Spirit Matters Talk

Barbara DeAngelis 2 by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Swami B.V. Tripurari is a lifelong monk and practitioner of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a Hindu tradition that advocates the path of devotion to God (bhakti yoga). Since the 1970s, Swami has traveled the world as a simple renunciate, learning deeply from elders on the path, and inspiring others to cultivate nonviolence and devotion. He is the author of nine scholarly books on the theology and philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, including Joy of Self and Aesthetic Vedanta: The Sacred Path of Passionate Love. Through his books, three ecologically sustainable intentional communities, international retreats, hours of poetic discourse, and his own personal example, Swami addresses the anxieties of postmodern life with practical mystic insight in ways that provide meaning and impetus to engage in selfless giving. Learn more about Swami Tripurari here: www.swami.org

02 Apr 2020 15:39 by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

This is a special interview with Spirit Matters cohost Philip Goldberg, about his new book, Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times; Powerful Tools to Cultivate Calm, Clarity and Courage. Phil has been studying the world’s spiritual traditions for 50 years, as a practitioner, teacher, and writer. He is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including Roadsigns on the Spiritual Path, the award-winning American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the West, and the only full-scale biography of Paramahansa Yogananda, The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi who Became the First Modern Guru. 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 magazine, cohosts this podcast, and conducts tours of India with American Veda Tours. Learn more about Phil here:

Isha Das (Craig Bullock) is an accomplished teacher, writer, lecturer, and practicing psychotherapist. The co-founder and spiritual director of The Assisi Institute in Rochester, New York, he holds graduate degrees in Religious Studies from the University of Notre Dame and Clinical Psychology from the University of Duquesne. His education includes extensive study in psychology, spirituality, mysticism, world religions, and yoga, and his mentors include Father Richard Rohr and Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda who ordained Isha Das as a minister and Kriya Yoga teacher. He is the author of Open Wider the Door: The Integration of Kriya Yoga and Mystical Christianity and other books. His stated mission is “to present the teachings of Jesus in a fresh spirit and to show the underlying unity between Jesus Christ and Paramahansa Yogananda.” We spoke about that aspect of his work and the spiritual teachings of St. Francis of Assisi. Learn more about Isha Das here: https://assisi-institute.o

Isha Das by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

John Prendergast is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a psychotherapy practice in San Rafael, CA. A Bay Area native, he received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the California Institute of Integral Studies, where he served as adjunct professor of psychology. His long-time commitment to spiritual growth as both a practitioner and teacher began in 1971. His path has touched upon Transcendental Meditation, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Jean Klein (a European medical doctor and master of Advaita Vedanta and Kashmiri Shaivism), Sri Ramana Maharshi, Byron Katie and Mata Amritanandamayi (Ammachi). Most recently, he has studied with Adyashanti. This is our second visit with John. In our first interview we discussed his book In Touch: How to Tune in to the Inner Guidance of Your Body and Trust Yourself. This time we focused on his new book, The Deep Heart: Our Portal to Presence, and what John calls “the convergence of psychological healing and spiritual awakening.” Learn more about John Prendergast here: www.listeni

John Prendergast Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Mirabai Starr writes creative non-fiction and contemporary translations of sacred literature, especially the Spanish mystics. She taught Philosophy and World Religions at the University of New Mexico-Taos for 20 years and now teaches and speaks internationally on contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialog. A certified bereavement counselor, Mirabai helps mourners harness the transformational power of loss. Her books include Dark Night of the Soul (about John of the Cross), The Interior Castle (about Teresa of Avila), God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity & Islam, and Caravan of No Despair: A Memoir of Loss and Transformation. Her most recent book, Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce & Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics, was the subject of our last interview with her. This is the fourth time she’s been on the show. We spoke on March 23, 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic when much of the world was in lockdown. We reached out to Mirabai to speak about the wisdom and comfort tha

Mirabai Starr 4 Discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Raghu Markus has been involved in music and transformational media since the early 1970s when he was program director of CKGM-FM in Montreal. He spent two years in India with Neem Karoli Baba and Ram Dass, and in 1974 collaborated with Ram Dass on the box set Love Serve Remember. (This interview is mainly an homage to Ram Dass, with whom Raghu remained closely associated until Ram Dass passed in December 2019.) In 1990 he launched Triloka Records and Karuna Music. Triloka became a critical leader in the development of world music and was home to such artists as Krishna Das, Hugh Masekela, Walela, and Jai Uttal, as well as transformational media projects. Raghu was also associate producer for on-line and television events for Ram Dass, Oprah Winfrey, and Eckhart Tolle. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Love Serve Remember Foundation and hosts the Mindrolling Podcast (on the Be Here Now Network), which is about “the intersection of culture, consciousness and realization.” We spoke mainly about Ra

Raghu Markus discussion by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Stephan Bodian offers webinars, retreats, videos, books, and spiritual counseling that make profound spiritual teachings and practices accessible to a global audience. His ground-breaking guidebook Meditation for Dummies helped bring mindfulness to the mainstream, and Wake Up Now offered a road map of the journey to spiritual awakening. His other books include Timeless Visions, Healing Voices and Everyday Mindfulness. He was editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal for 10 years, and his articles on meditation, spirituality, and health have appeared in various magazines. A licensed psychotherapist, Stephan has been a pioneer in the integration of Eastern wisdom and Western psychology. He blends compassionate self-inquiry, nondual insight, and transformational techniques, offering a “direct approach” to self-realization that bypasses deliberate practices and points directly to our very own awakened awareness. We spoke about all of that and more. Learn more about Stephan Bodian here: stephanbodian.org

Stephan Bodian by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Micah Mortali holds a master’s degree from Goddard College and is the author of the book Rewilding: Meditations, Practices and Skills for Awakening in Nature, published by Sounds True. Micah’s life’s work is about reconnecting modern people with the restorative powers of the living earth through mindfulness, yoga and rewilding practices. His writing and teaching is inspired by the Haudenosaunee concept of the seventh generation, and he believes that we are collectively called to consider the ramifications of our actions today to those living in 2229. A 500-hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher and a Level 2 Mindful Outdoor Guide, he is the founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership and the Director of the Kripalu Schools. He leads trainings, retreats and seminars on rewilding and mindful outdoor leadership at Kripalu and across New England. We spoke about his new book, being in nature as a spiritual practice, and exercises that focus on being present and attentive in the wild. Learn more about Micah Mort

Micah Mortali by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

udith Teitelman has straddled the worlds of arts, literature and business since she was a teenager, and worked her first job as a salesperson at a B.Dalton/Pickwick Bookstore. Life’s journeys took her from bookstores to commercial fine art galleries to the nonprofit arts and cultural sector, in which she has worked as staff, consultant and educator for more than three decades.Throughout this time, Teitelman continued her pursuit of all things literary. Guesthouse for Ganesha, her debut novel, is described as “a tale of love, loss, and spirit reclaimed” that weaves “Eastern beliefs and perspectives with Western realities and pragmatism.” The journey of the main character, a young Jewish woman, ranges from 1920s Germany to India, and the narrator is Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity known as the destroyer of obstacles. We spoke about the novel and her own spiritual path. Learn more about Judith Teitelman here: https://guesthouseforganesha.com/about-the-author/

Judith Teitelman by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

25 Nov 2019 14:45 by Discussion by Dennis and Phil

Spring Washam is a well-known meditation teacher, author and visionary leader based in California and Peru. Considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based healing practices to diverse communities, she is one of the founders and core teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center in downtown Oakland, CA. She received extensive training by Jack Kornfield, is a member of the teacher’s council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in northern California, and has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism for the last 20 years. A shamanic practitioner, she has studied indigenous healing practices for over a decade and founded Lotus Vine Journeys, an organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom. She teaches meditation retreats, workshops and classes worldwide. Her writing has appeared in many online journals and publications such as Lions Roar, Tricycle, and Belief.net. Her new book is A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage, and Wisdom