The shadow elements that accompany lucid dreaming, including spiritual bypassing, nihilism, cosmological dualism, and the “fundamental flaw fallacy.”
In this interview with Roger Walsh MD, PhD, Andrew and Roger discuss a wide range of provocative topics that circumambulate the lucidity principle. They begin with a deep dive into some of the shadow elements that accompany lucid dreaming, and spiritual practice altogether, including spiritual bypassing, nihilism, cosmological dualism, and the “fundamental flaw fallacy.”
Roger shares his experience as a psychiatrist and meditation instructor, and the traps that he fell into – and how he got out. Lucid dreaming, the practice of illusory form, and spirituality in general can easily slip into devaluing form, instead of transcending but including form.
Dr. Walsh then turns to addiction, stating that we’re “addicts by nature,” which dovetails into our unconscious addiction to non-lucidity. The conversation then turns to the extraordinary power of diurnal and nocturnal meditation, and the “trim tab” phenomenon of working with subtle levels of mind. The discussion addresses the tenets of “non-foundationalism,” wake-centricity, and other forms of absolutistic thinking that limit our view of mind and reality. Powerful spiritual techniques lead to wisdom, and applied wisdom expresses itself as compassion – or it is not genuine wisdom.
Roger shares how his lifelong study and practice helps him respond to social and global challenges, and how he walks the talk. This remarkable interview with Roger Walsh ends with a discussion about the inherent goodness in the world, the utter immediacy of liberation, and how we merely need to open the aperture of awareness to reveal the light (lucidity) that is in everything – including our dreams.
About Roger Walsh
Roger Walsh MD., PhD. DHL graduated from Queensland University with degrees in psychology, physiology, neuroscience and medicine, before coming to the United States as a Fulbright scholar. He is currently a professor of psychiatry, philosophy, anthropology, and religious studies at the University of California. His research interests include psychological wellbeing, wisdom, and love, practices such as meditation that foster them, and how we can best respond to the social and global challenges of our time. He is a student, teacher and researcher of several contemplative practices.
Roger’s research and writings have received over twenty national and international awards while his teaching has received eight awards, and he is a University of California Distinguished Writer as well as its Outstanding Physician. His books include Essential Spirituality: The Seven Central Practices, Paths Beyond Ego, as well as The World of Shamanism and the modestly titled book, The World’s Great Wisdom. He was formerly a world record holder in high diving and a circus acrobat, and recently graduated from the San Francisco Comedy College and had an extremely brief and unsuccessful career as a standup comedian. For more information, see www.drrogerwalsh.com
