“Authentic spiritual awakening is not about getting to a place where we’re above all the pains and tragedies of life. The transformation I’m pointing to is one where we’re able to stay rooted in the direct knowledge of the sacred essence of reality that is the truth of every moment. It’s the fundamental truth that is immutable in every moment. It never changes, even when our own life may be difficult. The goal is to get to a place where your relative experience of the ups and downs of life never obscures your ability to see the essential radiance shining through everything.” —Craig Hamilton

What if the path to a better world doesn’t begin with striving… but with accepting things as they are?

As we deepen on the spiritual path, many of us come to sense a profound truth: that real freedom begins when we can meet this moment wholeheartedly—without resistance or judgment. We discover the strength that comes from saying an unconditional “yes” to life, just as it is.

But even as we rest in that yes, another current moves through us—a longing to heal, to uplift, to shape a world that more fully reflects the deeper goodness we’ve touched.

Is that longing in conflict with true acceptance? Or could it be what happens when acceptance runs so deep, it naturally gives rise to transformation?

In this episode, Craig responds to three questions from course participants about the surprising relationship between unconditional acceptance and the impulse to change the world. He explores how awakening to the sacredness of life doesn't end our desire for change—it transforms it.

To access the full transcript of this episode and discover more resources, visit the episode page on MeditationChangesEverything.com. You can also sign up here for Craig’s weekly newsletter.

For a deeper experience of Craig’s approach to meditation, consider joining our Awakened Life membership program which offers in-depth guidance, a meditation workshop, and a live online retreat with Craig. Register today to receive your first month for 50% off at AwakenedLifeMembership.com.

If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s meditation experiments, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at FreeMeditationWorkshop.com.

If you would like to share your experience of the podcast or have questions about Craig's teachings, please feel free to email us at support@craighamiltonglobal.com.

In Beyond the Story of Self, Craig guides a series of meditations that gently loosen the structures that define who we think we are.

Most of us move through life with an unspoken assumption—that we are someone, somewhere, located within the edges of our skin. We assume there’s a boundary between “me” and everything else.

But in meditation, a different possibility begins to reveal itself. The edges soften. The sense of inside and outside starts to dissolve. And for a moment, there’s no fixed identity to hold on to—just a vast, open awareness that includes everything and resists nothing. This shift can feel disorienting at first. But if we stay with it, we discover a presence that isn’t defined by the usual reference points.

Through four guided meditations, Craig invites us into a spacious way of being that isn’t shaped by story or held in place by the past.

We encourage you to set aside quiet, uninterrupted time to listen, allowing the meditations to unfold in stillness and presence.

To access the full transcript of this episode and discover more resources, visit the episode page on MeditationChangesEverything.com. You can also sign up here for Craig’s weekly newsletter.

For a deeper experience of Craig’s approach to meditation, consider joining our Awakened Life membership program which offers in-depth guidance, a meditation workshop, and a live online retreat with Craig. Register today to receive your first month for 50% off at AwakenedLifeMembership.com.

If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s meditation experiments, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at FreeMeditationWorkshop.com.

If you would like to share your experience of the podcast or have questions about Craig's teachings, please feel free to email us at support@craighamiltonglobal.com.

“Many of us begin the spiritual path because we simply want to feel better. And this desire to feel good can take us some distance on the path. It will get you meditating daily, it will get you into workshops and retreats, and you’ll start to grow and change and evolve as a result. But, ultimately, spiritual awakening requires much more from us. It requires us to let go of the need to feel any particular way. It’s not possible to truly awaken, to really go all the way on our path when we’re trying to get there just for ourself. And so, in the end it all points us to, how do we awaken to a greater motive for being on the path that’s not about us, that’s connected to something much greater than our personal happiness.” —Craig Hamilton

Many of us begin the spiritual journey with a heartfelt longing—to feel more peaceful, more whole, more connected to something greater. And often, spiritual practice delivers on that promise. It brings relief, insight, and a sense of calm amidst the storms of life.

But what if the very practices meant to awaken us are quietly being used to help us avoid the uncomfortable, messy work of transformation? In “Obstacles to Awakening - Part Three” Craig explores the subtle and often unconscious phenomenon known as spiritual bypassing—when we use meditation, teachings, or spiritual states to sidestep pain, unresolved issues, or the real work of growing up.

Rather than judging these tendencies, Craig opens up a space of inquiry. What happens when the longing to feel good gives way to something greater—a calling to serve the whole, to be an instrument of awakening in a world that so deeply needs it. And in that moment, our practice takes on a new quality.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your practice is leading you deeper—or just helping you escape—this episode offers a powerful and compassionate lens for reflection.

To access the full transcript of this episode and discover more resources, visit the episode page on MeditationChangesEverything.com. You can also sign up here for Craig’s weekly newsletter.

For a deeper experience of Craig’s approach to meditation, consider joining our Awakened Life membership program which offers in-depth guidance, a meditation workshop, and a live online retreat with Craig. Register today to receive your first month for 50% off at AwakenedLifeMembership.com.

If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s meditation experiments, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at FreeMeditationWorkshop.com.

If you would like to share your experience of the podcast or have questions about Craig's teachings, please feel free to email us at support@craighamiltonglobal.com.