This week on The Conscious Consultant Hour, I invite you to journey with me into the heart of China, to the capital of Beijing. Returning after 15 years, I experienced the city this time not as a tourist, but as a traveler living like a local. From winding hutongs hidden behind ancient gates to night markets glowing with lantern light, every moment was a reminder of how foreign and familiar can exist side by side.
Beijing is a place where contrasts live in harmony with the timeless quiet of temples tucked between towering glass skyscrapers, the aroma of food everywhere mingling with the hum of electric scooters. Walking its streets again, I felt a deep change from the swarms of bicycles in the past, to a truly modern city with massive buildings. These experiences stirred something within me, an awareness of how travel dissolves our boundaries and invites us to see with new eyes. Of how people are people, no matter where they reside.
And yet, beneath the wonder of discovery, there was also the gentle ache of missing home. That longing became its own lesson. While we may seek adventure in faraway lands, what truly transforms us is the way those journeys help us return more fully to ourselves.
In this episode, I’ll share the beauty, surprises, and soulful connections that only come from stepping into an unfamiliar world and letting it change you.
Tune in and share your own thoughts and feelings about how travel changes you on our YouTube livestream or on our Facebook page.
http://www.theconsciousconsultant.com/
In this opening segment of The Conscious Consultant Hour, Sam reflects on how pain and loss, while inevitable, can become gateways for growth, love, and deeper presence. He reminds us that though grief is real and must be felt, the choice lies in how we fill the space it leaves—whether with regret or with love. By honoring our experiences and focusing on love, we not only heal ourselves but also contribute to the collective healing of humanity, transforming pain into peace and joy.
In this part of The Conscious Consultant Hour, Sam shares about his recent trip to Beijing with his wife to visit her sister, who has been battling cancer. He reflects on how different the experience felt compared to his past visits—this time marked by intense summer heat, living more like a local with family, and noticing major cultural shifts like the rise of electric scooters and delivery services. Amid the chaos of the city’s traffic and vast streets, he observes an underlying harmony, a sign of Beijing’s transformation into a deeply modern yet uniquely flowing environment.
In this segment of The Conscious Consultant Hour, Sam reflects on Beijing’s transformation over the past 15 years, noting how reduced construction, cleaner air, and the rise of electric cars have reshaped the city into a more modern and livable place. He shares touching moments of connection—watching his wife reconnect with lifelong friends, feeling both moved and wistful at their deep bonds, and experiencing the sacred presence of ancient Buddhist temples and 1,400-year-old trees. These encounters reminded him of the endurance of spirit, the beauty of lasting relationships, and the subtle yet powerful energy that sacred spaces and collective reverence can hold.
In the closing segment of The Conscious Consultant Hour, Sam recounts meeting a mindfulness teacher in Beijing who shared how many Chinese executives, after achieving material success, are now seeking deeper meaning—a sign of awakening consciousness. He also describes a chance encounter with an American expat, which reminded him of the endless possibilities life offers when we’re open to connection and growth. Reflecting on his wife’s sister’s illness, the changing spirit of Beijing, and the universality of human desires, Sam concludes that beneath cultural differences, we all share the same longing for security, love, and ultimately, a flowering of consciousness that can uplift humanity.
00:00:42.690 --> 00:00:57.999 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Good afternoon, my conscious co-creators! Welcome to another edition of the Conscious Consultant Hour, Awakening Humanity. I am very, very pleased that you're all here with me today.
00:00:58.100 --> 00:01:08.629 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: No, that's not new theme music, that's a theme music from one of the other shows on the network. I guess my engineer decided I needed a change for my show.
00:01:08.890 --> 00:01:27.310 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Welcome. Well, I hope you had a chance to catch last week's show with my guest, Petey Newman. A fascinating conversation around the traditions of the Southeast Native Americans in this country and their relationship with ethnogenics and psychedelics.
00:01:27.310 --> 00:01:34.460 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It was, really, a wonderful interview. Really enjoyed having him on the show. I hope you check it out.
00:01:34.460 --> 00:01:40.640 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: and the title of that episode was Lost Psychedelic Tradition, so check it out.
00:01:41.020 --> 00:01:57.279 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Alright, so this week, guess what? It's just me and you. No guests this week, as is my tradition. I try and keep to doing one show with just the two of us, the beginning of each month.
00:01:57.750 --> 00:02:07.610 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So I'm gonna be talking about a recent experience of mine, and I'll get to that, of course, right after this.
00:02:07.940 --> 00:02:09.660 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: My blog post today.
00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:11.370 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And,
00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:23.880 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: this blog post, I think I'm gonna dedicate it to my engineer, because she just got some bad news, before, we started the show. So, this one's for you, JC.
00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:31.770 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And the title of this week's blog post is, There Is Always a Path Through Our Pain.
00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:35.389 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There are many times in life
00:02:35.490 --> 00:02:41.920 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: When we are reminded of our pain, Anniversaries. Holidays.
00:02:42.310 --> 00:02:43.849 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: and reunions.
00:02:44.510 --> 00:02:49.819 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Remembering how we lost loved ones, or some trauma we experienced.
00:02:50.770 --> 00:02:55.879 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Yet, in those memories are always opportunities.
00:02:56.680 --> 00:03:03.730 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Opportunities to find a new perspective, or develop gratitude for what we have.
00:03:04.810 --> 00:03:10.000 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: The past is behind us, and there's nothing we can do about it.
00:03:11.320 --> 00:03:14.970 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And the future is before us, and not yet here.
00:03:16.230 --> 00:03:24.520 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Being present to what we feel, what we are experiencing right now, Is all we have.
00:03:25.830 --> 00:03:30.180 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: The real question is… What are we going to do with it?
00:03:30.630 --> 00:03:36.590 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: What are we going to do with the pain and the suffering we have experienced in the past?
00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:39.990 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: How are we going to move forward?
00:03:41.640 --> 00:03:47.480 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And how can we use it to empower and improve ourselves?
00:03:49.340 --> 00:03:53.460 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Everything is an opportunity to evolve.
00:03:56.070 --> 00:04:03.560 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: When we can delve deep, Into our pain, and reimagine it in a way that builds us up.
00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:05.110 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We prosper.
00:04:06.160 --> 00:04:08.970 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Yes, the losses are real.
00:04:09.210 --> 00:04:17.819 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And the whole… And the hole that losing a loved one creates can be enormous.
00:04:18.579 --> 00:04:27.389 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Yet it is up to us to fill that hole, whether with our regret or with our love.
00:04:28.780 --> 00:04:31.020 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We are still here.
00:04:31.500 --> 00:04:34.500 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Our breath is still with us.
00:04:34.970 --> 00:04:38.570 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There is more we can still do.
00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:44.299 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: As we feel our way through our pain.
00:04:44.670 --> 00:04:46.789 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We can find a way.
00:04:46.910 --> 00:04:47.910 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: to peace.
00:04:49.930 --> 00:04:51.560 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And from peace.
00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:55.520 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We can find a way through to joy.
00:04:56.620 --> 00:05:01.329 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Of course, there are times when it seems like we will never get there.
00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:04.660 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Yet life does not bring us
00:05:05.730 --> 00:05:08.409 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Anything that we cannot deal with.
00:05:09.260 --> 00:05:13.550 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We just have to find the right path forward.
00:05:14.090 --> 00:05:22.359 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: The right guide to show us the way, or the right practice that supports us in letting go of the pain.
00:05:23.910 --> 00:05:26.670 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: All of us have pain within us.
00:05:27.490 --> 00:05:31.720 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: The collective trauma of our history is real.
00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:37.619 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And as each of us does our part to heal from that trauma.
00:05:38.050 --> 00:05:41.389 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We support the healing of the collective.
00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:46.529 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We all have to do our part to contribute.
00:05:47.380 --> 00:05:50.910 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And as we find our path through our pain.
00:05:51.070 --> 00:05:56.489 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We make a way for others to find their way through their pain.
00:05:57.930 --> 00:05:59.810 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: All is connected.
00:06:00.070 --> 00:06:02.230 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: All is interrelated.
00:06:03.410 --> 00:06:11.050 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That includes our pain, our sadness, Our joy, and our love.
00:06:13.270 --> 00:06:15.649 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Which do you want to focus on?
00:06:16.530 --> 00:06:18.620 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Which do you want to build up?
00:06:22.020 --> 00:06:23.230 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So…
00:06:28.780 --> 00:06:32.140 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: You know, I wrote this post a couple of years ago.
00:06:32.960 --> 00:06:37.120 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It was after we found out that my wife's sister had cancer.
00:06:39.350 --> 00:06:47.040 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And not just that, but… We have been working with some clients who had suffered Extreme loss.
00:06:50.080 --> 00:06:54.010 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And so I was just kind of reflecting on it.
00:06:56.110 --> 00:06:58.660 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And in discussions through my wife.
00:06:59.980 --> 00:07:02.440 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: About how do we get through the pain?
00:07:02.630 --> 00:07:06.240 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Because sometimes that pain can feel overwhelming.
00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:16.609 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And we came to, you know, the answer's always the same, and that's with love.
00:07:18.840 --> 00:07:21.410 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And that's with feeling our love
00:07:22.130 --> 00:07:25.510 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: For the person, the places, the things.
00:07:29.640 --> 00:07:32.260 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: To remember the fond memories.
00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:35.610 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: To bring the good.
00:07:35.940 --> 00:07:37.620 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: forward, as well.
00:07:41.690 --> 00:07:47.120 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: You know, no life is completely 100% in darkness.
00:07:49.860 --> 00:07:52.199 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Sometimes it can feel that way.
00:07:54.080 --> 00:08:01.579 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And that's why sometimes people consider suicide, because they just can't see a way through or a way out.
00:08:04.890 --> 00:08:08.390 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But most of the time, life is a mixture of…
00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:12.829 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: The pain and sadness, and the joy and the love.
00:08:17.400 --> 00:08:25.980 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And the point of… focusing on our love is not to bypass the pain. It's not to…
00:08:26.390 --> 00:08:33.140 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Disconnect and then disassociate from what we're actually feeling in the moment.
00:08:35.210 --> 00:08:41.430 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: When there is loss, there is real grief, and we need to be present to that grief.
00:08:46.630 --> 00:08:53.890 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Because stuffing it down does not help us. It does not serve us. It does not serve anyone around us.
00:08:59.760 --> 00:09:05.130 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So we have to experience that loss, that agony, that pain.
00:09:10.040 --> 00:09:12.280 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But the way to get through it.
00:09:13.010 --> 00:09:18.279 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: The way to find a little point of light in all that darkness.
00:09:19.660 --> 00:09:21.379 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Is in our love for the…
00:09:22.030 --> 00:09:27.450 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: person, place, or thing that we're losing. I just spoke to a gentleman yesterday
00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:29.889 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Who had to put down his dog.
00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:37.119 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Who'd… Who had been with him for 13 years, and he was incredibly distraught over it.
00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:41.010 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Because he loved that dog so much.
00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:46.330 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And look, it doesn't matter.
00:09:47.110 --> 00:09:50.330 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Whether it's a dog, a cat, a goldfish.
00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:56.040 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Parent, a grandparent, a child, a sibling, a cousin.
00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:59.119 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: A loss is a loss.
00:09:59.920 --> 00:10:03.360 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And that loss does leave a hole in us.
00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:12.549 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But the real question is, what are we going to fill that hole with?
00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:20.560 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Are we gonna fill it with all the regret of things we didn't say when they were around?
00:10:21.830 --> 00:10:25.220 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Are we gonna fill it with the darkness?
00:10:25.520 --> 00:10:28.690 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That that sense of loss brings to us?
00:10:30.110 --> 00:10:36.139 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Or are we gonna fill it with the love we feel for that person, place, or thing, that being?
00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:47.440 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Because the only reason why we're in pain over the loss is because we cared about them, because we love them.
00:10:48.990 --> 00:10:51.669 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: For, for so many reasons.
00:10:52.770 --> 00:10:57.200 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Maybe it was their kindness, their guidance, their laughter.
00:10:58.330 --> 00:11:03.399 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Their companionship, whatever it was about them that touched us.
00:11:05.650 --> 00:11:13.510 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: When we remember that part… We can fill up that hole with our love for them.
00:11:22.630 --> 00:11:33.140 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And look, does this mean that we don't cry, that we're not sad about the loss, that we're… we don't suffer from the loss? No, of course not.
00:11:33.390 --> 00:11:34.699 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Of course we do.
00:11:34.900 --> 00:11:36.590 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Of course we do.
00:11:36.930 --> 00:11:39.790 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We're human beings, we have feelings.
00:11:46.730 --> 00:11:50.810 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And once that energy flows through us.
00:11:53.940 --> 00:11:56.290 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And we feel washed out.
00:11:58.330 --> 00:12:02.569 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Because we've been in that sense of loss for so long.
00:12:03.680 --> 00:12:06.050 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And we're exhausted from it.
00:12:07.540 --> 00:12:08.990 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That's the time.
00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:11.830 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: To remember all the good times.
00:12:14.430 --> 00:12:16.850 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Celebrate their life.
00:12:19.660 --> 00:12:23.620 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: To use their life as an inspiration for us.
00:12:24.410 --> 00:12:28.480 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And look, this is not to say that, you know, we…
00:12:28.680 --> 00:12:37.219 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Gloss over the warts and not see the person for the good and the bad as well.
00:12:40.880 --> 00:12:46.730 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But to use the bad as maybe… A learning lesson?
00:12:47.870 --> 00:12:51.819 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And to use the good to fill up our hole.
00:12:53.300 --> 00:12:57.289 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And to remember that… Whoever we lost.
00:12:57.610 --> 00:13:02.489 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: They wouldn't want us to stay in our pain, to marinate in our pain.
00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:14.970 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: maybe… that loss… Is meant to show us to truly appreciate who's in our life today.
00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:21.059 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: To help us to appreciate that much more what we have right now.
00:13:21.540 --> 00:13:23.889 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Because tomorrow's not guaranteed.
00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:27.110 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Nobody knows what's gonna happen tomorrow.
00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:31.109 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: For any of us.
00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:39.190 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So what we truly have… Is this present moment.
00:13:40.780 --> 00:13:44.039 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Is this little slice of time.
00:13:44.250 --> 00:13:47.359 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That we're in, right here, right now.
00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:51.990 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And how we show up.
00:13:52.270 --> 00:13:53.829 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And what we feel.
00:13:58.730 --> 00:14:01.780 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Yes, we need to be authentic. Yes.
00:14:02.790 --> 00:14:06.290 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We need to not lie to ourselves about how we feel.
00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:09.850 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And…
00:14:13.900 --> 00:14:18.939 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We can fill up our hearts with the love that we feel.
00:14:21.060 --> 00:14:22.889 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And we can remember.
00:14:23.610 --> 00:14:26.530 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That whether they're still with us physically or not.
00:18:04.100 --> 00:18:08.460 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: Alright, sorry about that, but my internet crashed.
00:18:08.490 --> 00:18:18.549 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: Right when I was finishing what I was talking about. I'll try and get it back up, but for now, I'm on my phone.
00:18:18.550 --> 00:18:29.460 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: Until I can get my internet back up on the computer, and I'll switch over. So, that was my blog post called, There Is Always a Path Through Our Pain.
00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:43.960 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: And, of course, you can always find my blog, my personally branded website, theconsciousconsultant.com, or on the station's website, www.talkradio.nyc slash blog.
00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:54.100 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: And, and, today, thankfully, I don't have a guest today.
00:18:54.370 --> 00:19:00.179 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: But today I was going to discuss and talk about my recent trip.
00:19:03.300 --> 00:19:20.699 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: Some of you may have noticed that during August, I did a rerun, and I pre-recorded an episode, because I was away. My wife and I went to China, to Beijing, where her family is, to,
00:19:20.790 --> 00:19:25.280 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: to see her sister. Her sister's had cancer for the last couple of years.
00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:36.909 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: And, we decided we didn't want to wait any longer. We were originally planning on going there to Beijing to see her in October.
00:19:37.270 --> 00:19:50.030 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: But, her niece, you know, my wife's sister's daughter said, I'm not sure what kind of condition she's going to be in in October, so we,
00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:55.099 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: decided to push it up and go in August at the last minute.
00:19:57.010 --> 00:20:08.730 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: So, I spent a good two and a half weeks, almost three weeks in Beijing. It was quite an interesting experience.
00:20:08.820 --> 00:20:21.810 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: And that's why I entitled this episode, Under the Shadow of Dragons, because, you know, China is the land of dragons, and Beijing is its capital.
00:20:22.330 --> 00:20:27.299 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: And, we, we're…
00:20:27.870 --> 00:20:34.970 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: I thought it would be fun to kind of talk about my experience and the difference, because I haven't been
00:20:35.210 --> 00:20:40.039 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: to Beijing in 15 years. You know, before the…
00:20:40.170 --> 00:20:47.980 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: pandemic, and, you know, before that time, I had been to Beijing about 3 times.
00:20:49.260 --> 00:20:56.480 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: and it was really a very different experience this time.
00:20:57.910 --> 00:21:01.170 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: And it was different for a number of reasons.
00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:08.080 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: And one of the first reasons being, it was the very first time
00:21:08.190 --> 00:21:14.190 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: I've been to Beijing or to China in the, summertime.
00:21:14.360 --> 00:21:18.640 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: I've only ever been there in the spring or winter.
00:21:20.270 --> 00:21:28.080 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: It looks like my internet's coming back up, so I'm gonna try and… get back.
00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:32.210 Sam Liebowitz | www.TalkRadio.nyc: So, I'm gonna log off my phone.
00:21:38.990 --> 00:21:41.969 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Alright, we're back where we're supposed to be.
00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:46.500 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Sorry about that, but, you know, technical stuff, it happens.
00:21:46.850 --> 00:21:53.050 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So as I was saying, it was a very different experience. The first thing was,
00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:57.170 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: This was, the summertime.
00:21:59.620 --> 00:22:05.310 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And… Beijing is normally known for
00:22:06.450 --> 00:22:14.560 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: being a very dry place. It's actually usually very dusty and dry, but for some reason, this summer.
00:22:14.730 --> 00:22:18.610 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It was ungodly humid.
00:22:18.910 --> 00:22:26.129 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It was really hot. It was in the… when we first got there in the upper 90s.
00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:31.029 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And it was so humid, it felt worse than Miami to me.
00:22:31.230 --> 00:22:42.080 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But… the heat was really oppressive. The sun felt really strong.
00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:48.130 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And you could not walk two steps outside without being drenched in sweat.
00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:58.969 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And… That created a certain atmosphere for the trip that made it a bit unpleasant.
00:22:59.150 --> 00:23:08.330 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: to be outside, thankfully. The other thing, and another important thing of what made this trip different was,
00:23:09.260 --> 00:23:19.310 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We stayed in her niece's apartment, and her niece has a lovely apartment in the southwest portion of the city.
00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:27.409 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And, she was very kind. She actually went and stayed in her mom's house up in the north.
00:23:27.520 --> 00:23:30.190 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And… and we stayed in her apartment.
00:23:30.320 --> 00:23:35.420 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And so I actually got a chance to live like a local.
00:23:35.580 --> 00:23:48.649 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: You know, we went to the local restaurants in her neighborhood, the supermarkets, and we had to take care of a bunch of errands. You know, my wife has a Chinese phone.
00:23:49.470 --> 00:23:57.350 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And so, it wasn't working when we first got there, and we went to the cell phone store with her, and… and,
00:23:57.730 --> 00:24:07.189 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And then we had to go to the bank, and there were just a lot of little things we were running around, a lot of errands we were running, so I really got a chance to…
00:24:07.560 --> 00:24:11.139 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: To kind of see what is it like to live as a local.
00:24:11.610 --> 00:24:13.970 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And one of the things that…
00:24:15.110 --> 00:24:19.880 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Surprised me, but isn't really that much of a surprise.
00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:26.950 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: was when I was there 15 years ago, there were still a lot of people riding bicycles.
00:24:27.060 --> 00:24:34.349 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And all the streets, and the streets are huge in Beijing. I mean, every block is like a four-lane highway.
00:24:34.470 --> 00:24:38.880 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But there's always an extra lane on the side for bicycles.
00:24:39.490 --> 00:24:47.789 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But this time, those lanes were not filled up with bicycles, they were filled up with electric scooters. It felt like almost
00:24:47.950 --> 00:25:03.919 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Everybody who was not in a car was on a scooter. I saw families of four riding on one little scooter. You know, I saw people, you know, collecting, you know, paper waste and styrofoam and stuff, these huge things on the back of their scooter.
00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:10.489 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And there are TONS of delivery people in Beijing. Apparently.
00:25:11.060 --> 00:25:23.580 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I would say they've kind of leapfrogged us here, in the States, like everything you get through an app on your phone, and they deliver it to you right where you are.
00:25:24.110 --> 00:25:35.020 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And so there are tons and tons and tons of delivery guys constantly delivering food to people's apartments, to where they work.
00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:41.220 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I even saw a woman Get a delivery in a food court, in a mall.
00:25:41.490 --> 00:25:53.459 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And she took out of this little bag a bubble tea. So she ordered a bubble tea from somewhere, and the guy brought it up to her in this food court. I mean, it was crazy.
00:25:54.540 --> 00:25:55.909 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But everything.
00:25:56.130 --> 00:26:02.890 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: everything. Meals, clothing, supply, anything you want. There are…
00:26:03.590 --> 00:26:14.320 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I mean, must be thousands of delivery guys across the city out there delivering the stuff within minutes of when you order it. Truly amazing.
00:26:16.110 --> 00:26:20.959 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And the thing that I found so fascinating about all these people on the scooters.
00:26:21.790 --> 00:26:25.559 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Is they don't really pay attention to the traffic laws.
00:26:25.790 --> 00:26:35.500 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Like, lights, especially red lights, are you… they treat them as suggestions, and they're making turns, and going this way, and that way.
00:26:36.150 --> 00:26:44.039 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I was just amazed that there weren't more accidents. I mean, I didn't see a single traffic accident while I was there.
00:26:44.310 --> 00:26:49.510 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It was like this chaos swirling around, all around.
00:26:49.670 --> 00:27:00.529 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Yet, somehow, it happened all in harmony, and everyone kind of knew, and was able to go in the flow.
00:27:00.750 --> 00:27:03.840 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So that was a really big change.
00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:10.110 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And that, to me, really was one of the first indications
00:27:10.800 --> 00:27:14.350 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: of how much of a modern city Beijing has become.
00:27:17.580 --> 00:27:25.960 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And… It really, especially, like, when you're living there as a local.
00:27:26.650 --> 00:27:32.559 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It amazed me how few people we actually saw out walking.
00:27:33.970 --> 00:27:49.020 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I mean, yeah, the heat was oppressive, but look, I'm here in New York City, and even on the worst days during the summer, we saw plenty of people out in the parks, on the streets, people are always going one place or another.
00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:55.339 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And considering that Beijing is a city of 12 million plus people.
00:27:55.580 --> 00:27:59.840 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: You'd think the streets would be really crowded.
00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:15.680 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And the only place that I felt where there were crowds was the one day we went to the center of town to some stores, and there were tons of tourists and, you know, local tourists and foreigners.
00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:20.459 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But that was, like, the only time I saw a crowd in Beijing.
00:28:20.750 --> 00:28:23.060 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And that really shocked me.
00:28:24.170 --> 00:28:27.680 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And it shocked me for a number of reasons.
00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:33.510 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Not the least of which is how many people actually live there.
00:28:34.310 --> 00:28:42.959 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Given how many people live in a square block, you would think that the sidewalks would be crowded all the time.
00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:52.960 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And keep in mind, a square block in Beijing is not like a square block in Manhattan or in the United States.
00:28:53.270 --> 00:28:58.909 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Each block is probably the length of 4 or 5 blocks.
00:28:59.990 --> 00:29:05.410 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So their square blocks are humongous. Humongous.
00:29:05.650 --> 00:29:13.000 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: it would probably… I didn't even try walking around a whole block, but it would probably take…
00:29:13.830 --> 00:29:23.079 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: close to 20 to 30 minutes just to walk around the block. That's how massive things are.
00:29:25.410 --> 00:29:31.190 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So… That was some of the indications of changes.
00:29:31.610 --> 00:29:35.429 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There is also another really, really important change.
00:29:35.770 --> 00:29:41.539 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: related to this that I want to talk about, but we're going to take a quick break.
00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:53.679 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So please stay with me. I apologize for the technical problems we had earlier, but stay with me. When we come back, I'm going to give you some more reflections about the city itself.
00:29:53.680 --> 00:30:02.669 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And then I'm going to talk about some of the people I met. So everyone, please stay tuned. You're listening to The Conscious Consultant Hour, Awakening Humanity.
00:30:02.780 --> 00:30:07.009 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It's just me and you today, and we'll be right back in just a moment.
00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:27.990 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And welcome back to the Conscious Consultant Hour, Awakening Humanity. This hour, I'm speaking about my recent trip to Beijing after 15 years, and some of the reflection and changes that I've seen.
00:32:28.540 --> 00:32:34.129 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And… I was talking about, you know, how big it is there, and this was…
00:32:34.710 --> 00:32:41.219 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: one of the, also, biggest contrasts to the last time I was there 15 years ago.
00:32:41.820 --> 00:32:46.819 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: was when I was there 15 years ago, there was tons of construction going on.
00:32:47.540 --> 00:32:53.909 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: it was… just everywhere. There were…
00:32:54.150 --> 00:33:00.469 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Dozens of giant cranes and building these huge clusters of buildings.
00:33:01.110 --> 00:33:07.350 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And because of that, the pollution was really awful. It was really horrible.
00:33:10.370 --> 00:33:12.620 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But this time…
00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:21.930 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There was still some construction going on, but very little, a fraction, a tiny fraction of what it was 15… 15 years ago.
00:33:23.750 --> 00:33:26.229 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And the pollution was so much better.
00:33:27.530 --> 00:33:47.229 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: less cars on the road, which I found out that they restrict during the week who can drive by the last two digits of your license plate number, so every day, Monday through Friday, there are two digits that aren't allowed to drive, so they effectively eliminate a fifth of the cars.
00:33:47.620 --> 00:33:49.680 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But…
00:33:49.840 --> 00:33:59.060 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: much less tra… I mean, there's still traffic, don't get me wrong, it's a huge city. There's still traffic, but much more manageable than it was 15 years ago.
00:33:59.170 --> 00:34:17.149 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I noticed a lot of electric cars. Not just Teslas, there were plenty of Teslas, but there was a lot of, Chinese car manufacturers. BYD is another big one. I think I saw maybe 4 or 5, I can't remember all the names, but I think I saw 4 or 5 different
00:34:17.150 --> 00:34:26.810 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Chinese electric car makes and models. So, it really was…
00:34:26.969 --> 00:34:40.789 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: interesting to see the changeover. The one thing I will say is definitely more electric cars than I see here in the States. I mean, when I was in the West Coast, when I was in California, I see more electric cars there than here in New York.
00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:53.899 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But even compared to California, that China had a lot more electric cars. I'm not sure if it's because of incentives or why, but definitely more electric cars.
00:34:54.030 --> 00:35:07.059 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So, you know, it all makes a difference. And it all made for seeing Beijing as really a much more modern city, and very built up now.
00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:13.359 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And the reason why I was so surprised about there being so few people on the streets, because anywhere you look.
00:35:13.590 --> 00:35:20.960 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There's not just one giant 20-story building that's, you know, massively wide.
00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:33.909 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But there's 7 of them, there's 12 of them, there's 6 of them. They build these giant buildings. I mean, here in New York, you used to like one big building going up at the time. There, because they have so much space and room.
00:35:34.130 --> 00:35:42.499 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: you know, like, a dozen went up at one time. So that's why back then, there was so much pollution from all the construction. Now, they're all up.
00:35:43.370 --> 00:35:46.670 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: it's all there. There's still some…
00:35:46.840 --> 00:36:01.369 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: smaller buildings around, but very few. Overall, as a percentage of the housing in Beijing, most of it is modern housing now. There's still some old. We actually went back to my wife's old neighborhood where she grew up, and
00:36:01.640 --> 00:36:15.110 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: the building she grew up in is still there. Right across the street was this huge complex of this brand new building, like… like, the construction came all the way up and then stopped the block before.
00:36:15.350 --> 00:36:22.100 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But her old building now was like a slum, it was dirty, it was, you know, not… not well kept.
00:36:24.700 --> 00:36:28.839 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So, so physically, the city was different.
00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:35.449 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But not just physically, psychologically, the city was different. And my wife made this comment.
00:36:35.690 --> 00:36:38.109 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: that I found really interesting.
00:36:38.250 --> 00:36:42.499 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: She said she was really surprised at how nice people were.
00:36:42.640 --> 00:36:48.509 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That, you know, when you're in a restaurant or in a store, people were more helpful than when she grew up.
00:36:48.990 --> 00:36:54.840 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I mean, she grew up, you know, China was extremely communist. I mean, it's still a communist country, but…
00:36:55.580 --> 00:37:00.060 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But now it's more about business, and she was surprised at how
00:37:00.560 --> 00:37:06.730 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: people who served you were much nicer about it. They talked to you, they didn't give you attitude.
00:37:07.590 --> 00:37:20.649 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I… and I asked her why she thought that was, and she said something very interesting, and she was like, well, you know, when I was growing up, it was a poor country, people didn't have much money, they didn't have much. But now you look around, like.
00:37:20.730 --> 00:37:37.800 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: people have a decent life there. People have a good life. People are just trying to live their life. They're like anyone else, and now that they… they feel safe, they feel secure, they have enough food, they have, you know, good… a good, you know, apartment.
00:37:38.250 --> 00:37:43.510 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: They don't need to be, like, trying to get every little thing, because they were so little.
00:37:45.010 --> 00:37:50.549 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And so, Because the wealth of the country increased.
00:37:50.660 --> 00:37:56.110 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: People felt better, and they weren't struggling to survive, so…
00:37:56.270 --> 00:38:01.670 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: they actually could afford to be nice to each other. So I thought that was an interesting observation.
00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:06.989 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And we also had an interest… I had an interesting experience.
00:38:07.370 --> 00:38:13.869 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: The first couple of days we were there, we got together with two of her close girlfriends in Beijing.
00:38:14.130 --> 00:38:18.950 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Girl she had known from school and from her first job there.
00:38:19.340 --> 00:38:27.409 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So these two women, she has known for… I mean, a lot longer than she's known me, but for, like, the majority of her life.
00:38:28.760 --> 00:38:37.030 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And although, she… although they were talking Chinese to each other.
00:38:37.970 --> 00:38:44.089 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I didn't… you know, I can sometimes tell a little bit of what they're talking about. A lot of it I didn't understand, but…
00:38:44.660 --> 00:38:48.570 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There was this feeling, watching the three of them interact.
00:38:49.170 --> 00:38:54.449 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Seeing, you know, the expression, the emotion, their voice.
00:38:57.000 --> 00:39:00.049 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: You could tell there's this special bond there.
00:39:01.370 --> 00:39:05.029 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There is this bond of friendship that was…
00:39:05.320 --> 00:39:08.520 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Something that was built over a lifetime.
00:39:09.400 --> 00:39:15.730 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That even if they hadn't seen each other for years, They could still come together.
00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:22.970 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And be as close as they were 20, 30, 40 years ago.
00:39:24.860 --> 00:39:27.789 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And it kind of struck me because…
00:39:29.380 --> 00:39:33.510 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I literally have nobody in my life today
00:39:33.700 --> 00:39:37.080 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Other than my family, who I knew 40 years ago.
00:39:39.190 --> 00:39:41.089 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: You know, I mean…
00:39:41.590 --> 00:39:56.269 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: not that, you know, everyone I know has passed away or anything, of course not, but I'm just not in touch. I mean, my friends from high school have all scattered to the four corners of the world,
00:39:57.230 --> 00:40:03.660 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: The friends I had in college are off doing other things. Some people have passed.
00:40:05.310 --> 00:40:14.130 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But… I don't have that… Depth of relationship with anyone in my life today.
00:40:16.450 --> 00:40:21.050 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But I can say, like, We have this relationship at…
00:40:22.540 --> 00:40:27.900 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: lasted, you know, decades. And that when you have people who
00:40:29.240 --> 00:40:31.879 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Who've been in your life for so long.
00:40:32.260 --> 00:40:41.670 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There's this… Energy, this spirit, this connection between you that… goes beyond.
00:40:45.710 --> 00:40:52.480 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: just regular friendship. And so when I was sitting there observing this with her friends.
00:40:54.100 --> 00:40:58.919 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I was very touched, I could feel the specialness of this connection.
00:40:59.830 --> 00:41:05.340 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And if I'm honest, it did… bring up…
00:41:05.620 --> 00:41:10.820 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: a little bit of sadness, because it's something I don't have in my life.
00:41:12.320 --> 00:41:16.140 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And, you know, when I think about people I know today.
00:41:16.620 --> 00:41:21.519 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I know some of them have it in their life, and I know a lot of them don't have it in their lives.
00:41:22.660 --> 00:41:24.689 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And so when you see that.
00:41:25.540 --> 00:41:29.659 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That connection that's a lifetime in the making.
00:41:29.950 --> 00:41:33.069 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It's something really beautiful to behold.
00:41:33.910 --> 00:41:36.650 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And it… and I guess I just hadn't…
00:41:36.910 --> 00:41:42.399 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Seen an example of that so clearly in such a long time.
00:41:42.550 --> 00:41:46.809 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That it really, spoke to me. That it really…
00:41:47.220 --> 00:41:51.030 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: touched me in a way I wasn't expecting.
00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:55.250 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And,
00:41:55.420 --> 00:42:12.070 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I had some other interesting experiences. We actually had some friends, we have a very close friend who used to live in our building here in New York who went back to take care of her parents as they're getting older and they're a little unwell.
00:42:12.330 --> 00:42:26.949 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So a close friend who was there, and we got together with her and her boyfriend, and they took me around to a temple that was outside of Beijing, and a park outside, and it was nice to spend the day with them.
00:42:28.080 --> 00:42:43.459 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: the first time spending time with them, not in New York, and they were very gracious, and driving me all over the place, and taking me out to dinner, and it was really a very nice day, and I really enjoyed spending that time with them.
00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:47.860 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But it was just so interesting to be able to spend time with them.
00:42:48.340 --> 00:42:57.039 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: in their environment instead of in my environment, which is… I'd only ever, you know, seen them in here in New York.
00:42:58.910 --> 00:43:06.929 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And really an interesting thing I felt, going to the Buddhist temples there, and there were a lot of Buddhist temples in and around Beijing.
00:43:07.620 --> 00:43:14.390 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But I went to this one Buddhist temple that was a very old temple, older than Beijing itself.
00:43:15.590 --> 00:43:20.479 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And they're with these two giant ginkgo trees.
00:43:21.290 --> 00:43:25.310 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That were over 1400 years old.
00:43:26.510 --> 00:43:33.810 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And there were other trees that were 1300, 1100, 600 years old, giant trees.
00:43:35.930 --> 00:43:39.609 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I just, you know, kept thinking to myself, wow.
00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:45.000 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Like, how many generations of people have passed away
00:43:45.180 --> 00:43:48.519 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Have lived during the time of this one tree.
00:43:49.750 --> 00:43:58.939 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: During this time that this one tree, and it's still alive and still growing, It's a much different scale.
00:44:01.920 --> 00:44:06.300 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And even though I'm not technically a Buddhist, you know, I consider myself
00:44:06.780 --> 00:44:11.009 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Eclectic when it comes to, my beliefs.
00:44:12.010 --> 00:44:17.009 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: there was an energy to the temples, even though it was super hot and humid when I was there.
00:44:17.940 --> 00:44:20.849 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And all the people coming and praying to them.
00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:26.939 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I think it's true for almost any… religious structure.
00:44:27.200 --> 00:44:30.330 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That people hold in reverence.
00:44:31.080 --> 00:44:33.860 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There was a certain energy to it.
00:44:35.180 --> 00:44:38.529 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Especially considering how old this place was.
00:44:39.310 --> 00:44:46.869 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That you could just feel… And I did say my prayers to Buddha and Guan Yin.
00:44:48.110 --> 00:44:52.119 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And, who knows, maybe that's why it was such a good trip.
00:44:52.680 --> 00:44:53.560 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Dude.
00:44:54.780 --> 00:45:01.310 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It was different. It was definitely different for me. Alright, time for me to take my last break.
00:45:01.870 --> 00:45:07.709 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I want to end up talking about a chance meeting,
00:45:07.950 --> 00:45:16.189 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: to someone I'd never met before, but someone had introduced us to him, and a really fascinating conversation that I want to relate.
00:45:16.500 --> 00:45:18.549 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That also talks to…
00:45:19.040 --> 00:45:29.600 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: what's happening to the spirit of the people in Beijing. So, everybody, please stay tuned. You're listening to The Conscious Consultant Hour, Awakening Humanity.
00:45:29.950 --> 00:45:39.699 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: This episode is entitled, Under the Shadow of Dragons, because dragons are all over China, and we'll be right back to finish it up in just a moment.
00:47:28.020 --> 00:47:29.650 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And… welcome back.
00:47:30.190 --> 00:47:36.579 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So, one of the interesting things was that,
00:47:38.440 --> 00:47:43.419 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: The show I pre-recorded before I left for Beijing.
00:47:43.890 --> 00:47:49.270 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I interviewed a gentleman by the name of Ralph White, one of the co-founders of the Open Center.
00:47:50.180 --> 00:47:53.830 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Founder of the new center that he started.
00:47:54.740 --> 00:48:03.839 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: I mentioned to him that I'm going to Beijing, and he was like, you know what? I know somebody in Beijing, I'm sure he would love to meet with you. I'm like, wonderful, connect me to him, I'll meet with him.
00:48:04.630 --> 00:48:11.400 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And so, towards the end of the trip, I had a chance to meet up with this gentleman, his name's Yang.
00:48:12.390 --> 00:48:16.619 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And it turns out that he's a meditation and mindfulness teacher.
00:48:16.920 --> 00:48:22.470 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I'm like, wow, I never met anybody who was a meditation and mindfulness teacher here in China.
00:48:22.870 --> 00:48:24.699 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Though I guess it made sense.
00:48:25.150 --> 00:48:33.889 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I asked him, you know, what kind of people are attracted to meditation and mindfulness here in China?
00:48:35.050 --> 00:48:40.090 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And he said how he works a lot with high-tech companies in China.
00:48:40.950 --> 00:48:47.260 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And he said that what he found is that a lot of these corporate executives
00:48:48.910 --> 00:48:54.310 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Who had experienced so much growth over the last 15 years.
00:48:55.460 --> 00:49:08.730 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: that now the economy has slowed. A lot of people in China talked about how the economy had slowed down, it wasn't growing the way it was, it's much more kind of stable in where it is.
00:49:09.440 --> 00:49:16.710 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And he said, now they've built up this company, they're making all this money, it's not growing anymore.
00:49:17.920 --> 00:49:24.150 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And they're all kind of looking at life and going, is this all there is?
00:49:27.070 --> 00:49:31.850 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And that they really are looking for more meaning in their life.
00:49:33.480 --> 00:49:37.020 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I thought, isn't that fascinating?
00:49:37.570 --> 00:49:40.979 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: that even in a country like China.
00:49:43.500 --> 00:49:46.040 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That people are looking for more meaning.
00:49:46.170 --> 00:49:59.549 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: They're looking for something more now that they've achieved all the physical desires, they're well off, they have money, they're well taken care of.
00:50:01.890 --> 00:50:03.819 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: They're looking for something more.
00:50:04.830 --> 00:50:10.319 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And to me, That's an awakening of consciousness.
00:50:12.560 --> 00:50:22.770 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And that's… Really, what the average person is looking for
00:50:23.200 --> 00:50:33.530 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And to me, that really shows that once we've Achieved a certain level of…
00:50:34.610 --> 00:50:38.940 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Of security, of accomplishment, of wealth.
00:50:41.320 --> 00:50:43.930 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That it's never satisfying enough.
00:50:44.780 --> 00:50:46.759 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But it's never enough.
00:50:47.530 --> 00:50:50.300 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And that's when we look to a spirit.
00:50:50.490 --> 00:50:54.849 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That's when we look for something deeper in our lives. That's when…
00:50:55.800 --> 00:51:05.050 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There's room for the soul to wake up, because we're no longer in fight-or-flight mode, we're no longer struggling just for our existence.
00:51:06.350 --> 00:51:12.489 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: When we no longer have to struggle, We turn towards Spirit.
00:51:14.120 --> 00:51:17.259 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And the fact that that is happening in China.
00:51:18.270 --> 00:51:23.790 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: In one of the most pragmatic, grounded.
00:51:24.020 --> 00:51:26.079 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: cultures that I know.
00:51:27.990 --> 00:51:34.750 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: to me, Gives me a little bit… just a little bit of hope for the future of humanity.
00:51:39.140 --> 00:51:44.980 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Because if there can be a flowering of consciousness there, it can happen anywhere.
00:51:47.620 --> 00:51:50.980 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It's been going on in the United States for decades.
00:51:53.310 --> 00:52:01.930 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Because we've been one of the wealthiest countries in the world for decades. Not always for the greatest of reasons.
00:52:06.490 --> 00:52:14.030 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But to me, it really shows that Given the opportunity.
00:52:14.460 --> 00:52:16.020 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: People will evolve.
00:52:19.330 --> 00:52:25.040 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And if there's anything that we need more than anything else today…
00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:30.780 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It's a flowering of consciousness. It's an evolution of humanity.
00:52:33.180 --> 00:52:38.590 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And… My hope and my prayer.
00:52:39.570 --> 00:52:47.549 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Is that that… Evolution of consciousness spreads across the entire planet.
00:52:50.210 --> 00:52:57.779 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Because in these times of these very turbulent, chaotic times, that's what we need more than anything else.
00:52:59.130 --> 00:53:03.189 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That's what's going to move the world into a more positive direction.
00:53:09.430 --> 00:53:10.910 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And lastly.
00:53:11.450 --> 00:53:19.620 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: One last person I met on my trip to Beijing I found fascinating. Literally the night before I was leaving to come back.
00:53:19.970 --> 00:53:23.519 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We went to this little dumpling restaurant in…
00:53:23.730 --> 00:53:26.610 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: The neighborhood in which we were staying.
00:53:26.950 --> 00:53:28.290 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And there was this…
00:53:29.120 --> 00:53:40.910 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: American sitting there eating, and I just nodded to him, and he nodded back, and then he said hi, and we started chatting, and he had to do a little phone call, and we ate dinner, and then he came over, and we talked afterwards.
00:53:42.090 --> 00:53:53.850 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And it was fascinating to meet this gentleman, who… Has been in… Taiwan, Taipei… Shenzhen.
00:53:53.990 --> 00:53:56.870 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And, and, and Beijing for the last…
00:53:57.380 --> 00:53:59.759 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: 12 years, I believe, he said.
00:54:00.300 --> 00:54:09.049 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And he was, basically teaching English and teaching kids how to speak, how to do public speaking, and how to speak English.
00:54:10.730 --> 00:54:16.059 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And… it was just fascinating having this conversation with him.
00:54:17.330 --> 00:54:23.689 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And how much he loves the Asian culture, and he loves being there in Asia.
00:54:23.850 --> 00:54:27.410 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Even though he's from St. Louis, Missouri originally.
00:54:28.440 --> 00:54:31.410 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And it was just wonderful to, like.
00:54:31.520 --> 00:54:41.800 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: in such an unexpected way to meet someone like this and have a conversation and get his perspective on different things in Beijing and in Asia and China.
00:54:43.170 --> 00:54:48.059 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And hear about his challenges, and what worked well, and what wasn't working well.
00:54:48.520 --> 00:54:56.360 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And… It really showed me how anything is possible these days.
00:54:58.420 --> 00:54:59.889 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And, and…
00:55:00.080 --> 00:55:06.900 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Yeah, it helps a lot if you have the means to travel, it helps a lot if you have the resources.
00:55:08.220 --> 00:55:15.119 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But these days, All you really need is a desire, a willingness to work at it.
00:55:17.340 --> 00:55:21.869 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And you can create an incredible life for yourself.
00:55:23.180 --> 00:55:25.470 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: There are always choices to be made.
00:55:25.820 --> 00:55:28.500 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Right? There's always give and take.
00:55:30.770 --> 00:55:38.919 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But… There are always, always, always possibilities.
00:55:40.770 --> 00:55:45.300 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So people ask me all the time, you know, how was my trip to China?
00:55:45.750 --> 00:55:53.310 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And of course, the most important part of it was seeing my wife's sister, who's undergone 30
00:55:53.580 --> 00:56:07.260 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: chemotherapy treatments for cancer, and is still undergoing it, and, you know, I was really expecting her to be this thin shell of a woman, but she actually looked pretty good, but she was tired all the time.
00:56:07.650 --> 00:56:20.709 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And… and because, you know, I'm an American, I'm not a relative coming… I mean, I'm an in-law, but she felt obligated, like, she had to do something for me, and I'm like, no, no, no, you don't have to do anything, but that's the culture.
00:56:23.710 --> 00:56:26.399 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So it was good to see her.
00:56:27.440 --> 00:56:31.580 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And it was good to see that she was doing well, but…
00:56:31.920 --> 00:56:37.230 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: She has a pretty aggressive cancer, and she's still undergoing chemotherapy after 2 years.
00:56:37.580 --> 00:56:40.589 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So, who knows what the future may hold for her.
00:56:42.700 --> 00:56:46.130 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So… It was a very interesting…
00:56:46.310 --> 00:56:50.419 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: experience being in Beijing after 15 years.
00:56:50.960 --> 00:56:54.550 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: It was interesting to see the contrast, the difference.
00:56:54.730 --> 00:57:12.170 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: to be more like a local riding the Beijing subway, which I really liked. What's really nice, if you ever go to Beijing, the subway, all the stops are both in English and Chinese, the subway announcements are in English and Chinese. Very easy for an American to get around on the subway system in Beijing.
00:57:13.370 --> 00:57:16.979 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And it's huge. They've got so many lines now, it's amazing.
00:57:17.520 --> 00:57:23.239 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And yeah… You know, traveling…
00:57:23.670 --> 00:57:33.630 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: to other countries, traveling to other places, and really getting to meet people, and talk to people, and see what's going on. You really learn to appreciate how
00:57:35.070 --> 00:57:38.650 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Even though there are differences, we're all the same underneath.
00:57:40.100 --> 00:57:44.239 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And even though we may have different things we believe in, and
00:57:44.360 --> 00:57:47.849 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Different customs, and… and a different…
00:57:48.060 --> 00:57:50.450 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Culture that we grew up in.
00:57:51.200 --> 00:57:55.520 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: But deep down inside, In our very heart of hearts.
00:57:55.810 --> 00:57:58.710 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We're all the same. We're all the same.
00:57:59.570 --> 00:58:03.030 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Most people Just want to have a good life.
00:58:03.560 --> 00:58:12.110 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Just want to know that they're always going to have food on the table, a roof over their head, you know, some clothing to wear.
00:58:14.320 --> 00:58:16.840 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That when we can get past the struggle.
00:58:17.410 --> 00:58:21.619 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: That then we look for something deeper, something more meaningful.
00:58:23.520 --> 00:58:28.249 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And so that's why… you know, I look to…
00:58:29.820 --> 00:58:37.150 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: share this flowering of consciousness with the world. That's why I'm the conscious consultant. That's why I do this show.
00:58:38.170 --> 00:58:45.630 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And I hope I can… Just reach more people's lives and… and touch your life.
00:58:46.880 --> 00:58:53.109 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: So that's my show. I hope you enjoyed my reflections and my musings over Beijing and my trip.
00:58:54.750 --> 00:59:10.099 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: We'll have a guest back next week. Again, if you did miss any part of today's show, you can always catch the replay on talkradio.nyc and on all your favorite podcasting platforms, Apple, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Amazon.
00:59:10.530 --> 00:59:14.419 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And please don't keep us a secret, share us with your friends and family.
00:59:14.560 --> 00:59:26.659 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Don't forget, later today, we have a whole block of shows coming up tonight, 5 p.m. Eastern, Frank About Health, 6pm, Serving Up Success with a Splash, 7pm, our newest show, Making Seamless Sales.
00:59:27.240 --> 00:59:38.669 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And our newest show, I hope you caught it yesterday, I was interviewing Jacinta Yang for her show, Beneath the Calm, her premiere episode. She's gonna be doing her show every Wednesday at 1pm Eastern.
00:59:38.980 --> 00:59:45.020 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: Thank you all for tuning in, I hope you got something from this, rambling.
00:59:45.360 --> 00:59:48.739 Sam Liebowitz | The Conscious Consultant: And we will talk to you all next week.
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