Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

Focusing on curiosity, patience, and self-compassion, Cortland Dahl joins Raghu to go over his new book, A Meditator's Guide to Buddhism.This week, Cortland and Raghu discuss: The mystical practice of making aspirationsTuning into ourselves and trusting ourselvesLearning through our relationshipsRecognizing that the next Buddha is the sanghaNurturing sparks of inspiration through practiceHow meeting teachers helps us realize our own inner depthWhy curiosity can move us along the spiritual pathPatience, creating space, and being vs. doingSelf-compassion in a world of chaos and uncertaintyDiscomfort as a zone of growthExpanding our motivations for doing our practiceSeeing the awakened nature in everyone and everythingPick up a copy of A Meditator's Guide to Buddhism HEREAbout Cortland Dahl:Cortland Dahl is a Buddhist scholar and translator, author, meditation teacher, and a collaborator on various scientific studies. After receiving a Master’s Degree in Buddhist Studies, he lived for eight years in India and Nepal, where he spent long periods in solitary retreat in the Himalayan foothills and taught courses on Buddhism, meditation, and Tibetan language at Kathmandu University’s Center for Buddhist Studies and at the Tergar Institute, which he co-founded in 2007. He went on to study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was mentored by the renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson and received a Ph.D. in Mind, Brain, and Contemplative Science, the first ever degree of its kind awarded by the university. Cortland's current work focuses on studying the psychological and neural mechanisms of different families of meditation practice. He is also the creator of the Healthy Minds program, a well-being training program that integrates insights from scientific research with a comprehensive path of contemplative training. Keep up with Cortland HERE or check out his books HERE.“We have no clue of this depth and richness that is inside of us. How we stumble through life completely oblivious to these amazing qualities of mind and somehow we just haven’t learned to see it. Then, you meet a teacher and it gets cracked open a little bit and you start getting a glimpse just by being in their orbit.” – Cortland Dahl See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week's Mindrolling is a collection of some of the best moments from Raghu’s interviews with mindfulness and metta experts Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg.In this special episode:Clip 1 (Ep. 65): Raghu and Joseph explore the foundations of mindfulness, the influence of habits, and how everything hinges on the tip of motivation. Clip 2 (Ep. 44): Raghu and Sharon discuss metta practice and practical ways to connect with others through loving-kindness. Clip 3 (Ep. 224): Raghu and Joseph delve into the realities of mindfulness and how the craving for becoming can hijack our meditation practice. Clip 4 (Ep. 225): Raghu and Sharon touch on the Eightfold Path, the balance of equanimity and effort, and the universal truth of starting over. Clip 5 (Ep. 457): Joseph leads a meditation on awareness, beautifully punctuated with a haiku poem.“And we can suffuse the whole field of mindfulness with the feeling of loving-kindness. Friendliness towards our own experience and well-wishing for all others. May all beings be at peace.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Silver and Raghu sit down for a conversation about maintaining equanimity in the face of multiple humanitarian and ecological crises around the world.Join comedian Duncan Trussell and Buddhist teacher David Nichtern on September 3rd for a free online talk: Imposter Syndrom & Teaching MeditationThis week, David and Raghu discuss: The divided state of our countryDealing with negative emotions like depression and lonelinessAdjusting our internal behavior in order to help others and ourselvesLooking to spiritual practitioners for answers and guidanceThe current political landscape of our worldThe necessity of having both wisdom and compassionRemaining equanimous in the face of global crisesBeing aware of spiritual materialismWhy a sitting meditation practice is integral for self-understandingOvercoming the afflictions and distortions of the mindSending loving kindness to all corners of our heartsTransforming ourselves to make the world a better placeAbout 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.“We are overwhelmed in so many different ways. This, everybody, is the first thing to do. Many people will say ‘I find it difficult. My mind wanders. I can’t really meditate.’ It’s called practice. You start with 3 minutes, you go to 5, 10, 15, 20. You do it because this overwhelm is absolutely untenable for us without some practice.” – Raghu MarkusSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Using modern tools to support inner transformation, ServiceSpace founder Nipun Mehta offers innovative solutions for turning artificial intelligence into collective heart intelligence.Learn more about ServiceSpace’s unique model of organizing small acts of service at servicespace.org.In this episode, Nipun and Raghu chat about: Nipun’s upbringing and finding the infinity behind each momentLiving a life of serviceUsing artificial intelligence for inner transformation and the emergence of compassionFear of AI versus it’s potential positive usesCollective heart Intelligence versus today’s artificial intelligenceTaking care of others as others take care of youNipun and his wife’s pilgrimage through IndiaLooking at what we can do to offer kindness to the worldBeing sustainable through being relatedThe physical and emotional rewards of being generousShifting from transaction into relationshipAbout Nipun Mehta:Nipun Mehta is the founder of ServiceSpace (formerly CharityFocus), an incubator of projects that works at the intersection of volunteerism, technology, and the gift economy. What started as an experiment with four friends in Silicon Valley has now grown to a global ecosystem of over 400,000 members that has delivered millions of dollars in service for free. Mehta has received many awards, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service, the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and Wavy Gravy’s Humanitarian award. He serves on the advisory boards of the Seva Foundation, the Dalai Lama Foundation, and the Greater Good Science Center. Check out some of Nipun’s TedTalks HERE and HERE.“Can we bring in this vision, this intention, this possibility? Can our modern tools support our inner transformation, which then can out of a heart of service flow out into the world through a very different design pattern?” – Nipun MehtaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discussing her new book, Ordinary Mysticism, Mirabai Starr breaks free from religious institutions and shares heart-opening mystical wisdom.Mirabai’s upcoming book, Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground, will be released in September 2024. Preorder your copy HERE!This time on Mindrolling, Mirabai and Raghu converse about: How beginner’s mind and humility help us cope with the worldOur capacity to feel the pain of the world as our superpowerThe dark night of the soul and Saint John of the CrossMirabai’s loss of her daughter and the transformational power of sufferingThe broken, open heart and expanding our heart to contain grief and realityBeing with ‘what is’ – as an act of devotion and loveReligious ‘polyamory’ and intimate encounters with numerous spiritual traditionsMirabai’s baptism and dedication to peace in the Middle EastWhy mystical experiences do not need to happen in the container of religionAbout Mirabai Starr:Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author of creative non-fiction and contemporary translations of sacred literature. She taught Philosophy and World Religions at the University of New Mexico-Taos for 20 years and now teaches and speaks internationally on contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialogue. A certified bereavement counselor, Mirabai helps mourners harness the transformational power of loss. Check out her many books and learn more at MirabaiStarr.com.“Often, organized institutionalized religious spaces and belief systems (this is my belief) can be an obstacle, an impediment to an actual mystical experience, if by mystical experience we mean an experience of intimacy with the sacred as love.” – Mirabai StarrSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Author and artist Scott Snibbe visits Mindrolling to teach listeners how to train the mind for long-lasting happiness.Get your copy of Scott’s book, How to Train a Happy Mind: A Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment, HERE.This week on Mindrolling, Scott and Raghu discuss: How being in tune with reality leads to happinessScott’s childhood and sensing the feeling of infinitySelfishness/self-centeredness as an antagonist to joyHappiness through cherishing othersAnalytical meditation and filling your mindRemembering how precious every day isStabilizing the mind through meditation to be less reactiveConnecting with ourselves first thing in the morningHow cell phones externally define our world and lead to unhappinessLooking at who we are beneath our thoughts, feelings, and personalitySmall shifts in our daily lives such as smilingEmbodying human rights in our thoughts and behaviorAbout Scott Snibbe:Scott Snibbe is an interactive media artist, author, entrepreneur, and meditation instructor who hosts the Skeptic’s Path to Enlightenment meditation podcast. His first book, How to Train a Happy Mind, was released in 2024. Keep up with Scott on his website.“The Buddhist view on happiness is really the reality view on happiness. The better word might be satisfaction, contentment, or well-being. It is not the temporary things like having an ice-cream cone, or a nice walk, or someone kiss-you, which are all lovely. That’s a pleasure. It doesn’t last. Happiness really can be long-lasting.” – Scott SnibbeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jamie Kilstein returns to the Mindrolling Podcast!In this episode, Jamie speaks with Raghu about finding an appreciation for all faiths and shares how exploring different religions led him to Jesus.Jamie and Raghu talk about: Oppression within organized religionJamie’s experience with psychedelics and Ram DassZen as the atheism of religionMaharaj-ji and incorporating multiple religionsHow music connects us to religionBeing led to Jesus ChristThe importance of Sangha and connecting to the communitySeeing the beauty in all faiths rather than being restrictiveHow Jesus set us free for freedomRecommendation from this episode: Jazz Musician Bill EvansAbout Jamie Kilstein:Jamie Alexander Kilstein is an American writer, radio host, and stand-up comic. He hosts the podcast, Trauma Bonding, with his wife Alex. Keep up with Jamie on his Instagram or on his website.“I think you find the right spiritual group or people who can connect with you and can laugh so hard that you can feel God, people who can hold you accountable, that is really important with spirituality.” – Jamie KilsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Author and Medium Paul Selig shares transformational wisdom from divine messengers and chats with Raghu about what our world could be like.Paul’s third book in The Manifestation Trilogy, A World Made New, will be out in September 2024. Preorder HERE!This week on Mindrolling, Paul and Raghu converse about: Paul’s journey of becoming and the split between the perceived self and the real selfWorking with energy and understanding phenomenaDivine guides and how they present to PaulPaul’s connection to Ram Dass and his vision of the Ram Dass house in HawaiiMediumship and sensing Ram Dass and Maharaj-ji in the spirit realmIdentity and the structure of realityKnowing the divine self and aligning with it as a demonstration of our true natureChanneling messages from the divineAbout Paul Selig:Paul Selig is an author and medium who is considered to be one of the foremost spiritual channels working today. In his breakthrough works of channeled literature, Selig has recorded an extraordinary program for personal and planetary evolution as humankind awakens to its own divine nature. Paul offers channeled workshops internationally and serves on the faculty of The Omega Institute, The Kripalu Center and the Esalen Institute. Also a noted educator, he served on the faculty of NYU for over 25 years and directed the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Goddard College. He lives in Maui where he maintains a private practice as an intuitive and conducts frequent live-stream seminars. Check out Paul’s numerous books HERE and preorder your copy of the upcoming A World Made New, Paul’s third book in The Manifestation Trilogy.“Who you put in darkness calls you to that darkness. It’s all co-residence. So, if you can see the divine in someone or something you’re actually lifting it. They say what you bless blesses you in return.” – Paul SeligSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Writer and meditation teacher, Henry Shukman, joins Raghu to discuss his forthcoming book, Original Love, and how love is the true foundation of our life.In this episode of Mindrolling, Henry and Raghu journey through: Henry’s background, travels, and witnessing joy among those without materialistic richesRecognizing how we are a part of everything in the universeHow meditation helped Henry stop limping through lifeTranscendental meditation and being religious about our practiceAcknowledging our suppressed emotions and working through them with the help of therapyHenry’s time as a trombonist in London calypso bandsTaking on an altruistic perspective to improve your lifeHow meditation does so much more than mitigate stressThe early Buddhist view of mindfulnessInterrupting our constant mental commentary by focusing on bodily sensationsThe experiential reality of unity, emptiness, and boundlessnessBreaking open our hearts through any religion or experienceTapping into unconditional love for ourselves and othersAbout Henry Shukman:Henry Shukman is an English meditation teacher, Zen master, poet and author. Shukman teaches mindfulness and awakening practices. To learn more about his offerings, check out his website HERE. Shukman’s new book, Original Love, is coming out on July 9th and can be ordered HERE.Check out The Way app for guided meditations from Henry Shukman“Each of us is that very jewel that’s a boundless, loving oneness. We don’t need to be some sort of special person to find it.” – Henry ShukmanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Activist and mountaineer, Wasfia Nazreen, has an expansive talk with Raghu about her trek up the K2 peak and finding inner strength.This time on Mindrolling, Wasfia and Raghu explore: Connecting to Mother EarthHow abandonment taught Wasfia that education was her pathway to freedomHow moving to Georgia gave Wasfia a deep connection to the culture of the American SouthThe Tonglen meditation technique and taking away the pain of othersHow Wasfia was magnetized to Tibetan BuddhismWasfia’s journeys as a mountain climber and the healing power of climbingRevering mountains as the home of Gods and GoddessesDead Zones and trekking up dangerous summitsWasfia’s connection to the Dalai Lama and Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheAbout Wasfia Nazreen:Wasfia Nazreen is best known for being the only Bangladeshi and first Bengali in the world to climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountains of every continent. She is also the only woman to hold the simultaneous titles of National Geographic Explorer & Adventurer. An outspoken activist since her late teens, her passion has always been driven by causes close to her heart. A human-rights activist, an environmentalist, a writer, educator, pilot, and producer – Wasfia wears many hats, all of which are grounded in strong foundations of meditation and self-realization practices. Learn more about her and follow her many adventures on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter“Ultimately, we are our own teachers, we are our own gurus, and we’re all here on our own individual karmic path, and what are we doing with it?” – Wasfia NazreenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.