Mindrolling With Raghu Markus

Roshi Joan honors us with her wisdom and illuminated presence. She gets into the need for authentic daily practice and avoidance of the quick fix...dealing with moral distress...actualized compassion and retaining buoyancy in a difficult world...Thich Nhat Hanh and Alan Watts's influence...working with the great folklorist, Alan Lomax...bodhicitta and the awakened heart - a lot to chew upon

Bruce Margolin, America's leading lawyer fighting unjust pot laws, talks about the whole spectrum of marijuana legal insanity, plus the racist, xenophobic origins of the "reefer madness" myth making. Plus we talk about a miraculous cannabis oil toddler's recovery. Laws are easing, but Bruce lets us know how the prejudice and ignorance continues, despite the overwhelmingly benign results of sensible pot usage, sensorium pot smoking.

We tackle how to be happy, how to find equanimity within suffering...tough stuff...the mega ironies of the pleasure/desire chase..."love people, use things"...the strange fact that happiness and unhappiness are not actually opposites...death the leveler and finally "Dying" stores in strip malls - "Be Dead Now"...still, this is a happy podcast from two "cheerful melancholics."

When someone says “I’m spiritual not religious” what does that mean? How important is mysticism in spirituality? R & D roll this around, along with cheaper solar, no hating, Jesus as yogi, and the angel on 5th and 42nd…

Stream of consciousness about…consciousness. Its abiding continuity behind and throughout “ordinary trauma"…its persistent existence beyond karma...its ultimately redemptive resonance. And what does it mean to see our body as merely a “rented house”? Also, R&D insist on knowing nothing once again.

R & D with Jamie Catto, film-maker best known for his iconic “One Giant Leap” global consciousness film. We enter into exploration of JC’s transformative films, workshops and lifestyle, which we trust will move listeners to check out his movies, so they too can create for themselves a quantum leap of awareness. Compelling conversation, definite food for thought...

Tami Simon’s amazing company, Sounds True, has gathered and published for all of us a treasure trove of teachings – spoken word, music, more…so we just had to talk to her. Her mission, without pretension, was always to “disseminate spiritual wisdom.” Tami’s teachers and catalysts affected her as if she were “being held by an unlimited field of awe and wonder.” We hear her wisdom regarding ambiguity, so-called broken-ness and the constant conversation on the inner plane. Tami is a rare example of mindful private enterprise, passionate about relaying knowledge and inward grasp to everyone.

Potent, beautiful perspectives brought about by shattering epiphanies out of the blue - R & D get into this with chat ranging from the edge of awakening caused by everything from a heart attack to a post-concussion Jersey cow. And what is the real difference between acquisitive quid pro quo “love” and pure, unconditional love?

Mirabai Starr speaks truth from profound personal experience, her dark night of the soul – as well as kindly communicating to us the curative possibilities of transformation via grief. It’s just so special to hear her visions and interpretations of amazing mystics as well as her lucid articulation of the Oneness of all authentic spiritual paths. Mirabai’s transcendent work and perspective is a healing in itself. Meeting Mirabai’s heart and soul is like drinking cool, clear water in the flame of the hot desert.

Should Hedge Funders find their edge through meditation? Is it OK for killers to practice mindfulness? R & D get into that plus Mr. Rogers, the Quaker Oats man, the fine art of eye contact, Maria Shriver, martial arts and the Gita. Good luck.

Rewire your thoughts/emotions and Eureka – neuroplasticity! Plus we gab about mindfulness techniques allowing us to observe and lessen the hyped up reactions and transcend the tedious triggers - then, relief and release - huge and tiny setbacks may lose their nasty grip on our day…this and a killer William Burroughs track and you have a rockin’ Podcast 67.

Does consciousness exist outside the constraints of time and space? Does new science substantiate Tibetan vision, vindicate the lysergic realization? Rolling with life and afterlife cradled by the non-local, meanwhile, as usual, R & D exuding anecdotes, antidotes, a rant and a minimum of cant…

Joseph Goldstein, Insight Meditation Society sage, with us in conversation about his new book “Mindfulness: A Practical Guide To Awakening” – washing the mind of neurosis; combating I, Me, Mine; what you’re looking for is what is looking…

KD in a far-ranging conversation with R & D, plus tracks from his brand new “Kirtan Wallah” CD. We talk about the realities of having or not having a guru… KD on non-emotional longing, loving the inner self, re-awakening after our obsession with who we think we are…how chanting keeps bringing you back…

The Indie Spiritualist, Chris Grosso, is our refreshing guest, and he takes us out of the deep darkness of addiction into the high light shining from the transmission of heart, via his own epiphanies with everyone from Eddie van Halen through to Trungpa Rinpoche. “Life is beautiful and disgusting both” Chris says and urges us to love all of it…

Dr. Judith Orloff guides us through the natural, human and humane ecstasy of true surrender on the road to health and healing…going-with-the-flow style acceptance - whatever - being the true engine for freedom ...the fulfilling courage of working with what we’ve got – David and Raghu take heed…

Raghu and Dave gab with Jai Uttal, world music and kirtan pioneer. They introduce Jai's excellent new album "Return to Shiva Station" - also on the table, Ali Akbar Khan, Jai's musical Guru, and his exploits with the Bauls of Bengal deep in the forests near Calcutta, India. Order Jai's new album here: http://goo.gl/ThxOtA

Carl Jung brilliantly interpreted by Alan Watts, wow…the value of recognizing your inner rascal and redemption “in the arms of your own kindness”…David’s personal memories of an incisive comedian and Raghu’s recollections of the 16th Karmapa...

“How unconscious thought and perception affect our waking state.” Our podcast exposes the undertow of snap judgements, fast anger, and the plague of default expectations based on minimal information. David explains the “witness” concept and we quote Pema Chodron on eradication of the fixed mind. A ton of talking punctuated by Beck’s new music…

Duncan T returns, full of tales of his happy service day...a Dalai Lama anecdote/antidote - his answer to the big big key question as to why we are here…baby poop in the supermarket...Duncan on the magic of generosity… and Raghu’s embarrassing moment with Maharaji…