My guest in this episode is Gabriel Halpern, who is an Iyengar yoga teacher based out of Chicago.  I first met Gabriel a few years ago, when I took his workshops at Kula Yoga Project in Williamsburg, NYC. Gabriel's therapeutic approach to asana was intelligent and illuminating, but what I found most inspiring were his elegant and thoughtful dharma talks, which drew heavily from mythology and philosophy. I immediately admired Gabriel as the kind of teacher that I myself would like to be someday. 

 

My guest in this episode is Gabriel Halpern, who is an Iyengar yoga teacher based out of Chicago. &nbsp;I first met Gabriel a few years ago, when I took his workshops at Kula Yoga Project in Williamsburg, NYC. Gabriel's therapeutic approach to asana was intelligent and illuminating, but what I found most inspiring were his elegant and thoughtful dharma talks, which drew heavily from mythology and philosophy. I immediately admired Gabriel as the kind of teacher that I myself would like to be someday.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Chitheads is a smorgasbord of contemplative education. Each episode is like a mini masterclass, exploring the diverse landscapes of spiritual practice, philosophy, and the transformative power of embodied knowledge. Each episode is crafted with the curious and open heart in mind, aiming to illuminate the path of self-inquiry and empowerment for yoga teachers, scholar-practitioners, meditators and other spiritual seekers and contemplative folks from around the world.

From the profound teachings of Yoga and Buddhism to the sometimes complex theories of contemplative psychology and the vibrant tapestry of indigenous wisdom, our guests share insights that awaken, challenge, and inspire.

With every episode, we dive into discussions that matter, exploring questions that guide us closer to our true selves and to a deeper understanding of the world around us. Our mission is to create a space where wisdom (and not fame, power, or money) is the center of gravity and what we are most concerned about cultivating in this lifetime. 

Join us on Chitheads as we explore the liminal spaces of consciousness, embrace the complexities of the human experience without dogma or self-righteousness, and discover the beauty again and again of the interconnectedness of all things.

Subscribe to Chitheads on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and please consider leaving us a positive review on one iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. Come dive into these in-depth conversations that illuminate our path of contemplative discovery. If you’ve felt like you’re the only one full of chit – full of consciousness or awareness ˀ– welcome home. This community of listeners, seekers, and scholar-practitioners is for you.

Chitheads is a smorgasbord of contemplative education. Each episode is like a mini masterclass, exploring the diverse landscapes of spiritual practice, philosophy, and the transformative power of embodied knowledge. Each episode is crafted with the curious and open heart in mind, aiming to illuminate the path of self-inquiry and empowerment for yoga teachers, scholar-practitioners, meditators and other spiritual seekers and contemplative folks from around the world.
From the profound teachings of Yoga and Buddhism to the sometimes complex theories of contemplative psychology and the vibrant tapestry of indigenous wisdom, our guests share insights that awaken, challenge, and inspire.
With every episode, we dive into discussions that matter, exploring questions that guide us closer to our true selves and to a deeper understanding of the world around us. Our mission is to create a space where wisdom (and not fame, power, or money) is the center of gravity and what we are most concerned about cultivating in this lifetime. 
Join us on Chitheads as we explore the liminal spaces of consciousness, embrace the complexities of the human experience without dogma or self-righteousness, and discover the beauty again and again of the interconnectedness of all things.
Subscribe to Chitheads on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and please consider leaving us a positive review on one iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. Come dive into these in-depth conversations that illuminate our path of contemplative discovery. If you’ve felt like you’re the only one full of chit – full of consciousness or awareness ˀ– welcome home. This community of listeners, seekers, and scholar-practitioners is for you.

Interviews with leaders, elders and teachers from the yoga and wider wisdom community on eastern philosophies, consciousness studies, social justice, and the human spiritual condition.

CHITHEADS with Jacob Kyle (Embodied Philosophy)

Gabriel Halpern on Iyengar, being a Ritual Elder and the Initiatory Transitions of Life (#3)

Shambhavi Sarasvati is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula, a nonprofit community in Portland, Oregon. Her principle training is in the View and practices of Trika Shaivism—also called Kashmir Shaivism—and the Dzogchen tradition of Tibet. 

Shambhavi is known for her humor and for making complex teachings about the nature of the self and reality understandable, practical, and always relevant to our lived experience. Her teachings are grounded in forty years of study, daily practice, and personal retreats.

Shambhavi holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Mills College and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University. She is the author of six books about spiritual life and practice.

In this episode, Shambhavi and Jacob discuss:
how the War in Gaza amounts to a crack in time that has fundamentally reoriented consciousness in this moment
our relationship with the "other"
how the nature of reality is a dynamic play of "wisdom-virtue"
what the Mahabharata has to teach us about the war in Gaza
how we each can connect to our own unique impulse to be of service in this moment
the obstacles people encounter that keep them from speaking up, and how to move through those obstacles
how to embody the "wisdom of the heart"

Shambhavi has created a reading list as a resource for those interested in deepening their understanding around the historical and political circumstances between Isreal and Palestine. You can find that reading list here:https://jayakula.craft.me/palestine-learning

Shambhavi and the Jaya Kula community gather for satsang and kirtan every Sunday at 3:30pm Pacific. Satsang is live in Portland Oregon and live-streamed. Visit jayakula.org for more information.

Shambhavi Sarasvati is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula, a nonprofit community in Portland, Oregon. Her principle training is in the View and practices of Trika Shaivism—also called Kashmir Shaivism—and the Dzogchen tradition of Tibet. 
Shambhavi is known for her humor and for making complex teachings about the nature of the self and reality understandable, practical, and always relevant to our lived experience. Her teachings are grounded in forty years of study, daily practice, and personal retreats.
Shambhavi holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Mills College and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University. She is the author of six books about spiritual life and practice.
In this episode, Shambhavi and Jacob discuss:
<ul>
<li>how the War in Gaza amounts to a crack in time that has fundamentally reoriented consciousness in this moment</li>
<li>our relationship with the "other"</li>
<li>how the nature of reality is a dynamic play of "wisdom-virtue"</li>
<li>what the Mahabharata has to teach us about the war in Gaza</li>
<li>how we each can connect to our own unique impulse to be of service in this moment</li>
<li>the obstacles people encounter that keep them from speaking up, and how to move through those obstacles</li>
<li>how to embody the "wisdom of the heart"</li>
</ul>
Shambhavi has created a reading list as a resource for those interested in deepening their understanding around the historical and political circumstances between Isreal and Palestine. You can find that reading list here: <a href="https://jayakula.craft.me/palestine-learning" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://jayakula.craft.me/palestine-learning&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1713904580030000&amp;usg=AOvVaw25LQC_arcCshoGkLDaPWcO">https://jayakula.craft.me/palestine-learning</a>
Shambhavi and the Jaya Kula community gather for satsang and kirtan every Sunday at 3:30pm Pacific. Satsang is live in Portland Oregon and live-streamed. Visit <a href="http://jayakula.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://jayakula.org&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1713904580024000&amp;usg=AOvVaw00gDhZGQ9Z43NXeP2fSiAK">jayakula.org</a> for more information.

This Crack in Time with Shambhavi Sarasvati

Athena Potari is a philosopher, spiritual teacher, and lineage holder of the Hellenic
spiritual tradition. She is the founder of Athenoa – an Academy for Hellenic Wisdom in
Greece, where Hellenism is approached as a living wisdom tradition whose core
consists in the inextricable synthesis of scientific reason, self-inquiry and spirituality.
Her work aims to revive the deeper spiritual and experiential dimensions of Hellenic
Philosophy as a living spiritual lineage, combining discursive rigor, embodied
meditative practices, and ancient spiritual practices with the aim of awakening to the
ever-present mystery of being – our true Self. She received her PhD from the University
of Oxford, specializing in Political Philosophy, and her MA in Political Theory with
Distinction from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She was
Fellow at the Center for Hellenic Studies at Harvard University, exploring possibilities
for an expanded practice of Philosophy by re-integrating elements and histories of the
feminine. She is recipient of the Academy of Athens Award of Philosophy (2020),
author of “A Call for a Renaissance of the Spirit in the Humanities” published by the
Galileo Commission, and Member of the Galileo Commission Steering Committee.

In this episode, Athena and Jacob discuss:
How engaging with the Indian yogic traditions can clarify our ability to find wisdom in our own indigenous traditions.
The unique energetic “field” of Oxford and how it nurtured her academic and philosophical development.
The basics of the Hellenic worldview, and how it frames a spiritual path that sees the All as both One and Many.
The inherently political nature of Being.
The ways in which the modern university does not satisfy the deepest impulses toward eudaemonia – happiness, or fulfillment.
A view of ethics not as “morality” but as “habits of energy.”
Philosophy not as an “intellectual” but an “embodied” endeavor. 
The teachings of various ancient Greek philosophers, including Plato, Heraclitus, Plotinus, and Pythagoras. 
The holistic synergy between consciousness and matter.
The nature of Being.

Follow Athena on the Following Channels:
Facebook:facebook.com/athenapotari ; facebook.com/athenoa
YouTube: @athenoa
Instagram: @athena_potari
Webpage (finished soon): philathenea.wixsite.com/athenoa-academy

Athena Potari is a philosopher, spiritual teacher, and lineage holder of the Hellenic spiritual tradition. She is the founder of Athenoa – an Academy for Hellenic Wisdom in Greece, where Hellenism is approached as a living wisdom tradition whose core consists in the inextricable synthesis of scientific reason, self-inquiry and spirituality. Her work aims to revive the deeper spiritual and experiential dimensions of Hellenic Philosophy as a living spiritual lineage, combining discursive rigor, embodied meditative practices, and ancient spiritual practices with the aim of awakening to the ever-present mystery of being – our true Self. She received her PhD from the University of Oxford, specializing in Political Philosophy, and her MA in Political Theory with Distinction from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She was Fellow at the Center for Hellenic Studies at Harvard University, exploring possibilities for an expanded practice of Philosophy by re-integrating elements and histories of the feminine. She is recipient of the Academy of Athens Award of Philosophy (2020), author of “A Call for a Renaissance of the Spirit in the Humanities” published by the Galileo Commission, and Member of the Galileo Commission Steering Committee.
In this episode, Athena and Jacob discuss:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">How engaging with the Indian yogic traditions can clarify our ability to find wisdom in our own indigenous traditions.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The unique energetic “field” of Oxford and how it nurtured her academic and philosophical development.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The basics of the Hellenic worldview, and how it frames a spiritual path that sees the All as both One and Many.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The inherently political nature of Being.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The ways in which the modern university does not satisfy the deepest impulses toward eudaemonia – happiness, or fulfillment.</li>
<li aria-level="1">A view of ethics not as “morality” but as “habits of energy.”</li>
<li aria-level="1">Philosophy not as an “intellectual” but an “embodied” endeavor. </li>
<li aria-level="1">The teachings of various ancient Greek philosophers, including Plato, Heraclitus, Plotinus, and Pythagoras. </li>
<li aria-level="1">The holistic synergy between consciousness and matter.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The nature of Being.</li>
</ul>
Follow Athena on the Following Channels:
<ul>
<li>Facebook: <a href="facebook.com/athenapotari">facebook.com/athenapotari</a> ; <a href="facebook.com/athenoa">facebook.com/athenoa</a></li>
<li>YouTube: @athenoa</li>
<li>Instagram:  @athena_potari</li>
<li>Webpage (finished soon): philathenea.wixsite.com/athenoa-academy</li>
</ul>

Ancient Greek Wisdom with Athena Potari

In today's episode, Embodied Philosophy Founder Jacob Kyle is interviewed by Kelly Blaser for the 2024 Power of Meditation Summit. They discussed the role of the scholar-practitioner, the philosophical significance of "zero," the important synergy of knowledge and experience, "reappropriating God," and the necessary role of spirituality in the lives of queer people. 

Jacob Kyle is a meditation teacher, writer, philosophy educator, and the Founding Director of Embodied Philosophy. He holds an MPhil in Classical Indian Religions from the University of Oxford, an MA in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research in New York City, and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Jacob is a student of Kashmir Śaivism scholar-practitioner Paul Muller-Ortega and is a devoted practitioner of the Śaiva-Śākta Darśana. 

Kelly Blaser is the founder of DharmaBridge and SomaPsychotherapy, and is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with an emphasis in Buddhism, Shaiva and Shakta Tantra, and Somatic Psychology. Her background in feminist movements and Latin American Studies and experience living in Central America opened her up to the extent that our inner struggles are reflective of systemic structures that promote domination and disassociation. Her work is to help others experience the infinite compassion beneath the chaos of life and to remind them of their true nature. Her programs and courses focus largely on the power of applying the dharma to one's relationship with oneself and others. She helps people train themselves in meditation, mindfulness practices, and compassionate self-inquiry, so they can gain freedom from conditioned mind and open up to possibility. 

Explore the many upcoming offerings and follow Kelly's work at www.kellyblaser.com.

In this episode, Jacob and Kelly discuss:
how the history of "zero" as a mathematical disruptive discovery reflects the way our contemplative sādhana both disrupts and inspires different forms of knowledge
the importance of studying yoga philosophy as a way to empower embodied experience
how scholarship should take seriously and employ experientially the embodied epistemologies of ancient wisdom traditions
what it means to let your subjective experience inform your practice without rejecting the knowledge systems of the tradition
the symbolism of Nataraja (the dancing Shiva) and how it represents the five universe functions of reality
the dance of revelation and concealment according to the Tantrik tradition
how organized religions have rejected gay and queer people, and how this necessitates a "re-appropriation" of God in queer-inclusive theologies and philosophies that are simultaneously informed by an understanding of wisdom traditions.

In today's episode, Embodied Philosophy Founder Jacob Kyle is interviewed by Kelly Blaser for the 2024 Power of Meditation Summit. They discussed the role of the scholar-practitioner, the philosophical significance of "zero," the important synergy of knowledge and experience, "reappropriating God," and the necessary role of spirituality in the lives of queer people. 
Jacob Kyle is a meditation teacher, writer, philosophy educator, and the Founding Director of Embodied Philosophy. He holds an MPhil in Classical Indian Religions from the University of Oxford, an MA in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research in New York City, and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Jacob is a student of Kashmir Śaivism scholar-practitioner Paul Muller-Ortega and is a devoted practitioner of the Śaiva-Śākta Darśana. 
Kelly Blaser is the founder of DharmaBridge and SomaPsychotherapy, and is a Licensed Marriage &amp; Family Therapist with an emphasis in Buddhism, Shaiva and Shakta Tantra, and Somatic Psychology. Her background in feminist movements and Latin American Studies and experience living in Central America opened her up to the extent that our inner struggles are reflective of systemic structures that promote domination and disassociation. Her work is to help others experience the infinite compassion beneath the chaos of life and to remind them of their true nature. Her programs and courses focus largely on the power of applying the dharma to one's relationship with oneself and others. She helps people train themselves in meditation, mindfulness practices, and compassionate self-inquiry, so they can gain freedom from conditioned mind and open up to possibility. 
Explore the many upcoming offerings and follow Kelly's work at <a href="http://www.kellyblaser.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.kellyblaser.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1709405868749000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ClA8wEJ5rU5Lut2M4LE7h">www.kellyblaser.com</a>.
In this episode, Jacob and Kelly discuss:
<ul>
<li>how the history of "zero" as a mathematical disruptive discovery reflects the way our contemplative sādhana both disrupts and inspires different forms of knowledge</li>
<li>the importance of studying yoga philosophy as a way to empower embodied experience</li>
<li>how scholarship should take seriously and employ experientially the embodied epistemologies of ancient wisdom traditions</li>
<li>what it means to let your subjective experience inform your practice without rejecting the knowledge systems of the tradition</li>
<li>the symbolism of Nataraja (the dancing Shiva) and how it represents the five universe functions of reality</li>
<li>the dance of revelation and concealment according to the Tantrik tradition</li>
<li>how organized religions have rejected gay and queer people, and how this necessitates a "re-appropriation" of God in queer-inclusive theologies and philosophies that are simultaneously informed by an understanding of wisdom traditions.</li>
</ul>

Gabriel Halpern on Iyengar, being a Ritual Elder and the Initiatory Transitions of Life (#3)

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