165. Anatta Campbell

Paradoxically, “Anatta”, HWL Poonja, enlightened master, said, "means, I don't exist." Exactly! That was Anatta’s experience late one night almost 20 years ago when the ego/personality disappeared and was seen to have less reality than smoke and dust. Yet a magical life has transpired, regardless. Starting out as a ‘Jesus Freak’ in New York, Anatta lived in Oregon and India as a disciple of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. In the presence of HWL Poonja she washed the Master's dishes, ate radishes from his hands and massaged his arm which had been injured. She spent a beautiful afternoon sitting under the trees in Ojai California attending a talk with the late J. Krishnamurt. All in all, Anatta eventually traveled to India on seven separate occasions. Continuing the journey in the west to Hawaii and Sedona, she sat with many well known teachers - finally finding her heart’s home back in the town of Tiruvannamali, India, and has felt blessed sitting at the foot of her ultimate teacher, the sacred mountain, Arunachala, near the Ramana Maharshi ashram; a place where, since ancient times, many enlightened beings have been drawn When not in India, Anatta lived a very ordinary life in Southern California near her three daughters and three grandchildren.  Surprisingly existence has sent her two more teenagers to raise and she is currently in the mountains of North Carolina doing just that, though that journey is coming to an end as the "kids" are almost grown. About the book, The Ordinary Buddha, by Anatta Campbell. Adyashanti and Byron Katie, two well known teachers, share their personal awakening stories, as well as eleven other "ordinary" people who, in beautiful and dramatic ways, share with us their journey from real-life, not so saintly pasts to the discovery of their true nature; The discovery that we are not who we thought ourselves to be all along, but something far more grand and yet sweetly ordinary. The Knowing sweeps through us like a fresh breeze on a spring morning. Their discovery is our discovery. Anatta is available for Skype or phone sessions. Please feel free to contact Anatta, at: [email protected] www.Facebook.com/TheOrdinaryBuddha The website for her book, "The Ordinary Buddha": www.Theordinarybuddha.org. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 3/9/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction: Anatta Campbell on Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:05:28 - The Different Aspects of Awakening 00:10:21 - The Continuous Process of Awakening 00:13:50 - The Journey of Awakening and Maturing 00:17:47 - The Fullness of Emptiness and Presence 00:21:35 - The Paradox of Existence 00:25:15 - The Experience of Selflessness 00:29:16 - Living Life Differently After Awakening 00:33:02 - The Search is Over 00:35:37 - Creativity and Aligning with the Source of Life 00:39:25 - Addiction and Alignment 00:43:32 - The Miracle of Utilizing Laws of Nature 00:47:06 - A Message from the Other Side 00:50:43 - The Balance of Control and Surrender 00:54:50 - The Impact of Words and Ego Growth 00:58:24 - From Jesus Freak to Seeker 01:01:31 - Going to India with Osho 01:04:30 - Understanding and Accepting the Flaws of Spiritual Teachers 01:07:46 - Controversies and Personal Experiences with Osho 01:11:09 - The Transformative Power of Meditation 01:14:30 - Surrendering Everything I Thought I Was 01:18:00 - Different Psychic Experiences 01:21:38 - Rediscovering the Chapters 01:24:47 - Following a Unique Path 01:28:27 - Oneness and Duality in Existence 01:32:08 - The Longing for God to Know Itself 01:36:09 - Experiencing the Thoughts of Animals 01:39:37 - A Conversation about Consciousness and Life 01:42:18 - E-Book and Hardcover Publishers 01:45:25 - Meditating in the Woods 01:48:48 - Gratitude and Farewell