Fierce Grace - Introduction

We speak to the author and spiritual teacher Peter Russell. I was very excited to speak to Peter, as I was a great admirer of his early book The Awakening Earth (also called Waking up in Time) and have followed his work closely ever since. In a lovely synchronicity, we now share the same publisher in Eckhart Tolle! We speak about Peter's new books 'How to Meditate without even Trying' and 'Forgiving Humanity.' We also speak about the history and future of the human race, and the concept of 'enlightenment' and many other topics. Chapters (00:00:10) - Introduction and welcoming Peter Russell(00:03:59) - Peter's new book: How to Meditate Without Even Trying(00:06:54) - TM roots and the effortless nature of meditation(00:09:18) - Overcoming the 'monkey mind' and myths about meditation(00:15:02) - Awakening Earth revisited: humanity's evolutionary test(00:16:07) - Forgiving Humanity: accelerating change without blame(00:20:36) - Billionaires, AI, and apportioning blame(00:24:13) - The Fall, separation from nature, and origins of hierarchy(00:27:56) - Farming, technology, and a generational reaction against tech(00:30:34) - Can rising consciousness help us navigate collapse?(00:34:51) - Rethinking enlightenment as a lightening of the burden(00:41:40) - Metaphysics, idealism, and humility about reality(00:44:53) - Letting go of fixed views and the Taoist perspective(00:48:57) - California, the human potential movement, and life today(00:53:17) - Capitalism, inequality, and the rise of extreme wealth(00:55:20) - AI's promise and peril: alignment and alpha fold(01:01:04) - Writing a book with AI: The Cost of Exponential Growth(01:05:31) - Closing four questions: book, person, place, music(01:12:42) - Farewells and reflections after the interview

Steve and Serge speak with the inspiring author and teacher Jim Garrison, head of Ubiquity University, about his life of service and activism. They discuss the current perilous political and ecological state of the world, and how this relates to psychological, archetypal and spiritual factors. They also discuss UFOs, and the massive historical significance of our current era. Chapters (00:00:09) - Introductions and Steve's Beatles Revival(00:02:29) - Welcoming Jim Garrison(00:06:57) - Jim's Life of Service and Early Vows(00:10:10) - Meeting Gorbachev and Soviet Diplomacy(00:14:56) - The Antonov Flight and Meeting Gorbachev(00:17:18) - State of the World Forum's Legacy and Today's Decline(00:19:07) - Archetypes, Antichrist, and Sophia(00:23:44) - Pathocracy and Disconnected Leadership(00:27:48) - Totalitarianism and Technological Authoritarianism(00:29:09) - Spiritual Force Versus Darkness(00:32:00) - Survival, Choice, and Historical Pivot Points(00:39:29) - UFOs, ETs, and Cosmic Intelligence(00:49:04) - AI, Sovereignty, and Navigating Chaos(00:51:29) - Integrating Spirituality and Politics(00:52:32) - Sacred Feminine and Confronting Injustice(00:56:47) - Four Closing Questions and Farewell

We are at a crisis point in the human race's history. There are many forces and trends that are progressing towards catastrophe, but also some positive trends, such as the increasing numbers of people who have spiritual experiences or undergo spiritual transformation. In Steve's book The Fall, he suggests that a trend towards the transcendence of ego-separation has been underway for at least 250 years. In Fierce Grace 6, Steve and Serge discusses our present predicament and their predictions for the future. Chapters (00:00:00) - Foreigners talk about Austrian food(00:00:58) - Steve Smith on D.H. lawrence(00:06:49) - Will humanity Make It?(00:15:37) - The Rise of the Positive(00:24:21) - An Awakening of the Human Spirit(00:33:14) - Peter Russell: Will we Die or Rise?(00:42:22) - Hope is important in spirituality(00:45:09) - Anticipation of the Next Decade

Steve and Serge discuss religion and spirituality, how religious people can be both spiritual and non-spiritual, and how religion can express both the best and worst in human nature. Religion is about supporting and strengthening the ego, while spirituality is about transcending it. Indigenous peoples' worldviews were essentially non-religious, and theistic worldviews developed at a fairly late stage in human history. Can religion help to heal the world, or do human beings need to transcend religion? Chapters (00:00:00) - Talking about the weather in England(00:00:44) - The Difference Between Religion and Spirituality(00:08:09) - The mystical experiences of Christians(00:11:09) - Christian Nationalists: Aberrational(00:15:52) - The Religious Continuum of Connection(00:22:05) - The trauma of spirituality in Northern Ireland(00:29:31) - Monistic and Separation in Religion(00:39:23) - The Desacralization of Nature(00:44:10) - The Spirit of the Warrior(00:52:00) - Understanding the despair of the Right(00:55:03) - Steve Harris on Religion and the Future(01:00:04) - THE HUMAN RACE WILL REBOUND

Serge and Steve interview therapist and relationship coach Susan Campbell about the importance of authenticity and how a transformational approach can heal both interpersonal and international conflicts. As an 85 year old, Susan also shares the origins of her amazing vitality and positivity. Chapters (00:00:00) - French President Serge(00:00:16) - Susan Campbell(00:02:24) - A visit from Susan after 40 years(00:03:33) - Susan Flannery on Life at 85(00:07:43) - Susan Flannery on Writing(00:09:09) - Inspiring Women: Creativity and Service(00:12:59) - The Pain of Parenting(00:14:06) - Susan on Being a Selfish Woman(00:17:59) - The Couple's Journey: Five Stages(00:24:28) - The polarization of human groups(00:31:35) - How to Realize the Need for Change(00:38:12) - Serge on His Own Trauma(00:45:09) - Can Being Authentic Hurt People's Feelings?(00:50:07) - Coming to Terms With Old Age(00:56:27) - What's Your Spiritual Challenge?(01:03:13) - Susan, Do You Believe Death Is The End?(01:08:32) - The Evolution of Psychedelia(01:09:28) - In the Elevator With Susan Jones

Steve and Serge speak with author and teacher Philip Carr-Gomm about his life and work, spirituality and the state of the world. We also ask Philip about his most influential spiritual book, teacher and piece of music, and the most powerful place he has visited. Chapters (00:00:00) - Hello, sir.

Steve and Serge discuss the meaning of spiritual awakening, why some people become disconnected, and why disconnected people gravitate to the role of spiritual teacher, then become more corrupt and disconnected. We also discuss some examples of genuine and benevolent teachers who have helped many people. Chapters (00:00:00) - Fierce Grace(00:07:01) - The Secret to Real Happiness(00:11:23) - Becoming More Fully Human(00:13:00) - Steve Almond on Connection and the Ego(00:20:18) - How disconnected are spiritual teachers?(00:27:48) - How spiritual people project their own soul(00:33:51) - Have All Gurus Become corrupted?(00:39:13) - What Do You Mean By Awakened and Enlightened?(00:42:49) - The Secret Life of Spiritual Teachers(00:50:07) - John Lennon: His ego boundaries(00:55:03) - A talk by Philip Cargong(00:56:08) - The Answer Lies In The Soil(00:57:15) - Reasons for Being Realists(00:59:15) - A Little Chat

Steve and Serge discuss the crisis of disconnection, and how spirituality can connect us.,  Chapters (00:00:00) - Introducing "Fierce Grace"(00:03:05) - "Fierce Grace": Our Times(00:04:29) - Slowness in the World(00:06:28) - Why do we choose our own leaders?(00:12:55) - Are Billionaires More Malevolent Than Others?(00:21:08) - How to reconnect with the world(00:26:26) - On spirituality and the environmental movement(00:34:13) - Steve Jobs on Connections(00:41:14) - The Power of the Heart(00:48:45) - The Challenge of Life