Spirit Matters

Dr. Robert K.C. Forman had a distinguished, twenty-year career as a professor of comparative religion at the City University of New York, during which time he had a major influence on the study of mysticism and authored several books and more than forty academic articles. A writer, popular public speaker, and spiritual counselor, he has shared his insights in Sweden, Iran, Finland, Israel, England, and across the U.S. After retiring from academia, he founded and ran the Forge Institute for Spirituality and Social Change (full disclosure: I was on the board), and also served as a board-certified hospital chaplain, an ordained interfaith minister, and a certified meditation teacher. His academic books include The Problem of Pure Consciousness and his books for the general reader include Enlightenment Ain't What It's Cracked Up to Be, and his latest work, which we'll be discussing here, Christianity Reimagined: A Mystical Approach for Doubters and the Dubious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is an American woman who was raised in Hollywood and educated at Stanford before her life was unexpectedly transformed by a journey to India. For the last 30 years, she has lived at Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh, the famously sacred city in the Himalayan foothills. At the direction of her guru, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, she serves as Parmarth's international director and gives daily spiritual teachings to ashram residents and guests. A popular public speaker, she has addressed various worldwide forums, including the United Nations, on issues ranging from sustainable development to gender equality. She also serves as the Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith Wash Alliance, the world's first interfaith initiative for water, sanitation, and hygiene, and as President of the Divine Shakti Foundation, which is dedicated to uplifting women and children. Her work earned her a presidential lifetime achievement award for service from President Joe Biden. She's also the author of the memoir Hollywood to the Himalayas and her new book, Come Home to Yourself. We spoke about the substance of that book, about Sadhvi's unique and fascinating path, and about today's spiritual challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Prendergast Ph.D. is a nondual spiritual teacher who is now retired from psychotherapy practice and his role as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, where he taught masters level counseling students for twenty-three years. Among his major spiritual influences are Jean Klein and Adyashanti. John offers residential retreats with his wife, Christiane, at leading venues in the U.S. and Europe as well as online. He's also an author. His books include Listening From the Heart of Silence; The Sacred Mirror; In Touch; The Deep Heart; and his latest, Your Deepest Ground: A Guide to Embodied Spirituality. We spoke mainly about the content of that last book and the importance of remaining deeply grounded as we evolve on the spiritual path. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miranda Macpherson is a widely respected contemporary spiritual teacher who has been guiding others into the direct experience of the sacred for more than 30 years. Born and raised in Australia, she founded the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation in London, where she trained and ordained more than 600 ministers and spiritual counselors over the course of ten years. Now based in the San Francisco Bay area, she leads the Living Grace Global Sangha and offers retreats internationally and online. Among her spiritual influences are Sri Ramana Maharshi, A Course in Miracles, and The Diamond Approach, in addition to her extensive study of the world's wisdom traditions. Her books include The Way of Grace: The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation; Boundless Love; and Meditations on Boundless Love. She is also a kirtan musician whose albums of mantra chanting include Streams of Grace and The Heart of Being. We spoke about her remarkable spiritual history (from which there is much to learn), how to recognize and abide in Grace; turning suffering into transformation; the proper understanding of nonduality; and appropriate spiritual responses to challenging world conditions. The episode ends with Miranda leading us in a guided meditation. Click here to learn more about Miranda and her work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leon Logothetis had a highly successful career in London's financial industry, but he was deeply depressed. So he switched gears entirely and became a global adventurer, a TV host, a motivational speaker, and a bestselling author. All of which was fueled by an exploration of kindness – both the giving of it and the receiving of it – and shining a light on the best of the traits human beings have in common. This led to a hugely successful television series called The Kindness Diaries, and to other globetrotting projects that combined adventure with meaningful causes. They raised a great deal of money for people in need. It also led to best-selling books such as Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, The Kindness Diaries, and Live, Love, Explore. He recently produced a fascinating film called The Kindness Within: A Journey to Freedom. The film, which is streaming online, follows Leon on his spiritual quest in India, where he searched for answers to questions that still plagued him and the chronic depression that continued to plague him. The answers he found can illuminate all of our spiritual paths. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone wants to be wise. But what is wisdom, and how does one acquire it? We spoke about that and more with Peter Bolland, professor of philosophy and humanities at Southwestern College near San Diego, California. Peter has taught world religions, Asian philosophy, world mythology, and ethics there for the past 34 years. In addition to being an award-winning singer-songwriter and poet, he was a columnist for 15 years at both Unity Magazine and the Dan Diego Troubadour, and has given presentations and workshops at lifelong learning communities and spiritual centers all over the U.S. His YouTube channel has over 400,000 viewers. He also has Substack titled "Finding a Way" and a guided meditation on the Insight Timer app. He's also the author of The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom, which was the focus of much of our conversation. His website is peterbolland.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Carol Orsborn received a master degree in theological studies from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University with a specialty in adult development. She has taught at Georgetown University. An internationally recognized thought leader on fulfilling human potential through all life stages, she is the guiding force behind the spiritual aging study and a support group movement that offers in-person and online gatherings of "old souls" worldwide. She's also the author of 36 books about life stage and spiritual development, including her newest publication, Spiritual Aging: Weekly Reflections on Embracing Life. Our conversation focused on that book and the overall challenge of aging as a path of spiritual development. We spoke about working through common stumbling blocks and aging with self-acceptance, freedom, and joy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired. Swami Sarvapriyananda is a Hindu monk belonging to the Ramakrishna Order. The current resident swami and spiritual leader of the Vedanta Society of New York, he is a renowned expert on Vedanta, the culmination of the ancient Vedic tradition, whose online videos are known for making this practical wisdom easily understandable and accessible. Here he shares traditional teachings on topics such as impermanence, detachment, the true nature of the Self, and the four keys to managing life's challenges.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired. Mirabai Starr is a celebrated author and expert on mysticism who teaches and speaks in various venues on contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialog. Her earlier books taught readers about Christian mystics such as John of the Cross, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila. Her more recent books include Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics, Caravan of No Despair: A Memoir of Loss and Transformation, and her latest, Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground. In this conversation, she shares the blessings of the Sabbath, the deep meaning of the dark night of the soul, the wisdom of the divine feminine and turning loss into transformation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired. The late Sally Kempton was a renowned spiritual teacher and author of books such as Meditation for the Love of It and Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga. As Swami Durgananda, she was a monastic in the Siddha Yoga tradition for 20 years, teaching, editing, and leading workshops.  After setting aside monastic life in 2002 she taught students around the world until her passing in 2023. In this interview, she shared yogic wisdom for building resilience, finding meaning in upsets, developing the inner witness, and integrating the energy centers of the mind, heart, and belly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired. Rabbi Rami Shapiro is a self-proclaimed “Jewish practitioner of perennial wisdom,” who was ordained by Hebrew Union College and earned a Ph.D. in religion from Union Graduate School. He writes the Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler column for Spirituality and Health magazine and has written more than thirty books, including Holy Rascals – Advice for Spiritual Revolutionaries; The Tao of Solomon: Unlocking the Perennial Wisdom of Ecclesiastes; Judaism Without Tribalism; and his latest, Zen Mind, Jewish Mind: Koan, Midrash, & The Living Word. In this interview, he shares perennial wisdom about grieving for the dead and the dying, addiction and recovery, the profound concept of being surrendered, and what it means to be a holy rascal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone has heard of Dante Alighieri, the great Italian poet whose Divine Comedy is a staple of Western literature and religion. Some of us have read the monumental poem, or parts of it, while others have a vague idea of Dante's conception of sin and the afterlife. Frank Ambrosio, an associate professor of philosophy, emeritus, at Georgetown University, contends that Dante's great work of art is a guidepost for spiritual development and portrays spiritual transformation through metaphor and imagery. Dr. Ambrosio taught at Georgetown for 40 years after receiving his doctorate from Fordham University. During his professorial tenure, he received five distinct awards for excellence in teaching. He is also the author of Dante and Derrida: Face to Face and the founding director of Georgetown's online platform “My Dante Project,” which takes readers on a unique experience of The Divine Comedy. It has so far been utilized by over 20,000 students worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired. Michael Bernard Beckwith is the founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center, a trans-denominational community in Los Angeles. Founded by Rev. Beckwith in 1986 to bring a practical approach to spirituality through meditation, affirmative prayer, and Life Visioning, (his proprietary method for inner transformation and peace), Agape became a hugely popular LA spiritual destination and has since transcended its humble origins to become a global community that welcomes thousands of local members and global live streamers every Sunday. Rev. Michael is the host of the podcast Take Back Your Mind and the bestselling author of books that bridge science and spirituality. They include Life Visioning, The Answer is You, and Spiritual Liberation. He is also co-founder of the Association for Global New Thought and co-chair of the Season for Nonviolence. Learn more about Michael here. Get the book Spiritual Practice for Crazy Time by Philip Goldberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired.   James Finley is a clinical psychologist and a spiritual director, who, early in life, was a cloistered monk in a Trappist monastery and a novice under the tutelage of the renowned ystic and author Thomas Merton. After leaving the monastery, Dr. Finley became a clinical psychologist, a popular leader of retreats and workshops, and a recognized authority on contemplative Christianity and mysticism. He is currently a faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation and a core teacher with The Living School, both organizations founded by Father Richard Rohr. Dr. Finley is also the author of several books and audio sets, including Merton's Palace of Nowhere; The Contemplative Heart; Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God; and his latest, The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation. Learn more about Jim here. Get the book Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times by Philip Goldberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired.   Imam Jamal Rahman is the co-founder and Muslim Sufi minister at Interfaith Community Sanctuary in Seattle. He also teaches at Seattle University and Pacific Lutheran University. A popular speaker on subjects related to Islam, Sufism, and interfaith relations, he has, since 9/11, collaborated with a rabbi and a Christian minister as part of The Interfaith Amigos. The three have toured the country sharing the message of spiritual inclusivity. He is also the author of several books, including Sacred Laughter of the Sufis; Spiritual Gems of Islam: and The Fragrance of Faith: The Enlightened Heart of Islam. He is also coauthor of  Religion Gone Astray; Out of Darkness into Light; and Finding Peace Through Spiritual Practice: The Interfaith Amigos Guide to Personal, Social, and Environmental Healing. Learn more about Jamal here. Get the book Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times by Philip Goldberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired. Father Adam Bucko is an Episcopal priest, an interfaith activist, and a leading voice in the renewal of contemplative spirituality. Born and raised in Poland under a totalitarian regime, his early exposure to spiritual activism greatly influenced his life trajectory. He is actively involved in social and ecological justice efforts and is leading voice in the movement for engaged spirituality. He is the author of Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation; The New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Living, and his newest book, Let Your Heartbreak be Your Guide: Lessons in Engaged Contemplation. and programs that combine contemplative practice with activism. Adam is currently the director of the Center for Spiritual Imagination, which is located at the Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, New York. He lives in New York with his wife, Kaira Jewel Lingo, a Buddhist teacher and former nun in the community of Thich Nhat Hanh. Together they lead The Buddhist-Christian Community for Meditation and Action. Learn more about Adam here. Get the book- Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times by Philip Goldberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Rami Shapiro is a self-proclaimed “Jewish practitioner of perennial wisdom,” who was ordained by Hebrew Union College and earned a Ph.D. in religion from Union Graduate School. He is the codirector of the One River Foundation, writes the Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler column for Spirituality and Health magazine and has written more than thirty books on religion and spirituality. His books include Holy Rascals – Advice for Spiritual Revolutionaries; The Tao of Solomon: Unlocking the Perennial Wisdom of Ecclesiastes; Judaism Without Tribalism; and his latest, Zen Mind, Jewish Mind: Koan, Midrash, & The Living Word. As I wrote in my endorsement of the last book, “Not into Zen? Not a Jew? Not a problem. Anyone on any path will benefit enormously from this profoundly illuminating book.” The same is true of this deep and wide-ranging conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired. The popular workshop leader, relationship expert, and author of numerous best-selling books, including The Choice for Love, Barbara De Angelis tells us why it's vital to treat difficult times as part of our “cosmic curriculum.” She counsels us to always remain authentic, and to practice “courageous compassion.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired. In this interview Philip talks with meditation pioneer, renowned teacher and bestselling author Sharon Salzberg. She was among the first to bring Buddhist practices to mainstream American culture over fifty years ago, inspiring generations of mindfulness practitioners, spiritual teachers, and wellness influencers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired. In this interview, the first of a 12 part series, Philip talks with poet, philosopher, and author Mark Nepo. Mark has written  23 books, including the bestseller, The Book of Awakening. He shares his hard-earned insights on  how to secure a foothold in the sanctuary that resides within us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world gets chaotic and uncertain, we need spiritual practice more than ever—not just to sustain our souls and restore our inner peace, but to recharge and prepare ourselves to take on challenges with effective action. A few years ago, Philip Goldberg, the author of “Spiritual Practice in Crazy Times” and host of the Spirit Matters podcast. interviewed twelve spiritual leaders to help us get through the pandemic. We're now re-releasing the interviews as an encore series, because the messages are as relevant today as when they first aired. Renowned author and expert on the world's mystical traditions, Andrew Harvey, tells us how we can thrive spiritually while also helping birth a new humanity in this perilous time for our planet. The founder and director of The Institute of Sacred Activism, Andrew invites concerned people around the world to take up the challenge of our global crises by becoming inspired, effective, and practical agents of change in order to create peace and sustainability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beth Nielsen Chapman is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter who has recorded hits of her own and written hits for a multitude of artists (to name a few, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler, Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings). She has won numerous awards and was nominated for a Grammy in 1999. Her most recent album, “Crazytown,” was released in 2022, and recently, a song from that album, Put a Woman in Charge, went viral. In addition, Beth is an inspirational speaker, a workshop leader, and a lecturer on the magic of creativity. Some of her songs are rooted in deep personal experience of grief and loss (she's lost two husbands to cancer). Her best-known song, Sand and Water,” was famously performed by Elton John in memory of Princess Diana. We spoke about the spiritual alchemy of both grief and creativity (songwriting in particular).  Find out more about Philip Goldberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just in time for Christmas 2024, we have two ministers who are associated with Progressive Christianity, a growing movement that runs counter to fundamentalism and the mainstream churches whose attendance continues to decline. Together, they present a vision of a different kind of Christianity.  Rev. Nicole Lamarche has been an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ since 2005 and now serves as pastor of Community UCC in Boulder, Colorado. She believes that “communities of faith can be powerful places for personal and social transformation.”  Rev. Jim Burklo is the pastor of the UCC church in Simi Valley, CA, and also serves as Executive Director of Progressive Christians Uniting.  Formerly the Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California, he's the author of seven books on Progressive Christianity, the latest of which is Tenderly Calling: An Invitation to the Way of Jesus.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Key Chapple is Doshi Professor of Indic and comparative theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and the founding director of the Master of Arts in Yoga Studies at the same school. He's a specialist in the religions of India and the author of more than twenty books, most recently Living Landscapes: Meditations on the Elements in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain Yogas and The Samkhya System: Accounting for the Real. He serves as an advisor to multiple organizations including the Forum on Religion and Ecology, the Ahimsa Center, the Dharma Academy of North America, the South Asian Studies Association, and the International School for Jain Studies. Our conversation centered around the five yamas and five niyamas of Classical Yoga. These are essential guidelines for living a profoundly ethical and deeply spiritual life.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeffery D. Long is a professor of religion, philosophy, and Asian studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, where he has taught since receiving his Ph.D from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 2000. Both a practitioner and a scholar of Hinduism, his work focuses primarily on the religions and philosophies of India and themes such as nonviolence, pluralism, religion and popular culture, and the concept of rebirth. He has spoken three times at the United Nations and appears in documentaries for PBS and the History Channel. He is also the author, editor, or co-editor of twelve books, including A Vision for Hinduism: Beyond Hindu Nationalism; The Historical Dictionary of Hinduism; and the award-winning Hinduism in America: A Convergence of Worlds. His latest book is Discovering Indian Philosophy: An Introduction to Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Thought.  Find Jeffrey Long on Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rev. Carol Allman-Morton is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire, and her husband, Rev. Tadd Allman-Morton, is the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Great Barrington, United Church of Christ. They met at Andover Newton Theological School, where Carol was awarded the James Luther Adams Award for excellence in the study of liberal theology” and Tadd was a member of the Jonathan Edwards Honors Society. We talked about their early spiritual experiences, their motivation for seeking ordination, the decline in church participation and doctrinal belief, and what the marriage of ministers of different theological orientations is like.  Read this article in the Berkshire Edge about Rev. Tad Allman-Morton Find out more about Philip Goldberg here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Middle East aflame with violence, we explore the opposite with two of the three Interfaith Amigos. Laura Duhan-Kaplan is Rabbi Emerita of Shalom Synagogue in Vancouver and professor emerita of philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. The recipient of many awards for teaching excellence, she is a popular lecturer and retreat leader, and the author or editor of ten book, including The Infinity Inside: Jewish Spiritual Practice Through a Multi-Faith Lens; Encountering the Other: Christian and Multi-Faith Perspectives; and Spirit of Reconciliation: A Multi-Faith Resource. Imam Jamal Rahman teaches at Seattle University and Pacific Lutheran University, and is the co-founder and Muslim Sufi minister at Interfaith Community Sanctuary. A popular speaker on subjects related to Islam, Sufism, and interfaith relations, he is the author of several books, including Sacred Laughter of the Sufis: Awakening the Soul with the Mullah's Comic Teaching Stories and Other Islamic Wisdom; Spiritual Gems of Islam; and The Fragrance of Faith. He is also coauthor of Finding Peace Through Spiritual Practice: The Interfaith Amigos Guide to Personal, Social, and Environmental Healing; Religion Gone Astray; Out of Darkness Into Light; and other works. Their inspiring work together has healing messages for harmony among religious traditions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carl Siciliano is a nationally recognized advocate and provider for homeless LGBTQ youth. In 2002, he founded the Ali Forney Center (AFC) in New York City. AFC has grown to become the nation's largest and most comprehensive housing program for homeless LGBTQ youth. His work has been featured by NPR, CNN, The Daily Show, and New York magazine. Now he's told his compelling story in a new book, Making Room: Three Decades of Fighting for Beds, Belonging, and a Safe Place for LGBTQ Youth. We spoke about his own coming out, his relationship with the Catholic Church, his spiritual transformation, the value of engaging in service work, and his moving experiences over many years of advocacy for a disadvantaged population.  Find out more about Carl Siciliano and The Ali Forney Center  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A special episode on the growing discipline of yoga therapy and scientific research on the benefits of yoga practices. Two guests this time. Catherine Justice is an integrative physical therapist, certified yoga therapist, and the program manager for the Division of Integrative Medicine at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis. The associate editor of the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, she has conducted research on yoga for arthritis, Parkinson's disease, and lower-back pain. Sat Bir Khalsa has been engaged in research on the effects of yoga and meditation practices on physical and psychological health since 2001. He's conducted clinical research on a number of disorders, including insomnia, PTSD, and anxiety, and his numerous affiliations include: certified instructor of Kundalini Yoga; director of research for the Kundalini Research Institute; research associate at the Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine; research affiliate of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Yoga Therapy and chair of the scientific program committee for the International Association of Yoga Therapists' annual symposium on yoga research.   Catherine Justice The Art of Well Being Sat Bir Khalsa International Association of Yoga Therapists Connect with Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Henry Shukman is a poet, author, and Zen master in the Sanbo Zen lineage. Born in the UK, where his parents taught at Oxford, he now resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he's spiritual director emeritus of the Mountain Cloud Zen Center. He teaches various forms of mindfulness meditation and is the creator of a meditation app called The Way. He tells his personal story in a memoir titled One Blade of Grass, and he's the author of a new book, Original Love: The Four Inns on the Path of Awakening. We spoke of his spiritual origins, the different forms Zen teaching has taken on, the nuances of mindfulness and meditation, and especially his new book and what he means by "original love."  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marie Grace B. is a cofounder of, and spokesperson for, Spiritual Emergence Anonymous (SEA). SEA describes itself as "a grassroots world-wide 12-step program for spiritual emergence." The program's purpose is "to support spiritual emergence in individuals whose spiritual transformation is so powerful that they desire assistance and support from a group in integrating their spiritual experience by seeking stability, clarity, and being of greater service in the world." Because SEA is modeled on the 12-step ethic, anonymity is a central principle, which is why Marie Grace, when representing SEA, does not use her last name or state her professional training and background. We spoke about the origins of SEA and the value it has in the lives of participants.   https://spiritualemergenceanonymous.org/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome two returning champions to Spirit Matters. James Finley is a clinical psychologist, a spiritual director and a faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation. Early in his life he was a monk in a Trappist monastery and a novice under the well-known mystic Thomas Merton. He is a recognized authority on contemplative Christianity and mysticism whose books include Merton's Palace of Nowhere, The Contemplative Heart, Christian Meditation, and The Healing Path. Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author of creative non-fiction and contemporary translations of sacred literature. She teaches and speaks in various venues on contemplative practice, mysticism, and inter-spiritual dialog. Her earlier books taught readers about the great Christian mystics (John of the Cross, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila). Her more recent books include Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics, Caravan of No Despair: A Memoir of Loss and Transformation, and her latest, Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground.  They are on the show together because they are teaching a workshop together this fall (November, 2024) under the auspices of Gladdening Light, in which they will draw upon the teachings of Christian and Non-Christian mystical traditions to offer "practical guidelines in the gentle art of contemplative practice."   James Finley Gladdening Light.org Find our more about Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Francis X. Clooney is the Parkman Professor of Divinity and professor of Comparative Theology at Harvard Divinity School. Prior to that, he taught at Boston College and was the director of Harvard's Center for the Study of World Religions. He is a renowned scholar of Hinduism and at the same time, a Catholic theologian and an ordained Jesuit priest for more than half a century. He is also a leading figure in the developing field of Comparative Theology, which involves studying traditions other than one's own. Dr. Clooney is a prolific author whose books reflect a deep interest in interfaith enquiry. They include: Theology After Vedanta: An Experiment in Comparative Theology; Comparative Theology: Deep Learning Across Religious Borders; Reading the Hindu and Christian Classics: Why and How it Matters; and his recently published memoir, Priest and Scholar, Catholic and Hindu: A Love Story. We spoke about his extraordinary life and the spiritual benefits of reaching beyond our borders.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel McKanan is a senior lecturer at Harvard Divinity School, occupying a chair named after Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Faculty Director for the school's Program for the Evolution of Spirituality. His scholarly work focuses on religious and spiritual movements for social transformation in the united states and beyond, with an additional focus on the Unitarian Universalist tradition and the Anthroposophical movement, which was founded by Rudolph Steiner in the early 20th century.  Professor McKanan is the author of six books, including Prophetic Encounters: Religion and the American Radical Tradition; Eco-alchemy: Anthroposophy and the History and Future of Environmentalism; and most recently Camphill and the Future: Spirituality and Disability in an Evolving Communal Movement. He is also deeply involved in the training of Unitarian Universalist ministers and scholars and has served as board chair of the International Communal Studies Association.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dana Sawyer is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and World Religions at the Maine College of Art & Design. The author of biographies of two prominent 20th Century thinkers, Aldous Huxley (2002) and Huston Smith (2017), his primary expertise is in Hinduism and Buddhism. For more than twenty years Dana's work has focused on comparative mysticism, theories of the “perennial philosophy,” and the value of psychedelic experience in the study of mysticism. His most recent books are an analysis of the Transcendental Meditation Movement for Cambridge University Press (2023), and The Perennial Philosophy Reloaded, published by Monkfish in July, 2024. Our conversation focused on that last book, whose subject, Perennialism, is vital for understanding spirituality in today's complex, pluralistic landscape.  www.danasawyer.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kaira Jewel Lingo lived for 15 years as an ordained nun in Thich Nhat Hanh's monastic community, Plum Village. She now teaches internationally in the Zen and Vipassana traditions, as well as in a secular mindfulness context. Her work is at the intersection of racial, climate and social justice with a focus on activists, black, indigenous, and people of color, as well as artists, educators, families, and youth. Her work continues the Engaged Buddhism developed by Thich Nhat Hanh, interweaving nature, ecology, embodied mindfulness practice, art and play. She draws inspiration from her parents' lives of service and her father's work with Martin Luther King, Jr. She's the author of We Were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons in Moving Through Change, Loss and Disruption and the co-author of Healing Our Way Home: Black Buddhist Teachings on Ancestors, Joy and Liberation. She is married to, and sometimes works with, Adam Bucko, who has also been a guest on this podcast.  https://www.kairajewel.com/books  https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul John Roach is a native of Wales, UK. He earned BA and MA degrees in English from Oxford University and a postgraduate degree in education from the University of Wales. Paul was ordained at Unity Ministerial School in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1988 and served as the senior minister at Unity of Fort Worth until his retirement in 2018. He has also served the Unity movement in other ways, including as a board member of Unity World Headquarters. For 14 years, Paul hosted a program on Unity FM titled World Spirituality, where he interviewed spiritual leaders and authors from around the world. He is the author of the award-winning book Unity and World Religions, which focuses on the perennial philosophy within all spiritual traditions, which is prime focus of this conversation.  Paul John Roach web site Connect with the host of Spirit Matters- Philip Goldberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acharya Shunya is the first female head of a spiritual lineage that goes back 2,000 years in India. In her teaching, Acharya reinterprets and re-contextualizes Vedic wisdom, the nondual perspective of Advaita Vedanta, the lifestyle principles of Ayurveda, and Yoga philosophy and practices – and in so doing attempts to make the ancient insights relevant to modern sensibilities and needs. She says her purpose is “to create a learning and awakening path for contemporary seekers, empowering people everywhere to lead spiritually fearless, fulfilled and enlightened lives.” A motivational speaker, podcast host, workshop facilitator and retreat leader, she's the founder of the Awakened Self Foundation and Vedika Global. She is the author of three books, Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom; Sovereign Self; and Roar Like a Goddess: Every Woman's Guide to Becoming Unapologetically Powerful, Prosperous, and Peaceful. Meet the host of Spirit Matters Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oren Jay Sofer holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University and now teaches Buddhist meditation, mindfulness, and communication internationally. A certified trainer of nonviolent communication, he is a practitioner of somatic experiencing for the healing of trauma and the author of several books. They include: Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication and his current book, Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love. We spoke mainly about that second book and the need for spiritual responses to current world conditions.  Meet the host of Spirit Matters Philip Goldberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Swami Medhananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and a distinguished academic, currently serving as Senior Research Fellow in philosophy at the Vedanta Society of Southern California. He received his Ph.D. in 2009 from the University of California at Berkeley, and also studied at Humboldt University in Berlin and at Oxford University in the UK. His current research focuses on the global philosophy of religion, the epistemology of mystical experience, cosmopsychism, Indian scriptural hermeneutics, and Vedantic philosophical traditions. The Section Editor for the International Journal of Hindu Studies, he has published over thirty articles in leading academic journals as well as several books, including Swami Vivekananda's Vedāntic Cosmopolitanism; Infinite Paths to Infinite Reality; and Panentheism in Indian and Western Thought. He also serves as Hindu Chaplain at both UCLA and USC.  Swami Medhananda Find Swami Medhananda on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, originally David Nowe of Pittsburgh, met Swami Muktananda and received Shaktipat initiation from him in 1975. He spent the next 8 years studying with and working for Muktananda in various ashram settings. Along the way he took initiation as a sannyasi and received the name Brahmananda. He returned to householder life for a period of time, then resumed the swami life. At one point he founded the God Realization Ministry, which taught the principles of siddha yoga in more than 200 churches, and was also the spiritual director of Simple Peace Retreats in Assisi, Italy.  Since the time Covid broke out, he has been offering satsangs and conducting Shaktipat intensives in India. He is also a team member of American Veda Tours, co-leading (with the host of this podcast) journeys to sacred sites in India. We spoke about Muktananda, Kashmir Shaivism, and other illuminating topics. Find out more about Philip Goldberg books here Philip Goldberg Author, Speaker, Spiritual Counselor, Writing Coach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Alton B. Pollard III is a scholar, author, consultant, and public speaker on the subject of African American and U.S. religion and culture. He is about to join Wake Forest University as the Chair of Baptist Studies in the School of Divinity and professor of African American Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. His prior positions include: President Emeritus of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Dean of the School of Divinity and professor at Howard University, Director of Black Church Studies at the Candler School of Theology, and Chair of American Religious Cultures at Emory University. He is the author of several books, including Mysticism and Social Change: The Social Witness of Howard Thurman, and a new edition of W.E.B. DuBois's The Negro Church. He has also written dozens of book chapters, journal articles, and op-eds. We spoke about Thurman, DuBois, and the influence of Mahatma Gandhi on the American civil rights movement.  Find our more about the host of Spirit Matters, Philip Goldberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices