A special episode of Spirit Matters. Regular host Philip Goldberg moves to the other side of the table, turning over hosting duties to Rabbi Rami Shapiro for a conversation about Phil's forthcoming book, Karmic Relief: Harnessing the Laws of Cause and Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life. It's an in-depth discussion of the concept of karma, which is at once simple and complex. The term, which is used more and more frequently in ordinary conversation, is often misconstrued. The conversation delves into common misunderstandings of karma and teases out a lot of its nuances and its relevance to everyday life. Karmic Relief will be released in October; click here to pre-order it on Amazon (authors are grateful for pre-orders as they upgrade the book's position on Amazon).
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The Spirituality of Literature and Aging With Kamla Kapur
Kamla K. Kapur was born and raised in India and studied in the United States. Her writing has included plays, novels, poetry, essays and re-imaged Indian and Mid-eastern spiritual writings. She is the author of 8 books, including: The Singing Guru, which is a novel about Guru Nanak,
the founder of the Sikh tradition; Ganesha Goes to Lunch: Classics From Mystic India; Rumi’s Tales From the Silk Road; and her latest, The Privilege of Aging: Savoring the Fullness of Life. She is based in the seaside town of Del Mar, which is just north of San Diego, where she taught literature, creative writing, mythology, and Shakespeare at Grossmont College for 15 years.
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Reimagining Christianity With Robert K.C. Forman
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.
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Come Home to Yourself With Sadhvi Bhagavati Saraswati
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.
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Embodied Spirituality With John Prendergast
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.
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Never before has the spiritual landscape been as diverse and abundant as it is today. The opportunities for learning and growth are enormous, and spiritual counselor, author, meditation teacher, and speaker Philip Goldberg will help you make sense of it all and apply it to your life. Here you’ll meet teachers, scholars, and other experts from a broad range of traditions (and some from no tradition). Some of our guests are well known; others should be well known. They all have wisdom and practical guidance to impart. The aim is to help you expand and deepen your spiritual practices and speed your progress on your chosen path.
Netherlands