Be Here Now Network

John Pattern joins Raghu in a heartfelt exploration of embodiment and enlightenment, inspired by the music of his upcoming Ram Dass-infused album, Rainbow Body.

This week on Mindrolling, John and Raghu discuss:

- Awakening the power of the human heart

- Getting back into the body through music and mantra

- The choice-point of awareness and helping the mind and heart work together

- John’s work as a psychotherapist

- The benefit of regular mindfulness practice

- Spiritual bypassing as a fog covering our lives

- When Raghu first heard Ram Dass speak in Montreal

- The making and meaning of “Rainbow Body”

- Check out the book referenced in this podcast, Advice Not Given: A - Guide to Getting Over Yourself by Mark Epstein

“What I’ve been really fascinated with is the concept of the rainbow light body that most esoteric traditions equate to enlightenment and that state as you leave your body; you’re leaving in this state of light.” —John Pattern

About John Pattern:

John Pattern is a multidisciplinary artist and music producer whose work is rooted in healing, transformation, and reconnection with the higher self. As a licensed psychotherapist, he brings a deeply integrative approach to trauma, addiction, and emotional well-being—bridging clinical expertise with a profound sensitivity to the unseen dimensions of healing. With a background in sound and energy, John incorporates music as a vital part of the therapeutic process. His sessions invite the body, mind, and spirit into coherence through the power of vibration, presence, and attunement. Drawing from a wide range of modalities—including EMDR, somatic experiencing, breathwork, IFS, EFT, compassionate inquiry, and psychedelic integration—John creates a space for insight, release, and authentic restoration. He is a certified Journey of Intrinsic Health coach under Dr. Zach Bush, and offers guidance rooted in mindfulness, yoga therapy, and integrative spirituality.

Whether through immersive sound journeys or trauma-informed facilitation, John’s work opens the door to deep inner listening and sustainable healing. Stay connected with John via Instagram where you can find links to his therapy/coaching, music, and more.

Anita Sanchez interviews Jacob Johns, an extraordinary indigenous man who went from 8 years in prison to stewarding the protection of sacred lands.

What if the answer isn't to get rid of our difficult thoughts and emotions, but to stop judging ourselves for having them? In this episode, Krishna Das discusses how to embrace the full experience of being human while recognizing love as our true nature.

East Forest joins David for a wide-ranging conversation about auspicious coincidence and finding our unique way to help end suffering.

This time on the CSM Podcast, East & David chat about:

- East Forest’s upbringing and journey to music

- The theatrical dimension to playing music

- What drew East Forest to Ram Dass

- Merging meditation and plant medicine

- How David Nichtern met Krishna Das

- Meditative insights and the thin veil between worlds

- The interplay between choice and destiny

- Using our unique gifts to help relieve suffering

- Looking for auspicious coincidence when you can't find your way

About East Forest:

East Forest is the project of composer and producer Krishna-Trevor Oswalt. Since 2008 his “lush” (Rolling Stone) and “blissful” (NPR) music has moved between ambient, neoclassical, electronic, and experimental sound, heard everywhere from concert halls to active research studies at UCSF.

He has released over 30 albums, appearing on labels including Domino, Ghostly, Mercury KX, and Universal/Decca, with collaborators ranging from Ram Dass and Jon Hopkins to Kishi Bashi, Max Cooper, Laraaji, Nick Mulvey, Peter Broderick, Duncan Trussell, and techno pioneer ANNA. “Sit Around the Fire,” his track with Jon Hopkins and Ram Dass, was named one of NPR’s Top Songs of 2021.

In 2019 he released Music for Mushrooms, a five-hour album written to accompany a full psilocybin session. The feature documentary of the same name (2024) played theatrically in over 100 markets in the US and internationally. His latest album, The Invitation, As We Gathered, highlights live recordings from his global gatherings. He is a faculty member at the Esalen Institute, hosts the podcast Ten Laws w/East Forest, and tours worldwide.

“I feel in my heart that the answer to the question of how do we alleviate suffering is directly related to us fulfilling our own gifts. That can sound trite, but something in there rings true for me: this kind of trust in the wisdom of incarnation and soul purpose. There is a mission unfolding in your life, and you get to choose how it unfolds. That is the great art piece that's wanting to happen, however it's supposed to happen.” –East Forest

Through the story of Angulimala, the courage of human rights activists, and his own reflections on wanting to do more, Jack reminds us that we can begin wherever we are.

Take a deep journey with Ram Dass as he explores how we create our own universe, how meditation can lead us to the space between two thoughts, and how his work with dying people helped him get close to the living edge of truth.

This episode of Here and Now comes from a lecture Ram Dass gave in Los Angeles, California, on June 1st, 1990. Check back soon for the conclusion of this talk.

On his second night of lecturing in Los Angeles, Ram Dass is ready for showbiz. He begins by talking about a meditation retreat he attended in Burma and the different stages he went through as his practice of following the breath deepened. When we become quiet enough, we can begin to see how we create our own universe.

As we progress further on the path, we begin to focus on the different parts of each thought that arises. Ram Dass explores how we can enter and hang out in the space between two thoughts. He talks about realizing he could be anything he wanted.

What are the implications of creating our own reality? Could we turn a lecture hall into a living room? A prison into a monastery? Ram Dass shares his ambition to create places where people can get free. He speaks about his work with prisoners and dying people as a way to get close to the living edge of his truth.

“When you wanna get free, you start to hang out where you’re frightened. Kabir says you go into the fire instead of into the water. Because the water is life-giving and the fire is life-consuming, and you keep consuming life into yourself until you’re free. So I looked at my fear, and the way I can look at my fear is hanging out with people that are dying. So I love it. I mean, it gets me really close to my living edge of truth each time." – Ram Dass

From the mountains of Nepal to the nature of mind, author and alpinist Michael Schauch shares insights on nonself and interconnection.

Joseph Goldstein reflects on the path of insight, the beauty of selflessness, and why retreat is a key part of awakening.

For episode 298, Sharon sits down with first-time guest Ann Tashi Slater.

Ann Tashi Slater is the author of Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World. She has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review, and Oprah Daily, among others, and is a contributing editor at Tricycle, where she hosts an interview series about bardo and the art of living.

Ann’s speaking and teaching engagements include Princeton, Columbia, Oxford, and The American University of Paris. Her work explores how our personal histories and cultural roots shape us—and how we find meaning in a world where everything changes and ends. This is Ann’s first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

In this conversation, Ann and Sharon speak about:

• Ann’s exploration of her Tibetan roots

• The liminal periods of our lives

• The definition of bardo

• How Ann discovered bardo teachings

• The Tibetan Book of the Dead

• The story of Ann’s great-grandfather

• Examples of everyday bardos

• Becoming more intimate with uncertainty

• Opening to being undefined in transitions

• Bardo leading to the experience of non-self

• How lovingkindness affects bardo periods

• What role grief plays in bardo

• The Buddhist story of Kisa Gotami

• Non-Attachment, Acceptance, Attention

• What Ann’s near-death experience taught her

• Accepting reality without giving up hope

• How do we live in a world where nothing lasts forever?

From gang violence in LA to the beauty of belonging, Father Greg Boyle inspires listeners to recognize our shared humanity and put love into action.