Discontentment and the Compulsion to Act

It’s been interesting to discover how much resistance there is to thinking of contentment as the real goal of a spiritual life. This extract from a teaching I gave in Brooklyn last month makes the case that it is precisely the need – the compulsion – we feel to always have to do something to Read More

“It’s Like This Now”

This is the last excerpt from the meeting I had with Standard Charter Bank execs in Singapore, exploring the several possible meanings of their business slogan, “Here for Good.” The last connotation I discussed was “Here (and Now) for Good,” emphasizing the fact that we’re always here and now.  We’re actually never “there and then,” Read More

What We Really Want

I had the opportunity last March to speak to a group of business executives at the Standard Charter Bank in Singapore. I don’t often have the chance to address to such an audience and I really enjoyed it. They were all obviously intelligent, talented people and were very attentive and at the end asked really Read More

Purposeless Action

This podcast touches upon a section in my book, “Be Nobody,” that explores what it looks like to lose yourself in action. Selfless action is extolled in many religious traditions. In the Bhagavad Gita, for example, we are given instructions on “karma yoga” – action done without attention to the “fruits” of action. This is Read More

Four Illusions About the Self

This podcasts reviews some of the arguments found in Buddhist texts as to why the self we think exists has to be just an illusion. Although the “I” seems so tangible and obviously present, when we try to put our finger on it we come up empty handed. We have a sense that there must Read More

The Where’s Waldo From Hell

This podcast comes from a talk given on a hot, sultry night in Brooklyn last summer at Ava Gerber’s Lucky Lotus Yoga Studio. It really cuts to the chase when it comes to the Big Question: Who the hell am I? When we go looking for the self we thoroughly believe exists – an unchanging, Read More

Tips on How to Be Less of a Somebody

This is an excerpt from the conclusion of a talk I gave at a group retreat we led near Buellton, California, in September of 2013. I wanted to provide some useful take-aways as people prepared to re-enter their lives after the retreat. And so I picked up on some of the material found toward the Read More

Lama Marut’s Newest Book Promotional Pre-Sale Combo Offer

Hi Everyone, My publisher has a special on, whereby those who purchase “Renegade’s Guide” for a discounted price get a preorder for my new book, “Be Nobody,” for just $3.00. For those of you who are interested, here’s the link with more information: http://www.beyondword.com/bundle/a-spiritual-renegades-guide-to-the-good-life-be-nobody-combo-pack Read More