Francis Bennett entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemane in 1981 and in the '90s subsequently lived at a "daughter house" of Gethsemane in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Until recently, he was living in a small urban monastery in Montreal Quebec. He has been a "spiritual seeker" during all those years, practicing in the Christian mystical/contemplative Tradition and working deeply with teachers in both the Vipassana and Zen Traditions as well. In 2010 he experienced a profound perceptual "shift" in which he realized the ever-present presence of pure Awareness, which some would call, the Presence of God. He has worked in the field of Spiritual Care in Parish Communities and with the sick and dying in Hospice and Hospital settings. He has led retreats, offered spiritual talks and has accompanied many on their spiritual journey. He graduated from the Pontifical College Josephinum with a BA in Philosophy and completed a two-year chaplaincy residency with Ohio Health Hospital system. Francis' book: "I Am That I Am: Discovering the Love, Peace, Joy, and Stability of the True Self". Francis Bennett and John Mark Stroud Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on “Resurrecting Jesus” Francis Bennett, in Panel Discussion on Refined Perception Francis Bennett, with Jac O’Keeffe and Igor Kufayev Francis Bennett in Panel at Sofia U. Part 1 | Part 2 Adyashanti and Francis Bennett on "The Embrace of Jesus and Buddha" Francis Bennett in panel discussion:: “Emptiness is also Form” Summary and Transcript of this interview. Interview conducted 8/4/2012 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha At The Gas Pump 00:04:45 - The Origins of Centering Prayer 00:09:31 - The Tussle Between Experiential and Belief-Oriented Approaches in Spirituality 00:14:00 - The Awakening and the Joy of Being Present 00:18:33 - The Practice of Mindfulness and Vippasana Meditation 00:23:30 - A Shift in Awareness 00:28:59 - Recognition of Consciousness in Others 00:33:44 - A Big Shift Happened 00:39:03 - The Possibility of Integration with Practical Life 00:44:16 - The Integration of Relative and Absolute 00:49:28 - Changes in Sleep and Dream Experience 00:54:14 - The Acid Test of Self-Realization 00:58:42 - The Essence of God and Translations  01:03:28 - The search for happiness and the nature of true happiness 01:08:37 - The Illusion of the Mind 01:12:29 - The Illusory Nature of the Mind and Ego 01:16:43 - The Search for Happiness 01:21:07 - The Temporary Role of Self 01:25:41 - Language as a Tool for Communication 01:30:40 - "Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form" 01:35:24 - Resting in Spacious Awareness with Gentle Effort 01:39:24 - Finding Awareness within Turmoil 01:43:42 - The Importance of Direct Realization  01:48:11 - The Importance of Hidden Impact 01:52:25 - Abiding in Devotion and Bhakti 01:56:19 - Presence in Deathbeds and Ministry Transformation 02:00:04 - Questioning the historicity of Jesus and religious teachings 02:03:58 - Uncertainty about Future Direction 02:08:04 - Independent Spirit and Evolving Spirituality 02:12:10 - The Value of Interviews with Regular People 02:15:53 - Sign up for our Newsletter Save Save Save