Can you get mysticism in a bottle? Alan Watts explores the drug question, in this psychedelically infused episode of Being in the Way.

This series is brought to you by the Alan Watts Organization and Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation. Visit https://Alanwatts.org for full talks from Alan Watts.

Mysticism in a Bottle // The Smell of Burnt Almonds (0:00)
Psychedelics, Mystical Experiences, & Western Culture (28:18)
Psychedelics as Instruments // Set & Setting (45:35)
Morality & Legislation // Policing, Preaching, & Hypocrisy (49:25)

“Lo and behold, I had what I simply could not deny being an experience of cosmic consciousness, the sense of complete fundamental total unity forever-and-ever with the whole universe. And not only that, but that what this thing was fundamentally—despite every thing and every kind of appearance in ordinary life to the contrary—that the energy behind the world was ecstatic bliss and love.” – Alan Watts

Alan Watts – Being in the Way – Ep. 7 – Drugs: Turning the Head or Turning On: https://beherenownetwork.com/alan-watts-being-in-the-way-ep-7-drugs-turning-the-head-or-turning-on/

Alan Watts: Drugs: Turning the Head or Turning On – Being in the Way Ep. 7 – Hosted by Mark Watts

Alan Watts illuminates the connections between Taoism and relativity, technology and human evolution, culture and seperation, Saints and rascals, you and not-you, as well as difference and unity.

This series is brought to you by the Alan Watts Organization and Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation. Visit https://Alanwatts.org for full talks from Alan Watts.

Taoism & Relativity, Technology & Human Evolution (0:00)
Seperation & Culture, Saints & Rascals (15:25)
You & Not-You, Difference & Unity (28:10)

“The principle of relativity is absolutely fundamental to an understanding of Taoist philosophy. That is to say, that wherever you are, whoever you are, and whatever you are: you’re in the middle.” – Alan Watts

Alan Watts – Being in the Way – Ep. 3 – In Your Own Way: https://beherenownetwork.com/alan-watts-being-in-the-way-ep-3-in-your-own-way/

Alan Watts: In Your Own Way – Being in the Way Podcast Ep. 3 – Hosted by Mark Watts

Rather than trying to overcome unwholesome mind states, Joseph Goldstein guides us to simply be mindful of the mind as it is being influenced.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!


In this episode, Joseph Goldstein mindfully explains:

The three unwholesome roots (lustful mind, angry mind, diluted mind)
Being aware of the absence of unwholesome mind-states
How positive attributes are present within the absence of the defilements
Not judging ourselves or being reactive to negative mind-states
Focusing on which states should be cultivated and which should be let go of
Measuring the moral worth of an action by the intention behind it
Difficult mind-states as part of the path rather than an innate problem
The distracted and contracted mind
How mindfulness of our mind is the path to freedom
Simply knowing each state for what it is (not-self, insubstantial, impermanent)
Asking ourselves what is happening and taking the time to acknowledge it
How sense pleasures and moods deceive the mind
The process of liberation as short moments many times
Don’t forget to grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“It’s not as if somehow we need to have our mind completely freed of all of these unwholesome states in order to proceed. The Buddha is saying that mindfulness of them when they arise is the path to freedom.” – Joseph Goldstein

Ep. 216 – Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 13  Mindfulness Of Mind

Ep. 165 – Moving Forward When Our Spirit is Heavy

Discussing the systemic breakdowns in America, Lama Rod Owens and Spring Washam urge renewal through solidarity with marginalized cultures.

This time on Spirit Underground, Spring and Lama Rod chat about:

-The systemic breakdowns happening in our country 
-Balancing on a thread in this current election cycle 
-Death / Renewal in nature as an example of what may need to occur in America
-Having deep solidarity with the cultures who have been dominated and occupied 
-Letting go of expecting the world to be different than it is 
-The human urge to be comfortable even at the cost of discomfort for other groups
-Colonization as an intense dissociation and disconnection from our hearts
-Becoming embodied and adjusting to our own cultural narratives 
-Trauma, loss of memory, and control 
-How the patriarchy has systemically limited the ability for deep emotional labor 
-Fear of death as the root of all fear
-How crisis can give rise to collaboration and grace 
-Considering the gifts we can offer to the world

"Everyone needs to be free. Everyone needs to have access to the resources they need to be well, safe, and happy. You don’t have to earn a right to be fed and housed and cared for and clothed. This isn’t about the nature of your character, this is about the fact that you are human living in culture and society, and as a society we should care for one another.” – Lama Rod Owens

Ep. 10 - Systemic Breakdowns In America

In this Q&A session from 1994, Ram Dass talks about the importance of honoring lineage, the potential of the rave scene, how to bring a heart quality to academia, and much more.

This episode of Here and Now is from a question and answer session Ram Dass conducted at a talk in Boulder, Colorado, in June of 1994.

Ram Dass begins by answering questions about self-destructing methods, lineage versus eclecticism, and advising people on what methods are best suited to them. He talks about the importance of honoring lineage and respecting each other’s journeys.
Next up is a dose of psychedelics and politics. Ram Dass answers a question about the burgeoning rave scene in 1994 and includes his thoughts on the state of psychedelics at that moment. He then takes on a question about fundamentalism, which prompts him to talk about the Clinton administration.
Ram Dass wraps things up with questions about bringing a heart quality into academia, his view on open marriages, and the importance of honoring our teachers. He talks about being able to respond to the presence of uncertainty and chaos in a reflective way, rather than a reactive way. 
Want to participate in the discussion about this episode of Here and Now? Join us for the SoulPod Meet-Up on October 8th at 3 p.m. EDT.

“In the story of lineages, the transmission is passed from individual to individual through specific teachings. I think we should honor and appreciate and treasure the fact that human consciousness has valued and transmitted ways to become free. I think that’s what honoring a lineage means. I think that we’ve got to separate the practice of honoring a lineage from the result of honoring the lineage, which is to be free. And that means free of lineage. You can’t be free of all form, you’re free within form. And within form, you can be in the lineage.” – Ram Dass

Ram Dass on Honoring Lineage, Psychedelics & More! – Here and Now Podcast Ep. 261

Speaking to progressing on the spiritual path, Jack explores enlightenment as true intimacy, and shares how: where we’re going is actually here.

“Where we’re going is here, and what we’re after doesn’t exist in time.” – Jack Kornfield

In this episode, Jack mindfully explores:

Our idealistic/romantic notions of the spiritual path
Consciousness, impermanence, and working with human emotions
Wisdom stories of Ajahn Chah, Jack’s accomplished Thai meditation teacher
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the legend of building a Spiritual Amusement Park
Progress and patience along the spiritual path
Enlightenment as intimacy with all things
A guided meditation practice reflecting on life, death, and good deeds
Transforming the the world with one small act of kindness at a time
Honoring our own beauty and goodness
How compassion is characterized by true intimacy
Recognizing and coming to our spiritual maturity
Living like a Bodhisattva, and what it really means to ‘save all beings’
Alchemizing extreme suffering, trauma, and grief into compassion, forgiveness, and service

“Enlightenment is to be intimate with what’s here.” – Jack Kornfield

This Dharma Talk from 1/3/1991 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.

For more teachings, full courses, articles, and guided meditations, head to JackKornfield.com or sign up for Jack's email teachings at JackKornfield.com/newsletter

Jack Kornfield – Heart Wisdom – Ep. 258 – Enlightenment As Intimacy- Where We're Going Is Here

Written in the key of grief and the melody of praise, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer sits down with Raghu to discuss her newest poetry book, The Unfolding.

This week, tune into Rosemerry and Raghu’s conversation on:  
- The loss of Rosemerry’s son and father
- Living through seasons of extreme grief
- Understanding the gift of a poem
- Oppositional feelings experienced at the same time (pain + joy, etc.)
- Recognizing how desperately we need eachother
- The Grand Quilt, The Medicine of Surrender, and more poems written and read by Rosemerry
- Brave prayers and the things that open us / help us grow
- Inspiration from Gregory Orr and Leonard Cohen
- How grief strips us naked and makes us vulnerable
- Raghu leaves us off with a beautiful Kabir poem from the book Painting from the Palette of Love

“So many people reached out to help me… they’d say, ‘What can we do?’ And I’d just say, ‘Open me. Help me stay open. Please, help me stay open.’” – Rosemerry Trommer

About Rossemerry Trommer:
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer is an American poet associated with Colorado. She was Poet Laureate of San Miguel County, Colorado from 2006–2010, and was named Poet Laureate of Colorado’s Western Slope by the Telluride Institute from 2015–2017. Most recently, Rosemerry published The Unfolding, a book of poetry exploring grief. Rosemerry was featured on TEDxTalks to discuss the art of changing metaphors and created an album of poetry called Dark Praise with Steve Law. Check out Rosemerry’s website, Wordwoman, and her daily poetry blog, A Hundred Falling Veils. You can also join Rosemerry in an immersive daily experience of poetry and reflection on the Ritual app.

Ep. 562 - Unfolding Our Grief with Poet Rosemerry Trommer

For episode 250, Reggie Hubbard returns to the Metta Hour podcast to talk about Election Stress.

Reggie is a certified yoga and meditation teacher and the founder/chief serving officer of Active Peace Yoga. He has taught Members of Congress, Congressional Staff, major labor unions, leading progressive organizations, and individuals from all walks of life the simple tools for managing stress and bringing peace to mind, body, and spirit. Reggie’s life work sits at the intersection of bringing more peace and balance to activists; guiding the wellness community toward being more engaged, concerned citizens; and enhancing the well-being of all walks of life.

In this conversation, Sharon and Reggie discuss:
- Reggie’s recent health emergency
- Finding agency to take action
- Life is not a race
- Recovery process
- Voting is a sacred act
- Life in the margins
- Working w/ intense emotions
- Reggie’s work with systems
- Boundaries are our friends
- The sanctity of your nervous system
- Grounding into the body
- Lovingkindness in activism
- Less pointing fingers, more opening arms
- Equanimity supporting the process
- A daily wellness election checklist
- Sharon’s Ishta Deva, Lady Liberty

Election Stress with Reggie Hubbard & Sharon Salzberg – Metta Hour Podcast Ep. 250

Guiding us through the ever-changing cycles of life, Jack uncovers the profound truth of our interconnectedness as boundless and unique expressions of the Dharma.

This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

“We see that there isn’t one way to practice or to live, but many cycles, seasons, and expressions of Dharma and truth.” – Jack Kornfield

In this episode, Jack mindfully explores:
- Natural wisdom of the rainforest ecosystem
- Discovering the truth of our inexorable interconnection
- Seeing clearly the reality of change and impermanence
- Interconnectedness within the flowing stream of interbeing
- Spiritual maturity and recognizing the patterns and cycles of life
- The many unique expressions of Dharma, spirituality, and truth in this world
- Wisdom from Buddha, Dipa Ma, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, HH the Dalai Lama, S.N. Goenka, and Tibetan cave-dwelling yogis
- Bringing your compassion to the environment, politics, social action, homelessness, education, etc
- Meditation as a radical act: facing head-on the forces of greed, prejudice, hatred, and delusion
- Finding your unique dharma and way to help the world
- Life and spirituality as a process of death and rebirth over and over again
- Uncovering a deep ‘joy for no reason’
- How the “light and love” in meditation is actually literal
- Untangling the knots of our attachments to live in inner freedom
- A poem dedicated to the struggles in the Middle East
- Discovering your capacity to awaken, and your unique gift

“It’s not about perfection of oneself or the world, but it’s learning to live in a simple way and touch one moment after another with wisdom, understanding, compassion, and presence.” – Jack Kornfield

“Wisdom is a state of our being in our heart. And to live in that way takes humility, a surrender or commitment, a trusting heart, a going into the unknown.” – Jack Kornfield

This Dharma Talk from 1/3/1991 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.

Open the Heart of Forgiveness with Jack Kornfield: A Journey of Redemption, Reconciliation and Renewal beginning Oct 21. Learn more and sign up at bit.ly/HeartOfForgiveness

Jack Kornfield – Heart Wisdom – Ep. 259 – Cycles Of Dharma- The Stream Of Interbeing

Jack guides us in creating a sacred container for spiritual practice—a space where, like a garden, our inner life can be nurtured, allowing us to transform life’s challenges into paths of awakening and growth.

Open the Heart of Forgiveness with Jack Kornfield: A Journey of Redemption, Reconciliation and Renewal beginning Oct 21. Learn more and sign up at bit.ly/HeartOfForgiveness

“Much of our spiritual life, to mature, needs a sacred container for transformation. It needs this container that is greater than our small self—the body of fear and the mind of desire—something that honors a larger spirit, a larger truth.” – Jack Kornfield

In this episode, Jack mindfully explores:
Creating a free and protected space, a sacred container for your practice
How the very difficulties in our lives are what actually awakens us
Using our hardships as a crucible for uncovering our own goodness
Rumi’s flavorful and delicious “vegetable fable”
Learning how to stay centered on your cushion
The mirror-like quality of meditation practice
Meeting our practice with commitment, constancy, patience
Honoring the cycles of nature and the universe
Feeling our feelings to heal our grief
Learning the value of staying with things, even through difficulty
Choosing the Dharma over the body of fear and mind of desire
Nurturing the sacred garden within yourself
The power of prayer and feeling blessed

“In a way, sitting is nothing more than looking in the mirror. You sit and face whatever arises.” – Jack Kornfield

“It almost doesn’t matter what we pick, who our partner is, or what we choose to do, as long as it’s reasonably wholesome. What matters is how much we can give to it, of our sincerity, of our earnestness, of our heart.” – Jack Kornfield

This Dharma Talk recorded on 8/1/1991 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.

Jack Kornfield – Heart Wisdom – Ep. 260 – Creating A Sacred Container For Practice

Ram Dass shares stories of miracles and talks about truth, relationships, and how some dualistic methods can help us straddle the thin line between chaos and cosmos.

Ram Dass Here & Now is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ramdass and get on your way to being your best self.

This show is also sponsored by Magic Mind, a matcha-based energy shot infused with nootropics and adaptogens designed to crush procrastination, brain fog, & fatigue. Use the code RAMDASS at checkout to get up to 50% off your subscription: Magic Mind

This episode of Here and Now is from a 1980s talk in Sydney, Australia. 

Sharing stories from Miracle of Love about Dr. Larry Brilliant’s experiences with Maharaj-ji, Ram Dass takes on the subject of miracles. He says the value of these mind-boggling stories is in helping us break the attachment to our thinking minds.

Ram Dass tells the story of Maharaj-ji demanding changes to Be Here Now and keys in on the statement, “Money and truth have nothing to do with one another.” He talks about truth, secrets, and how hard it is to be truthful around other human beings. 

Ram Dass explores the power and trials of relationships based on truth. “The truth is scary,” he says. “Truth keeps shattering your models of how you think it ought to be.” He explains how dualistic methods such as relationships and devotional yoga can help bring us into non-dualism and straddle the thin line between chaos and cosmos.

“Well, the problem with truth is that we are all these kinds of animal/human/unconscious – we all have all this kind of stuff going back and forth. You might look at your partner and suddenly they look like a skeleton. ‘Good morning dear, you look absolutely ghastly.’ Can you handle that in a relationship? A relationship based on truth follows the very fine line between chaos and cosmos.” – Ram Dass

Ram Dass: Between Chaos and Cosmos – Here and Now Ep. 262

Offering listeners a map to the heart, Ramdev explores how loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity interconnect.

This time on Healing at the Edge, RamDev holds a talk on: 

The four qualities that lead to the heart (loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity)
Finding meaning through connection to self, others, and God
The path of the heart versus the path of inquiry
Dying into the heart rather than attempting to find everything out
How on-going, unprocessed grief makes it difficult to open the heart
Trusting both the light and the pain
Equanimity as the foundation of the heart
Having devotion to awareness and the sangha
The many available paths to consciousness
Invoking that which we feel devotion to during our meditations
Integrating practice into daily life
“In the Bible, it talks about ‘pray without ceasing’, and the only way you can do that is if your practice goes so deep into yourself that it’s happening without you doing it because other times you’re doing other things. The quality of the prayer saturates the cloth of your being, you’re colored by the prayer.” – RamDev

A Map to the Heart with RamDev Dale Borglum – Healing at the Edge Podcast Ep. 116

Illuminating the shadows of our minds, Joseph Goldstein explains how to notice and investigate the emotions hiding underneath aversions.

This episode is part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta, one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. If you are just jumping into the series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience: https://youtu.be/RfuH9O7DS4o

In this episode, Joseph offers a discussion on:
- What aversion is and how to recognize when it’s present
- The powerful underground force of hatred
- Looking clearly and deeply into our own minds through mindfulness
- Weakening and uprooting the very deepest tendencies of mind
- How even words themselves contain both desire and aversion
- The rising of aversion with respect to physical and emotional pain
- The nine thoughts that can stir up malice according to the Buddha
- Why we personalize situations which are impersonal
- Opening up to aversion as simply a noted mind-state
- Arousing the investigative aspect of the mind
- Reflecting on what purpose (or lack their of) our emotions serve
- Taking responsibility for our aversions
- The development of loving-kindness and wishing-well to all beings
- This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“Really what we’re doing here is illuminating the shadow side of our mind, the aspects that we don’t usually see, the underground, the latent tendencies in which the milder forms of aversion are rooted.” – Joseph Goldstein

Ep. 219 – Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 16  Fear & Aversion

Krishna Das on Serving Our Parents as Spiritual Practice – Pilgrim Heart Podcast Ep. 166

Anita Sanchez and Raghu Markus confront the impacts of global warming, celebrate indigenous traditions, and explore the deep connection of nature and humanity.

About Anita Sanchez, Ph.D:

Anita was born into a Midwest family that was economically poor, yet rich in Mexican-American and Nahua (also known as Aztec) heritage. Fortified with the strength of her elders and connection to the earth, she became the first in her family of over one hundred first cousins to earn a doctorate degree. She has gone on to a career as an international transformational leader.

Dr. Sanchez is committed to bridging indigenous wisdom and science with or contemporary work and life, to support our individual wholeness and collective conscious evolution in partnership with People, Spirit, and the Earth. With her loving spirit, presence and skill, Anita inspires people around the world to discover and trust their gifts, to become life-giving connections to all, in service and joy.

Learn more about Anita’s work at anita-sanchez.com and check out her own podcast on Be Here Now Network, The Four Sacred Gifts.

This week, Raghu and Anita Sanchez have a compelling conversation on:
-Anita's recent journey into the Amazon Rainforest
-The intense impact of global warming on Amazonian landscapes 
-The strength and leadership of indigenous amazonian women 
-Climate change as the biggest threat to national security
-Viewing plants and nature as our relatives 
-Asking our ancestors for answers in our dreams
-The way that mother earth cares for us 
-Getting rid of the illusion of separateness 
-Anita's epiphany at a Sundance ceremony 
-Getting involved with protecting our planet 
-Reconnecting to sacred, ritualistic ways of being 
-Indigenous plant medicine and the potency of Ayahuasca 
-Appropriation of indigenous practices 
-What the four sacred gifts are

“80% of the most biodiverse places left on this earth are lands that indigenous people live on. Yet, we’re only 5 or 6 % of the world’s population. That’s not a coincidence, that’s because we have this relationship.”– Anita Sanchez, Ph.D

Ep. 564 - Mother Earth- A Call To Protect And Reconnect W- Anita Sanchez, Ph.D

J. Krishnamurti returns to explain how we must grasp the movement of disorder to have and maintain an orderly life.
In this episode, J. Krishnamurti and Dr. Allan W. Anderson discuss:

    Outward and inward disorder in the world
    Going behind the facade of order in the west
    The fallacy of order in communist societies
    Considering if order is conformity
    The study of disorder and difficulty in examining the unintelligible
    Our society and civilization as being based on comparison
    Living a life of non-comparison
    The mind as disorderly and how we can observe disorder
    The perceiver as the perceived
    Virtue as a necessity to order
    Staying totally attentive to disorder in order to have order

“To understand disorder, we think an orderly mind is necessary. But, the mind itself has created this disorder. So, can the mind not look at disorder out there but the maker of disorder which is in here? The mind itself is disorder.” – J. Krishnamurti

Ep. 5 - Making Sense Of Our Disorder

Employing the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein shows us how to overcome the mental states of sloth and torpor.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

In this episode, Joseph instructs listeners on:

    The mind states of sloth and torpor
    Defining sloth as a sluggishness of mind which dispels energy
    Noticing when sloth and torpor are present in us
    How sloth and torpor can spread via unwise attention to boredom and depression
    Watching the thinking patterns we have around slothful mind-states
    How sloth and torpor can signal us to other hidden emotions
    Over-consumption and being attentive to what we put into our bodies
    The benefit and value of the eight precepts
    Having a balance of both concentration and energy
    Deepening our insight into the impermanence of the hindrances
    Mindfulness as the most basic strategy for overcoming laziness
    Adding in more objects to our meditation as an antidote to the sinking mind
    Being alert even in times of low energy as practice for conscious dying
    Finding inspiration in reading the dhamma, listening to a recording, or chanting

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“Mindfulness, here, is deepening our insight into the impermanence of the hindrances. If we can stay with it, we see that they come and go by themselves. We don’t have to fulfill the desire, we don’t have to act on the anger, we don’t have to indulge the sleepiness, in order for them to go, we just need to stay with it and we’ll see their changing nature simply through the awareness of them.” – Joseph Goldstein

Ep. 220 – Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 17 The Laziness Trap

Dipping into the juicy topic of psychedelics and liberation, Lama Rod Owens and Spring Washam discuss the importance of set and setting.

This week, Spring and Lama Rod explore:

    The importance of set and setting
    Optimal conditions for liberation
    Recognizing the wisdom and validity of indigenous wisdom
    Psychedelics as medicine and a means to work through trauma
    The impact of psychedelic pioneer and healer María Sabina
    How set and setting facilitates deeper psychedelic experiences
    Spring's experiences with the Shipibo community in the amazon
    Music as a powerful component of set and setting
    The trouble with inauthentic healers and commercialization
    Revering the ancient practice of liberation within plant medicine
    Knowing that we will not get more than we can bare

“This isn’t me just having a trip, this is a way, a means for me to do real liberatory work around trauma, love, hate, all of that. It was giving me a way to do this trauma release work which is what I have always been longing to do in a deep way.” – Lama Rod Owens

Ep. 11 - Liberation Practice With Plant Medicines

Offering a beautiful ode to India, Raghu and Andrew Harvey discuss divine truths and the oxymoron of beauty and pain.

This time on Mindrolling, Andrew and Raghu go over: 

Andrew’s experience being born and growing up in India
India as a sacred world filled with divine beauty and pain
The divine feminine and masculine
Raghu’s experience bringing his father to India
The gift of Ram Dass and tying Hinduism to modern life
Revelations of incarnation
Andrew Harvey’s return to India and encountering great beings
Being mindful of our anger and transforming our emotions
About Andrew Harvey:

Andrew Harvey is a British author, religious scholar and teacher of mystic traditions, known primarily for his popular nonfiction books on spiritual or mystical themes. Andrew Harvey is also the founder and director of The Institute for Sacred Activism, an international organization focused on inviting concerned people to take up the challenge of our contemporary global crises by becoming inspired, effective, and practical agents of institutional and systemic change, in order to create peace and sustainability. 

“Being born in India is for me the absolutely central and original and primordial and evolutionary event for me. That’s it. Because to be born in India is to be born into sacred world and a sacred culture that is alive with divine beauty, pain, passion, magic, veracity, truth. That’s India. – Andrew Harvey

Ode to India with Author & Religious Scholar Andrew Harvey & Raghu Markus – Mindrolling – Ep. 566

Discover how to shift from trauma to loving awareness through mindfulness, conscious healing, and compassionate activism with Jack Kornfield and Thomas Hübl, PhD.

This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

“Who you are is so much more than your trauma, you are consciousness itself.” – Jack Kornfield

In Part 2 of this episode originally airing for The Collective Trauma Summit in 2021, Jack and Thomas mindfully explore:

- Developing the skills to heal our trauma
- Jack’s time with meditation master, Maha Ghosananda
- The powerful connection between activism and spirituality
- Avoiding burnout, finding balance
- Transforming from skeptical to mystical
- Navigating the traumas in the Middle East
- Digesting our traumas
- Waking up from auto-pilot
- Expanding your window of tolerance
- How to face racism, war, economic disparity, the environment, etc
- Mindfulness, consciousness, and loving awareness

“The whole notion that spiritual practice doesn’t have anything to do with activism is a fiction.” – Jack Kornfield

“Every breath you take is the breath of the starlings and the breath of the earthworms and the soil. We’re all inter-breathing it together. That’s how it works, that’s what life is.” – Jack Kornfield

Open the Heart of Forgiveness with Jack Kornfield: A Journey of Redemption, Reconciliation and Renewal. Learn more and sign up at bit.ly/HeartOfForgiveness

Jack Kornfield – Heart Wisdom – Ep. 262 – The Liberated Heart- Shifting From Trauma to Loving Awareness with Thomas Hübl, PhD

For episode 252, Kristin Neff returns to the Metta Hour for her third appearance on the podcast.

Dr. Kristin Neff is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, conducting the first empirical studies on self-compassion more than twenty years ago. She has been recognized as one of the most influential researchers in psychology worldwide is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Kristin runs the Self-Compassion Community, an online learning platform where people can learn the skill of self-compassion with the help of others, and is author of the bestselling books Self-Compassion and Fierce Self-Compassion. Her new book, Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout, co-authored with Chris Germer, is now available everywhere.

In this conversation, Kristin and Sharon discuss:

Kristin’s personal burnout 
Kristin’s definition of compassion
Myths of self-compassion
What happens in burnout
Negativity bias sinkholes
The necessity of positive states
Healthy boundaries
Loving the Inner critic 
Research on Self-Compassion
Self-Compassion Example Scenarios
Kristin’s new community offering
Kristin closes the conversation with a guided meditation on Self-Compassion. 

Listen to Kristin’s previous appearances on the Metta Hour in Episode 98 and Episode 159.

Burnout & Mindfulness with Sharon Salzberg & Kristin Neff – Metta Hour Podcast Ep. 252

In this profound investigation of subjective experience and direct reality, Joseph Goldstein looks at the first three of the five aggregates in Buddhism.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!


In this episode, Joseph analyzes:

- The five aggregates of clinging and deconstructing subjective experience
- Opening the stainless dharma vision eye
- How the Buddha shows the way to those who are lost
- The direct realities underlying the surface appearance of being
- All of the elements which give rise to the experience of self / the aggregate of Rūpa 
- The nature of material elements and the four great essentials 
- Our experiences as a flow of changing vibrations 
- The second aggregate, Vedanā, aka the feeling qualities of experiences 
- Feelings as the conditioning factor of our reactions
- Collapsing into the identification with pleasant vs. unpleasant 
- Saññā, the aggregate of perception 
- Recognizing, naming, and remembering each arising object
- The function of mental noting and focusing on mindfulness

“The Buddha uses this contemplation of the aggregates to analyze our subjective experience and, through this analysis, to deconstruct the very deeply held construct and belief in self.” – Joseph Goldstein

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

Buddhism's Five Aggregates – Joseph Goldstein' Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 20 Insight Hour Ep. 223

Diving into the meaning of existential kink, Dr. Carolyn Lovewell joins Chris Grosso to discuss unlocking our unconscious desires.

This time on The Indie Spiritualist, Chris and Dr. Lovewell discuss:

The meaning of existential kink
The practice of orgasmic meditation
How vulnerability and truth can lead to more sensation
Considering what our unconscious desires may be
Practicing enjoying what is already happening
Realizing the darkness / pain we may be attracted to subconsciously
Themes within the myth of Persephone
The power addictions hold over us and admitting powerlessness
A guided meditation from Dr. Carolyn
Living as characters in God’s dream
Becoming aware of our own wholeness and non-dualism
Sleep Over Mystery School and the heart of western mysteries
About Dr. Carolyn Lovewell

Dr. Carolyn Lovewell (formarlly Elliott) is an American scholar, author, and occultist. She is the author of the book Existential Kink which focuses on shadow integration as a means for creating positive change in the self. She obtained a doctorate in Critical and Cultural Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Check out Dr. Lovewell’s podcast, Sleep Over and learn more on her website.

“Existential kink is the idea that pretty much all of us human beings have an unconscious attraction to painful things. We’re all kinky, we’re all in a sadomasochistic relationship with the universe. The universe, God, whatever we want to call it is a dom that has no safe words. It just keeps coming, all the time. We can learn to make those unconscious attractions to painful or negative patterns conscious. When we do that, we liberate all sorts of energy that had been unconsciously stuck. Existential Kink is a deep tool for change.” – Dr. Lovewell

Unlocking Unconscious Desires with Carolyn Lovewell & Chris Grosso – The Indie Spiritualist Podcast Ep. 133

Continuing his discussion of the five aggregates, Joseph Goldstein dives deeper into perception and how we can get lost in mental formations.

This episode is part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta, one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. If you are just jumping into the series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience: https://youtu.be/RfuH9O7DS4o

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self.

In another exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph discusses:

Balancing perception with mindfulness
 Using the frame of our perception to enter more deeply into experience
 Our tendency to solidify the world through superficial concepts
 The seduction of being lost in the future and past
 Reality and the concept of the present moment
 Created concepts of self-image
 The delineation of mental factors; universal, occasional, and unwholesome
 Considering the understanding of karma
 Having interest in our mental formations and taking time to investigate them
 How mindfulness of mental formations helps us see how impersonal everything is
Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“We also create concepts about things that may seem even more fundamental like age, gender or race. But when we look more deeply, we see that these are concepts too. How old is your breath? It doesn’t make sense. Is the pain in your back male or female? What color is your mind? It’s not to say that the concepts don’t point to some differences of experience, but we often become so identified with and attached to the concept." – Joseph Goldstein

Buddhist Teachings on Perception & Formation with Joseph Goldstein – Insight Hour Ep. 224

In this talk from their 20-year reunion at Harvard, Timothy Leary reflects on the journey he and Ram Dass shared as they explored the boundaries of consciousness with no signposts to guide them.

This talk was chosen in celebration of the new book, Dying To Know, which chronicles the epic friendship between Ram Dass and Timothy Leary that shaped generations of seekers. Get your copy today: https://shop.ramdass.org/products/dying-to-know-book

This episode is part two of the Ram Dass and Timothy Leary reunion event at Harvard University on April 24, 1983. Don’t miss part one: The Explorer’s Club. In this recording:

- Timothy Leary takes center stage to share his perspective on the journey he and Ram Dass took when they came together at Harvard. He begins with a brief history of the tradition of transcendental thinking at Harvard which began with Ralph Waldo Emerson. 
- Timothy talks about the simplicity of their work in those early days as he and Ram Dass explored the boundaries of human consciousness with no signposts to guide them. He shares some thoughts on the notorious Good Friday Experiment and discusses the important insights into psychopharmacology they discovered, including the concept of set and setting.
- Shifting topics to their post-Harvard lives, Timothy talks about the “happiness hotels” he and Ram Dass were running. They share some laughs about the Harvard Crimson, being tracked by the CIA, and Timothy’s description of Ram Dass in his autobiography.
- Finally, they discuss the mileage they got out of various myths over the years and what their post-Harvard voyages of discovery were like for each of them. 

“In those days, it did seem almost miraculously simple. We gave, we shared; we took these drugs as novices, as amateurs, hesitantly moving into a field that had no signposts or guidelines. There was simply no language in Western psychology to describe altered states of consciousness or ecstasies or visions or terrors. A psychiatrist said these were psychotomimetic experiences, but that didn’t seem to tell us too much. We were smart enough, and I give us this credit, to know how little we knew.” – Timothy Leary

Ram Dass and Timothy Leary: No Signposts – Here and Now Podcast Ep. 265

For episode 252, Cory Allen makes his first appearance on the Metta Hour podcast.

Cory Allen is an author, coach, podcaster, and influencer from Austin, Texas. He writes daily thoughts on mindfulness and mental clarity for his large Instagram following, reaching over a million people a week. Cory is the author of two books, his most recent, Brave New You, has just been released from Hay House in 2024 in hardcover, ebook and audiobook formats. His podcast And Then It Hit Me, has over 300 episodes to date.

In this conversation, Sharon and Cory discuss:
- Meditation Barbie
- Cory’s origin story
- Opening to greater possibility
- Cultivating greater agency
- Story is everything
- Keeping language real
- Having an original mind
- The importance of self-trust
- How our faith evolves
- How Sharon challenges herself
- Intuition as an entryway to our deeper self

Cory closes the conversation with a guided meditation.


Cultivating Greater Agency with Sharon Salzberg & Cory Allen – Metta Hour Podcast Ep. 253

Justin Boreta, the first musician to collaborate with Ram Dass, talks with Raghu about Ram Dass’ legacy and the power of music.

This week on Mindrolling, Justin and Raghu converse about:  
Ram Dass’ legacy transported through music
The chants that Ram Dass brought home from India
Kali Yuga, the age of destruction
Chants for Ganesh and music as the delivery method for mantra
Ram Dass’ humor and charm
How music is a tool for being in the present moment
Using the breath to enter into a space of loving-kindness
The intersection of community, teachings, and music
Trusting the music and letting go
Raghu suggests checking out the poetry of Kabir brought to life through music.

About Justin Boreta:
Justin Boreta is a member of The Glitch Mob, a beat-driven electronic group that has been touring for more than a decade performing around the world at festivals including: Coachella, Burning Man, Lollapolooza, Reading & Leeds and Bonnaroo. Boreta has collaborated with the spiritual teacher Ram Dass and Alan Watts on guided meditations and was recently nominated for a 2021 Grammy for Best New Age Album. Boreta is also a member of the Soul Land music series at Love Serve Remember.

“There was this sense of unencumbered big-eyed view of love. I felt so accepted and seen and relaxed right away. It was psychedelic. It was one of the most psychedelic experiences I’d had…the first thing I thought was if he [Ram Dass] makes me feel like that, I want other people around me to feel like that too.” – Justin Boreta

Music and the Legacy of Ram Dass with Justin Boreta with Raghu Markus – Mindrolling Podcast Ep. 571

Defining relationships as a triangle between God, Self, and Other, Stephen and Ondrea Levine discuss opening and softening our hearts.
In this archival episode, Stephen and Ondrea Levine explore:
How relationships open our hearts in hell
The difficulty in relationships as a path to purification
How easy it is to be in a relationship, how hard it is to relate
Relationships as a triangle between God, Other, and Self
How fear and cruelty dissolves in a willingness to approach the truth
Trying to let go of what keeps hearts separate
Dying into life, letting the heart burst, and going on
Practices that help us connect to ourselves and to forgive
The tremendous work we can do at home
Healing parental relationships
How grief keeps us separate
Each moment of love as complete and precious
Learning how to love by watching how unloving we often are
“Relationship offers us an opportunity to open our heart in hell. The difficulty of relationship is one of its most exquisite opportunities for purification, for healing.” – Stephen Levine

About Stephen Levine:
Stephen Levine was an American poet, author and Buddhist teacher best known for his work on death and dying. He was a friend and colleague to many Be Here Now Network Teachers. Along with Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg, Stephen is responsible for making the teachings of Theravada Buddhism more widely available to students in the West. He also helped establish the Living/Dying Project with RamDev and Ram Dass. For over thirty-two years, Stephen and his wife Ondrea Levine provided emotional and spiritual support for those who are life-threatened, and for caregivers. Through their healing and forgiveness workshops, many writings, and endless compassion, Stephen and Ondrea have touched the lives of thousands of people all over the world. They are the authors of numerous books, including Who Dies, Embracing the Beloved, and A Year to Live, among others. Find more talks and writings from Stephen and his wife Ondrea at levinetalks.com.

Relationship as Spiritual Healing with Stephen & Ondrea Levine - BHNN Guest Podcast Ep. 187

At this rowdy Q&A session from their 20-year reunion event at Harvard, Ram Dass and Timothy Leary answer questions and banter about the scenarios and myths surrounding our lives.

This talk was chosen in celebration of the new book, Dying To Know, which chronicles the epic friendship between Ram Dass and Timothy Leary that shaped generations of seekers. Get your copy today at the Ram Dass Shop: https://shop.ramdass.org/products/dying-to-know-book

Today's episode is part three of the Ram Dass and Timothy Leary reunion event at Harvard University on April 23, 1983. Be sure to check out part one, The Explorer’s Club, and part two, No Signposts. In this recording:

Ram Dass and Timothy begin with a little banter about their relationship and how it has evolved over the years.

Dealing with a slightly rowdy audience, they take questions about where we go from here, emptiness and form, the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, and Ken Kesey. 

Ram Dass and Timothy both share their thoughts on collaboration and writing as a team, what the future might hold for the use of psychedelics, and whether or not psychedelics cause brain damage. They have a lively debate about Gandhi versus ET. 

Ram Dass explores some of the myths and scenarios surrounding our lives. Timothy talks about his Revelations per Minute meter and some of the future possibilities he’s most excited about. They quibble over Ram Dass’ use of the word “God” and make some predictions about the remainder of the 1980s.

The event wraps up with some extended banter about voting, righteousness, and breaking bread with old enemies. 

“My feeling is that we see through scenarios and myths so much that all we can do from here is be true to our self from moment to moment. Because every time we say, ‘Well, where we go from here is…’ We are already sending a whole structural thing forward.” – Ram Dass

Ram Dass and Timothy Leary: Scenarios and Myths – Here and Now Podcast Ep. 266

Exploring how compassionate speech and mindful listening can transform our lives, Jack shares how we can navigate culture’s web of lies by using the energy of Wise Speech to truly awaken.

Transform your 2025 with Jack! Join “The Year of Awakening: An Intimate Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield” a year-long online course beginning Jan 2025! Register at bit.ly/Awakening2025

“[Wise Speech] is really about compassion—it’s being aware of the power of speech, and using it to express what is conscious and what brings freedom.” – Jack Kornfield

Exploring the third step of the Eightfold Path, Jack mindfully shares on:

- Wise Speech / Right Speech as a factor of awakening
- Compassion, non-harming, and embodying Buddha Nature
- Ram Dass’s “Hopi-Hippie Be-In” and what it means to ‘speak the truth’
- Navigating culture’s and advertising’s web of lies
- Speaking from your deepest truth and knowing
- Buddha and using the energy of speech to awaken
- What it means to truly listen to another human being
- Compassionate communication and listening
- Discerning your intention and motivation when talking to people
- Speaking like a Buddha and treasuring our speech
- The simple pleasure of talking and communication
- Using your words for justice, truth, love, and wisdom
- Letting go of pride and needing to be right
- A “Wise Speech” guided meditation
- Chanting the seed syllable “Ah”

“The key to listening and speaking wisely is the intention—our intention to learn, to discover, to hear something that we haven’t understood.” – Jack Kornfield

“The possibility, if we are to live an awakened life, is to foster that speech that comes from our deeper knowing.” – Jack Kornfield

This Dharma Talk recorded in 1992 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.

Jack Kornfield – Heart Wisdom – Ep. 267 – Wise Speech  Speaking with Intention, Listening with Compassion

Explaining the selfless and contingent nature of consciousness, Joseph Goldstein dives into the six internal and external sense bases.

This episode is part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta, one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. If you are just jumping into the series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience: https://youtu.be/RfuH9O7DS4o


This week, Joseph offers wisdom on:
Mindfulness of the patterns of experience
Internal and external sense spheres
The mind as a sixth sense
The way we attach the self to all we experience
Seeing objects as being conditioned and selfless
Our sense organs and paying attention to how we experience senses
The contingent nature of consciousness
Freeing the mind by becoming disenchanted
Recognizing defilements when they arise, and letting them go
How we often push the river of experience rather than allowing it to flow
Maintaining openness of the mind without preferences
“What’s difficult is to see all of these sense objects and the sense bases, to see and understand them as being conditioned, selfless, not I, not mine, not belonging to anyone. Not only seeing the sense object and sense base as selfless, but seeing the knowing of them as selfless.”– Joseph Goldstein

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

The Six Sense Bases with Joseph Goldstein – Insight Hour Ep. 227 – Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 24

Sharing stories from her world travels, yoga teacher Susan Maruffo explores healing and self-discovery through yoga, Tantra, and meditation.

This time on Mindrolling, Susan and Raghu journey through:  
- Unhappiness within Western cultural conditioning
- How getting out of the United States transformed Susan’s life
- Being alone while doing yoga versus in a group setting
- How suffocating our ‘roles’ in life can be
- Recognizing our universal connection via a trip to India
- Coming back into the body through yoga practice
- Susan’s experience at a Tantric school in Thailand
- Neo-Tantra versus classical Tantra
- Healing through yoga and sexual exploration
- Dying to the old versions of ourselves
- How the heart reveals itself during meditation
- The ways we run away from intimacy

About Susan Marrufo:
Susan left the United States and a job in advertising in 2008 to travel internationally and experience life beyond the confines of her cultural conditioning. She received her first 500-hr yoga certification in Thailand in 2009, where she began her studies of the classical yogic scriptures and delved deeply into esoteric tantric philosophy. After 2 years of teaching month-long tantric-based courses on the banks of the Ganges in India and the Pacific coastal towns of Mexico, Susan returned to the US to begin a residential internship with the Kripalu School of Yoga, where she taught in and project-managed several Kripalu yoga teacher trainings as well as received her 2nd 500-hr teacher training certification from the Kripalu School of Yoga. Susan facilitates group courses in the inquiry of yoga and meditation and dives increasingly deeper into her yogic studies. She is the founder of Samarasa Center.

“It was the first time that I started practicing yoga alone. Not in groups of classes with other people. That was transformational for me. That was the game changer, just being alone, having time, not feeling stressed, not feeling the pressure to be anybody. To be a wife, to be a boss, to be a daughter.” – Susan Marrufo

Mindrolling Podcast Ep. 572 – Yoga, Sex and Death with Susan Marrufo & Raghu Markus

For episode 254, we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Ruth King.

This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the sixth episode in this series. 

Ruth King is the Founder of Mindful of Race Institute, LLC, and is a celebrated author, educator, and meditation teacher. She teaches mindfulness meditation retreats worldwide and develops meditation practitioners at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Insight Meditation Society, and the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. Ruth is the author of several publications including her most recent, Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism From The Inside Out.

In this conversation, Ruth and Sharon discuss:
- Ruth’s first invitation to meditation
- First hearing Jack Kornfield teach
- The deep calling to teach
- Initial misconceptions about meditation
- Ram Dass giving Joseph Goldstein his first teaching job
- Sharon’s first teaching retreat
- Ruth’s first teaching in the DC area
- Ruth’s life as a writer
- Artistry and mindfulness
- Ruth’s BIPOC teaching & online academy
- The season of eldership 
- The process of downsizing and moving
- Letting go versus not holding on
- Nothing is permanent, perfect, or personal
- This episode closes with a guided meditation by Ruth.

Fireside Chat with Ruth King & Sharon Salzberg – Metta Hour Podcast Ep. 254

In this cozy holiday special, Jack sheds seasonal tidings on how to rediscover the secret beauty within you and share your special gifts with the world.

This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

“What you most deeply long for is who you are, is coming back to your own heart, to your own beauty, your own wellbeing that you were born with, to that secret beauty.” – Jack Kornfield

In part 1 of this special holiday video series, Jack merrily explores:

- The spiritual meaning of the Winter Solstice, the turning of the seasons, and the holidays
- How Jack’s teacher Ajahn Chah reacted when a Christmas Tree was put up in the Monastery
- Reconnecting with the great mystery of the world and with each other
- How to deal with your family with compassion, equanimity, and peace
- Seeing the secret beauty behind the eyes of everyone you meet
- Moving past the body of fear, the small sense of self
- The paradox of spiritual practice: you’re perfect and there’s room for improvement
- Rediscovering the love and secret beauty within you
- Cultivating dignity, presence, generosity, clarity, integrity, meaning, compassion, trust
- Bringing the mind and body together in the present
- Loving awareness and entering the wisdom stream
- Manifesting love and understanding into this world
- A Hawaiian story on how to bring your special gift
- Ram Dass, Mother Teresa, service, and allowing yourself to be taken care of
- Moving past fear politics and becoming a force of connection and love

“To meditate, more than anything, is an invitation to remember, to quiet ourselves, to touch back in to this truth, this reality beyond the busyness, fears, and confusion we have because we’re human.” – Jack Kornfield

“Meditation and spiritual practice is not meant to be a grim duty, it’s meant to be a rediscovery of the love and secret beauty that’s within you.” – Jack Kornfield

This episode was originally recorded for the Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation Livestream on 12/14/15. Learn more about Spirit Rock’s offerings at SpiritRock.org. Join Jack’s next livestream at JackKornfield.com/events

Transform your year with Jack! Join “The Year of Awakening: An Intimate Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield” a year-long online journey! Sign up at bit.ly/Awakening2025

Jack Kornfield - Heart Wisdom – Ep. 268 – Holiday Special Pt. 1- Rediscovering Your Secret Beauty and Sharing Your Special Gift

Shining a lamp in the darkness, Jack offers a heartwarming holiday story, guided meditation, angelic chant, and powerful intention setting ceremony for the New Year and beyond.

Transform your 2025 with Jack! Join “The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield” a year-long online program beginning Jan 2025 at bit.ly/Awakening2025

“May your holidays and the turning of the seasons bring new light, great love, wisdom, and understanding into your life, to all your touch, and across this beautiful blue-green globe.” – Jack Kornfield

In part 2 of this special holiday series, Jack merrily shares:

A heartwarming Christmas Dharma story to relax the mind
Learning the true and boundless joy of making others happy
A powerful “Just Like Me” two-person guided meditation practice
Transforming the world through seeing the beauty of those around us
Setting the compass of your heart for our highest good and intention
Creating your own New Year’s vow, and becoming a lamp in the darkness for those in need
A special blessing-cord ceremony—an intention setting ritual for the turning of the seasons, the New Year, and the returning of the light
The angelic, holy, chanting of the of the mantra, “Namoh”

“How do we respond to this world? You sit and you sweep the garden. You have the capacity as a human being incarnating in this life—with your measure of suffering and the beauty you have—to respond in extraordinary ways.” – Jack Kornfield

“I did a blessing cord ceremony 40 years ago together with Lama Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and somebody raised their hand and said to him, ‘What exactly do these protect you from?’ And he said, ‘Why yourself, of course,’ which is a main protection that human beings need.” – Jack Kornfield

This episode was originally recorded for the Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation Livestream on 12/14/15. Learn more about Spirit Rock’s offerings at SpiritRock.org and join Jack’s next livestream at JackKornfield.com/events

Jack Kornfield – Ep. 269 – Holiday Special Pt. 2 – A Lamp in the Darkness- Setting Intentions for the Return of the Light

Ram Dass illuminates the trap that many of us fall into as we grow up - which is the idea that we are our thoughts.

The more accurate view would be, "I am and I think.”

Thinking is a power that we have - “Intellect is a great servant but a lousy master.”

Most of us live almost entirely within the projections of our thinking mind.

Intellect is only one way of knowing the world, but the intuitive mind and heart is a more profound way of "knowing" the universe than the analytic intellectual linear mind.

The more you think inwardly and self reflect, the more you become an object to yourself until the whole universe is made up of objects.

We need to change the relative power positions of "intellect" and “intuition" so that we develop greater balance and freedom to grow on the spiritual path.

Ram Dass Here And Now - Ep. 93 - The Thinking Mind

A welcome explanation of what it truly means to seek refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Likening refuge to the Buddhist concept of ‘Bright Faith’, Sharon describes the power of possibility in keeping our spirits alive and moving. When our sense of limitation shifts from an absolute truth to a simple mental construct, we begin to see the light beneath the door. In revolutionizing our relationship to ourselves we affirm our own ability to bring faith, hope, and understanding to any situation. 

Sharon Salzberg - Metta Hour - Ep. 34 - Taking Refuge

Raghu is joined by Frank Osteseski, a Buddhist teacher and guiding light for people who are facing the death and dying process.

Raghu talks about his recent experience with the transition of his close friend Jyoti and it how it was like being at the very precipice of awakening when he sat with her as she was slipping through the Bardos.

Frank describes being with someone who is dying as an opportunity to let go of our of all preconceived notions and to use the transparency and rawness of that experience to bring ourselves into the moment.

Frank encourages everyone not to wait to tell our near and dear that we love them, and practicing for the eventual transition is something to consider sooner than later.



Mindrolling - Ep. 152 - Talking Transitions with Frank Ostaseski

In this talk, Jack Kornfield shares wisdom on the quality of mindful loving awareness that brings both healing and liberation.

Jack Kornfield – Heart Wisdom -  Ep. 90 – Healing Through Loving Awareness

In the wake of the tragic shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, Dr. Omid Safi shares a reflection on responding to chaos with compassion and love.

Omid Safi – Sufi Heart – Ep. 10 – Finding Compassion Amid Chaos

The Be Here Now Network is dedicated to the gathering and dissemination of spiritual talks, podcasts and writings of master teachers of Spirituality, Mindfulness and Meditation. Our core teachers and thought leaders include Ram Dass, Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, Lama Surya Das, Krishna Das, Joseph Goldstein, Danny Goldberg, Chris Grosso and the Mindrolling Podcast.

At BHNN we strive to produce quality podcasts, talks and lectures as well as text and films generated by a network of spiritual teachers and thought leaders on topics like mindfulness, service, social action, compassion, devotion and meditation.

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