Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

Dr. Melinda Edwards sits down with Raghu for a journey through psyche and spirit, revealing the doorways that led her out of trauma, into healing, and ultimately home to her heart. This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Dr. Melinda Edwards discuss:How Dr. Melinda Edwards grew up as a child of medical missionaries in Guatemala The build-up of trauma in Dr. Edwards’ life and how it manifested as an eating disorderHow meeting Ram Dass transformed Melinda’s life and guided her to Neem Karoli BabaRam Dass’ example of holding unconditional love and compassionate presence for othersUsing our issues and contractions as an individualized path forward for spiritual growth Considering the value of psychedelics for accelerating a spiritual journey The powerful impact of full commitment and surrender during meditation retreatsAddressing common misconceptions about autism and how autistic individuals process emotionsDr. Melinda’s experience teaching her daughter “how to be human” and to navigate this chaotic worldLiving Darshan, Dr. Edwards’ non-profit, aimed at increasing the understanding of neurodiversity The challenge and importance of keeping our hearts open, even in moments of resistanceFinding shared humanity in the people and traits we fear, reject, or dislike in othersFacing our inner rage, grief, and pain in response to the global political and emotional climateThis episode is sponsored by Reunion & Dharma Seed:Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion. Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.orgJoin Krishna Das, the most well-known voice of Bhakti chanting (Kirtan) in the West, and David Nichtern - a senior Buddhist teacher, founder of Dharma Moon, guitarist in Krishna Das’ band, and producer of several of his albums - for a warm and engaging conversation about these two paths, their shared roots, and how they intersect in contemporary spiritual practice. Learn more about this FREE online gathering - THE HEART & MIND OF PRACTICE: BUDDHISM & BHAKTIAbout Dr. Melinda Edwards:Melinda Edwards, MD is a mother, writer and physician in Charleston, SC. Her medical training and her life’s journey home to her own heart inform her work as a psychiatrist. Supporting others in their discovery of the love that we all are is one of her greatest joys. She is the founder of the 501c3 nonprofit organization Living Darshan and is the author of Psyche & Spirit: How a Psychiatrist Found Divinity Through Her Lifelong Quest for Truth and Her Daughter’s Autism. Keep up with Dr. Edwards on her website or on her Instagram."Our psychology, our contractions, our issues, whatever comes up is itself the doorway back home to our hearts. Isn't that a miracle? Each of us has a perfectly individualized path laid out right in front of our noses each moment." – Melinda Edwards, MDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

International bestselling author and Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim joins Raghu Markus to explore awakening, emotional healing, and returning to joy in a unified reality.In this episode, Raghu and Haemin explore:Haemin’s early spiritual influences, including his fascination with J. KrishnamurtiUnderstanding genuine freedom as freedom from the knownOneness and the truth of a unified, non-dual reality beyond inner and outer divisionsThe formless nature of awareness and unconditional loveAwareness as an independent presence, not something we ownBefriending emotions and seeing the roots of stress and traumaFacing our shadow and recognizing where resistance lives in usTurning inward to examine personal triggers rather than blaming othersQuestioning limiting beliefs and inherited thoughts from childhoodWelcoming difficult emotions with compassion, as Ram Dass once taughtThe deep longing to return home to our true, unified selfExperiencing the natural joy of being versus the tension of needing to be rightSeeing our shared humanity—even in those we consider enemiesCultivating compassion and answering the call to serve othersThis episode is sponsored by Reunion & Dharma Seed:Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion. Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.orgJoin Buddhist Teacher David Nichtern and Duncan Trussell for a conversation about finding our own voice, our own expression, and our own way of connecting with people. Learn more about this FREE online gathering - AUTHENTIC PRESENCE: FINDING YOUR OWN VOICEAbout Haemin Sunim:Born in South Korea and educated at Berkeley, Harvard, and Princeton, Haemin Sunim received formal monastic training from Haein monastery in South Korea. He taught Asian religions at Hampshire College in Massachusetts for seven years. He is one of the most influential Zen monks in the world. His first book, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, has been translated into more than 35 languages and sold over four million copies. His second book, Love for Imperfect Things, was the number one bestseller of 2016 in South Korea and became available in multiple languages in 2019. Haemin resides in Seoul when not traveling to share his teachings. Check out his website to learn more and grab yourself a copy of his most recent book, When Things Don’t Go Your Way. “Though there is an objective world out there, it is not ‘out there’. It is how the mind creates this world seemingly outside of us. In fact, it’s not outside of us. There is no inner and outer division—it’s just our conceptual distinction. In reality, there is one, undivided reality.”- Haemin SunimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discussing his new book, The Intimate Way of Zen, Nondual spiritualist James Ishmael Ford joins Raghu for an exploration of our relationship to all things. This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and James explore:James’ upbringing and how his maternal grandmother was the spiritual orientation for his familyHaving an intimate relationship with all thingsThe goal of discovering what this life truly is Spiritual friendship which is deep, profound, and life-changing Unconditional love and considering our judgment of others Trying to see others as trees, as Ram Dass taught Combining Bhakti Yoga with the wisdom of Buddhism Flirting with nihilism, cynicism, and new-ageism  Exploring the work of Carl Jung and James HillmanThe resurgence of psychedelics in today’s culture The many paths and doorways into enlightenment Check out the books referenced in this episode: Zen at the End of Religion, If You're Lucky Your Heart Will Break, and of course, The Intimate Way of Zen. About James Ishmael Ford, Zen Buddhist Priest & Ordained Minister:James has walked the​ spiritual path for more than fifty years. He's danced with Sufis, studied with Christian mystics, lived in Buddhist monasteries, and eventually was ordained a Zen priest. Later, he was also ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister. James' path has taken him to a life "between" several traditions, bringing him into a nondual spirituality. Trying to unpack what that actually means in his life, and with a tip of the hat to Erasmus, James claims a physiology of faith; a Buddhist brain, a Christian heart, and a rationalist stomach. You can learn more about James on his website and keep up with his most recent project, the Unanswered Question Newsletter, HERE.“For me, the goal is to find 'what is'. I originally framed it as 'Is there a God?’ I realized I had the question wrong, and at some point it was 'what is God?'. Today, I would say, 'what is this?'” – James Ishmael FordThis episode is sponsored by Reunion & Dharma Seed: Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion. Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.orgJoin Buddhist Teacher David Nichtern and Duncan Trussell for a conversation about finding our own voice, our own expression, and our own way of connecting with people. Learn more about this FREE online gathering - AUTHENTIC PRESENCE: FINDING YOUR OWN VOICESee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Exploring psychedelics as sacramental medicine, Mindrolling comrades David Silver and Raghu Markus discuss William Richards' book, Sacred Knowledge.Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion. Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.orgThis week on Mindrolling, Raghu and David ponder through:The relationship between psychedelics and religious experiences The tale of Ram Dass, Neem Karoli Baba, and LSDResponsible use of psychedelics for reliability and potency David’s experience with peyote shamans in South DakotaFinding out the ground of our own beings Viewing everything as God and everything as equally remarkable How spiritual awakenings are often initially nurtured through a psychedelic substance Considering set, setting, and our intentions before ingesting any entheogenComplete unity as Raghu’s first memory of a psychedelic experienceCheck out the book referenced throughout this episode: Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences About David Silver:David Silver is the former co-host of the Mindrolling podcast. He is a filmmaker and director, most recently coming out with Brilliant Disguise. Brilliant Disguise tells the unique story of a group of inspired Western spiritual seekers from the 60s, who in meeting the great American teacher, Ram Dass, followed him to India to meet his Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, familiarly known as Maharaj-ji. Two days before he left his body, Maharaj-ji instructed K.C. Tewari to take care of the Westerners, which he did resolutely until the day he died in 1997. Silver’s #1 charting MGM/UA/Warners film, “The Compleat Beatles” is the critically acclaimed biopic movie about history’s most famous band. The term ‘rockumentary’ was first applied to this two-hour movie. Rolling Stone recently described the film as a “masterwork.” Silver’s Warner Brothers’ feature film, “No Nukes” also started the whole trend of music/activism feature documentaries.“When you take these substances, you must have the right atmosphere, the right people with you, the right reason for doing it. These things have to be thought very carefully about.” – David SilverSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Author and meditation teacher Kimberly Brown explains how we can transform our relationships through Buddhist practices and principles. Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion. Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.orgThis time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Kimberly discuss:How Kimberly was led to the dharma after experiencing panic attacksKimberly’s journey leaving therapy practice and delving deeper into mindfulnessHow relationships can become stale and predictable when we solidify our partnerOpening up to who our partner is in the moment rather than our idea of themThe difference between love and a yearning to possess or clingLove as a deep intimacy with all things Accepting rupture and miscommunication as a normal part of relationships Being able to repair after a conflict arises within a relationship Approaching all things with grace and openness Loving-kindness and looking at the intention behind all of our actionsNot skipping over the relational to get to the ultimate Grab your copy of Kimberly’s book, Happy Relationships, to learn more. "To solidify and harden another person and another person's reactions and voice, there's no more freshness and the relationship can get very stale and predictable. That's oftentimes when resentment comes up. Part of not knowing is being able to open to what's really there, who the person really is right in this moment." – Kimberly BrownAbout Kimberly Brown:Kimberly Brown is a popular Buddhist meditation teacher and Certified Mindfulness Instructor and since 2011 she has led thousands of classes, retreats, and workshops with individuals and groups merging self-compassion, emotional resilience, mindfulness, and Buddhism. As a leading voice in the contemporary meditation community, she teaches public classes regularly at the Rubin Museum, Mindful Astoria, Shantideva Meditation Center, and All Souls Church. She works in private practice both one-on-one and with companies and non-profit groups. She is a faculty member and Senior Instructor in The Interdependence Project’s esteemed Mindfulness Teacher Training program. She is an accredited teacher and member of the Mindful Directory and the International Mindfulness Teachers Association. She balances her two decades of traditional Buddhist training and study with Western therapeutic modalities. Her background includes psychoanalytic training at Washington Square Institute, a master’s degree from City College of New York, and undergraduate study at Hunter College. She has extensive formal meditation retreat experience at Insight Meditation Society, Palypung Thubten Choling, and the Garrison Institute, and has received in-depth teachings from meditation masters Ponlop Rinpoche, Lama Norlha Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Sharon Salzberg, and Venerable Pannavati. Keep up with Kimberly on her website.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Zach Leary, speaker and psychedelic advocate, discusses his upcoming book on the psychedelic explosion of the 21st century. He shares personal insights shaped by his upbringing as Timothy Leary's son and his connections with spiritual leaders like Ram Dass. The conversation explores the duality of psychedelics, their historical impact, and the importance of integration after experiences. Leary highlights psychedelic research into neuroplasticity and the potential for trauma transformation, advocating for a balanced approach that merges spiritual and scientific perspectives.

Visionary artist Amanda Sage joins the conversation, discussing her journey through psychedelic art and how it intertwines with spirituality. She highlights art's role in personal and collective transformation, emphasizing its power beyond mere commercial value. The discussion touches on her experiences with LSD, the flow state of creation, and the telepathy explored in her documentary podcast. Amanda illustrates how creative communities foster connections and inspire deeper understanding, showcasing art as a crucial tool for awakening and regeneration.

Recognizing the beauty in being human, Raghu and John Tarrant discuss incorporating the qualities of both soul and spirit into our lives.Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion.  Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.orgThis week on Mindrolling, Raghu and John discuss:John’s work with protecting Aboriginal land rights How taking a Tibetan retreat changed the course of John’s life and directed him to Zen Emptiness and love as the same principle How each piece of the universe contains the entire thing Reaching a crystalline view of reality through Buddhist practice The importance of spiritual clarity and the mistake of rejecting our inner life Qualities of soul/spirit and the beauty of being human The parts of life we may miss with an over-focus on spiritualityNot disapproving of what our hearts bring up in meditation Jungian psychology, shadow work, and dream work Stories that go into the psyche in a non-rational wayBringing the imagination into Buddhism The peace of the Buddha found inside our daily livesThe necessity of working with the inner lifeA short, guided practice from JohnAbout John Tarrant:John Tarrant is a Western Zen teacher and director of the Pacific Zen Institute, which has centers in California, Arizona, and Canada. He teaches and writes about the transformation of consciousness through the use of the Zen koan and trains koan meditation teachers. Tarrant is from Australia, he came from an old Tasmanian family and grew up in the City of Launceston on Bass Strait. His early influences included English literature, especially poetry, the Latin Mass, the Tasmanian bush, and Australian Aboriginal culture. Tarrant worked at many jobs, ranging from working as a laborer in an open-pit mine, to commercial fishing the Great Barrier Reef. Eventually, he also worked as a lobbyist for the Aboriginal land rights movement. Check out Tarrant’s book, The Story of the Buddha, or learn more about his work and events on his website. “Being at peace is to be at peace with the whole of you, with your soul, your frustration, your anger. They can appear, but you’re not fighting with it. In some way they fertilize your practice like rain on the earth.” – John TarrantSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Getting down to earth and into the heart, Rebecca Bradshaw joins Raghu to discuss balancing masculine and feminine energy in the dharma.Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion.  Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.orgThis time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Rebecca chat about:Rebecca’s journey of waking up and finding her pathEarth-based religions and getting down to earthRebecca’s 5-month stint in silent meditationApproaching practice from the heart rather than the mindDiscovering the feminine archetype within the dharmaThe masculine energy often found within Buddhist communities and early scripturesGoing deep down within the receptive heart spaceCultivating intimacy with all things and focusing on relationshipDissolving the three roots of suffering (greed hatred and delusion)The practice of useless gazing and surrendering to the moment without an agendaAcclimating to the truth of impermanence and letting go of the need to controlThe acquired taste of being open and working at it over timeSnag a copy of Rebecca’s book, Down to Earth Dharma: Insight Meditation to Awaken the Hear, HEREAbout Rebecca Bradshaw:Rebecca is Guiding Teacher Emeritus of the Insight Meditation Society and the Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley in Easthampton, Massachusetts. She has been practicing Buddhist Vipassana meditation since 1983 in the United States and Myanmar (Burma) and teaching since 1993. She completed her dharma teacher training at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, where she is part of the three-month retreat teacher team and leads retreats for young adults. Rebecca has a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and has worked as a bi-lingual (Spanish/English) psychotherapist. Her upcoming book, Down to Earth Dharma, was published by Shambhala Publications in November 2024. Check out Rebecca’s website, HERE.“There’s this emphasis on transcendence, energetic striving, independence, and all these things that are in the masculine archetype. They felt like some balance was missing, that’s how it felt to me, and that a lot of it had to do with dropping into the heart, dropping into the body, feeling.” – Rebecca BradshawSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Raghu Markus and Norman Ohler explore the history of drugs in the Third Reich and how this ultimately lead to the psychedelic age in America.Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion.  Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.orgIn this riveting and historical episode, Raghu and Norman talk about:Norman’s research into the history of psychedelics in Germany‘Truth drugs’ and using psychedelics for interrogation tacticsAlbert Hoffman, a Swiss chemist known for his work with LSDAmerica’s early interest in psychedelics for military useMK-Ultra, mind control, and how the CIA took over the quest for truth drugs.Norman Ohler’s meeting with Leonard Pickard, a major player in the LSD undergroundHow the CIA saw psychedelics as a potential weapon to manipulate peopleTruth that can be discovered on psychedelic journeysHow psychedelics can help heal relationships with ourselves and othersGet a copy of Norman’s 2024 book, Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic AgeAbout Norman Ohler:Norman Ohler is a German journalist and New York Times bestselling author, novelist and screenwriter, best known for his book Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany, which has been published in over 30 languages. Most recently, Norman furthered his research into drug use in the Third Reich and it’s connection to the CIA and the age of psychedelics in the United States. This produced his 2024 book, Tripped.Learn more about Tripped and Norman’s other works on his website, HERE. “Basically what happened in the US was a continuation of the unethical human experiments that the Nazi’s did, obviously not in a concentration camp, but at American universities, at American and Canadian clinics.” – Norman OhlerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.