Mindrolling With Raghu Markus

Bringing together mindfulness and science, Anu Gupta offers transformative tools for dealing with hatred and prejudice.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 Anu explore:How Anu was brought up around meditation and yogaReceiving the gift of spiritualityAnu’s early connection to the Gayatri MantraThe distinction between caste and class in IndiaAdjusting to Western life and dealing with bias in the U.S.Researching the nature of hatred and prejudiceHolding our egos with loving awareness and compassionTransforming ourselves through practiceMaking our unconscious biases consciousCheck out Anu Gupta’s 2024 book, Breaking Bias, to learn more science-backed methods for u

Mindrolling alumnus David Silver re-joins Raghu to help us transform our relationship with thought and lead us to growth and inner peace.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 journey on Mindrolling, Raghu and David weave through:Opposing the idea of ‘I think, therefore I am’The disease of overthinking and why we thinkLetting thoughts come through and letting it goHow our relationship to thought is what makes us sufferFocused, creative, compassionate thinking as the center of our growthThe necessity of compassion for oneself along with mindfulnessComing back into mantra when our mind wandersPassing through thoughts that are negative rather than getting hookedRight thinking and right actionAbout David Silver:David

Cultivating both inner and outer harmony, the Be Here Now Network trifecta of Raghu, David, and Sharon offers lessons in metta and letting go.This episode was recorded live at the annual Ram Dass Legacy “Open Your Heart in Paradise” retreat in Maui. Learn more about these Maui retreats, our annual Mountain retreat in Boone, North Carolina, and our regular digital retreats at ramdass.org/event.This week on Mindrolling, Raghu, David, and Sharon discuss:Ram Dass’ teaching of loving awareness and being at home in the universePutting practice and compassionate mindfulness into our daily livesThe power and strength of loveA guided metta practice from SharonBoth inner and outer harmonizing and turning metta towards ourselvesThe Bodhisattva tradition and taking on the suffering of othersLoving motivation and using wise discernmentThe continual process of letting goForgiveness and not allowing pain to overtake our livesAbout David Nichtern:David Nichtern, founder of Dharma Moon, is a senior Buddhist teacher

Sharing spiritual mementos from his world travels, Dakota Wint sits with Raghu to explore finding God everywhere and at any time.This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Dakota converse about:Dakota’s travels throughout EthiopiaRastafarian tradition and its origin in EthiopiaReminiscing about their time shared in IndiaConfronting the weirdness of our collective stateFinding spirit in all cultures across the worldHow travel and curiosity have affected Dakota’s growthThe central Buddhist value of impermanenceTurning within and connecting to GodStories of the Aghori people in IndiaThe tribes of Papua New GuineaAbout Dakota Wint:Dakota Wint is a documentary filmmaker, vlogger, podcast host, and spiritual teacher from Detroit, Michigan. His films and podcasts revolve around current events, strange spirituality, and taboo traditions. You can subscribe to his podcast, A Place for Humans, HERE. Dakota grew to fame as an internet personality via his popular YouTube channel, Dakota of Earth. Dakota hosts retr

Redefining sainthood as a deep care for ourselves and others, Lama Rod Owens and Raghu discuss reclaiming our sacredness and our identity.Check out Lama Rod’s book, The New Saints, to learn more about becoming a spiritual warrior.Within this episode, Raghu and Lama Rod discuss:Healing through music and other mystical experiencesLama Rod Owens’ college experience and getting into activismRe-framing our relationship to religionThe freedom to be our most authentic selvesOwning our own identity and sacrednessCommunity and collective as the hero we all needThe apocalypse as an unveiling of the truthCreating a culture of care and prioritizing well-beingDisrupting habitual reactivity and transforming our responsivenessLoneliness on the spiritual pathAbout Lama Rod Owens:Lama Rod Owens is a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. An international influencer with a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on the intersection of social change, identity, and spiritual prac

Noah and Raghu Markus catch up with Joseph Goldstein to talk about poetry, imposter syndrome, trust, and more.Grab a copy of Joseph’s poems and reflections HEREIn this episode, Raghu, Joseph, and Noah connect through these topics:How Joseph revitalized his poetic spirit while traveling in SpainRevision as the most important process of writingStruggling with imposter syndromeHow poetry overlaps the meditative spaceSilence as an integral precursor to creativityThe beauty within very ordinary experiencesHow aversion traps us just as much as desireCompassion as the activity of emptinessLoneliness and the myth of intimacyBuilding trust and self-confidenceArtistic versus scientific ways of understandingAnger as a messenger and using wise discernmentBe sure to check out this talk on quantum mechanics, as suggested by Joseph in today’s episode.About Joseph Goldstein:Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight and loving-kindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Ins

Trauma-focused psychotherapist Ralph De La Rosa links with Raghu to explain how radical self-compassion can outshine our deepest wounds.Eager to learn more? Grab your own copy of Ralph’s new book, Outshining Trauma.In this episode, Raghu and Ralph have a conversation about:  Ralph’s casual brush with death and the divine play of the universeHealing our afflictions and uncovering our awakened stateHow we all tend to dissociate and distract ourselvesInspiration from Buddhism in Ralph’s own life and his therapy practiceBefriending all of the different parts of our psycheConnecting the heart of compassion to the difficulties we experienceUtilizing the tools of Internal Family SystemsWorking with the breath and other meditation techniquesGetting intimate with our afflictionsThe concept of taking refugeConsidering what a healthy love/relationship looks likeHow to respond to self-judgment and drop our armorAbout Ralph De La RosaRalph De La Rosa (he/they) is a teacher of human spirituality, an internat

Aboriginal scholar Tyson Yunkaporta joins Raghu to discuss our shared evolution of consciousness and navigating a post-truth world.This week on Mindrolling, Tyson and Raghu have a conversation about:  Living in a post-truth world where objective facts lose to emotional/personal appealHow coronavirus nudged us closer to fascismCultural feedback routes and how America affects AustraliaWorking with Indigenous medicine to connect to the spiritNavigating the grieving processRevolutions of consciousness through the erasOur universal connection and sharing of space with each otherDisinformation and the build-up to our recent electionRight story versus wrong story and how the truth gets blurredAll of our relations, human and non-humanAbout Tyson Yunkaporta:Tyson Yunkaporta is an Aboriginal scholar, founder of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab at Deakin University in Melbourne, and author of Sand Talk and Right Story, Wrong Story: Adventures in Indigenous Thinking. His work focuse

Sharing stories from her world travels, yoga teacher Susan Maruffo explores healing and self-discovery through yoga, Tantra, and meditation.This time on Mindrolling, Susan and Raghu journey through:  Unhappiness within Western cultural conditioningHow getting out of the United States transformed Susan’s lifeBeing alone while doing yoga versus in a group settingHow suffocating our ‘roles’ in life can beRecognizing our universal connection via a trip to IndiaComing back into the body through yoga practiceSusan’s experience at a Tantric school in ThailandNeo-Tantra versus classical TantraHealing through yoga and sexual explorationDying to the old versions of ourselvesHow the heart reveals itself during meditationThe ways we run away from intimacyAbout Susan Marrufo:Susan left the United States and a job in advertising in 2008 to travel internationally and experience life beyond the confines of her cultural conditioning. She received her first 500-hr yoga certification in Thailand in 2009, where she beg

Justin Boreta, the first musician to collaborate with Ram Dass, talks with Raghu about Ram Dass’ legacy and the power of music.Check out the track Awareness, an ambient track by Justin mixed with a guided meditation from Ram Dass.This week on Mindrolling, Justin and Raghu chat about:  Ram Dass’ legacy transported through musicThe chants that Ram Dass brought home from IndiaKali Yuga, the age of destructionChants for Ganesh and music as the delivery method for mantraRam Dass’ humor and charmHow music is a tool for being in the present momentUsing the breath to enter into a space of loving-kindnessThe intersection of community, teachings, and musicTrusting the music and letting goRaghu suggests checking out the poetry of Kabir brought to life through music. About Justin Boreta:Justin Boreta is a member of The Glitch Mob, a beat-driven electronic group that has been touring for more than a decade performing around the world at festivals including: Coachella, Burning Man, Lollapolooza, Re

Surfing dimensions of consciousness, dream yoga expert Andrew Holecek joins Raghu to discuss the benefits of lucidity in liminal spaces.This time on Mindrolling, Andrew and Raghu discuss: Andrew’s early interest in the occult and the role of psychedelicsLucid dreaming and having insight before understandingTibetan Buddhism and dream yogaAndrew’s experience with mantra and transcendental meditationLiminal dreaming and working with the space between sleep and wakingFlexibility and surfing dimensions of consciousnessWitnessing our mind transition from wakefulness to sleepSeeing how thoughts create realityHow dream yoga transcends lucid dreamingWorking with the tectonic states of our beingGrab a copy of Andrew’s recently released book, I’m Mindful, Now What?About Andrew Holecek:Andrew Holecek is an author and spiritual teacher who offers talks, online courses, and workshops in the United States and abroad. As a long-time student of Buddhism, he frequently presents this tradition from a contemporary pers

Raghu interviews Leonard Pickard about his early involvement in psychedelics, zen practice, his 20-year incarceration, and building resilience via mindfulness.Leonard will be joining Raghu, Zach Leary, Trevor Hall and others at a Ram Dass Legacy Event in Denver on December 12th, 2024. For more info, click HERE.This week on Mindrolling, Leonard and Raghu chat about: Transformative experiences as not dependent on substancesDelving into the great leaders of the sixties and honoring Ram DassThe psychedelic revolution that is currently taking placeOur total dependence on one anotherThe way that music transformed throughout the 1960’sLeonard’s time at the San Francisco Zen Center studying Buddhism, meditation, and yogaCarrying our practice out into the worldHow Buddhism prepared Leonard for years of incarcerationThe beauty of spiritual practice and growing ones heartCheck out Leonard’s book, The Rose of Paracelsus, which he wrote while incarcerated, to explore more about psychedelics, spiri

Amidst election results, environmental crises and more, Raghu and James Baraz consider how to awaken joy in times of disillusion.To learn more about James’ work with the environment and to see how you can help, check out One EarthThis time on Mindrolling, James and Raghu have a talk on: Vulnerability and unconditional loveAwakening Joy in times of disillusionJames’ definition of Joy as the sense of well-beingMaking space for all the feelings we feelTraining ourselves to look for the goodHow we have lost our connection to the landBeing courageous and coming from loveIndigenous and Buddhist teachings that point us to our place in the worldUnderstanding the consequences of our actionsSila and acting with integrity as a path to inner peaceWhy meditation is so essentialThe joy of connection and a closing gratitude practice About James BarazJames Baraz has taught mindfulness meditation since 1978 and is co-founder of the world-renowned Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. He is

Dr. Dan Engle joins Raghu to discuss how to integrate the ineffable into our daily lives after profound psychedelic experiences.In this episode, Dr. Engle and Raghu have a conversation about: How Dr. Dan’s life was profoundly changed after a serious accidentIntegrating psychiatry and neurology togetherDr. Dan’s introduction to psychedelics in the jungleHow the psychedelic experience opens us up but can’t be sustainedIntegration of the ineffable into our daily livesLooking at science and spirituality in a productive wayThe fundamental questions that arise out of the psychedelic experiencePsychedelics as a catalyst for personal change and authentic self-discoveryThe soul as a drop in the ocean of spiritRegressive hypnotherapy and unwinding past life eventsContinuing to evolve toward greater understandingPsychiatry’s place in spiritual endeavorsLiving into the movie of we and building upon pillars of wisdomAbout Dr. Dan Engle:Dan Engle, MD, is a psychiatrist with a clinical practice that combines aspects of

Offering a beautiful ode to India, Raghu and Andrew Harvey discuss divine truths and the oxymoron of beauty and pain.This time on Mindrolling, Andrew and Raghu go over: Andrew’s experience being born and growing up in IndiaIndia as a sacred world filled with divine beauty and painThe divine feminine and masculineRaghu’s experience bringing his father to IndiaThe gift of Ram Dass and tying Hinduism to modern lifeRevelations of incarnationAndrew Harvey’s return to India and encountering great beingsBeing mindful of our anger and transforming our emotionsAbout Andrew Harvey:Andrew Harvey is a British author, religious scholar and teacher of mystic traditions, known primarily for his popular nonfiction books on spiritual or mystical themes. Andrew Harvey is also the founder and director of The Institute for Sacred Activism, an international organization focused on inviting concerned people to take up the challenge of our contemporary global crises by becoming inspired, effective, and practical

Influencer and cosmetic artist Chrisspy shares how Ram Dass inspired her to change her life after a traumatic accident.In this episode of Mindrolling, Chrisspy and Raghu discuss: - Chrisspy’s near-death experience and how it transformed her life- Discovering Ram Dass, Eastern Philosophy, and connecting to spirituality- Elements of influencer culture that are toxic- Chrisspy’s decision to delete social media for a year and go on a spiritual journey- Not taking ourselves so seriously or castigating ourselves- The pressure to share every part of ourselves online- Connecting through storytelling- Gratitude practice and paying attention to what we take for granted- Making a positive impact by showing up for others- The ways that we view love versus real loveAbout Chrisspy:Christina, aka Chrisspy, is the second-youngest of four children, raised on non-sugar cereals and 2% milk, in a home chock full of bluster and strong opinion. Displaying a penchant for the artistic from an early age, in order to make her voice h

Anita Sanchez and Raghu Markus confront the impacts of global warming, celebrate indigenous traditions, and explore the deep connection of nature and humanity.This week, Raghu and Anita Sanchez have a compelling conversation on:Anita's recent journey into the Amazon RainforestThe intense impact of global warming on Amazonian landscapesThe strength and leadership of indigenous amazonian womenClimate change as the biggest threat to national securityViewing plants and nature as our relativesAsking our ancestors for answers in our dreamsThe way that mother earth cares for usGetting rid of the illusion of separatenessAnita's epiphany at a Sundance ceremonyGetting involved with protecting our planetReconnecting to sacred, ritualistic ways of beingIndigenous plant medicine and the potency of AyahuascaAppropriation of indigenous practicesWhat the four sacred gifts areAbout Anita Sanchez, Ph.D:Anita was born into a Midwest family that was economically poor, yet rich in Mexican-American and Nahua (also known as Aztec)

Bridging science and spirit, Stephanie Karzon Abrams chats with Raghu about integrating psychedelics and soul into the medical community.This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Stephanie delve into: Out-of-body experiences through musicAddressing identity changes after Traumatic Brain InjuriesUtilizing plants to promote better healthReconnecting to ourselves through psychedelic therapiesTrauma from displacement and immigrationBridging science and spirit by integrating holistic views into medicineThe mental health impact of physical health issuesGetting the medical world to want to heal the mind and soul as well as the physicalThe ways that psychedelic experiences can change usThe importance of having a guide through psychedelic experiencesSitting with discomfort and being open to the lessonsHow music expands our minds and creates a space for connectionAbout Stephanie Karzon Abrams:Stephanie Karzon Abrams, a neuropharmacologist with a Masters of Science in Clinical Pharmacology, is the founding advisor of&nbs

Written in the key of grief and the melody of praise, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer sits down with Raghu to discuss her newest poetry book, The Unfolding.Enjoy your own copy of The Unfolding to read Rosemerry’s heart-opening poems! Purchase the book HEREThis week, tune into Rosemerry and Raghu’s conversation on: The loss of Rosemerry’s son and fatherLiving through seasons of extreme griefUnderstanding the gift of a poemOppositional feelings experienced at the same time (pain + joy, etc.)Recognizing how desperately we need eachotherThe Grand Quilt, The Medicine of Surrender, and more poems written and read by RosemerryBrave prayers and the things that open us / help us growInspiration from Gregory Orr and Leonard CohenHow grief strips us naked and makes us vulnerableRaghu sends us off with a beautiful Kabir poem from the book Painting from the Palette of LoveAbout Rossemerry Trommer:Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer is an American poet associated with Colorado. She was Poet Laureate of San Mi

Daniele Bolelli contrasts the beauty of community and selfless leadership in Native culture with the epidemic of loneliness in America.In this episode, Daniele and Raghu roll through: Native American history and lessonsDaniele’s first exposure to Native culture through his journalist motherHow the Sundance ceremony shifted Daniele’s entire worldThe purpose of Sundance ceremony and praying for the welfare of all living beingsThe beauty and power of community we can see in Native American cultureLoneliness in America as an epidemicDiscussing a few of the great Native American chiefs, like Crazy Horse and Sitting BullThinking collectively for the well-being of an entire villageWhy a functioning community or tribe is essential for collective ideologies to workThe Native American myth of the Wendigo as a metaphor for insatiable cravingGrab the book Daniele suggests, Black Elk Speaks, for more Native American wisdom and stories.About Daniele Bolelli:Daniele Bolelli