Mindrolling With Raghu Markus

• Exploring Death (It’s all the rage) - The truth is that we have no idea what happens when we drop our body, so it’s hard to say whether any particular reaction is appropriate or not. The sooner we face the reality of our mortality, the more time we have to approach it • Heart to Heart - Buddha was one heart, and turned on many. As we go deeper into ourselves we radiate that frequency to the world around us. We find balance and share what we learn. • Finding Balance (Change your conscious) - Even systems like capitalism can function, but only if there is balance. All we can bring to the present situation is greater consciousness • Sharon Salzberg (Official Badass) - Sharon did the work, and it shows. We all have different approaches to experiment with, but they all involve doing what is necessary to get free. Where we are is just an accumulation of our innate experiential wisdom • Protective Fashion - Styles of dress can be an attempt to associate oneself with a certain mode of thinking, but can also serve a

• Bums United - Ian explains how he was introduced to the mindrollers, and discusses some of his early transformers, including the discovery of transcendental meditation, and subsequently Buddhism • Don’t be a Buddhist (Be a Buddha) - There are no rules in Buddhism, just suggestions, which point in the direction of awakening. We can all have unique methods that move us closer to that state of awareness. Ian makes it a point to include Metta as part of his practice, citing it as a major shift on his path. Raghu highlights the synergistic effects of Vipassana in combination with the practice of Metta - Quiet the mind, invoke the heart • The Last Irish Monk - Ian talks about his initial discovery of U Dhammaloka, and the subsequent inspiration that led to his current film project, through which he hopes to rescue the great sage from obscurity • ‘Warning to Buddhists’ (Choice words from U Dhammaloka) Ian reads from some of the more controversial work of the late Irish monk, and expresses his deep admiration for t

• Phobias Formed (Blame our ancestors) - Science points to direct experiences in forming phobias that can be found further down the genetic line. Raghu rattles off some of the more interesting fears in the modern age - does ignorance play a role in many of these irrational fears? • Mindfulness vs. Therapy (Head to Head) - Spiritual circles sometimes frown upon psychoanalysis, citing its potential to perpetuate thought patterns. We have to keep in mind that meditation alone can’t always provide the healing one might need. Some of the deeper wounds and unconscious fears can linger beyond meditations reach. Raghu agrees, and offers some of his own personal experience with therapy, advising to find someone who isn’t attached to any one school of thought. Dave highlights the unique brand of modern neuroses, which may require a multifaceted approach • Wounds (Deep Cuts) - Dave highlights the unique brand of modern neuroses, which may require a multifaceted approach. Can meditation and therapy adapt to the ever-evol

Recorded live at the 2014 ‘Open Your Heart in Paradise’ retreat in Maui, Raghu is joined by fellow Mindpod patron, Jack Kornfield, as well as the podcast guru himself, Duncan Trussell. The power trio chats about Duncan’s initiation into the Satsang, the sustainability of Dharma power, and the technology-fueled future of spirituality.

Can even Buddhist teachings become commercialized, homogenized and…lost? Or is it a quasi-tantric situation where desire is the fuel? A look at the delightful idea of “If you can’t eat it or fuck it, piss on it.” David & Raghu circle around concepts and contradictions within modern absorption of ancient teachings. And it always seems to end in the simplicity and depth of “kindness.”

Sam Harris (In the self-help section) - The gang weighs in on Mr. Harris, and his attempt to make an ‘intellectual case for those skeptical of the whole enterprise’. How should we approach his demand for validation regarding spiritual experiences The Media’s Role - Dave comments on the media’s false claim that the current youth is rejecting all religion, despite all the evidence that points to an increased interest in yoga, meditation, mysticism and psychedelics. Religion can’t be limited to specific guidelines Jack discusses his fluctuating stance regarding religion and it’s practices. In the end, a direct personal experience is difficult to disqualify. Can we definitively answer these questions? The Debate Rolls On - There appears to be an endless, ‘Us versus them’, quality to these discussions. The heated debates aren’t even limited to those in opposing fields of study. The good news is that more and more individuals seem to be open to all sides of the argument ‘Self’-Help - Who is really benefiting, and h

Mr. Skeptiko (Skeptical, even of skeptics) - Alex encourages an assiduous examination of consciousness and those who deny it's all-pervasive nature Debunking the Debunker - How do we know when we are dealing with the Truth? Bias seems to be more common than not in many forms of journalism. When 'the facts' are actually put to light, they don't often shine so bright NDE (Not limited to the hospital) - Alex explains his takeaway from Eden Alexander's book, 'Proof of Heaven'. These experiences are ubiquitous, across many cultures, through many lifetimes. To truly study them requires a broad examination of the many ways in which they manifest Imprinting - Many faces, many forms - All of which are manifestations of the One. Maharaji, a Hindu Guru, said to 'meditate like Christ' Science vs. Consciousness (Epiphenomenon of the Brain?) Science treats consciousness as a byproduct of the brain, in the same way that insulin is a byproduct of the pancreas. But when asked about the necessary precursors to consciousness, t

• Frozen Baba - Ashutosh Maharaj and his sub-zero Samadhi. Does the quality of one’s practice reveal itself in the often-remarkable deaths of great beings? • Genuine Insights (From a questionable politician) - Do seemingly nefarious actions preclude individuals from benevolent intuitions? Highlights the ongoing, ‘Us vs. Them’, conundrum. We are all complex beings, and we have to remain open to allow space for acceptance • Dave Finds Love (For an unlikely candidate) • Abundance Without Attachment (The holiday hustle) Prosperity and materialism are a common theme during the often-excessive holiday season. It’s attachment to money, not money itself that is the problem. How to get free? 1. Collect experience, not things. 2. Steer clear of excessive ‘usefulness’. 3. Get to the center of the wheel - What is the transcendental truth at the center of your wheel? Find it and focus. For Raghu and David this comes through the understanding and experience of God, Guru, and Self as One. Their material world revolves aroun

The gang hangs with Duncan Trussell for the first of many live podcast taking place on Mindpodnetwork.com. 

Quantum entanglement leads us to parallel mysticism, synchronicity and selflessness. A strange brew, yes, but interconnectedness is happening whether we know it or not, and seems ultimately is a conscious doorway to freedom. Raghu praises David for not getting enraged at noisy drunkards in a restaurant. We toss around the business of not killing bugs, and Dave’s pet, Boris the Spider. And what it is to see yourself as the lowest person as opposed to pride of selfhood. Tons of chewable subject matter here, no kidding…

Ram Dass talks with the Mindrollers about NDE, the safety of death, light beings, the Soul Pod, the Tibetan Book of the Dead…and G-d’s extensive wardrobe. He ends with describing his joy at witnessing the awakenings of so many people he has influenced. Episode Outline: • Ram Dass’ Impression of the NDE - We are ushered into the perspective of the Soul, and encounter other ‘light beings’ that seek to understand our connection to our previous incarnation. These beings are our ‘Soul Land Companions’ • From Ego to Soul - When we operate at the Soul level, our perception shifts into a heightened state of compassionate awareness • The Soul comes directly from God - The Atman (the One) is in everything. We move from Ego, to Soul, to the One - from that place of awareness, we are all indistinguishable • The Soulpod Satsang • The Unifying Bond of the ‘Soul Complex’ (The Undying Soul) • Drop, Become, Merge - Moving out of the perceptual mind and into the ocean of Love • ‘Death is Safe’ - Approaching death, without bein

Our guest is teacher David Wagner, and we talk with him about cultivating versatile wisdom, the role of psychedelics in finding a path, trauma as gateway, and, once again, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. This podcast fuses practical living and spiritual aspiration, with an unpretentious dude, always looking for ways to help, leaving his pride at the door, traveling on the inner plane both on and off his Harley...

Is positive thinking always positive? Conversely, do we repeatedly talk ourselves into a nasty, negative self-image? R & D drill deep into some new - and scientific - views on all this mental manipulation. And how does mindfulness affect our ability to ameliorate how we think and behave? Along with this, Raghu waxes all medical and recommends a book to improve our gut feeling about…our gut.

Jack Carroll is a 16 year old comedian/seeker who has had outstanding media success in Britain. He happens to have cerebral palsy, but you would be hard put to find a young dude who is more cerebrally on top of things than Jack. We talk about comedy, Hare Krishna, Russell Brand, Bob Marley, kindness and madness - and personal inner peace.

Imbibe seven intoxicating tracks from the Triloka Trance Planet series. This should result in a rapid rebooting of your consciousness, where the magic music takes over and the blues fade away. With commentary by R & D, this episode should take you to the heights of your head and the depths of your heart. These potent sounds go from pure folkloric to totally out there fusion…travel with the trancers and enjoy!

It’s all about the present of the present. Alan Watts on the “constantly retreating phantom” of the future... Ram Dass banishing methods/techniques if they are a trap to “end up free” - loving and living our exact present - one of the big big clues to happiness. Oh, and Raghu introduces the medical miracle of poop transplants.

Do G-d and science have a problem with each other, seriously? What are “non overlapping magisteria”? What is the true power of friendship? R & D ramble through very different realms of reality, ending in the great vibe of merely mentioning Nirvikalpa Samadhi…

Mining the inner vigilance to stop your world and reset…meditation on ugliness…harming the self-cherishing mind…the transparent karma, the mysterious karma…all this as the second part of our take on the Dalai’s Lama’s thought transformation commentary plus a little Leonard Cohen music.

His Holiness’s ”Commentary On The Verses Of Thought Transformation” is our podcast 79 stimulus, where we explore the dangers of self-cherishing, the wisdom of the witness, the cunning of the ego-mind, the temptation of anger addiction, the glory of loving awareness, ending in a sublime George Harrison song. We - Raghu & David & Rachael & Noah & Nathan (the team) - love this podcast, possibly at the risk of subtle self-cherishing!

How do we neutralize the annoying and damaging inner judge? Relentlessly parsing other people’s words and worth is, simply put, really unhealthy and besides hurting other people, it upsets profoundly your own balancing act of living life. Within this mix, R&D also chat about India, William F. Buckley Jr. and the hidden treasures of Padmasambhava...