Deep Transformation

Ep. 214 (Part 2 of 2) | Part 2 of the 16th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series takes us on a sweet journey farther into our exploration of the nature of the absolute. Hameed Ali discusses the paradox of the absolute, being both source and cessation of all things, the nonduality of emptiness and beingness, these being two sides of the same coin, and explains why many nondual teachings do not touch upon the absolute. He makes sense of the difficult-to-fathom concept of pure emptiness, explaining that the absolute’s nature is absence—in contrast with presence—and relates that Mystery is the essence of the absolute, the fundamental essence of the nature of reality. “We are never going to know where it’s at, what’s happening, what life is about,” he laughs. Our knowledge is but “small islands in the vast ocean of mystery we live in;” mystery cannot be eliminated. In the absolute, the soul finds its final resting place, Hameed tells us. The absolute is our true home—the essence of the meaning of home. All humans are searching for their true home, Hameed says, and they search in many places. But here the search is over. Reflections of the absolute bring us closer to love, like when we are in love, Hameed continues. Being in love with an outer beloved brings us closer to the inner beloved and we see deeper. “The absolute is total intimacy, Hameed finishes. “In the absolute we are intimate with everything.” How do we express this in the world, in our ordinary lives? “It becomes very simple,” Hameed says. “The absolute is the essence of simplicity—so simple, even though there is a profundity…” Recorded October 9, 2025. “You don’t have to experience the absolute to know nonduality.” ​ Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2 Emptiness is nondual with consciousness, two sides of the same thing (01:03) Many nondual teachings don’t talk about the absolute (02:50) You don’t have to experience the absolute to know nonduality (03:32) There’s no sense of individual self, but some teachings take the absolute as the ultimate Self (04:52) Making sense of pure emptiness: the absolute’s nature is absence—in contrast with presence (09:47) The absolute is the essence of mystery (12:59) Experiencing all phenomena as projections of the absolute (13:57) The absolute reveals that true nature itself is unmanifest (17:58) Mystery is the nature of the absolute; the absolute IS mystery (19:08) The absolute is the extreme limit of purity; the heart empty of everything except the love of God (23:13) We live in an ocean of mystery; what we know are little islands (25:07) The search ends in the absolute; the soul is home (27:32) Reflections

Ep. 213 (Part 1 of 2) | The 16th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series is about the absolute, the source dimension of all manifestation, deeper than any other dimension, the vastness beyond vastness. In Part 1, Hameed gives a wonderful description of the majesty and the blackness of the absolute, and tells the story of when he first experienced being one with the absolute himself. When Roger Walsh asks him, what are the doorways to the absolute, Hameed talks about mystical poverty and also the way of the heart. “When the true beloved shines through the heart, it’s an amazing ecstasy… a mindblowing kind of beauty,” he says. He discusses the fear people often feel as they approach cessation of all perception, and the need for the basic trust we were born with (which often gets clobbered as we grow up) to proceed. What changes after an experience of the absolute? John Dupuy asks. If one abides in this realization, it cleanses the soul of all impurities, and our action embodies the virtues, Hameed answers. In Part 2, which will be released December 25th, Hameed delves into the paradox of the absolute (the absolute is the elimination, the annihilation, the cessation of all things—and the source of all things), the nonduality of emptiness and awareness, and explains that mystery is the essence of the absolute: the absolute IS mystery, he says. There is laughter all around when Hameed says you can never completely “get” it, because there’s nothing there to get! Your mind disappears as you’re trying to get it. Towards the end, the conversation relaxes so deeply into the subject of the absolute, you can just about feel its presence. We become intimate with everything in the absolute, Hameed says. It is the soul’s final resting place, our true home, where the search ends. Recorded October 9, 2025. “The absolute itself is majesty, and the universe that emerges is beauty.” Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1 I ntroducing dialogue #16 in the A.H. Almaas Wisdom Series , focusing on the source dimension, the apex of Hameed’s book The Inner Journey Home (00:41) “By simply witnessing the process of manifestation… the soul experiences itself as a vast silent witness… discovering a dimension deeper than any other, the absolute” (02:18) Being the absolute, one experiences an emptiness so empty there is no sensation (05:29) Cessation of perception, as the Buddha called it, was exactly Hameed’s experience (09:57) Neglected teachings of Nisargadatta: awareness that is not aware of itself can be experienced as “rock-like” (11:26) The story of Hameed’s first experience of the absolute (15:19) Is the absolute the destination? What is cessation? Is it the same as the absolute? (16:47) What changes after an experience of the absolute? (21:00) The absolute is majesty, the universe that emerges is beauty (23:18) The flowering of virtues follows true realization (24:24) The spiritual path has two sides: knowing who you are and living it (26:03) Moving towards cessation, people feel terror (26:53) Trust is essential; the more we are loved as an infant, the more we trust (28:25) What are the doorways into the realization of the absolute? (32:02) Mystical poverty is one doorway; the recognition that the soul has nothing of its own—it all comes from the Source (35:29) There is also the way of the heart, finding the true beloved within...

Ep. 212 (Part 2 of 2) | In Part 2 of the compelling conversation with SAND founders Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo, the discussion turns to the making of their 2021 documentary film about the tragic injustices inflicted upon Palestinians in the West Bank. Where Olive Trees Weep is a very beautiful, heartbreaking, and eye opening film we highly recommend to our listeners. “How do we stop the violence?” asks co-host John Dupuy. No one knows the answer, but “each of us can find a way to alleviate the suffering in Palestine now as we grapple with the question of how to stop the wounds that continue to bleed,” Zaya and Maurizio contend. “We can stand for justice, food, and human rights, recognize the dignity of Palestinians and fight for their freedom.” Spiritual communities are mostly quiet on this issue, Zaya mentions. But “it’s not a political issue,” she says, “it’s a human issue—we are losing our humanity. If we believe in oneness, we need to face our discomfort and turn towards the pain, towards the suffering. Discomfort is the very essence of the issue on a psychological and archetypal level,” Zaya adds. Zaya and Maurizio are also working on a remarkable series of films called The Eternal Song , an ongoing project to bring forth teachings from Indigenous communities around the world. To date, they have released The Eternal Song , Mauri: The Vital Essence of All Beings, and most recently If an Owl Calls Your Name . Thank you, Zaya and Maurizio, for contributing your gifts in these stunning films, so poignant and important in these disconnected, turbulent times, and for sharing your extraordinary wisdom with our Deep Transformation listeners. Recorded October 16, 2025. “Opening to the darkness and the pain is the gift of this time. We are all one; we cannot continue to separate ourselves into our comfortable silos .” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 Making the 2021 film Where Olive Trees Weep , about the tragic mistreatment of Palestinians in the West Bank (00:58) Making films about the effects of colonization all over the world (04:36) The more hateful the emails Zaya &amp; Mauriozio received, the more they answered &amp; engaged (06:01) There are 80 years of history behind the conflict in Palestine; everywhere you look there’s injustice (06:57) Apartheid in Palestine is maybe more extreme than in South Africa (10:26) What can we do about Gaza now? Stand for justice, food &amp; human rights, recognize the dignity of Palestinians &amp; fight for their freedom (12:37) Netanyahu is not the problem, the system is rotten to the core (15:20) How do we stop the violence? (18:49) Acknowledging the beauty &amp; power of Zaya &amp; Maurizio’s Where Olive Trees Weep (20:37) The silence about Gaza in most spiritual communities: if we believe in oneness, we need to turn towards the suffering (25:38) Thanking Zaya &amp; Maurizio for the film, and tales of the transformative effects of engaging with senders of hate mail (29:26) Zaya &amp; Maurizio’s movie The Eternal Song came out in June 2025, but they are making many more films in Indigenous communities, like If an Owl Calls Your Name (link below) (34:10) Opening to the darkness and the pain is the gift of this time—we are all one, and we cannot continue to separate ourselves into our comfortable silos (37:57) Resources &amp; References – Part 2 <a...

Ep. 211 (Part 1 of 2) | Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo are not only the founders of the longstanding and highly regarded Science &amp; Nonduality Conference (SAND), but also brilliant filmmakers, producing stunning documentaries about the injustice and suffering occurring in Palestine and elsewhere, as well as films that feature the eternal wisdom of elders from Indigenous communities around the world. Zaya and Maurizio are clearly passionate about their work, and co-host Roger Walsh points out they do a beautiful job of intertwining the personal, professional, and spiritual into an offering that meets the needs of our time. As Maurizio says, “There is no spiritual work. Period. Everything is spiritual work! It’s life.” In Part 1 of this episode, lively and inspired, Zaya and Maurizio share what they’ve learned about life, spirituality, trauma, healing, guidance, and the deep-time perspective of the Maori. They relate the trajectory of SAND’s evolution from featuring male-dominated nondual teachings to including an understanding of trauma, somatic healing, feminine, earth-oriented teachings, and Indigenous wisdom. “Healing never ends; it’s a lifelong journey—there’s no modern solution that will ‘fix’ you,” Zaya tells us. Also, “We are constantly being guided if we just listen.” In Part 2, Zaya and Maurizio describe the making of their 2021 documentary about the tragic mistreatment of Palestinians in the West Bank, a beautiful, heartbreaking film called Where Olive Trees Weep . Also their film The Eternal Song , an ongoing project to bring forth Indigenous teachings, so valuable and timely for us now in our chaotic, disconnected world. This whole conversation is thought provoking, delightful, profound, paradigm shifting, and inspiring all at once. Recorded October 16, 2025. “There is no spiritual work without trauma work.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 1 I ntroducing Zaya &amp; Maurizio Benazzo, documentary filmmakers &amp; founders of the Science &amp; Nonduality Conference (SAND) (00:57) Tracing the trajectory of Zaya &amp; Maurizio’s work, beginning in India (02:24) What was Nisargadatta Maharaj’s legacy? (03:47) Putting science and mystics together: the seed that created SAND (06:35) How SAND evolved from male-dominated nondual teachings to include the body, an understanding of trauma, and female &amp; Indigenous teachers (08:18) Feminizing spiritual teachings: women mystics &amp; their connection with the Earth (12:38) SAND focuses on educating the audience to be open, ask good questions, rather than uplifting particular teachers (16:09) How the film The Wisdom of Trauma with Gabor Maté went viral (20:08) All of life is spiritual work, and there’s no spiritual work without trauma work, but spiritual bypassing was very real at SAND (24:13) With Maté’s understanding about trauma, people find they’re not alone and they don’t need to “fix” the pain (26:39) Healing is a lifelong journey; trauma is systemic and intergenerational (32:08) The deep-time perspective and how the Maori trace their ancestors back to the stars (33:22) Indigenous teachers say we heal backwards and we heal forwards; nothing is individual, we are all interconnected (34:54) Now is the time for the Long Dark, not the time for the search for the light (38:52) We are all here for a purpose, and we are constantly being guided if we just listen (42:31) The suffering of today’s youth, isolated and without elders...

Ep. 210 (Part 3 of 3) | In Part 3 of the 15th dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , Hameed Ali speaks about the evolutionary aspect of the creative dynamism of the universe. He explains there is an optimizing, transformative force that is responsible for one form changing to another, like a caterpillar to a butterfly. This developmental force is in alignment with Western concepts of evolution and progress, and applies to spiritual realization, too. There is also an optimizing force specific to the human soul, Hameed tells us, that fuels the hearts that burn with the desire for liberation. This is the force responsible for spiritual development. In Buddhism it is called bodhicitta, the desire for enlightenment. Why do some people have a fierce desire to seek the truth, asks co-host Roger Walsh, but many do not? Hameed replies that most people are busy making a living, doing their best to get by. In this case the transformative force remains a potential but is not actualized. Seekers possessed by the flame of the search turn inward, asking, What is God? What is truth? What is reality? Scientists look at this externally, he says, but it is the inward turn that reveals the source of the inner fire, the logos, the word that speaks through our souls and through our hearts. Towards the end of the conversation, Hameed laughs at how upside down things are with us looking for answers everywhere but within and thinking the logos speaks through who we think we are, not realizing we ourselves actually are the logos. If we realize who we truly are, he says, the world itself becomes richer. Another infinitely inspiring talk with A. H. Almaas, filled with astonishing wisdom and loving humor. Recorded September 11, 2025. “Be attentive to the inner calling. Inner pleasure far surpasses outer pleasure.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 3 The developmental aspect of creative dynamism &amp; the Western concept of evolution, of progress (00:39) Development is part of the order, the progression of one form to another, the process of maturation, like spiritual realization (03:36) The universe has an optimizing, transformative force, like a caterpillar to a butterfly (09:02) There is also an optimizing force specific to the human soul, where hearts burn with desire for liberation; this is responsible for spiritual development (11:41) Why do some people have this desire and most do not? (13:44) In the Western world, spiritual realization is a luxury; in the East there is some support for people pursuing realization (17:08) Intensifying &amp; purifying spiritual aspiration with practice: we find pleasure when the soul turns inward (19:13) Be attentive to this inner calling: know thyself (22:40) The flame of the search reveals the source of the inner fire, the logos, the word that is speaking through our souls, our hearts (25:02) Resources &amp; References – Part 3 A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School , home of <a href="https://online.diamondapproach.org/catalog/?ref=56&amp;utm_source=affiliate&amp;%20utm_campaign=deeptransform" rel="noopener...

Ep. 209 (Part 2 of 3) | In Part 2 of the 15th dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , Hameed Ali delves into the very creation of reality by the logos, the source of all life. Logos (an ancient Greek term) is often considered to mean “word,” but Hameed uses it in its deeper sense, where logos is not only the word but also the speaker—the living field of manifestation. The soul is very similar to the logos, Hameed adds, with the same sense of flow, dynamism, and creativity. Hameed points out that the universe could have been created haphazardly, but because it was created in an orderly fashion, it allows for our lives to be meaningful. And, he continues, it is the dimension of love implicit in the logos that brings a beautiful sense of harmony, love, and gratitude to the human soul. What about all the disharmony in the world? co-host Roger Walsh asks. How can genocide happen in a world that is divinely harmonious? To help explain this, Hameed uses the human body as an example of two perspectives that co-exist: from the perspective of time, we die, he says, but from the perspective of the particle, all is perfect. Hameed also describes his personal experience of being aligned with the creative dynamism of the logos, creating himself and the world anew each moment, like the way frames in a movie are constantly being replaced. The more we live this, he says, the more we bring harmony to the world. Join us also for Part 3 of this deep and intriguing dive into the nature of reality, where Hameed continues to talk about creative dynamism and the logos, and explains how this pertains to our own individual spiritual evolution. Recorded September 11, 2025. “For the divine all is harmony, but for us human beings, it looks like mayhem.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 T he soul is very similar to the logos, with the same sense of flow, dynamism &amp; creativity (00:42) Quantum theory says the field is generated by physical phenomena—but the logos is created out of spiritual mass, it’s the living field of manifestation (01:25) The universe is alive and the logos is the source of all life (05:25) Creative dynamism is a nondual dynamism that brings order to the universe; this creative order is what makes our lives meaningful (05:50) An intelligence has created the universe so that it knows itself (09:42) All forms in the nondual are basically noetic forms, and the logos is an unfoldment of these forms (11:30) If the dimension of love is implicit in the logos, it brings a beautiful sense of harmony, love &amp; gratitude to the human soul (12:35) What about all the disharmony in the world? For the divine all is harmony, but for us human beings, it looks like mayhem (13:24) Take the example of the human body: from the perspective of time we die, from the perspective of the particle it’s all perfect (14:47) Hameed’s experience of creating himself and the world each moment (17:01) The dualistic world is not an illusion; it’s one way the logos manifests reality (21:18) Direct transmission: the Black Hat Ceremony of the 16th Karmapa (22:30) In the Diamond Approach, transmission happens through words; the word is not separate from the state (25:59) The word transmission is a misnomer; it’s a direct invocation (28:53) Resources &amp; References – Part 2 A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of <a...

Ep. 208 (Part 1 of 3) | In Part 1 of the 15th dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , Hameed Ali enlightens us about the dynamic, creative force that generates our reality. “Dynamism is constant,” Hameed explains, “it never stops—it is constantly creating what we experience, what we perceive.” Hameed calls this nondual dimension of true nature—of our nature—creative dynamism. How do you explain change, he asks, if it’s not happening in time, and all of reality is one fabric, nondual? The dynamism Hameed speaks of, ongoing and total, has a radical implication: the entire universe is re-created, instant by instant. Not only the physical dimension, Hameed adds, but all dimensions—mental, emotional, and spiritual—are re-created anew. As co-host Roger Walsh points out, Hameed’s teachings come from direct experience, and Hameed describes his own mind-blowing experience of the moment-by-moment re-creation of himself and the world in Part 2 of this dialogue. Nothing persists, he discovers, movement is not continual. In Part 1, Hameed also explores the subjects of free will, action, and choice as addressed from a nondual perspective, and the fact that we and our actions emerge from the totality of reality. As always, Hameed transmits his joy and exuberance at the mysterious and marvelous ways true nature expresses itself, and it is exciting to realize our own nature is as dynamic, creative, flowing and changing, as the universe. Recorded September 11, 2025. “All of reality is part of one unified fabric, so what does it mean when a bird flies from one place to another?” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 1 I ntroducing dialogue #15 in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, focusing on the chapter “Logos &amp; Creative Dynamism” in The Inner Journey Home (01:11) How do other spiritual traditions explain change? (03:05) Opening to the fact that our true nature has dynamism and flow (05:51) Where does the word the "logos" come from? (07:07) Radical dynamism: the entire universe is re-created, instant by instant (09:58) Replacement: reality is replaced each instant, just like in the movies when one screen replaces the last (13:13) Not just the physical dimension, but all dimensions—mental, emotional &amp; spiritual—are created anew (18:51) Free will, action, choice addressed from a nondual perspective (21:15) We need to acknowledge our choice-making capacity and the fact that we and our actions are emerging from the totality of reality (24:49) Dynamism shows we don’t need the “doer”—the universe is what “does” (27:09) The teaching of transitoriness (30:20) Each soul is a ripple in the ocean, a part of what is being constantly recreated (30:49) Resources &amp; References – Part 1 A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School , home of The Diamond Approach A. H. Almaas, <a...

Ep. 207 (Part 2 of 2) | In this extraordinary, compelling conversation, visionary, activist, and long-time politician, former Governor of California Jerry Brown gets right to the heart of the things that matter most. From truth seeking on an individual level (the importance of inquiring into the depths of our reality), to the challenge of our democracy (getting a consensus in a population that has no coherence), to the problem of leadership (now it’s all about winning, which works on the football field but not for international relations), the fear and greed that drive the arms race (we’re not talking about the arms issue, and to not talk about it is to be complicit), and the existential danger of nuclear war (as important as it is underreported), Jerry nails the essence of our most pressing issues. Jerry’s deep concern about the existential threats we face today, such as nuclear war and climate change, is matched by his enthusiasm for life and excitement over the fact that the future is unknowable. “We have to turn,” he says, “and everyone can contribute to amplifying the turn.” We discover some of the key formative events that shaped Jerry’s keenly discerning character, so evident throughout his career and still today in his eighties, and why co-host Roger Walsh describes him as a “force of nature.” This conversation is thoroughly enjoyable, inspirational, eye opening, and disturbing too. “We are on the brink, but no one wants to hear it,” Jerry says. “How do you speak the truth in a way it can be heard?” Recorded August 7, 2025. “The future is unknown, so don’t conclude that all is dark – or that all is bright! It’s unknown, so as long as we’re breathing and functioning, we have a lot to do.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 Waking up with enthusiasm, excitement, and inherent appreciation (01:06) What is Jerry engaged in right now? (03:34) Roger’s summary of the global issues facing us today (05:50) The nuclear danger is as important as it is underreported, and the key to proliferation is fear (07:17) The ICBM Caucus (11:38) Not talking about the arms issue is to be complicit (13:52) Sitting with the question, what can I do? (16:19) Social and political recognition of danger is so very important (18:12) We have to turn and everyone can contribute to amplifying the turn (19:01) The future is unknowable, so we do what we can (20:05) Living in inquiry, the quest for truth (22:44) Why was Jerry drawn to work for the good of the environment? (23:47) The Jesuit belief in eternal damnation (27:55) What you can derive from Zen (30:45) Becoming individuators on the developmental path (33:15) What does Jerry wish he’d known sooner? (34:49) There’s always more to be learned (37:29) Resources &amp; References – Part 2 Jerry Brown , Chair of the California-China Climate Institute at UC Berkeley Ernest Samuels, Henry Adams <a...

Ep. 206 (Part 1 of 2) | In this extraordinary, compelling conversation, visionary, activist, and long-time politician, former Governor of California Jerry Brown gets right to the heart of the things that matter most. From truth seeking on an individual level (the importance of inquiring into the depths of our reality), to the challenge of our democracy (getting a consensus in a population that has no coherence), to the problem of leadership (now it’s all about winning, which works on the football field but not for international relations), the fear and greed that drive the arms race (we’re not talking about the arms issue, and to not talk about it is to be complicit), and the existential danger of nuclear war (as important as it is underreported), Jerry nails the essence of our most pressing issues. Jerry’s deep concern about the existential threats we face today, such as nuclear war and climate change, is matched by his enthusiasm for life and excitement over the fact that the future is unknowable. “We have to turn,” he says, “and everyone can contribute to amplifying the turn.” We discover some of the key formative events that shaped Jerry’s keenly discerning character, so evident throughout his career and still today in his eighties, and why co-host Roger Walsh describes him as a “force of nature.” This conversation is thoroughly enjoyable, inspirational, eye opening, and disturbing too. “We are on the brink, but no one wants to hear it,” Jerry says. “How do you speak the truth in a way it can be heard?” Recorded August 7, 2025. “We should not sleep in the delusion that things are better than they are.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 1 Introducing former Governor of California, Jerry Brown (00:43) Jerry’s Jesuit background and the transformative process (02:29) What shaped Jerry’s orientation to life? Growing up in a more innocent, unambiguous time in San Francisco (04:10) Today’s chaos and confusion is what led to the presidency of Donald Trump (10:20) The challenge in a democracy is getting a consensus—right now the “We” in “We the People” doesn’t have coherence (14:44) Today the democratic ideal is up for grabs; it’s zero-sum—all about winning, and the payoff for scapegoating is very high (15:52) We need an enormous amount of resources to address our problems, but using tax dollars requires a public belief and commitment that is not there (17:41) The doomsday clock is ticking, the dangers are growing: nuclear, bio, climate, AI, satellites &amp; weaponry (21:42) Planetary realism and the need to work together: shared vulnerability needs to give rise to shared interest (26:35) What can we do as individuals? Where you can be helpful and human and responsive, do that (32:05) We are in the power of forces that a) we don’t control and b) we can’t do anything about (35:50) We are on the brink, but no one wants to hear it: how do you speak the truth in a way it can be heard? (36:57) Sitting Zazen in the face of what’s happening (39:32) Jesuit slogan: Do what you’re doing ( age quod agis ) (42:20) Resources &amp; References – Part 1 Jerry Brown , Executive Chair of the the <a...

Ep. 205 (Part 2 of 2) | In the fourteenth dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , Hameed Ali explores the nonconceptual nature of the dimension of pure awareness, guiding us into the realm that lies beyond conceptual dichotomies such as being/nonbeing, being/doing, duality/nonduality, good/bad, and meaningful/meaningless. Beyond knowing, this dimension exposes and challenges conceptual polarities, and when we arrive at this level of realization we are able to trust letting go of knowingness and wake up to pure awareness. People fear annihilation at the prospect of going beyond concepts, Hameed explains, and it does lead to a death: the death of mind, the death of the doer. But even here beyond knowing, Hameed continues, the nonconceptual always operates from compassion and love. How do we develop a continuity of nonconceptual awareness? Roger and John wonder. One way is when knowing is integrated into being, Hameed answers. Then everything just happens; the doing is funneled through the individual. And there is another way, through developing the “pearl beyond price,” the individual, Hameed adds, but this way is rare. As co-host Roger Walsh says, this is an especially nourishing, stimulating, and intriguing discussion, with Hameed doing a beautiful job of relating how our concepts form the basis of our existence and what it means to transcend them, let go of our mind, deconstruct our perception of ourselves as the “doer,” and wake up to pure awareness. Recorded August 14, 2025. “Conceptual dichotomies are important for the functioning of the human being, they are our building blocks… We need to recognize their usefulness—and also be able to be without them.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 T he conceptual dichotomy between good and bad (00:28) The nonconceptual always operates from compassion (02:31) Most spiritual teachings focus on the dichotomy of being/nonbeing (04:40) Non-knowing is a deeper realization; if you become aware of it, you wake up to pure awareness (06:00) Goodness is inherent; Ram Dass understood loving awareness (07:43) The dichotomy of duality/nonduality (11:04) Conceptual dichotomies are important, they are our building blocks; we need to recognize their usefulness and also be able to be without them (13:07) The problem comes when we believe our concepts are fundamentally true and we become locked into our separate identities (18:27) The dichotomy of meaningful/meaningless (19:13) Purpose/purposelessness and the Buddhist idea that our purpose is enlightenment (23:05) Time/timelessness (25:32) Going beyond the concept of God: the universal heretic (26:33) The master of knowledge: you can use the knowledge but you are not bound by it or attached to it (28:01) The view of totality (32:22) Love &amp; compassion are inherent to all spiritual teachings (33:43) Living in pure awareness: the 16th Karmapa (37:45) Hameed, Roger &amp; John discuss Deep Transformation guests Frank Ostaseski of Zen Hospice and former CA governor Jerry Brown (40:16) Resources &amp; References – Part 2 A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School <a...

Ep. 204 (Part 1 of 2) | In the fourteenth dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , Hameed Ali explores the nonconceptual nature of the dimension of pure awareness, guiding us into the realm that lies beyond conceptual dichotomies such as being/nonbeing, being/doing, duality/nonduality, good/bad, and meaningful/meaningless. Beyond knowing, this dimension exposes and challenges conceptual polarities, and when we arrive at this level of realization we are able to trust letting go of knowingness and wake up to pure awareness. People fear annihilation at the prospect of going beyond concepts, Hameed explains, and it does lead to a death: the death of mind, the death of the doer. But even here beyond knowing, Hameed continues, the nonconceptual always operates from compassion and love. How do we develop a continuity of nonconceptual awareness? Roger and John wonder. One way is when knowing is integrated into being, Hameed answers. Then everything just happens; the doing is funneled through the individual. And there is another way, through developing the “pearl beyond price,” the individual, Hameed adds, but this way is rare. As co-host Roger Walsh says, this is an especially nourishing, stimulating, and intriguing discussion, with Hameed doing a beautiful job of relating how our concepts form the basis of our existence and what it means to transcend them, let go of our mind, deconstruct our perception of ourselves as the “doer,” and wake up to pure awareness. Recorded August 14, 2025. “To be in the nonconceptual state, i.e. in sitting meditation, is half of it, but to actualize it is the other half.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 1 I ntroducing the 14th dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , focusing on nonconceptual awareness &amp; transcending conceptual dichotomies (00:51) Nondual reality, at the heart of The Inner Journey Home, is differentiated into five dimensions, each of which reveals something important about the deconstruction process that happens with spiritual practice (03:41) Nonconceptual means beyond the capacity of knowing (07:34) The experience of pure awareness transcends the dichotomy of existence/nonexistence (10:02) In Dzogchen, rigpa includes knowing—but pure awareness means no knowing, just perception (10:30) The dichotomy of being/doing is often a “sticking place” in our practice (16:10) How do we develop a continuity of nonconceptual awareness? (19:44) People fear annihilation at the prospect of going beyond concepts, and it does lead to the death of mind, the death of the doer (23:03) With this level of realization, we can trust letting go of our knowingness (27:10) What are ways for actualization to occur? (29:20) In true, deep sleep there is cessation, all awareness gone (34:38) When God manifests through the individual, the two dimensions of being and knowing can happen at the same (37:16) Many traditions think the individual is an illusion—it’s not an illusion, it’s an appearance (39:12) Most human beings get arrested at the ego stage of development, the separate stage (43:14) Resources &amp; References – Part 1 A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan...

Ep. 203 (Part 2 of 2) | In this rich, delightful, and profound conversation, Integral Theory informed Father David McCallum, SJ , currently serving the Catholic Church as executive director of the Program for Discerning Leadership, leads us into a world filled with mission, purpose, and service, foundational to which is the practice of discernment. David describes discernment as the capacity to exercise good judgment, hold complexity, and wait for clarity. This is not only a practice for individuals, he explains, but also a communal one, providing a way for communities to discern and design together the future they want to create—through listening, dialoguing, participating. Discernment is a way of knowing and making sense of reality, David continues, and especially important now in this era of changes and choices to be made. David enlightens us as to the beautiful and far-sighted reforms proposed by the late Pope Francis, who was all for changing the balance of authority and participation in the Church; for people to have direct experience of Presence and the capacity to practice discernment; who also advocated for taking swift action on behalf of our planet, even calling out the part in the Bible that says man has dominion over the Earth. From David’s description of “the journey worth making”—surrendering, opening, accepting divine grace and love—to using Otto Scharmer’s U Process to help find the courage to change and simplify our lives for the benefit of all, to the Church’s relationship with A.I., David provides us with an extraordinarily mind-broadening, motivating, and spiritually fulfilling perspective. Recorded July 10, 2025. “Disasters and oppression today are by-products of a spiritual crisis… We don’t see the unity of all.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 T urning inward for guidance: making discernment practices &amp; skills available to all (01:07) The hunger to get back to direct experience (04:04) Practicing with the Ignatius exercises including contemplation: the path of silence (06:40) Pope Francis’ call out for action on behalf of the Earth (09:39) Using Otto Scharmer’s U Process to gain the courage to simplify our lives and make the commitment to change (12:11) Pope Francis’ challenging the idea that men should have dominion over the earth (13:30) Disasters and oppression today are by-products of a spiritual crisis; we don’t see the unity of all (15:13) Liberation theology: awakening the poor to their plight, giving them tools to remediate systemic injustice (16:52) Why Jesuits were killed in El Salvador (19:28) In the current situation in the U.S., what shape will/should religiously motivated resistance take? (20:23) The church, A.I., and the danger of losing our human competencies to machines (27:32) Resources &amp; References – Part 2 Father David McCallum, SJ , The Program for Discerning Leadership The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola Jesuit Roshi Bob Kennedy ; <a href="https://www.anupictures.com/project/are-we-one/"...

Ep. 202 (Part 1 of 2) | In this rich, delightful, and profound conversation, Integral Theory informed Father David McCallum, SJ , currently serving the Catholic Church as executive director of the Program for Discerning Leadership, leads us into a world filled with mission, purpose, and service, foundational to which is the practice of discernment. David describes discernment as the capacity to exercise good judgment, hold complexity, and wait for clarity. This is not only a practice for individuals, he explains, but also a communal one, providing a way for communities to discern and design together the future they want to create—through listening, dialoguing, participating. Discernment is a way of knowing and making sense of reality, David continues, and especially important now in this era of changes and choices to be made. David enlightens us as to the beautiful and far-sighted reforms proposed by the late Pope Francis, who was all for changing the balance of authority and participation in the Church; for people to have direct experience of Presence and the capacity to practice discernment; who also advocated for taking swift action on behalf of our planet, even calling out the part in the Bible that says man has dominion over the Earth. From David’s description of “the journey worth making”—surrendering, opening, accepting divine grace and love—to using Otto Scharmer’s U Process to help find the courage to change and simplify our lives for the benefit of all, to the Church’s relationship with A.I., David provides us with an extraordinarily mind-broadening, motivating, and spiritually fulfilling perspective. Recorded July 10, 2025. “No secular, material, and empirical path is going to satisfy the longing we have for a transcendent purpose, for meaning, for existential belonging, in the ways that a healthy spirituality can.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 1 Introducing Fr. David McCallum, integrally informed Jesuit priest currently serving the Catholic Church as the executive director of the Program for Discerning Leadership (00:48) How did David come to devote his life to the Catholic Church? (01:48) The journey worth making: surrendering, opening, accepting grace (09:42) So many are disconnected from the deeper wellspring of spirituality (13:07) Pope Francis was a reformer, focused on changing the balance of authority and participation (16:46) Pope Francis also focused on the process of synodality, real dialogue, the importance of discernment &amp; following where the spirit wants to lead us (19:31) Pope Leo XIV, self-effacing, generous, hard working, introspective, bringing balance and discipline (22:27) How does David’s understanding of developmental stages inform his work? (25:28) Using metatheories as a map to make sense of the change in era we are living through now (28:09) The rise of secularism; also burgeoning fundamentalism (31:26) Without faith, how can we make sense of suffering? (33:25) The temptation of ideology in these anxiety-producing times (36:07) What is discernment? Communal discernment: What is the future we want to create together? (40:39) Resources &amp; References – Part 1 Father David McCallum, SJ , The Program for Discerning Leadership <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Greene" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Ep. 201 (Part 2 of 2) | In the thirteenth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , Hameed Ali delves into the subject of knowing, or basic knowledge, at the deepest level of awareness. Different from ordinary knowledge, basic knowledge is inherent and immediate, an important feature of reality. You can know Being by being Being, he says; know consciousness by being consciousness, know peace by being peace. Being and knowing are the same thing, he explains, two sides of a coin. Some of what Hameed shares here is unique to his Diamond Approach teaching, and not found in other spiritual teachings, such as what he imparts about the origin of mind and the distinction he makes between pure being and pure awareness. Hameed explains that we need our conceptual mind (to do our taxes, he laughs), but that reification—treating concepts as if they were real things—creates obstacles and alienates us from our true nature. The aim of all spiritual practice is to go beyond reification to immediate experience, he says. When Hameed describes the difference between pure presence and pure awareness, John wonders, how does Hameed remember the state of pure awareness when there’s no knowing in that state? And what does it feel like to experience no ground of being? Hameed answers in his usual enlightening, gently humorous way, leaving listeners in a state of open-minded wonder. Vastly illuminating, this conversation goes directly to the heart of being and the heart of knowing at the very foundation of true nature. Recorded July 17, 2025. “Mind is not an obstacle. Not an enemy. The obstacle is the reified representation of mind. If we take the knowledge of that mind to be reality, that is the obstacle.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 How does Hameed remember the state of pure awareness when there’s no knowing in that state? (00:32) Most spiritual teachings have pure awareness and pure presence as inseparable, but in this teaching they can be distinguished (03:26) The experience of pure awareness: transparency, translucence, freedom (04:02) The world is not an illusion; it is the face of God (06:13) The logos is what makes things manifest (09:48) Connecting the dimensions of pure being and pure awareness: mind is not an obstacle (11:46) Gurdjieff’s “stupid saints” (13:14) Mind is not the enemy; it’s the reification of knowing that is the obstacle (14:07) Pure awareness is more fundamental than pure being because there are no concepts; freedom is more palpable in pure awareness (17:14) Hameed’s multiple kinds of freedom; freedom independent from the ground of being (22:10) What does it feel like to realize there is no ground? (25:02) Transcending conceptual dichotomies: in spiritual liberation dichotomies can be stumbling blocks, like being vs nonbeing (25:20) Will science start to accept the ground of being? (29:38) Is math, the Euclidean theorem, a property of reality? (32:42) Consciousness and quantum theory (34:27) Knowing is fundamental to the universe; it’s inherent to our true nature (38:41) There’s no reason to have to choose between knowing and being, they’re two sides of the same thing (39:51) Resources &amp; References – Part 2 A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of <a...

Ep. 200 (Part 1 of 2) | In the thirteenth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , Hameed Ali delves into the subject of knowing, or basic knowledge, at the deepest level of awareness. Different from ordinary knowledge, basic knowledge is inherent and immediate, an important feature of reality. You can know Being by being Being, he says; know consciousness by being consciousness, know peace by being peace. Being and knowing are the same thing, he explains, two sides of a coin. Some of what Hameed shares here is unique to his Diamond Approach teaching, and not found in other spiritual teachings, such as what he imparts about the origin of mind and the distinction he makes between pure being and pure awareness. Hameed explains that we need our conceptual mind (to do our taxes, he laughs), but that reification—treating concepts as if they were real things—creates obstacles and alienates us from our true nature. The aim of all spiritual practice is to go beyond reification to immediate experience, he says. When Hameed describes the difference between pure presence and pure awareness, John wonders, how does Hameed remember the state of pure awareness when there’s no knowing in that state? And what does it feel like to experience no ground of being? Hameed answers in his usual enlightening, gently humorous way, leaving listeners in a state of open-minded wonder. Vastly illuminating, this conversation goes directly to the heart of being and the heart of knowing at the very foundation of true nature. Recorded July 17, 2025. “Being is the origin of mind.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 1 Introducing the 13th dialogue in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , focusing on the basic knowing at the foundation of our awareness &amp; the reified way we see reality (00:46) The work is to recognize that reification is happening (02:55) We need to understand there are two kinds of knowing: ordinary knowing and basic knowing (04:12) There are degrees of how immediate our knowing is (07:55) Where does mind come from? (09:52) The recognition of Being and the knowing of Being are the same thing; this is a basic nondual understanding (11:45) The ground of mind is knowing: without knowing there is no mind (15:20) To know implies a concept: the concept of being (17:25) Reification is a developmental achievement (23:14) The story of Maharishi and the Senate committee (26:50) The aim of all spiritual practice is to go beyond reification to immediate experience (27:43) For the realized individual, basic knowing is primary (29:58) Knowing always means concept (31:56) We can get to an awareness that is free of knowing; what Hameed calls nonconceptual, pure awareness (35:41) Resources &amp; References – Part 1 A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School , home of The Diamond...

Ep. 199 (Part 3 of 3) | Polarity management pioneer and author Barry Johnson and adult development expert Beena Sharma are masterful teachers on the subject of polarities and what polarity thinking can bring to the world, benefitting our well-being at every level. Together they explain what polarities are, why they matter, how to apply and leverage them, and the essence of polarity wisdom: pursuing the upsides of opposite poles. Barry is careful to explain that although either/or thinking is the root of our troubles, both/and thinking by itself isn’t the answer either. Integrating either/or with both/and thinking and recognizing the interdependence of all things is the road to transformation and, Beena adds, the engine of human development, of human maturity. Barry explains the profound spiritual understanding foundational to polarity wisdom and Beena details how polarities shift according to our developmental stage. Each of the polarities discussed—justice/mercy, claiming power/sharing power, being/doing, to name a few—illuminates its sphere, whether it relates to democracy, social justice, or spiritual practice. Barry and Beena are passionate about the promise of polarity thinking and their excitement is contagious in this fast-paced, delightfully lucid dialogue, jam-packed with information that is practical, inspiring, and potentially life changing. Recorded May 22, 2025. “Universal interdependence is the most clear example of divine, unconditional love, and the polarity is the smallest element within universal interdependence—the interdependence of two.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 3 Back to stages: from self-interest to harmonizing, to independence, multiperspectivality, and oneness (00:35) We are born unique and we become more unique; we are born connected and appreciate being connected more and more (08:23) Applying polarity thinking to contemporary politics: immigration (09:29) The language of compassionate action (12:08) How polarity thinking can help us with the metacrisis (16:02) Leveraging polarities in everyday life, socially &amp; culturally (20:11) How do we select what to do when faced by an overwhelming amount of choices? (25:42) We have to consciously become more competent, more masterful (27:28) Polarity tension is always there, and we need to forgive ourselves and others for not always doing a good job with leveraging key polarities, i.e. work &amp; home, self-care &amp; achievement (28:51) Resources &amp; References – Part 3 Barry Johnson, And: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarity, Paradox, or Dilemma Barry Johnson, Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems Beena Sharma, founder Vertical Development Academy (VeDA) The 8 Stages of Vertical Development with Beena Sharma (Deep Transformation...

Ep. 198 (Part 2 of 3) | Polarity management pioneer and author Barry Johnson and adult development expert Beena Sharma are masterful teachers on the subject of polarities and what polarity thinking can bring to the world, benefitting our well-being at every level. Together they explain what polarities are, why they matter, how to apply and leverage them, and the essence of polarity wisdom: pursuing the upsides of opposite poles. Barry is careful to explain that although either/or thinking is the root of our troubles, both/and thinking by itself isn’t the answer either. Integrating either/or with both/and thinking and recognizing the interdependence of all things is the road to transformation and, Beena adds, the engine of human development, of human maturity. Barry explains the profound spiritual understanding foundational to polarity wisdom and Beena details how polarities shift according to our developmental stage. Each of the polarities discussed—justice/mercy, claiming power/sharing power, being/doing, to name a few—illuminates its sphere, whether it relates to democracy, social justice, or spiritual practice. Barry and Beena are passionate about the promise of polarity thinking and their excitement is contagious in this fast-paced, delightfully lucid dialogue, jam-packed with information that is practical, inspiring, and potentially life changing. Recorded May 22, 2025. “Love is a natural byproduct of seeing completely.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 Looking at the pole preferences that show up at each stage of development (00:37) The integrative stage of development doesn’t reject either/or thinking or both/and thinking (04:42) Embracing polarities’ upsides elevates you; you come to a higher place (08:05) Tyranny and democracy: how do you both provide direction and encourage participation? (08:54) The spiritual polarity of doing and being and Martin Buber’s I and thou (14:08) How polarities nest and stack: Beena leads a nesting and upleveling exercise (18:10) Relating polarity thinking to quantum physics &amp; the richness of the subject of universal interdependence (22:32) How do we respond to opposition at different developmental stages? (24:33) Jack Gibb’s trust theory: love is a natural byproduct of seeing completely (28:24) Seeing life and death as two poles and the violence in nature (29:28) Enhancing our capacity to love: individuals, enemies, countries; universal interdependence is a manifestation of divine love (32:44) Taking radical responsibility for our own incapacity to see (36:42) Love as a natural response to seeing fully and defenselessly (38:23) Barry’s profound realization about heaven, hell, and universal love (40:14) Resources &amp; References – Part 2 Barry Johnson, And: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarity, Paradox, or Dilemma Barry Johnson, Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems Beena Sharma, founder <a href="https://www.mci.verticaldevelopment.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Ep. 197 (Part 1 of 3) | Polarity management pioneer and author Barry Johnson and adult development expert Beena Sharma are masterful teachers on the subject of polarities and what polarity thinking can bring to the world, benefitting our well-being at every level. Together they explain what polarities are, why they matter, how to apply and leverage them, and the essence of polarity wisdom: pursuing the upsides of opposite poles. Barry is careful to explain that although either/or thinking is the root of our troubles, both/and thinking by itself isn’t the answer either. Integrating either/or with both/and thinking and recognizing the interdependence of all things is the road to transformation and, Beena adds, the engine of human development, of human maturity. Barry explains the profound spiritual understanding foundational to polarity wisdom and Beena details how polarities shift according to our developmental stage. Each of the polarities discussed—justice/mercy, claiming power/sharing power, being/doing, to name a few—illuminates its sphere, whether it relates to democracy, social justice, or spiritual practice. Barry and Beena are passionate about the promise of polarity thinking and their excitement is contagious in this fast-paced, delightfully lucid dialogue, jam-packed with information that is practical, inspiring, and potentially life changing. Recorded May 22, 2025. “Either/or thinking without both/and thinking is the root cause of poverty, racism, sexism, and war.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 1 Introducing polarity management pioneer &amp; author Barry Johnson and adult development expert Beena Sharma (00:48) How did Barry discover polarities? (02:15) The essential dimension of polarities—interdependent pairs—and the universal interdependence of all of life (03:08) The capacity to integrate and recognize interdependence is the driving force of adult human development (03:47) The difference between polarity management and polarity wisdom (05:37) A key polarity in leadership and democracy: claiming power &amp; sharing power (07:20) Experiential exercise: the infinity loop (08:11) What is true for all polarities: each pole brings something special that is essential to the relationship (11:15) The integrating wisdom that includes and transcends both polarities encompasses all dualities, reflecting traditional East Indian wisdom (12:12) As a leader, how can we be both clear &amp; flexible, self-assured &amp; humble, and as an organization, centralized &amp; decentralized? (13:51) The oscillation between activity and rest (14:55) Leveraging polarities: maximizing upsides and minimizing downsides (16:22) Either/or thinking is essential, but it needs to be supplemented with both/and thinking (16:34) Privileging one pole as better, you enter into dysfunction (19:33) Interpersonal relationships: we see the positive value of our preferred pole but the downside of the other’s opposite preferred pole (20:56) The essence of polarity wisdom: embracing the wisdom of the opposite pole (21:41) Polarity thinking is an antidote to rigidity; it heals polarization (22:25) Either/or thinking without both/and thinking is the root cause of evil (23:09) Pursuing justice to the neglect of mercy (its interdependent pole) (26:47) Does both/and thinking require a certain level of...

Ep. 196 (Part 2 of 2) | n the twelfth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , Hameed Ali guides us into the profound experience of pure being, which lies at the core of all mystical teachings. There are two nondual ways of experiencing the fullness of being, he explains. We can recognize we are infinite and boundless—as if we were the sky, but still experiencing this through our being—or, we can experience the oneness of being from the perspective of all manifestation: the mountain, the rocks, the molecules and atoms... “Wherever you go, physically or mentally, is pure being.” Hameed calls the first recognition “unity,” and the latter “oneness.” Hameed clarifies the paradox of nothingness: “being and nothing are two ways of knowing the same thing; you can feel it as a fullness or you can feel it as an emptiness.” And he explains that being being and knowing being are the same thing, when knowing is understood in its deeper sense as gnosis. “Awakening is knowing our being or our awareness for what it is,” he says. Why is Hameed so uniquely articulate in talking about the experience of pure being? John asks him. This talk is an amazing teaching—visual and sensory, scientific and mathematical, deeply mystical and spiritual—Hameed comes at the subject of pure being from all angles. Recorded June 26, 2025. “Practice is clearing the way, but whether awakening emerges or not is not up to you.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 Why Hameed is so uniquely articulate talking about these experiences, and why some teachers don’t talk about these things (00:27) The nothingness side of pure presence (04:28) The spaciousness here appears different; it is non-Euclidean (07:44) Being and nothing are two ways of knowing the same thing; you can feel it as a fullness or you can feel it as an emptiness (09:22) What other traditions teach about emptiness (11:34) Awareness is pure beingness too (13:53) Awareness is an ontological reality; it is an “is-ness” we can recognize and it includes knowing (18:14) Being being is the same thing as knowing being; this is gnosis: knowing by being (20:23) Awakening is knowing our being or our awareness for what it is (23:44) Knowing and mind are fundamental, not just intellectual (25:52) Awakened awareness: realizing that awareness is the nature of everything (27:10) Awakening cannot be earned; it is a recognition, but there are obstacles in the way (29:37) We’ll get into knowing and reification next time (32:45) This teaching affirms you are a real being, and you are an expression of the being of God (33:55) Resources &amp; References – Part 2 A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School , home of The Diamond Approach A. H. Almaas, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-inner-journey-home-a-h-almaas/1142573113?ean=9781590301098"...

Ep. 195 (Part 1 of 2) | In the twelfth dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series , Hameed Ali guides us into the profound experience of pure being, which lies at the core of all mystical teachings. There are two nondual ways of experiencing the fullness of being, he explains. We can recognize we are infinite and boundless—as if we were the sky, but still experiencing this through our being—or, we can experience the oneness of being from the perspective of all manifestation: the mountain, the rocks, the molecules and atoms… “Wherever you go, physically or mentally, is pure being.” Hameed calls the first recognition “unity,” and the latter “oneness.” Hameed clarifies the paradox of nothingness: “being and nothing are two ways of knowing the same thing; you can feel it as a fullness or you can feel it as an emptiness.” And he explains that being being and knowing being are the same thing, when knowing is understood in its deeper sense as gnosis. “Awakening is knowing our being or our awareness for what it is,” he says. Why is Hameed so uniquely articulate in talking about the experience of pure being? John asks him. This talk is an amazing teaching—visual and sensory, scientific and mathematical, deeply mystical and spiritual—Hameed comes at the subject of pure being from all angles. Recorded June 26, 2025. “One way of experiencing pure being is from within itself; then there is experiencing it from the perspective of all manifestation. This is when we understand form is formlessness and formlessness is form.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 1 I ntroducing the 12th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series focused on Hameed’s nondual teachings, and experiencing the fullness of being (00:33) The difference between the localized experience of presence and the infinite, boundless experience of presence (01:50) Divine love, pure presence is the precursor of all other qualities (03:15) More fundamental than divine love is the simplicity of pure presence, pure being (06:09) Our alienation from completeness causes a sense of lack in us all (11:19) There are 2 major ways of experiencing the fullness of being, both nondual (15:27) The second way is experiencing it from the perspective of all manifestation; this is when we understand form is formlessness and formlessness is form (22:14) Nonduality is implicit in both experiences—subject and object are the same thing (26:09) If you look a little deeper, you find that formlessness is behind everything (28:17) All manifestations of true nature are an antidote to suffering (28:43) Ordinary mind perceives everything as separate, singular (31:04) Science deals with behavior only; quantum physics comes closest to acknowledging there is something besides the physical (32:59) Can mathematics take us to a realization of pure being? (36:58) It would be possible for scientists to study this if they practiced inquiry into the observer, into the experience (39:50) Resources &amp; References – Part 1 A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School <a href="https://online.diamondapproach.org/?ref=15&amp;utm_source=affiliate&amp;%20utm_campaign=iawake" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Ep. 194 (Part 2 of 2) | Frank Ostaseski, Zen hospice pioneer, founder of the Metta Institute, and author of The Five Invitations , speaks with us about the profound wisdom and potential for transformation that is unleashed in the process of dying. “Suppose we imagine death as an unprecedented opportunity for transformation, he says, adding, “so why wait until we are dying?” In attending over a thousand people in hospice, Frank has often seen them experience a real sense of discovery in the dying process; there is a time of acceptance, a time of letting go, and then a deeper state of surrendering to something larger. The walls that prop up the self start tumbling down, Frank explains, and a larger connection emerges that is always there. Frank would like to see the process of dying brought out of the closet—shared about, learned from, and not reduced to a medical event. It’s important to meet death with don’t-know mind and trust the dying process to teach each of us what we need to know, he explains. And some of what we can do right now to open ourselves to the wisdom of death is pay attention to how we end things, and to how we love. This far reaching discussion delves gently into the divine mystery of death and dying, touching on radical acceptance, transcending self, don’t-know mind, everyday compassion and boundless compassion, grief as an expression of love, and creating rituals to mark this passage and all passages. We are left feeling unexpectedly comforted and liberated at the same time. Recorded December 5, 2024. “Grief is a way we continue to love someone… a natural response to the experience of love.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 What qualities do people need to be with the dying? (00:27) Boundless compassion needs everyday compassion (02:09) Don’t wait to tell people that you love them (03:55) Grief is a way we continue to love someone, a natural response to the experience of love (06:06) There are subtler experiences after surrender: tracking consciousness as the brain stops (06:38) Gratefulness and a deep sense of belonging to something larger (09:52) Cultivating don’t know mind; meeting dying with don’t know mind (12:47) Terminal lucidity (17:49) Practices we can do now: how do we meet endings? (19:54) Impermanence is not later; it’s in this very moment (22:35) Cultural changes Frank would like to see (26:15) Proximate karma (30:00) Better drugs than sedation: psychedelics could help us meet the profundity of the experience (30:37) Bathing the body after death: a wonderful tradition that can fundamentally...

Ep. 193 (Part 1 of 2) | Frank Ostaseski, Zen hospice pioneer, founder of the Metta Institute, and author of The Five Invitations , speaks with us about the profound wisdom and potential for transformation that is unleashed in the process of dying. “Suppose we imagine death as an unprecedented opportunity for transformation, he says, adding, “so why wait until we are dying?” In attending over a thousand people in hospice, Frank has often seen them experience a real sense of discovery in the dying process; there is a time of acceptance, a time of letting go, and then a deeper state of surrendering to something larger. The walls that prop up the self start tumbling down, Frank explains, and a larger connection emerges that is always there. Frank would like to see the process of dying brought out of the closet—shared about, learned from, and not reduced to a medical event. It’s important to meet death with don’t-know mind and trust the dying process to teach each of us what we need to know, he explains. And some of what we can do right now to open ourselves to the wisdom of death is pay attention to how we end things, and to how we love. This far reaching discussion delves gently into the divine mystery of death and dying, touching on radical acceptance, transcending self, don’t-know mind, everyday compassion and boundless compassion, grief as an expression of love, and creating rituals to mark this passage and all passages. We are left feeling unexpectedly comforted and liberated at the same time. Recorded December 5, 2024. “Dying is not predominantly a medical event, and we ought to stop treating it as if it were.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 1 Introducing Frank Ostaseski, co-founder of the Zen Hospice Project &amp; author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully (00:35) What drew Frank into working with the dying? (01:51) John’s brush with death and how it affects him now (03:05) Does a contemplative practice help in a near-death experience? (08:10) Dying brings about certain conditions that help us transcend our small self (11:39) Facing death is an unprecedented opportunity for transformation—why wait until we are dying? (12:38) Acceptance is only the beginning, letting go has an important role, but there is a deeper dimension: surrender (14:23) Who are we after we are stripped of our identities? (20:43) Another way of understanding surrender: a deep relaxation rather than a giving up (22:19) We need to not project our standard of what dying should look like on people who are dying (30:30) Roger’s comments about how touched he was by Frank’s book, The Five Invitations (36:39) How painfully inadequate medical training is for helping the dying (38:28) <li...

Ep. 192 (Part 2 of 2) | Professor Mark Fischler , constitutional law expert and co-host of the Integral Justice Warrior podcast, helps us make sense of what’s happening to our democracy, providing context—historical, legal, ethical—for the plethora of disturbing and destructive acts occurring on a daily basis in our political arena. The rule of law is under direct attack at this time, he explains, and an assault on democracy is essentially an assault on our most fundamental values—the principles this country was founded on: inclusivity, equality, and dignity for all. Mark clarifies President Trump’s political actions in the context of developmental stages, unpacks Project 2025, and discusses the assault on higher education and critical thinking and what it portends. The trajectory of where we are headed, Mark points out, is regressing into values we have already transcended. We need our democratic foundation to move to deeper, post-democratic levels that are reflective of greater levels of interconnection and inclusivity—not the opposite, he says. What will it take to change the regressive trajectory? Courage! And involvement. Thank you, Mark, for bringing a rare depth and much-needed clarity to the subject of the evolving democratic crisis occurring in our nation today and its implications for our future. Recorded June 12, 2025. “The assault on democracy we are experiencing is also an assault on a spiritual understanding of the deeper nature of our existence.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 The assault on higher education and critical thinking, continued (01:07) The idea of inherent capabilities of race is a slippery slope (02:33) Authoritarianism, the “authoritarian slide,” and the current administration (11:16) Do you cave if your livelihood is threatened or do you stand up for the values of your country? (14:12) The assault on democracy is an assault on our foundational spiritual values (19:26) The leftist postmodern approach to transgender issues &amp; immigration created fodder for the movement towards authoritarianism (23:12) The importance of creating an educated citizenry (28:03) MLK’s four basic steps for nonviolent action (32:09) Take direct action only after you’ve entered into a purified state such as Jesus had on the cross (34:05) Prevent violence in protests, disable provocateurs (36:16) Resources &amp; References – Part 2 The Integral Justice Warrior series , co-hosted by Mark Fischler and Corey deVos (Integral Life website) Greg Thomas, CEO of the Jazz Leadership Project on the Deep Transformation podcast, From Race to Culture to Cosmos: Using the Dance of Our Differences to Wise Up, Harmonize, and Actualize Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech, “ I’ve Been to the Mountaintop ” (YouTube...

Ep. 191 (Part 1 of 2) | Professor Mark Fischler , constitutional law expert and co-host of the Integral Justice Warrior podcast, helps us make sense of what’s happening to our democracy, providing context—historical, legal, ethical—for the plethora of disturbing and destructive acts occurring on a daily basis in our political arena. The rule of law is under direct attack at this time, he explains, and an assault on democracy is essentially an assault on our most fundamental values—the principles this country was founded on: inclusivity, equality, and dignity for all. Mark clarifies President Trump’s political actions in the context of developmental stages, unpacks Project 2025, and discusses the assault on higher education and critical thinking and what it portends. The trajectory of where we are headed, Mark points out, is regressing into values we have already transcended. We need our democratic foundation to move to deeper, post-democratic levels that are reflective of greater levels of interconnection and inclusivity—not the opposite, he says. What will it take to change the regressive trajectory? Courage! And involvement. Thank you, Mark, for bringing a rare depth and much-needed clarity to the subject of the evolving democratic crisis occurring in our nation today and its implications for our future. Recorded June 12, 2025. “The rule of law is a hard-earned process… and it’s under direct attack at this time in our country.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 1 Introducing constitutional law expert, professor of Ethics, Constitutional Law, and Criminal Procedure, and co-host of the Integral Justice Warrior podcast, Mark Fischler (00:39) Trump, tribalism, and the zero-sum game: there are winners &amp; losers; the losers deserve to lose (01:31) The rule of law is under direct attack in the U.S. at this time (11:34) Dehumanization and Trump’s pre-conventional ethic of retribution (14:41) Our nation is built on ethics of higher purpose; our founding fathers specifically banned gifts to the President in the Constitution (17:30) Where is Congress in all of this? (21:13) Treason and bribery are the two legal grounds for impeachment (21:55) What is Project 2025, and the over-rulings of judicial rulings by the executive (25:33) The Heritage Foundation, responsible for developing the central ideas of Project 2025 (29:41) Project 2025’s pre-conventional position on abortion and family (32:49) Why does democracy matter? (36:22) What we are experiencing is a direct attack on the principles of inclusivity (37:53) How does slashing Medicare and Medicaid square with Christian values? (40:21) The trajectory of where we are headed: regressing into values we have already transcended (43:14) The left has made it easy for the far right (43:48) The assault on higher education and critical thinking (44:17) Resources &amp; References – Part 1 The Integral Justice Warrior series , co-hosted by Mark Fischler and Corey deVos (Integral Life website) J. Michael Luttig, <a...

Ep. 190 (Part 2 of 2) | The eleventh Wisdom Series dialogue with A. H. Almaas brings us to the second turning of his teaching, into the boundless dimension of divine love. Hameed explores this nondual dimension in detail: its qualities, what it’s like to experience firsthand, and what the effects of such an experience are likely to be. This boundless dimension of loving consciousness is the first of the five boundless dimensions, though love continues to develop throughout them all. Hameed gives a beautiful account of his initial experience with this dimension, when divine love and light permeated all of reality. “Why don’t more people experience this if love is always there? asks co-host John Dupuy, and Hameed explains that it’s always there in potential form though not always manifest; the experience is there for when we are ripe for it. Having awakened to this dimension, one can’t help but want everyone to feel this way, Hameed says, and this is the main reason spiritual teachers teach. Hameed describes the obstacles that prevent us from experiencing the reality of divine love, how it challenges our perceived separateness, and tells us that after experiencing this unity, returning to separateness is not a choice. It turns out that experiencing boundless love is not a panacea for enlightenment, but creates an upwelling of obstacles and a state where our boundedness feels even more restrictive than before. Hameed also relates how hatred and greed can exist in this reality of pure goodness, and tells us that it is here, in the ocean of love and light, that they are transformed. A wonderfully numinous, illuminating conversation. Recorded May 1, 2025. “The love is what makes us human—you can’t be really human without heart.” Topics &amp; Time Stamps – Part 2 Two ways of functioning: from the perspective of the soul, or from the perspective of the ocean of love (00:35) A third way of functioning is when the ocean manifests the functioning itself (03:58) The ocean of love dissolves all fears (06:06) Love takes forms; this dimension is an example of the formless taking form (07:06) The sense of pure “goodness” in this dimension is unmistakable—you can’t help but want everyone to feel this (10:34) Hatred is not a quality of being; it’s a distortion of a quality of being (14:37) Hameed’s experience of the beast, an inherent part of the ego (17:40) Experiencing Jabba the Hut, who represents greed; greed gets healed in this dimension (21:23) Your curiosity—wanting to know and being willing to experience—is the only way to transform greed or hatred; you can’t push them away (29:02) Five steps towards true nature (31:41) The heart (love) keeps developing through all the dimensions (34:20) You can’t be really human without heart (35:32) How do we continue to develop and manifest this connection with love? (36:20) Resources &amp; References – Part 2 A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School , home of <a...