Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

David, Raghu, and Sharon consider how devotion, meditation, truth, and compassion can tend the love already within us, bringing it into the way we meet ourselves, others, and the world.
This episode was recorded live from the 2026 Ram Dass Legacy Summer Mountain Retreat. Watch the full event on the Ram Dass’ Inner Academy, a curated collection of deep wisdom from Ram Dass, practice, and community: Learn More
In this episode, David, Raghu, and Sharon discuss:
The compassion to let people be as they are (so long as they aren’t harming others)
Love as an ability rather than just a feeling
Tending to the love that already exists within us
Approaching situations from wisdom and balance rather than reactive emotions
Devotion and objects of refuge in meditation practice
A straightforward instruction from Maharaj-ji: love everyone and tell the truth
Remembering that having boundaries does not mean a lack of love
About David Nichtern:
David Nichtern, founder of Dharma Moon, is a senior Buddhist teacher who has been practicing and teaching meditation for over 40 years. He was one of the initial American students of renowned meditation master Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and studied closely with him soon after his arrival in the United States in 1970. He is also a business consultant, working with companies to create a variety of offerings that integrate meditation into a broader health and well-being context. David is also a multiple Grammy-nominated and Emmy Award-winning musician. David’s journey has crisscrossed with the Maharaji/Ram Dass sangha for decades. He has produced multiple Krishna Das albums and frequently joins the Bhaktettes live on guitar. He considers himself to be a first cousin and honorary member of the Bhakti community.
“You’re lucky enough to have objects of refuge that are somebody you admire or respect, who has accomplished a great deal. You invite that energy into your ecosystem and when your mind wanders, your heart reconnects you to the object of the refuge. That brings you back together with the awareness and sense of connection.” –David Nichtern
About Sharon Salzberg:
Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed five million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. Learn more about Sharon and her books at www.sharonsalzberg.com and check out Insight Meditation Society.
“I think that’s what Ram Dass was saying—that other people, situations, art, so many things may inspire love or invoke it or threaten it, but ultimately it is ours to tend, to nurture, to grow. It is within us and that can be very empowering.” –Sharon Salzberg
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Turning back time to 2018, we revisit a conversation between Dr. Thurman and Raghu Markus about facing reality, transforming our reactivity, and understanding karma.
You can help continue Dr. Thurman’s life’s work to preserve Tibetan culture. Visit Tibet House to learn more.
In this episode, Robert Thurman and Raghu explore:
Buddhism as a realistic approach to understanding reality
The projections and stories we tell ourselves every day
Working with fear and judgment in meditation
Entering the gaps of mental reactivity
Karma: an intentional action with evolutionary consequences
The relationship between self-awareness and the direction of our karma
Buddhist perspectives on rebirth and reincarnation
The distinction between unconscious rebirth and consciously choosing to return
Neem Karoli Baba and the experience of living completely in reality
The intimate connection between absolute reality and unconditional love
About Dr. Robert Thurman:
Robert Thurman (1941-2026) was an American Buddhist author and academic who wrote, edited, and translated many books on Tibetan Buddhism. He was the Je Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University before retiring in June 2019. He held the first endowed chair in Buddhist Studies in the West. After education at Phillips Exeter and Harvard, he studied Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism for almost thirty years as a personal student of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He wrote both scholarly and popular books and lectured widely all over the world. As President of the American Institute for Buddhist Studies, he convened the First Inner Science Conference with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Amherst College in 1984. He was also a founding trustee of Tibet House New York. Check out his most recent book Wisdom Is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life. Robert Thurman made many appearances on our network, and he is greatly missed.
“Being realistic is the best approach because the better you understand reality, the happier you will be. The less you understand it, the more unnecessary trouble you will put yourself through. That’s why when people ask what Buddhism is, I tell them that Buddhism is realism.” –Robert Thurman
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Tommy Rosen, Gagan Levy, and Raghu Markus explore addiction and the everyday choices that shape recovery and a meaningful life.
Be part of the Recovery 2.0 community with online recovery meetings that are open to anyone: Click Here to Register
This time on Mindrolling, Tommy, Gagan and Raghu explore:
Growing up in a home filled with anxiety and developing a sense that something is always wrong
How oftentimes addiction comes from seeking relief and homeostasis
Distraction and Procrastination as forms of addiction
Ram Dass’s approach to working with habits of the mind
Facing the long, dark night of the soul
The ‘nitty-gritty’ of how we choose to live our lives
The five core tenets of Tommy’s program, ‘Recovery 2.0’
How working the 12-steps guarantees a spiritual experience
Tending to the needs of mind, body, and soul
About Tommy Rosen:
Tommy Rosen is the founder and host of the Recovery 2.0: Beyond Addiction Online Conference and presents workshops annually at Esalen, Omega, and Kripalu. One of the pioneers in the burgeoning field of Yoga and Recovery, he holds advanced certifications in both Hatha and Kundalini Yoga and has 20 years of recovery from acute drug addiction. Tommy and his wife, noted yoga instructor, Kia Miller, live in Venice, California, where they teach yoga and grow organic vegetables in their backyard. Check out Tommy’s upcoming retreats and his book, Recovery 2.0.
“In recovery circles, we see a lot of people who struggle for a lifetime. They aren’t going to implode their life like we did, but if you asked any human being, do you want to ‘get through life’ or do you really want to seize this day and realise yourself, your heart’s desires and dreams, everyone would say ‘of course I do’. Well, maybe you have to change the ways that you’re facing a 24-hour period of time.” –Tommy Rosen
About Gagan Levy:
Gagan Levy is the Founder/CEO of Guru, an award-winning creative agency dedicated to serving purpose-driven movements, brands, and organizations. They work with impactful brands like Patagonia, Traditional Medicinals, Nalgene, Non-GMO, The Organic Alliance, Bring Change to Mind and many natural products brands, including EO / Everyone Products, OM Mushroom Superfoods, and REBBL. Gagan also serves as Chief Evangelist at MAHA Global, a platform focused on helping businesses adapt to stakeholder needs using data-driven reputation intelligence. As former Co-chair of Social Venture Circle, one of the country’s most prestigious impact investor and social business communities, Gagan leads the way to a next economy that is regenerative, just, and prosperous for all. Gagan Levy is also a current board member to his prolific teacher Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation, he has been instrumental in strategizing how to connect the greatest wisdom keepers of our time to a new generation. Grab a copy of Gagan’s book, Start Your Own Damn Cult, A Founder’s Field Guide, for a practical and actionable framework for building from coherence, holding power without unraveling, and winning without wrecking yourself, your team, or the planet.
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Melvin McLeod, editor of Lion’s Roar, shares his new vision of mindfulness as a complete way of living, from cultivating concentration and awareness to understanding our place in the universe.
Check out Melvin’s podcast series, The Complete Path of Mindfulness, where he talks with leaders in the field about a groundbreaking new advance in mindfulness practice. Melvin and his guests explore mindfulness as not only a helpful meditation technique, but as a complete, transformative path of life.
This time on Mindrolling, Melvin and Raghu explore:
Looking into what this life and universe is all about
Leading happier and more meaningful lives
Seeing mindfulness as a complete path of life
Melvin’s four identified keys of mindfulness
Inspiration from Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the most important spiritual teachers of this age
Developing the power of concentration
Following a path without adopting a formal religion
Recognizing our deep, intimate connection with all things
Investigating the nature of awareness
Taming the mind and the RAIN method taught by Tara Brach
Be Here Now: Inhabiting the moment with loving-awareness
Melvin’s interview with Joanna Macy, renowned Buddhist thinker, environmental activist, and author
About Melvin McLeod:
Melvin McLeod is the editor-at-large of Lion's Roar, the largest media organization in the English language devoted to Buddhist meditation and mindfulness, and co-founder of Mindful magazine. He has been practicing for more than 40 years and is a well-known and respected authority on mindfulness and meditation. His ground-breaking teaching on the Complete Path of Mindfulness has been praised by leaders in the field as an important advance in how mindfulness is defined and practiced. Check out his new book to learn more about this innovative work: With a Single Breath: The Complete Path of Mindfulness.
“When mindfulness is seen not simply as a helpful meditation technique but as a complete path of life, it can offer the same powerful tools for personal and societal transformation traditionally only offered by religion in an evidence-driven, common-sense format, for all of those people who are not especially interested in following a capital ‘R’ religious path.” –Melvin McLeod
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Challenging our perceptions of reality, Samuel Bercholz and Raghu discuss loosening the ego’s grip through meditation and opening to the humor beneath it all.
Click HERE to preorder Samuel’s upcoming book, Rude Awakenings: An Unconventional Guide to the Buddhist Path
This time on Mindrolling, Samuel and Raghu explore:
Dipping a toe into all religions and learning how to meditate
The humble beginnings of Shambhala Publications
Addictions to ego and so-called reality
Witnessing the beautiful emptiness within Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
How Ram Dass moved within many different spiritual circles
Entering the mind of Buddha through meditation
Stepping out of the bureaucracy of ego
Not being too serious / blending love and humor
About Samuel Bercholz:
Sam Bercholz is a senior teacher in the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of Shambhala Publications. He was a close disciple of Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and was empowered by them to teach and given the title Acharya (religious instructor). He has taught extensively in North America, Europe, and Australasia. He was particularly empowered by Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche to teach from A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar.
“What I’ve learned through Buddhist practice and being with great teachers is that the fixed ideas of reality and viewing the world were 180 degrees off. We experience things exactly backwards. Our habit of reality is so skewed that it makes all perceptions backwards. We choose our realities, and we become addicted to keeping that reality going.” –Samuel Bercholz
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