About this episode
Shelly Tygielski is the author of Sit Down to Rise Up and founder of the global grassroots mutual aid organization Pandemic of Love. Her work has been featured by over 100 media outlets, including CNN Heroes, The Tamron Hall Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS This Morning, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. A trauma-mindfulness teacher and a Garrison Institute Fellow, she has been called one of the “12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement” By Mindful.org and teaches self-care and resilience at organizations around the world. Visit her online at shellytygielski.com. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview Interview recorded April 16, 2022 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:02 - A Life of Compassion and Service 00:06:37 - Women and Children in Need 00:10:18 - Collaborating with Other Organizations 00:14:33 - Embracing Discomfort in Meditation 00:18:40 - Confronting our Shadow Side 00:21:58 - Healing and Connection between Israelis and Palestinians 00:27:19 - The Connection Between Inner Work and the Outer World 00:31:44 - Loving Kindness Practice and Difficult People 00:35:16 - Sending Metta to World Leaders 00:40:48 - The Freedom to Explore Different Paths 00:44:30 - The Intersection of Faith: Jew and the Lotus, Boojews, and Hin-Jews 00:51:20 - The Power of Agency and a Good Samaritan 1:00:39 - The Power of Simple Gestures 01:08:58 - Embracing the Gift of Life 01:12:29 - Building a Meditation Community on the Beach 01:15:25 - Building Community Through Meditation 01:19:15 - Showing Up and Making a Difference 01:25:42 - Supporting Communities and Creating Change 01:29:39 - Becoming a Community Organizer 01:35:26 - Stories of Compassion and Judgment 01:42:37 - The Practice of RAIN 01:46:57 - The Global Impact of Pandemic of Love 01:49:24 - The Relationship between Financial Abundance and Spiritual Awakening 01:51:55 - The Intention Behind Material Wealth Acquisition and the Role of Self-Awareness in Spiritual Growth 01:54:20 - The Power of Self-Awareness in Meditation and Decision Making 01:56:43 - The Fortunate Access to Technology 01:58:37 - Learning from Traumas 02:00:27 - Optimism and the Power of Technology 02:02:52 - Connecting Inner Work to the Outer World 02:05:00 - Farewell and Closing Remarks