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730. Julie Nelson
Julie Seido Nelson is a transmitted teacher (Sensei) in the Maezumi Roshi Zen lineage. Her home Zen community is the Greater Boston Zen Center, a sangha which has experienced three major upheavals due to teacher arrogance and abuses of power over the last several years. She is also a teacher at the Great Plains Zen Center in Monroe, Wisconsin, and has written for Buddhist audiences in Tricycle magazine and on her blog. Having begun Zen practice in 2004, she has found it to be of immense value. She is deeply saddened when people, either in addition to or instead of realizing the benefits, suffer great harm. When not reflecting writing about Zen, she sometimes writes and give talks based on her pre-retirement academic work as a feminist and ecological economist. She enjoys visiting her two children and two grandchildren and enjoying the New England outdoors. Books: Practicing Safe Zen: Navigating the Pitfalls on the Road to Liberation (Monkfish, 2025) Amazon Indie Pubs Economics for Humans (University of Chicago Press, 2nd ed. 2018) Website: julieanelson.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded May 11, 2025
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668. Anastasia Wesselink Moellering
Anastasia is a Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Coach, Intuitive Life Coach, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, and a self-proclaimed recovering Zumba Instructor that has turned her lifelong pursuit of holistic wellness into a thriving holistic wellness practice, offering services online, and at her wellness studio located outside of Chicago. After dozens of profound spiritual experiences and a life-changing NDE in 2019, Anastasia holds a fundamental understanding that unconditional love is our natural state of being. With a powerful combination of consciousness, awareness, and intention, Anastasia has worked with hundreds of clients to create access to a transformational force that aids in letting go of mental, emotional, and/or physical pain, in turn creating lasting inner harmony. She is an ambassador of living a fully integrated, balanced, and intuitive life. Website: thehealingheart.com TikTok: @theheartshines YouTube Channel Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded October 24, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:58 - Out-of-body experience and the dentist chair 00:09:52 - Tapping into Timelessness 00:13:21 - Clearing the Windows of Perception 00:19:19 - The Experience of Bliss in the Void 00:24:37 - The Enigma of Understanding and Knowing 00:31:36 - The Immensity of Soul Experiences 00:38:05 - Oneness in Individuality 00:41:46 - Oneness and the Impact of Actions 00:44:09 - The Expansiveness of Oneness 00:47:17 - Choosing to Experience Others' Feelings 00:50:13 - The Nature of Good and Bad 00:53:11 - Contribution of Profound Experiences 00:57:15 - The Purpose of the Physical Body 01:02:33 - Connecting to the Infinite Knowledge 01:06:56 - The Soul's Return to Oneness 01:09:07 - Connecting with Deceased Relatives 01:11:56 - Life Between Lives 01:14:23 - Unique Insights and Varied Experiences 01:18:07 - The Importance of How You Feel 01:22:46 - The Expansion of Consciousness and Purpose of Creation 01:25:25 - Different Experiences of Physical Life 01:30:22 - The Omniscience of God and the Soul's Connection 01:35:03 - The Power of Anita Morjani's NDE 01:38:33 - The Power of Energy and Vibration in Healing 01:43:02 - The Power of Sound Therapy and its Effects on the Body 01:47:15 - Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change 01:49:50 - Experiencing Peace, Love, and Joy 01:53:34 - The Inspiring Story of a Renowned Saint 01:57:39 - Connecting with The Healing Heart 02:00:15 - Conclusion and Farewell
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293. Wayne Wirs
Wayne took his own life on August 31, 2017. Discussion in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Eulogy written for Wayne by Jerry Freeman. Putting his words in the past tense, Wayne Wirs was a transparent, rational, nondual mystic. Wayne blogged about his day-to-day life as a semi-homeless, van-dwelling drifter and had been doing so before, during, and after his awakening experience in 2009. Wayne considered himself more of a spiritual explorer than teacher, so his "teachings" tended toward first-hand, real-world experiences (open-ended, integral, mystical and evidence-based) rather than academic hard and fast truths. Unlike many nondual teachers who focus on an all-or-nothing approach to awakening, Wayne advocated a simple yet integral fading of the ego based on key qualities: Eternal (soul, practical), Radiance (love, emotional), Emptiness (awareness, rational), and Intimate (mystical experience). He called this dynamic, flowing, magical way of living Mystical Oneness. Wayne had two key sayings which best describe his message: "The less there is of you, the more there is of the Divine." "The smart have their books. The wise have their scars." Website: waynewirs.com Books: Mystical Oneness and the Nine Aspects of Being: A step-by-step guide to enlightenment and beyond Fading Toward Enlightenment A Mystic's Journal: The Dilemma of Divine Surrender A Simple Explanation For Everything Seeing Clearly Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/23/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:02 - Living a Nomadic Lifestyle 00:07:36 - A Stern Confrontation 00:16:03 - The Journey to Teacher Mode 00:22:16 - Detaching from Thoughts and the Thread of Existence 00:27:31 - The Divine Interaction in My Life 00:33:58 - The Limitations of Personal Experience and Concepts in Enlightenment 00:40:18 - The Wisdom of Scars 00:45:15 - A Beautiful Encounter with a Mentally Slow Man 00:49:00 - The Experience of the Flowing Self 00:53:18 - The Importance of Living the Experience 00:58:16 - The Practice of Living True and Karmic Implications 01:02:36 - The Challenges of Swearing and Fading into Enlightenment 01:06:38 - Communion with God and Nature 01:11:16 - The Four Stages of Spiritual Awakening 01:15:57 - The Hardest One: Emptiness and Thoughts 01:20:28 - Surrendering to Her Will 01:23:56 - Facing Fear in the Dark 01:27:02 - Setting Boundaries and Taking Action 01:30:10 - Balancing Flow with Individual Intention 01:33:52 - Going with the Flow and Divine Intelligence 01:37:24 - Evidence of God and the Denial of Atheism 01:40:10 - Awakening and Becoming a Mystic 01:43:31 - The Concept of Opposites and Polarities 01:47:00 - The Perspective on Death 01:50:21 - The Illusion of Fixed Identity 01:53:52 - Living from the Heart 01:56:47 - Charging for Skype Conversations 02:01:18 - Wrap-Up and Appreciation for Wayne Save Save Save Save
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134. Howard Falco
Howard Falco is an international author, speaker and spiritual teacher specializing in self-awareness and the power of the mind as it relates to the creation of the experience of life. His book on human understanding and potential is titled, I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are (Penguin Group). On the surface, Howard seems to be the everyday regular guy. However, in the middle of ordinary life, this married father of two went through a spontaneous and extraordinary expansion of mind. The dramatic depth and breadth of this shift in consciousness unveiled the answers to many of the largest and deepest questions that humanity seeks answers for on a regular basis, such as “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” and “Why do I suffer?” Through his experience, he came to a full understanding of the conditions that led to every moment of his life. As a result, the core essence underlying all of human creation, action, reaction, joys, and suffering was revealed to him. Stunned and inspired by this powerful knowledge, Howard set out to honor what happened by sharing what he learned. I AM is the incredible result of this effort. Known for his powerfully clear and relatable style, Howard presents the wisdom regarding how to understand and integrate more with the creative power of the mind to accomplish what is desired or to overcome any challenge you face in life, allowing you to achieve a greater sense of peace, understanding, and fulfillment in the process. More about his book and work can be found at HowardFalco.com. He is also on Facebook and Twitter (@Howard Falco). Summary and transcript of this interview Interview conducted 8/11/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:05:02 - The Journey to Happiness 00:09:07 - Finding the Answer in the Seminar 00:13:12 - A Funny Story about Intention 00:16:23 - Pearls of Insight and Infinite Possibility 00:19:48 - The Shift in Understanding 00:22:25 - A Thirty-Five Year Journey 00:24:50 - The intention of rocks and matter 00:26:54 - The Power of Personal Creation 00:29:26 - The Beauty of Divine Universe 00:31:37 - The Malleability of Consciousness 00:34:01 - The possibility of an abrupt turnaround 00:36:13 - Finding Wisdom within Yourself 00:38:46 - The Sacredness of Attention 00:40:56 - Accepting Where You Are 00:43:33 - The Formation of Beliefs and the Role of the Ego 00:45:49 - Accepting Limitations for Personal Growth 00:48:48 - Embracing Uncomfortable Change 00:51:58 - Becoming a Witness to Your Ego 00:55:13 - Being Multi-dimensional and the Thrill of Life 00:58:50 - The Paradox of Giving and Receiving 01:01:33 - The Role of Emotions in Achieving Balance 01:04:09 - Intention and the Resting State of Consciousness 01:07:05 - The Nature of Creativity 01:10:04 - Battling Resistance and Fear of Change 01:13:21 - The Power of Awareness and Faith 01:16:10 - The Power of Acceptance and Understanding 01:19:52 - The Story of the Drowning Man and Divine Intervention 01:23:02 - Bridging Spirituality and Science 01:26:16 - Lessons in Everything 01:29:32 - Farewell Scottsdale
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034. Rick Laird
Richard Quentin 'Rick' Laird was a jazz musician, born on 5 February 1941 and died on July 4, 2021. He was a bass player best known for his place in The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Laird was born in Dublin, Ireland. He played music from a young age and enrolled for guitar and piano lessons. He started playing jazz after moving to New Zealand at the age of 16 with his father. He played guitar in jam bands in New Zealand before buying an upright bass. After extensive touring in New Zealand he moved to Sydney, Australia where he played with many top jazz musicians including Don Burrows. He moved to England in 1962 and became house bassist at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, playing with many greats including the guitarist Wes Montgomery and Sonny Stitt. From 1963-4 Laird then at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was recorded on Sonny Rollins's soundtrack for the movie Alfie and played in The Brian Auger Trinity (July 1963-February 1964) and The Brian Auger Group (Feb-October 1964). His next step was to go to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied arranging, composition, and string bass. He then teamed up with John McLaughlin and The Mahavishnu Orchestra to play electric bass until 1974, when the band broke up. After that, he moved to New York and played with Stan Getz (a tour in 1977) and Chick Corea (a tour the following year). Laird put out one album as a leader, Soft Focus. Today, he is a successful photographer as well as a private bass tutor, and an author of a number of intermediate to advanced-level bass books. In 1962, just before leaving Sydney for London, a friend gave him a copy of J.Krishnamurti’s book “The First and Last Freedom”. This began a long journey as a seeker which included drugs, alcohol, meditation, Scientology, EST, AA, etc. In early 2008, after reading Gangaji’s book “The Diamond in Your Pocket” everything changed, what had always been there became obvious and spontaneously the seeking ended. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/18/2010 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Musical Background 00:03:58 - Discovering Krishnamurti's Book 00:08:29 - Troublemaker in School, Early Experiences with LSD 00:12:22 - Different Perspectives and Seeking 00:16:43 - Joining the Monte Vigne Orchestra in New York 00:21:33 - Life on the Road with Mahavishnu Orchestra 00:25:23 - Samsara in Action 00:28:30 - Personal Demons and Inadequacy 00:31:06 - The Benefits of the e-meter 00:33:33 - The Early Days of Scientology 00:35:10 - Transitioning from Scientology to Photography 00:36:54 - Rediscovering my Passion for Photography 00:39:20 - Discovering a Niche Market 00:41:32 - From Drinking to Spiritual Seeking 00:43:21 - Finding Sobriety and Spiritual Growth 00:45:30 - Seeking Spiritual Teachings, from Osho to Buddhism 00:48:30 - A Profound Time in New York 00:51:55 - The Shock of Realization 00:54:39 - The Immersion in Reality 00:57:00 - The Power of Language and Stories 00:59:48 - Different Approaches to Non-duality 01:02:11 - Qualifying Claims of Awakening 01:05:00 - The Infinite Room for Improvement in Awakening 01:08:05 - Different Strokes for Different Folks 01:10:50 - Something Wonderful is Taking Place 01:13:37 - Evolving Perspective and Less Engagement with Thoughts 01:15:26 - The Journey to Inner Freedom 01:18:09 - The Value of Difficult Experiences 01:21:12 - Ram Dass and the Power of Now 01:24:04 - Humility and Relaxation in Awakening 01:26:59 - Conclusion and Farewell Save
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