Celebrating the release of There Is No Other, a new book of teachings from Ram Dass’ lectures, Parvati Markus and Raghu Markus listen to and reflect on some of the material used in its creation.

This special episode of Mindrolling celebrates the new book, There Is No Other, a collection of teachings taken from Ram Dass’ lectures. In these times, Ram Dass’ teachings on wholeness and unity are more needed than ever.

• We begin with a clip of Ram Dass exploring the mindset of “us versus them.” Who exactly is us? Who is them? Raghu and Parvati reflect on how this clip is central to the theme of There Is No Other.
• The next clip features Ram Dass talking about the balance of heart and mind. Sharing a powerful real-life example, he explores how we cut ourselves off when we veil our hearts. Raghu and Parvati share how the book is about walking a path to harmony and wholeness.
• The third clip finds Ram Dass examining Ramana Maharshi’s concept of “God, Guru, Self,” and how we can begin to appreciate that the Spirit is everywhere. Parvati and Raghu discuss how Ram Dass’ new book speaks to this really important moment in our lives.
• We end with a brief clip of Ram Dass talking about the path of love. “Finally,” he says, “you become an environment, a vibratory rate…”

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“So the mind, if it gets too strong, out of balance with the heart, shuts down all the information that the heart can give. It cuts you off from your wisdom, really. You don’t even see all the stuff. I mean, you and I are simultaneously existing on so many planes of reality, but because of the power of our minds, we keep limiting which realities are real, and the rest of it we either treat as error or we don’t even notice. It’s so deeply unconscious, we just don’t even notice all the rest of us, of ourselves.” – Ram Dass

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Raghu Markus and Psychoanalyst Dr. Jeffrey Rubin unpack how mindfulness, empathy, and self-understanding connect the worlds of Buddhism and Western therapy.

In this Mindrolling episode, Raghu and Dr. Rubin discuss:

• Jeffrey’s traditional upbringing and the unexpected spiritual experience he had during a basketball game
• Key parallels between Western psychotherapy and Buddhist wisdom
• How “hovering attention” and mindfulness support both therapists and clients
• Identifying pure presence in numerous activities, from chanting to sports and beyond
• The marriage of Buddha and Freud: moment-to-moment non-judgmental, non-interfering presence
• Why some Buddhist practitioners can be “one with experience” but struggle to articulate what that truly means
• Viewing our symptoms as beautiful gateways to transformation rather than obstacles
• Putting practice into everyday life and helping people truly live differently
• Empathetically understanding those we disagree with
• Becoming open to feedback and growth instead of shutting down new ideas
• The ways in which we maladaptively try to cure ourselves
• What real, sustainable transformation actually looks like in practice

Grab one of Jeffrey’s central works, Meditative Psychotherapy: The Marriage of East and West

About Dr. Jeffrey B. Rubin:

Dr. Rubin practices psychoanalysis and psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy and teaches meditation in New York City and Bedford Hills, New York. Widely regarded as a leading integrator of the Western psychotherapeutic and Eastern meditative traditions, Dr. Rubin created Meditative Psychotherapy based on decades of study, teaching and helping people to flourish. Dr. Rubin is the author of six books and numerous publications. He has taught at universities, psychoanalytic institutes and Buddhist and yoga centers. Dr. Rubin lectures in the US and has given workshops at the UN, the Esalen Institute, the Open Center and the 92nd Street Y. His pioneering approach to psychotherapy and Buddhism has been featured in The New York Times Magazine.​ Sign up HERE for a workshop on self-transformation with Dr. Rubin

“I call it the marriage of Buddha and Freud. It’s any practice that cultivates moment-to-moment, non-judgmental, non-interfering presence. That can be qigong, prayer, or Sufi dancing. I don’t want the audience to think it has to be Buddhist; it can be many things. It just happens to be very well done in Buddhism. It’s any sincere path that will help you focus, concentrate, have more self-compassion and compassion for others.” –Dr. Jeffrey B. Rubin

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This episode of Mindrolling is a collection of some of the most potent teachings from Raghu’s conversations with experts and researchers in the field of psychedelics.

In this Mindrolling Anthology:

• Clip 1 (Ep. 348) – We begin with a clip from one of Raghu’s conversations with Rick Doblin, who is a leader of the current psychedelic renaissance. They discuss grief, PTSD, and the role of psychedelics in trauma processing.
• Clip 2 (Ep. 497) – Next up is a snippet from Raghu’s talk with Dr. Sylvestre Quevedo, a psychedelic researcher who has practiced medicine for over 40 years. They explore how ketamine fits into the picture of psychedelics and share stories of their own experiences.
• Clip 3 (Ep. 505) – We move on to a discussion with Paul Austin, an entrepreneur, author, and coach. He and Raghu talk about how psychedelics can help us remember who we truly are and the potential they hold for healing relationships.
• Clip 4 (Ep. 563) – Next, we have neuropharmacologist Stephanie Karzon Abrams. She and Raghu discuss bridging the gap between science and spirit, and how psychedelics can help change our perspectives.
• Clip 5 (Ep. 596) – The final clip is from a conversation between Raghu and neuroscientist Gül Dölen. They talk about how psychedelics induce meta-plasticity and why “critical periods” after psychedelic therapies are similar to the Buddhist concept of beginner’s mind.

“But really, what psychedelics are teaching us is the importance of presence, how to listen, how to slow down, right? They’re helping to sort of take us out of this rigamarole, this hamster wheel of existence, and see that another way of being is actually possible. And really, what’s required more than anything is a loving, compassionate presence.” – Paul Austin

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Raghu sits down with clinical psychologist and meditation teacher Dr. Tucker Peck to explore the meeting point of dharma and psychotherapy.

If you are in the U.S., you can directly purchase a paperback copy of Sanity & Sainthood HERE. Otherwise, head over to Amazon for both paperback and ebook formats.

In this episode of Mindrolling, Raghu and Tucker discuss:

• Tucker’s first mind-altering meditative experience on the beach
• Including the dharma in psychotherapy and Tucker’s work in meditation as a therapeutic modality
• How Tucker developed a relationship with Sharon Salzberg and learned mindfulness techniques from her
• The eccentric story of Grandma Allegra: enlightenment, humor, and being in love with the world
• The question of psychedelics—are they ‘necessary’ for elevating consciousness?
• Working with the mind and the difference between content and process
• The pros and cons of the ego and why we need to first know ourselves before dissolving the self
• The Elephant Path, a nine-step practice for building concentration, insight, and awakened awareness

About Tucker Peck, Ph.D.:

Dr. Tucker Peck is a meditation teacher, clinical psychologist, and bestselling author of Sanity and Sainthood. His specialties include working with advanced meditators and using meditation to help those suffering from psychological disorders. He hosts the podcast Teaching Meditation. Tucker began formal training in meditation in 2005 and has studied with, among other teachers, Sharon Salzberg and Upasaka Culadasa.Tucker received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Brown University, and he received his Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the College of Science at the University of Arizona. Tucker is a published author on the scientific study of meditation, focusing on how meditation affects the brain. He is a former faculty member of both the University of Arizona Department of Psychology and College of Medicine, and he is the founder and former Director of Palo Santo Psychotherapy & Wellness. He is the founder, treasurer, and past president of the Open Dharma Foundation, which provides scholarships to meditation retreats, and for four years served as the president of the Tucson Community Meditation Center. Keep up with Tucker and his upcoming retreats HERE.

“The trouble is, the ego is trying to protect you from threats and it is very, very unclear on what does and doesn’t constitute a threat. It tends to think any sort of emotion constitutes a threat, any sort of insight into how the mind or perceptual system works is more than you can handle, so what you want is to slowly get to know yourself.” –Tucker Peck, Ph.D.

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Merging art, science, and spirit, authors and intellectuals Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross illuminate why creativity is essential for humanity.

Grab a copy of Susan and Ivy’s Book: Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us

In this episode of Mindrolling, Raghu, Susan, and Ivy explore:

• Redefining art as any medium that allows someone to express themselves
• Learning to see the world with fresh eyes and creative curiosity
• The powerful reflection: has there ever been a time when the arts have personally affected you?
• Resonance and vibration as the center of the universe
• Music as a pathway to experience oneness with all things
• The miracle of neuroplasticity—rewiring the brain and making new pathways
• Confronting ourselves with a new piece of art or doing a new arts practice
• Play through art: letting go of any preconceived outcome and simply playing with ideas and concepts
• Why change requires time, patience, and habitual practice
• Remembering that art in ancient cultures was highly valued and integrated into daily life
• The aesthetic mindset and walking through the world with attention to beauty in every detail

Listen to Sit Around the Fire, a collaborative musical journey with Jon Hopkins, East Forest, and Ram Dass

About Susan Magsamen:

Susan Magsamen is the founder and director of the International Arts + Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she is a faculty member. She is also the co-director of the NeuroArts Blueprint. Susan works with both the public and private sectors using arts and culture evidence-based approaches in areas including health, child development, education, workforce innovation, rehabilitation and social equity.

“It’s personal; it could be crocheting for her, gardening for somebody else, it could be I’m a collager, we’re all talking about personalized medicine and precision medicine, and the arts are probably the most personalized medicine that there is.” –Susan Magsamen

About Ivy Ross:

Ivy Ross is the Vice President of Design for hardware product area at Google, where she leads a team that has won over 225 design awards. She is a National Endowment for Arts grant recipient and was ninth on Fast Company's list of the one hundred Most Creative People in Business in 2019. Ross believes that the intersection of arts and sciences is where the most engaging and creative ideas are found.

“I think we’ve been focusing on productivity and efficiency and pushing these arts aside as a ‘nice to have’, not as an imperative to our health and wellness. Through the work on this book with Susan, learning more about the physiology of how we are wired to receive the sensorial nature of life, it’s no wonder when we deprive ourselves of that, why we’re in the state we’re in.” –Ivy Ross

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Carried by a discourse on The Heart Sutra, teacher and author Susan Piver joins Raghu to explore the truth of emptiness.

Grab your copy of Susan’s book: Inexplicable Joy: On the Heart Sutra

This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Susan chat about:

• Practicing The Heart Sutra with only one syllable: ahh
• The truth of emptiness through recitation of non-truths
• Understanding emptiness as bliss, not as voidness
• The commitment to self interest that many westerners experience
• Releasing the ego as the first step towards embracing emptiness
• Being both empty and luminous at the same time
• Thinking of emptiness as complete interconnection and fullness
• Susan’s psychedelic experience: staying in the present, being in the womb of bliss
• The six transcendent actions and how they all spring from generosity

Check out this free, downloadable translation of The Heart Sutra from Plum Village

“You’re empty of separate existence. Your parents, their parents, their parents, if someone ate a different sandwich a thousand years ago, you wouldn’t be here. Emptiness could just as easily be called fullness, completely connected.” –Susan Piver

About Susan Piver:

Susan Piver has an international reputation as an exceptionally skillful meditation teacher. She teaches workshops and speaks on mindfulness, innovation, communication, relationships, and creativity. Susan has been a student of Buddhism since 1995, graduated from a Buddhist seminary in 2004, and was authorized to teach meditation in 2005. In 2012, she founded The Open Heart Project, the world’s largest online-only meditation center. Susan is also a New York Times bestselling author. Her most recent book, Inexplicable Joy: On the Heart Sutra, is now available. You can keep up with Susan on Instagram or on her website.

Join Susan for a 5-day Kripalu meditation retreat this November

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