311. Group Discussion at Sofia University, Part 1

While out in California for the Science and Nonduality Conference, I had some downtime before the conference started, so I decided to tape a long panel discussion with a rather large group of friends, most of them previous guests on Batgap. Sofia University in Palo Alto (where transpersonal psychology was founded by Abraham Maslow and others), generously provided a room and video equipment. I'm especially grateful to Dr. Jeffery Martin, who conducts research there, for offering and organizing this. It was an experiment, and some were skeptical that it would work, but it did! This is part 1. The link to Part 2 is below. Participants in the morning session included: Name Other Batgap Interview(s) Website(s) Chuck Hillig 7/21/2010 chuckhillig.com Clare Blanchflower clareblanchflower.com Craig Holliday 1/3/2015, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019* craigholliday.com Dana Sawyer 9/29/2010, 2/9/2014*, 3/19/2016 dana-sawyer.com David Buckland 9/25/2015, 10/27/2017* davidya.ca David Ellzey 1/16/2016 davidellzey.com Francis Bennett 8/4/2012, 4/21/2013* 10/26/2013*, 5/24/2014*, 10/23/2014*, 10/21/2016, 10/25/2016* Jeffery Martin 1/25/2017 drjefferymartin.com nonsymbolic.org Kiran Trace 11/2/2013, 09/24/2015 kirantrace.com Kristin Kirk 2/16/2014, 5/24/2014* kristinkirk.com Laurie Moore 7/21/2012, 10/24/2013 counselingscottsvalley.us animiracles.com Mariana Caplan 2/3/2012, 1/6/2013, 10/25/2019* marianacaplan.com Rick Archer 6/5/2010, 3/16/2013, 5/11/2014, 10/23/2015, 10/24/2016, 10/21/2017, 12/19/2018*, 10/25/2019*, 10/27/2019 You're on it. Susanne Marie 7/7/2013, 10/24/2014*, 10/23/2016* susannemarie.org *In group discussion. Part 2 of this discussion Transcript of this discussion Recorded 10/22/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Group Conversation 00:04:03 - Introducing the Panel 00:06:55 - What is Enlightenment or Awakening? 00:10:12 - Individual Experiences of Awarenesses 00:13:30 - Integration and Human Integration 00:17:55 - Direct experience and the recognition of pure emptiness 00:22:17 - The Sonar-ic Being and Enlightenment 00:25:34 - Embracing the Silence, Recognizing Mind Activity 00:29:44 - Embracing the Present Moment 00:33:29 - Awakening as an Ever-Evolving Process 00:36:37 - Becoming Sensing Beings  00:40:09 - The Uniqueness of Being 00:43:13 - The Value of Words and Identity 00:45:51 - Awakening from Awakening 00:48:30 - Awakening into Divinity Plus Humanity 00:51:42 - The Movement of Formlessness to Form 00:54:38 - Exploring the Layers of Identity 00:57:51 - Dissolution of Self and Unity Consciousness 01:01:17 - Oneness in Brokenness 01:04:04 - The Challenges of Teaching and Compassion 01:06:43 - Enlightenment and Torture 01:09:38 - The Journey of Growth and Enlightenment 01:12:52 - Finding Peace in the Chaos 01:15:57 - Surrendering to Love 01:19:01 - Practical Integration and Life Decisions 01:21:53 - The Changing Landscape of Awakening 01:24:58 - The Diversity of Experiences 01:29:51 - The Spacious Quality of Experience 01:34:18 - Exploring Emotion and Persistence 01:38:43 - The Dance of Love and Joy 01:43:12 - Musical Interlude Save Save