269. Dale Borglum

Dale Borglum founded and directed the Hanuman Foundation Dying Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the first residential facility in the United States to support conscious dying. He has been the Executive Director of the Living/Dying Project in Santa Fe and since 1986 in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the co-author with Ram Dass, Daniel Goleman, and Dwarka Bonner of Journey of Awakening: A Meditator's Guidebook and has taught meditation since 1974. Dale lectures and gives workshops on the topics of meditation, healing, spiritual support for those with a life-threatening illness, and caregiving as a spiritual practice. He has a doctorate degree from Stanford University. Website YouTube Channel Transcript of this interview Interview conducted 12/13/2014 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Dale Borglum: Death as an Opportunity for Awakening 00:04:14 - The Beauty of Americans on the Verge of Death 00:08:43 - Letting go into love and the culture of accumulation 00:12:58 - Letting Go and Resting in the Embrace with the Beloved 00:16:46 - The Fear of Death and Approaching Dying 00:21:02 - Fear of Death and Spiritual Practice 00:24:52 - The Experience of Pain 00:29:13 - Intense Pain after Hip Replacement Surgery 00:32:41 - Exploring the Nature of Pain 00:36:27 - The Power of Compassion 00:40:13 - Awakening Experiences and the Search for Fulfillment 00:44:45 - Developing Compassion through Difficulties 00:48:53 - The Foundation for an Open Heart 00:52:44 - The Holistic Definition of Enlightenment 00:56:42 - Building a foundation for compassion 01:01:11 - Groundedness in Nature and Everyday Life 01:05:19 - Understanding Groundedness 01:09:33 - The Clouds of Fear and Death 01:13:32 - Intimacy with Death and Life 01:17:36 - Embracing the Neurotic Self 01:21:17 - The Daily Routine of Spiritual Practitioners 01:25:27 - Being Present with Dying People 01:29:01 - The Transformation in Dying and Enlightenment 01:33:15 - Spiritual Awakening During the Dying Process 01:37:08 - Life Between Lives and Near-Death Experiences 01:41:21 - Ram Dass and Neem Karoli Baba Maharaj 01:45:33 - The Importance of Selfless Service and Seva 01:49:29 - Surrender and Faith in Maharajji 01:53:35 - Fundamental Assumptions and the Divine 01:57:42 - Online Streaming of Meditation Groups and Training to be with the Dying 02:00:55 - Preview of Next Week's Episode on Healing and Guardian Angels