
Beyond Time: Presence, Practice, and Expanded States of Consciousness with David Nichtern (Ep 116)
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About this listen
Jonathan Schecter is joined again by senior Buddhist teacher, musician, and author David Nichtern for a wide-ranging, deeply reflective conversation.Together they explore how presence and practice intersect with modern expanded states — from breathwork to psychedelics to the possibilities and limitations of AI as a spiritual teacher.
You’ll hear insights on:
✅ Why presence can’t be grasped
✅ The concept of the “fourth moment” in Buddhist practice
✅ How breathwork teaches surrender without substances
✅ The risks of spiritual bypassing in psychedelic spaces
✅ Whether AI can embody consciousness or wisdom
✅ The role of humor, humility, and formal practice
✅ How Buddhist wisdom can evolve to fit modern culture
✅ David's upcoming Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training
This is an honest and inspiring dialogue on integration, wholeness, and the real work of transformation.
00:00 Intro
05:00 Walking out of time — presence & fourth moment
12:00 Surrender in breathwork vs psychedelics
18:00 The God realm & spiritual bypassing
25:00 Can AI become a spiritual teacher?
34:00 Blind spots, feedback, and the human ego
42:00 Buddha nature & somatic healing
51:00 What do we most need as a collective?
56:00 Basic goodness, genuine sadness, and activism
1:02:00 Dharma Moon teacher training & modern culture
1:10:00 Final reflections — carrying the teachings forward
Dharma Moon Links:
🌐 Dharma Moon Meditation Teacher Training: https://www.dharmamoon.com/mindfulness-meditation-teacher-training
📚 Awakening from the Daydream & Creativity, Spirituality & Making a Buck — available wherever books are sold
Connect with Jonathan & Blue Magic Alchemy:
🌐 https://www.bluemagicalchemy.com
🌐 https://www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
💌 Subscribe to the Pathways & Portals newsletter: https://bluemagicalchemy.substack.com/