Mindrolling With Raghu Markus

Jack Kornfield joins the Mindrolling podcast to talk about trust, freedom from troubled emotions, and Jack’s newest book “No Time Like The Present.” Raghu shares excerpts from “No Time Like The Present,” and the two discuss the uncertain times we find ourselves in and how loving-awareness practice can see us through them.

Joel Salinas M.D. joins the Mindrolling podcast to talk about his book, “Mirror Touch,” and the phenomena of mirror-touch synesthesia. Raghu and Joel discuss this fascinating phenomenon which blurs the boundaries between the self and others. They talk about the importance of inner work and how different spiritual practices affect our physiology.

Danny Goldberg joins the Mindrolling podcast to talk about his new book “In Search of the Lost Chord: 1967 and the Hippie Idea.”

Professor Robert Thurman joins the Mindrolling podcast to talk about his time with the Dalai Lama, Loving Activism, and finding space within. Robert Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University, President of the Tibet House U.S., a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tibetan civilization, and President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, a non-profit affiliated with the Center for Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and dedicated to the publication of translations of important artistic and scientific treatises from the Tibetan Tengyur.

On this episode of Mindrolling, profound musician, Benjy Wertheimer, shares his practice of Nāda yoga along with stories of his study under legendary musician Ali Akbar Khan. Raghu and Benjy discuss the consciousness changing qualities of devotional music and how those insights can be used to better interact with ourselves and the world.

Raghu is joined by his old friends, and armchair Ramayana scholars, Rameshwar Das and Krishna Das, for an in-depth discussion on the Ramayana and how it can impact our daily lives. Using K.K. Sah's insightful Ramayana commentary as a reference, the group explores the nine forms of devotion taught in the Ramayana. They give a fresh perspective on true devotion and how we can all apply its lessons in our day-to-day living.

David Silver returns to share words of peace and wisdom for an upside-down world from the sage Thích Nhất Hạnh. Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh is the epitome of peace, mindfulness and awareness. David and Raghu talk about how we can transform Hạnh’s wisdom into inner and outer change.

Jared “Gagan” Levy returns to Mindrolling to talk about the realities of social action and turning compassion into the passion. When we turn compassion into passion, it is possible to prevent social action from transforming our compassion into anger. Gagan and Raghu reflect on the teachings of Ram Dass and encourage us to redirect our anger into passion.

Anne Lamott visits Mindrolling to talk about her new book, “Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy.” These days, the need for rediscovering mercy is more important than ever. Anne Lamott shares a fresh way to look at mercy and the importance of showing it to ourselves as much as we do others.

Spiritual success coach, motivational speaker and author, Joanna Garzilli, visits Mindrolling to talk about intuition and big miracles. Joanna teaches her clients to use their gift of intuition and to lead through service. She and Raghu discuss fulfilling our soul’s blueprint, taking responsibility for our lives and overcoming the traps set by our ego and fears.

YouTube sensation, JP Sears, visits Mindrolling to talk about his unique form of satire and new book, "How to Be Ultra Spiritual." JP Sears is an emotional healing coach and international teacher, whose work is intended to empower people to empower themselves to live more meaningful lives. JP is most known for his satirical YouTube series, "Awaken With JP." JP's witty and insightful form of comedy shines a light of critical honesty that aims to make us consider ourselves, and life, in a more thoughtful way.

This week on Mindrolling, Raghu is joined by inspirational YouTube personalities, Dakota Wint and Koi Fresco, to talk about the next generation of spiritual seekers. Dakota Wint and Koi Fresco are two seekers who guide other young people with their insightful and creative YouTube channels. They talk about how to engage the world in a positive way, as well as discuss the similarities between the 60’s and the world we live in now.

Psychologist, Dr. Paul Ekman, visits Mindrolling to discuss his influential research, work with the Dali Lama and our relationship to emotions. Dr. Paul Ekman's research on emotions and non-verbal behavior explore what we share and what links us all together. He and Raghu dive into the nature of emotions and how we respond to them.

Roshi Joan Halifax joins Raghu to talk about anger and the integration of justice and love. What do we do with the anger incited by social injustice? Roshi Joan talks about equanimity and the role that our perspective of anger plays in the integration of justice and love.

Raghu is joined by his good friends Duncan Trussell and Pete Holmes to search their synaptic cleft for consciousness and the guru. The group talks about whether experiencing a fully realized being in spirit is the same as encountering them in the flesh. They ask questions about the nature of consciousness, in and beyond the synaptic cleft, and what it is to open your heart to the possibility of something bigger than anything the material world has to offer.

Lama Surya Das joins Raghu to talk about our political sea change, responding to anger, and encourage us all to find our authentic selves and "mensch up." How do we deal with our reactivity and anger? Lama Surya Das gives practical advice on how to deal with anger in the moment. He encourages us to use courage and compassion to "mensch up" and become our most authentic selves.

Poet and activist, Mona Haydar, joins Raghu to talk about connecting with others, transforming challenges, and showing love, always. Mona practices a life of sacred activism, poetry, contemplation and advocacy for living gently upon the Earth. She teaches classes and retreats on mindfulness and Islamic spirituality, leads workshops on creative writing and performs her poetry. Her words have found homes in the hearts of seekers, wanderers, poets, artists, lovers and stewards of the Earth.

Raghu chats with author Nancy Colier about balancing spiritual practice and our ever increasing use of technology. Nancy Colier is a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, author, mindfulness teacher and public speaker. She is also a longtime student and practitioner of Eastern spirituality. Raghu speaks with Nancy about breaking our technology addiction and how we might use technology for the tools that they are.

Mindrolling co-host, David Silver, returns to talk about the American presidential inauguration and the inner excavation that can be done to stop the polarization that separates us from one another.  David takes a break from working on his book to catch up with Raghu and the Mindrolling community. They talk about their reaction to Trump, polarization, fear, and how practice allows for an inner excavation of what separates us from each other and ourselves.

Lama Tsultrim Allione returns to Mindrolling. She and Raghu talk about transforming anger, devotion, and the teaching of One Ground, Two Paths, Two Results.   Tsultrim discusses our potential to redirect negative emotions in a positive and productive way. She and Raghu talk about her article, "One Ground, Two Paths, Two Results," which teaches us to recognize the path that leads away from our true nature and the path that leads back to it.