J. Stewart Dixon - Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to "21 Days, A Guide for Spiritual Beginners"
00:03:40 - A Parable to Break up the Book
00:07:22 - Softening through Spiritual Awakening
00:11:16 - The Dark Night of the Soul
00:15:15 - A Process of Self-Awareness, Self-Acceptance, and Transference
00:19:57 - Awakening and the End of Existential Depression
00:23:36 - Understanding the Concept of No-Self
00:28:55 - Bringing Awakening Down to the Ordinary
00:33:17 - The Need for Reverence and Sacredness
00:37:03 - The Flooded Market of Awakening Teachers
00:40:08 - The Nature of the Awakening
00:43:30 - The Intensity of Awakening and Enlightenment
00:46:52 - Embracing Intensity and Desires
00:50:31 - The Mysterious Process of Transference
00:53:53 - Glamorizing Ordinary People
00:57:44 - The Mystery of Self and No Self
01:02:36 - The Paradox of Self and No Self
01:06:22 - Longing for Genuine Interactions
01:09:46 - Aligning Life with Fulfilling Interactions
01:13:36 - The Dominant Reality - Turning the Tables
01:17:15 - The Sumptuousness of Realization
01:19:40 - The Nature of "More Please"
01:22:16 - The Tendency for Vertical Growth
01:25:42 - Confronting Existential Fear
01:29:57 - The Blue-Collar Awakening
01:33:47 - The Video Game Analogy and Life After Awakening
01:38:10 - Living in the Moment and Planning for the Future
01:42:28 - Awakening and the Fulfillment of Life
01:46:50 - Finding a Path Towards Awakening
01:51:25 - Acknowledging the Wounded Part in All of Us
01:54:39 - Keeping it Free for Everyone

J. Stewart Dixon is an awakening/enlightenment adviser, author, and blogger.

Born in 1969, J. Stewart Dixon spent most of his adult life seeking spiritual awakening / enlightenment in the company of some of the world's preeminent spiritual luminaries, including: Adi Da, Gangaji, Satyam Nadeen, Andrew Cohen, Arjuna Ardagh, Michael Regan, Solane', Ram Dass, Saniel Bonder, Eli Jaxon-Bear, A. Ramana, Mooji, Francis Lucille, Yogi Bhajan, Robert Monroe , Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, and Ammachi. His own awakening process began in 2004 and concluded in 2010.

Websites, Books, Services:

21 Days -- A Guide for Spiritual Beginners | An easy-to-read description of authentic awakening, free of religious, spiritual, philosophical, or psychological jargon: What is it like when you have a family to care for and a business to run, when you're AWAKE? What is it like when you're visiting your parents, your old high school, or your church, when you're AWAKE? ...TV? ...Fly-Fishing? ...Movies? The description of awakening in 21 Days is meant to be a precise guide and compass for the awakening seeker.
P.olitically I.ncorrect E.nlightenment | A humorous Blog about awakening / enlightenment containing advice, wisdom, and satire: Dispensing with the use of pretty lotus flowers, gooey new-age language, or obscure anal retentive advaita talk- J. Stewart Dixon tackles the often overly-serious subject matter of awakening / enlightenment in a gritty and humorous fashion.
Enlightenment Consulting Services | E.C.S. is a private and discreet awakening / enlightenment program for career driven, high profile, or famous individuals such as actors, authors, artists, politicians, corporate CEO's, athletes, or musicians. E.C.S. helps those who are longing for something more in their lives but are trapped or limited by career or success. E.C.S. offers six-month programs consisting of private, personalized, in home, person-to-person awakening / enlightenment consulting, advising, and energetic transference.

Interview recorded 12/1/2012

[emptynessdancing]

Nice interview guys.I agree with your statement of how beneficial it can be to "hang out" with your teachers. From my own experience I am fortunate enough to become good friends with Unmani and have had her stay with me whenever she came to Byron Bay. Seeing how her realization translated into day to day life was obviously extremely "helpful" here.

[ArtKrishnamurti]

I really appreciate your "devils advocate" stance in these talks, Rick. Very Zen like. Breaking doctrines and beliefs.

[AMcF]

"There is only This but This includes This." - Swami Alimakpharlanand

[mertles]

is there a link to the Steve Norquist article?

[oliverbrady]

Wow, you guys are really really sleepy, what are you on?

[alexkimpe]

A few times in this interview I heard "to attain enlightenment". I do not understand this, I mean, isn't it all about NOT attaining? Nothing to attain and nobody to attain whatever enlightenment is. In a few years we'll buy enlightenment at the supermarket.

[fabd-tv]

Steve Norquist's essay on enlightenment is at hauntedpress (dot) net website, essays link.

[fabd-tv]

His reflections on the ego and "no self" cohabiting together seem very apologetic. No mention of the conditioning in the body that many teachers talk about, and can be vividly (sometimes too much!) experienced at 10 day Goenka retreats; along with the release and sometimes bliss that is felt when one surrenders to the sensations (aka "what is"). Hopefully Stewart is not trying to teach watered down "enlightenment" because uncompromising statements are far more helpful IMHO.

[ArtKrishnamurti]

Enlightenment for "ordinary people" has been around since conception. Many "ordinary people" awoke in the Buddha's time, and many since. There is, however, a deepening of enlightenment that some people are called to follow. They become monks and renunciates. People like Stewart and Adyashanti are content with what they have found. Both are fine. Why do these new (modern) western "gurus" always act like they are the updated and perfected version of what Buddha should be? LOL...

[Dippmip]

he should frame this one: ' in order to transcend the ego, you have to have an ego big enough to believe it can transcend itself' Lolz

[renenielsen]

general i like the conversation, but i see no reason for ridicule

[kathleensutherland]

Lapsing into the mock Indian accent to make fun of the Hindu spiritual traditions is unkind and disrespectful. He seems to think that because he's woken up, he's free to let his baser instincts loose. An awakened person can certainly be arrogant, materialistic and insensitive. But is that what you want? A lack of ethical foundation and practice also will over time tend to pull you back into the dream, as it reinforces the separate self.

[shunyam]

Honey PIE...You are making me crazy...
I'm in love but I'm lazy...
So won't you please come home...