About this episode
Bruce Joel Rubin is an Oscar-winning screenwriter for the film Ghost. His films include Jacob's Ladder, My Life (which he also directed), Brainstorm, Deep Impact, Stuart Little 2, The Last Mimzy, and The Time Traveler's Wife, among others. His spiritual journey began with a massive overdose of LSD in the 1960s. Shortly afterward he began hitchhiking around the world in search of a teacher and then found him in New York City, just blocks away from where he began his search. His name was Swami Rudrananda, also known as Rudi. Rudi was a New York City businessman and a yogi who taught a form of Kundalini meditation he called The Work. Rudi died in 1973 but Bruce continues to teach his practice. In 2001 Bruce discovered I AM THAT - the teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj, and fell into the world of non-dualism. He awoke in 2010 during a seminar on awakening. Since that time he has continued to teach meditation and the effortless nature of simple Being. Since most people work and struggle in the world, it seemed to Bruce that meditation was a significant tool for living a good and productive life while waiting for awakening to make itself known. Bruce teaches in San Rafael, CA, in Los Angeles, and in New York. Websites: brucerubin-class.com brucejoelrubin.com YouTube Channel Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/14/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:31 - A Storyteller without a Story 00:08:28 - A Journey into Hell 00:12:08 - The Awareness of Being Shakespeare 00:16:33 - The Journey to Tibet 00:21:41 - The Awakening and Continuing the Work 00:25:49 - Appreciation for the YouTube Channel 00:30:38 - Dealing with the Discomfort and Kundalini Awakening 00:34:28 - A Journey with Bart Marshall 00:39:18 - Observing and Compassion for Constriction 00:46:25 - The Candlelight in the Dazzling Sunlight 00:52:10 - The Mystery of Existence 00:54:34 - Life After the Car Crash 00:57:30 - The Reality of What Is 01:00:02 - Sharing Teachings Locally 01:02:51 - The Power of Presence and Awakening 01:05:52 - Levels and Stages of Awakening 01:09:10 - Letting Go of Accumulation and Being Present 01:12:28 - Awakening and Discovery 01:15:24 - The Immense Intricacy and Complexity of Creation 01:18:43 - Awakening and Changing the World 01:21:34 - The Power of Storytelling 01:24:10 - Taking the Leap to Hollywood 01:26:49 - Awakening from Story 01:29:43 - Embracing the Darkness 01:32:49 - Embracing Darkness and Awakening to Totality 01:35:48 - The Serenity of Meditation and Embracing Chaos 01:38:57 - The Dualistic Nature of Life 01:40:58 - Trusting the Process and Embracing Existential Meaning 01:43:54 - Understanding Suffering and the Divine Hand 01:46:54 - Upcoming Book and Film Projects Save Save