I had the pleasure of interviewing Richard in his home for several hours a day, several days in a row. This was for a book on teachers who had gone deeply through what I term "energetic-awakening" or what is classically known as Kundalini awakening. Being with Richard was tremendous, the energetic presence was enormous, I was inwardly immersed in deep samadhi states and Richard had to keep bringing me out to be able to ask the next question. After I would leave each day, the most remarkable perception was present, it was as if I had undergone a deep psychic surgery. I was more expanded yes but far more important was the fact that I was more aware of what was most important to me, more deeply aware of my love for family and friends, more in tune with relationship itself as a principle. Its difficult to really put into words. Richard goes deeply into his own energetic process in the book which is presently published under 2 titles "The Dance of Stillness" and "The Dance of Kundalini" the second title is a new revised edition with a new foreword by Kia Scheer.
Richard's energy and insights are great, I learned a lot. Rick, you are kind and amazing for continuing to grow and evolve these nutritious conversations. Bless you both for sharing~
*A 1.5 on a -3.0 to +3.0 scale.* Disclaimers at the end of the comment. This is almost as good as it gets without original cosmological revelations, and this guy is among my new favorites. Please invite this man back, he is right up there with Francis Bennett for me. *However*, the interview also had some little drawbacks, such as the suggestion that *changing your career every 7 years is a good idea. As if life wouldn't be stressful and overwhelming enough for most folks as it is !* This idea can only arise in someone who spent all his life in a comparatively posh situation. Not saying he lives luxuriously, but the idea of even being able to change your career is so out and out unthinkable for the majority of mankind that is despairing to even find *any* career that is non-destructive enough so that you could make a half way decent living based on it. And if you are among the very, very few who can make a living without wishing that death would come sooner, you would hang on to it ! And any advice to the contrary would be totally irresponsible. So this remark by this man would need a little reality check, and perhaps he should spend some time abroad, I mean in those countries the reckless exploitation of which his own wealth rests on. For this one thing, plus the length, a subtraction or 0.5 points, as a punishment, but we all know I want to give this interview a 2.0 and love to see him back on the show. _About the rating: anything below and including 0 means by and large a waste of time, and anything below 0 is not only worthless but damaging to the world. For comparison, on that scale, Francis Bennett would be a +2 or more and Harri Aalto would be roughly a tentative +2 to +2.5. Not coming up with original, independent cosmological insights bans any interviewee from > 2.0 ratings as a matter of principle._ *General Disclaimer:* the rating _pertains to an interview, not to the interviewee_. If the rating is high it means merely and exclusively that I consider the interview to be of high value relative to the stated purpose of the channel, and that it is therefore no waste of time to listen to the interview. It would _not_ imply that whatever the interviewee speaks is the truth (as if I was the arbiter over that) or that you should follow him/her or accept whatever that person offers. _That is particularly in need of emphasis if that would be an expensive enterprise_ !
+Robert Elliot _"Probably it would be more feasible for highly intelligent people with good social skills"_ .... only if it is in a non-sociopathic economy which however it isn't. These days you can have as many social skills and high intelligence as you want, it is next to impossible to make a living in a wholesome way - as in "right livelihood". And if you have found one, hang on to it ! ☺ But I agree that his remark there was comparatively innocent and just rests on his habitual non-consideration of economic reality around the world.
=== Emotional addiction === When we watch competitive sports, most of us form an emotional attachment to one side and we start identifying with a team. This identification makes us feel excited and elated when that team wins and disappointed and let down when it doesn’t. Without the emotional attachment and identification, we can still experience watching the game and can still enjoy it, but now we no longer experience the same emotional highs and lows. Without attachment and identification, we become equanimous. We know that ultimately we have nothing real to gain or lose as a result of a game to which we are only a spectator. We know that the game itself is just make-believe and ultimately not “real” or “meaningful”. Yet, our “emotional needs” are such that we form emotional attachment to things as insignificant and as a make-belief as a sports game. Just as a drug-addict uses all possible venues to get its fix, we use all areas of life to get our emotional fix. Many (if not all) emotions are linked to the hormones. The hormones work and act very similar to the drugs. In fact, many hormones are far more potent than drugs. They create similar cravings, attachments and addictions.
Even when we play video games, we take an identify, identity of a player who is playing the game and scoring points. We know that ultimately there is no real gain or loss; still we feel excitement, agitation, emotions, emotional ups and downs on winning and losing points. This feeling of emotions, excitements, ups and downs, elation and let downs is dependent on our emotional attachment, emotional binding, identification and desires. Without this emotional attachment, there is still an experience, there is still an enjoyment but there is no excitement and there are no pronounced emotional highs and lows. Without the emotional binding, attachment and identification, we become equanimous. Yet, most of us do form emotional attachment and binding to almost everything we do in life. This emotional binding, attachment, identification and craving is what causes our suffering yet we are really unwilling to give it up. Why? It seems that without the emotional binding, most of us don’t feel “alive”. We need our “juices” flowing. I think these juices are nothing but hormones, which work like drugs. We are addicted to the emotions (hormones).
+TOA (Transmission of Awakening) Video games can be very spiritual without even knowing it, a lot of gamers can attain a flow state without even knowing about non duality or any kind of spiritual practice which I would regard as a 'spiritual practice'. It's true we become emotionally attached but being able to acknowledge that without loosing your ego to it makes all the difference, we are human after all and emotionality is certainly apart of being human, it would be wrong to deny it. Mastery of a certain craft or skill is truly something that can be 'attained' unlike enlightenment, it's clear as humans we want to endeavour into subjects or acquire skills, and some of us apply that mentality to enlightenment which is the least of all things to be sought after in that way, which is the mother of all ironies! I think once you're 'enlightened' it's perfectly all right to re-attach yourself to things if you want, I mean once you see what's really up it really frees you up to do whatever..
+Blazin 420 ...you want, you can just meditate and be with it the rest of your days or you can play Star Wars battlefront and really get with it, there's apparent 'time' to kill regardless!
+Blazin 420 So you think playing a game grounded in juvenile fantasy and make-believe is better than spiritual practice for leading you to the freedom of Reality where you realize you are one thing everywhere and bigger than the universe because you are outside creation as the Spiritual Self (not as the personality and its array of petty habits). I think realizing you are God is a much better game. Playing an electronic game only stimulates the emotional body and the mind. Transcending everything and permanently entering the state of the Absolute Self is a much better identification. Else why are we here? Because otherwise everything here is temporary and pointless. And every religion is false and every spiritual teacher throughout time has lied.
+Moonsod did I say it was better than a spiritual practice? Don't think I did, just was making a point that people can have fun attaining a mastery of something which in a way is quite 'spiritual' in fact nearly everything's spiritual after a while, depends what you mean by spiritual, I wouldn't attribute anything spooky or unique to me about it tho, which I think a lot of people try to do
Buddhism: the nature of things 1. Everything that exists is subject to change, decay and death. 2. All existence is unsatisfactory because it is subject to change, decay and death. 3. Everything that exists is temporary, conditional and dependent. Everything that exists is ultimately devoid of reality and meaning. 4. All existence is unsatisfactory because it is ultimately devoid of reality and meaning. 5. The clinging to, grasping to, attaching to that which is subject to change, decay and death is the cause of mental pain. 6. The grasping, clinging, attaching, wanting and desiring can’t be resolved merely by supplying more objects. The grasping, clinging, attaching, wanting and desiring can be extinguished only understanding its root and mechanics and by eliminating its fuel.
=== Buddhism Summary ===== 1. Use wisdom, compassion, noble intentions, awareness, presence and focus whenever possible. *Wisdom*: the knowledge of the four noble truths and the eightfold path. *Compassion* the knowledge that: 1. All beings want to live. 2. All beings want relief from pain. 3. All beings seek happiness. All social thinking beings (such as social humans) seek to be acknowledged, accepted, loved, valued, heard, held, validated and appreciated. All social thinking beings seek approval of their existence, forgiveness for the mistakes, errors and shortcomings and tolerance of their weaknesses and limitations. Compassion is allowing the above knowledge to guide one’s view, intentions, thought, speech and action towards everyone and everything. *Noble intentions*: wise, peaceful and compassionate (loving and kind) motives towards the greater good of all beings and all things. *Awareness*: awareness of one’s intentions, thoughts, feeling, emotions and experience. Awareness of one’s surrounding and environment. Awareness of whom and what one is dealing with. Awareness of what one is doing, why one is doing so and how one is doing it. Awareness of the wise, peaceful and compassionate (loving and kind) intentions and the wise, intelligent, skillful and peaceful way of serving them. *Presence*: being aware of the body, breathing, sensations, environment, surrounding right now, in the present moment. *Focus*: doing what one is doing right now with complete attention.
Wonderful talk filled with deep wisdom. I was however sorry that Richard chose to single out the events and Paris and San Bernadino as examples of "head-polarized" consciousness. Head polarized consciousness is what 99.9999% or humanity is in which is why most Americans have no problem with the demonization of Islam helped along by the Mainstream media. Head--polarized consciousness is the reason we are destroying the planet and thousands of species. Head polarized consciousness is what was behind the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and will be what is behind the all too likely future invasions of Syria and eventually, the last domino Iran. It is not surprising at all to me that these terrorist attacks occur. What is more surprising it that they don't occur more often as a result of reactions to these murderous bloodthirsty invasions to steal oil and territory with scant regard for the occupants of the countries involved. I realize that we here at batgap like to think of ourselves as special and spiritual and the likes of someone like Chomsky wouldn't be considered such. For me Chomsky, who demonstrates a care for ALL human beings, is about the most spiritual example I can imagine having emerged in America in recent years. If anyone is "an instrument of the divine" he is. Personally I can't stand the idea of thinking of oneself as being an instrument of the divine which smacks of egotism. One can be sure for example that those who committed the acts in San Bernadino thought of themselves as being instruments of the divine. What would be better I think is to examine how one judges others and feels separate from them and lacks understanding about them. How come one cares little about people dying in countless bomb and shooting attacks in 3rd world (hardly given news coverage) countries but is highly distressed when it happens far less regularly in the 1st world. We are the whole world. Each and every one of us. Each one of us fears violence and death. We stand alone. Lets have the courage to see each other as unique expressions and strive to drive out group think. Group think is what lies behind oceans of blood spilled in the name of greed, delusion, hatred and pride. Speak out against the bloodthirsty hate-filled warmongering of the mainstream media. Enough blood has already been spilled in the name of U.S. imperialism. Thats the greatest threat to peace. When atrocities such as what happened in San Bernadino occur treat them as symptoms of these invasions (and treat them as you would normally treat criminally insane acts) - not as excuses for more war on millions of people held hostage simply because they happen to live in Muslim countries which happen to have oil and are highly valued geopolitically.
=== Me === It is not true that there is no me at all. At this moment, there is a functional me. At many moments, there is a functional me. There is a me but this me is dependent, conditional, temporary and changing. There is no independent, unconditional, real (permanent) me. The mistake lies in treating dependent, conditional, temporary and changing me as real (permanent, unchanging, independent, unconditional). This me is not only dependent consciousness and on my own inner perception, it is also dependent on the external verification and agreement. In the night time, I can dream and feel that I am a flying bird. In the day time, I can’t do so because when I look into the mirror, I see a human being. In the night time, I can dream that I am king with many queens and palaces. In the daytime, I can’t do so because other people, the society tells denies me being a king with many palaces and many queens. The other people, the queens deny being my queen and thus, I am forced to changed my me, no matter how I feel internally. This me is a social me and it is socially dependent. This me arises as a social compromise. If me and others have a matching version of “who I really am” - I get to keep that me and treat it as “real”, otherwise there is a conflict and we need to struggle, fight and negotiate in order to come to a compromise. If my version of “me” is very different from what others thinks I am, I am said to be suffering from mental issues and I am sent for mental treatment to cure it.
Rick, I love your program, and you do a great job. But sometimes I find that you don't give the guests enough time to answer the questions before cutting them off. You often seem very invested in letting the audience know your opinion, rather Than allowing the guest being interviewed to take a thought to a logical conclusion. In any event its an awesome set of interviews... Keep up the good work - just talk a little less.
All these rich, white Americans go to India for ten minutes and start claiming their status as teachers, with no lineage or tradition or teacher of their own to keep them on track, and charging more than licensed professionals btw. Not a one tells of their awakening including service, charity, humility and other traditional spiritual values. Why? Are they beyond all of that? For the most part they are just business folks out to take what the market will bear. Forget about these 'teachers'. You want spiritual growth and experience? Go help the homeless and needy and don't give up until you've 'achieved enlightenment '.
+brazfan Did you miss when he spoke about humility and intimacy? Your critique may be valid generally, but not in this case, or at least you have not made a convincing argument here. He did not have a lineage, but he did seek the company of seekers and those more advanced; he speaks about it. If you believe in your admonition to help the homeless and needy, why are you viewing these videos instead?
I'm speaking in general. See Adam Bucko. Only the teaching that is right for you at the time is the one that helps. Nothing wrong with that, if you find it here, fine. Making your 'teaching' and 'spiritual life' into a business is sleazy. More harm than help is done by these folks, I think. It proliferates with the internet. BTW, next time you see a beggar have a few minutes conversation. Engage the 'teachings' right then and there, see what happens. It's easy at a luxury retreat. That IS NOT an admonition ;-) It's an invitation. If you want spiritual growth, take the money you'd give to the already rich teacher and give it to the poor, see what happens. See what happens ;-)
I had the pleasure of interviewing Richard in his home for several hours a day, several days in a row. This was for a book on teachers who had gone deeply through what I term "energetic-awakening" or what is classically known as Kundalini awakening. Being with Richard was tremendous, the energetic presence was enormous, I was inwardly immersed in deep samadhi states and Richard had to keep bringing me out to be able to ask the next question. After I would leave each day, the most remarkable perception was present, it was as if I had undergone a deep psychic surgery. I was more expanded yes but far more important was the fact that I was more aware of what was most important to me, more deeply aware of my love for family and friends, more in tune with relationship itself as a principle. Its difficult to really put into words. Richard goes deeply into his own energetic process in the book which is presently published under 2 titles "The Dance of Stillness" and "The Dance of Kundalini" the second title is a new revised edition with a new foreword by Kia Scheer.
Richard's energy and insights are great, I learned a lot. Rick, you are kind and amazing for continuing to grow and evolve these nutritious conversations. Bless you both for sharing~
nice comment, xa le, thank you
Thanks for uploading Rick :)
ditto what xa le said. Thank you both. Beautiful.
Very good teacher, very good method, a very good interview.
Great interview!
Wonderful!
*A 1.5 on a -3.0 to +3.0 scale.* Disclaimers at the end of the comment.
This is almost as good as it gets without original cosmological revelations, and this guy is among my new favorites. Please invite this man back, he is right up there with Francis Bennett for me. *However*, the interview also had some little drawbacks, such as the suggestion that *changing your career every 7 years is a good idea. As if life wouldn't be stressful and overwhelming enough for most folks as it is !* This idea can only arise in someone who spent all his life in a comparatively posh situation. Not saying he lives luxuriously, but the idea of even being able to change your career is so out and out unthinkable for the majority of mankind that is despairing to even find *any* career that is non-destructive enough so that you could make a half way decent living based on it. And if you are among the very, very few who can make a living without wishing that death would come sooner, you would hang on to it ! And any advice to the contrary would be totally irresponsible. So this remark by this man would need a little reality check, and perhaps he should spend some time abroad, I mean in those countries the reckless exploitation of which his own wealth rests on. For this one thing, plus the length, a subtraction or 0.5 points, as a punishment, but we all know I want to give this interview a 2.0 and love to see him back on the show.
_About the rating: anything below and including 0 means by and large a waste of time, and anything below 0 is not only worthless but damaging to the world. For comparison, on that scale, Francis Bennett would be a +2 or more and Harri Aalto would be roughly a tentative +2 to +2.5. Not coming up with original, independent cosmological insights bans any interviewee from > 2.0 ratings as a matter of principle._ *General Disclaimer:* the rating _pertains to an interview, not to the interviewee_. If the rating is high it means merely and exclusively that I consider the interview to be of high value relative to the stated purpose of the channel, and that it is therefore no waste of time to listen to the interview. It would _not_ imply that whatever the interviewee speaks is the truth (as if I was the arbiter over that) or that you should follow him/her or accept whatever that person offers. _That is particularly in need of emphasis if that would be an expensive enterprise_ !
+Robert Elliot _"Probably it would be more feasible for highly intelligent people with good social skills"_ .... only if it is in a non-sociopathic economy which however it isn't. These days you can have as many social skills and high intelligence as you want, it is next to impossible to make a living in a wholesome way - as in "right livelihood". And if you have found one, hang on to it ! ☺ But I agree that his remark there was comparatively innocent and just rests on his habitual non-consideration of economic reality around the world.
=== Emotional addiction ===
When we watch competitive sports, most of us form an emotional attachment to one side and we start identifying with a team. This identification makes us feel excited and elated when that team wins and disappointed and let down when it doesn’t. Without the emotional attachment and identification, we can still experience watching the game and can still enjoy it, but now we no longer experience the same emotional highs and lows. Without attachment and identification, we become equanimous.
We know that ultimately we have nothing real to gain or lose as a result of a game to which we are only a spectator. We know that the game itself is just make-believe and ultimately not “real” or “meaningful”. Yet, our “emotional needs” are such that we form emotional attachment to things as insignificant and as a make-belief as a sports game.
Just as a drug-addict uses all possible venues to get its fix, we use all areas of life to get our emotional fix. Many (if not all) emotions are linked to the hormones. The hormones work and act very similar to the drugs. In fact, many hormones are far more potent than drugs. They create similar cravings, attachments and addictions.
Even when we play video games, we take an identify, identity of a player who is playing the game and scoring points. We know that ultimately there is no real gain or loss; still we feel excitement, agitation, emotions, emotional ups and downs on winning and losing points. This feeling of emotions, excitements, ups and downs, elation and let downs is dependent on our emotional attachment, emotional binding, identification and desires. Without this emotional attachment, there is still an experience, there is still an enjoyment but there is no excitement and there are no pronounced emotional highs and lows.
Without the emotional binding, attachment and identification, we become equanimous.
Yet, most of us do form emotional attachment and binding to almost everything we do in life. This emotional binding, attachment, identification and craving is what causes our suffering yet we are really unwilling to give it up. Why? It seems that without the emotional binding, most of us don’t feel “alive”. We need our “juices” flowing. I think these juices are nothing but hormones, which work like drugs. We are addicted to the emotions (hormones).
+TOA (Transmission of Awakening) Video games can be very spiritual without even knowing it, a lot of gamers can attain a flow state without even knowing about non duality or any kind of spiritual practice which I would regard as a 'spiritual practice'. It's true we become emotionally attached but being able to acknowledge that without loosing your ego to it makes all the difference, we are human after all and emotionality is certainly apart of being human, it would be wrong to deny it. Mastery of a certain craft or skill is truly something that can be 'attained' unlike enlightenment, it's clear as humans we want to endeavour into subjects or acquire skills, and some of us apply that mentality to enlightenment which is the least of all things to be sought after in that way, which is the mother of all ironies! I think once you're 'enlightened' it's perfectly all right to re-attach yourself to things if you want, I mean once you see what's really up it really frees you up to do whatever..
+Blazin 420 ...you want, you can just meditate and be with it the rest of your days or you can play Star Wars battlefront and really get with it, there's apparent 'time' to kill regardless!
+Blazin 420 So you think playing a game grounded in juvenile fantasy and make-believe is better than spiritual practice for leading you to the freedom of Reality where you realize you are one thing everywhere and bigger than the universe because you are outside creation as the Spiritual Self (not as the personality and its array of petty habits).
I think realizing you are God is a much better game.
Playing an electronic game only stimulates the emotional body and the mind. Transcending everything and permanently entering the state of the Absolute Self is a much better identification.
Else why are we here? Because otherwise everything here is temporary and pointless. And every religion is false and every spiritual teacher throughout time has lied.
+Moonsod did I say it was better than a spiritual practice? Don't think I did, just was making a point that people can have fun attaining a mastery of something which in a way is quite 'spiritual' in fact nearly everything's spiritual after a while, depends what you mean by spiritual, I wouldn't attribute anything spooky or unique to me about it tho, which I think a lot of people try to do
Buddhism: the nature of things
1. Everything that exists is subject to change, decay and death.
2. All existence is unsatisfactory because it is subject to change, decay and death.
3. Everything that exists is temporary, conditional and dependent. Everything that exists is ultimately devoid of reality and meaning.
4. All existence is unsatisfactory because it is ultimately devoid of reality and meaning.
5. The clinging to, grasping to, attaching to that which is subject to change, decay and death is the cause of mental pain.
6. The grasping, clinging, attaching, wanting and desiring can’t be resolved merely by supplying more objects. The grasping, clinging, attaching, wanting and desiring can be extinguished only understanding its root and mechanics and by eliminating its fuel.
=== Buddhism Summary =====
1. Use wisdom, compassion, noble intentions, awareness, presence and
focus whenever possible.
*Wisdom*: the knowledge of the four noble truths and the eightfold path.
*Compassion* the knowledge that:
1. All beings want to live.
2. All beings want relief from pain.
3. All beings seek happiness.
All social thinking beings (such as social humans) seek to be acknowledged, accepted, loved, valued, heard, held, validated and appreciated.
All social thinking beings seek approval of their existence, forgiveness for the mistakes, errors and shortcomings and tolerance of their weaknesses and limitations.
Compassion is allowing the above knowledge to guide one’s view, intentions, thought, speech and action towards everyone and everything.
*Noble intentions*: wise, peaceful and compassionate (loving and kind) motives towards the greater good of all beings and all things.
*Awareness*: awareness of one’s intentions, thoughts, feeling, emotions and experience. Awareness of one’s surrounding and environment.
Awareness of whom and what one is dealing with.
Awareness of what one is doing, why one is doing so and how one is doing it.
Awareness of the wise, peaceful and compassionate (loving and kind) intentions and the wise, intelligent, skillful and peaceful way of serving them.
*Presence*: being aware of the body, breathing, sensations, environment, surrounding right now, in the present moment.
*Focus*: doing what one is doing right now with complete attention.
Wonderful talk filled with deep wisdom. I was however sorry that Richard chose to single out the events and Paris and San Bernadino as examples of "head-polarized" consciousness. Head polarized consciousness is what 99.9999% or humanity is in which is why most Americans have no problem with the demonization of Islam helped along by the Mainstream media.
Head--polarized consciousness is the reason we are destroying the planet and thousands of species. Head polarized consciousness is what was behind the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and will be what is behind the all too likely future invasions of Syria and eventually, the last domino Iran. It is not surprising at all to me that these terrorist attacks occur. What is more surprising it that they don't occur more often as a result of reactions to these murderous bloodthirsty invasions to steal oil and territory with scant regard for the occupants of the countries involved.
I realize that we here at batgap like to think of ourselves as special and spiritual and the likes of someone like Chomsky wouldn't be considered such. For me Chomsky, who demonstrates a care for ALL human beings, is about the most spiritual example I can imagine having emerged in America in recent years. If anyone is "an instrument of the divine" he is. Personally I can't stand the idea of thinking of oneself as being an instrument of the divine which smacks of egotism. One can be sure for example that those who committed the acts in San Bernadino thought of themselves as being instruments of the divine.
What would be better I think is to examine how one judges others and feels separate from them and lacks understanding about them. How come one cares little about people dying in countless bomb and shooting attacks in 3rd world (hardly given news coverage) countries but is highly distressed when it happens far less regularly in the 1st world.
We are the whole world. Each and every one of us. Each one of us fears violence and death. We stand alone. Lets have the courage to see each other as unique expressions and strive to drive out group think. Group think is what lies behind oceans of blood spilled in the name of greed, delusion, hatred and pride.
Speak out against the bloodthirsty hate-filled warmongering of the mainstream media. Enough blood has already been spilled in the name of U.S. imperialism. Thats the greatest threat to peace. When atrocities such as what happened in San Bernadino occur treat them as symptoms of these invasions (and treat them as you would normally treat criminally insane acts) - not as excuses for more war on millions of people held hostage simply because they happen to live in Muslim countries which happen to have oil and are highly valued geopolitically.
=== Me ===
It is not true that there is no me at all. At this moment, there is a functional me. At many moments, there is a functional me.
There is a me but this me is dependent, conditional, temporary and changing.
There is no independent, unconditional, real (permanent) me.
The mistake lies in treating dependent, conditional, temporary and changing me as real (permanent, unchanging, independent, unconditional).
This me is not only dependent consciousness and on my own inner perception, it is also dependent on the external verification and agreement.
In the night time, I can dream and feel that I am a flying bird. In the day time, I can’t do so because when I look into the mirror, I see a human being.
In the night time, I can dream that I am king with many queens and palaces. In the daytime, I can’t do so because other people, the society tells denies me being a king with many palaces and many queens. The other people, the queens deny being my queen and thus, I am forced to changed my me, no matter how I feel internally.
This me is a social me and it is socially dependent.
This me arises as a social compromise. If me and others have a matching version of “who I really am” - I get to keep that me and treat it as “real”, otherwise there is a conflict and we need to struggle, fight and negotiate in order to come to a compromise. If my version of “me” is very different from what others thinks I am, I am said to be suffering from mental issues and I am sent for mental treatment to cure it.
Rick, I love your program, and you do a great job. But sometimes I find that you don't give the guests enough time to answer the questions before cutting them off. You often seem very invested in letting the audience know your opinion, rather Than allowing the guest being interviewed to take a thought to a logical conclusion. In any event its an awesome set of interviews... Keep up the good work - just talk a little less.
Is Russell Brand coming on?
You want a spiritual experience? Take the $300 this guy would charge you for a Skype session and GIVE IT TO THE POOR.
All these rich, white Americans go to India for ten minutes and start claiming their status as teachers, with no lineage or tradition or teacher of their own to keep them on track, and charging more than licensed professionals btw. Not a one tells of their awakening including service, charity, humility and other traditional spiritual values. Why? Are they beyond all of that? For the most part they are just business folks out to take what the market will bear. Forget about these 'teachers'. You want spiritual growth and experience? Go help the homeless and needy and don't give up until you've 'achieved enlightenment '.
+brazfan Did you miss when he spoke about humility and intimacy? Your critique may be valid generally, but not in this case, or at least you have not made a convincing argument here. He did not have a lineage, but he did seek the company of seekers and those more advanced; he speaks about it. If you believe in your admonition to help the homeless and needy, why are you viewing these videos instead?
I'm speaking in general. See Adam Bucko. Only the teaching that is right for you at the time is the one that helps. Nothing wrong with that, if you find it here, fine. Making your 'teaching' and 'spiritual life' into a business is sleazy. More harm than help is done by these folks, I think. It proliferates with the internet. BTW, next time you see a beggar have a few minutes conversation. Engage the 'teachings' right then and there, see what happens. It's easy at a luxury retreat. That IS NOT an admonition ;-) It's an invitation. If you want spiritual growth, take the money you'd give to the already rich teacher and give it to the poor, see what happens. See what happens ;-)