Spirit Matters Talk

Amanda Lucia is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California-Riverside. Her research engages the global exportation, appropriation, and circulation of Hinduism, with designated attention to global guru movements. On her previous visit to Spirit Matters we discussed her book about Mata Amritanandamayi, Reflections of Amma: Devotees in a Global Embrace. On this program we focused on her new book, White Utopias: The Religious Exoticism of Transformational Festivals, which analyzes yoga practice and the intersections of whiteness and religious exoticism among the “spiritual, but not religious” (SBNR) at global transformational festivals such as such as Bhakti Fest, Wanderlust, Lightning in a Bottle, and Burning Man. The author of numerous scholarly articles, she is currently crafting a body of research on media representations of gurus, with particular attention to scandal. Learn more about Amanda Lucia here: https://www.amandajeanlucia.com/about

Amanda Lucia 2 Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Dana Sawyer is professor emeritus of philosophy and world religions at the Maine College of Art. His primary expertise is in Hinduism and Buddhism, but for more than twenty years his work has focused on comparative mysticism, theories of the “perennial philosophy,” and the value of psychedelic experiences in the study of mysticism. He is the author of two critically acclaimed spiritual biographies, of Aldous Huxley (2002) and of Huston Smith (2014), and has written on a wide range of topics related to consciousness expansion, Tibetan Buddhism, Hindu mysticism, and alternative philosophies. His essays have been published by the University of California at Berkeley, the State University of New York, the University of Muenster, Germany, and have appeared in such popular journals as Parabola, Yoga Journal and Tricycle: the Buddhist Review. Most recently, he published an essay in the Journal of Humanistic Psychology on common errors in the ways scholars have characterized the perennial philosophy. In this convers

Dana Sawyer Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Dr. Jon Kolkin is an internationally recognized photographer as well as a physician, educator, humanitarian, and public speaker. His award-wining images have been widely published, exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions, and have drawn the attention of private and corporate clients worldwide. He has served on the faculty of the prestigious Maine Media Workshops and is a frequent guest lecturer at major universities and other venues worldwide. Kolkin’s renowned Inner Harmony series—rare and intimate photographs taken in contemplative Buddhist settings in Asia—has been exhibited in museums and galleries in the U.S. and abroad, and has garnered 20 photography awards and feature coverage in LensWork magazine. It has now been published as a book: Inner Harmony: Living in Balance, with a Foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and commentary about mindfulness and Buddhist practice. We spoke about the book, his method of obtaining photographs in sensitive settings, his connection to the Dalai Lama, and his

Jon Kolkin Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Paul Denniston is a well-known yoga teacher based in Los Angeles. Certified in Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Kundalini Yoga, Laughter Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Let Your Yoga Dance, he is the founder of Grief Yoga®, which combines various forms of yoga, movement, breath, and sound to release pain and suffering and connect to love. At one time he also taught movement at the Stella Adler Academy in Hollywood. He has taught frequently at teaches at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, at Esalen, and at 1440 Multiversity, and he leads online courses dealing with grief and loss. Paul has trained thousands of therapists, counselors, and health care professionals in the United States, Europe, and Australia through Grief Movement Training; he certifies yoga teachers through Grief Yoga Teacher Training. Paul’s new book is Healing Through Yoga: Transform Loss into Empowerment. We spoke about his path to Grief Yoga, the contents of his book, and key points about healing from all forms of loss. Learn more about Paul Denn

Paul Denniston Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Clare Goldsberry is a professional writer whose has been engaged in the study of religion and spiritual traditions since childhood. Her path has taken her from Protestant Christianity (at one time her ambition was to become a minister), to Mormonism (she wrote the book A Stranger in Zion: A Christian’s Journey through the Heart of Utah Mormonism), to the Ageless Wisdom traditions, Gnosticism, and finally Hinduism and Buddhism. She remains a practicing Buddhist. Clare has written about religion and spiritual traditions for various publications and has taught a number of unique classes such as the three-part Quantum Buddhism. She teaches introductory classes on various spiritual traditions for the Maricopa County Community College in Phoenix, AZ, and the New Vision Center for Spiritual Living. Her latest book is The Illusion of Life and Death: Mind, Consciousness, and Eternal Being. We spoke mainly about that book, and about her partner Brent’s illness and death, what it means to have a good death means, which

Clare Goldsberry is a professional writer whose has been engaged in the study of religion and spiritual traditions since childhood. Her path has taken her from Protestant Christianity (at one time her ambition was to become a minister), to Mormonism (she wrote the book A Stranger in Zion: A Christian’s Journey through the Heart of Utah Mormonism), to the Ageless Wisdom traditions, Gnosticism, and finally Hinduism and Buddhism. She remains a practicing Buddhist. Clare has written about religion and spiritual traditions for various publications and has taught a number of unique classes such as the three-part Quantum Buddhism. She teaches introductory classes on various spiritual traditions for the Maricopa County Community College in Phoenix, AZ, and the New Vision Center for Spiritual Living. Her latest book is The Illusion of Life and Death: Mind, Consciousness, and Eternal Being. We spoke mainly about that book, and about her partner Brent’s illness and death, what it means to have a good death means, which

Akash Kapur is a respected journalist who has written for a variety of publications, including The Atlantic, The Economist, Granta, The Hindu, The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Wall Street Journal. At one point he wrote a fortnightly “Letter from India” column for the international edition of The New York Times. A Senior Fellow at New York University’s The GovLab, where he works on issues such as open data, Internet governance, and technology law and policy, he is the author of India Becoming: A Portrait of Life in Modern India and, recently, Better to Have Gone: Love, Death, and the Quest for Utopia in Auroville. He was born and raised in Auroville, the intentional community in South India based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. We spoke mainly about that book and the remarkable story it tells, and we touched on themes such as the promise of utopia that Auroville represented. Learn more about Akash Kapur here: https://akashkapur.com/.

Akash Kapur Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Jason Gardner is executive editor at New World Library, a San Francisco Bay Area publisher where he has worked for twenty-five years. He acquires books on spirituality, philosophy, personal growth / psychology, parenting, and nature/environment. New World Library publishes classic books such as The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra, Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman, and The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. Before joining New World Library, Jason worked as a writer and editor for a nonprofit magazine covering urban environmental issues, for a literary agency, and as a bookseller. He lives with his wife and children in Berkeley, California. We spoke about what he’s learned in his many years at a company that specializes in contemporary spirituality. Learn more about Jason Gardner here: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/jasongardner/ and about New World Library here: https://www.newworld

Jason Gardner Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

This is the second of two episodes celebrating the 75th anniversary of Paramahansa Yogananda’s iconic Autobiography of a Yogi. Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi are the Spiritual Directors of Ananda Worldwide, which was founded by Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Yogananda. Ananda has spiritual communities, centers, and meditation groups in several countries. The couple 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 Jyoyish and Devi have coauthored four books about spiritualizing daily life: Touch of Light, Touch of Joy, Touch of Love, and Touch of Peace. 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, and about Ananda Worldwide here.

Jyotish And Devi Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Brahmachari Martin has been a member of the Self-Realization Fellowship monastic community since 1977. Born and raised in Southern California, he currently resides at the Self-Realization Fellowship monks ashram at the SRF Lake Shrine, where he assists with ministerial duties. Brahmachari Martin has traveled throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe to give lectures on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. We spoke about the remarkable influence of Yogananda’s iconic book, Autobiography of a Yogi, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its publication in 1946. Learn more about Self-Realization Fellowship here: https://yogananda.org/, and about Autobiography of a Yogi here: https://yogananda.org/blog/75th-anniversary-of-autobiography-of-a-yogi-in-the-news.

Brother Martin Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Neal Allen is a coach and writer who studies and practices traditional and contemporary spiritual paths. His private coaching practice blends standard psychodynamics with spiritually oriented methods. His earlier careers included newspaper journalism and corporate marketing for large public companies. The author of Shapes of Truth: Discover God Inside You, he lives in Northern California with his wife, the author Anne Lamott. We spoke about what he’s learned from Adyashanti, A.H. Almaas (the Diamond Approach) and other spiritual teachers, as well as his book, which focuses on “thirty-five abstract nouns of value - concepts like strength, will, and acceptance - show up as symbolic feelings in your body, for exploration by anyone.” Learn more about Neal Allen here: https://www.shapesoftruth.com/neal-allen-bio-1

Neal Allen Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil