Ep. 201 – Ram Dass Fellowship: What’s Love Got to Do With It? with David Nichtern & Jackie Dobrinska

Talking about everything, everybody, nothing and nobody, David shares stories about Trungpa Rinpoche and Ram Dass from the 1970s to now.

This conversation was recorded as part of the Ram Dass Fellowship’s regular online gatherings. To learn more about the Ram Dass Fellowship and sign up to join a fellowship gathering near you, visit RamDass.org/Fellowship.

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In this episode of the BHNN Guest Podcast, David and Jackie discuss:

• The first meeting of Ram Dass and Trungpa Rinpoche
• Seeing the ordinary magic of this reality 
• David’s work with Krishna Das and receiving dream-messages
• Conjoining love and bliss with emptiness
• Ram Dass’ concept of ‘becoming nobody’
• Nihilism and negativity versus an empty openness 
• David’s work with the Ram Dass Legacy treats in Maui
• Two different types of meditation (focus and discovery)
• Showing up for practice rather than doing it perfectly 
• Love and surrender within the guru tradition and other forms of love
• How to respond to hate with love in these trying times 
• Transforming anger and working with our emotions in a more productive way 

Check out David Nichtern’s Meditation Teacher Training Course - registration extended to Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025: Learn More

About David Nichtern:

David Nichtern, founder of Dharma Moon, is a senior Buddhist teacher who has been practicing and teaching meditation for over 40 years. He was one of the initial American students of renowned meditation master Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and studied closely with him soon after his arrival in the United States in 1970. He is also a business consultant with companies creating a variety of offerings integrating meditation in a larger health and well-being context. David is also a multiple Grammy-nominated and Emmy award-winning musician. David’s journey has crisscrossed with the Maharaji/Ram Dass sangha for decades. He has produced multiple Krishna Das albums and frequently joins the Bhaktettes live on guitar. He considers himself to be a first cousin and honorary member of the Bhakti community. 

About The Host, Jackie Dobrinska:

Jackie Dobrinska is the Director of Education, Community & Inclusion for Ram Dass’ Love, Serve, Remember Foundation and the current host of Ram Dass’ Here & Now podcast. She is also a teacher, coach, and spiritual director with the privilege of marrying two decades of mystical studies with 15 years of expertise in holistic wellness. As an inter-spiritual minister, Jackie was ordained in Creation Spirituality in 2016 and has also studied extensively in several other lineages – the plant-medicine-based Pachakuti Mesa Tradition, Sri Vidya Tantra, Western European Shamanism, Christian Mysticism, the Wise Woman Tradition, and others. Today, in addition to building courses and community for LSRF, she leads workshops and coaches individuals to discover, nourish and live from their most authentic selves. 

Photo via PerfectLazybones

“There’s passionate love, deep love of a friendship, playful love, love for everything. In our culture love has gotten confusing, especially in romantic comedies. But, I think love doesn’t bend. It’s this deep, steadfast, force like gravity. That unconditional love that isn’t moved around by the wind.” – Jackie Dobrinska

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