Ep. 208 - Love & Reason: The Intersection of Bhakti and Buddhism with Sharon Salzberg, Robert Thurman and Raghu Markus

Recorded live at the 2022 Summer Mountain Retreat, Sharon Salzberg, Robert Thurman, and Raghu Markus explore the true essence of love through the lenses of service, social action, and selflessness.

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Come join us this year at the 2025 Summer Mountain Retreat in Boone, North Carolina

In this episode, Sharon, Robert, and Raghu hold a discussion on:

• Reframing love as an ability we can develop, rather than a fleeting emotion
•  Taking responsibility for love—actively cultivating it instead of waiting for it to arrive
• Recognizing authentic love as a deep sense of connection
• Understanding the etymology of metta, the Buddhist concept of loving-kindness and the sincere wish for another’s happiness
• Considering if we can genuinely wish happiness for others if we are not happy ourselves
• Identifying the pitfalls of ego-driven self-love and how it disrupts true bliss and spiritual connection
• Moving beyond spiritual ego—being real and grounded instead of feeling superior for simply meditating
• Reflecting on how Ram Dass radiated full, compassionate attention to everyone around him
• Embracing love as the most powerful unseen force in the universe 
• Learning to forget ourselves and awaken true happiness through compassion and loving-awareness
• Facing the challenge of practicing loving-awareness with those closest to us—often the hardest test of all

This episode is sponsored by Dharma Seed:

Join Krishna Das, the most well-known voice of Bhakti chanting (Kirtan) in the West, and David Nichtern - a senior Buddhist teacher, founder of Dharma Moon, guitarist in Krishna Das’ band, and producer of several of his albums - for a warm and engaging conversation about these two paths, their shared roots, and how they intersect in contemporary spiritual practice. Learn more about this FREE online gathering - THE HEART & MIND OF PRACTICE: BUDDHISM & BHAKTI

About Sharon Salzberg:

Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed five million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. Learn more about Sharon and her books at www.sharonsalzberg.com

About Robert Thurman:

Robert Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University and President of the Tibet House U.S., and is the President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies. His new book, .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}