Edge of Mind Podcast
Edge of Mind
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Andrew will be tapping into the many connections he has made around the world with spiritual teachers, scientists, scholars, and experts to offer you the latest from leaders in lucid dreaming and the study of mind.
Available episodes
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Nov 3, 2023
Lama Palden Drolma on the Transplantation of Buddhism to the West
Join the author, and spiritual director of the Sukhasiddhi Foundation, Lama Palden Drolma, in a rich conversation about the transplantation of Buddhism to the West.
What is the “state of the union” concerning Buddhism in America, and the core challenges in cultural translation? How does one find an authentic teacher, and what are the warning signs to look for to avoid corrupt teachers? The conversation turns to the role of psychotherapy on the path, the danger of blind spots, the lingering problem of patriarchy, power abuse, and other common traps that frequently snare teachers. What is “spiritual counseling,” and how does it differ from therapy? What constitutes outer and inner obstacles on the path, and how can we avoid spiritual bypassing?
Lama Palden is an expert in yidam practice, or deity yoga, especially the female Buddha Tara. Is Tara inside of us, outside of us, or both? What role does Tara play in the modern world? Is the West even ready for the advanced spiritual technologies of tantra? The conversation turns to the role of the imaginal, and the importance of visualization and “feelingization.” Do modern meditative technologies, like brain entrainment, have an authentic place on the path? What about psychedelics?
Lama Palden talks about “idiot devotion,” and the promise and peril of surrendering on the path. She offers valuable advice specifically for female practitioners, and things to look out for when working with a teacher. Where do you go to engage in genuine, and safe, spiritual practice? See for yourself why Lama Palden is such a respected teacher, and a real protector of the dharma in this challenging age.
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Sep 16, 2023
Dr. Christopher Timmermann on Psychedelics and Their Role on the Spiritual Path
Join the neuroscientist Christopher Timmermann in a wide-ranging discussion about psychedelics and their role on the spiritual path, as well as in preparing for the end of life. How can these agents be used to remove the fear of death, and how do they relate to near-death experiences? Is it true to say that death is a psychedelic journey? Chris shows us how we can find death in life’s experiences, and how the psychedelic trip and death are both processes of radical deconstruction. If someone is afraid of death, what’s the best way to use these agents? Is duality and the sense of self a construct, and is this what falls apart in reports of ego dissolution with psychedelics? Do these drugs also construct experiences, and are the experiences merely comforting delusions? How do we know the experiences are true? Dr. Timmermann talks about the “entropic brain,” and the heightened connectivity that takes place with psychedelics. Are psychedelic experiences due to a reduction in brain activity (the “reducing valve”), or an enhancement of brain activity?
Chris talks about the importance of “set and setting,” how these substances can be used to explore the nature of mind and reality, and the promise and peril of the psychedelic renaissance. What are the contra-indications for using these medicines, and where do “false memories” fit in? The conversation turns to the importance of preparation and integration, and how to avoid becoming a “state junkie.” How does one transform states into traits? What is “psychedelic-assisted meditation practice,” and how valuable is psychedelic apprenticeship? Chris discusses the clinical and therapeutic implications of his research, and why he is so excited about the future of this field. See why Dr. Timmermann is one of the brightest voices in this cutting-edge field of scientific research.
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Jun 14, 2023
A Vast Journey into the Underworld of Dreams with Robert Moss.
Join Andrew and the esteemed dream scholar and prolific author Robert Moss in a vast journey into the underworld of dreams. The conversation begins with a State of the Union address concerning the world of dreams, and a look at how Robert’s relationship to dreams has changed over decades of work. “Dreaming is traveling,” he says, and we can bridge inner and outer realities with our journeys, bringing gifts from the dream world back to waking life.
What is “Kairomancy,” and how we can we learn to read the sign language of reality by paying attention to synchronicities? Can you navigate through life with this form of divination, and when does the derivation of meaning cross the line into the imputation of meaning, as typified in paranoia? Where do lucid dreams fit in for Robert, and why is “conscious dreaming” a better term? Is it dangerous to try to control our dreams, and what are some of the shadow sides of lucid dreaming? Robert discusses the importance of daimons in our lives, the place of meditation in the world of dreaming, and why shamans are essentially dreamers. What about the place of imagination, the power of the unconscious mind, and the phenomenon of anamnesis? How can we use dreams to awaken to the dreamlike nature of reality?
Robert and I share a number of personal reflections about our dream lives, and how our views have evolved over the years. See for yourself why Robert is one of the leading statesmen for dreams in the world today.
About Robert Moss: Robert has been a dream traveler since doctors pronounced him clinically dead in a hospital in Hobart, Tasmania, when he was three years old. From his experiences in many worlds, he created his School of Active Dreaming, his original synthesis of modern dreamwork and ancient shamanic and mystical practices for journeying to realms beyond the physical and growing creative imagination. He has led popular workshops all over the world, including a three-year training for teachers of Active Dreaming and online courses for the Shift Network. A former lecturer in ancient history at the Australian National University, he is a New York Times bestselling novelist, poet, journalist, and independent scholar. His many books on dreaming, shamanism, and imagination include Conscious Dreaming, The Secret History of Dreaming, Dreaming the Soul Back Home, The Boy Who Died and Came Back, Sidewalk Oracles, and Mysterious Realities. His latest book, Growing Big Dreams: Manifesting Your Heart's Desires through 12 Secrets of the Imagination is a passionate and practical call to step through the gates of dreams and imagination to survive hard times, travel without leaving home, and grow the vision of a more abundant life so rich and strong that it wants to take root in the world. He has lived in upstate New York since he received a message from a red-tailed hawk under an old white oak. His website is mossdreams.com
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May 16, 2023
Frank White on the Overview Effect, and all its Implications for Inner and Outer Evolution
Join the author Frank White in a rich exploration of the Overview Effect, and all its implications for inner and outer evolution. The conversation begins with Frank’s entry into his study of this transformative effect, before turning to why it is that not everybody who has the Overview is affected by it. What is the common denominator behind the effect, and can you have it on earth? We discuss the role of the “space principle,” both inner and outer, as a transformational tool, and how evolution is largely about increasing perspectives, which are brought about with more openness, and hence more space to perceive.
What about the “underview effect,” and the change in perspective brought out from within? How does all this relate to Right View in Buddhism, and why did Frank turn to Zen Buddhism? Where does meditation, as “habituation to openness,” fit in? The conversation turns to how expansion and openness is central to evolution, as embodied, for one example, in human development from homocentric to ethnocentric to cosmocentric world views. What about the “Cosma Hypthosis,” and “space philosophy”? Where do vantage points come into play, and how about the place of virtual reality in opening the aperture of our awareness? When brought to earth, the real issue is not what we see, but how we see it. Terranauts, psychonauts, and oneirnauts can see just as much as astronauts – you just need to introduce more space into your mind and heart to see. The Overview Effect is needed more than ever to help people here on earth, and the earth itself.
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May 2, 2023
Bruce Tift on the Interface Between Psychology and Spirituality
Join the esteemed author Bruce Tift in a cross-pollinating discussion about the interface between psychology and spirituality, the developmental and fruitional paths, or the paths of Growing Up and Waking Up respectively. Bruce discusses the importance of holding opposing, and even contradictory, views simultaneously, without any hope or desire for closure and resolution. We’re all a collection of limitations, so how can we best work with these limits? What constitutes a real obstacle in this view, and how can we work with obstacles? What about the difference between “recovery practices” and “achievement practices”? The conversation turns to the distraction value of our problems, and how ego, as an arrested form of development, is invested in maintaining struggle as a way to maintain itself. Bruce then talks about anxiety and fear, and the importance of an integral approach in relating to both. Not all fear and anxiety is problematic.
On the spiritual path, anxiety can lead to real growth, and fear can be a sign that you’re doing something right. How about the place of shadow work, and why doesn’t Bruce favor that term? How do we best work with blind spots? The practice of relationship is explored, and how we unwittingly “hire” partners, over and over, to play out unconscious processes and avoidant tendencies. How does he sustain his enthusiasm for providing therapy after decades of clinical practice? Does Buddhism need therapy – in both senses of that phrase? Is his view exhilarating or intimidating? Bruce’s wide-ranging approach gives you permission to be human, and to delight in this wonderful and terrible thing we call life. See for yourself why he is one of the most sought-after therapists in the spiritual community.
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Apr 4, 2023
Federico Faggin Explores the Relationship Between Science and Spirituality
Join the physicist, and inventor of the microprocessor and touchpad, Federico Faggin, in a wide-ranging exploration of the relationship between science and spirituality. Federico starts with a colorful rendering of the four phases of his life, and his transition from a hard-core materialist into a deep student of consciousness. He shares how a single experience, lasting less than a minute, changed his life forever. Federico then relates a number of eye-popping experiences, all of which proclaimed that consciousness, not matter, is the foundation of reality – and that that foundation is expressed as love. What triggered this opening, and what did he do to cultivate his experiences? How did the nondual traditions, and other forms of transpersonal work, help him understand his experiences?
Dr. Faggin then turns to his quantum information-based view of panpsychism, whether this theory can be tested or not, and its remarkable implications for both science and spirituality. What does “quantum” mean in this context? “Science and spirituality are both right, and both wrong,” he says, but what does that mean? Is mathematics the supreme language of communication these days, or just the best way to talk to the “high priests” of science? What is the relationship between artificial intelligence and artificial sentience, or consciousness? Can a computer ever be conscious? His theory completely overthrows materialism, and offers an entirely new direction for science. Can this theory, based on his experiences, lead others to those experiences – is it psychoactive and prescriptive? What does it mean to say that matter is merely a symbol? What role does light have to play in all this?
Federico talks about “consciousness units,” the place of free will, what happens after death, and why spiritual practitioners might be interested in his work. He then discusses his path of practice, and why he doesn’t adhere to any single tradition or teacher. What does he see as blinds spots in the wisdom traditions? Behind his amazing life is the deep quest to know; to understand the nature of reality and consciousness – and to help the world.
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Mar 22, 2023
Sean Esbjörn-Hargens on How Exo Studies Leads to Endo (inner) Discoveries.
Note: This is the second of two conversations Andrew had with Sean Esbjörn-Hargens on Exo Studies. Join the polymath Sean Esbjörn-Hargens in a rich exploration of how Exo Studies – the study of what is outside our normal sense of reality – leads to Endo (inner) discoveries. What is the relationship between inside and outside, and just how psychoactive is the Exo view? Sean talks about being constantly defeated by larger views of reality, and the importance of Right View in opening ourselves to seeing so much more of the world. We are highly contracted beings, afflicted by all manner of centricities, held under the rubric of ego-centricity. Exo studies is integral to the path of Opening Up, and expanding our horizons and potentials into dazzling new dimensions. What is the role of the subtle body, and how many subtle bodies do we have? Are these subtle bodies inside the gross body, outside of it, or both? The relationship of the subtle body to the unconscious mind is explored, and how things like mantra and visualization work to transform the subtle body. How about shadow work in relationship to these subtle bodies? Where does Bardo Yoga fit into Exo studies, and how about the central role of emptiness? Is it dangerous to explore these inner dimensions and states of consciousness; where does protection come into play?
Sean talks about the trikaya (“three-body”) principle of Buddhism, and the “interstate commerce” that we can open between all three bodies: gross, subtle, and causal. All this study and practice is about establishing intimacy with reality, and creating a “united states” of consciousness. The conversation turns to the psychedelic renaissance taking place, and how we can use these agents for healing and wholing. Growth occurs through differentiation and integration, and opening the aperture of our awareness to encompass this Wild Kosmos. We live in a multidimensional multiverse, full of magic and wonder. Exo studies shows us how can we become a meta-person, or super-experiencer, and open to these wonders. This is real Edge of Mind material, sure to leave stretch marks on your mind.
About Sean Esbjörn-Hargens PhD (from metaintegral.com)
Sean is a global leader in the application of integrative thinking to leader development, organizational design, and mixed-methods design. In 2011 he founded MetaIntegral a social impact network that supports change leaders around the world in applying integrative principles. Sean’s passion lies at the intersection of design, integral theory, and embodiment. He has published and edited numerous articles, chapters, and books. His most recent book is Metatheory for the Twenty-first Century.
The MA/PhD Program Sean runs which includes a concentration in Anomalous Studies for interested students - The School of Integral Noetic Sciences: https://www.cihs.edu/school-of-integral-noetic-sciences
Sean's websites: www.metaintegral.com www.exostudies.org www.whatsupwithufos.com
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Mar 2, 2023
John Dupuy - An Exploration of the Principles of Intoxication, Addiction, and Sobriety.
Join the author and Integral scholar John Dupuy in a wide-ranging exploration of the principles of intoxication, addiction, and sobriety. The conversation begins with the origins of his landmark book, Integral Recovery, and John’s experience with the traditional 12 step program. How does alcohol, and other substances, work to alter our relationship to the contents of our mind? Are there healthier ways to alter this relationship, like meditation? He then offers a rich rendering of the integral approach, including a thorough look at quadrants, levels, lines, stages, states (we are all state junkies), and shadow work. Why are all these factors important, and how does one engage them all? What is the difference between distress and eustress, and their relationship to translation and transformation?
John elaborates on the use of spiral dynamics as a developmental schema, and the difference between dominator and actualization hierarchies, before talking about alcohol and other substances as devolutionary drivers. How can we use all this information to enhance skillful means for helping others? The discussion then explores the benefits of the Enneagram, as a method to better understand ourselves and others. These are all maps of the prison, and therefore very helpful if we want to make a prison break. The power of projection, enveloped in shadow work, is discussed in depth, including the 3-2-1 process of reintegration that allows us to take ownership of our shadows. Without this inner work, the “beasts in the basement” of our mind will constantly take us down, and back to the bottle.
John shares his rich experience with brain wave entrainment, how it works, how to use it, and why it’s not cheating. The conversation closes with a deep dive into how addiction is a matter of degree, and how we are all addicts, whether we know it or not. Andrew shares his experience of “detox” in extended retreat, and the discovery of his addiction to thought and movement. Can one legitimately reduce conventional addiction, intoxication, and sobriety, to fundamental principles? What does “being sober” really mean? Is enlightenment the ultimate sobriety? John’s ability to join heaven and earth, book smarts with street smarts, makes him uniquely qualified to talk about these complex issues, and then bolt them into practical life. This podcast connects to material discussed in conversations with Ken Wilber, Dustin DiPerna, Roger Walsh, and Judson Brewer.
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Dec 29, 2022
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche - A Rich Exploration of the Nocturnal Meditations
Join the esteemed master of dream yoga, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, in a rich exploration of the nocturnal meditations. The conversation begins with why Rinpoche has elected to teach so extensively on this topic, which is rarely emphasized by Tibetan lamas. Why should busy Westerner’s bother with dream yoga, what does it have to offer us, and what does it mean to accomplish this practice? Rinpoche talks about how his teaching of dream yoga has changed over the years, before elaborating on all the new content in the 2nd edition of his classic book, The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep. The discussion turns to how dream yoga develops flexibility in identity, and why this is so important, before transitioning into the difference between adapting a teaching vs. editing it to suit egoic needs.
If teachings aren’t culturally translated and adapted, they go extinct. But if you adapt them too much, the teachings are diluted. How does one establish dream guardians, and create a protection circle for dreaming? Do we need to believe in spirits, and what are the consequences if we don’t? How can you tell if a dream figure is just a projection of your mind, or a real entity? Rinpoche then discusses the role of the subtle body, and the importance of the central channel, before turning to how the subtle body shapes our dreams. How can we work with the subtle body during the day to facilitate lucidity at night? What’s the best thing to do just before falling asleep? Can we use the subtle body to incubate dreams?
Dream yoga, and the subtle body, “break all the rules,” and help us live outside the box of the gross body, and our exclusive identification with it. Rinpoche exhorts us not to limit ourselves to the outer body, which grows old, gets sick, and then dies. Transition your identity to a deeper aspect of your being that does not age, get ill, or die. See for yourself why Rinpoche is the premier voice in the world of dream yoga today.
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Nov 10, 2022
Sean Esbjörn-Hargens Journey into the Field of Exo Studies
Sean Esbjörn-Hargens joins Andrew in a truly out-of-this world journey into the field of Exo Studies. Central to this field is the study of what is real, and the importance of expanding our minds to encompass the “high strangeness” of reality. “Exo” implies something outside the confines of contractive egoic domains, and the importance of leaving this limited view behind. The conversation begins with the “problematic,” or the mainstream world view that dramatically limits our perception and cognition. While reductionism has a certain power, it needs to be balanced with “mandatory complexification,” or a recognition of the messiness of reality. Sean ties this into his notion of “doubleness,” or a more integral approach to the study of phenomena. Inherent to the discussion is a critique of the constraints of materialism; its unconscious indoctrination in the virtual hypnosis that takes place up to age seven; and the invitation to open into the more expansive view of idealism. The idea of “ontological flooding” is discussed, or putting everything on the table before you clear the table. The conversation turns to Sean’s key contribution of the “ontology matrix,” or the criteria we should employ to expand our understanding of what is real. Where does evidence fit into the picture, and what is the difference between legal and scientific evidence? What about too much ontological fluidity, and the place of mental illness? Is anything off limits in such an open world view, and is it possible to open too much and too fast? What is the role of bodywork in opening safely? Do psychedelics have a place? Quantum mechanics comes into the discussion, and the participatory nature of reality, which Sean explores with his “mutual enactment hypothesis:” how phenomena, including things like non-human intelligences and extra-terrestrials, bring us into existence as much as we bring them into existence. Along the way Sean talks about possible blind spots in Buddhism; thought responsive domains; out-of-body and near-death experiences; meta-objects; the path of freedom and the path of fullness; and a vast array of mind-bending topics. See for yourself why Dr. Esbjörn-Hargens is the leading voice in the world of Exo Studies, and why you may want to blast off of this planet with him.
About Sean Esbjörn-Hargens PhD
(from metaintegral.com) Sean is a global leader in the application of integrative thinking to leader development, organizational design, and mixed-methods design. In 2011 he founded MetaIntegral a social impact network that supports change leaders around the world in applying integrative principles. Sean’s passion lies at the intersection of design, integral theory, and embodiment. He has published and edited numerous articles, chapters, and books. His most recent book is Metatheory for the Twenty-first Century.
The MA/PhD Program Sean runs which includes a concentration in Anomalous Studies for interested students - The School of Integral Noetic Sciences:
https://www.cihs.edu/school-of-integral-noetic-sciences
The "Our Wild Kosmos" article referred to in the conversation:
https://whatsupwithufos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Exo_Studies.pdf
Sean's websites:
www.metaintegral.com
www.exostudies.org
www.whatsupwithufos.com
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Oct 9, 2022
Daniel Goleman and Tsoknyi Rinpoche Discuss Their Book "Why We Meditate"
Join Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Daniel Goleman as they discuss their new book, Why We Meditate. This conversation follows the structure of the book, with Rinpoche responding to questions from Andrew, and Daniel offering the science behind what Rinpoche covers. The podcast begins with the aspirations behind this book, what they both want readers to walk away with. Rinpoche then talks about his notion of “beautiful monsters,” and gives the example of how to work with anger in a new way, distinguishing between useful and useless anger.
Rinpoche connects this to “essence love,” and his wonderful “handshake” practice. Daniel and Rinpoche then talk about balancing the two views behind meditation: are we training to achieve certain qualities, or dis-covering them? What about the sense of hollowness that so many feel today? Where does that sense of lack come from, and what can we do about it? Rinpoche and Daniel then go into depth about the “Four I’s” – the mere I, reified I, ne…
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Sep 16, 2022
Bernardo Kastrup - Part II - The Nature of Reality
Join Bernardo Kastrup for Part II of the discussion about the nature of reality. The conversation begins with a discussion about evil. Where does contraction fit into this topic, and why do we have such an infantile relationship to evil? The discussion then moves to explore: if reality is of the nature of mind, what exactly is this mind? What are the dangers of reifying the mind, and the hazards of reification altogether. If mind is not a thing, what is it? Emptiness comes into the picture, and its relationship to quantum field theory. What about authentic philosophy, and how do philosophers go astray? Bernardo talks about Nietzsche, and the importance of embodied philosophy, before turning to the topic of transformation, and how to effect it. How does one transform? How far can intellect take you? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Is there a place for psychedelics on this journey?
The gifts and gaffes of relational quantum mechanics is discussed, and its relationship to the phil…
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Sep 9, 2022
Bernardo Kastrup – Part I – A Rich Exploration of Idealism
Join Bernardo Kastrup for Part I of a rich exploration of idealism, the radical proclamation that reality is of the nature of mind. As a scientist and academic, Bernardo shares how he found his way into this view, and relates some of its tremendous explanatory power. If idealism is the right view, why is there so much resistance by the intellectual elite? Is it a psychological and developmental issue? And why is the standard view of materialism so wrong? The conversation turns to the nature of the transpersonal mind – is it benevolent in nature, or is it naïve to see the world this way? Bernardo talks about dissociative identity disorder (formerly multiple personality disorder) as a potent analogy for “dissociative alters,” or the generation of the self and the personal mind. He then elaborates on the image of a whirlpool, and its relationship to the stream (or “mind at large”). Is death the dissolution of the whirlpool back into the stream? Bernardo says that we really have…
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Aug 16, 2022
Delson Armstrong - Part II - Dependent Origination, the Intellectual Content of Enlightenment and the Core of Buddhism.
Join Delson Armstrong and Andrew in this in-depth exploration of dependent origination, arguably the intellectual content of enlightenment, and the core of Buddhism. Dependent origination is the Theravada rendering of emptiness, and classically depicted in the “Wheel of Life” drawing you will find at the entrance to every monastery in India, Nepal, and Tibet. The twelve links (nidanas) of dependent origination, when unfolded in the forward direction, generate samsara; in the reverse direction they lead to nirvana. The conversation focuses on the first two links, and how the 12th link (death) conditions the 1st (ignorance). In one sense, all of samsara is a type of PTSD, or post-truth stress disorder, when the shocking truth of the empty nature of our being is pointed out at death, and we’re unable to relate to that truth. Delson emphasizes the second link, samskara, which are karmic triggers leading to action, and Andrew then offers the Hindu interpretation of samskara. The role…
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Jul 14, 2022
Delson Armstrong - The Marvels of the Mind and “High Altitude” States of Meditative Absorption (Jhana) - Part I
Join author and meditation adept Delson Armstrong in an extra-ordinary tour of the marvels of the mind, and “high altitude” states of meditative absorption (jhana). The conversation begins with Delson’s background in Hindu based practices, his journeys into the Himalayas, and his candid experiences with the jhanas, especially the summit of nirodhasamapatti, or “equipoise of cessation,” a form of suspended animation that can last for seven days. Delson then offers stories of his unusual memory, and his ability to recall past lives, before sharing his experience of tacit awareness throughout the night, or a form of constant consciousness that results in lucidity 24/7. One consequence of this attainment is the cessation (nirodha) of all dreams, and the actualization of luminosity, or sleep yoga. What is the role of “determination” in these attainments, or the internal alarm clock that dictates duration of absorption? Are these qualities attained or dis-covered? Do they inspi…
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Jun 21, 2022
Maria Kozhevnikov on the nature of consciousness, and the scientific inquiry into post-mindfulness studies.
Join neuroscientist Maria Kozhevnikov as she shares cutting-edge research on the nature of consciousness, and expands the scientific inquiry into post-mindfulness studies. Mindfulness studies, which dominate the field, are great, but there is so much more. Dr. Kozhevnikov is a rare blend of scientist-practitioner, who has spent years studying advanced meditators in Bhutan and Nepal. Her ground-breaking work in deity yoga (generation stage meditation) and tummo (the inner heat practices) is revealing the untapped wonders of the mind from a scientific lens, and stretching research into uncharted territories. What is the promise and peril of conducting studies on practices that were previously kept secret? What is the “cash value” of this work, and how can it benefit the general public, or a meditator? Is the mind spread out across the body, or limited to the brain? Does mentation even expand beyond the body? Maria shares her work and experience with lucid dreaming (along with tips fo…
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May 27, 2022
Christopher Bache - Part II of his Remarkable Twenty-Year Journey into the World of Psychedelics
Join philosopher Christopher Bache for Part II of his remarkable twenty-year journey into the world of psychedelics – and the mind of the universe. Using the narrative of the path as a journey into progressive opening, Chris shares the challenges of integrating so much openness – in both body and mind. How did he manage all the energy that was released, and avoid the “metabolic disorders” of consuming so much experience? Is the process one of returning to the remarkable states revealed with LSD, or recognizing those states here and now? Why is “dying” so integral to this journey, and how does it actually remove one’s fear of death? What does Chris expect to encounter at the moment of death, when he returns to the embrace of the Beloved? Dr. Bache says that to become one with the universe requires that we become one with ourselves. He then returns to the difference between cosmological exploration vs. individual liberation. Is there a cosmological dualism inherent in this…
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Apr 22, 2022
Dr. Eben Alexander on his Remarkable Near-Death Experience (NDE), and his Journey into the Science and Spirituality that Supports NDE’s.
Join best-selling author and neurosurgeon Dr. Eben Alexander as he shares his remarkable near-death experience (NDE), and the revelatory journey he has taken into the science and spirituality that supports NDE’s. This life-changing event has removed all fear of death for Eben, and understanding what he has discovered can do the same for us. The discussion turns to the importance of overthrowing the tyranny of appearance, and the dominance of materialism. By realizing that reality is of the nature of mind (metaphysical idealism), not matter, and that the universe is loving, we discover the ultimate holding environment that allows us to relax at the moment of death -- knowing that we are held. Relaxation is the irreducible instruction for a good death. There is no place to go when we die that is not conscious. Death is only the end of the body, not the mind. Eben shares the hyper-reality of what he experienced, and how memory is not localized in the brain. The brain is a reducing-valve…
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Mar 8, 2022
Dr. Nida Chenagtsang on the Power of Dreaming and Traditional Tibetan Medicine in the Modern World.
Join Dr. Nida, a dream yoga master and Tibetan physician, for a unique tour into the power of dreaming, and the place of traditional Tibetan medicine in the modern world. Dr. Nida offers a rare look into the world of Tibetan dream interpretation, and how one can interpret dreams for purposes of healing. Can your dreams tell you that your body is in trouble long before a traditional diagnosis is made? In Western psychology, an uninterpreted dream is like an unopened letter. Dr. Nida discusses the difference between universal dream symbols, and personal ones. The conversation turns to the spectrum of dreams, including prophetic dreams, and the porosity of the mind in the dream world. When it comes to dream yoga proper: is there a unique mantra, or special deity, for dream yoga? Do astrological confluences play a role in our dreams? Dr. Nida talks about the critical place of diet, and meditation, in dream yoga, and why the preliminaries are so important. This wide-ranging conversation cov…
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Feb 17, 2022
Christopher M. Bache on His Journey Exploring LSD as a Practice, and Entheogens as an Actual Path.
In this highly provocative podcast, Christopher Bache discusses his 40-year journey exploring LSD as a practice, and entheogens as an actual path. Twenty years taking 73 high-dose journeys into the nature of mind and reality, and twenty years digesting what he discovered. Chris talks about the difference between spiritual awakening and cosmological exploration during his adventure in consciousness, the promise, the peril, and the pain. What is the risk of “high-altitude sickness,” and are psychedelics a short-cut to enlightenment? How valid is “chemical mysticism,” and how do you know what you experience is true? What about replicability – would someone else experience the same things over twenty years? Andrew introduces the notion of entheogens as a form of tantra, where body (in this case chemistry) is as important as mind. When the body/mind opens to this degree, what does one do with all the energy that is released, and can that much energy be dangerous? Trungpa Rinpoche…
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Dec 19, 2021
Swami Sarvapriyananda and the World of Advaita Vedanta
Join Swami Sarvapriyananda for a deep and vast dive into the world of Advaita Vedanta, and its relationship to Vedanta, Tibetan Buddhism, and Kashmir Shaivism. Swami-ji shares what he has learned from Buddhism, and how emptiness relates to pure consciousness. Is the no-self of Buddhism the same as the irreducible Self of Hinduism? Is reality on a sliding-scale, or does it eventually bottom out? Why is the dream analogy so central to Advaita Vedanta, and what role do dreams play in this tradition? Swami talks about nonduality – what it is and is not – and how dreams can help us discover nonduality. Why are the three wisdom tools of hearing, contemplating, and meditating so important? What are the strengths and weaknesses of Advaita Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism? What are the paths that lead to the discovery of nonduality? The conversation moves to the promise and peril of science, and the place of psychology on the spiritual path. Why is materialism and scientific reductionism such a…
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Oct 28, 2021
Morley Discusses His Book "Wake Up to Sleep:.."
Join the popular lucid dreaming author Charlie Morley for our second interview with him, and discover why he is in such demand. Andrew and Charlie discuss his latest book, “Wake Up to Sleep: 5 Powerful Practices to Transform Stress & Trauma for Peaceful Sleep & Mindful Dreams.” The conversation begins with an extensive exploration of the importance of breath, and how it profoundly affects our lives – and our sleep. Charlie shares some practices for how to engage Coherent Breathing for optimal mental and physical health. He also shows us how to use breathing to work with insomnia, and to prepare for sleep. Charlie offers data from a number of studies on the importance of proper breathing, and the benefits in terms of sleep and dreams. The discussion then ties this topic into the inner yogas, and how the inner winds (lung, chi, prana) relate to outer respiration. Trauma is then explored, and how East meets West in working with the undigested experiences buried deep in our b…
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Oct 21, 2021
Amanda Morley - The Power of Respiration
Join nutritionist, yoga instructor, and breathing specialist Amanda Morley for a deep look at the power of respiration, and how to exercise coherent / resonant breathing. Breath is so central on the path that even the word “spirit” derives from a root that means “breath.” Breath is our most critical form of nutrition (you can go weeks without food, days without water, but just a few minutes without breath). Its role in preparing us for good meditation and healthy sleep is often overlooked. Ninety percent of us do not breath properly, and the consequences are far reaching. We’re breathing 70% faster than we were a hundred years ago, and rapid shallow breathing is taking a toll. Amanda brings her expertise to illuminate the many benefits breathing brings to body, mind, and spirit. How does mantra tie into breath, what is “email apnea,” and how can we practice optimal breathing? “Lucid breathing” leads to lucid living. By making this previously unconscious process more c…
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Aug 11, 2021
Exploring The Nature Of Mind And Reality With Neuroscientist Ruben Laukkonen
Join the neuroscientist, contemplative, and poet Ruben Laukkonen on a breathtaking tour of the nature of mind and reality. Why is it so important to know the mind, and how does one do that? What is the role of deconstruction on the meditative path, and how do dreams fit into all this? Exploring Ruben’s seminal work on meditation and the plasticity of the predictive mind, this is a wide-ranging exploration into the science of meditation – both diurnal and nocturnal. Why does crises spark evolution? Why is “chaos extremely good news”? The conversation covers topics like predictive processing, how resting in the present moment is annihilation, the illusion of time and space, naïve realism and noncontextual realism, representationalism, and how the meditative path is death in slow motion. Is it even accurate to take about “mind,” or is “minds” more appropriate? Is the brain a reducing valve, and how does mind relate to brain? How do dreams help us discover the power of “…
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Jul 8, 2021
The Power of Perspective with Astronaut Ron Garan
Join the astronaut, author, and humanitarian Ron Garan for an out of this world discussion about the power of perspective. We show clips of Ron’s remarkable life as a fighter pilot and International Space Station inhabitant, and then turn to the power of the “overview effect,” and its implementation as orbital perspective. Andrew ties this into the lucidity principle, and how evolution itself is defined by increased perspectives. From ego-centric to tribe-centric to world-centric to cosmo-centric – from ego to eco -- we evolve as we continue to open to new views on reality (a notion deeply connected to meditation as “habituation to openness”). Ron shares how Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is central to his life, and how his many months in space have inspired him to now spend his life helping others, and the planet. The discussion turns to fear, and how to work with it; how darkness is often the source of growth; the relationship of outer space to the inner space of the mind…
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Jun 16, 2021
An Exploration Of The Mysterious World Of The “Hidden Lands” with Ian Baker
Join anthropologist and intrepid explorer Ian Baker for an exploration of the mysterious world of the “hidden lands,” or beyul. These extraordinary places are geographical power points where mindscape and landscape merge, and where spiritual practice is accelerated. “Here you can accomplish in one day what would otherwise take a year.” Dreamlike in nature, and absolutely mind-bending in essence, these terrestrial pure lands are an ineffable interworld between mind and nature. Here facets of the landscape act as fulcrums where perception turns into revelation, and gates open to a previously inaccessible space that defies categories of inside or outside. Ian explores the outer, inner, secret, and ultimately secret dimensions of these places, and how if we open our mind and heart we can discover these hidden lands tucked within the present moment (as the timeless “fourth moment”). The conversation turns to how these magical places relate to terma, symbolic guru, and liminality…
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May 21, 2021
A Deep Dive Into The World Of Nightmares With Clare Johnson
Join Clare Johnson for a deep dive into the world of nightmares, as we explore her remarkable new book, “The Art of Transforming Nightmares.” Clare proclaims that nightmares are gifts in ugly wrapping paper, and learning how to relate to them as gifts is the first part of transforming them. Her approach is resonant with the tantric or alchemical traditions, where obstacles are opportunities in disguise. The worse the nightmare, the greater the transformative potential. We talk about what causes nightmares, and how to work with them at relative and absolute levels. What is the essence of “nightmare principle,” and how can nightmares “wake us up” spiritually? Dr. Johnson has dozens of practical exercises in this book, and she shares her favorite ones. The book is essentially about fear, and how we can follow our fear to authentic growth. Nightmares allow us to effect a peaceful (but not always pleasant) transfer of power back to its rightful source, empowering us as the autho…
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May 10, 2021
The Role of Sound on the Path of Healing and Spiritual Practice with Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary
Join neurologist Kulreet Chaudhary for a rich tour of the role of sound on the path of healing and spiritual practice. As a Western physician and Ayurvedic practitioner, Dr. Chaudhary is uniquely situated to bridge the best of the ancient East with the modern West. This conversation focuses on the magic and power of mantra to wake us up spiritually, and to heal us physically. What exactly is mantra, and how do they work? Can anybody engage a mantra, and what’s the difference between “over-the-counter” mantras and “prescription strength” mantras? How do you prescribe a mantra, and then use it? The discussion explores the origins of sacred sound, and how vibration works with the subtle and gross body. Kulreet addresses the trans-cultural aspects of mantra, and how they work as audible acupuncture needles, to “penetrate the vital points” of the chakras and channels of the subtle body. Because the outer gross body is an expression of the subtle inner body, what we do with the…
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Apr 21, 2021
A “State Of The Union” Look At Lucid Dreaming With Neuroscientist Benjamin Baird [#40]
Join neuroscientist Benjamin Baird for a “state of the union” look at lucid dreaming in the scientific community. Is this a good time for a young scientist to pursue the study of lucid dreaming? If so, what’s the best way to go about that? After sharing his personal story about studying consciousness via lucid dreaming, the conversation turns to a brief but deep dive into the nature of reality, and the explanatory power of idealism (it’s all mind) vs. materialism (it’s all matter). Naïve realism and the mistake of representationalism take center stage, followed by a look at Ben’s study on meditators having more lucid dreams. What is the role of meditation in cultivating lucidity? How feasible is it to find a magic bullet for inducing lucidity, by either targeting sweet spots in the brain through pharmacological means (galantamine), or transcranial electrical stimulation? Based on another study he conducted with Stephen LaBerge, Ben shares his tips for the use of galantamin…
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Mar 19, 2021
Journey into the World of Devotion with Kirtan Musician Krishna Das
Join the renowned Kirtan musician Krishna Das (KD) on a heartfelt journey into the world of devotion, and the role of sound on the path. What is Kirtan, and how does one listen to it? Can you bring music onto the path, and what are the near enemies in doing so? The discussion turns to sound as the nature of reality, and the role of mantra to reveal reality. Even scientists talk about the Big Bang, and “string theory.” Is the world made of sound and light? (“In the beginning was the word, and the word was made flesh.”) How does one “listen to the mind,” instead of the classic instruction of looking at the mind? KD talks about creativity, the role of improvisation, and what happens when he performs. The conversation turns to how devotion, guru yoga, bhakti yoga, and openness are central to the journey. This interview is uniquely personal, with Andrew and KD sharing intimate stories of their respective paths. At Andrew’s request, KD offers two selected Kirtan chants, with co…
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Mar 18, 2021
An Exhilarating Exploration of Islamic Dream Work with Yusuf al-Hurr
Joining us for his second interview, the scholar and practitioner Yusuf al-Hurr for an exhilarating exploration of Islamic dream work, where “dreams are realms in which God communicates to us.” Dreams are 1/40th prophecy in the Muslim tradition, and the deeper you go the more real the dream becomes. Instead of the purely solipsistic (my mind only) nature of our superficial dreams, deep dreams are as ontologically real as the waking world. Yusuf talks about precognitive dreams, and how these dreams rupture our conventional understanding of space and time. Can we use dreams to enter the “internet of consciousness,” and communicate with other beings and other realms on the “net”? How do dreams relate to the “imaginal world” of the archetypes, where pure spirit first takes on form, and matter becomes spiritualized. The conversation then looks at the promise and peril of tradition, and how noble traditions turn into ignoble “dead seas” when they’re no longer fed by tri…
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Jan 24, 2021
Sharon Salzberg on Real Change and How We Can Avoid Spiritual Bypassing
Join the esteemed teacher Sharon Salzberg in a pointed discussion about the place of meditation and spirituality in politics and world affairs. Coming right after the mob attack on the Capital, and right before the inauguration of Joe Biden, this interview doesn’t hold any punches. Where does Real Change (the title of Sharon’s latest book) take place, and how can we avoid the epidemic of spiritual bypassing? An authentic path is not about feeling good; it’s about getting real. And that reality includes hardship and pain. What is the role of anger in activism, and how about the fourth karma (enlightened action) of destruction? Is it possible to reconnect conspiracy theorists to reality, and to effectively communicate with those who hold wildly different beliefs? The conversation turns to an honest look at the opportunities that lie within all the current obstacles, and how crises can ignite evolution. What can I do to help the world in these difficult times, and what am I not seei…
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Dec 30, 2020
Neuroscientist Antoine Lutz in a Wide-Ranging Tour of Mind and Reality
Join neuroscientist Antoine Lutz, who belongs to the rare breed of “contemplative scientist,” in a wide-ranging tour of mind and reality. The conversation begins with a look at neurophenomenology, a term coined by the groundbreaking scientist Francisco Varela, that underlies much of the scientific exploration of meditation. How can we honor first-person (phenomenology) and third-person (neuroscience) perspectives without reducing one to the other. Antoine discusses his extensive research around pain, and the importance of functional de-coupling and deautomatization. We’re essentially automatons, running on automatic ignorance, where everything we experience is automatically referenced to self, a contraction/referencing that creates all our suffering. This unconscious process also generates the sense of duality altogether, which could be studied in the lab. Are there neurological signatures for the experience of nonduality – and why does that matter? What is the promise and peri…
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Dec 17, 2020
Fariba Bogzaran in a Heartwarming Exploration of the Wonders of the Nocturnal Mind
Join the artist/scientist and elite lucid dreamer Fariba Bogzaran in a rigorous and heartwarming exploration of the wonders of the nocturnal mind. Dr. Bogzaran shares her unique clinical work with dreaming, and the importance of “unfolding” instead of interpreting our dreams. “Dreaming is the art of the mind,” she asserts, and working properly with a single dream as a dream artist can take up to a year as we examine it from multiple angles. How do we identify the “big dreams,” and which dreams can we ignore? Why is dream journaling so important? Fariba describes Integral Dreaming and the power of Integral Dream Practice. Where do synchronicities and flow states fit in, and what is the difference between reflexive and reflective approaches to dreams? Where does bodywork, and “felt sense” come into play? Can we let our body interpret/unfold our dreams? Fariba discusses why motivation is so important in lucid dreaming, and how we are each “projects in the making.” What…
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Nov 27, 2020
Fr. Francis Tiso on Wonders of the Human Body, and how it can Participate in Enlightenment
Join Father Francis Tiso for a mind-bending conversation on the wonders of the human body, and how it can participate in enlightenment. Central to this discussion is the role of light, so key to enlightenment and the genesis of reality itself. We are made of stardust, fed by starlight, and participate in a spiritual level of “photosynthesis” that can literally have the body dissolving into rainbow light at the time of death. Did Christ attain the rainbow body? Did going up in a flash of light create the image we know as the Shroud of Turin? What is the role of Light Mysticism in Christianity, Taoism, Sufism, and Buddhism? How do biophotons come into play, and is the world literally made of frozen light? Solar religions abound throughout the world, and now we can start to see why. The conversation turns to some of the most advanced teachings and practices of any contemplative tradition, including dark retreat, trekchö (“cutting through”), and thögal (“crossing over”). As t…
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Oct 23, 2020
Dustin DiPerna on Integral Theory and the Path of Waking Up and Growing Up
Join author Dustin DiPerna for a penetrating look at the power of Integral Theory and the path of Waking Up and Growing Up. Dustin unpacks the difference between states and structures of consciousness, as well the importance of understanding vantage points. So many spiritual practitioners limit themselves if they’re not aware of these principles. The conversation then shifts to a look at the “conveyor belt,” and some of the main factors that catalyze transformation. How does traveling, virtual reality, lucid dreaming, and psychedelics fit in? Learn how meditation lubricates movement through structures of consciousness, and the importance of relationship on the path. Dustin then discusses the idea of “ladder-climber-view” and how this model works with skillful means and our ability to relate to others. Where does contraction fit into growth, and how important is openness? The discussion then turns to examine “trans-lineage” and “trans-spirituality” before shifting to a…
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Oct 2, 2020
Yusuf al-Hurr on the Foundations of Islamic Mysticism and the Role of Sufism in Islam
Join the scholar-practitioner Yusuf al-Hurr for a discussion about the foundations of Islamic mysticism, and the role of Sufism in Islam. Yusuf points out a number of common misunderstandings about the Muslim tradition, and some of the challenges in modern academic research into Islam. Who are some of the best authors in this field, and what are some of the finest books? Islam has transmission lineages very similar to the tulku tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and meditations (like deity yoga) analogous to tantric practice. What is the role of art in Islam, and why is it more indicative of authentic spirituality than the words of some Muslim teachers? Yusuf transitions from the esoteric to the exoteric, and poignantly discusses the human side of this tradition as well as his own personal practice. This wide-ranging conversation lays the necessary groundwork and contextual framework that will allow a deep dive into how lucid dreaming fits into Islam, and even an Islamic form of bardo yoga…
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Sep 9, 2020
Daniel Love and a Look at Lucid Dreaming from a Materialistic – but Open – Perspective
Join author Daniel Love for a thorough look at lucid dreaming from a materialistic – but open – perspective. Daniel brings his lifelong passion for lucidity into a discussion of the Three Pillars of Lucidity, the Tetris Effect, and a look at some of the most successful induction methods, including the CAT, IMP, FATE and “Catching the Butterfly” techniques. Love shares his view on lucid dreaming supplements, electronic gadgetry, and the importance of the “mind of the detective” in lucidity. Why is the journey of lucidity more important than the goal? How can one work with discouragement, lag time, and many of the other common obstacles to lucid dreaming? Learn about Daniel’s fascinating lucid dreaming practice, and why he remains so excited about the possibilities – and future – of this nocturnal art. Here is a clear-thinking practitioner, with decades of experience, sharing some of his best tips and tricks. You’ll see why Love is one of the premier voices in this fi…
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Aug 30, 2020
Philosopher David Loy on the Nuances of Nonduality and How to Apply it to Daily Life
Join Andrew and philosopher David Loy on an exhilarating ride through the nuances of nonduality, and how to apply it to daily life. What exactly is nonduality? If nonduality is the natural state, how did we get so dualistic, and how do we continue to practice duality? The conversation explores the power of language and evolution in generating a dualistic view, then turns to a close look at the role of vision and our sight-centric ways. Why did the senses even evolve if the world is nondualistic? And what is the relationship between light, mind and appearance itself? The discussion then explores the role of meditation in realizing nonduality, and the blind spots that afflict meditators. How can we use “spiritual reductionism” as a way to simplify the world’s problems into basic spiritual tenets? How does our inarticulate sense of lack drive virtually everything we do? How do the three poisons of passion, aggression, and ignorance get institutionalized? Dr. Loy’s gift is to bolt…
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Aug 19, 2020
Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel on “The Power of an Open Question” and the Importance of Openness and Inquiry
Join author Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel and Andrew on a tour of “the power of an open question” and the importance of openness and inquiry altogether. The Buddha (sometimes translated as “the Opened One”) in the East, and Socrates in the West, were more interested in questioning answers than in answering questions. What are the rules for proper engagement in the process of inquiry? What are the right questions? How do we properly hold the answers, and when do we look to others or to the world altogether (symbolic guru) for confirmation? Elizabeth is an authority on the “middle way” teachings, and elegantly shows us how “everything leans,” or arises in dependence on everything else. The conversation explores how seemingly esoteric teachings have tremendous application in daily life. What are the near enemies of openness, and how does openness relate to emptiness? Where does fear fit into all this, and can we bring fear onto the path? The discussion also explores how to work…
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Jul 31, 2020
Christopher (Hareesh) Wallis on the Role of the Wisdom Traditions in the Modern World
Join Andrew and Sanskrit scholar Christopher (Hareesh) Wallis on a deep dive into the heart of nondual Shaiva Tantra, the nature of mind and reality, and the role of the wisdom traditions in the modern world. Hareesh is a rare blend of scholar-practitioner, which means he practices what he preaches. Drawing on his magisterial book The Recognition Sutras, this conversation emphasizes the simplicity and immediacy of the awakened state, how to access it, and how to stabilize it. Beginning with the story of how Dr. Wallis came to his tradition, the discussion turns to Kashmir Shaivism, and the many similarities to “trans-religious” traditions like Dzogchen. The challenge of working with spiritual experiences -- not turning them into traps – is discussed, along with a look at the massive role of contraction and relaxation on the spiritual path. The extra-ordinary nature of awakening is explored, along with the issue of “path” altogether: do we really need a path? How does striving…
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Jul 14, 2020
Filmmakers Laurie Polisky and Courtney Sheehan in a Futuristic Exploration of the Dream World
Join Andrew and filmmakers Laurie Polisky and Courtney Sheehan in a futuristic exploration of the dream world. In their research and interviews for an upcoming docu-series, Anybody’s Dream, these intrepid oneironauts have gathered a remarkable group of scientists, shamans, artists, anthropologists, psychologists and startup founders to dive deep into the nocturnal mind and unearth its potentials. They summarize Anybody’s Dream as “the first series about the emergency of dream tech: devices and applications that directly interface with the dreaming mind.” From dream advertising, neuromarketing, consciousness hacking, branded dreams, dream engineering, and the ethics behind “invasive technologies,” this lively conversation goes to the very edge of what is currently possible, and what the future may hold in the world of sleep and dream. This mind-expanding dynamic duo bring a lifelong passion, conjoined with rigorous scholarship and artistic talent, to their unique project tha…
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Apr 27, 2020
Philosopher Zak Stein in an Eye-Opening and Heartfelt Look at COVID-19 and How it is Changing the World.
Join Andrew and philosopher Zachary Stein in an eye-opening and heartfelt look at COVID 19 and how it is changing the world. The virus has stopped economic growth dead in its tracks, and the liminal space we are now in provides an unprecedented opportunity to start afresh. Growth is good, but growth without direction is cancer. As chaos theory (and dissipative structures) has shown, things have to fall apart before they can reorganize at a higher level. How can civilizational collapse be transformed into opportunities for genuine growth? Is home-schooling better than industrial learning? How does understanding the spectrum of our identity help prevent burnout? After these opening topics, the conversation turns to deeply personal ways for how to manage the virus crises: how do we keep our hearts open, what coping mechanisms do we have, how can we use this situation to increase love? Zak shares some moving stories about his path of transforming “tears into nectar,” and “burning in…
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Apr 17, 2020
Ben Williams Offers a Dazzling Overview of the Main Schools of Hinduism
Join Andrew and Ben Williams for a dazzling overview of the main schools of Hinduism, emphasizing Advaita Vedanta, Saiva Tantra and Kashmir Saivism. Discover where the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali fit in, and classic Sankhya Philosophy. Learn about deity principle, and an inner look at the power of mantra. The discussion then turns to what these wisdom traditions can do for us today, especially in terms of helping us with COVID 19. What are the everyday application of these ancient traditions? Professor Williams is a unique blend of scholar-practitioner, who walks the talk and shares the immediate and practical applications of these wisdom traditions. Anything is workable, and can be brought to the path – even accelerating the path – if it is related to properly. How does understanding the levels of identity help us with difficult situations? And what are the skillful means offered by these traditions that help us work with others? Dr. Williams then turns to a deep look at beauty, and…
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Mar 10, 2020
David Jay Brown on His Most Transformative Lucid Dreams, and How to Use Lucid Dreams for Healing
Join Andrew and David Jay Brown for a delightful romp through a host of topics that surround lucid dreaming and altered states of consciousness. David writes a great deal about non-ordinary states, so the conversation begins with a look at whether waking consciousness is the altered state, and the unconventional idea that traditional altered states actually point out aspects of the natural state. David then shares his “go-to” induction methods, and a battery of practical tips about having lucid dreams. The conversation transitions into his area of expertise, which is supplemental agents for initiating lucidity (like Mexican and African dream herbs, velvet bean, mugwort, vitamin B-6, galantamine), and tips for how to use these available substances. The dialogue shifts into a discussion of psychedelics, and their extraordinary potential. Emphasis is placed on how to bring these mind-altering experiences onto the path. What’s the best thing to do before and after a trip? What is the…
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Feb 14, 2020
Jeff Warren with a Warm-Hearted and Personal Tour of Meditation, Lucid Dreaming, and Consciousness
Join Andrew and Jeff Warren for a warm-hearted, playful, and personal tour of meditation, lucid dreaming, and consciousness. The discussion begins with a look at Jeff’s book The Head Trip, and his personal experiences related to research for the book. Jeff talks about “the silo brain,” and how beliefs prematurely foreclose our contact with reality.
The conversation then turns to hypnosis, the power of narratives, and the story lines we constantly tell ourselves to create the illusion of certainty – and ego itself. The “awakened ones,” in this regard, are also the “de-hypnotized ones.” We succumb to trances of our own making, and suffer the consequences of buying into our storylines.
Jeff then talks about “good art vs bad art,” and how good art brings you into a type of trance to wake you up from trance altogether. The discussion peppers in a host of obstacles on the path – like ADD, bi-polar disorder, and wind (prana) disorders – and how obstacles are the path…
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Jan 11, 2020
Lama Surya Das on a Tour of Mind and Reality from a Tibetan Buddhist View
Join Andrew and Lama Surya Das for a truly delightful romp through a torrent of topics. This is a tour of mind and reality from a Tibetan Buddhist point of view, delivered by a senior figure of this noble tradition in the West. Surya Das starts with the role that dreams have played in his life, and the place of Dream Yoga in his two three-year retreats. The discussion then turns to blind spots (non-lucidity spots), and how we’re all extremists and fundamentalists in our views of eternalism (reified reality). He then talks about the importance of the “Middle Way” between eternalism and nihilism, and not skidding into these ditches on either side of the road to awakening. Surya Das peppers in topics like the dangers of scientism and post-modernism, the joy of “playing jazz with the dharma,” and the place of preservation vs. adaptation in the transplantation of dharma in the West. The conversation turns to “substance abuse” at the level of thought addiction, and a look at th…
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Dec 21, 2019
Zvi Ish-Shalom on the Role of Dreams in Judaism and How Dreams Continue to Affect his Practice and Study
Join Andrew and Zvi Ish-Shalom for a look at the role of dreams in Judaism. Zvi shares his personal story of how dreams continue to affect his practice and study, and explains their place in the Talumd, Kabbalah, and Kedumah traditions. The conversation then transitions to a deeper look at the “prophetic” mind, and how sleep is 1/60th of death. Zvi then elaborates on how the path is more perceptual than actual, and how this narrative ties into the lucidity principle. Using the archetype of contraction and relaxation, they take an inside look at the “exile principle,” and how the exodus from slavery into the promised land is a potent metaphor for the exile of lucidity, and its eventual return. When we contract we reify, and evict ourselves into bondage by mis-taking mere appearances to be real – exactly what happens in a non-lucid dream. Zvi then shares a mystical Christmas story, and how the Star of Bethlehem shines within each of us. When we open to the natural light within,…
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Nov 29, 2019
Stephen LaBerge with a Spontaneous and Uniquely Personal Conversation on Lucid Dreaming
Join Andrew and esteemed researcher Stephen LaBerge in a rare live interview conducted at the Sedona lucid dreaming retreat, October 2019. This is an unusual interview because Stephen seldom does interviews; it was conducted in front of 50 wonderful participants; and the conversation has a warm-up, or preview. Andrew had prepared a set of questions for Stephen (submitted to Stephen the evening before) that dealt mostly with the science of lucid dreaming. But all those questions fell away as Dr. LaBerge gave his last brief talk at the event, part of which is now included as the prelude to the interview. In other words, Stephen’s concluding comments at the retreat changed the tenor of the originally designed interview, which now became entirely spontaneous and more personal. Andrew realized the direction was being changed as he sat on stage with Stephen, and started recording Stephen’s talk before the interview formally began. The recording was done on a smart phone, so pardon the qu…
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Nov 17, 2019
Evan Thompson Discusses Enactivism, “Quantum Phenomenology”, Buddhist Exceptionalism, Etc.
Join Andrew and celebrated philosopher Evan Thompson in a remarkable conversation that covers a vast terrain of topics. The discussion begins with a look at enactivism, the revolutionary concept explored with neuroscientist Francesco Varela in the landmark book The Embodied Mind, co-authored with Evan. The enactive view provides a platform for “I-making” as explored in Dr. Thompson’s most recent book, Waking Dreaming Being – that the self is an ongoing process of construction, a process that can be explored as the sense of self trans-forms when we fall into sleep and dream. The conversation then turns to “quantum phenomenology,” Evan’s term for the highly discerning mind developed by meditators. In this context they explore the difference between access consciousness and phenomenal consciousness, a distinction that is critical for lucid dreamers. The discussion then makes the important distinction between consciousness (which is dualistic) and awareness (which is non-dual…
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Oct 30, 2019
Interview by Michael Taft
In this podcast, Andrew changes roles and is interviewed by Michael Taft, host of the popular “Deconstructing Yourself” podcast. Michael is a sensitive thinker, and the discussion leads to some interesting places. Join Andrew and Michael for this provocative conversation.
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Michael W. Taft is a maverick meditation teacher, bestselling author, and podcaster. As a mindfulness coach, he specializes in secular, science-based mindfulness training in retreats, groups, corporate settings, and one-on-one sessions. Michael is the author of several books, including the bestselling The Mindful Geek, Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept, and Ego (which he co-authored), as well as the editor of such books as Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson and The Science of Enlightenment by Shinzen Young.
He has often taught meditation at Google, worked on curriculum development for SIYLI, and is currently core faculty at Wisdom Labs, in San Francisco. Michael is also a featured teacher o…
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Oct 21, 2019
Nevin Arora, MD Provides a Thorough Look at the Critical Importance of Sleep – and How to Get It
Good sleep is vital for Lucid Dreaming. Join Andrew and sleep specialist Nevin Arora, MD for a thorough look at the critical importance of sleep – and how to get it.
The jury is in: the shorter you sleep, the shorter you live. You don’t snooze, you lose. Dr. Arora shares a host of tips from his clinical practice, including gems about optimal sleep hygiene, how to work with insomnia, as well as the importance of daylight and the damaging effects of artificial light.
Falling asleep requires becoming “undone,” and as “human doings” (versus human beings) in these busy times, most of us are never done – and so we struggle with sleep. Sleep is so simple it’s ironically difficult: you only have to do nothing, but you have to do it well. Which is precisely where meditation fits in, because “doing nothing well” defines meditation.
The discussion turns to the neural correlates of the dreaming brain, and the future of non-pharmacological aids that entrain sleep states. Nevi…
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Sep 26, 2019
Professor Robert Thurman on Buddhism in the West and the Place of Tibetan or Tantric Buddhism
Join Andrew and Professor Robert Thurman in a wide-ranging discussion starting with a “state of the union” address about the status of Buddhism in the West, and the place of Tibetan or Tantric Buddhism.
Are we ready for these subtle spiritual technologies – which include dream yoga and bardo yoga? Are the recent scandals an indication that we are not? The conversation turns to the “neuromania” sweeping over Buddhism and science, and the danger of reductionism in both disciplines. Dr. Thurman then talks about the importance of ethics, morality, and discipline on the path, and the role of Right View.
The discussion transitions into viewing dream yoga as a form of psychotherapy, the importance of making unconscious processes conscious, and how dream yoga could be the next step after the mindfulness revolution. Robert then talks about Menla Sleep Yoga and its restorative power, and finally about bardo yoga, with a look at the perennial question: “What is it that reincarnates?…
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Sep 12, 2019
Author Jennifer Dumpert on Liminal Dreaming, the Twilight Zone of Consciousness Between Waking and Dreaming
Join Andrew and author Jennifer Dumpert in a lively discussion about Liminal Dreaming, that twilight zone of consciousness between waking and dreaming. Also known as the hypnogogic-hypnopompic state, liminal dreaming is a fascinating state where the boundaries of ego dissolve, and the mind enters a playground of transformation. Watching how the ego falls apart in this unglued state helps us understand how it comes together as we get back online in the waking state – and glue the narrative of our lives back together.
The conversation begins with an overview of liminal (“threshold”) states altogether – both psychological and physical — and the revelations that unfold if one can remain lucid to these states. Jennifer discusses how Thomas Edison and Salvador Dali both used these states for creativity, and how anyone can practice liminal dreaming, which is much easier than lucid dreaming. Armed with a few tips, anybody can do it.
The conversation turns to the stages of liminal d…
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Aug 26, 2019
Dr. Judson Brewer on the Nuts-and-Bolts of Addiction, and How It Relates to Non-Lucidity.
Join Andrew and Dr. Judson Brewer as they take a close look at the nuts-and-bolts of addiction, and how it relates to non-lucidity. Judson shares the recent work of his lab, and the neuroscience that helps us understand how we get hooked into virtually anything, including our dreams. We’re addicted to thinking, to distraction, to ourselves, to technology, even to love. The conversation moves to a look at the swept up continuum, a scientific description of how we get sucked into things (including non-lucid dreams), and how to pull ourselves out. In addition to the famous default mode network, Dr. Brewer discusses other parts of the brain that play an active part in our craving, and how meditation plays a leading role in transforming craving and addiction. Awareness practices hit the “pause button” in the machinery of addiction, and can radically transform previously intractable cravings. Using tenets talked about by the Buddha, the discussion turns to how ancient teachings (like t…
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Aug 8, 2019
Clare Johnson PhD on the Promise and Peril of Fear and How to Work with It in Lucidity
Join Andrew and lucid dream author and researcher Clare Johnson in this deep dive into the world of lucidity. This wide-ranging conversation begins with a close look at the promise and peril of fear, how to work with it, and how to use it for growth. The discussion then moves into a look at dream sex, dream violence, and a “code of ethics” in terms of how to relate to dream characters – which are essentially aspects of your own mind. Dreams are the “children” of your mind, treat them with love. Clare then shares her remarkable experiences with lucidity in deep dreamless sleep, and the luminosity that shines below all dreams. She advises us to look for the beauty and luminosity in our dreams and in our life, and to move towards that light. The conversation then turns to a discussion of how lucid dreaming not only leads to lucid living, but to lucid dying. The nocturnal practices have removed all fear of death for Clare, and she shares why. The discussion closes with a look at…
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Jul 23, 2019
B. Alan Wallace PhD on Lucid Dreaming, Including "What Does it Mean to Say Reality is a Dream?
Join Andrew and the distinguished scholar-practitioner B. Alan Wallace for a truly remarkable conversation. Dr. Wallace is renowned for his incisive clarity and rigorous intellect, and this is fully evident as he cascades over a tremendous amount of material. The discussion begins with a deep dive into the central meditations of shamatha and vipashyana, and how both of these practices are integral to lucid dreaming. Alan goes so far as to say that dream yoga is the practice of vipashyana, and further situates dream yoga within the Madhyamaka (Middle Way School) and Dzogchen. The discussion then addresses the key question: what does it mean to say reality is a dream? In answering this, Dr. Wallace levels a strong attack against materialism, and the perverted science that supports this wrong view. Insights from psychology, philosophy of mind, physics, cosmology, and many schools of Buddhism are delivered with high-velocity and humor (offering neologisms like cognoscopy – “to scope th…
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Jul 14, 2019
Roger Walsh MD, PhD on a Wide Range of Provocative Topics That Circumambulate the Lucidity Principle
Join Andrew Holecek and Roger Walsh MD, PH.D as they discuss a wide range of provocative topics that circumambulate the lucidity principle. They begin with a deep dive into some of the shadow elements that accompany lucid dreaming, and spiritual practice altogether, including spiritual bypassing, nihilism, cosmological dualism, and the “fundamental flaw fallacy.”
Roger shares his experience as a psychiatrist and meditation instructor, and the traps that he fell into – and how he got out. Lucid dreaming, the practice of illusory form, and spirituality in general can easily slip into devaluing form, instead of transcending but including form.
Dr. Walsh then turns to addiction, stating that we’re “addicts by nature,” which dovetails into our unconscious addiction to non-lucidity. The conversation then turns to the extraordinary power of diurnal and nocturnal meditation, and the “trim tab” phenomenon of working with subtle levels of mind. The discussion addresses the tene…
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Jul 8, 2019
Richard Miller PhD on the Deep Connection Between Lucid Body and Lucid Mind
Join Andrew in this far-reaching conversation with Richard Miller, as they talk about iRest, Yoga Nidra, lucid dreaming, sleep yoga, and the deep connection between lucid body and lucid mind.
Richard is known for his “translational research,” which is all about bringing science and spiritual teachings into daily life. Dr. Miller shares his remarkable experience introducing meditation to the military, and helping veterans manage the damaging effects of combat. They also discuss a host of near enemies that surround spiritual practice, and the importance of the “market test” – how to sustain lucidity in all states, day or night.
Richard then turns to the koshas, or “sheaths” of identity, and how problems arise because we have a wild case of mistaken identity. The conversation shifts to the role of effort on the path, and the magic of grace and love on the journey to awakening.
The entire conversation circles around the real meaning of “nonduality,” and how this esoter…
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Jun 20, 2019
Andrew and Jordan Quaglia Discuss Their Joint Study on the Relationship of VR to Lucid Dreaming
In this interview Andrew talks to the cognitive neuroscientist Jordan Quaglia about their joint study on the relationship of virtual reality to lucid dreaming.
They discuss the exciting future of VR, as well as the many concerns. VR is like a stem cell, which can grow into healthy tissue (all the psychological and spiritual benefits) or a tumor (pornography and raw entertainment). VR, like lucid dreaming, can be used to develop empathy via virtual embodiment and also help us prepare for death via virtual disembodiment.
Andrew and Jordan talk about the phenomenology of non-lucidity, and how we love to be “captured” and swept away by outer displays like movies and VR, as well as the inner display of the mind itself.
They introduce the concept of “virtual lucidity” and its relationship to dream lucidity, and discuss exciting future directions for research. Plus, discover why Deepak Chopra said after his first VR experience, “This is going to change the world.” It’s all he…
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Jun 16, 2019
James Kingsland on His Recent Books as Well as on How Altered States Can Help Us Discover the Natural State
Join Andrew as he talks with noted science writer James Kingsland. James is a medical and science journalist with over twenty-five years' experience working for publications including New Scientist, Nature and the Guardian, a British daily newspaper, where he was a commissioning editor and contributor for its Notes & Theories blog. On his own blog the Plastic Brain, he writes about neuroscience and Buddhist psychology.
In this interview, Andrew talks with James about his forthcoming book, “Am I Dreaming? The New Science of Consciousness and How Altered States Reboot the Brain.”
When asked to endorse the book, Andrew wrote, “If you’re not shocked by this book, you don’t understand it.” This is a tour-de-force look at neurophenomenology (where science meets spirit), and a deep exploration of the nature of perception – how it is that we “dream” our world into existence.
Additional topics discussed by Andrew and James include; hypnosis, virtual reality, psychedelics, h…
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Jun 9, 2019
Kristen LaMarca PhD on the Use of Lucid Dreaming Therapy for a Wide Range of Psychological Conditions
Join Andrew as he talks to the psychologist and lucid dream therapist Kristen LaMarca as they explore a host of fascinating topics that include:
Lucid dream nightmare therapy, sleep state misperception, imagery rehearsal therapy, PTSD, alternative world syndrome, the importance of proper “holding environments,” and the type of person who is amenable to these unique forms of dream therapy.
What is lucid dream therapy and how does it work? Are there any contraindications? What are its applications and limitations?
Dr. LaMarca shares stories from her extensive experience as an elite lucid dreamer, as well as case histories from her clients. She talks about her recent scientific publications, and her long-time research with the Lucidity Institute, under the guidance of Dr. Stephen LaBerge.
MILD, WILD, and DILD induction methods are discussed, along with Kristen’s go-to techniques, how to handle discouragement, and how to work with insomnia.
You will quickly see why she is one of…
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May 14, 2019
Author Ryan Hurd on Paleolithic Mind, Polyphasic Cultures, Lucid Nightmares and More
This interview with noted researcher, author, and veteran lucid dreamer Ryan Hurd covers a wide range of fascinating material. We discuss the “archeology of consciousness,” and what Ryan refers to as the Paleolithic Mind. We talk about polyphasic cultures that honor dreams, and the limitations of our monophasic view that colonizes and dismisses states of consciousness it can’t fully experience. The conversation then turns to some of the shadow sides of lucid dreaming, Ryan’s expertise with lucid nightmares, and how to work with fear – seeing it as a good sign. “We have to go to the underworld to enter the upper-world.” We talk about sexuality and dreams, using the “safe sex” of lucid dreams to transform the heat of passion into the warmth of compassion, and how to work with this connecting energy in what Buddhists call “the realm of desire.” Ryan’s intelligence, scholarship, and passion for lucid dreaming is clearly evident in this rich romp.
We then turn to hi…
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May 1, 2019
Lucid Dreaming Author Robert Waggoner on Dream Events That Led Him to Deep Psycho-Spiritual Growth
In this delightful interview you’ll get a taste for why Robert Waggoner is one of the leading voices of lucid dreaming in the West. For over forty years Robert has logged over 1000 lucid dreams, and the stories he shares are just amazing. This interview reveals the spirit of proper sharing, and why our discussion forum is integral to Night Club.
Robert fearlessly and generously talks about dream events that “cracked open my world,” and led him to deep psycho-spiritual growth. So much of what he shares is resonant with Buddhist dream and sleep yoga – which is noteworthy because he was not a Buddhist when he had these powerful experiences. Robert aspires to use lucid dreaming “to go beyond lucid dreaming, to discover the nature of reality.” The cast of characters he runs into in his dreams, and then in real life, will send a chill up your spine. We talk about fear, sleep yoga, zones of learning, dreams of premonition, going to the energy in your dreams, and even a dose of ba…
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Apr 23, 2019
Sleep Expert Tucker Peck PhD Offers Practical Tips on Sleep Disorders and How to Manage Them
Join sleep expert and meditation teacher Tucker Peck Phd as we cascade through a host of very practical tips around sleep disorders and how to manage them. Much of the interview is centered around insomnia, and treatments like CBTi, but we also talk about the importance of sleep hygiene, how to work with jet lag, the place of sleep supplements like melatonin, the danger of prescription sleep drugs, the problem with artificial light, and how meditation does – or doesn’t – fit into sleep disorders. Tucker had some surprising suggestions, and the breadth of his scientific knowledge and clinical experience in treating sleep issues is evident. When conjoined with his delightful humor, the impact of the information he shares really comes home.
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Apr 17, 2019
Charley Morley on Lucid Dreaming Induction Methods, Shadow Work, Healing, and More
Join noted author and lucid dreaming expert Charlie Morley and I as we take a wide-ranging romp into the world of dream yoga and lucid dreaming. From the top induction methods, to shadow work, to healing, to working with discouragement, to the placebo effect – this is one rich and fun interview. Charlie’s passion is infectious, and his deep knowledge and even deeper experience quite impressive. This man walks the talk, and I now see why he’s the leading teacher on these nocturnal practices in Europe. We really hit it off, and bounced off each other in a very fruitful way. I left the interview with renewed enthusiasm and inspiration for lucid dreaming and dream yoga – and the boundless potential they contain.
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Apr 11, 2019
Ken Wilber on Integral Theory, and the Importance of Waking Up, Growing Up, Cleaning Up, and Showing Up
Ken Wilber covers a vast array of topics in this remarkable interview.
It was so enthralling and all encompassing that before we knew it over three hours had flown by!
Ken shares his personal story and then offers an overview of Integral Theory that is not to be missed. Integral Theory is completely in harmony with the spirit of Night Club (and the six tracks of Night School), and has unparalleled explanatory power that covers both the nocturnal and diurnal aspects of what Night Club aspires to offer. This is one reason we invited Ken to be our first interview guest, because the map he describes completely covers the territory we will be exploring.
Topics covered include the importance of both Waking Up and Growing Up, and the difference between states and structures of consciousness. This is followed by a discussion of Cleaning Up (the importance of shadow work) and finally Showing Up (using all four “quadrants” to step back into the world). We then return to his personal journ…
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