Godspeed Institute

WORKING WITH ONENESS, WITH LLEWELLYN VAUGHAN-LEE

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee Ph.D., of the Golden Sufi Center. He is a teacher in the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, known as the silent Sufis. Llewellyn has specialized in the area of dreamwork, integrating the ancient Sufi approach to dreams with the insights of modern psychology, and more recently in the emerging global consciousness of oneness. His books include The Return of the Feminine and the World Soul; Working with Oneness; Love is a Fire: The Sufi's Mystical Journey Home; Catching the Thread: Sufism, Dreamwork, & Jungian Psychology, and many more. Topics in this engaging hour include: what Sufism is; the ancient wisdom of the heart; varying forms of practice, including music, chant, silence; Rumi; how he was drawn to Sufism; Llewellyn's teacher, Irina Tweedie; Carl Jung and archetypes; how the meditative journey leads us to face our darkness, or shadow selves; Love; how everything is one; how we can apply these principles in daily life; Oneness; oneness with nature; ecological disaster as catalyst; greed and materialism; what movement toward oneness requires; unity and sameness; sacrifice; returning to the sacred; and more.

ECOLOGY AND THE SPIRITUALITY OF HINDUISM

Pankaj Jain is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion Studies and of Anthropology at the University of North Texas. His latest book is 'Dharma and Ecology of Hindu Communities: Sustenance and Sustainability.' His research and teaching interests include Hinduism, Jainism, environmental ethics, Indian films, and Sanskrit. Interested in connecting ancient practices with contemporary issues, he explores the connections between religious traditions and sustainability in Hindu and Jain communities in the North Texas area. Topics in this engaging hour include: Hindu belief in the divinity of all things, and acceptance of divinity in non-Human forms; how everybody and everything is potentially divine according to its philosophy; how early Christians, Jews and Muslims were accepted in India and their saints assimilated into the Hindu faith; the role and place of humans in the world, and our relationship to the natural world; the worship of nature; holy waters; trees; temples; festivals and rituals; the story of the Bishnoi, the original 'tree huggers' of the 1720's; their martyrdom and continuing legacy today; Jain's latest book; gardens and sacred groves; the contemporary conflicts between Hindu spiritual values and the modern-day materially based value system; the affect of economy and culture on this natural relationship; sustainability; the Hindu and Jain communities in North Texas; and more.

THE SCHOOL OF AGELESS WISDOM

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Gloria Crook, the Founding President of The School of Ageless Wisdom. For thirty-five years, a core group of fifteen people has worked together teaching and applying Ageless Wisdom, and hundreds of students have passed through their doors to learn and live out the wisdom in their communities. Topics in this hour include: Gloria, now 85, shares her early experience of faith; how her discovery of reincarnation transformed her understanding of life; her career as an engineer in the 1940s; what led Gloria her to found the School of Ageless Wisdom in 1977; how it is a non-profit organization that operates both as a school and a church; how the school accepts the Buddha and the Christ as “two great Spiritual Brothers who have had an effect on all of humanity”; yoga; meditation; a life of service; the Age of Aquarius – what it means, and its significance; the eye-opening World Core Curriculum, developed by Robert Muller, a Former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations; how the school successfully implemented the World Core Curriculum; their ongoing Model United Nations for Elementary and Middle School students; advice to young people today, from her legacy of experience; and more.

AWAKENING GLOBAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Ashok Gangadean, a Professor of Philosophy at Haverford College, Haverford, PA. He is Founder and Director of the Global Dialogue Institute, and Co-Convenor of the World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality. His work includes two central focal points: awakening global Consciousness; and identifying of logos, or grammar, to help it manifest. His books include Meditations of Global First Philosophy: Quest for the Missing Grammar of Logos... Meditative Reason: Toward Universal Grammar... and more. Topics in this informative hour include: hat global consciousness is, according to Gangadean; the shift toward consciousness we are going through as human beings; the ‘lens’ through which we all perceive life, culture, religion and other categories; our challenge in sharing the sacred across cultures and lenses; The World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality; how being disconnected from the eternal, sacred mind leads us to limit and objectify ourselves and each other; the concept of putting or keeping people in ‘boxes’; logos, or the Word, from the Greek; the relationship between Logos and the Global Mind; the perennial quest to decipher 'the universal code' at the heart of eastern and western thought; the essence of language and consciousness; what is the significance of language; factors that contribute to or end global suffering; and more. For more information, visit www.awakeningmind.org and www.globalspirit.org

THE PERSON OF MOHAMMED, WITH ABBAS BARZEGAR

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Dr. Abbas Barzegar, Assistant Professor of Islam in the Department of Religious Studies at Georgia State University. An Associate of the Middle East Institute, his areas of interest include contemporary Islamic political movements, Shi’ism, and Islam in America. He is co-editor of ‘Islamism: Contested Perspectives on Political Islam,’ published by Stanford University Press in 2009. Topics in this informative hour include: the person of Mohammed – who he was historically, and in context; whether there is an ‘historical Mohammed’ (as people have sought an ‘historical Jesus’); how Mohammed was propelled by the Messianic movement, as was common in 6th and 7th century Arabia; how he received his prophetic call at age 40; Mecca, and how it was tended by Bedouins as a place where all tribes gathered to worship One God; the development of the different Muslim groups; the difference between the Shiite and Sunni Muslim; the different clerical roles and their function; Barzegar’s latest article ‘The Persistence of Heresy: Paul of Tarsus, Ibn Saba, and Historical Narrative in Sunni Identity Formation,’ and more. For more information, visit: http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwrel/4692.html

SHAMANISM, WITH SUSAN BAKALEY MARSHALL AND CHRIS MARSHALL

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Susan Bakaley Marshall & Chris Marshall, founders and directors of The Thirteenth Moon Center, located on 35 acres of fields and forest in Montville, Maine. Members of the Society for Shamanic Practitioners and the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Chris is a professor of anthropology and Susan is a certified art therapist, counselor and shamanic healing practitioner. Their shamanic healing work and courses include a deep commitment to the sacredness of the land and the spirits of place and weather, in the traditions of shamanism, mindful contemplative practices, and Kabbalah. Topics in this hour include: What Shamanism is; it s ancient and cross-cultural history; the role of the shaman; the common core beliefs and practices that run in all shamanic traditions; ‘seeing’ and ‘knowing’; the ancestors; our relationship with spirit teachers and animals for receiving guidance and healing; how the shamanic practitioner works; the Soul in shamanistic perspective and what can happen to it; the effects on the soul from trauma, abuse, PTSD; Intrusions and Extraction; Soul Retrieval; and much more. For more information, visit thirteenthmooncenter.org

THE PSYCHIC GIFT WITH RICK HAYES

Rick Hayes is a published author, inspirational speaker, the founder of LifesGift, Inc., and what many define as a world renowned psychic medium. Since 2003, he has brought inspiration and life-changing insight to thousands of people through personal consultations, media appearances, and speaking engagements. But first he had to own his gifts and allow his authentic life to take shape. His books and audio files include Stepping Stones: Thoughts Along Life's Path, which shares insight on topics including reincarnation, trials in life, and proof of life after death; several books on the paranormal and reasons for hauntings; and Your New Life Attitude, in which he shares the one thing you can do that will change your entire day, how to grab your stars in life, what to do about negative feelings, and more. Topics in this hour include: Rick’s corporate life before he began his practice in 2003; how he was raised in the church as a child; how he came to learn he had psychic abilities at around age 4; how his career path evolved; death, or what he calls ‘moving on’; how he helps many people; reincarnation; discerning whether a home has a lingering spirit or energy; the energies of places including Harper’s Ferry / Gettysburg; sacred places; how his faith and psychic gifts are reconciled; love and compassion; his advice for us; and much more. Learn more at www.lifesgift.com

THE MUSLIM FAITH WITH DR. SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr – one of the foremost scholars of Islamic, Religious and Comparative Studies in the world. A philosopher and prolific writer, Nasr is professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University, in Washington DC and in this program shares about the history and heart of the Muslim faith, its relationship to other religions, and its mystical tradition. Topics in this hour include: a basic overview of the history and development of Islam, a religion with 1.5 billion members around the world; what is at the core the Muslim faith; the image of the Divine in Islam, and what Muslims hold sacred; the Oneness of God that is the same as the Jewish people; Moses and Jesus in the Qur’an; the mystical tradition of Islam, Sufism; what Sufism is, and how it developed; the misconceptions about Sufism, especially in the West; the purpose of a mystical tradition; the popular mystic poet Rumi; a verse in Rumi’s poem The Seed Market: ‘You've been fearful of being absorbed in the ground, or drawn up by the air’ – how it refers to resisting human love, and the love of God, as the poem suggests, but also how it applies to fearfulness today; the spiritual crisis and the quest for meaning; Nasr’s advice on how people can address their spiritual needs; more.

ON DAOISM

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with professor James Miller of Queen's University, Ontario, Canada - author and scholar of Daoism, the organized, indigenous religion of China. Miller is the author of Daoism – A Beginner’s Guide; Daoism and Ecology; The Way of Highest Clarity: Nature, Vision and Revelation in Medieval China; and Chinese Religions in Contemporary Societies. His current research engages the way that Daoism is being constructed as a green religion in China and abroad. Topics in this hour include: Daoism as the organized, indigenous religion of China; its history and development; Lao Tzu; the emergence of Buddhism and Confucianism; core beliefs and perspectives of Daoism; the Dao as source of all being; Chi; Alchemy and the pursuit of longevity; ceremonies and observances practiced; the Daoist perception of death and the soul; the relationship of Daoism to other religions; the Daoist perception of nature; Daoism as a green religion; and more.

DAVID ORD, AUTHOR AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR OF NAMASTE PUBLISHING

Carole Hallundbaek speaks with David Ord of Namaste Publishing – publisher of books by authors including Ekhart Tolle, Michael Brown and others whose works that focus on present moment awareness. He is also the author of 'Your Forgotten Self' and 'Lessons in Loving - A Journey into the Heart.' His work and his spiritual journey have been inspired in large part by the classic book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery – The Little Prince. Through this book, Ord made a deep connection between the Little Prince and the persona of Jesus that transformed his understanding – and living – of life. Topics in this hour include: Ord's upbringing in the Church of England, as a child raised in Yorkshire; his experience of encountering 'The Little Prince' and the eye-opening effect it had on his spiritual life; the connection he made between The Little Prince and Jesus of Nazareth; how they introduce us to our true self; the ‘real’ Jesus; how we don't want to meet the real Jesus, preferring a religious figure who is more mysterious to us, because we don't want to meet our 'real' self; present-moment awareness; how it is practiced; how the difficult, painful times that come into our life are intended to crack open the shell of our false egoic self so that who we really are can at last emerge; how it affects relationships; more.