157. Kurt Johnson

Dr. Kurt Johnson has worked in science and spirituality for over 40 years.  This dual career in science and spirituality is detailed at WIKIPEDIA.  In spirituality, Kurt is co-author of the recently published book The Coming Interspiritual Age, with David Robert Ord, the Editorial Director of Namaste Publishing (publishers of such spiritual teachers as Eckhart Tolle and Michael Brown). As a New Release, the book has been in Amazon’s Top Ten in Spirituality. Kurt was originally a Christian monk and founded, with Br. Wayne Teasdale and others, the InterSpiritual Dialogue Association for discussion of contemplative experience across traditions. Ordained in three spiritual traditions, he works also with The Contemplative Alliance and Integral Communities. In science, Kurt is the co-author of the best-selling Nabokov's Blues: The Scientific Odyssey of a Literary Genius, with Steve Coates of The New York Times, which was a Top Ten Book in science in 2000. Kurt’s PhD is in evolution, ecology, systematics and comparative biology.  Associated with the American Museum of Natural History (30 yrs.). He published 200+ articles on evolution and ecology, including the 2011 Harvard DNA sequence study vindicating Vladimir Nabokov’s views of evolution. He is currently completing another book on Nabokov’s science and art for Yale University Press.  However, Kurt’s primary interest is the simplicity of nondual spiritual practice. Kurt now hosts The CONVERGENCE SERIES on VoiceAmerica, a series joining the millennial message of the Wisdom Traditions and the many passion areas of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, spirituality and science.  Ken Wilber frames the Series and guests well known to BATGAP include Deepak Chopra, Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Karenna Gore, Michael Dowd, Duane Elgin, Gregg Braden, Fr. Thomas Keating, Steve Farrell, Karuna, Patricia Albere, David Nicol, Loch Kelly and Grammy Nominees Pato Banton and Ras I Ray.  The website provides information on every episode including additional materials from the co-hosts and guests. Other organizations with which Kurt is involved: UNITY EARTH The Interspiritual Network Light on Light Magazine Interspiritual Dialogue 'n Action The Coming Interspiritual Age From Self-Care to Earth-Care Convergence Magazine Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 1/12/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to "The Coming Interspiritual Age" 00:05:03 - The Shift towards Non-Duality and Holism 00:09:00 - The Evolution of Human Capacities 00:13:09 - The Shaking Out Period 00:17:01 - Experimenting with Structural Change and New Ways of Doing Things 00:21:14 - The Unfolding of Patterns and Idealism 00:26:08 - Embedding Awakeness in Everything 00:30:34 - Overlapping Movements: Activism and Spirituality 00:34:14 - Creating a Welcoming Space for Conversation 00:37:29 - Divine Guidance and Conscious Choices 00:41:37 - Taking Radical Risks for Change 00:44:38 - The Embodiment Movement and the Non-dual World 00:47:43 - The Simultaneous Embodied and Transcendent Experience 00:51:14 - The Significance of Different Perspectives 00:54:47 - The Urgency to Avoid Extinction 00:58:18 - The Inter-Spiritual Movement and Universal Spirituality 01:01:47 - Inter-spirituality and the Universal Understanding 01:05:44 - Connecting the Dots and Implications of the Heart Sutra 01:08:50 - The Oneness of the Spiritual World 01:12:44 - Exploring the Subtler Realms of Reality 01:16:21 - Non-Dual Fundamentalists and the Mellowing Process 01:20:25 - A Cataclysmic Shift in Perception 01:23:26 - Connections and Dream Interpretations 01:27:02 - The Feeling of Completion and Moving On 01:29:53 - Stability in Monastic Life 01:32:55 - Curiosity without Investment 01:36:10 - The Universality of the Human Experience 01:39:50 - Welcoming the Holistic Gestalt