From Surfing to Vedic Science and Lakshmanjoo: George's Journey

Thanks for watching! To receive an email notification whenever new episodes are posted, subscribe to our newsletter at: https://simplest-state.kit.com This is the video version of George's first appearance on the program, in 2023. Until now, that was only available as an audio recording, but it is was such an engaging conversation that I went back, edited the original, and have now made it available as a video. The audio recording is titled: "George Barselaar - student and teacher of Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism (Audio only)," and was published on this channel January 9, 2023. George Barselaar, born in Holland and raised in Sydney, recounts his Catholic upbringing, early mystical church experiences, and transformative introduction to Transcendental Meditation at 18, which led him to become a TM teacher and bring his family into regular practice. Drawn by Maharishi’s connection to Swami Lakshmanjoo and study of Vedic science and the Shiva Sutras, he traveled to Kashmir with Maharishi’s permission to study under Lakshmanjoo, learning a simple practice integrating mantra with breath awareness and dissolving the boundary between meditation and daily action. Barselaar describes Kashmir Shaivism as monistic—God and the individual are one—and shares his decades of work building at the ashram and transcribing and publishing Lakshmanjoo’s lectures with original audio. He reflects on Lakshmanjoo’s hidden saintliness, sidhis, and hopes that spiritual practice brings inner peace amid global turmoil. Music by Lesfm. Track “In the Forest” https://lesfm.net/“ 00:00 George’s Journey Begins 02:42 Catholic Roots and Mysticism 05:00 Hippies and Commune 06:37 Learning TM and Commitment 10:12 Becoming a TM Teacher 11:19 Family Embraces Meditation 16:24 From TM to Shaivism 19:19 What Is Kashmir Shaivism 20:39 Vedanta and Shaivism 24:28 Mind Stuff and Consciousness 30:16 God Devotion and Paths 34:23 Why Shaivism Called Him 37:45 Integrating Practice and Life 40:33 Transcribing Lakshmanjoo’s Teachings 43:51 Darshan and Sidhis 46:59 Spirituality in a Turbulent World 50:39 Ripple Effect and Hope 53:00 Grace Unfolds as Self Knowledge