Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

“American Veda” author Philip Goldberg traces how Eastern philosophy and practice developed in the U.S., making it clear that yoga, meditation and kirtan didn’t just spring up here out of nowhere. We learn about the progression from people like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Swami Vivekananda, George Harrison and Ram Dass. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche said, “The quality of a really good teacher is “rascalness." Why do we need the outright unpredictable sometimes in order to progress spiritually? This week our Mindrollers delve into true intuitive wisdom, cults, humor as teaching, and the connection between art and consciousness. Catch their drift and open your mind or maybe lose it... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Raghu and David welcome Ram Dass and his co-author Rameshwar Das, who just finished their new book, Polishing the Mirror. Ram Dass talks about the moment that his life changed when he met his Guru and how that “moment” became viral with so many people. Also revealing discussion around honesty and being at the edge of awakening with dying people. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Mindrollers traverse from the implant of knowledge via a teacher (or not) through to the real meaning of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” as explained to David by Roger Waters himself. Also ruminations about “rascal” teachers, the true nature of surrender, the dark presence of fear in our lives, and love as a disease. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David and Raghu investigate the unusual "Shambala Sun" cover story by Norman Fischer. Our Mindrollers present their own version of how to deal with life - stop blaming people, the world is upside down -turn it over, everything is the path including your step-mother, overcome self-interest as in Dave’s fixation with a certain European sport and confusion is the Buddha - not to be confused by our guys’ continuing lifetime journey to awareness. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mickey Lemle’s documentary “Fierce Grace” passionately covers Ram Dass’s life post-stroke and also gives us a  transcendent look at aging when life suddenly involves intense hardship.  We talk with Mickey about this and also his seminal film "Compassion in Exile: The Life of The 14th Dalai Lama"...tons of great anecdotes... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mirabai Bush, who co-founded The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, has worked with everyone from Google to troubled youth to the army, teaching the practice of mindfulness. If anyone needs more mindfulness, it’s the two Mindrollers, whose aspirations far over-reach their achievements... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharon Salzberg joins Mindrolling on location on Maui and shares her incredible clarity and huge heart. She lends a hand to our intrepid Mindrollers on how to navigate the vicissitudes of our complex lives thru awareness, compassion and meditation. As she says, "May the Minds Roll."  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Raghu and David sit with Krishna Das, who the New York times has called the Chant Master of American Yoga. They discuss chanting as a practice and people taking on "uncooked Gurus".  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Activism without anger, resistance without rancor: it's hard to reach detachment when the political world is making you crazy.  What to do? Vajravarahi is a spiritual energy deity perceived to transmute the Five Negative Afflictions which represent five obstructions that obscure the true nature of life.  These Five Afflictions are greed, hatred, delusion, jealousy and pride. Like all fearsome figures in Tantric Buddhism, she is protective & simply wrathful for beneficial reasons.  She fits the bill for helping change the negative emotions that prevent us from balancing ourselves or society.   Original Text by: Tristan Rigby - Rishigallery.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.