Jac O'Keeffe on Guru Problems and How Colonialism Shapes Spirituality

Jac and I met as speakers as the Harvard Divinity School Conference on at the Program for the Evolution of Spirituality, where we discussed spiritualities of celebration, resistance, and accountability. At the conference, Jac explored the influence of colonialism on spiritual ethics and accountability and proposes a new system of accountability through the ASI.One of the great challenges in spiritual spaces is that people arrive with a great deal of pain, but rather than use spirituality as a means of authentic liberation, they use it to place teachers on pedestals. This repeats colonial patterns but simply cloaks it in new forms. In this conversation, Jac and I talk about how to undo unhealthy adoration, which creates an imbalance of power, and replace it with a spiritual sovereignty that doesn’t bypass but instead liberates us toward a deeper universal consciousness.Key Topics00:00 - Introduction00:48 - Start of Conversation02:12 - Colonialism’s Impact on Spirituality06:54 - Jac’s Spiritual Awakening Story13:17 - “Truth for Its Own Sake”18:03 - How the ASI Got Started22:55 - Spiritual Spaces & The Pain Body30:21 - What Is a Projection?35:25 - The Human Needs of Spiritual Teachers39:05 - When Spiritual Teachers Have God Complexes41:57 - What Could a Spiritual Learning Environment Look Like?50:09 - Does the Spiritual Teaching Profession Need Structure?55:29 - The Role of Younger Generations58:27 - What Happens When You Believe Systems Can’t Change?01:03:15 - Close of Conversation01:04:53 - EndJac O’KeeffeJac O’Keeffe is a spiritual leader, author, and trailblazer in the exploration of consciousness. She has followed a disciplined spiritual path for over 25 years including 15 years as an international spiritual teacher. Her books include Born to Be Free and How to Be a Spiritual Rebel. She is a Theology graduate with post graduate studies in Adult and Community Education.Jac’s WebsiteAssociation for Spiritual IntegrityHow to be a Spiritual RebelContact me about being a guest or invite me on your show:https://raynerjaeliu.com/SubscribeThis podcast would not be possible without the support of our paid subscribers. Consider offering a one-time or recurring gift here or become a paid subscriber and support the longevity of independent publishing on Substack while getting exclusive access to the comments section, bonus episodes, and all future benefits. Get full access to New Paradigm Knowledge at raynerjaeliu.substack.com/subscribe