Swami Kripananda: Kundalini, Addiction, Grace, and the Direct Experience of God

Francis Tiso — Resurrection, Rainbow Body, and the Transformation Into Light

In this episode of Integral Being, Mark Wiley speaks with Father Francis Tiso — Catholic priest, theologian, and author of Rainbow Body and Resurrection — about one of the most provocative questions in contemplative spirituality: What if resurrection was not merely symbolic, but transformative in a literal sense? Drawing from Christian mysticism, Tibetan Buddhist accounts of the rainbow body, eyewitness testimony, and emerging scientific inquiry into light and consciousness, this conversation explores reports of luminous transformation associated with advanced contemplative development. Topics include: * the resurrection of Christ * the Shroud of Turin * rainbow body traditions in Tibet * contemplative transformation * biophotons and consciousness * embodiment and spiritual development * Christian mysticism and Dzogchen * the relationship between light and the human organism Rather than promoting belief or disbelief, Father Tiso approaches these questions through disciplined inquiry — integrating theology, anthropology, contemplative practice, and firsthand field research conducted in Tibet. This is a profound exploration of embodiment, consciousness, and the deeper possibilities of human transformation. ABOUT FATHER FRANCIS TISO Father Francis Tiso is a Catholic priest, theologian, and scholar of comparative mysticism. His work explores the intersection of Christian theology, Tibetan Buddhism, contemplative anthropology, and the phenomenon known as the rainbow body. He is the author of Rainbow Body and Resurrection and has conducted field research in Tibet documenting eyewitness accounts of luminous postmortem phenomena.

The Real Tai Chi — Structure, Alignment & Internal Skill with Alex Dong

What is Tai Chi actually training? In this episode of Integral Being, Mark V. Wiley speaks with fourth-generation lineage holder Alex Dong about what real Tai Chi is—and what most modern practice misses. Beyond choreography, performance, or relaxation, traditional Tai Chi is a precise method of internal development. It trains structure, alignment, connection, and the integration of body, breath, and attention into a unified system. Alex Dong shares a clear, practical view into authentic training—removing mysticism while preserving depth. This conversation explores how internal skill is built, how structure becomes functional, and why most practitioners never reach the deeper layers of the art. This is not about style. It's about what actually develops. In this episode: * What "real Tai Chi" actually means * Why structure and alignment are everything * The difference between form and function * How internal connection is trained—not imagined * Why most Tai Chi practice never goes deep * The role of relaxation vs. collapse * How traditional training builds real skill over time "If the structure isn't correct, nothing else can develop." Tai Chi, in its original form, is not performance—it is transformation through precise, embodied training.

Swami Kripananda: Kundalini, Addiction, Grace, and the Direct Experience of God

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Swami Kripananda reflects on addiction, recovery, yoga, Kundalini, mystical experience, and the search for direct spiritual realization. Drawing from decades of study with figures such as B. K. S. Iyengar, Vipassana teachers, Catholic priests, and Indian swamis, he shares stories of transformation through suffering, discipline, prayer, and practice. The discussion explores: * addiction and sobriety as spiritual turning points * yoga beyond posture culture * Kundalini awakening and Shaktipat initiation * meditation, stillness, and involuntary thought * breath, energy, and the nervous system * mystical experience across traditions * the role of religion versus direct experience * celibacy, sexuality, and spiritual energy * recovery after stroke and paralysis * intuition, surrender, and grace Swami Kripananda speaks candidly about his years with addiction, his recovery through yoga and spiritual practice, his experiences with Kundalini phenomena, and his belief that authentic transformation must be lived directly rather than merely believed intellectually. This conversation moves through yoga philosophy, Christianity, Buddhism, mysticism, and embodiment with unusual honesty and intensity — emphasizing practice, direct perception, and the search for stillness beyond ideology.

Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri on Presence, Ego, and the Illusion of the Spiritual Path

What are we actually searching for—and why does the search so often fail to resolve it? In this episode of Integral Being, Mark V. Wiley speaks with Sufi philosopher and teacher Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri on the nature of presence, the role of the ego, and the deeper realities that lie beyond both. Across traditions, human beings pursue meaning through knowledge, identity, achievement—even spirituality itself. Yet something often remains unresolved. This conversation explores why: how the very structures we rely on—including spiritual practice—can subtly reinforce the sense of self they are meant to dissolve. Rather than offering methods or beliefs, this dialogue clarifies the terrain of serious inner work—where effort begins to interfere, where identity becomes transparent, and where honesty reveals something prior to the "seeker." Key themes include: • The illusion of the "I" and the persistence of ego structures • Why spiritual practice can strengthen identity instead of dissolve it • Presence without expectation or outcome • Knowledge vs direct knowing • The dangers of spiritual hierarchy and superiority • "Less is more" — the path of decrease rather than accumulation • Why awakening cannot be forced—and why guidance sometimes matters • Honesty as the gateway to real transformation This is not a conversation to consume. It is one to return to. About the Guest Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri is a Sufi teacher, author, and guide whose work explores the unity of existence and the direct realization of truth. Drawing from Islamic metaphysics and lived experience, his teaching emphasizes inner purification, presence, and the unfolding of awareness. — Explore more at: InnerLifewithMarkWiley.com [https://innerlifewithmarkwiley.com/] Inner Life — Embodiment. Integration. Lived Practice.

The Path of Bliss: Ananda Marga, Tantra, and Conscious Evolution

In this Integral Being conversation, Acarya Vimalananda Avadhuta introduces Ananda Marga, the "Path of Bliss," as a disciplined system of spiritual development rooted in meditation, tantra, mantra, neo-humanism, and the expansion of consciousness. Rather than treating bliss as pleasure or emotional intensity, this conversation explores bliss as a stable state of expansion cultivated through practice, ethical living, and inner refinement. The discussion moves from philosophy into method, and finally toward the larger questions of consciousness, energy, divinity, and human evolution. Acarya Vimalananda Avadhuta is a senior teacher in the Ananda Marga tradition, with more than five decades of experience in meditation instruction, philosophy, and social service.