488. Judy Cohen - a podcast by Rick Archer

Judy Cohen is a former clinical psychologist, former serial entrepreneur, former depressed, anxious, anti-depressant-taking, suicidal despairer. She used to be a seeker of Self Improvement. She used to be a Certified Facilitator of The Work of Byron Katie, and later a Certified Senior Facilitator-Trainer of the Living Inquiries. (** She's not certified in either method anymore.)

She was desperate to feel better.Luckily, eventually, Judy came to see that the methods she was trained and certified in actually perpetuated, strengthened, the sense of self as damaged.

Several awakening experiences happened. Contrary to popular myth, they didn’t put an end to unpleasant feelings. So all that seeking, the inquiry, the desperation to shift, was for… what, then?Judy finally realized she could give up seeking because… This. Is. It. As it is.

And what could any teacher or technique give her that wasn’t already here, that she didn’t already have?She came to see that every experience- good, bad, happy, or sad- is an awakening.

She knew to give up seeking because there was nothing more to get. She'd had it all along.

Much more fun, this no-Judy-to-fix, nothing-to-seek existence.Though of course, she's also still here as Judy.

Because human continues.And paradoxically…

That's better.

Website: irreverentmind.comDiscussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interviewInterview recorded January 26, 2019.

Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.Chapters:


00:00:00 - Introduction and Background00:05:01 - The Work and its Effects
00:09:43 - Perception and language distortion00:14:08 - Words and Communication
00:18:45 - The Perpetuation of Stories00:23:11 - Appreciating the Present Moment
00:27:46 - The Miserable Dream World00:32:40 - Understanding vs Realization in Spirituality
00:36:51 - Embracing Paradox and Ambiguity00:41:26 - Triggers and the Unpredictability of Human Experience
00:45:51 - Accepting"this is it"00:50:33 - The Importance of Attitude in Education
00:54:59 - Surrendering Control and Finding Motivation00:59:41 - Accomplishment and Spiritual Development
01:04:11 - Keeping the Mind Busy01:09:08 - Finding Inner Peace and Bliss
01:13:23 - The Limitations of Language01:17:33 - Preferences and Consciousness
01:21:40 - The Nature of Consciousness01:25:55 - The Frog Desires Water, The Physician Disease
01:29:38 - The Infinite Versions of Bliss01:33:24 - The Limits of Language and Metaphor
01:37:24 - Finding Peace in Pain01:40:44 - Dissolving the Mind's Roadblocks
01:44:41 - The Trap of Reinforcing the Sense of Self01:48:03 - Finding Intrinsic Happiness
01:51:14 - Emulating Teachers and Gurus01:54:30 - The Contradiction of Perception and Guidance
01:58:22 - Relaxing into Oneness02:02:13 - The Importance of Getting Out of the Dream
02:05:19 - Sparking New Ideas

Further episodes of Buddha at the Gas Pump

Further podcasts by Rick Archer

Website of Rick Archer