725. Jim Grove

 Jim Grove is a lifelong practitioner of yogic meditation who grew up in a small logging town on the West Coast of Canada. At age thirteen, he was introduced to a teacher who was one of the few ministers directly ordained by Paramahansa Yogananda during his lifetime, Mother Yogacharya M. Hamilton of Seattle. A series of early transcendental experiences convinced him to commit himself to continued yogic practice under her tutelage. His recent memoir, A Curious Spiritual Journey, recounts some of the prominent experiences that have arisen from his practice over four decades, starting from early adolescence, in the interests of providing some insight into the often unpredictable process of spiritual unfoldment. He likes to speak plainly about spiritual experience and practice, avoiding the vague, abstract, and sometimes inflated language used in much spiritual and new age writing. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Website: jimgrove.ca Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded February 15, 2025 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 Jim Grove's Journey in Yogic Meditation    00:03:42 Editing a Manuscript: From 80,000 to 55,000 Words  00:07:23 Discovering a Life-Changing Teacher    00:11:24 A Humorous Encounter at Denny's    00:16:23 Spiritual Awakening and Motivation Changes  00:21:30 The Ripple Effect of Everyday Actions  00:25:47 Mariana Kaplan's Global Soccer Mission    00:30:15 The Importance of Spiritual Integrity and Ethical Conduct  00:34:29 The Importance of Integrity in Organizations and Community  00:38:25 Cultural Ethics vs. Universal Values  00:42:13 The Importance of Humility and Kindness in Life  00:47:09 Leadership Dynamics and Corporate Culture    00:51:16 The Purpose of Suffering and Spiritual Growth  00:55:51 Embracing Mortality in Tibetan Buddhism  00:59:10 Exploring Shamanic Practices and Cross-Cultural Spirituality    01:03:24 Exploring the Life and Teachings of Joel Goldsmith  01:06:55 Joel Goldsmith and Spiritual Anecdotes    01:10:33 Exploring Multiverse and Other Dimensions  01:14:40 The Role of Specialists in Reincarnation Research    01:18:30 Exploring Past Life Regressions and Reincarnation    01:23:25 Vision of Furry Boots with Curly Toes    01:27:52 Healing Through Past Life Regression  01:31:46 Balancing Depth and Breadth in Personal Growth  01:36:04 Exploring Kundalini Activation and Spiritual Growth    01:40:49 The Metaphor of the Ring: Ego and Humility Lessons from Tolkien  01:45:52 The Concept of Humility in Spiritual Teachings    01:49:50 The Spiritual Lessons of the Prodigal Son and Christ's Doubt  01:54:11 Career Shift: From Private Sector to Provincial Government  01:59:06 Embracing Change and Trusting the Universe  02:03:47 Instilling Inner Guidance in Children  02:07:44 Future of Humanity: Transitions and Endgames