Be Here Now Network

Sharon Salzberg's Engaged Compassion Series: Jerry Colonna and Parker Palmer | Metta Hour Ep. 286 by Be Here Now Network

Teaching listeners to incline the mind towards peacefulness, Trudy Goodman offers practical ways to be calm and experience the blessings of tranquility. In this episode, Trudy Goodman holds a talk on: - Calm as a factor of enlightenment - Having an intimate connection with our own experience - Practical ways to calm down - Making our lives a living vigil of silence - Being in the holding presence of another - The mothering nature of mindfulness - How metta brings us self-compassion and calm - Inclining the mind towards practice and peacefulness - Witnessing the blessings of tranquility This was recorded at Spirit Rock and was originally published on Dharmaseed About Trudy Goodman: Trudy is a Vipassana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats, engages in activism work, and teaches workshops worldwide and online. She is also the voice of Trudy the Love Barbarian in the Netflix series, The Midnight Gospel. “One person happily reported in our meeting, I asked, ‘what is happening in your practice, how are you doing?’ This person said ‘nothing, nothing is happening. It took 30 days but finally nothing is happening.’ This is calm. It’s really very neutral.” –Trudy Goodman

In this powerful dialogue, Jack Kornfield responds to questions from the community about some of the deepest challenges of the human heart.

Ram Dass explores how understanding the wheels of birth and death helps us appreciate the preciousness of our incarnation. This episode of Here and Now is from a retreat in Chappell Hill, Texas, in September of 1980. As an introduction to this talk on death, Ram Dass reads from William Buck’s version of the Ramayana. He begins to share what he has learned about death through a combination of his life experiences, study, and his guru. Ram Dass talks about the process of dying and advises us that the best preparation for death is to live in the moment. He says that if we know someone who has died, we can still talk with them and help guide them through any confusion they might have. Understanding the wheels of birth and death allows us to appreciate the preciousness of our incarnation. Ram Dass shares stories of his work with dying people and how it’s the highest thing he does in life. He says that death is just another moment of a continuous dance of illusion. “The most exciting adventure of life is dying. You might as well enjoy it.” – Ram Dass About Ram Dass: Ram Dass’s spirit has been a guiding light for generations, carrying millions along on the journey. Ram Dass teaches that through the Bhakti practice of unconditional love, we can all connect with our true nature. Through these teachings, Ram Dass has shared a little piece of his guru, Maharaj-ji, with all who have listened to him.

Resting in the field of love that ‘just is’, Gil Fronsdal explores how to live for the benefit of both self and others.

Exploring the vital role of boundaries, Dr. Lissa Rankin calls on the medical and wellness fields to confront power imbalances and deepen their understanding of trauma.

In this extended Q&A special, Krishna Das offers powerful insights on navigating the turmoil of the human experience through devotional practice.

The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering? How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers. For the third episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Anu Gupta, marking his fourth appearance on the Metta Hour. Anu Gupta is an educator, lawyer, scientist, and the founder and CEO of Be More with Anu. His work has reached 300+ organizations, trained more than 80,000 professionals, and impacted over 30 million lives. As a gay immigrant of color, Anu came to the work of breaking bias due to lifelong experiences with racism, homophobia, and Islamophobia. He is a trained meditation and yoga teacher with over 10,000 hours of meditation practice and has a JD from NYU Law and BA in International Relations and Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies. As a peer-reviewed author, Anu has written and spoken extensively, including on the TED stage, the Oprah Conversation, Fast Company, and Newsweek. His first book, “Breaking Bias” came out in 2024 from Hay House and he currently shares his writings via his Substack, Soul Force for the 21st Century. In this conversation, Sharon and Anu speak about: - How to cultivate goodwill - Bearing witness to suffering - Working with anger and delusion - Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita - Compassion’s near and far enemies - Non-attachment in activism - Joseph Goldstein’s essential teachings - Equanimity in practice - Combining the spiritual, personal, and political - Collective consciousness as an ocean - Wisdom from Margaret Mead, Gandhi, and MLK Jr. - Boundaries around media - Buddha’s five remedies for anger -The lifelines of Sangha (community) To close out the episode, Anu leads a guided meditation.

Exploring her “No-BS” approach to yoga and mindfulness, Oneika Mays joins Raghu Markus to discuss the amazing things that happen when we sit down and get in tune with ourselves. In this episode, Raghu and Oneika chat about: - The false sense of protection that comes from building emotional walls - Grief and coping with the sense that things are unfinished - Finding oneself over and over again through yoga and mindfulness practice - Noticing internal sensations, emotions, desires, and beyond on the yoga mat - Oneika’s transformative work in the prison system and learning to appreciate the concept of seva (service) - Looking deeply into our sense of resistance - Love as a strength rather than a weakness - Ram Dass’s practice of loving awareness and getting excited about the power of love - A prayer for all beings to be happy and free - Healing and restoration rather than punishment and incarceration About Oneika Mays: Oneika Mays, she/her, LMT, E-RYT, is a multi-hyphenate facilitator who leads with joy, passion, and wisdom. She is a grounded leader with lived experience that centers on mindfulness and transformation. She brings a poignant lens to building a world that is more compassionate and understanding. With deep roots and knowledge in Buddhist and yogic teachings, Oneika delivers practical application and authentic connection through her facilitation skills. With openness and vulnerability, she facilitates the space to talk about change and embrace every part of ourselves. Check out Oneika’s recently released book, Sit with Me, and learn more about her on her website. “It’s me, inside out and connecting to the world rather than pushing back against something. It was one of the first times I felt like love wasn’t a weakness, but instead gave me strength to show up fully.” –Oneika Mays

In this illuminating talk, Jack explores the heart of freedom through the lens of his friendship with Ram Dass, reflecting on how to cultivate a heart that can meet it all with loving awareness.

Artist Boaz Ronan joins Madison to explore how Jewish mysticism and disciplined practice shape his creative process, framing art as a gateway to the unconscious. In this episode, Madison and Boaz discuss: - Seeing beyond color and form when painting - Experiencing the mystical in daily life - How Boaz’s experience with military PTSD influenced his artistry - Art as a mirror to the unconscious - The land of Israel as a microcosmos - How Jewish mysticism influences Boaz’s artwork - The story of how Boaz met his Rabbi - Conscious breathing as a necessary spiritual practice - Forming positive habits by sticking to something for 40 days About Boaz Ronen: Boaz Ronen is a fine artist from Tel Aviv, Israel. Boaz Studied in New York at the Art Students' League and in 1990 was chosen to represent artists from New York in Barcelona. He also spent time in India in 1993. “I see through the colors, through the forms. It’s not that I paint what I want; I see what I want to paint. It is somewhat connected to what Michelangelo said—that you see the stone, you see already the sculpture." –Boaz Ronen

Shaolin Martial Artist Paula Lazarz explores the alchemy of self-defense and Zen Buddhism to reach ultimate inner and outer balance in practice. In this episode, Paula Lazarz provides insights on: - Developing a beginner's mind and a commitment to practice - Including the mystery of Zen for Kung Fu testing - Guiding love in a martial arts environment - How martial arts reflect the true nature within you - Interweaving Zen practice with self-defense - Facing violence in the world and within ourselves - Discovering more about our own anger and shadows - Uniting our minds and bodies in a complete way - Releasing embedded cellular anger in order to practice more deeply - Practicing stillness just as much as we practice movement - Paula’s ‘homecoming’ within monastic practice This conversation was originally recorded on the Paths of Practice Podcast. Listen to more episodes on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PathsofPractice About Paula Lazarz: Paula Lazarz is a full-time Shaolin martial artist. She also served as an ordained priest in the Zen Buddhist lineage of Shunryu Suzuki for 10 years before giving up her robes in 2026. Her over two decades of study in the martial arts and Buddhist practice has been an exploration of the idea of the historical Shaolin Temple, culminating in Warrior’s Path Buddhist Academy. Paula studies the practical and historical connections between Shaolin Kung Fu and Zen Buddhism. Her teaching and business philosophy places an emphasis on helping individuals of all ages gain physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual balance using the multi-faceted disciplines of Shaolin Kung Fu. Paula is a co-owner of Energy Fitness, Inc., Head Instructor at HealthKick Kung Fu and a Practice Leader at Ancient Dragon Zen Gate. About Vincent Moore: Vincent Moore is a creative and creative consultant living in San Francisco, California, with over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry and holds a graduate degree in Buddhist Studies. For years, he performed regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, an improv and sketch comedy theatre based in New York and Los Angeles. As an actor, Vincent performed on Comedy Central, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Seth Meyers, Above Average, and The UCB Show on Seeso. As a writer, he developed for television as well as stage, including work with the Blue Man Group, and his own written projects have been featured on websites such as Funny or Die. Additionally, he received a Masters of Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies with a Certificate in Soto Zen Studies and engages in a personal Buddhist practice within the Soto Zen tradition. Vincent is also the creator and host of the podcast, Paths of Practice, which features interviews with Buddhists from all over the world. “Martial art practice forces you to look at the dark side of humanity on a daily basis; you’re learning how to defend yourself against violence so you’re thinking about the reasons people get violent all the time. This is the Shaolin perspective: we know that if we only look at that all of the time that we might become an extremely aggressive person that doesn’t understand how to use it properly, that’s why there needs to be a balance in the training as well.” –Paula Lazarz

In this exploration of the practice of karma yoga, Ram Dass talks about the sweetness of service and how the mystery of the universe is in the precise action of the moment. This episode of Here and Now is from a retreat at the Lama Foundation in July of 1986. After priming us with a quote from the poet Kabir, Ram Dass explores the bhakti component of the yoga of service. It is the practice of seeing the Beloved everywhere. He talks about allowing time in our lives to process what’s going on and come back to center. Ram Dass continues to speak about the nature of karma yoga, saying the mystery of the universe is in the precise action of the moment. He talks about burnout and knowing our limits, and advises us to read about Hanuman. Using the example of caring for his aging father, Ram Dass shows us the sweetness of service. Service can be a vehicle for us to lighten, loosen, let go, open, allow, and appreciate. About Ram Dass: Ram Dass’s spirit has been a guiding light for generations, carrying millions along on the journey. Ram Dass teaches that through the Bhakti practice of unconditional love, we can all connect with our true nature. Through these teachings, Ram Dass has shared a little piece of his guru, Maharaj-ji, with all who have listened to him. The Ram Dass community gathers regularly to engage in meaningful discussions about the podcast. We invite you to join us and share your curiosities, insights, and wisdom. Sign up for the General Fellowship to receive event invitations directly in your inbox. “It gets to be so sweet to meet people through service that finally all you can express is your appreciation to them for allowing you to serve them.” – Ram Dass

With loving remembrance for Raghu’s nephew, Shiva Baum, Mindrolling presents this rerelease from 2014 where Shiva, Raghu, and David Silver explore how music shapes an era, from the wild sixties to the weird now. In this episode, Raghu, Shiva, and David discuss: - The magic of Bruce Springsteen and the collective heart that he creates - How changes in music signify the shift of an era - How Neil Young’s song Sugar Mountain shaped Shiva’s conscious relationship to music - The divine consciousness that was active in popular music throughout the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s - Voting for a higher consciousness in politics - How the internet and being hyper-aware of global tragedies can be overwhelming - Shiva and Raghu’s work with Triloka Records involves producing fusion world music - Shiva’s work with musician Clark Graham and the creation of "The Way Things Were" “What’s going on with us being more connected, we’ve absolutely voluntarily given up our privacy, we see atrocities all over the world and it’s so overwhelming that almost the form of activism is to tune it out...it does set the scene for a movement to transpire, certainly brilliant art in literature, music, and cinema. I think we’re still waiting to see the explosion. I hope it comes this decade, it might not come till next decade, but something is going on.” –Shiva Baum About Shiva Baum: Aside from being Raghu’s beloved nephew, Shiva Baum was a record producer and peak performance coach. With expertise in sacred mantra chanting, Shiva was the head of music programming for the world-renowned yoga music festivals Bhakti Fest and Shakti Fest. About David Silver: David Silver is the former co-host of the Mindrolling podcast. He is a filmmaker and director, most recently coming out with Brilliant Disguise. Brilliant Disguise tells the unique story of a group of inspired Western spiritual seekers from the 60s, who in meeting the great American teacher, Ram Dass, followed him to India to meet his Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, familiarly known as Maharaj-ji. Two days before he left his body, Maharaj-ji instructed K.C. Tewari to take care of the Westerners, which he did resolutely until the day he died in 1997. Silver’s #1 charting MGM/UA/Warners film, “The Compleat Beatles” is the critically acclaimed biopic movie about history’s most famous band. The term ‘rockumentary’ was first applied to this two-hour movie. Rolling Stone recently described the film as a “masterwork.” Silver’s Warner Brothers’ feature film, “No Nukes” also started the whole trend of music/activism feature documentaries.

Alan Watts explores the inseparable dance between structure and formlessness, revealing why the universe can never be fully captured by words alone. This time on Being in the Way, Alan Watts outlines: - Two distinct schools of thought: those who focus on structure, and those who focus on what Watts calls ‘goo’ - How fixating on practicality is like knowing all the words to a song without ever truly hearing the music - The difference between a scientific perspective and a spiritual perspective - Why structure and formlessness are inseparable aspects of the same cosmic process - Understanding that the universe cannot be explained with words alone This series is brought to you by the Alan Watts Organization and Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation. "What is it? What is this universe? What is an atom? What is energy? The only answer that would really please me wouldn't be an ordinary answer, because it wouldn't be in words." –Alan Watts

Illuminating the power of boundless love, Frank Ostaseski explains how love dissolves perceived limits and transforms our relationship to fear, doubt, and desire.

Environmental health advocate Mackenzie Feldman reveals how grassroots action and land stewardship can reshape our relationship with the earth, from the grounds of college campuses to the food systems that sustain us all.

Author and executive Bryan Welch shares how the grief of losing his child profoundly reshaped his heart, deepening his capacity for connection and compassion toward others. In this episode, David and Bryan chat about: - How grief can transform us in a beautiful way - Bryan’s journey through the loss of his son, Noah - Developing a deeper sense of compassion through Buddhism - Grief as a bridge of connection between ourselves and others - Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable - Narratives of our own safety as narratives of superiority - Forgiveness and considering how the ego wants to be responsible - Our involuntary reactions to grief, when compared to those of animals - Permission to cry & the relief we can feel from allowing emotions to wash over us About Bryan Welch: Bryan Welch is an author, business executive, farmer, and entrepreneur. For nineteen years, from its founding, he ran Ogden Publications, Mother Earth News, Mother Earth Living, Utne Reader, and several other leading media brands focused on sustainability and natural health. More recently, he served as co-CEO of Silk Grass Holdings, a family office developing 32,000 acres of regenerative organic farms and wildlife preserves in Belize. He was founder and CEO of B The Change Media, a multiplatform media company focused on business as a force for good in the world; and was CEO of Mindful Communications, a media and corporate meditation-training company; and CEO of Foster Care Technologies, a B Corporation that provides software that improves placements of children in foster care. Welch has served on the boards of the Silk Grass Farms, the Magazine Publishers Association, the Social Venture Network, Down Home Ranch Foundation, and several nonprofits. He has also served on corporate boards of directors and advisory boards of companies involved in natural foods, agriculture, food processing, e-commerce, corporate training, and the media. He holds a master’s degree from Harvard University, where he studied at the Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Business School. As a Buddhist, Welch is a longtime meditator and advocate for mindfulness practices. Keep up with Bryan on Facebook and check out thegiftofabrokenheart.com. “I spent some energy over the course of my life separating myself psychologically from the suffering from others, from the potential for my own suffering, and when I was up against it, I didn’t have those reasons to separate myself any longer. I felt a new sense of kinship with other people who were suffering. It occurred to me that as part of the healing, I wanted to see if I could preserve the new warmth I felt, the new openheartedness I felt. When your child dies of mental illness and addiction, you don’t want the pain and turmoil to be their legacy.” –Bryan Welch

Discussing the inspiration behind her upcoming album, Bhumi Devi, Nina Rao and Raghu Markus explore preserving the planet and devotion to the sacred mother. Support the presale of Bhumi Devi and find lyrics to numerous chants on Nina’s website. This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Nina chat about: - Moderating our consumption and doing our best to heal the earth - Nina’s work in preserving wilderness areas - Wisely receiving gifts from Mother Earth while preserving uncorrupted lands - The unconditional love and presence that resonates through Maharaj-ji - The reciprocal relationship we have with the divine - When Nina met Siddhi Ma, and seeing her as merged with Maharaj-ji - The first time Nina chanted for Siddhi Ma - Satsang: connecting with Maharaj-ji through community - Prayers to the Goddess in Nina’s new album, Bhumi Devi About Nina Rao: Nina Rao is a devotional singer. She tours with Krishna Das, playing cymbals, singing, and acting as his business manager. Nina has two of her own albums, “Antarayaami – Knower of All Hearts” and “Anubhav”. Nina regularly leads kirtan, workshops, and retreats in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York and beyond. Together with Chandra and Genevieve Walker, Nina operates the 21 Taras Collective. You can keep up with Nina on her website or find her on Instagram @nina_rao and on Facebook @NinaRaoChant. “Even if we’ve never met Maharaj-ji, we understand presence, we understand sacred divine presence that holds love, peace, equanimity, understanding, a place where you feel free on some level. That happened to me as a child, chanting to my grandpa, living close to the earth, engaging in ritual, and creating a space where we can offer gratitude.” –Nina Rao

Continuing his exploration of selflessness, Joseph Goldstein helps listeners live in the balance of both relative and ultimate truth. This episode is the second half of a talk that started in episode 259, "Selflessness, Dukkha, and Freedom." Watch here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RJos0_z_vU0 This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein discusses: - The impersonal nature of experiencing peace - Seeing with consciousness rather than with the subjective mind - Reframing the language of experience with a passive voice - Being fully present in the moment without identification - Understanding death and dying as the natural flow of impermanence - Having an easeful mind even when the body is afflicted - Understanding both relative and ultimate truth - The wonderful and joyful practice of generosity - This episode was recorded at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and originally published on Dharmaseed “We work to understand the dynamics of our conventional reality and all the challenges of it, even as we understand the essential selfless nature of it all. This is really the heart of a mature spiritual practice, the union of these two, not the separation." –Joseph Goldstein

Trudy Goodman offers dharma teachings on conflict and kindness, helping us build a loving awareness of who we truly are. In this episode, Trudy Goodman holds a talk on: - How our thoughts shape our identity and can create mental prisons - Breaking free from fixed ideas about ourselves, others, and the world - Starting with ourselves: offering kindness to our inner critic - Uniting in our shared intention to cultivate loving-kindness - Living in a world of complexity without creating suffering in ourselves and others - The Tibetan practice of exchanging the self for another - Inspiration from children and appreciating the present moment - Making friends with our lives rather than living in conflict - Relating wisely to situations and forgiving ourselves for being imperfect This recording from a 2013 retreat at Spirit Rock was originally published on Dharmaseed About Trudy Goodman: Trudy is a Vipassana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats, engages in activism work, and teaches workshops worldwide and online. She is also the voice of Trudy the Love Barbarian in the Netflix series, The Midnight Gospel. You can learn more about Trudy’s flourishing array of wonderful offerings at TrudyGoodman.com “We live in a very conditioned culture, probably every culture is to some extent. We see so clearly the various 'isms' that cause suffering. Racism, ageism, sexism, classism, all the gender stereotypes, homophobia, the list goes on and on. We’re studying here how to be present in loving awareness. When we’re not caught, there’s such a sense of possibility.” –Trudy Goodman

Explaining how collective grief may manifest as anger, RamDev teaches listeners how they can transform negative emotions into compassionate action.

In this deeply grounding guided meditation, Jack Kornfield invites us to rest in mindful loving awareness and gratitude for the miracle of being alive.

Ram Dass explores the process of listening and tuning that takes place on the spiritual journey as we find the practices that align with our unique karmic predicaments. This episode of Here and Now is from a workshop at the Lama Foundation in July of 1982. Outside in the mountains of New Mexico, Ram Dass speaks about the process of listening and tuning to hear the unique predicament of our spiritual journey. The quieter we get, the more we can hear which spiritual practice is the right one for us in the moment. Ram Dass talks about appreciating how all methods are traps. There is an excitement and joy in finding a method that’s harmonious with our being, and a sadness when that method self-ejects. He focuses on the practice of karma yoga and his own pattern of going out into the world, and then retreating for a period of time. To listen and tune, we must be willing to let go of our models. There must be a quietness of mind. To illustrate this point, Ram Dass reads a story about the Dalai Lama’s personal physician, Yeshi Dhonden. He closes the talk by saying, “All of these methods are, indeed, methods of purification, methods to prepare you as an instrument to hear so that your actions are in harmony with the way of things.” “You can’t grab. You can only listen and tune, and listen and tune, and listen and tune. And in the process of listening and tuning, you keep hearing many, many guides and instructions.” – Ram Dass The Ram Dass community gathers regularly to engage in meaningful discussions about the podcast. We invite you to join us and share your curiosities, insights, and wisdom. Sign up for the General Fellowship to receive event invitations directly in your inbox.

Blending together the clinical and the beautiful, Dr. Robert Krause and Vicki Marnin discuss mental health, psychedelic therapy, and integrative healing. Check out Centered, a pioneering mental health center offering affordable, multidisciplinary care designed to empower individuals on their path to healing. From traditional therapy to advanced psychiatric care and ketamine-assisted therapy, they provide a full spectrum of services to meet diverse needs. This time on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris, Robert, and Vicki discuss: - Bringing together different healing perspectives rather than being strictly clinical - Considering what it means to be centered - Ketamine as a therapeutic modality and how treatment changed Chris’s life - Considering set & setting in mental health spaces - Thinking of ketamine-assisted therapy as a gradual tool for change (not a cure-all or quick fix) - The psychological benefit of creating sharp contrast between everyday life and the psychedelic experience - Surrendering into ego dissolution for emotional healing - Holistic care, trauma-work, and setting boundaries About Dr. Robert Krause: Robert Krause DNP APRN-BC is the Director of Clinical Services & Co-Founder of Centered, a unique mental health center for integrative healing. Dr. Krause pursues his work through various schools of philosophy, psychotherapy and pharmacology, as well as meditation, yoga, tantra, sex therapy and psychedelic therapy. Dr. Krause holds a BA in Philosophy from WCSU, a certificate in Nursing and a Master of Science degree from the Yale School of Nursing, and a doctoral degree in nursing practice from Quinnipiac University. His doctoral research work was focused on using a program of yoga and meditation to decrease incidents of aggression in an inpatient psychiatric unit. He also holds certifications in Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery from Harvard University, and certificates in both Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Research and Sex Therapy from the California Institute for Integral Studies. “When I started studying psychedelic therapy about ten years ago, one of the things that was really front and center was the importance of set and setting. The setting for psychiatric work should be as important, but the setting for psychedelic work is very important because if we’re going to give people medicine that’s going to really open them up, in order to do that, they have to feel like they’re in a safe environment.” –Robert Krause About Vicki Marnin: Vicki Marnin, RN, CNM, APRN-BC, is a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. She has been assisting with ketamine assisted therapies for the past two years at Centered. Vicki has developed her skills for holding space for journeys in her practice as a midwife for the past 27 Years. Her path has turned toward helping people with personal growth, and mental health concerns. “The day before your ketamine session, I want you to clean up your space so that when you come home it’s beautiful for you. I want you to make some food so you don’t have to struggle. You’re greeting this new, vulnerable, potential self. Put some flowers in your room, make sure your sheets are clean. I want it to signify a beginning that people may hold onto as a sign post, as a commitment to themselves.” –Vicki Marnin

Interfaith peace counselor Patrick McCollum and documentary filmmaker Gabe Polsky share the powerful prophecy that united the Amazon and led to making their film, The Man Who Saves the World? This week on Mindrolling, Raghu speaks with his guests, Gabe and Patrick, about: - The origin story behind The Man Who Saves the World? and the real-life journey that inspired the film - How diverse Amazonian tribes are connected through shared spiritual practices and plant communication - The meaning of the Roxa Prophecy and why the Amazon is considered the “heart of the world” - Efforts to unite the Amazonian tribes to save the rainforest and its inhabitants - Our universal journey to understand reality and our purpose in life - How psychedelics, indigenous wisdom, and other spiritual pursuits open doors to new perspectives - Bursting the bubble of our constructed reality - Patrick’s work as a bridge between “the people of the concrete” (modern society) and the indigenous About Patrick McCollum: Patrick McCollum ​​is an interfaith chaplain, spiritual mentor, and peace counselor. Patrick was inspired by the Great Mother to promote a sacred universal vision that respects religious and cultural diversity and advances pluralism. As a dedicated peacemaker, Patrick brings forth a well-timed meta-narrative of universal magnitude that is alerting the world of the sacredness of all beings. Patrick is the founder and president of The McCollum Foundation for Peace, which aims to discover and implement positive, workable, and sustainable strategies that create local and global change and peace in all areas of life. “Their ancient story said that one day, thousands of years later, the Amazon would be in trouble. It would be burning, the water would be poisoned, and the indigenous people and their wisdom would be wiped out. When that happened, the creator would send the spirit of Roxa into a man or woman and that person would unite all of the indigenous people of the Amazon and help them create a strategy to save the heart of the world.” –Patrick McCollum About Gabe Polsky: Gabe Polsky is a filmmaker, director, producer, and writer best known for the documentaries Red Army (2014) and In Search of Greatness (2018). Known for pushing the boundaries of documentary filmmaking, Gabe Polsky has built a reputation for uncovering stories that challenge perception, provoke thought, and entertain. His work has premiered at major international festivals including the Cannes Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, the Telluride Film Festival, and the New York Film Festival. “After 8 years of pursuit from these tribes, he agreed to try and unfold this prophecy. I learned about this, and I got caught up in this story as well, following Patrick down to the Amazon to try and fulfill this prophecy. It’s this wild spiritual adventure, very funny, very strange, it’s a film that has a lot of deep meaning.” –Gabe Polsky

Drawing on the wisdom of The Four Resolves, Gil Fronsdal discusses finding our own inner strength to remain committed to the path of practice. This week on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Gil Fronsdal illuminates: - Gil’s own introduction to Vipassana practice - How sickness, old age, and death motivated the Buddha - Spiritual support and determination at Zen monasteries - Why cultivating your own inner resolve is one of the greatest challenges on retreat - The Four Resolves of Buddhism: truth, wisdom, generosity, peace - How Vipassana practice is dependent on allowing the truth to reveal itself - Discovering truth in the smallest moments through mindful awareness - How everyday mindfulness builds the resilience needed for life’s most challenging moments - Letting our hearts be generous and stepping out of self-preoccupation - Surfing the ways of life without drowning: becoming one with the ocean - This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed “It does take some inner resolve, determination, to keep hanging in here sometimes. It’s so easy to come down for tea, go to your room, go for a hike, all of which is appropriate at times, and inappropriate at others. What we’re asked here at Spirit Rock, it’s more challenging than at a zen monastery. It’s up to you much more. You have to find it in yourself.” –Gil Fronsdal About Gil Fronsdal: Gil Fronsdal is the co-teacher for the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California; he has been teaching since 1990. He has practiced Zen and Vipassana in the U.S. and Asia since 1975. He was a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985, and in 1989 began training with Jack Kornfield to be a Vipassana teacher. Gil teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center where he is part of its Teachers Council. Gil was ordained as a Soto Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and in 1995 received Dharma Transmission from Mel Weitsman, the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. He currently serves on the SF Zen Center Elders’ Council. In 2011, he founded IMC’s Insight Retreat Center. He is the author of The Issue at Hand, essays on mindfulness practice; A Monastery Within; a book on the five hindrances called Unhindered; and the translator of The Dhammapada, published by Shambhala Publications. You may listen to Gil’s talks on Audio Dharma. “The truth will liberate you because when you keep showing up moment by moment to what’s true, you have to confront and meet all of the forces inside you that want to veer off from what is true, to not stay present.” –Gil Fronsdal

Krishna Das shares wisdom on overcoming trauma, transforming negative patterns, and continually beginning again in the grace of the present moment. This week on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das offers down-to-earth advice on: - The incredible life of Garchen Rinpoche, a Tibetan Lama who spent 20 years in prison and labor camps in Communist China - Overcoming trauma & tragedy with gratitude for the present moment - Holding beings we have lost in our hearts and helping their spirit through prayer - Negative thought patterns and the stories we tell ourselves - Liberating the mind from suffering through practice - Remembering that we can always start again and create better habits - Finding the quiet space within ourselves that is non-reactive - Naturally arising compassion and not taking things too personally - Check out this free documentary on Garchen Rinpoche, For the Benefit of All Beings. "Our emotions are like clouds. We can't see the sun when we're stuck in our emotions. But has the sun gone anywhere? Have we gone anywhere? It is our minds that create the suffering and our minds that liberate us from suffering. You will always be right here where you are every minute. So how do we free ourselves? Practice. It's not about being high, having bliss or love all the time; it's about dealing with what's here. We can always start again." –Krishna Das About Krishna Das: Layering traditional Hindu kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Grammy nominee Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star.” With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das – known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD – has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling chant artist of all time. His album ‘Live Ananda’ (released January 2012) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category. KD spent the late ’60s traveling across the country as a student of Ram Dass, and in August 1970, he finally made the journey to India, which led him to Ram Dass’ own beloved guru, Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-ji. Krishna Das now travels the world sharing his kirtan practice and wonderful stories of his life, of Maharaji-ji, of his life on the Path and discusses bringing chanting into our lives through retreats and workshops. To date, KD has released 15 well-received albums, most recently Trust in the Heart released in October 2017.

In this exploration of divine connection and emotional awareness, Madison Margolin and communication coach Tsiporah Gottesman Bortz frame communication as a sacred practice for healing and self-expression. This time on Set & Setting, Madison and Tsiporah have a conversation about: - Tsiporah’s connection to Ram Dass after his death, and asking his spirit for guidance - How spiritual teachers make themselves known in auspicious ways - Seeing our life as a movie: objective narration in order to gain more perspective - Linking NVC & Hisbodedus (a Jewish practice of personal and heartfelt conversation with God) - Tips for people who have communication blocks with the divine - Bringing mindfulness and deep listening to our conversations - Tuning into feelings rather than language - Communication as a type of prayer and accessing the deepest part of us that wants to be expressed - Keeping a “feelings & needs” journal, allowing our feelings and needs to exist - Moments of peace through Katonah Yoga, a hatha practice woven with sacred geometry and metaphor - Psychedelic experiences and seeing how psychedelic life can be without plant medicine "Stagnant water is like a swamp or puddle. Healthy water is a river you can drink from; it’s moving, it’s alive. Those things inside of us that can feel really heavy, when we allow them to move, the stagnation starts to go away, and life force moves through us. It’s moving to allow it to be part of us, when it can be alive in us, it doesn’t create lethargy or stagnation. Hisbodedus is this way of expressing from our heart, speaking to creation, and staying big and alive even when we feel like something is closing in on us." –Tsiporah Gottesman Bortz About Tsiporah Gottesman Bortz: Tsiporah Gottesman Bortz is a communication coach, mediator, and teacher with over 15 years of experience guiding individuals and groups in practices of presence, awareness, and connection. She teaches yoga, most recently through Katonah Yoga, and has completed Vipassana meditation training, which continues to inform and shape her work. Her approach to communication is rooted in Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication and is enriched by somatic practices, including Somatic Experiencing. She supports people in cultivating deep self-understanding and the ability to remain present and grounded, even in the midst of challenge. Tsiporah also draws from her experience in integration work, helping individuals make sense of and find meaning in profound inner experiences. Keep up with Tsiporah on her Instagram. About Madison Margolin: Madison Margolin is a journalist & author straddling California, New York, and Israel-Palestine, focused on psychedelics, cannabis, and Judaism (in jest, she’ll say “Jews & Drugs”). She also covers culture, policy, and science. She is passionate and curious about how people can transcend their minds to access something greater than themselves — be it through psychedelics or God, meditating, creating art, or something somatic, she has set out to explore the various ways people nourish their souls. These days, she works as an editor at DoubleBlind, the print and digital magazine she co-founded, covering psychedelics and where they intersect with mental health, spirituality, environmental justice, and social equity. She also co-founded the Jewish Psychedelic Summit and hosts Set & Setting on the Be Here Now Network. Madison released the book Exile & Ecstasy in 2023. Learn more about Madison’s work at madisonmargolin.com

The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering? How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers. For the second episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Valarie Kaur, making her third appearance on the Metta Hour. Valarie is a renowned social justice leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, faith leader, mother, and best-selling author of See No Stranger, Sage Warrior, and World of Wonder. She leads the Revolutionary Love Project, building a movement to reclaim love as a force for justice. A daughter of Punjabi Sikh farmers in California, Valarie earned degrees at Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale Law School and holds several honorary doctorates. She lives in LA in a multi-generational family. Please note this conversation contains discussion of gun violence and ICE brutality. In this conversation, Valarie and Sharon speak about: - Valarie’s Revolutionary Bus Tour - Embodying a world we want to live in - Engagement over Escapism - Wisdom from Angela Harrelson - Valerie’s recent time in Minneapolis - Redefining what it is to be a “neighbor” - Reclaiming the best of our ancestral wisdom - Shifting from either/our to both/and - Breathing to alchemize suffering - A future that leaves no one behind - Love as our birthright - How to love opponents without giving in - The importance of humanizing the enemy - The whole world is our family - We don’t go to battle alone - Community care versus self-care - Different forms of resistance - Mai Bhago and the 40 Liberated Ones

BHNN Guest Podcast Ep. 248 - Bringing the Dhamma to Africa with Bhante Buddharakkhita, PhD & Vincent Moore by Be Here Now Network

Ep. 17 – Meditation, Cultivating A Pervasive Quality of Attention

From Mindrolling Ep. 639 – Psychedelics for Personal Development with Dr. Phil Wolfson, Gagan Levy & Raghu Markus Dr. Phil Wolfson offers his seasoned perspective on psychedelics, ketamine assisted therapy, and more in this expansive talk with Raghu Markus and Gagan Levy. This week on Mindrolling, Raghu, Phil, and Gagan discuss: - How psychedelics shaped Phil’s worldview in the 1960s and inspired his commitment to social justice - Using psychedelics as tools for personal growth, healing, and transformation - The importance of set and setting when taking psychedelics recreationally, therapeutically, or ceremoniously - Going beyond the up and down of psychedelics and finding steady peace through practice - The persistent anti-depressant effects of Ketamine and its therapeutic promise - Phil’s ongoing studies with the Ketamine Research Foundation for phantom limb pain, end-of-life care, and menstrual cycle disorders - Mind Manifesting: What exactly happens to the brain on psychedelics? - Phil’s ‘bottom line’: positive intentions and practical guidelines for Ketamine use "The work needs to be thought of not as a single episode, but as a therapy. Psychedelic psychotherapy is much quicker than conventional psychotherapy for many reasons, but it needs to have a follow-up, continuation, integration, work with someone, to be effective. That's not to say ketamine on its own doesn't have value, it does." – Dr. Phil Wolfson About Dr. Phil Wolfson: Phil Wolfson MD was Principal Investigator for the MAPS sponsored Phase 2, FDA approved 18-person study of MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for individuals with significant anxiety due to life threatening illnesses. His clinical practice with ketamine has informed his leadership role in the development of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. Phil’s book, The Ketamine Papers, has been published by MAPS and is the seminal work in the burgeoning ketamine arena. “I think of psychedelics as a tool for the most part. I've long done it within my framework of assisted psychotherapy, the legal period with MDMA, the legal medicine ketamine, which is expansive. It is truly a numinous experience, an experience of full ego dissolution with the possibility of reformation. I've always seen it in the landscape of overall development. Psychedelics need to be framed within personal development, love, sexuality, exploration, and of the course the issue of being on the path.” –Dr. Phil Wolfson About Gagan Levy: Gagan Levy is the Founder/CEO of Guru, an award-winning creative agency dedicated to serving purpose-driven movements, brands, and organizations. They work with impactful brands like Patagonia, Traditional Medicinals, Nalgene, Non-GMO, The Organic Alliance, Bring Change to Mind and many natural products brands, including EO / Everyone Products, OM Mushroom Superfoods, and REBBL. Gagan also serves as Chief Evangelist at MAHA Global, a platform focused on helping businesses adapt to stakeholder needs using data-driven reputation intelligence. As former Co-chair of Social Venture Circle, one of the country’s most prestigious impact investor and social business communities, Gagan leads the way to a next economy that is regenerative, just, and prosperous for all. Gagan Levy is also a current board member to his prolific teacher Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation, he has been instrumental in strategizing how to connect the greatest wisdom keepers of our time to a new generation.

Celebrating the release of All In This Together, Jack shares stories and leads a guided meditation inviting us into the fear dispelling and protective practice of loving kindness.

From meditation retreats to pop music, Vipassana teacher Trudy Goodman describes cultivating devotion in both obvious and unlikely places. In this episode, Trudy Goodman illuminates: - Cultivating devotion through seeing things with a positive connotation - The activity of compassion as a beautiful possibility to experience the sacred - A story of Trudy’s daughter and facing severe illness with grace - Holding a deep gratitude for life and the dharma - Practicing devotion through pop music and romance ballads - Remembering the present moment, the only moment we have - Experiencing devotion through the tenderness of our shared joys and sorrows - Enduring messy and painful moments with gratitude and continuing to enjoy our practice - How judgment and worry fall away when we are truly present - A lesson from Ram Dass on loving everything - Emerging from the mystery of the cosmos This recording from a 2025 retreat at Spirit Rock was originally published on Dharmaseed About Trudy Goodman: Trudy is a Vipassana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats, engages in activism work, and teaches workshops worldwide and online. She is also the voice of Trudy the Love Barbarian in the Netflix series, The Midnight Gospel. You can learn more about Trudy’s flourishing array of wonderful offerings at TrudyGoodman.com “Of course, these songs are romantic songs, devoted to you, my lover. But, you could say devoted to you, the Buddha, the dharma, the sangha. You could listen to all those teenage ballads that way, and it deepens your practice. You can listen to beautiful religiously inspired music like Bach, but you can also listen to pop songs. It can be about the Dharma. Devotion everywhere." –Trudy Goodman

In this rich conversation bridging Zen and Jewish mysticism, Rabbi Rami Shapiro and Raghu Markus navigate nonduality, the shadow, and the living experience of the divine. This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Rabbi Rami discuss: - Veering off from traditional Judaism and into Jewish mysticism - Nondual awareness as the realm of divine consciousness - Going beyond the dead word and into the living word - Inspiration from Shunryu Suzuki Roshi’s classic Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind and Thich Nhat Hanh’s series on How to Live - Koan: the Zen practice of exhausting the logical mind to provoke direct, intuitive insight into reality and one's own nature - Recognizing our own shadow rather than pretending it does not exist - Holding multiple truths at once: there is no other, we are all part of a whole, and we do have differences - How the Kabbalah expresses the name of God in an embodied way - Seeing the divine in all humans and everything in front of us - Special moments with Ram Dass, accepting silence and accepting the moment for what it is "The Jewish meditation practices, the spirituality within Judaism, never or at least rarely gets beyond or slips into the nondual to the extent that you drop the labels, that you drop the tribal. You get Saint Paul saying there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, in Christ. To me, that's Christ consciousness, that's Buddha mind. When you reach that level of consciousness, all the labels fall away, your sense of separate self is gone.” –Rabbi Rami Shapiro About Rabbi Rami Shapiro: Rabbi Rami Shapiro is an award-winning author of over two dozen books on religion and spirituality. He received rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College: Jewish Institute of Religion, and holds a PH.D. from Union Graduate School. A congregational rabbi for 20 years, Rabbi Rami currently co–directs One River Wisdom School, blogs at r writes the foundation’s newsletter, Ask Rabbi Rami, and hosts the foundation’s podcast, Explore Spirituality with Rabbi Rami. “In Kabbalah, every atom of creation has the same divine shape even though you can't see it with a microscope. Everything in the universe is actually a variation of the divine name. Everything has that shape if you can see it properly." –Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Indigenous activist Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn teaches Māori wisdom, guiding listeners to co-create reality and find their place within the universe. This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Catherine chat about: - Catherine’s early life, upbringing, and academic background in law and philosophy - Indigenous rights and Māori negotiations with the Crown in New Zealand - The Māori concept of pure potential and spiritual cosmology - The fractal nature of things, how the micro and macro reflect each other in the universe - How humans and the universe can co-create reality - The tension between science and indigenous spirituality - Expanding awareness: humanity’s role within a greater cosmic intelligence “What we've been told over many, many hundreds and thousands of years, is there are periods in the evolution of life where the darkness overwhelms but the darkness can never kill the light. I think it's talking about that energy, that potential, and as long as we can converse about that, I know that holding onto that possibility allows you to create a different reality." –Anita Sanchez About Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn: Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn hails from the Ngāti Kurī and Te Rarawa Māoripeoples of Aotearoa (New Zealand). She has been an Indigenous human rights activist, advocate for decolonisation, and environmental defender most of her adult life. Her credentials include a Master of Laws; official roles in both of her tribes' Treaty Claims negotiations with the New Zealand Government; two UNhuman rights Indigenous Fellowships (representing the Pacific); and as a delegate representing her Māori people at the UN Permanent Forum on IndigenousIssues.A former educator and now proud grandmother, her current focus is building climate resilience and food sovereignty in her community through an organisation to which she belongs-Climate Action Tai Tokerau. "That is the infrastructure of the universe. That is the scaffolding of reality, that we as humans are able to interact and somehow engage that scaffolding and co-create reality as we go along." –Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn

Omid Safi and mythology expert Joshua Michael Schrei explore the shared threads of spiritual traditions, discussing ecstasy, discernment, and the courage to cultivate a heart that becomes a refuge for others. This episode was originally recorded for The Emerald, a podcast that explores the human experience through a vibrant lens of myth, story, and imagination. Brought to life through the wise, wild, and humorous vision of Joshua Michael Schrei — a teacher and lifelong student of the cosmologies and mythologies of the world — the podcast draws from a deep well of poetry, lore, and mythos to challenge conventional narratives on politics and public discourse, meditation and mindfulness, art, science, literature, and more. Subscribe to The Emerald on your favorite podcast app for more conversations like this! In this episode, Omid and Joshua navigate: - The connecting thread between different faith traditions - The mythic, the ecstatic, and the embodied - Making contact with the mystery - Building spiritual rhythm through daily practice - Real friendship: holding up the mirror to one another - Staying consciously open but maintaining wise boundaries - Spiritual naivety, working on discernment, and being aware of self-justification - Political activism and taking accountability for our own roles - Making our hearts a garden in which others can seek shelter About Joshua Michael Schrei: Josh Schrei is a podcaster, myth teller, teacher, and a lifelong student of the cosmologies and mythologies of the world—in particular the Indian subcontinent. Throughout a lifetime of teaching, study, meditation, and yogic practice, wilderness immersion, art, music, and public speaking, Josh has sought to navigate the living, animate space of the imagination and advocate for a world that prioritizes imaginative vision. Josh has taught intensive courses in mythology and somatic disciplines for more than 20 years. Keep up with Joshua on his website and stay tuned for fresh episodes of The Emerald. "When we re-find that ecstatic thread, then we find that thread unifies so many things that we once thought were disparate. The divine has always been accessed musically, through story, through art, in so many different ways, through mythic study. All of this is a different way of getting out of agitated consciousness and into a place where we can find that ecstatic experience." –Joshua Michael Schrei About Omid Safi: Omid Safi is a teacher in the Islamic mystical tradition of Radical Love, and serves as a professor of Islamic studies at Duke University. Omid’s passion for teaching has been recognized by his ten nominations for Professor of the Year awards. Omid has published extensively on the foundational sources of Islam and Sufism. His Memories of Muhammad is an award-winning biography of the Prophet Muhammad. His most recent book is Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition. He teaches online courses through Illuminated Courses on topics ranging from Rumi to the mystical dimension of the Qur’an. Lastly, he offers for the general public Illuminated Tours , spiritually oriented contemplative journeys and retreats which have brought more than 2,500 friends from over twenty countries to Turkey, Morocco, Andalusia, and now Umrah since 2002.

This interview was featured in Ep. 2 of The Flower Heads Show. Check out that episode here in our feed on SoundCloud or on The Be Here Now Network's YouTube Channel. Raghu Markus, executive director of Love Serve Remember Foundation, chats with Dakota Wint about meeting Neem Karoli Baba and sustaining spiritual practice without psychedelics. Recorded in Rishikesh, India, Dakota and Raghu discuss: - The day that Raghu met Neem Karoli Baba - God, humanness, and experiencing the ineffable - Intention of truth and the universe rather than the individual ego - Neem Karoli Baba’s apparent immunity to psychedelics - Instructions from Neem Karoli Baba: Feed people, love people - Integrating psychedelic teachings rather than continuing to return to them for answers - Having faith and letting go of our self-fixation About 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. Dakota grew to fame as an internet personality via his popular YouTube channel, Dakota of Earth. Dakota hosts retreats around the world and runs a non-profit focused on cultural and language preservation. Learn more about current happenings on his website. “In that time, I was so invested in the psychedelic as being the answer and maybe lacking faith and spirituality because it doesn't have the same direct experience as the psychedelic. But now, slowly, slowly, eight years later, we're back here and I think I have changed my mind. My mind got changed. My mind got rolled." –Dakota Wint About Raghu Markus: Raghu Markus spent two years in India with Neem Karoli Baba and Ram Dass. He has been involved in music and transformational media since the early 1970s. Currently, he is the Executive Director of the Love Serve Remember Foundation and hosts the Mindrolling Podcast on the Be Here Now Network. Along with Duncan Trussell, Raghu also recently co-created The Movie of Me to the Movie of We. “When you speak about intentionality with a being that is no longer in two, no duality, you're missing the point…there is no intentionality, it is just whatever is in the flow of that which is true.” –Raghu Markus on Neem Karoli Baba

An honest look at faith, hope, and letting go. Dakota shares spontaneous moments of awakening and sits down with Raghu Markus to talk about taking leaps of faith and embracing the mystery. For more conversation about faith, spirituality, and psychedelics, listen to this episode's full interview with Raghu here in our feed on SoundCloud, or watch the video version over on Be Here Now Network’s YouTube Channel. Welcome back to The Flower Heads Show! In this episode, we explore: - Mental health struggles and facing nihilism with a new, awakened perspective - Dakota’s spontaneous moment of faith and pure grace - What it means to trust the mystery and release control - Spirit messages during an indigenous psychedelic ceremony in Mexico - The profound truth that arises in moments of silence - A powerful reflection on faith from Raghu Markus - Sinking into faith and surrendering to the present moment About 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. Dakota grew to fame as an internet personality via his popular YouTube channel, Dakota of Earth. Dakota hosts retreats around the world and runs a non-profit focused on cultural and language preservation. Learn more about current happenings on his website. "All spiritual practice is about remembering, for me. This is my spiritual practice. It's about paying attention so that when these moments happen, I can be conscious of them. So, when the ‘love serve remember' message comes through in the form of a mushroom, in the form of Maharaj-ji, in the form of someone asking me for some change, in the form of my own mother, any way that it approaches, my practice is to try to remember." –Dakota Wint About Raghu Markus: Raghu Markus spent two years in India with Neem Karoli Baba and Ram Dass. He has been involved in music and transformational media since the early 1970s. He is currently the Executive Director of the Love Serve Remember Foundation and hosts the Mindrolling Podcast on the Be Here Now Network. Along with Duncan Trussell, Raghu also recently co-created The Movie of Me to the Movie of We. “When you speak about intentionality with a being that is no longer in two, no duality, you're missing the point…there is no intentionality, it is just whatever is in the flow of that which is true.” –Raghu Markus on Neem Karoli Baba

For episode 282, Elisha Goldstein, PhD, returns to the Metta Hour to speak with Sharon about his new book, Tiny Shifts: How Emotional Health Transforms Stress, Relationships, and Longevity. Elisha Goldstein is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and the co-founder of The Center for Mindful Living and Psychotherapy in Los Angeles. For over two decades, he has helped people break free from the conditioning that keeps them stuck in cycles of stress and overwhelm, uncovering how emotional health naturally transforms stress, relationships, and longevity. Elisha is the author of several books, including Uncovering Happiness, and The Now Effect, as well as hosting The Emotional Longevity Podcast. In this conversation, Sharon and Elisha speak about: - Living in a culture of overwhelm - David Foster Wallace’s fish story - Insight alone doesn’t create change - Underlying conditioning of chronic stress - Realizing our natural intelligence - The challenge of practicing wisdom - How tiny shifts create lasting change - Interrupting stress patterns - Emotional regulation and impulse control - The 4R method: Recognize, Release, Refocus, Reinforce - How emotional health supports longevity - Listening to the body’s signals - Reclaiming our attention This episode closes with a guided meditation led by Elisha.

Unpacking the Buddha’s notions of self and nonself, transience and suffering, Joseph Goldstein leads listeners into the heart of liberation. This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein illuminates: - Why the Buddha paid so much attention to the concept of self - How a felt sense of self traps us in desire and attachment - Seeing the term ‘self’ as a designation rather than something that exists in and of itself - Slight adjustments to our language during practice: ‘the body breathes’ rather than ‘my breath’ - Using the template of The Five Aggregates to describe experience - Genuine experiences of momentary peace as a peak into Nirvana - Taking an interest into the landscapes of our own minds - Transience and the way that things are always becoming otherwise - The ungovernability of the mind, the body, and all aspects of reality - How selflessness can lead to both Dukkha and freedom This episode was recorded at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and originally published on Dharmaseed "As long as we are caught up, identified, and entangled in the view of self, then we spend our lives defending it, gratifying it, grandiosing it, judging it; we have all these responses that come out of this felt sense of the self." –Joseph Goldstein

Gil Fronsdal explores practicing in accord with nature, showing how mindfulness and honesty help us release resistance and move with the natural flow of the Dharma. This time on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Gil Fronsdal lectures on: - Being in accord with the dharma, with truth, and with nature - The painful attitudes that we often bring to change - Accepting our feelings rather than pushing them away - How resistance to reality causes more suffering - Mindfulness: creating the ideal conditions for the natural process of healing - Floating down the stream of Dharma rather than struggling up a mountain - Studying nature rather than rushing into conclusions - Becoming an observer of our own lives with child-like openness and adult-like resolve About Gil Fronsdal: Gil Fronsdal is the co-teacher for the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California; he has been teaching since 1990. He has practiced Zen and Vipassana in the U.S. and Asia since 1975. He was a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985, and in 1989 began training with Jack Kornfield to be a Vipassana teacher. Gil teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center where he is part of its Teachers Council. Gil was ordained as a Soto Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and in 1995 received Dharma Transmission from Mel Weitsman, the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. He currently serves on the SF Zen Center Elders’ Council. In 2011 he founded IMC’s Insight Retreat Center. He is the author of The Issue at Hand, essays on mindfulness practice; A Monastery Within; a book on the five hindrances called Unhindered; and the translator of The Dhammapada, published by Shambhala Publications. You may listen to Gil’s talks on Audio Dharma. This recording was originally published on Dharmaseed "We're in this stream of the dharma, this stream of practice. It is not fighting up a mountain and struggling so much. It is finding a place to rest in the stream and we find ourselves being carried along beautifully into the ocean. The ocean is so big it can hold all of us. Isn't that nice? It's not like you're going to be king of the mountain. We're all going to be brothers and sisters in this great ocean of the dharma." –Gil Fronsdal

Navigating boundaries through self-honesty and staying grounded, Ramdev teaches listeners how to say no with an open heart. This week on Healing at the Edge, RamDev discusses: - The seven chakras throughout our development - Feeling worthy of receiving the profound blessings in each moment - The psychological perspective of boundaries: saying no lovingly - Getting into the energetic body of boundaries - The necessity of being centered & grounded in order to set boundaries - Opening to God and others without being overwhelmed - Leaving behind fear, guilt, and shame in order to accept love and keep the heart open - Practicing self-honesty and mindfulness so that we can set strong boundaries “It's pretty easy to say no with a closed heart. It's pretty easy to say yes with an open heart. But, can you say no with an open heart?" –RamDev About RamDev Dale Borglum: RamDev Dale Borglum founded and directed the Hanuman Foundation Dying Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the first residential facility in the United States to support conscious dying. He has been the Executive Director of the Living/Dying Project in Santa Fe and since 1986 in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the co-author with Ram Dass, Daniel Goleman and Dwarka Bonner of Journey of Awakening: A Meditator’s Guidebook, Bantam Books and has taught meditation since 1974. RamDev offers lectures and workshops on the topics of meditation, healing, spiritual support for those with life ­threatening illness, and on caregiving as spiritual practice. He has a doctorate degree from Stanford University. RamDev’s passion is the healing of our individual and collective fear of death so that we may be free.

From Mindrolling Podcast Ep. 637 – Beyond the Veil of Normal Perception with Dakota Wint & Raghu Markus Dakota Wint meets Raghu beyond the veil of normal perception to explore mysticism, altered states, and the fringe of spirituality. This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Dakota explore: - The Aghori people of India and seeing the occult side of Hinduism - Dr. Robert Svoboda’s trilogy on the Aghori people: At the Left Hand of God - Differentiating real prayer from performative rituals - Faith and seeing beyond the veil of our normal perception - Considering the limits of spirituality and how it is expressed across cultures - Dissolving polarities and seeing the universality of all beings - Taking wisdom from Ram Dass through his posthumous book, There is No Other - Realizing that wisdom and spirituality does not require travel or psychedelics - Dakota’s experience with plant medicine in the Amazonian jungle - Faith and remembering the mystery in day-to-day life - The eternal light of the Sadhu and reaching enlightened states without substances You can find Dakota’s documentary, Aghori: Holy Men Of The Dead, free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDyNvfBQ4Cs&list=PLQxHaGVLAzc45wODdC0jxue56o3U93kPI&index=4 About 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 retreats around the world and runs a non-profit focused on cultural and language preservation. Learn more about current happenings on his website “I am just trying to figure out what spirituality is, what the limits of it are, how it expresses itself, are we all talking about the same thing, what can you show me? I go to these places that have these big practices. What do you have to offer? Especially in India, where all these gurus make these big claims, what can you show me? That's what I've been asking myself and anyone I meet.” –Dakota Wint

Author, speaker, and harm reduction advocate Ryan Hampton discusses the importance of addressing the social needs of individuals struggling with addiction. Learn more about Ryan’s perspective on the overdose epidemic in America through his 2024 book, Fentanyl Nation. This time on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Ryan chat about: - The state of the world and the ongoing opioid and overdose epidemic - Harm reduction and how recovery has changed throughout the generations - The peer support model and the critical role of community in addiction recovery - Promoting harm reduction initiatives as a life-saving alternative to punitive approaches - Psychedelic therapy and integration sessions - Balancing clinical addiction treatment with addressing social determinants like poverty and homelessness - Short term solutions to addiction versus long term sustainable strategies for recovery - Tackling the root causes of addiction instead of focusing solely on substance use - Releasing the identities we cling to pre-recovery - Freedom of thought and freedom of choice “The act of reducing harm in any fashion should never be under political assault...I believe in bodily autonomy. If somebody is consciously making those decisions, then let's help them make better decisions so they are not harming other people and themselves, or reducing harm to themselves. We can support harm reduction, or, we can support death.” –Ryan Hampton About Ryan Hampton: Ryan Hampton is a national addiction recovery advocate, author, media commentator, and person in long-term recovery. He has worked with multiple non-profits nationwide to end overdose and served in leadership capacities for various community organizing initiatives. Hampton is in recovery from a decade of active opioid use and is a leading voice in America's rising recovery movement. He is the author of Unsettled, American Fix, and Fentanyl Nation. Ryan lives in Nevada with his husband, Sean, and their two boxer dogs.

Celebrating the release of All in This Together, Jack reflects on learning to bow to life’s mystery—and how doing so opens a path to liberation, love, and inner peace.

Ram Dass answers questions about spirituality and money, being indecisive, ego trips, listening for your unique manifestation in life, and more. This episode of Here and Now comes from a Q&A session with the “unique manifestation” group at a retreat in 1989. The first question is about whether it’s possible to grow spiritually and be financially prosperous. Ram Dass talks about playing with our desires and our attachments to worldly things. Next up are questions around listening for your unique manifestation in life, how to tell if you’re on an ego trip, and finding your next stage of purpose. Ram Dass tells a story about his “Eight-Fold Bath of the Upper Middle Way”. The next question is about whether being indecisive can be part of your unique manifestation. We end by revisiting the first question about spirituality and money. In this society, we’re all up to our eyeballs in desire systems. The Ram Dass community gathers regularly to engage in meaningful discussions about the podcast. We invite you to join us and share your curiosities, insights, and wisdom. Sign up for the General Fellowship to receive event invitations directly in your inbox. “You have to be ready to know that what you hear at one moment about unique manifestation is gonna constantly be changing and changing and changing. And you’ve gotta be listening afresh all the time. You’re listening for a unique manifestation, meaning that form of expression that will be… it’s the confluence between your karma and your dharma.” – Ram Dass About Ram Dass: Ram Dass’s spirit has been a guiding light for generations, carrying millions along on the journey. Ram Dass teaches that through the Bhakti practice of unconditional love, we can all connect with our true nature. Through these teachings, Ram Dass has shared a little piece of his guru, Maharaj-ji, with all who have listened to him.

From Tibetan Buddhism to Bhakti Yoga, Raghu and author Vincent Thibault explore reshaping the mind in our chaotic world. This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Vincent journey through: - Vincent’s early exposure to literature and the roots of his interest in Eastern philosophy and contemplative traditions - Navigating digital overwhelm and content overload in the modern age - How busyness and productivity culture can numb us to collective suffering - Parkour: a physical, artistic, and spiritually metaphorical discipline - Suffering as a path to transformation and deeper connection with God - Drawing connections across many different wisdom traditions - Positive attachment versus attachment that traps us - Those who inspire the trust of our own pure minds - Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the value of learning from multiple teachers - Raghu’s lineage of Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion - The Tibetan translation of devotion: interested humility - Training the mind, training the heart, and learning to relate to both inner and outer phenomena -Learn more about Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche HERE and check out his book on karma “Be it just on the cushion for a few minutes a day, if you find a way to make that switch and see difficulties as opportunities, then you can slowly learn to turn everything into the path of enlightenment.” –Vincent Thibault About Vincent Thibault: A man of ideas and actions, an amazed traveller, and a defender of what could be called lucid optimism, Vincent Thibault is a Quebec writer and screenwriter. Vincent’s writing takes on many forms, including fantasy, psychological or adventure novels, comic or dramatic scenarios, travel stories, literary short stories, philosophical essays, and translations of Buddhist texts. While his work is incredibly diverse, it revolves around the same key themes: integrity, the quest for wisdom, the relationship to uncertainty, the reconciliation between tradition and modernity, and the power of benevolence in a noisy and busy world. Check out more of Vincent’s writing on his website which includes both a French and English section. You can also keep up with Vincent on Facebook. "Causes have an effect and vice versa, an effect has causes. There are also conditions and circumstances; there are many things to consider. But, it would be nihilistic to think that we can do anything and it doesn't have an effect whatsoever. Things have consequences and they can be positive or not. We have to find a balance between being too cerebral and being too nihilistic." –Vincent Thibault

We are starting a special mini-series featuring Ram Dass and guests from his Satsang on Maui. This episode kicks things off with Kirtan by Uma Reed, as Ram Dass humorously explores the wonder of aging and seeing the entire world as God. “Aging is wonderful, all you have to do is stay conscious.” –Ram Dass In this Satsang with Ram Dass, the group talks about: - Dealing with pain, injury, illness, and other effects of aging - Seeing the body as simply a vehicle for this plane of reality - Ram Dass’s book Still Here and aging with awareness - Focusing on our consciousness rather than concerning ourselves with the body’s decline - Ram Dass’s story of seeing Krishna in a police officer - Playing our roles while we are in this worldly plane - Karma Yoga and seeing the entire world as God This talk was recorded in 2008 at one of Ram Dass' quarterly Sunday Satsang gatherings in Studio Maui. “I’m learning the aging process has to do with the body and my consciousness need not be concerned with my body. The body is a car, it’s a transport for this plane.” –Ram Dass