About this episode
In January of 2012, Robert was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and told he had nine months to live. However, consistent with his contrarian nature, he lived a productive life until passing away in 2017. Robert was struck by a strong curiosity about life when he was 11, which propelled him into years of globe-trotting adventures. In 1973, Robert met Swami Muktananda and spent the next 10 years studying with him. Since 1985, Robert's professional motto was Have Mouth, Will Travel, and he was known as an iconoclastic self-awareness facilitator, speaker, leadership adviser, and mentor to people from all walks of life. He led "Conversations on the High Wire" and presented programs in "The 5 Principles of Authentic Living" and "Speaking Truthfully." Robert published eight books and more than 250 articles on the themes of meditation, self-inquiry, leadership, authentic living and speaking, and spiritual activism. In the early 1990s, he wrote a pioneering column for The New Leaders' executive newsletter entitled “The Corporate Mystic." He contributed original essays to three leading-edge anthologies and was interviewed for The Awakening West, a collection of conversations with contemporary Western wisdom teachers. His résumé of speaking engagements includes more than 350 of his distinctive inquiry-based seminars and talks to such organizations as State of the World Forum, California Institute of Integral Studies, Institute of Noetic Sciences, International Conference on Enlightenment, Inner Directions Conference, and International Coach Federation. Books: The 5 Principles of Authentic Living: How to Live an Authentic Life in 10 Words Sound Bites from Silence: Scouting Reports from the Frontier of Consciousness Speak Truthfully: Speak Your Way to an Authentic Life with Awareness, Courage, and Confidence Invisible Leadership: Igniting the Soul at Work The Sacred Hub Radical Wisdom: Living from Silence while Rocking the World Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 8/1/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:06:15 - A Journey Through Education 00:10:50 - Adventures in Watershed Management 00:14:12 - A Journey to India 00:18:11 - Healing and Meeting Baba 00:21:24 - An Encounter with Baba at the Ashram 00:25:24 - Shaktipat Experience and Leaving the Ashram 00:29:21 - Stories of Gurudev and Maharishi 00:33:32 - The Mechanics of Creation 00:37:26 - Reverence for the Body 00:41:09 - Living in Perpetual Astonishment 00:45:41 - Profound Transformative Experience 00:49:41 - The Ashram Experience and Letters to Mother 00:53:49 - Lessons from Cutting Carrots 00:57:39 - Managing Other People's Money 01:01:36 - Acknowledging Devotion and Contribution 01:06:18 - The Significance of Human Feelings and Worth 01:11:13 - Transitioning into Political Activism 01:14:45 - Personal Reflection on Attending an Orgy 01:19:36 - Fear of Being Found Out 01:23:31 - The Terrifying Immensity of Muktananda 01:27:21 - Inner Growth and Making a Positive Difference 01:31:30 - Personalization and Open-mindedness 01:35:40 - The Experience of Silence, Shakti, and Action 01:40:46 - Pony Rides to Oblivion 01:47:03 - The Experience of Silence and Language Collapse 01:53:40 - The Source of Questions and Language in Spiritual Path 02:01:08 - Speaking your Inner Truth 02:10:40 - The Five Principles: Be Present, Pay Attention, Listen Deeply, Speak Truthfully, Act Creatively 02:19:08 - Following the Path of Mastery 02:26:42 - Supporting the interview series