Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

Sharon Salzberg and Danny Goldberg join Raghu for a special conversation about our foreboding political climate and better ways to approach it through practice.   In times like this, of fear and polarization, it is important to find balance and approach others with loving-kindness. The group inspires us not to despair by remembering that even though the past and future are full of darkness, love i...

Author and speaker Rob Bell joins Mindrolling to talk about his new book and how he helps others live life with a deeper level of appreciation and love for each other. Rob Bell is a pastor and New York Times bestselling author of Love Wins, What We Talk About When We Talk about God, The Zimzum of Love and his most recent book How To Be Here. He and Raghu discuss their common practices, barrier dis...

Chris "Bash" Bashinelli joins Raghu to discuss his inspirational documentary series and how it as informed his inner journey.  Bash gave up an acting career to exchange with the world and fulfill a higher calling. His documentaries give a personal perspective of what life is like in other cultures, highlighting the similarities we share with them despite all the differences. Bash empowers each of...

Mindrolling Podcast welcomes world-renown spiritual teacher, Mooji.   Mooji provides a unique and refreshing perspective on what it means to be on the spiritual path. He and Raghu discuss the non-dualism, free-will, and the pitfalls of self.   "Anyone whose mind is in the heart has inherited a tremendous space. It is like the whole universe becomes yours." - Mooji See Privacy Policy at https://art...

Raghu brings Jared Levy and Martin Winiecki on the show to talk about the Tamera community and the book that it inspired, Terra Nova. Jared Levy returns to Mindrolling to introduce Martin and talk about the important work being done at Tamera. Martin is a core team member of the Tamera Biotope in Portugal, where he is Coordinator of the Terra Nova School and the Political Department. The two discu...

This week, on Mindrolling, Nick J. Polizzi joins Raghu to discuss Nick's inspiring documentary on Shamanic medicine and what it has to offer the West. The documentary, Sacred Science, brings together eight patients whose illnesses Western medicine could not cure. Nick and Raghu talk about the movie, the medicine, and the future of this practice which has so much to offer the world. See Privacy Pol...

Mindrolling co-founder David Silver returns to talk about what he has been up to, the ominous state of the world, and the moving power of devotion. Raghu and David read from an article written by a Buddhist Rinpoche who addresses the role of emotion and devotion in Tibetian Buddhism. Find out how one of the greatest Boddhisatvas of our time was brought to tears and what his depth of heart has to t...

Raghu is joined once again by musician, author, and teacher, David Nichtern. David chats with Raghu about his new book, “Awakening from the Daydream,” which reimagines the ancient Buddhist parables of the Wheel of Life and Samsara. David describes a few of the realms of Samsara and where we see them playing out in our world today. He also gives us practices to overcome these obstacles to our inner...

On this week's episode of Mindrolling, Raghu sits down with Bioneers co-founder, Kenny Ausubel. They discuss the role of Bioneers and how it is bringing innovative thinkers together to create radical social and environmental change. Kenny explores the interconnectedness of all things and what can be done to strike a balance between nature and humanity.   "Before we think that we can change anythin...

On this episode of Mindrolling, Raghu finally gets the opportunity to bring an old friend, Dr. Larry Brilliant, on the show. Larry Brilliant is a remarkable individual with an incredible story. Larry shares with us highlights from his life of service to others. Through Maharaji, Larry discovered his true love for everyone and was led to help eradicate smallpox from India and the world. "Love Every...

An old friend of the show, Dr. Judith Orloff, returns to have a conversation with Raghu about empathy and sensitivity. We are given a compelling look at the life of an empath and how one might stay spiritually open while protecting themselves from being overwhelmed by what they let in. Judith is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, practicing Psychiatrist, and best-selling New Yo...

Our podcast guru, Duncan Trussell, introduces Raghu to writer and producer Dan Harmon. Dan is known for his cutting humor and honest introspection. Our trio sits down in Dan’s studio for a conversation about work, introspection, and finding happiness. Coming from a background of not making enough money and working undesirable jobs, Dan tries to find balance with his life and workload now that ever...

South African shaman John Lockley returns! In this episode, John brings us stories from the bush and tales of the inner landscape. “Radical mindfulness is radical listening. Without judgment, without ego, just listen.” – John Lockley Raghu and John talk about the self, the spirit world, and the interconnectedness of mystical traditions. What is in a name? How does a shaman practice mindfulness? Fi...

Raghu talks with Be Here Now Network staffers, JR Morton and Corey Leonard, about being mindful in the era of smartphones. They discuss the pros and cons of a device that gives us access to so much but is changing how we interact and how our brains function. Smartphones are pulling us away from ourselves at an alarming rate. What can we do to mitigate their downsides and use them for the tools the...

While in L.A., Raghu drops by for a chat with a newly made friend, comedian Natasha Leggero. They talk about what led Natasha on a path of self-inquiry. How Ram Dass has played an important role in her life and career. Natasha talks about how inspirational relationships and self-work have brought her a life she couldn’t have imagined as a struggling comedian. Raghu touches on the topics of shakti,...

Raghu gets the opportunity to chat with new found friend Vincent Horn, host of the Buddhist Geeks podcast. They discuss the interplay of technology and spiritual experience. In what ways do the internet, smartphones, and emerging technologies affect our spiritual practice and how can we utilize them to their greatest potential?   Vincent founded his podcast "Buddhist Geeks" and website "Meditate....

Mindfulness and approaching it from as many practical approaches as possible. In this latest episode, Raghu and Ramesh look at: What does mindfulness really mean? What kind of perspective you can have about it that can change your life, the different practices of it that people can do on a day to day basis without joining anything, you can sit there and work with your breath, so you can bring awar...

Raghu welcomes Mirabai Starr- famous for her Christian Mystic books and now her memoir- Caravan of No Despair. Raghu asked what in the world she asked for while still in the Bardos between lives - her first few decades in this incarnation being so full of intense suffering! As if she knew what she needed to transform her being but she really asked for the full monty and managed to come through wit...

Raghu and his Guru pal Duncan Trussell, get together for an illuminating conversation with Trevor Hall at the most recent Ram Dass retreat on Maui. Trevor shares his amazing transformation through discovering the guru, Neem Karoli Baba, by meeting Raghu’s younger brother at the age of 17, and eventually winding up living in a Kali temple in Laguna Beach, CA. Duncan’s infectious curiosity anchors t...

Raghu is joined by his roommate from back in the day in India, Rameshwar Das Lytton or just plain Ramesh! Ramesh has been Ram Dass co-author on his two latest books- Be Love Now and Polishing The Mirror. Raghu quotes from Ram Dass about those who saw the physical Guru- “None of us knew Maharaji- we just knew our own projections” More fodder for the reality of not needing to meet the Guru in the fl...

Raghu with his co-host, true blue soul mate wife, Saraswati Markus hang with Gil Fronsdal- newly named Baba Gil. Gil hails from the Insight Meditation family and was discovered by Saraswati during her long nite festivals of Dharama talks. When we talk about the difficulties people have with meditative practice Gil calls out to people to remember that it is a "failure free zone". We talk about the...

Raghu is joined by Duncan Trussell and Lama Surya Das at the Ram Dass Maui spring retreat  live podcast session. Unfortunately, just before the session Raghu cut someone off in the bathroom line and then was reprimanded by the aggrieved party. Of course there ensued guilt and recrimination which Duncan, in his wisdom, reassured Raghu that we all can't live up to impossible standards all the time-...

Raghu chats with Danny Goldberg- a man well versed in culture and politics to discuss the intense polarization in this country in this election year. The discussion circles around an article by Arthur C Brooks entitled Bipartisanship isn’t for Wimps, After All. Even friends are polarized by loyalties to Hillary or Bernie not to mention between Democrats and Republicans. As Mr Brooks mentions in hi...

Raghu is joined by Frank Osteseski, a Buddhist teacher andguiding light for people who are facing the death and dyingprocess. Raghu talks about his recent experience with the transition ofhis close friend Jyoti and it how it was like being at the veryprecipice of awakening when he sat with her as she was slippingthrough the Bardos. Frank describes being with someone who is dying as anopportunity t...

Raghu introduces Lisa Wimberger, who got hit by lightening, blacked out and lost her pulse at 15 years old! Her traumatic event let Lisa to a new path, developing Neurosculpting - a fusion of brain science and mindfulness. As she says, even the most insidious mental beliefs can be re-written- and boy could we all use a little brain re-wiring! Lisa and Raghu talk about the flight-fright-freeze surv...