About this episode
Barbara Berger has been a seeker all her life – and all Barbara’s books are based on her life work which has always been to try to find a way out of suffering. Her quest to ease suffering has led Barbara to explore many different pathways and approaches – mental, physical, metaphysical, psychological and spiritual. After leaving the US in the mid-60s in protest against the Vietnam War and settling in Scandinavia, Barbara continued her quest in the 1970s with a passionate interest in the role of food in our mental and physical well-being. When she discovered in the early 1980s that health foods and diet were not enough to ensure true wellbeing, she began to study the science of the mind, the nature of consciousness, metaphysics, and finally traditional spirituality and psychology. To date, Barbara has written 15 self-empowerment books documenting and presenting the tools and insights she has discovered over the years on her quest. Her books include the international bestseller The Road to Power: Fast Food for the Soul (Books 1 & 2)(30 languages), Are You Happy Now? 10 Ways to Live a Happy Life (13 languages) and The Awakening Human Being – A Guide to the Power of Mind. In all her books, Barbara explores and explains the incredible power of mind and how we can use this power wisely to live happy lives right now, regardless of outer events and circumstances. (See a complete list of all Barbara’s books below.) Barbara's latest book Sane Self Talk / Remember What's Important and Live a Happy Life was released in Danish in Denmark in May 2012. Barbara was born and grew up in the United States but today lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark. In addition to English, Barbara speaks Danish and Swedish. Barbara writes all her books in English. Barbara also gives lectures, workshops, and courses (with her son Tim Ray) and offers private sessions to individuals who wish to work intensely with her. Barbara's website Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded 9/2/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Barbara Berger 00:02:26 - Barbara's Awakening and Background 00:05:04 - Running Away from Home 00:07:25 - Finding Safety and Support in Sweden 00:09:40 - From Sweden to Denmark: Becoming Celebrities in Scandinavia 00:12:56 - Hitchhiking to Afghanistan 00:15:59 - From Chaos to Macrobiotics 00:19:14 - The Search for the X Factor 00:23:33 - Experiences and Spiritual Shifts 00:28:20 - The Power of Choice and Investigation Tools 00:32:54 - Observing the Mind's Stories 00:36:12 - Psychological Maturity and Sane Self-Talk 00:40:00 - Making Wise Decisions and Letting Go 00:42:40 - Understanding the Nature of Consciousness and Reality 00:45:34 - The Power of Vibrational Influence 00:47:58 - Leverage on our Intentions 00:50:12 - The Nature of Consciousness 00:52:27 - The Awakening Journey 00:54:56 - The Possibility of 24/7 Realization 00:57:33 - Spirituality and the Concept of God 00:59:32 - The Impersonal Mechanisms of the Mind 01:01:51 - Observing Thoughts and Witnessing Awareness 01:04:00 - The Absorption in Thoughts 01:06:18 - The Law of Naming 01:08:52 - Questioning Our Stories and Understanding Cause and Effect 01:11:10 - Finding Hidden Gifts in Life's Challenges 01:13:20 - Understanding the Mechanism of Mind 01:15:19 - The Progression of Spiritual Practice 01:17:12 - Embracing Your Humanity 01:19:39 - Removing Blockages for Happiness 01:22:00 - Introduction to the BATGAP YouTube Channel