy work. As an interfaith hospital chaplain, she offered compassionate care for patients and families while embracing the spectrum of human experiences. She is also authorized by Naropa University to teach meditation.
Constance’s practice is primarily informed by the suttas in Theravāda Buddhism where she has developed her own online classes, the most recent one is called Clearing Skies: Dispelling the Clouds that Hinder Us, and she leads support groups for dedicated meditation practitioners.
Through her experience she respects and values your unique spiritual practice and journey while supporting you to find balance and significance in the face of adversity. Constance will encourage you to attune toward being more mindful and aware for release and serenity.
Her first book called Time for Awakening: A Memoir shares her story of awakening and deeper meditation practice and is what brings her to our meeting today.
She can be found at her website.
On Substack
On Instagram
On Facebook
And on Youtube
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and Transcript of this interview
Interview recorded March 30, 2024
Video below. Audio coming soon.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Welcome to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:05:13 - The Levels of Receptiveness to the Dharma
00:09:13 - "Just Who Do You Think You Are?"
00:13:05 - A Snowy Awakening
00:16:54 - Healing and Bonding with My Sons
00:20:17 - Parenting as a Spiritual Practice
00:24:11 - A Fly on the Wall
00:28:09 - Tools of Recovery
00:31:31 - Ethical Structure in Spiritual Circles
00:35:14 - The Vicious Cycle of Repressed Discomfort
00:40:09 - Seeking Further
00:43:44 - Simplifying and Finding Fulfillment Within
00:47:39 - Expressing Experiences Through Art
00:51:17 - Finding Balance in Self-Care
00:54:59 - Honoring the Need for Rest and Balance
00:58:35 - The Power of Meditation and Personal Growth
01:01:38 - Constance's Carpentry Journey
01:04:44 - The Importance of Speaking Out and Trauma (Conversation)
01:07:29 - Seeing the Teacher as a Human Being and the Absence of Hierarchy
01:10:27 - The Indescribable Experience of Awakening
01:14:19 - Following the Way
01:18:32 - Psychological, Theological, Sociological Perspectives
01:22:14 - The Power of Kindness in Movies
01:26:42 - The Intimacy of Stream Entry
01:30:45 - The Support of a Teacher
01:33:33 - The Association for Spiritual Integrity
01:37:43 - Factors of Enlightenment and the Hindrances
01:41:38 - Hindrances in Meditation Practice
01:45:49 - Cultivating Tranquility and Equanimity in Meditation
01:49:05 - The Benefits of Meditation and Inner States of Being
01:51:48 - Closing Remarks -
702. Neil Theise
Neil Theise is a professor of pathology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Through his scientific research, he has been a pioneer of adult stem cell plasticity and the anatomy of the human interstitium. Dr. Theise’s studies in complexity theory have led to interdisciplinary collaborations in fields such as integrative medicine, consciousness studies, and science-religion dialogue. He is a senior Zen student at the Village Zendo in NYC. His life long Jewish practice has involved both traditional observances and formal academic study. In recent years, (to his surprise) he has also undergone shamanic initiation.
Books:
General Audience:
Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being
Of academic interest:
Awakening: Exploring Spirituality, Emergent Creativity, and Reconciliation
Transforming: Applying Spirituality, Emergent Creativity, and Reconciliation
Website: neiltheiseofficial.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded March 9, 2024
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:25 - Complexity Theory and the study of life
00:08:34 - Dynamic Healing of the GI Tract
00:12:40 - Artificial Life and Complexity Theory
00:17:26 - Awakening through the Koan "Mu"
00:22:41 - The Fascinating Idea of Biocentrism and Organizing Complexity
00:25:45 - Discovering Complexity Theory
00:28:37 - The Illusion of Materiality and the Nature of Pure Awareness
00:33:37 - The Non-dual Fundamental Awareness
00:37:38 - Complementarity in Quantum Physics and Beyond
00:42:36 - The Quantum Field of the Body
00:46:29 - Direct experiences of quantum level reality
00:49:14 - The True Nature of Conscious Reality
00:53:25 - The Illusion of Reality
00:56:56 - The Mechanism of Human Consciousness
01:01:23 - Challenging Empirical Science and Promissory Materialism
01:04:51 - The Intimacy of Subject and Object in Quantum Science
01:08:53 - The Limitations of Mathematics and Empirical Science
01:13:30 - Gödel and Turing's Implications for Mystical Exploration and Consciousness
01:17:33 - Shifting Paradigms and the Nature of Consciousness
01:21:20 - Self-Organization and Complexity in the Universe
01:24:44 - Negative and Positive Feedback Loops
01:29:02 - The Adjacent Possibles and Creativity
01:32:16 - The Subtle Dimensions of Living Beings and the Universe
01:35:26 - Language Limitations and Perspective
01:39:02 - Awakening through Traumatic Experiences
01:42:35 - Wondering about Luck and the Beloved Name
01:45:28 - The Universe's Construction and Spiritual Practices
01:48:30 - The Divine Feminine and Unconditional Love
01:52:57 - The Nature of Reality and True Compassion
01:55:56 - Conclusion -
701. Kimberly Lafferty
Kimberley Theresa Lafferty is a seasoned teacher-practitioner specializing in constructive adult developmental psychology and Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. She completed over 12 years of intensive Indo Tibetan study including the required retreats. She leads both open and advanced adult educational cohorts aligning developmental psychology and Buddhist theory. Kimberley co-leads, with Terri O’Fallon, the penultimate Minds I year-long developmental course of Stages International. She is an active Board member for the Association for Spiritual Integrity. Kimberley is also a householder as a wife and mother, living in a remote valley of the North Cascades of North America which deeply impacts her worldview and practice.
Website: The Confluence Experience | Making sense of what doesn't make sense
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview
Interview recorded February 10, 2024
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
00:03:33 - Finding Peace in the Forest
00:06:27 - A Blissful Awakening
00:11:15 - Deep Inner Resources and Spiritual Experiences
00:15:10 - Connecting with our Ultimate Selves
00:18:26 - The Wave and Ocean Metaphor
00:23:24 - Diving into Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
00:27:59 - Tantric Retreats and Solitary Meditation
00:32:26 - Experiences on the Retreats with Vajrayogini
00:35:33 - The Red Lady and the Retreat
00:40:01 - The Lesson of Treating Practice Seriously
00:44:18 - The Precious Gift of Tibetan Buddhism
00:47:58 - Spirituality and Integration
00:51:02 - Understanding the Intersection of Waking Up and Identity Change
00:55:31 - The Evolution of Perception and Consciousness
01:00:08 - Supporting Spiritual Teachers
01:03:59 - Shadow Work and Holistic Development
01:07:16 - The Integration of Wisdom and Compassion
01:10:57 - Waves of Human Becoming and Non-Duality in Daily Life
01:14:06 - Anomalous Experiences: Exploring the Extraordinary
01:18:57 - Anomalous Experiences and Meaning Making
01:23:49 - Anomalous Experiences and the Search for Answers
01:28:03 - The Cautionary Use of Psychedelics and the Self
01:32:01 - The Need for Spiritual Integrity among Teachers
01:35:58 - The Preciousness of a Spiritual Life
01:39:58 - Realizing Inner Bliss
01:43:44 - Experiencing Fulfillment in Tantra
01:47:41 - Finding Your Path in Spiritual Practice
01:52:16 - The Role of Spiritual Psychotherapists
01:56:28 - Strengthening Ourselves Psychologically and Spiritually
02:00:00 - Continuing the Conversation with Kimberly -
700. Bob Davis
After receiving his doctorate in the sensory neurosciences from The Ohio State University, Bob Davis, Ph.D., served as a professor for the State University of New York for over thirty years, where he conducted research in the behavioral and neurosensory sciences, taught, and held many high-level administrative roles. He published his research in over 60 articles in scholarly journals, and presented numerous lectures worldwide, which included invited lectures at Harvard, Cambridge, and Peking University. Bob was also awarded numerous grants by the National Science Foundation and The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to conduct research in sensory neuroscience.
Following retirement, Bob published several articles in the Journal of Scientific Exploration and Edge Science and presented lectures at national and international conferences on consciousness, spiritually transformative experiences, and unidentified aerial phenomena. Bob has also published three highly popular books:
The UFO Phenomenon: Should I Believe?
Life after Death: An Analysis of the Evidence, and,
Unseen Forces: The Integration of Science, Reality and You.
More recently, he has turned his recent book, Unseen Forces, into a planned documentary entitled - The Consciousness Connection - with Emmy Award winner Dave Beaty of Dreamtime Entertainment and Wilson Hawthorne of Eyeland Telemedia.
Website: bobdavisspeaks.com
Bob Davis is an administrator of the Facebook Site called: The Consciousness Connection Facebook group.
Bob's email
Bob says, "If you'd like to learn more about the film project or consciousness in general, please subscribe to the Consciousness Connection YouTube channel.
Summary and Transcript of this interview
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded February 3, 2024.
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:04:35 - Types and Evidence of Extraordinary Human Experiences
00:08:03 - A Profound Shared Death Experience
00:12:21 - A Spiritual Awakening and Kundalini Awakening
00:15:53 - The Misdiagnosis of Spiritual Awakening
00:19:27 - The Unstoppable Spread of Information
00:23:58 - The Need for a Paradigm Shift in Understanding Consciousness
00:27:49 - The Evidence of White Crows in DMT Experiences
00:31:40 - Exploring Consciousness Beyond Traditional Science
00:36:04 - The Relationship Between Science and Spirituality
00:40:27 - Brain Development and Spiritual Transformation
00:44:35 - Humans as Light Beings and Quantum Mechanics
00:48:22 - Veridical Perceptions in Near-Death Experiences
00:52:34 - Near-Death Experiences and Perception
00:56:44 - Novel Interactions in the Brain
01:01:02 - Consciousness and the Bohmian Paradigm Shift
01:05:16 - Ego Dissolution and Positive After-Effects
01:09:03 - Spiritual Practices and Physiological Treatments
01:12:56 - Quantum Mechanics and Premonition
01:16:55 - ESP and Autistic Savants
01:21:20 - Photonic Emissions and Healing Abilities
01:26:00 - The Power of Spiritual Practice
01:29:26 - Personal Transformation and Spreading the Word
01:32:32 - Transformation in Beliefs and Experiences
01:36:00 - The Importance of Spiritual Development
01:38:40 - Tapping into the Language of Nature
01:42:11 - Conclusions about UFOs and their Spiritual Implications
01:45:57 - The Mystery and Wonder of the Universe
01:50:26 - The Long-Term Nature of Spiritual Development
01:54:04 - The Power of Changing Perspectives -
699. Brad Laughlin & Anna Breytenbach
Brad Laughlin is the author of Living with Enlightenment—A Journey of Love, which is about his 25-year life-partnership with Leslie Temple-Thurston, a teacher of enlightenment, and the profound spiritual transformation he experienced. With Leslie, he is co-author of two books, The Marriage of Spirit—Enlightened Living in Today’s World and Returning to Oneness—The Seven Keys of Ascension.
Brad is dedicated to finding innovative ways of helping people to awaken spiritually and to find love, joy and inspiration during these times of great change. Using ancient Truth teachings, yogic practices and spiritual psychology, he offers simple yet powerful practices for dissolving old, limiting ego structures that keep us trapped in negativity, pain and fear. Brad’s transformative events are based on the principles of integration and unity consciousness, which help us to know our own inner Divinity—who we truly are.
Brad and Leslie are co-founders of the nonprofits, CoreLight.org and Seeds of Light.org, CoreLight’s humanitarian arm, serving marginalized communities and AIDS orphans in South Africa. Brad has a bachelor’s degree from Duke University. He is an American by birth, considers himself a global citizen and lives in both South Africa and the United States.
Anna Breytenbach is an internationally acclaimed professional interspecies communicator with over 20 years’ experience. Native to South Africa and currently based in Europe, she mentors and consults globally. Her focus is exclusively with wild places and beings, facilitating peaceful interventions and greater understanding. This includes predator research, wilderness protection, anti-poaching assistance, reforestation initiatives, wildlife management and rehabilitation. She is currently taking a sabbatical from her usual teaching and public appearances to write a book.
Anna’s passion is raising awareness and advancing the relationships among human and nonhuman animals, on both the personal and spiritual levels. Her work is the subject of the documentary movie "The Animal Communicator”, watched by tens of millions of people (and a few of their pets), available on YouTube.
Anna's website: The Animal Communicator | AnimalSpirit
YouTube Channel
Anna's first BatGap interview
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview
Interview recorded January 28, 2024
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:56 - Introduction and Background
00:07:26 - From Cheetah Handler to Animal Communicator and Author
00:11:55 - Following Your Inner Calling
00:16:10 - Holding Space for Elephants
00:20:35 - Collective Consciousness and Communication
00:23:42 - The Collective Expressions of Consciousness and Earth Energies
00:27:34 - The Joy of Whales Breaching
00:31:16 - Rediscovering the Intelligence of Nature
00:34:08 - The Importance of Functioning with Intelligence in Society
00:38:08 - The Intelligence of Stones and Non-Moving Beings
00:42:05 - Cruelty to Vegetables and Choosing Love for Animals
00:47:06 - An Evergreen Online Course on Interspecies Communication
00:51:36 - Valuing Different Paths in Life
00:56:41 - Profound Mystical Experiences and the Search for Answers
01:01:07 - The Ball of Light and Healing Energy
01:05:42 - Transitioning into a Higher State
01:11:02 - Pure Joy and Presence
01:16:50 - Quantum Entanglement and Communication
01:19:46 - Perception and the Importance of Clearing Ego Noise
01:24:03 - Rethinking Human Love for Animals
01:27:32 - Animals' Compassion and Journey to Loving Humans
01:31:00 - Communicating with Plants and the Tragedy of the Rabbits
01:33:40 - The Oak Trees' Compassion and Rabbit Friendships
01:36:49 - The Sensitivity of an Enlightened Being
Customer Reviews
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Every time a new episode downloads. It’s like a little Christmas present for my soul that I look forward to unwrapping!🎄💜
For all spiritual seekers
I wish I knew about this podcast when it first started or even within the first couple of years, but I am so grateful I have found it now. I have been listening for several months and I am up to the 2013 episodes because I listen to them from the beginning. Rick is an amazing interviewer, he has beautiful respect for all of his interviewees. Some of them he knows, some of them are his friends. And some are well know spiritual leaders and teachers. He does do diligence with his research before he interviews someone so he gets an idea of their personality, and their beliefs, and their teachings. You always learn something. Even when I think this content is not for me this particular episode, I listen anyway, and it always turns out that I learn something useful. I'm not awake 24/7 yet but I definitely have a very strong intellectual understanding and I know that my life has improved greatly since coming across this continent, and starting to do meditation practices. I highly recommended for everyone. Especially those who think they don'thave anything left to learn, because we are always learning. It's never ending. 😉
Too much woo
Psychics, channelers, planetary healers, futurists, parapsycholgists, reiki practitioners, reincarnated people, friends of angels and other higher beings, etc. along with a few “mainstream” scientists, social activists and religious teachers and scholars. Even some fairly traditional Buddhists. Very fuzzy overlap of speculation, exploration, self promotion and maybe some delusion. A lot of shiny happy-looking folks who seem to have ego-driven ideas and projects. I thought Buddhism was about humility. Value? Depends on your own knowledge, biases and interests. A big haystack of perceptions, thoughts and claims.