This episode of the podcast features the one, the only, the truly unique and powerful force that is Bhagavan Das. Our hour long conversation weaves in and out of the nature of yoga, the self and spiritual practice in a way that only he can. Told through the lens of Bhagavan Das's own story of transformation that began with his leaving for India in 1965, I discovered that it's nearly impossible to put into words the energy that swirls around this man. He is truly one of the most authentic characters to stem from the greater counter culture movement of the 60's. Eastern spirituality as we know it in the West would not be what is today if it were not for the karamas of Bhagavan Das. Melt into this episode, you'll be glad you did.
Intro: Listen closely for a chance to win two passes to Bioneers 2018!!
Bhagavan Das
I left America for India in 1963 to find my Guru. I was the the first American to live in the jungle of the Himalyas as a hermit-sadhu. I was given the Holy Name of Ram by Bhramanada Saraswati through his disciple Mahish Yogi. I went off alone to the caves in the mountains to meditate. I then came to meet Swami Chaitanya Prakashananda Tirth who gave me tapas to fast and pray for God's Grace. After a year of fasting, prayer and intense purification I met my Sat-Guru the Great Mahasiddha Neem Karoli Baba. I then lived with my Guru, side by side for many years. Then one day because of the tantric path that he seemed to know I must travel and the many karmic connections due to ripen, he sent me away. So I went towards Tibet to go deeper deeper and then beyond with the last living Yogis from high in the mountain peaks of Tibet and Nepal. During my time with the Tibetan Yogis I was the first to meet and live with Lama Kalu the Guru of the 16th Karmapa. He gave me the Essense Mahamudra Transmission, mind to mind. I recieved the Mother Light from His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and then the Vajra Yogini directly from the Karmapa in Sikkhim. I lived with Yogi Chen who explained all the details to me in english in his hermitage in Kalingpong. When on pilgrimage to the holy Bodhanath Stupa in Kathmandu I met and became the Guru of Richard Alpert who was to become Ram Dass after I brought him to Neem Karoli Baba. I am here now by the grace of the Guru Dev Dakini. She is the Mother Light always guiding me on the true path of Bodhichitta. This is It for Now.
The founders and guiding visionaries of Pathway to Paris, Jesse Paris Smith and Rebecca Foon sit down for an in depth discussion on climate change and how to inspire change via the power of rock and roll. Our conversation traverses the difficult but perhaps ultimately optimistic way in which we can unite to combat the most pressing issue of our time. Jesse and Becca are extremely powerful activist avatars dancing in the world of art, activism, politics and community. Their foundation, Pathway to Paris, may in fact raise the bar on bringing crucial awareness to this issue while also rocking out!
Pathway to Paris is an initiative in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and 350.org that brings together musicians, artists, activists, climate change experts, academics, politicians and innovators to participate in a series of events, dialogues and leading initiatives to help turn the Paris Agreement into reality.
Attend one of their upcoming events in SF or LA in September. Patti Smith, Bob Weir, Flea and Eric Burdon are all a part of it!
Intro Rant - More discussion on climate change through the lens of a TED talk from Nicholas Sparks.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by The Yoga of Strength, a new book by Andrew Marc Rowe. Pre-order to publish now!