651. Shambhavi Sarasvati

 Shambhavi is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula, a nonprofit organization offering opportunities to learn and practice in the traditions of Trika Shaivism and the Dzogchen. She has also studied meditation with teachers in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. Her root Guru is Anandamayi Ma. Shambhavi emphasizes direct encounters with the wisdom of the heart through the more explicitly devotional teachings and practices of Trika Shaivism and Dzogchen. In addition to offering teachings in spiritual practice and view, Shambhavi is a trained jyotishi and diviner. At one time, Shambhavi taught at Northwestern University. She left academia in 2004 in order to devote herself to practice, writing, and teaching in her spiritual traditions. Websites: jayakula.org timemedicine.org Bio Site Facebook group where people can get the Zoom log in info for Thursday and Sunday satsangs. Books (Author page on Amazon) Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded June 20, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump and Jaya Kula 00:03:39 - Esoteric Connections and Studying Different Traditions 00:07:39 - Meeting Anandamayi Ma 00:11:55 - Encountering Divine Intelligence 00:16:35 - The Artistry of Limitation and Release from Suffering 00:21:13 - The Intimate Relationship with a Teacher 00:25:27 - The Role of a Teacher in Spiritual Practice 00:29:08 - The Friend: A Guiding Wisdom 00:33:04 - The Round World vs the Flat World 00:37:09 - Continuous Learning and Refinement in Wisdom Traditions 00:41:24 - The Direct Path vs the Progressive Path 00:45:34 - Sticking with a Spiritual Practice 00:49:33 - The Misunderstanding of Instant Enlightenment 00:53:38 - Contentment and Yearning 00:57:06 - The Privilege of Spiritual Practice (feat. Shambhavi) 01:01:11 - The Nature of Self and God 01:04:54 - Vrittis: Patterns of the Mind 01:08:34 - Shaktipat and Transmission of Enlightenment 01:12:38 - Science Fiction and Channeling Experiences 01:16:36 - The Revelation of Devotion and Integration 01:20:52 - Exploring the realms of science and spirituality 01:24:41 - The Intersection of Science and Spirituality 01:28:18 - The Journey to Spiritual Awakening 01:32:22 - The Connection between the Cosmic Heart and the Individual Heart 01:36:29 - Satsang and the Grand City of Manifest Life 01:40:23 - Living Without View 01:44:38 - The Nature of Reality in Trika Philosophy 01:48:19 - The Nuanced View of Illusion in Advaita Vedanta 01:52:11 - The Immanence of the Divine 01:55:57 - The Surprises of Spiritual Practice 01:59:46 - The Reality of the Experience