Pierce Salguero Pt. 2

In this episode, we reconnect with scholar and author Pierce Salguero to continue our exploration of his recent book, A Lamp Unto Yourself, a guide to cultivating an inner path rooted in discernment and self-trust.

Our conversation then turns to his forthcoming book, Threads of Awakening, which invites seekers to engage multiple spiritual traditions through a personalized lens. As Pierce writes:

"For those just getting started, why not launch your spiritual journey with a balanced approach that supports multiple threads of discovery? Unlike other books that present Asian spiritual techniques as fixed traditions, this introduction teaches you how to develop a customized plan that fits your strengths, values, and individuality. The author introduces 16 of the most transformative techniques from Buddhism, Hinduism, and Chinese traditions, while providing a rich discussion of the history, philosophy, and experiential outcomes of these practices."

Blending insight, history, and lived practice, Pierce offers a fresh, integrative vision for awakening in a pluralistic world.

Pierce Salguero’s Website:

http://multidharma.net

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening Segment
• 3:21 Gary’s Introduction.
• 4:11 Pierce joins the conversation.
• 5:16 Four Threads of Awakening.
• 10:48 New Book’s Table of Contents.
• 12:15 Expanding on the different threads. The Subject and Object.
• 13:09 Withdrawing the identification “I am.”
• 17:47 Is it a mental shift?
• 21:02 The concept of God and Spirit Playing in this Form of Nonduality.
• 29:11 Is there a Practice to get there?
• 34:26 Steps to achieving Nonduality.
• 35:48 The Path of the Heart, the Oneness Thread.
• 40:54 Feeling Gratitude and Devotion. Not advocating any particular religion.
• 47:46 The Heart Oneness Thread and the Body Sensations.
• 53:26 The Value of Critical Thinking in the Toolkit.
• 57:51 Finding Your Inner Guidance.
• 1:00:47 Serengeti Metaphor.
• 1:03:03 The Energy Thread, the Tantric Systems, etc.
• 1:07:24 The dangers inherent in some of the practices.
• 1:09:16 Before you begin focusing on wellbeing.
• 1:11:58 Grounding practices for your body.
• 1:22:45 Distinguishing between Awakening oriented practices and Healing oriented practices.
• 1:37:04 Don’t Reify.
• 1:44:27 Discussion about Braiding, Integrating and Releasing, the last three chapters in the new book “Threads of Awakening.”