Spirit Matters Talk

Rabbi Rami Shapiro 2 Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Jeffrey Cox moved to Ithaca in 1971 from Columbus, Ohio, where he was guided to the teachings of Paul Brunton. He was one of the first individuals to live as a resident "monk" at Wisdom's Goldenrod, where he studied with Anthony Damiani, a close student of Brunton’s. A longtime devotee of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jeff became was instrumental in establishing Snow Lion Publications as the major publisher of Tibetan Buddhism. He retired as the co-owner in 2012. As a board member of the Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation, he is a principle guardian of Brunton’s legacy, including the editing and publication Brunton’s writing. We spoke about Brunton’s important role in introducing Indian philosophy and Ramana Maharshi to the West, and especially about the recent Brunton book, The Short Path to Enlightenment. Learn more about Paul Brunton here: http://paulbrunton.org/bio-illustrated.php

Jeff Cox Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian is the director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in San Jose, CA. Ordained by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, she has been teaching Kriya Yoga philosophy and practice nationally and internationally for over three decades. She is also the host of The Yoga Hour on Unity Online Radio; an award-winning poet who weaves poetry into her spiritual teachings; and the author of several books including her latest, The Jewel of Abundance: Finding Prosperity Through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga. In this, our second interview with her, we spoke mainly about yogic teachings on the purusharthas, (four aims of life) and especially artha (prosperity), the focus of her new book. Learn more about Yogacharya O’Brian here: http://www.ellengraceobrian.com/

Ellen O'Brian 2 Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Christina Rasmussen is an internationally recognized grief educator whose mission is to change the way we grieve, the way we live, and how we define our potential in this life and the hereafter. She is the founder of The Life Reentry Institute, and the author of Second Firsts and her new book, Where Did You Go? She has been featured as a “Woman Working to Do Good” in the White House Blog, and her work has been featured on NPR, ABC News, and MariaShriver.com. We spoke about her approach to grief and her work helping people connect to departed loved ones. Learn more about Christina Rasmussen here: https://christinarasmussen.com/#about

Christina Rasmussen Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Dr. Sulekh C. Jain currently serves as the Chairman and member of the Governing Council for the International School for Jain Studies, North America. He previously served as President of the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) and is the author of the book An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide, which can be accessed as a free eBook. A retired mechanical engineer, he devotes all his energies to the promotion of Jain and Ahimsa (non-violence) related causes and projects. He has been instrumental in the establishment of Jain centers, institutions, and programs in North America, Europe and India. We spoke about the history and central tenets of Jainism. Learn more about Sulekh Jain here: https://sulekhcjain.wordpress.com/about/

Sulekh Jain discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Marj Britt was the visionary leader of Unity of Tustin, in California, for 19 years. Widely known as a Campus of Consciousness, Unity of Tustin hosted during her tenure some of today’s foremost spiritual teachers. In 2011, Marj founded Called By Love Institute, a non-profit whose mission is to “harness the power of love as a revolutionary and evolutionary force in healing lives, building dreams, realizing purpose, destiny, and legacy, connecting ordinary and extra-ordinary people to their fullest potential, bringing Awareness and Light into the world.” Having earned a doctorate in education prior to her ministerial ordination, Marj has guided many in finding purpose, passion and destiny. A mystic in the world, with love as the center of her life, she is the author of Your Soul’s Invisible Codes, which invites you to see your life through the lens of your soul and the eyes of love. We spoke about her five decades of service, her tenure at Unity of Tustin, her current work, and her new book. Learn more about Ma

Marj Britt discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Thomas Moore is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Care of the Soul. He has written 24 other books about bringing soul to personal life and culture, deepening spirituality, humanizing medicine, finding meaningful work, imagining sexuality with soul and doing religion in a fresh way. Among his books are A Religion of One’s Own, Ageless Soul, and translations from the Greek of the four New Testament Gospels. In his youth he was a Catholic monk and studied music composition. He has a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Syracuse University and was a university professor for a number of years. Also a psychotherapist influenced mainly by C. G. Jung and James Hillman, he brings together spirituality, mythology, depth psychology and the arts, emphasizing the importance of images and imagination. We spoke about his journey into and out of monkhood, his current work, and his upcoming e-course, A Universal Christmas for SpiritualityandPractice,com. Learn more about Thomas Moore here: thomasmooresoul.com

Thomas Moore Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Mirabai Bush teaches contemplative practices and develops organizational programs based on contemplative principles and values. Among other contributions, she was a co-founder and Executive Director of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society; a founding board member of the Seva Foundation, an international public health organization; and a co-developer of the curriculum for Google’s Search Inside Yourself program in mindfulness-based emotional intelligence. She has also served on the boards of Shambhala Sun, Omega Institute, Military Fitness Institute, the Dalai Lama Fellows, and Love Serve Remember. A friend and associate of Ram Dass for nearly 50 years, she co-authored with him Compassion in Action: Setting Out on the Path of Service. Their current collaboration is Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying. We spoke about her rich spiritual history, about Ram Dass, and mainly about dealing with death—both of others and ourselves. Learn more about Mirabai Bush here: http://www.mirabaibu

Mirabai Bush discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Dean Sluyter has taught natural meditation throughout the U.S. and beyond for over 40 years, from the Guatemalan rainforest to New Jersey prisons. He is the author of five books, including Natural Meditation: A Guide to Effortless Meditative Practice, which won the 2015 Nautilus Gold Prize for best book on mind, body, and spirit practices, and was an Amazon #1 stress-management bestseller. His latest book is Fear Less: Living Beyond Fear, Anxiety, Anger, and Addiction. Dean has studied and practiced deeply in several traditions, including Vajrayana Buddhism, Bhakti Yoga, and Advaita Vedanta, and gives talks, workshops, and retreats throughout the United States and beyond, from Ivy League colleges to maximum-security prisons. We spoke about the subject of his latest book: how to fear less and the spiritual dimension of dealing with fear. Learn more about Dean Sluyter here: https://www.deansluyter.com.

Dean Sluyter 2 discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Rev. Tiffany Barsotti is a spiritual and medical intuition counselor, a master clinical past lives therapist and researcher at Heal and Thrive in Encinitas, California. Her clinical work focuses on subtle energy, biofield therapies, and energy psychologies. With her spiritual and intuitive guidance, she serves as an integrative practitioner, working alongside medical doctors, naturopaths, osteopaths, chiropractors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other allied health professionals. Tiffany received her Masters of Theology in Energy Medicine with special emphasis in Medical Intuition and Spiritual Counseling from Holos University Graduate Seminary, and was personally mentored by the school’s founders, Drs. Norman Shealy, Caroline Myss, and Christine Page. We spoke about her clinical work, her research on subtle energies, and the intersection of healing and spirituality. Learn more about Tiffany Barsotti here: www.healandthrive.com

Rev. Tiffany Barsotti discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Rev. Diane Berke is the Founder and Spiritual Director of One Spirit Learning Alliance and One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City. Ordained as an interfaith minister in 1988, she is a widely respected pioneer in interfaith and interspiritual ministry education. Diane is on the faculty of Andrew Harvey’s Institute for Sacred Activism, a founding member of The Contemplative Alliance of the Global Peace Initiative of Women, and a certified facilitator for the Circle of Trust® work of the Center for Courage and Renewal. She is the author of numerous books and educational manuals. A psychotherapist and spiritual counselor for over thirty years, Diane is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of New York, and has led workshops and retreats on spiritual development throughout the United States and internationally. We spoke about her own path, her work as a spiritual educator and trainer of interfaith ministers. Learn more about Diane Berke herehttp://www.theinterfaithobserver.org/contributors/2016/