Chris Grosso The Indie Spiritualist

Tara Brach is a leading western teacher of Buddhist meditation, emotional healing and spiritual awakening. She has practiced and taught meditation for over 35 years, with an emphasis on vipassana (mindfulness or insight) meditation. Tara is the senior teacher and founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. A clinical psychologist, Tara is the author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Don Miguel Ruiz is a renowned spiritual teacher and internationally bestselling author. He has spent the past three decades guiding students to personal freedom through his profound insights regarding the nature of human reality. His landmark bestselling book, The Four Agreements, contains practical steps for long-term, personal transformation and has been read by millions around the world. Don Miguel is also the author of The Mastery of Love, The Voice of Knowledge, Prayers, and the New York Times bestseller, The Fifth Agreement, a collaboration with his son, don José Ruiz. Each of his books are international bestsellers. The wisdom don Miguel has brought to the world has earned him respect around the globe. He has dedicated his life to sharing his message through practical concepts in order to promote transformation and ultimately change lives for the better. More at www.miguelruiz.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Barbara Marx Hubbard is a prolific educator and author of seven books, including a revised and updated edition of her seminal work Conscious Evolution. She is an evolutionary thinker who believes that global change happens when we work collectively and selflessly for the greater good. Visit her online at barbaramarxhubbard.com. Episode Outline: • Vocation of Destiny – Barbara discusses what initially led her life’s path of exploring conscious evolution, including the atomic bomb, church, college, meeting President Eisenhower and more. • Conscious Evolution – Barbara discusses evolution becoming conscious in humans and how turning into evolution by choice, not chance can help expedite the process. • Evolution or De-volution – Barbara discusses Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s statement that there are two different kinds of people on earth—homo-progressive and bourgeoisie—and the impact on evolution by each. • The New Story of Evolution – Barbara discusses the evolving nature of humans and the universe as part of cosmogenesis. • The Impulse of Creation – Barbara discusses what Ken Wilber calls “Spirit-in-action” which includes higher consciousness, greater freedom and a more complex order. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adam Bucko is an activist, spiritual director to many of New York City’s homeless youth, and co-author of a the award-winning book called "Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation". He grew up in Poland during the totalitarian regime and spent his early years exploring the anarchist youth movement as a force for social and political change. At the age of 17, Adam immigrated to America where his desire to find his path towards a meaningful life led him to monasteries in the US and India. His life-defining experience took place in India, where on his way to a Himalayan hermitage, he met a homeless child who lived on the streets of Delhi. This brief encounter led him to the “Ashram of the Poor” where he began his work with homeless youth. After returning to the US, he worked on the streets of various American cities with young people struggling against homelessness and prostitution. He eventually co-founded The Reciprocity Foundation, an award winning nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of New York City's homeless youth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guy Newland holds a Ph.D. in the History of Religions from the University of Virginia. He has worked with a great many Tibetan scholars and taught at five Dharma centers--all within the Dalai Lama’s school of Tibetan Buddhism. Since 1988 he has been a professor at Central Michigan University. His publications include The Two Truths (Snow Lion), Appearance and Reality (Snow Lion), Introduction to Emptiness (Snow Lion) and, in collaboration with others, Moonshadows: Conventional Truth in Buddhist Philosophy (Oxford).   Episode Outline: • Early Years – Guy briefly discusses his early years on the spiritual path, studying mystic Christianity, Hinduism, Sufism, his interest in experience rather than doctrine, cultivating compassion within ourselves and finding his home in the Buddhist lineage. • Traditions – Guy discusses some of the similarities and differences between Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. • Perception – Guy breaks down the teaching of the two truths—conventional truth and ultimate truth—using various examples that include MacBook’s, Apple Corporation and Steve Jobs, mountains, animals, office buildings, telephones and more. • The Ground of All Being – Quantum Physics, the human mind, the Tao and seeing reality as it actually is are all discussed. • Emptiness and Universal Happiness – In life we suffer unnecessarily because we don’t see things the way are, looking to external things for lasting peace and happiness, however, things don’t have a graspable nature. Guy discusses the importance and benefit of understanding the Buddhist teaching of Emptiness and how it’s a peace in accordance with seeing things the way they are. We also cover practicing as a way of service for others as well as ourselves. • Books! – Guy talks about some of his favorite authors and books including Zen Master Raven, Practice of the Wild and more. • Music! Guy and I discuss our love of music including Hendrix, Radiohead, The Pixies, Sonic Youth and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bio Diane Hamilton has been a practitioner of meditation for almost 30 years. She began her studies at Naropa University in 1983 with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and became a Zen student of Genpo Roshi’s in 1997. In 2003, she received ordination as a Zen monk with her husband Michael Zimmerman, and received dharma transmission from Roshi in 2006. Diane facilitates Big Mind Big Heart, a process developed by Genpo Roshi to help elicit the insights of Zen in Western audiences. She has worked with Ken Wilber and the Integral Institute since 2004.   Episode Outline: Tragedy/Spirituality – Diane discusses her early years on the spiritual path, losing seven of her friends to a series of accidents at the age of seventeen, which became a very significant catalyst in her spiritual life, studying with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and more.   Conflict Is Good News – In her book, Everything Is Workable, Diane writes, “To learn to transform conflict, we must let go of the notion that something or someone is wrong or bad,” which she elaborates on.   Scary, Yet Exciting – Diane talks about relating to fear directly rather than trying to get rid of it. She explores what becoming aware of it looks like, tastes like, and feels like in our mind and body, and developing fearlessness in the process.   Three Perspectives, Three Truths – It has been said that there are three sides to every story; yours, mine, and the truth. Diane discusses individual participation with the three perspectives that are constantly happening, which includes the first person “I,” second person “you,” and third person “it.”   Everything and Nothing – Diane discusses what in Zen is often referred to as Big Mind. Others have given it different names including Eckhart Tolle who calls it Presence, Ken Wilber who calls it Ever-Present Awareness and Byron Katie who simply calls it Reality. Call it what you will, Diane talks about the importance of cultivating our experience of Big Mind and elaborates on what that actually is.   Integral Life – Diane talks about meeting Ken Wilber in 2004 and how his work and that of Integral Life has influenced her own life and work.       See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matthew Fox is the author of over 30 books including The Hidden Spirituality of Men, Christian Mystics, and most recently Meister Eckhart. A preeminent scholar and popularizer of Western mysticism, he became an Episcopal priest after being expelled from the Catholic Church by Cardinal Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sera Beak is a Harvard-trained scholar of comparative world religions. She spent years traveling the world studying spirituality – from whirling with Sufi dervishes to meeting the Dalai Lama on her 21st birthday. The New York Times has called Sera one of the new “role models” of our generation. Sera is the author of The Red Book: A Deliciously Unorthodox Approach to Igniting Your Divine Spark and Red Hot & Holy: A Heretic’s Love Story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mirabai Starr is author of CARAVAN OF NO DESPAIR: A Memoir of Loss and Transformation, new translations of the Spanish mystics, John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, and the award-winning book, GOD OF LOVE: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity & Islam. She leads contemplative inter-spiritual retreats worldwide. Episode Outline: The Transformational Power of Loss – Mirabai and I discuss her new book, Caravan of No Despair and how she lays her entire heart and guts out in a raw and unabashed way for readers to see. We also discuss the transformational power of loss and how that can be a great catalyst for change and growth in our life. On Suffering – Mirabai and I discuss Ram Dass’s quotes, “Suffering is the sandpaper of our incarnation. It does its job of shaping us” and how we can grow through our suffering. Mirabai also discusses the role the great mystic teachers can play in helping us to make sense of pain, loss and suffering. On Healing – We’re all human and we’re all recovering from something, which is something Mirabai and I explore. We also talk about how bullshit spiritual niceties often don’t get the job done and what does work instead. On Spirituality – In a previous conversation that Mirabai and I had, she said, “I don’t know any enlightened beings. I used to think that was the goal but I don’t think we get perfection and I know you know that. And so all we can do is be present for all of it, no matter how yucky, with humility, humor and gentleness.” We discuss that and many of the preconceived notions people tend to have about spirituality. What Is God? – The title says it all, and Mirabai and I dive right in. We Are The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For – Mirabai and I discuss the passing of the spiritual torch that seems to be taking place and how can we make sure that to keep the lines of communication and mentorship open between generations so as to not lose the very important heart transmission from these great wisdom teachers.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. is a Nagual, a Toltec Master of Transformation. He is a direct descendant of the Toltecs of the Eagle Knight lineage and is the son of don Miguel Ruiz. By combining the wisdom of his family’s traditions with the knowledge gained from his own personal journey, he now helps others realize their own path to personal freedom. Episode Outline: • The Rebellious Heart – Miguel discusses his teenage years growing up with brother don Jose Ruiz and their eclectic love of the arts, including the music of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and The Cure, films such as the Lost Boys and Dead Poets Society (and more) and how they were often judged as not being “spiritual” as a result. • Spirituality, Don’t Pigeonhole It – Miguel discusses the importance of honoring our truths on the spiritual path and to see the spirituality in all of life rather than trying to pigeonhole it. He also talks about how honoring his truth led him to working in filmography earlier in his with such people as Missy Elliott, Michael Stipe and more. • Are you using knowledge, or is knowledge using you? – This was an extremely important question that Miguel’s grandmother asked him many years ago. Miguel goes on to discuss his shift in perspective and experience of knowledge. • Smokey Mirrors – Miguel discusses the Authentic Self and how it often becomes obscured as by the filters of, and our attachments to, our belief systems, something he calls the “Smokey Mirror”. • Self-Love and Acceptance – In his book, The Five Levels of Attachment, Miguel writes, “Of all the beliefs to detach from, this is the most important one: Let go of the attachment that you must obtain some image of perfection in order to be happy,” which he elaborates on in greater detail. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bio   Jessica Pimentel may be most well known for her role as Maria Ruiz on the Netflix hit series, Orange Is The New Black, but she’s also an amazing musician who sings for Alekhine’s Gun (amongst other musical projects) and a longtime practitioner in the Gelugpa Tibetan Buddhist lineage.   Episode Outline:   Finding Your Way – Jessica outlines her early spiritual journey, which consisted of Christianity and bible study, Native American culture, Jainism, Judaism, Hinduism, Taoism and ultimately, Tibetan Buddhism.   Hardcore Music – There’s an ever growing number of old school punk/hardcore “kids” that are finding their way into spirituality these days. Books such as Noah Levine’s Dharma Punx, Brad Warner’s Hardcore Zen and my own Indie Spiritualist speak to this. Jessica talks about what first attracted her to this music and going to the bands shows, as well as what’s kept her there since.   Hardcore Spirituality – Jessica and I discuss the correlation between the punk/hardcore movement that has led so many of its fans to exploring Buddhism and spirituality in general.   Alekhine’s Gun – Jessica talks about the band Alekhine’s Gun, which she sings for as well as her other musical endeavors.   Orange Is The New Black – Having been recorded early 2014, Jessica talks a bit about the hit show, it’s unexpected success, her favorite characters and the upcoming 2nd season (which has since aired).   Service Work – Jessica talks about the opportunity Orange Is The New Black has given her to be of greater service to charities she supports including, The Women’s Prison Association, Ari Khensur Food Fund, Willie Mae Rock Camp For Girls, the Tsem Rinpoche Foundation and more.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Loch Kelly, M.Div., LCSW is the author of, Shift into Freedom: The Science and Practice of Open-Hearted Awareness. He is an educator, licensed psychotherapist and recognized leader in the field of nondual meditation who was asked to teach Sutra Mahamudra by Mingyur Rinpoche and nondual meditation by Adyashanti. Loch has worked in community mental health, established homeless shelters and counseled family members of 9/11. He is the founder of the non-profit Open-Hearted Awareness Institute. Loch collaborates with neuroscientists at Yale, UPenn and NYU to study how awareness training can enhance compassion and wellbeing. Visit lochkelly.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a person in long term recovery from depression, trauma, self harm and substance abuse, compassionate and effective treatment of adolescent health is mission critical to Jamison Monroe. He is the Founder and CEO of Newport Academy, a series of healing centers for teens and families struggling with mental and behavioral health issues. With locations in California, Connecticut and New York City, Newport Academy encompasses four state of the art residential treatment programs, two comprehensive outpatient programs, and three nationally recognized therapeutic high schools designed specifically for teens in recovery. 
An Executive Producer of a truly game changing documentary about the prescription drug abuse epidemic among our nation's youth called Behind The Orange Curtain, Monroe, is a regular national news contributor on the topic of adolescent mental health to CNN, HLN, CBS and other major news outlets. Monroe has testified in front of the Parliament of the United Kingdom on the subject of teen prescription drug abuse. As a cofounder of drugsoverdinner.org, Monroe is a big part of our nation having over 10,000 dinner conversations about the impact of drugs on our society and making a push to end the stigma associated with addictive behaviors. Monroe’s global impact has been recognized by a host of international dignitaries and his tireless efforts have earned him several accolades including the illustrious Mona Mansell Award, which was presented to Jamison in 2014 by the Freedom Institute for his indelible mark on the addiction community and his passion for positive change. Monroe currently resides in New York City and serves on the board of directors for several non-profits and some of the world’s most progressive creative thinking projects such as the Inspiration Foundation and the Global Adolescent Project. Jamison Monroe continues to raise the bar wherever his passion and commitment take him.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Dana Sawyer is a full-time Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the Maine College of Art, and an adjunct professor of Asian Religions at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine. He is the author of two critically acclaimed spiritual biographies, of Aldous Huxley (2002) and Huston Smith (2014), and has written on a wide range of topics related to consciousness expansion, Tibetan Buddhism, Hindu mysticism, psychedelic experience, and alternative philosophies. Besides teaching at the academic level, Prof. Sawyer is a popular speaker on the lecture circuit, having taught workshops at the Esalen Institute, the Kripalu Institute, and other such centers of psychological, spiritual and philosophical inquiry. His work has appeared in Tricycle, the Buddhist Review, Parabola magazine, Yoga Journal and other such publications. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.