Mindrolling With Raghu Markus

Raghu welcomes Mirabai Starr- famous for her Christian Mystic books and now her memoir- Caravan of No Despair. Raghu asked what in the world she asked for while still in the Bardos between lives - her first few decades in this incarnation being so full of intense suffering! As if she knew what she needed to transform her being but she really asked for the full monty and managed to come through with flying colors! At one point Mirabai talks about how she "fired" God- "...all the teachings I had once embraced I now dismissed as artifacts of magical thinking." Of course this led to our discussion of the dark night of the soul and St John of the Cross whose book she then translated. And in the midst of that work she had a realization. "Tragedy and trauma are not guarantees for a transformational spiritual experience, true, but they are opportunities." Mirabai also explains two key concepts- Radical Unknowingness and Sacred Unraveling. These two form the backbone of a spiritual path that is not pre-digested concep

Raghu and his Guru pal Duncan Trussell, get together for an illuminating conversation with Trevor Hall at the most recent Ram Dass retreat on Maui. Trevor shares his amazing transformation through discovering the guru, Neem Karoli Baba, by meeting Raghu’s younger brother at the age of 17, and eventually winding up living in a Kali temple in Laguna Beach, CA. Duncan’s infectious curiosity anchors this podcast as Trevor describes the many layers of symbolism found in the image of the fierce goddess Kali. Most people don’t see the significance behind the many layers of this Goddess, usually getting distracted by the gore depicted and not seeing the undertones of motherly unconditional love represented. Trevor draws from his years living at the Kali temple to explain the iconography and the unconditional love behind the Divine Mother Goddess Kali. Duncan’s questions serve as a guide as Trevor elaborates on all facets of the portrayals of Kali: from the reason Kali is seen biting her tongue, to the implications of

Raghu is joined by his roommate from back in the day in India, Rameshwar Das Lytton or just plain Ramesh! Ramesh has been Ram Dass co-author on his two latest books- Be Love Now and Polishing The Mirror. Raghu quotes from Ram Dass about those who saw the physical Guru- “None of us knew Maharaji- we just knew our own projections” More fodder for the reality of not needing to meet the Guru in the flesh. Also on the table is; what is a Guru vs a Saint vs a Siddha or perfectly enlightened one. Raghu and Ramesh also delve into the reality of our overactive, busy minds and the effect on our lives. Referring from a NY Times article that corroborated scientifically that “the capacity for original thinking is markedly stymied by stray thoughts, obsessive ruminations and other forms of mental load” and “your internal exploration is too often diminished by an overly occupied mind”. So our only conclusion is Meditate Now!

Raghu with his co-host, true blue soul mate wife, Saraswati Markus hang with Gil Fronsdal- newly named Baba Gil. Gil hails from the Insight Meditation family and was discovered by Saraswati during her long nite festivals of Dharama talks. When we talk about the difficulties people have with meditative practice Gil calls out to people to remember that it is a "failure free zone". We talk about the Be Here Now concept and Gil renames it "unconditional acceptance of the present moment". And of course the hosts inevitably have to ask about mindfulness and it's very worldly application in these times- Gil suggests that we use mindfulness to check out our thoughts and motivations and follow and be aware of where our focus wanders. Saraswati engages Baba Gil about the Buddhist No Self teaching which he comments on as " the self is like wind drag- when you eliminate that drag you can become free- no self".   Gil Fronsdal- The Issue At Hand- Essays on Mindfulness http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org   Amazon recomm

Raghu is joined by Duncan Trussell and Lama Surya Das at the Ram Dass Maui spring retreat  live podcast session. Unfortunately, just before the session Raghu cut someone off in the bathroom line and then was reprimanded by the aggrieved party. Of course there ensued guilt and recrimination which Duncan, in his wisdom, reassured Raghu that we all can't live up to impossible standards all the time- he then drifted into some comparison to the crucifixion.... Lama Surya Das on the other hand came to the table with exemplary explanations of the very difficult Buddhist concept of emptiness in his inimitable practical teaching style. In the end a sense of humor and a sense of our human predicament mashed in with a sense of the possibilities of a human incarnation.

Raghu chats with Danny Goldberg- a man well versed in culture and politics to discuss the intense polarization in this country in this election year. The discussion circles around an article by Arthur C Brooks entitled Bipartisanship isn’t for Wimps, After All. Even friends are polarized by loyalties to Hillary or Bernie not to mention between Democrats and Republicans. As Mr Brooks mentions in his article- “we don’t like each other very much” and bigotry reigns all the way to contempt. How do we deal with this in our lives and stop the individual tendencies towards this polarization in our society. The Dalai Lama suggests the anti-dotes. Of course looking to ourselves and our behavior and not to governments and institutions to make the necessary changes. The Dalai Lama goes further to suggest a cultivation of warm heartedness towards those with whom we disagree. Sound squishy? No it’s actually tough but practical advice. As Danny says though- I don’t think it’s a contradiction of warm heartedness to say to t

Raghu is joined by Frank Osteseski, a Buddhist teacher andguiding light for people who are facing the death and dyingprocess.Raghu talks about his recent experience with the transition ofhis close friend Jyoti and it how it was like being at the veryprecipice of awakening when he sat with her as she was slippingthrough the Bardos.Frank describes being with someone who is dying as anopportunity to let go of our of all preconceived notions and to usethe transparency and rawness of that experience to bring ourselvesinto the moment.Frank encourages everyone not to wait to tell our near and dearthat we love them, and practicing for the eventual transition issomething to consider sooner than later.

Raghu introduces Lisa Wimberger, who got hit by lightening, blacked out and lost her pulse at 15 years old! Her traumatic event let Lisa to a new path, developing Neurosculpting - a fusion of brain science and mindfulness. As she says, even the most insidious mental beliefs can be re-written- and boy could we all use a little brain re-wiring! Lisa and Raghu talk about the flight-fright-freeze survival response and how it takes over our lives and how to protect ourselves from “contagious” emotions. Also Raghu delights in an article Lisa wrote on the New Age Scourge - she says, “ First stop saying Namaste and bless you when what you really mean is screw you.” This leads us to a conversation about clearing out toxic beliefs and behavior patterns. This podcast will change our tune with its mind-altering insights!

Raghu and guest host Michael "Jadu" Daner chats with dream yoga teacher Michael Katz, co-author of an excellent book, "Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light".   Jadu tells his earliest fearful dream experiences that turned into euphoric flying dreams - and how flying in dreams presages lucid dreaming. Michael talks about how the mastering of lucidity in the dream state eventually will help master our final transition through the bardos or states of consciousness we enter into when we die.In dream yoga the emphasis is on the possibility of some level of enlightenment experience at the time of final transition. Michael Katz introduces his teacher, Lama Namkai Norbu (co-author of Dream Yoga) who said once, "I never claimed to be enlightened but I am a really good dream yogi." He is said to be able to return to specific dreams every night! "Rather than seeing dreams as messages from the psyche the Dzogchen tradition (Liberating Awareness) views them as an opportunity to recognize and interact with the foun

Raghu speaks with Koshin Paley Ellison, the founder and partner of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, an organization that works closely with people who are passing or ill. Koshin Paley describes his origins and how he was introduced to Zen Buddhism. He talks about the teachers, influences and triggers which geared the direction of his life and practice.  Including; the Aids Epidemic of the 1980’s, Alan Ginsberg, and his first Zen teacher John Daido Loori as well as being exposed to Ram Dass as a very young person. Koshin Paley tells the moving story of the passing away of his grandmother and the tremendous impact that experience had on his life. (hint: The New York Center for Contemplative Care wouldn’t be here otherwise!) Raghu and Koshin discuss the blending of Jungian depth techniques with Buddhist psychology and what exactly a Spiritual Bypass is. Other topics covered are relationships, bearing witness, loving action and what is being brought to light by working with dying people.  

Raghu is joined by Rick Doblin, head of (take a deep breath for this one) Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, otherwise known as MAPS! Rick describes some of the things that helped him to see into a new reality, including his faith-puncturing Bar Mitzvah, which forced him out of what would have been a “manufactured” mystical connection. Rick then goes on to describe his introduction to LSD in college, and how he discovered a new way of processing information and consciousness from those experiences; it opened him up to the emotional world. Other topics discussed include: - The emotional stability of our culture -  Using psychedelics for healing and therapy - Using psychedelics to rail against the “us” and “them” rhetoric present between countries, religions, races and creeds. -  Doblin’s discovery of the underground psychedelic community - How LSD opened the “Westerners” up to to a visceral understanding of their time with Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaji) when they traveled to India - How do the

Saraswati Markus finally makes her debut on Mindrolling! Who else could so exquisitely describe all of the incredible facets of the ancient technology of Yoga (she is Raghu's beloved you know!)   At the same time Saraswati shows the synthesis she has created with The Dao, Yoga and Chinese medicine and the potential healing modalities they contain. Not just physical but a true path to untangle the knots that form our habitual patterns. She expands on that idea by showing how we can all access the innate wisdom of our bodies for healing.    Also there is the concept of healing when you change what you like - Not easy and of course Raghu rebels cause he won't give up his toast and Chai with a lot of sugar!   Go to daoflowyoga.com to learn more about her work. 

Mindrolling and Raghu have a new best friend! Jake Sasseville of the Jake Sasseville podcast is a unique human who has been in show biz from a very early age. Jake shares a very traumatic family story which eventually tripped him onto the spiritual path in a very substantial way. Raghu shares Ram Dass' words in respect to Jake's reflections on suffering - "Every moment of your life is your vehicle for awakening". R&J chat about the tension between taking actions in your life and the reality that everything is already written and we just need to relax and let Grace happen. Also on the table is a discussion around the seven ways spiritual people bullshit themselves. #1 being the power of positive thinking - Raghu admits to his disdain for the new age model and his subsequent reaction to his own judgmental mind. We always have to remember though that there is more than one motivation for every action we take - why not focus on the positive?

Raghu hosts Jim Doty, a brain surgeon with a highly unusual story that makes up his page burner of a book, Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart. Jim takes us back to his impoverished early years and his unplanned meeting with an unlikely teacher who's profound wisdom altered the path of the rest of his life - a true glimpse into the reality of karma and grace turning a life around. When the student is ready the teacher appears!   Jim relates amazing facts about the brain and the heart: "Research shows the heart to be an organ of intelligence, with it's own profound influence not only from our brain but on our brain..."

Duncan joins Raghu and introduces the concept of Ecstasy Talk- an MDMA allusion to the experience of the Ram Dass retreats. Raghu introduces new End Of The World news which send Duncan into a right wing deep south spiral! The duo also talks about the statistics that this world is far less violent that at any time in history. Can it be true? Then there is the idea that our current technology is a new organism that is forming a parasitic relationship with the life form called a human being…. Raghu introduces a story of unconditional love through Pete the dog- and how that introduces humans to love without conditions. Duncan scares Raghu with his concept of the Jihad- of course we settle on the meaning as inner sacred battle with ego and how that’s reflected in the Bhagavad Gita. Then there is the concept of gratitude - it can change our world!

Raghu and Thanissara explore her amazing book Time To Stand Up: The Buddha's Life and Message Through Feminine Eyes - it serves as a call to action for the engagement of the feminine Shakti principal to transform our planet in every way. For instance, our current traditional patriarchal zeitgeist is so slow to speak out in defense of our planet. Patriarchal religions that denigrate women, the body and sexuality tend to not challenge the denigration of the earth. The feminine is of great importance for our awakening and Thanisarra eloquently presents the case that we must make the feminine central in all of our lives, not solely as gender but as a living dimension within each one of us. Feminine energy is essential, because of it's natural receptivity, inclusivity and empathy. Fundamental intelligence is the Mother!

Raghu and George “Balaram” Pitagorsky discuss his recent blog on Shedding Light to Combat ignorance: confrontation is necessary when hate mongers spread their message and embellish it with misinformation. Confrontation, in this context, means speaking up and inserting facts and alternative views. It means shedding light to expose and combat ignorance. George and Raghu also share the facts about how we worry and when it’s beneficial and when it is certainly not! In a recent NY Times article, worry was reported to be beneficial. Those who worried about an outcome tended to have a less stressful reaction when the worrisome outcome occurred and a greater positive response when things worked out well. Those who did not worry, tended to be devastated when their optimism was proven to be unfounded and just mildly satisfied when things worked out as expected. Raghu disputes both of these premises and confesses to his longstanding ungodly worrywart reality! On the other side of the issue is the attitude expressed by t

Kiley Jon Clark joins Mindrolling and introduces us to his amazing work with the homeless - not only offering them food and love but also teaching meditation practice on the streets and in the shelters. Kiley tell his transformational story from an addictive cowboy lifestyle to the Buddhist path. He tells the a magical story of meeting his Tibetan teacher Lama Tulku Tsori Dechen Rinpoche who literally went home with him right after they first met and turned his life around.   The conversations turns around the cultivation of fearlessness and relating with the veil of illusion - "There is a  force which is called by many names - the veil tricks us into seeing the world as a multitude of separate individual selves - but in fact we are all One."   Kiley also shares the concept of meditation as "becoming familiar with ourselves" - Kiley is a true original no BS soul walking the path - and his poetry seems like it was written by the ancients!  

Raghu has a deep chat with Reggie Ray, one of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s first American students. Reggie shares some very personal moments with Trungpa Rinpoche that illuminate some of the unique qualities of this amazing being: “In the beginning, naive me would go down to the picnic tables and see Rinpoche sitting alone and I’d sit down next to him and it was like I had just sat down next to the noon-day sun, and I was terrified of what he might do because in his space somehow whatever your little trip was it was going to be exposed.” Reggie talks about one of his most basic teachings on Somatic Meditation (interrelatedness of mind, body and spirit) and then leads a meditation.

Raghu is joined by Pete Holmes, Duncan Trussell and Sharon Salzberg in Maui for a  wonderfully entertaining, humorous and enlightening podcast. Duncan talks about a euphemism for God and how we are constantly barraged by the word “God” - which triggers something negative inside us that’s been cultivated throughout our lives. How do we deal with the skepticism and doubt that accompanies a lot of spiritual subjects? Is a good dose of skepticism healthy? Sharon Salzberg elucidates on some Buddhist teachings around experimenting with skepticism and doubt - in order to truly face the power of the truth that comes from within. In order to find freedom you have to be able to ask questions and explore the world around you for yourself. What should we do when we can’t remember what love feels like? What is real love anyway? And how do we find the courage to cross past our obstacles and suffering?