Mindrolling – Raghu Markus & David Silver – Ep. 97 – Walking Home with Michael Donovan

Michael Donovan

Mindrollers interviewed by the free-thinking, free-spirited Michael Donovan.  Forgiveness, death, politics, violence, love, death, grieving, non-attachment, environment, fashion – yes, fashion – consumerism, the guru, and a whole lot more.  From the Lower East Side of New York City, a Michael, David & Raghu verbal adventure…

Recommendations

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International Bestseller

Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]

Blue Gold: World Water Wars

  • Exploring Death (It’s all the rage) – The truth is that we have no idea what happens when we drop our bodies, so it’s hard to say whether any particular reaction is appropriate. The sooner we face the reality of our mortality, the more time we have to approach it
  • Heart to Heart – Buddha was one heart, and turned on many. As we go deeper into ourselves we radiate that frequency to the world around us. We find balance and share what we learn.
  • Finding Balance (Change your consciousness) – Even systems like capitalism can function, but only if there is balance. All we can bring to the present situation is greater consciousness
  • Sharon Salzberg (Official Badass) – Sharon did the work, and it shows. We all have different approaches to experiment with, but they all involve doing what is necessary to get free. Where we are is just an accumulation of our innate experiential wisdom
  • Protective Fashion – Styles of dress can be an attempt to associate oneself with a certain mode of thinking, but can also serve as a simple reminder to stay true to what you value
  • Modern Kindness -­ Raghu and Dave remark on the encouraging level of consideration among the current youth. The greater exposure to the true connectedness of our lives seems to be generating a greater concern for and appreciation of our collective future
  • Family Ties (The ties that bind) – Michael points to the influence of tradition and spoon-fed comfort that can perpetuate nefarious actions within powerful families or corporations. What to do? Angry protests, or perhaps more mindfulness-oriented actions?
  • The Reality of Love (The only reality) – Kindness, compassion – these are the only religions. It doesn’t eliminate suffering, but it allows us to se through it, and to move toward relieving it
  • Ganesh (The gateway drug) We often need to use something to focus our attention on. The deeper we move into the practice, the more we understand that it’s what these objects represent that we are seeking. The best methods seem to self destruct

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Image via Bruce Rolff