On April 7th, Philip Weber and I were invited by two dear friends to participate in an intimate satsang with about 20 business yogis from a Buddhist sangha. We talked extensively about our spiritual journeys and realizations along the way, the role that our Guru Paramahansa Yogananda and his organization (SRF) played, and the diversity of yogic methods we utilized in our respective sadhanas.
It was a special event for several reasons: there was a beautiful collective energy palpable in the room, we had a few furry friends join in on the fun, and it was the first time that Phil and I shared the stage and were recorded speaking together, which added a dynamic element rarely experienced in these types of spiritual dialogues. We’re so grateful for the hospitality of our hosts and for their generosity in allowing us to share the recording with everyone. The talk (2hr 15min) was edited solely for confidentiality purposes and to shorten long breaks of silence. Below you’ll find the video and the timestamped table of contents that, in my opinion, doesn’t quite capture the depthful variety of the conversation. May the collective Sangha serve and benefit many! ✨
Table of Contents:
- 00:00:00 – Introductions
- 00:03:40 — Phil answers the question: “Can you talk about your spiritual journey, your awakening experiences, and any major events along the way?”
- 00:29:00 — Eli answers the question: “Can you talk about your spiritual journey, your awakening experiences, and any major events along the way?”
- 01:00:00 — Both answer the question: “Can you share a bit more about your relationship with yoga, what it means to you, and how it has evolved over time?”
- General and specific understandings of yoga
- Infinite and unique yogic paths
- 01:09:40 — Both answer the questions: “What have some of your realizations been on integrating your awakening with everyday life? And what are some pitfalls or opportunities you want to mention from either your personal experiences or those of colleagues?”
- Post-awakening embodiment
- Integrating our divinity and humanity
- The role of love
- The loss of personal will
- Evangelical fervor
- Relationships after awakening
- 01:19:20 — Both answer the question: “What has it been like shifting from a Guru-led paradigm to a Self-led paradigm?”
- The dangers of idealizing the teacher
- Intuition as the inner guide
- Healthy tenets for the teacher-student relationship
- Leshavidya: karmic run-off
- Creation as an appearance of form in Divine Consciousness
- The importance of maintaining our awakening
- The value of gratitude
- God is on the journey with/as us
- Everythingness and Nothingness
- 01:38:25 — Eli demonstrates the “Self-Cleaning Oven” technique for maintaining awareness, openness, clarity, health, and flow in everyday life.
- Explanation and guided meditation
- 01:49:40 — Both answer the question: “Is there such thing as having perfect discrimination or discernment? Is it similar to Enlightenment that requires maintenance and can slip away with leshavidya (karmic run-off)?”
- Clarity without egoic fluctuations
- The concept of the Perfect Master
- The eternal journey
- 01:53:40 — Both answer the question: “What is your experience of creative expression, and has it changed significantly since awakening?”
- The source of creativity
- The starving artist
- Creativity in/as every moment
- 01:59:40 — Both answer the question: “Can you talk more about your Teaching service and how you connect with people?”
- Goals and populations
- Eli’s teaching style
- Donations
- Flexibility on the path
- Sadhana and surrender
- 02:13:20 — Both answer the question: “Any wise words on staying humble?”