121. Sundance Burke

Sundance Burke, Spiritual Teacher and Author, was born in Seattle, Washington under the given name, Donald Russell Burke III. He is a graduate of the University of Washington and the Gonzaga School of Law. Sundance is a former lawyer and businessman. He is the father of two children and the grandfather of three. Sundance Burke is the author of Free Spirit: A Guide to Enlightened Being, published in 2008. He offers public talks, meditation gatherings, video recordings, private meetings, intensive workshops and retreats for those who long to awaken from the fearful dream of human separation and suffering. While traveling for law business in 1982, Sundance was graced with the profound spiritual experience of being the loving witness to the mind’s dream of personal existence. This awareness of impersonal being completely shattered his former understanding of self-identity and the nature of his world. In the years that followed, he found himself undertaking an intense inward journey into the heart of this realization. In 1988, he met his future wife and teaching partner, Katie Davis, who had similarly experienced the miracle of Self-liberation. In 2004, Sundance and Katie moved to Maui to marry and write the realization of Beloved Being. Sitting side by side, their books took form and expression. Currently, they are again residing in the Seattle area and they continue to point to our True Presence, as conscious freedom and causeless joy. Katie Davis is the author of Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment. Interviews with Sundance and Katie about awakening are included in the recently published book, Conversations on Non-Duality; Twenty-six Awakenings. The AWAKE SPIRIT TEACHINGS of Sundance and Katie have helped many people throughout the world to find inner peace, wise love and greater fulfillment in their lives. At the core of this teaching is a spiritual awakening that transcends the ego-based state of consciousness into the harmony and unity of pure awareness, a field of infinite possibility and the sacred heart of all Being. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 5/5/2012. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Sundance Burke's Spiritual Journey 00:05:06 - The Paradox of Outer Life and Inner Unhappiness 00:10:44 - A Mysterious Encounter with Satoshi 00:14:31 - Siddhis and their potential effects 00:18:18 - Losing Everything, Starting Over with Stand-Up Comedy 00:22:50 - Miracles and Enlightenment 00:26:05 - Exploring Spiritual Texts 00:29:25 - Awakening to Self-Realization 00:33:22 - Understanding the Power of Attention 00:36:59 - Establishing Presence 00:40:20 - Breakthrough and Burning Desire 00:44:08 - A Shift in Self-Reflection 00:47:46 - The End of Longing 00:51:26 - Being Honest and Present 00:54:47 - The Fire of Presence 00:58:23 - The Path of Devotion 01:01:31 - The Two Paths to Freedom: Self-Inquiry and Presence 01:04:44 - Self-Inquiry and Presence 01:08:10 - The False Self and Identification 01:11:09 - The Ego as a Tool 01:14:40 - Dissolving the Ego and Finding True Self 01:18:01 - The Nature of Consciousness 01:21:59 - The Power of Silence and Stillness 01:25:59 - Different Strokes for Different Folks 01:29:10 - The Power of Witnessing and Harmonizing 01:33:14 - Collective Awakening and Changing Paradigms 01:38:09 - Turning to love, the future of service 01:42:15 - Overcoming the Ego Inside and Outside 01:46:42 - The Power of Love and Inspiration 01:50:09 - The Name "Sundance" 01:52:49 - How to Stay Updated with "Buddha at the Gas Pump"