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134: East Forest on Infinite Existence and The Guru Within

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“When you witness a dark thought – you witness it, and love it. You love your dark thoughts. The witness is part of the soul, and the soul loves everything.”
—Ram Dass from “Dark Thoughts” with East Forest

In this episode, East Forest joins us to discuss his latest album, Ram Dass, and his time in Maui to record these exclusive new teachings from an enlightened master. After capturing Dass’ words of wisdom, East Forest returned to his studio to compose this incredible soundtrack to beautifully support each songs’ subject.

Together we explore themes like balancing guru worship with finding wisdom within, music as soul medicine, infinite existence, and creative expression. You know, the good stuff :)

Check out full show notes from this episode with links to resources mentioned at PivotMethod.com/134.

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More About East Forest

“East Forest is tied to both nature and to everyday urban life, giving it the qualities of a sort of ethereal and mystical modern-day fairytale. It’s just blissful.” (NPR)

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East Forest is a unique bird in the Wild West aviaries of electronic music and the field of wellness. While his ‘shamanic ambient electro-acoustic pop’ can be contextualized along with Aphex Twin, Philip Glass and Sigur Ros, the fundamental mission of his project is to create sonic architecture for others to explore their inner space. Thus, it is a process of opening doorways for the listener to walk through — whether through his music, talks, retreats or other myriad offerings — which invites patience. Patience, while typically thought of as kryptonite in the instant gratification, hyper-speed world of music and modern life, might just be the medicine we need.

Topics We Cover

  • Building bridges - connection between nature world and digital world

  • Finding our place, our purpose, and our meaning

  • “Music is the medicine I need, need to create these sounds almost on a daily basis to just make it in this world.”

  • Music is intentionally made as a guide, a tool to help you find a positive experience, on elf possibility that’s way beyond the surface of a pretty song

  • Feeling inspired, feeling infinite

  • How we stop tuning out and wake up

  • Interviewing Ram Das for one week in Hawaii - in the presence of a true master, true beautiful soul who has come to a place of clarity

  • The collaborative work that features topics around technology, nature, soul, death, psilocybin, the idea of guru, circular thinking, witness consciousness, karma, the mind, as well as classic Ram Dass stories of miracles and his early journeys in India

  • “The soul takes birth, takes incarnation, to learn. Our perception of the soul is love. We love everyone, by inhabiting the soul.” -Ram Dass from, “Please Pass The Bliss”

  • The idea of a guru; guru as one who brings light or revelation but not idealizing the guru

  • “Love everyone, tell the truth, serve everyone.” —Maharajji

  • Experiencing unconditional love for others and ourselves

  • Innovation is always one step beyond ignorance

Resources Mentioned

Articles:

Related Pivot Podcasts:

Books:

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