Spirit Matters Talk

Ian Johnson discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

oy Eugene Davis is the founder and Director of the Center for Spiritual Awareness. One of the few remaining direct disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda, he grew up in a farming community in Ohio and, at age 18, read Yogananda’s iconic Autobiography of a Yogi in a public library. Sensing a spiritual connection with Yogananda and the Kriya Yoga tradition, he soon traveled to Los Angeles, met his guru, and was accepted for monastic discipleship training. He was ordained by Yogananda in 1951 and was appointed minister of the Phoenix, Arizona, Self-Realization Fellowship Center in 1952. After two years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, he began his mission as an independent teacher. Since then, he has taught in more than 100 cities in North America as well as in Japan, Brazil, Europe, West Africa, and India. His books, including Paramahansa Yogananda as I Knew Him, have been published in ten languages. He is also the publisher of Truth Journal magazine and writes monthly lessons for students around the world. Learn mo

Roy Eugene Davis discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

This is the third in our series of shows about Paramahansa Yogananda. Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi are the Spiritual Directors of Ananda Worldwide, which traces its lineage to Yogananda and his line of gurus and has spiritual communities, centers, and meditation groups in several countries. They travel the world sharing Yogananda’s teachings and instructing students in the path of Kriya Yoga. Jyotish is the author of How to Meditate: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Art and Science of Meditation, and the couple has coauthored two books about spiritualizing daily life: Touch of Light and Touch of Joy. Married for many years, Jyotish and Devi were honored with the Global Peace Ambassador Peace Award in November 2017 at the United Nations Church Center. Learn more about Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi here, http://www.jyotishanddevi.org/, and about Ananda Worldwide here, http://www.jyotishanddevi.org/about-us/ananda/

Nyaswami Jyotish and Devi discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Brother Prafullananda has been a monk of the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) monastic community since 1983. Born in North Carolina and raised in Gainesville, Florida, he earned undergraduate and Masters degrees in music education and performance from Lawrence University in Wisconsin and Florida State University, respectively. Brother Prafullananda—whose name means “Bliss through cheerfulness”—is the minister in charge of the SRF San Diego Temple. He has served in SRF’s Publications and Editorial Departments and currently speaks on Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings throughout the world. Brother Tyagananda ("Bliss through Inner Renunciation") has been an SRF monk since 1987. Born in a small city north of Rome, Italy, he began practicing yoga in his early teens and was a student of the SRF Lessons by the time he was seventeen. He studied at the Catholic University of Milan before becoming an SRF monk. Brother Tyagananda is co-supervisor of SRF’s Center Department, which oversees the operations of over 600 me

Brothers Tyaganada and Prafullananda discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

This is the first in a series of interviews about Paramahansa Yogananda in advance of Philip Goldberg’s new biography, The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru. The cohost of Spirit Matters, Phil has been studying India’s spiritual traditions for almost 50 years, as a practitioner, teacher, and writer. He is the author or coauthor of more than 20 books, including Roadsigns on the Spiritual Path and the award-winning American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the West, which was named one of the top ten religion books of the year by both Huffington Post and American Library Association’s Booklist. His latest book is the first full-scale biography of Yogananda. An Interfaith Minister and spiritual counselor, he was trained as a teacher of Transcendental Meditation by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and has lectured in a wide range of venues throughout the U.S. and India. He blogs on Elephant Journal and Spirituality & Health mag

Phil Goldberg discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Valerie Gangas is the author of Enlightenment Is Sexy: Every Woman’s Guide to a Magical Life. A popular motivational speaking whose core message is “Living life from the inside out is the only way to roll,” she has gone from being a self-proclaimed “wild child” and a suicidal depressive to a person of whom Oprah Winfrey said, “I want what that girl has.” We spoke about her personal journey, her unusual spiritual experiences, her book, and her message to women about “how to have a kick-ass spiritual life.” Learn more about Valerie Gangas here: https://www.valeriegangas.com/.

Valerie Gangas discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Joseph Bharat Cornell is an internationally renowned author and founder of the widely respected nature awareness program Sharing Nature Worldwide. His first book, Sharing Nature with Children, has been published in twenty languages and sold half a million copies. That book led to his Sharing Nature Book Series, which is used by millions of parents, educators, naturalists, and youth and religious leaders all over the world. His other books, Listening to Nature and The Sky and Earth Touched Me, have inspired thousands of adults to deepen their relationship with nature. His outdoor learning strategy, Flow Learning, was featured by the U.S. National Park Service as one of five recommended learning theories. We spoke about the spiritual dimensions of spending time in nature and his most recent book, Deep Nature Play: A Guide to Wholeness, Aliveness, Creativity, and Inspired Learning. Learn more about Joseph Bharat Cornell here: http://www.jcornell.org/about.html.

Joseph Bharat Cornell discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Ira Israel is the author of the 2017 book How to Survive Your Childhood Now That You’re an Adult: A Path to Authenticity and Awakening. Previously, he was the creator of these video series: A Beginner's Guide to Happiness; A Beginner’s Guide to Mindfulness Meditation; Mindfulness for Anxiety; and Mindfulness for Depression. A Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Mindful Relationship Coach, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and has graduate degrees in Psychology, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. We spoke about his new book, the meaning of authenticity and awakening and the spiritual dimension and the intersection of spirituality and psychology. Learn more about Ira Israel here: www.IraIsrael.com.

Ira Israel - discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Ken Wilber has been hailed as one of the most important thinkers of this era. His more than two dozen highly influential books—including The Spectrum of Consciousness; A Brief History of Everything; No Boundary; Sex, Ecology, Spirituality—have been translated into some 30 foreign languages. His latest publication is The Religion of Tomorrow. The originator of Integral Theory and founder of the Integral Institute, his insights draw from a broad spectrum of disciplines and have been applied to fields as diverse as ecology, sustainability, psychotherapy, psychiatry, education, business, medicine, politics, sports and art. Since the 1970s, his work has had a major influence on contemporary spirituality. Learn more about Ken Wilber here: kenwilber.com

Ken Wilber discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Betty and Noel Stookey, who have been married for over 50 years, together founded "One Light, Many Candles." They produce and perform multifaith presentations combining spoken word and music—both Noel’s compositions and indigenous music from various cultures. Betty is an ordained United Church of Christ minister who served as chaplain at Northfield Mount Hermon School (1997-2005), where she became aware of the need for greater spiritual inclusivity among the culturally diverse student body. Noel was the Paul in the iconic folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary, whose engagement was central to the antiwar and civil rights movements of the 60s and 70s. We spoke about their spiritual histories, the genesis of “One Light, Many Candles,” the difference between interfaith and multifaith and more. Learn more about Betty and Noel Stookey here: http://onelightmanycandles.org/

Elizabeth and Noel Stookey discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Matthew Fox is an internationally acclaimed theologian and spiritual maverick who has spent the last 40 years advocating for a creation-centered spirituality of compassion and justice and re-sacralizing of the earth. He has written more than 30 books, including Original Blessing, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, and The Pope’s War. His books have been translated into 49 languages and have been known for pioneering a unique approach to spirituality as a powerful force to transform religion, education, and culture. Originally a Catholic priest, Fox was silenced for a year and then expelled from the Dominican order by Cardinal Ratzinger for teaching liberation theology and creation spirituality. He currently serves as an Episcopal priest. Among many other projects, he has worked with young people to create the Cosmic Mass (www.thecosmicmass.org) and has worked extensively to reinvent education. We spoke about Creation Spirituality, his efforts to transform religion and his new Order of the Sacred Earth. Learn mo