God Dwells Within You as You

04/05/23 • 32 min

This episode is entitled "God Dwells Within You as You". Don Daniels, a former monk, teacher, and lifelong student of personal growth, discusses attaining self-mastery, enlightenment, and self-realization in our ordinary lives. In this episode, Don talks about his personal journey toward realizing that God is not separate from Oneself but dwells in the heart of each individual, as that person! He expounds on the idea that God expresses Him/Herself as You! He reflects on his upbringing and how his understanding of God has evolved over time through his experiences and spiritual practices.

Don emphasizes that the concept of oneness with God may be challenging for some to accept because of societal and religious conditioning, but it is a fundamental truth. The conversation explores the idea that experiencing God within oneself is more important than relying on external sources such as books or religious authority figures. The ultimate idea is that we are One with God and that our individual thoughts and concepts can block the power of God flowing through us.

The conversation delves into the topic of the kundalini energy, which is a dormant power within each individual that can be awakened through the practice of yoga and spirituality. Don describes his personal experience of feeling the energy move up and down his spine, eventually centering in the top of his brain, leading to an altered state of expanded, ecstatic consciousness.

This experience led him to seek out spiritual guidance and travel to India. He eventually found a teacher, Swami Muktananda, and was initiated as Swami Jnanananda, pursuing spirituality seriously for many years.

The speaker also shares his personal experience of taking vows of Sannyas (Swami initiation) in India. Don describes how he was given a mantra, Aham Brahmasmi "I am Brahman" by Swami Muktananda, a spiritual teacher who had attained a high level of consciousness. The energy and vibrations coming off of the teacher were palpable, and Don felt himself being catapulted into another space and time. He experienced a realization that his physical form was not who he truly was and felt himself dissolving into an altered space of pure awareness.

Don then talks about eventually lovingly setting aside his robes, his intent to serve humankind and to know God, and how everyone is a reflection of each other. He discusses the expansion of consciousness and how it is a non-dual experience.

The conversation concludes with a discussion on the importance of adopting the viewpoint that everything and everyone is a part of oneself, leading to unconditional love and wisdom. Developing the kundalini

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Previous Episode

The Way of Love

Don began by welcoming the audience and discussing the importance of spiritual growth. He emphasized the power of love in leading to a problem-free philosophy and highlighted how the mind often creates our struggles. Don stressed the importance of practicing techniques like meditation and pranayama to quiet the mind and focus on the heart where love resides. He also shared his personal spiritual experience while meditating at 16 years old.
The conversation revolved around spiritual growth and the power of love. Don shared his own experience of a kundalini awakening during a meditation at 16 years old and emphasized the need to awaken this energy within every person, as it is the true meaning of being baptized by fire. He encouraged listeners to experience this awakening and to see the divinity within themselves and others.
Don then described his experience of deep meditation and the spiritual growth that followed. He emphasized that divinity is within every person and can be accessed without needing to be a monk or yogi and that seeing God within oneself is the key to seeing it in others. He believes humans are spiritual beings having a human experience, and that there is a part of each person that is divine.
The conversation explored the concept of pure consciousness and the interconnectedness of everything in the universe. Don discussed ancient Sanskrit texts and phrases that describe this experience and the importance of intention in achieving it. He contrasted this with the story of Elvis Presley, who, despite having everything, was deeply unhappy and turned to drugs to cope. The conversation emphasized that happiness and enlightenment do not come from material possessions or fame, but from being in tune with the universe and recognizing one's connection to it.
Don then discussed the concept of enlightenment and the importance of love. He shared an ancient Sanskrit text that teaches how to remember one's original self and how to attain enlightenment. He also emphasized the need to practice love and extend it to everyone, even those we don't necessarily like. He also discussed the importance of setting intentions and putting them out into the universe.
The conversation emphasized the importance of seeing oneself and others as divine beings and sharing one's light with others. "See the Divine light of God first in yourself, and then see it in others."

Next Episode

Way of the Compassionate Heart

In episode 8 - Don Daniels shares more of his spiritual journey, beginning with his early experiences of the Holy Spirit and dissatisfaction with the religious teachings of his youth. This journey led him to travel to India, where he lived in a monastery and became a teaching monk. After leaving the monastic order, he continued to grow spiritually, emphasizing the importance of feeling God's presence within oneself and seeing it in others to develop a compassionate heart.
Daniels emphasizes that truly feeling God within requires identifying with the divine presence and recognizing that our heart, mind, and spirit are part of God. This leads to the development of compassion and love for others, even those we might not like. Daniels also highlights the importance of remembering that we are one with God, even during difficult times, and that developing faith and intuition can help us live a life of compassion similar to that of Jesus Christ.
Drawing on the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, Albert Einstein, and others, Daniels encourages listeners to give of themselves, let go of the ego, and allow the divine presence within them to shine through, emphasizing that our true nature is love.
Einstein once said that a human being is a part of the whole, that we call the universe a part limited to time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. The striving to free oneself from this delusion is the primary goal of true self-mastery and religion. Or at least it should be.
Einstein was pointing to the same truth as spiritual masters have been for centuries -that our limited sense of self is an illusion and that we are, in fact, connected to something much greater than ourselves. This realization is at the heart of developing a compassionate heart.
As we connect with the divine presence within us and recognize our unity with all that is, our compassion for others grows. We begin to see the divine spark in everyone we encounter, even those we may not like or understand. As our compassion deepens, we often feel called to be of service to others, to ease their suffering, and to share the love and light we've discovered within ourselves.
In this journey, we must learn to love ourselves as well. Only when we truly love and accept ourselves can we genuinely love and serve others. As we embody the compassionate heart, we become instruments of peace in the world, living examples of the divine love that connects us all. By embodying compassion and love, we can help uplift and heal the world.