Discussing the spiritual experiences that shaped his life, Dr. Michael Shandler describes the lessons he learned from taking psychedelics, meeting Baba Hari Dass, and more.

Grab your copy of Dr. Michael’s award-winning memoir, Karma and Kismet, HERE.

In this episode, Raghu and Michael have an elaborate discussion on:

• Dr. Michael’s early encounters with antisemitism and racism in boarding school and the South African military
• The impact of Zionist upbringing on Dr. Michael’s worldview and his transformative time living in an Israeli kibbutz
• Healing strained parental relationships: how Dr. Michael overcame challenges with his father
• Dr. Michael's time with Baba Hari Dass, Ram Dass’s teacher
• Why chasing multiple psychedelic trips may be less valuable than simply integrating lessons from the first
• Restoring balance to the nervous system with yogic practices and Ayurveda
• A heart-centered teaching from Neem Karoli Baba: Poori and Potatoes

Check out Ram Dass’s Here We All Are lecture, mentioned in this episode.

About Dr. Michael Shandler:

Dr. Michael Shandler is an award-winning author, speaker, and life coach with over forty years of experience guiding individuals and teams on their journeys toward psycho-spiritual well-being. and optimal performance As the founder of Vision Action Associates and former director of leadership and organization development at Arthur D. Little in London, U.K., Shandler has spent decades helping leaders, teams, and individuals tap into their potential, combining psychological insight with cutting edge collaborative techniques and the perennial wisdom of the ages.

In 2024, Shandler’s multiple award-winning memoir, Karma and Kismet, A Spiritual Quest Across Continents, Cultures, and Consciousness, was published by Koehler Books. This award-winning narrative chronicles his personal journey through adversity and triumph, exploring the powerful forces of fate and karma that have shaped his life across continents and cultures. His work resonates with anyone seeking transformation, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of life’s interconnectedness.

“During the meeting, he said to me, ‘How many times have you taken LSD?’ Who knew? I didn’t really remember. I said, ‘I can’t really remember Baba Ji.’ He said, ‘The first trip you took was the important one, everything else was a waste of time after that.’”– Dr. Michael Shandler

This episode is brought to you by Dharma Moon.

Join Senior Buddhist Teacher David Nichtern for a provocative and playful online discussion exploring the profound practices of mindfulness and the journey of becoming a meditation teacher.

Learn more and sign up for a free online talk about becoming a meditation teacher with David at dharmamoon.com/deepening.

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Explaining all that anger can reveal, activist and yoga instructor Reggie Hubbard encourages listeners to use their anger for positive change.

In this week’s episode of Mindrolling, Raghu and Reggie reflect upon:

• Reggie's powerful upbringing as a person of color, shaped by family stories from the Civil Rights era and beyond
• How surviving a stroke became a transformative spiritual experience for Reggie
• Anger as a gift and friend that can show us injustice, unreconciled pain, and more
• How facing his anger led Reggie to yoga, mindfulness, and spiritual life
• Maharaj-ji’s wisdom: you can be angry, just don’t throw anyone out of your heart.
• How poverty is pathologized in American society—and the consequences of blaming the poor.
• What science reveals about the empathy gap in wealthy individuals and its societal impact
• Consuming less media, talking less, and praying more
• Why the act of surrender can be the most powerful and transformative choice
• Considering where love is in our reality and figuring out who we really are
• A meditation as Reggie plays gongs and singing bowls for listeners

Read the full article Raghu excerpts in this episode, “What You’ve Suspected Is True: Billionaires Are Not Like Us,” HERE.

This episode is brought to you by Dharma Moon.

Join Senior Buddhist Teacher David Nichtern for a provocative and playful online discussion exploring the profound practices of mindfulness and the journey of becoming a meditation teacher.

Learn more and sign up for a free online talk about becoming a meditation teacher with David at dharmamoon.com/deepening.

About Reggie Hubbard:

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. Learn more HERE.

"You should be outraged, these are outrageous times. What will you do with that outrage? How might that outrage fuel the aims that you seek as opposed to fuel your self-destruction or delusion?” – Reggie Hubbard

Photo via Reggie Hubbard

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Blending psychedelic wisdom with the sacred power of sound, Raghu Markus and East Forest explore music as a gateway to nonduality, healing, and everyday spirituality.

Check out Music for Mushrooms, a narrative documentary highlighting the personal journey of East Forest.

In this episode of Mindrolling, Raghu and East Forest explore:

• East Forest’s creative process and setting Ram Dass’ teachings to music
• Putting trust into the process and the vast audience that East has reached
• Music as a vehicle for nonduality, emotion, and direct spiritual experience
• The infinite potential of music—why we’ll never run out of songs
• Raghu’s substanceless psychedelic experience listening to John Coltrane
• Accessing altered states and higher consciousness through multiple paths
• The role of song in indigenous plant medicine and sacred ceremony
• Bringing spirituality into daily life rather than chasing peak experiences
• Living fully and embracing even the uncomfortable parts of healing
• Leaning into suffering with tenderness and recognizing that it can bring us closer to God
• How psychedelics can help us remember that we are all interconnected
• The healing power of motherly and divine love—and how it’s always available to us
• Cosmic peek-a-boo: Remembering that we are loving awareness and not being discouraged when we forget

From this episode:

• Grab a copy of the book Walking Each Other Home
• Learn more about Saint Mira Bai and her devotion to Krishna

About East Forest:

East Forest is a multidisciplinary artist, producer, and ceremony guide. Since 2008, East Forest’s “lush” (Rolling Stone) and “blissful” (NPR) music has blended ambient, neoclassical, electronic, and avant-pop to explore sound as a tool for inner journeys and consciousness expansion. Known for being the first musician to collaborate with Ram Dass, his latest endeavor is the feature-length film Music for Mushrooms, a narrative documentary showcasing the transformative power of psychedelics, music, and community.

“There's something about the combination of how music can unlock–it makes the medicine so smooth and the emotion is so amplified that it’s just right there. It’s a core human experience that they're reflecting back, and it’s for all of us.” – East Forest

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.