About this episode
I simply awoke. I suffered for more than 20 years with depression, fear, guilt, anger, judgment, confusion, a lack of connection and dis-ease. I lost friends and three lovers over 9 years to AIDS and then was diagnosed with cancer and AIDS in 2003 and thought that I was going to die. But upon introspection I realized that I was more than my thoughts because I was being aware of my thoughts. I realized also that I was more than birth and death. With this realization, all fears of being were absolved and a peace enveloped me that revealed that all is in divine order. I went through “the dark night of the soul”. And as layer upon layer of who I thought I was dissolved, I slowly became more and more self-aware. At one moment I remembered that I am more than any created form and so ultimately they have no true effect on me. Now I am here grateful to utilize the gifts of this body to express the one love from which all flowers. Life is not about something else or something other, it is what is happening now. And when our mind calms we then have eyes to "see". I am listening, singing, writing, sharing, and just playing and enjoying the blessings of each moment. Richard's Book, "From Suffering to Soaring" First live-action video for the song Be Here Now, by Richard Schooping Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded 9/22/2010. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - From Suffering to Soaring Through God I Transcended AIDS 00:03:35 - The Burden of the World 00:07:21 - Losing everything and finding music 00:10:23 - From Research to Spiritual Awakening 00:13:30 - Vipassana and Self-Simplification 00:16:12 - The Mummy in the Infirmary 00:18:42 - The Ocean Becomes Conscious of Me 00:21:16 - Embracing Different Spiritual Practices 00:23:46 - Diversity and Intricacy of Life 00:26:11 - Becoming Light and Presence 00:28:09 - Letting go of Attachments 00:30:20 - Transition from Duality to Unity 00:32:06 - The Path of Awareness 00:34:04 - The Shift to a Spiritual Personality 00:36:33 - Finding Joy in Creative Expression 00:38:39 - Love and Relationships 00:40:10 - Resting in the Wholeness of Life 00:42:42 - Experiencing Emotions and Healing 00:44:48 - The Illusion of Creating Heaven 00:46:39 - Letting the Ocean Be 00:48:05 - The Nature of Simplicity and Awareness Awareness 00:50:19 - The Evolution of Communication 00:52:47 - The Simplicity of Life and Resonance 00:55:07 - The Act of Imagining Creates Reality 00:57:56 - Contentment and Awareness 01:00:17 - Allowing the Unfolding of Awareness 01:02:49 - Clarity and Realization of Truth 01:05:06 - Waves and Clinging 01:07:42 - The Dissolution and Unraveling of Beliefs 01:09:57 - Living a Simple Life 01:12:11 - Richard Schuping Interview Save