This is the second half of the equation that began with the previous podcast: “Change You, Change the World.†Because everything exists in interdependence (and not independently), it is also true that if we change the world, we change ourselves. But how do we do this? At one level, we change ourselves when see ourselves Read More
Category: Audio
Change You, Change the World
While in Massachusetts this summer, I had the chance to speak to a group in North Reading, most of whom were friends of Jon Weir – an incredible person and the owner of Kitty’s restaurant which he opened up to the event. The talk I gave there came straight out of a section of “Be Read More
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
The Cult of Busyness
I thought it would be a propos to give a talk on the “cult of busyness†in New York City, the adrenaline capital of the world as part of the summer, 2014, “Be Nobody†book tour. This is an extract from that talk, given at Ava Gerber’s “Lucky Lotus†yoga center in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Read More
“It’s Like This Nowâ€
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
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
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
Not Your Mama’s Lama Interview
From a live interview on Body Mind Spirit Radio on Wed, June 13, 2012 with Lama Marut and Annette Rochelle Aben (radio host). Introduction from radio interview: A perfect combination of warmth and wit, renowned American Buddhist monk, Lama Marut, leads the revolution for true and lasting happiness. After all what else would the son of a 2ndgeneration Read More
Why I’m Not in Robes
Lama Marut explains his decision to begin teaching in street clothes and not in the robes of a Buddhist monk. From a teaching giving in Melbourne on May 18, 2012. Download MP3 Now > NoRobes Read More
Using Failure in Your Spiritual Path
Lama Marut answers a student’s question about how to transform failure into something spiritually positive and useful. From a teaching over Skype to a group in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on April 4, 2012. Download MP3 > Spiritual Use of Failure Read More