Mindrolling With Raghu Markus

With loving remembrance for Raghu’s nephew, Shiva Baum, Mindrolling presents this 2014 rerelease, in which Shiva, Raghu, and David Silver explore how music shapes an era, from the wild sixties to the weird now.Please consider supporting Shiva’s family via GoFundMe. Funds raised will go toward cremation and memorial expenses, immediate living and housing costs, and ongoing support as Radha and Mohan navigate life after his passing. Learn more: Supporting Shiva Baum And His FamilyIn this episode, Raghu, Shiva, and David discuss: The magic of Bruce Springsteen and the collective heart that he createsHow changes in music signify the shift of an era How Neil Young’s song Sugar Mountain shaped Shiva’s conscious relationship to musicThe divine consciousness that was active in popular music throughout the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’sVoting 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

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 pre-sale of Bhumi Devi with exclusive reward levels on Kickstarter until June 2. Click here for more information.This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Nina chat about: Moderating our consumption and doing our best to heal the earthNina’s work in preserving wilderness areasWisely receiving gifts from Mother Earth while preserving uncorrupted landsThe unconditional love and presence that resonates through Maharaj-jiThe reciprocal relationship we have with the divineWhen Nina met Siddhi Ma, and seeing her as merged with Maharaj-jiThe first time Nina chanted for Siddhi MaSatsang: connecting with Maharaj-ji through communityPrayers to the Goddess in Nina’s new album, Bhumi Devi Connect with Nina Rao this Summer at the Ram Dass Legacy Summer Mountain Retreat! Learn more HERE.About Nina Rao:Nina Rao is a devotional singer. She tours with Krish

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?Click here to find screenings of The Man Who Saves the World? near you.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 filmHow diverse Amazonian tribes are connected through shared spiritual practices and plant communicationThe 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 lifeHow psychedelics, indigenous wisdom, and other spiritual pursuits open doors to new perspectivesBursting the bubble of our constructed reality Patrick’s work as a bridge between “the people of the concrete” (modern society) an

Dr. Phil Wolfson offers his seasoned perspective on psychedelics, ketamine assisted therapy, and more in this expansive talk with Raghu Markus and Gagan Levy.Check out these FREE personal & clinical guidelines for use from the Ketamine Research FoundationThis week on Mindrolling, Raghu, Phil, and Gagan discuss:How psychedelics shaped Phil’s worldview in the 1960s and inspired his commitment to social justiceUsing psychedelics as tools for personal growth, healing, and transformationThe importance of set and setting when taking psychedelics recreationally, therapeutically, or ceremoniously Going beyond the ups and downs of psychedelics and finding steady peace through practiceThe persistent anti-depressant effects of Ketamine and its therapeutic promisePhil’s ongoing studies with the Ketamine Research Foundation for phantom limb pain, end-of-life care, and menstrual cycle disordersMind Manifesting: What exactly happens to the brain on psychedelics?Phil’s ‘bottom line’: positive intentions and practica

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.Grab a copy of Rabbi Rami’s newest book, Zen Mind Jewish Mind, HERE 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 consciousnessGoing beyond the dead word and into the living wordInspiration from Shunryu Suzuki Roshi’s classic Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind and Thich Nhat Hanh’s series on How to LiveKoan: the Zen practice of exhausting the logical mind to provoke direct, intuitive insight into reality and one's own natureRecognizing 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 differencesHow the Kabbalah expresses the name of God in an embodied waySeeing the divine in all humans and everything in front of usSpecial mom

Dakota Wint meets Raghu beyond the veil of normal perception to explore mysticism, altered states, and the fringe of spirituality.Subscribe to Dakota’s new series, The Flower Heads Show, on your favorite podcast app.This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Dakota explore:The Aghori people of India and the side of Hinduism a lot of people don't know aboutDr. Robert Svoboda’s trilogy on the Aghori people: At the Left Hand of GodDifferentiating real prayer from performative ritualsFaith and seeing beyond the veil of our normal perception Considering the limits of spirituality and how it is expressed across culturesDissolving polarities and seeing the universality of all beingsTaking wisdom from Ram Dass through his posthumous book, There is No OtherRealizing that wisdom and spirituality does not require travel or psychedelicsDakota’s experience with plant medicine in the Amazonian jungleFaith and remembering the mystery in day-to-day lifeThe eternal light of the Sadhu and reaching enlightened states without subs

From Tibetan Buddhism to Bhakti Yoga, Raghu and author Vincent Thibault explore reshaping the mind in our chaotic world.Grab a copy of Vincent’s book: Overflow: A Buddhist Guide to Recovering Sanity in the Age of Information Overload | Vincent ThibaultThis 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 traditionsNavigating digital overwhelm and content overload in the modern ageHow busyness and productivity culture can numb us to collective sufferingParkour: a physical, artistic, and spiritually metaphorical discipline Suffering as a path to transformation and a deeper connection with GodDrawing connections across many different wisdom traditionsPositive attachment versus attachment that traps usThose who inspire the trust of our own pure mindsTibetan Buddhist traditions and the value of learning from multiple teachersRaghu’s lineage of Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotionThe Tibetan translat

Continuing their discussion on Tibetan Buddhism and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's lineage, David Silver and Raghu Markus chat about carrying forward the wisdom of great masters.Check out part 1 of this conversation on Ep. 627 of the Mindrolling Podcast and grab a copy of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s memoirs, Blazing Splendor, for a deeper look into his magnificent life. In this episode, Raghu and David chat about:Being guided toward unconditional love, selflessness, and devotion to the Divine MotherThe role of lineage holders and treasure revealers in Tibetan BuddhismTulku Urgyen’s unique style of teachingDeep humility as an essential spiritual practiceHow ‘being here now’ becomes a gateway to embodied wisdomReleasing skepticism and misunderstanding around the concept of a guruHonoring great spiritual masters and transmitting their wisdom across generationsThe powerful film, Tibet: Cry of the Snow LionReaching a state of deathlessness and timeless awarenessStarting our day with compassion for ou

Check out Mirabai’s archived podcast series on the Be Here Now Network.In this episode, Raghu and Mirabai chat about:Mirabai’s leap of faith: leaving her PhD program, going to India, and becoming a devotee of Maharaj-jiThe mystery of timing and how a single moment can quietly change the course of a lifeA silent meditation retreat that unexpectedly prepared Mirabai to meet Maharaj-jiHow one moment with Maharaj-ji expanded Mirabai’s sense of being alive and transformed her inner worldSurrendering control: how Maharaj-ji taught Ram Dass to release the need to manage realityThe sacred symbolism and devotional practice of touching a guru’s feetThe miracle of childbirth and Mirabai’s profound experiences with home birthAbout Mirabai Bush:In addition to being one of Love Serve Remember Foundation’s respected board members, Mirabai Bush is a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba and spent time with him in India from 1971 to 1972. Along with Ram Dass, she is the co-author of Compassion in Action: Setting Out on the Path of Serv

Raghu Markus is joined by Michael Leach, the first-ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of the White House, for a conversation on how to have faith over fear in the face of uncertainty.Grab a copy of Michael’s book, Faith Over Fear, to learn more about harnessing your own resilience.In this episode, Raghu and Michael take a journey through:Closing the gap between faith and fearSeeing faith as an action rather than a feeling How freedom comes when we loosen our grip on ego, fear, and identitySurrender and choosing presence even when outcomes are unclearThe book The First 90 Days and what culture truly meansMichael’s time working in the White House with the Biden-Harris administrationThe meaningful pivot from our preference to our purposeEnduring and adapting through the many changes we face socially, politically, and personally Breaking down the wall between ‘us’ and ‘them’, taking inspiration from Ram Dass’s There Is No OtherGiving ourselves ‘the fear test’ and looking inward before we judge

In a world shaped by collective crisis, Raghu Markus and Dr. Thomas Hübl come together to explore inner connection and healing trauma.Interested in learning more about trauma? Grab a copy of Releasing Our Burdens, Thomas’s co-authored book with systemic family therapist Dr. Richard Schwartz, HEREThis time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Thomas discuss:Thomas’s early call to meditation, spirituality, and a life of serviceLiving within a global ecosystem shaped by overlapping crisis dynamicsReturning to ourselves when we are overwhelmed by fear and painUnderstanding how trauma shuts down parts of the self as a survival responseExamining the lasting effects of trauma on both the mind and bodyThe genetic transmission of trauma across generationsThe role of restorative practices in healing trauma and reversing symptomsDigesting trauma instead of becoming stuck in survival patternsCultivating compassion, patience, and trust in the healing processThe power of presence as a foundation for trauma recoveryHow healing even on

Author & human rights lawyer Anu Gupta sits down with Raghu to explore meeting division with “soul force”—the compassionate, spiritual power that lives within us all.Learn more about Anu’s project, Soul Force for the 21st CenturyThis time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Anu have an in-depth conversation on:The precipice of our karma and how past negative actions are coming to a head globallyAnu’s recent work in South Africa with racial healing and dissolving bordersHow Artificial Intelligence lacks ethics and moral virtuesResisting commodification and profit-driven systems through awareness and conscious choiceHow modern society has dulled our innate human capacity to careReturning to our shared primary identity as human beings rather than focusing on what makes us differentBuddhist teachings on interconnectedness and the illusion of separateness Meditation as an antidote for the negative habits that we have stored within ourselvesNavigating Kali Yuga with Bhakti yoga and merging with the divine 

Reflecting on Ram Dass’s core teachings, Hanuman Dass and Raghu Markus discuss the immense power of love, service, and compassion.Check out There is No Other for more of Ram Dass’s teachings on the path to harmony. Also, stay tuned for the release of Hanuman Dass’s forthcoming book Be Yourself, formed out of his conversations with Ram Dass.This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Hanuman Dass have a conversation on:Hanuman Dass’s experience growing up in a deeply connected, matriarchal family Living spirituality in everyday life, household puja, and devotional practicesHow karma dictates our lives and puts us right where we are supposed to beHanuman Dass’s relationship with Ram Dass and becoming inspired to serve through food donationThe Upanishads, self-inquiry, and Ram Dass’s perpetual devotion to Maharaj-jiCompassion as the direct road to enlightenmentEmpowering those we help rather than impoverishing them or pitying themReflecting on the dharma of humanity and our shared responsibility to one anotherYou c

This week, we pause to remember the life, presence, and artistry of a friend of the show who will be deeply missed.Recorded in 2021, this conversation features Grammy-winning artist John Forté in his first appearance on the podcast. John and Raghu talk about the spirit of music, the highs and lows of success, and John’s experience headlining the Ram Dass Soul Land Music Series.John Forté (January 30, 1975 – January 12, 2026) is survived by his wife and two children. If you’d like to offer support, a donation link is available here: Honoring John Forte by Supporting His FamilyThis special episode features an inspired conversation on:Community as the spirit of music: John Forté’s Brooklyn upbringing in the economic downturns of the 70s and 80sThe emotional, mental, and physical hardships of struggling to get by in an underserved communityPerseverance through love: John’s inspiration for his musical careerJohn’s highest highs, lowest lows, & what it is like to start over John’s friendship with the iconi

Author and nonviolence practitioner Kazu Haga explores why fierce vulnerability is a vital practice for inner and outer transformation.Read an excerpt of Kazu’s book, Fierce Vulnerability, and purchase your own copy HERE.This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and Kazu Haga chat about:Kazu’s difficult upbringing and how meeting Japanese Buddhist monastics transformed his lifeCombining social action and spirituality The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and addressing both inner violence of the spirit and outer systemic violenceHow an “us vs. them” worldview fuels division, suffering, and ecological destructionHealing childhood trauma and collective trauma by integrating the fractured parts of ourselvesHow getting vulnerable opens up our capacity to heal The Seven Fires Prophecies from the Anishinaabe peopleRebuilding the world through spiritual practice rather than material accumulationRemembering that personal healing is inseparable from collective healing in an interdependent worldListening deeply and

Longtime friends David Silver and Raghu Markus discuss Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and the legacy of Dzogchen maintained by his four sons.Grab a copy of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s memoirs, Blazing Splendor, for a deeper look into his magnificent life. This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and David have a discussion about:The life and teachings of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, one of the greatest Dzogchen meditation masters of the 20th centuryTulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s sons and how they continue to spread Dzogchen wisdom to the WestCore principles of Dzogchen philosophy, including the nature of mind and nondual awarenessUnderstanding cognitive emptiness and the illusion of a solid identityWhy contemplating death and impermanence can be a path to liberationWorking consciously with loss and mortality before the end of lifeNot falling into the trap of believing this life is permanentViewing dreams and meditation as parallel practices for awakeningThe patience and discipline required to form new spiritual habitsLiving fully while re

In this music-filled re-release, Raghu Markus is joined by spiritual musician Jai Uttal to chat about opening our hearts through the magnitude of melodies.Get your copy of All In This Together, the latest book from Jack Kornfield! Let this new book be your guide, as Jack reveals how to navigate our human experience with wisdom and care. Inside you’ll find a beautiful collection of stories, inspiration for conflict resolution, and powerful teachings on healing, justice, and human kindness—anchored in the teachings of the Buddha and poetry from luminary voices like Mary Oliver. Click here to learn more!In this episode, Raghu and Jai Uttal discuss:The formation of melodic structures and how music is as boundless as an oceanLetting go of the idea that we must master an instrument in order to create musicGetting into the flow of devotional music and honoring God through our presence rather than perfectionThe friendship between Jai Uttal and Ram Dass and Jai’s journey to IndiaThe Baul’s of Bengal and mystical,

Anne Lamott, Raghu Markus, and RamDev reveal that letting go of how life should be opens the door to compassion, healing, and contentment with reality.This Dharma Session was recorded at the December 2025 Ram Dass Open Your Heart in Paradise Retreat. Learn about upcoming community events HERE.This week on Mindrolling, Raghu, Anne, and RamDev hold a talk on:Standing in presence with change and impermanenceRam Dass’ eye-opening story of a farmer and his son How investing in that which changes leads to sufferingCollective healing through all the grief in the world The negative emotions that arise when we resist changeCreating an intimate, compassionate relationship with the sense of lossAnne’s experiences of radicalizing change in her own lifeWise Hope: taking leaps of faith and hoping that things will work out as they shouldAbout Anne Lamott:Anne Lamott is the New York Times best-selling author of many books, including collections of essays, novels, and long-form non-fiction, including the classic wri

Looking through a Jungian lens, Psychologist Dr. John Price and Raghu Markus have a discussion on the mechanics of awakening.This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and John chat about:What we can learn from the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Jungian philosophy and creating balance within the psyche Attraction to the arts, music, and alternative ways of beingComparing youth and coming of age today versus in the pastThe growth and learning that happens through adversity Cultivating trust with those who are woundedMaking compassionate response our default state, especially when dealing with childrenLeaving one’s culture to truly understand where we come fromVarious ways of cultivating non-ordinary statesHow society often stifles our experiences of mystical eventsThe current psychedelic revolution and therapeutic utility of entheogens Check out William Blake’s The Book of Urizen for a deep dive into mystical literature“That’s obviously one’s religious and spiritual experience that is

Discussing the loving-kindness lessons in Kind Karl, Sharon’s first children’s book, Raghu, Duncan, and Sharon chat about raising mindful kids who can become mindful adults.  Kind Karl will be released on 12/9!  Co-authored by Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a new children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness. To learn more about Sharon’s forthcoming children’s book, Kind Karl, and pre-order a copy with a special pre-order gift, you can visit Sharon’s website, right here. This time on Mindrolling, Duncan, Sharon, and Raghu connect over:Sharon’s upcoming children’s book on mindfulness and loving-kindness, Kind KarlUnderstanding how habits like greed and fear begin in early childhoodHow issues like greed have roots in early childhoodLearning from Karl the Crocodile: navigating big feelings, mistakes, and emotional complexityKarl the Crocodile as an inspiration for parents dealing with guilt and stressMaking mindfulness accessible and eng