Interviews with Dan

In this episode, I’m joined by Daniel Schmidt, creator of the Samadhi film series and founder of Awaken the World. Daniel’s work has helped millions of people explore meditation, self-inquiry, awakening, and the deeper nature of consciousness. In this conversation, we go into healing, ego, surrender, trauma, and what it really means to walk a spiritual path in an honest way. One of the central themes of this episode is that awakening does not automatically erase old conditioning. Even after deep insight, the body and mind can still carry fear, resistance, habit, and emotional history. We talk about why the ego cannot truly surrender, why real healing is often much less comfortable than people expect, and how spiritual practice begins to change when it moves beyond ideas and becomes something lived. Daniel shares a perspective that feels both deep and grounded. Rather than talking about spirituality as an abstract concept, we explore what it means in real life — in the body, in the mind, in suffering, in discipline, and in the ongoing process of seeing through what is false. We also talk about self-limitation, how the old self tries to remain in control, and what real transformation asks of us. If you are interested in meditation, awakening, consciousness, healing, nonduality, self-inquiry, or the inner work of real spiritual growth, I think this conversation will give you a lot to reflect on. If there’s something you’d love for us to explore in a future conversation with Daniel, leave it in the comments. #moderntao #SpiritualGrowth #Mindfulness #EmotionalIntelligence
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Samadhi Film Creator: The Truth About Healing, Ego & Awakening

In this interview, Jimmy Wightman (That Meditation Guy) & Daniel Schmidt discuss: - What is an authentic awakening (kensho/Satori) - What meditation techniques to do before & after awakening - How meditation changes after awakening - Common misconceptions along the path - What is an Enlightenment Intensive - Common pitfalls of awakening - Their personal journey - The spiritual journey: from surface to source This conversation represents the deep end of spirituality so here is a quick reference glossary of some terms that are used that you might not be familiar with: - Enlightenment Intensive retreat - A 4-day self inquiry retreat that involves contemplating the question "who am I" while sitting opposite a partner and making eye contact. The act of sitting with a partner and contemplating is known as a dyad. - Kensho - A Japanese Zen term meaning “seeing one’s true nature.” It refers to a direct experiential insight into the nature of self and reality — often described as a glimpse of awakening rather than full enlightenment. In many Zen traditions, kenshō is seen as an important opening or recognition that is then deepened and embodied through continued practice. - Five Skandhas (Aggregates) – The five components that make up human experience in Buddhism: form (body), feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. They are used to explore the nature of self and impermanence. Sādhana – A dedicated spiritual practice or discipline undertaken to cultivate growth, transformation, and realisation. Vāsanās – Deep-seated tendencies, impressions, or habitual patterns that shape thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. Jhāna – Deep states of meditative absorption in Buddhist practice, marked by increasing stillness, concentration, and refinement of awareness. Savikalpa Samadhi – A profound meditative absorption in which awareness remains present with an object, experience, or sense of bliss; duality is reduced but not fully dissolved. Turiya – In Vedanta, the “fourth state” of consciousness beyond waking, dreaming, and deep sleep — pure awareness itself. Ox-Herding Pictures – A series of ten Zen images illustrating the practitioner’s journey from seeking truth to awakening and returning to everyday life with wisdom. Ramana Maharshi – Indian sage known for the practice of self-inquiry (“Who am I?”) as a path to awakening. Nisargadatta Maharaj – Advaita teacher who emphasised abiding as the sense of “I Am” and recognising one’s true nature beyond identity. Follow Dan: @AwakenTheWorldFilm https://awakentheworld.com Follow Jimmy: https://www.delvedeep.com https://www.instagram.com/that_meditation_guy/ Daniel Schmidt is known for the following documentaries: Inner Worlds, Outer Worlds Samadhi Parts 1-4 Awakening Mind parts 1-3 I highly recommend checking these documentaries out.
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Awakening: The end of seeking w/ Daniel Schmidt (Samadhi Films)

#spiritualawakening #nonduality #seraphim Real and honest conversations around awakening with Dan Schmidt—he reveals the essence of who we truly are are, his encounter with Seraphim, what the future of humanity holds, and more. Dan Schmidt is the founder of the Samadhi Center and of the Samadhi series available on Gaia and YouTube. A deep dive into many topics, including challenges after Awakening, the trap of chasing peak experiences, and the importance of a "beginner's mind". Enjoy 🙏👁 FREE E-BOOK! "How to Integrate a Spiritual Awakening into your Life": https://www.zenobiahong.com/ 0:00 Intro 01:30 Awakening Transmission from Teacher to Student 06:12 The Inevitable Seeker's Path / Spiritual Journey 16:32 Abiding vs. Non-Adiding States of Awakening 27:55 Doing vs. Being 32:36 Teachers falling back into Ego 35:07 Stages of Awakening through Life 37:28 Awakening is NOT a Goal / Remaining in the "I dunno" state 39:34 Ego Trap (Playing a Role) 44:24 Encounter with Seraphim 52:40 You Are Beyond your Name and Form 56:34 Real Symptom of Awakening: Remember your TRUE SELF 1:02:19 Trying to Explain Awakening is Impossible 1:05:05 Best Way to Awaken 1:06:22 Dan's Retreats 1:12:05 Stabilizing Unstable Psyche Before Self-Inquiry 1:12:46 Plant Medicine Is a Medication Teacher 1:19:44 What is Sadhana? 1:25:56 Doing from Being 1:30:21 Are you Awakened? 1:36:14 Why Are So Many People Awakening Today? 1:47:33 'Samadhi Part 4: Sadhana' Trailer 1:53:11 Where to find Dan Awaken the World with Dan Schmidt: Website: https://awakentheworld.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakenTheWorldFilm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakentheworldfilm/ #higherconsciousness #spirituality #spiritualjourney #spiritualpath
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Path to Awakening with Daniel Schmidt

Become a member of AwakenTheWorldFilm Youtube channel to get the full 4K version of this interview, and other full length interviews from the speakers in Awakening Mind Part 1 "Know Thyself". Get more information about the Awakening Mind Film series here: https://www.awakeningmindfilms.com/ If you feel the call to awaken, please join the next 7 day online meditation self inquiry intensive here: https://awakentheworld.com/onlineretreats/ The truth is that all seeking is based on a case of mistaken identity- you were never the character; the human avatar. The character can never awaken or become whole because the human experience is a game of separation (hide and seek). At a certain point in the game it is possible to awaken from the false character to recognize the primordial stillness/awareness that is ever- present. YOU were never in prison- it is only your fixation on thoughts and changing phenomena that has created maya, the illusion of the separate/false self. With a surrender of interest in the entire world of changing forms, and a willingness to move beyond your comfort zone (give up craving and aversion) it is possible to create the conditions for Samadhi to arise. 0:00 Awakening is the Answer to All the World’s Problems 1:14 The Current World is the Culmination of Egoic Consciousness 2:25 Chapter 2: What is Awakening? 3:34 Chapter 3: What is the Benefit of Awakening? 5:30 My Personal Awakening Story at the Zen Center 7:41 Chapter 4: Who Awakens? 9:26 The Difference Between Awakened and Unawakened Experience 11:09 Chapter 5: What is Meditation? 13:15 Chapter 6: What is Self-Inquiry? 18:01 Your True Nature is Closer Than You Think 21:52 The Practices That Make Awakening More Likely 24:20 Chapter 7: The Direct Path vs. The Long Path (Developmental Path) 26:19 Why Purification Matters After Awakening 31:51 What Would the World Look Like if Most People Were Awakened?
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Daniel Schmidt Interview - Meditation, Self Inquiry, The Pathless Path of Awakening

In this awe inspiring conversation with meditation teacher, awakener and filmmaker Daniel Schmidt, we discuss the very best astonishment tools for awakening, which include a powerful eye gazing technique, combined with fierce self inquiry, deep meditation, medicine, and then ending with the crown jewel of astonishment entheogens, 5 MEO DMT! Highly effective results follow! James Plath is a mystic and author of several books on awakening. The Skeptic's Apprentice: Astonishment at the Crumbling Edge of Reality https://www.amazon.com/Skeptics-Apprentice-Astonishment-Crumbling-Reality/dp/0692696776 The Gospel of Astonishment: The Astonishingly Crazy Unbelievable Jaw Dropping Gobsmacking Shockingly Spectacular Exquisitely Beautiful Truth About The Nature Of Reality https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Astonishment-Astonishingly-Unbelievable-Gobsmacking/dp/1729378250 The Groundless Ground of Reality: How Your Immortal Self Pretends to Die https://www.amazon.com/Groundless-Ground-Reality-Immortal-Pretends/dp/1731181906 Here is a direct link to Daniel, his retreat and his transcendent films: https://www.awakentheworld.com
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Daniel Schmidt - The Pathless Path of Direct Experience!

Daniel's Website: https://awakentheworld.com/ Inner Worlds, Outer Worlds: https://youtu.be/aXuTt7c3Jkg Samadhi Film: https://youtu.be/Bw9zSMsKcwk
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Awaken the World! -- Meet Daniel Schmidt... he's doing amazing things!

While watching this interview, feel free to pause and engage one-on-one with the BatGapBot - https://batgap.com/batgap-spiritual-ai-bot/. This interactive companion is here to answer your questions and go deeper into the topics, offering insights and personalized dialogue along the way. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Batgap/permalink/2802087453350370/ Also see https://batgap.com/daniel-schmidt/ Daniel is the creator of the award-winning film "Inner Worlds Outer Worlds" as well as the ongoing "Samadhi" series. He is also the founder of the Awaken The World initiative whose purpose is to bring the ancient teachings of Samadhi back to the world for free (in as many languages as possible) Daniel's approach combines self-inquiry with traditional forms meditation so that participants have the opportunity to simultaneously realize their transcendent nature, and to purify themselves of conditioned patterns. The pathless path is to realize an ever-deeping development process within the self structure, and to simultaneously realize what is always already beyond the self structure. Samadhi is when the world that is constantly changing merges or unites with the changeless. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:28 - Kundalini Awakening and Terrifying Experiences 00:08:44 - The Terror of Ego Dissolution in Spiritual Awakening 00:13:18 - Exploring Christian Influences 00:18:18 - Battling Diabetes & Discovering Meditation 00:23:44 - Identification with the Dan Structure and the Truth of What We Are 00:28:59 - Techniques for Purifying the Mind and Body 00:33:55 - Cultivating Stillness and Grace 00:38:12 - The Physiology of Spiritual Practice 00:42:25 - The Benefits of Regular Meditation Practice 00:46:51 - Levels of Existence: The Energy and Mind 00:52:07 - The Illusion of Self 00:57:06 - The Persecution of Galileo and the Search for Truth 01:02:30 - The Profound Intelligence of Creation 01:07:19 - The Value of Ruthless Honesty 01:12:24 - Experiencing Reality in Different Ways 01:17:19 - The Ineffability of Spiritual Experience 01:21:34 - The Proliferation of Ancient Esoteric Teachings 01:26:18 - The Importance of Experiencing Life for Energetic Growth 01:31:27 - Finding Freedom: Breaking Conditioned Patterns 01:35:11 - A Beer and the Awakening 01:39:15 - The Self-Organizing Aspect of Existence 01:43:51 - The Unfathomable Intelligence 01:48:41 - Alignment with Awareness and Dancing the Dance 01:53:11 - Playing with our True Nature 01:58:03 - Daily Meditation Practice and Dropping Mind Patterns 02:02:38 - Sharing and Learning on the Spiritual Path 02:07:06 - Yoga, Meditation, and Chainsaw Healing 02:11:40 - Healing through Diet and Skepticism 02:14:57 - Meditation Retreats and Self-Directed Practice 02:18:55 - Closing Remarks
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Daniel Schmidt - Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview