Satsang with Sitar

Satsang With Josh Whiton

I like being reminded of my years as an urban gardener. For years I had what I like to think of as a wildly energetic, permaculture experiment in my back yard. There were herbs and kale everywhere, and I was graced with birds and bees and butterflies. I was able to feed people out of my back yard on cool summer nights. I mixed soil with wild abandon, flew in earthworms, and tried to make them feel at home. I know it was a little more unkempt than my neighbors's yard, she would look at me over the fence from her manicured little lawn and make fun of the compost pile.

In our conversation, Josh Whiton brought back some of these memories, and challenged me to think about how I might direct my life in such a way that I get my hands back in the dirt, pruning tomatoes, making tea with lavender and sage. Josh just founded an ecological research center in Sonoma County, and is building an app called 'Make Soil', where people can crowd source their food scraps, or "Broken Gods" as he likes to call the remnants of the food that gives us life.

Josh stopped by Casa De Sitaram Das last week, and we talked about so much more than just soil. We discussed our various definitions of consciousness and intelligence, healing modalities that help to integrate and create wholenesss, and the proper use of swords. I invite you to listen, and I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

MakeSoil.org JoshWhiton.com

    Satsang With Anandamali

Last week, I had the honor to speak at the San Francisco stop of the Evolving Caravan tour. The caravan travels around the world and brings together speakers that discuss consciousness, technology, well being, a variety of other topics related to where we are and where we’re going. I felt embraced and welcomed by my fellow speakers, as well as by the audience and the organizers. It was a great vibe, full of obviously brilliant and committed individuals. There was a real sense that people were doing their part to create a better world, really walking the walk.

It had a very avant garde feel to it. I tend to spend most of my time in more traditional circles, classical yoga and meditation communities. Many of these folks weren’t constrained by a single tradition. Full of raw talent, they appeared to have taken dives into scholarship and practice, and emerged to make it their own. It was refreshing. It was like listening to Kronos Quartet, which if you’re not familiar is famously creative and innovate string quartet that is always surprising and always brilliant. I’m listening to them as I’m writing this, getting myself pumped up for their concert with Zakir Hussian laster this month. If you’re in SF, you should come.

Just as I love Kronos, and the experimental, I also love the classical. Bach Cello Suites. Which is why i was also thrilled to meet Anandamali there. Anandamali is a traditional advaita satsang leader in Santa Cruz. We clicked immediately and started chatting. That chatting turned into this podcast. We discuss all manner of things that you would expect from two guys that love non-dual teachings. Topics like, how to move from a personal practice to a lifestyle that supports the awakened state. You know, light stuff.

Stay tuned, there will be more podcasts with other wonderful folks from the evolving caravan, and I might even end up on some of theirs as well.

Visit Anandamali at his website anandamali.com Visit Mokshananda at his website freewatersangha.com Visit Evolving Caravan Here evolvingcaravan.com

Daniel and Roman talk about having a daily practice of creating good vibes, and how a positive lifestyle and conscious community is integral to changing the world and having a peaceful revolution of consciousness. They explore concepts like, how to discover a language that helps one to find their own center, and grow in kindness and openness. Roman discusses how language has the possibility to program your mind to unfold and create.

Daniel and Mazin talk about the process of processing, and how powerful coaching works. They discuss the differences between psychology and ontology, the very nature of being. Mazin shares the very important distinction between transformation and healing, and why it is necessary to pay attention to where a client may be at in relationship to trauma. The conversation goes into the areas of power privilege, and race, which is good, because the podcast doesn't always explore these topics.

Satsang With Sarah Tomlinson

Sitaram Das and Sarah Tomlinson talk about the yoga and meditation of Yantra Painting. Sarah gives Sitaram a mini reading, using her new oracle deck. They talk about the Goddess energy of the cards he picked, and also the energy of the Goddess Durga. Sarah Also regales us with a few sweet stories about her teacher, Harish Johari.

Satsang With Lilavati Devi

Daniel and Lilavati talk about how Nasya Oil can help protect and cleanse the nasal passages and sinuses of people who are affected by the Northern California Wildfires. Self care can fall by the wayside when times are tough, but that is often when we need it the most.

She talks about what the herbs in nasya oil help, and also how you can make your own DIY nasya.

She is offering 10% nasya to listeners of the podcast, with coupon code CALOVE Aromabliss Ayurveda

Satsang With Prajna Vieira

Daniel hangs out with Prajna in her flat on the seventh floor of Amma's Ashram in Kerala, South India. They discuss a bunch of topics, including how to modify asana practices for injuries, funny things yoga teachers say, and how karma yoga pushes all your buttons so that you can grow spiritually. They laugh a lot, and tell a bunch of jokes about what it's like to be a devotee.

Satsang With Vraja Kishor

If you are making people mad, and you aren't breaking yama and niyama, you're doing something right.

Sitaram Das and Vraja Kishor talk about how they first got introduced to the Bhagavad Gita, and what it would be like to be friends with Krishna, and their personal relationships with god.  Sitaram Das compares his hippie leanings to Vraja's Punk Sensibilities.  They discuss how controversies can motivate people to open their minds, and learn new things in new ways.

Sitaram Das is curious about the different ways that the term Guru is used, and so they talk about that for a while as well.

Vraja's Astrology Website:  http://www.vicdicara.com/ Vraja's Books and Online Class Website: http://vrajakishor.com/

I dug around and found a scan of the Zine that we talked about, where the coupon was filled out: http://publiccollectors.tumblr.com/post/25028601289/razorsedge

Satsang With Joe Longo

Joe Longo Visits The Podcast. He's a busy guy, and has a ton of projects and workshops. We talk a lot about the Tattooed Yoga Project, and his other famous, iconoclastic Kundalini workshops, like, 'Punch Fear In The Face', 'Joega', and 'The Path of The Rightous'. We also discuss how yoga makes us grow as men, and what it means to be a conscious man in 2017. Joe makes a New Years Resolution to stumble more often.

Visit Joe at his website http://joelongophotography.com,

In this Episode of Satsang with Sitaram Das, I get to sit down with Jake Kobrin in his art studio.  We talk about the different sorts of mediums that he works, in; traditional paints, digital, and now in virtual reality.  He gives me a chance to play with the program ‘tilt brush’.  We talk about the effects of virtual reality on our consciousness, and it’s potential in the future.  We discuss his teaching at the newly founded Visionary Arts Academy, and how every artist is ultimately self taught.  We also talk about how his meditation practice has influenced his art, and vice versa.

Jake's Website

Visionary Arts Academy

Animal Spirit Cards

Daniel finally wrangles Lorin into being on his podcast after 3 or 4 years of hounding him.  They talk a lot about sanskrit, and about how it is a language of love and sacrifice.  They talk a lot about the different ways one can meditate, and suggest that people start with the ancient practice of 'not being mean to yourself for twenty minutes. Lorin then reads from his book, 'The Radiant Sutras', and discusses meditation for difficult times.  Visit Lorin at his website http://lorinroche.com, and you can listen to the teaser trailer on Sitaram Das's Patreon account, here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-201-7546116

Satsang with Sitar and Daniel Schlagle of the Digital Circus.  Sitar and Daniel discuss poi spinning and flow arts.  They talk about the importance of finding a practice that keeps the body healthy and enables us to channel energy in a positive way. Daniel Tells about teaching poi, and practicing poi,embodying the flow, and connecting to source.  Dan hints at some top secret poi that he is developing.  They talk about fire, and the sun, and the recent sunspot explosions.  We move onto talking about sacred geometry, the golden mean, and the flower of life.  There is even some discussion on the Tibetan Book of the Dead and the power of the mind. This podcast was recorded on location at Beardfest 2013.

Satsang with Sitar and Lu.  Sitar and Lu discuss earthship, the sustainable building movement that is coming out of Taos, New Mexico.  They talk about all the benefits of earthships, rammed earth tires, and getting off the grid.  Lu talks about her time as an earthship apprentice, and encourages other people to get involved.  They talk about retrofitting houses with earthship technology.  Lu also talks about way to create sustainability in existing urban homes. Then she waxes poetic about the spiritual significance of earthship building and the importance of having a connection with your home and your land.

Satsang with Sitar and Adil. Adil and Sitar talk about treating people unconditionally, connecting with the universe, and the true meaning behind the Taj Mahal. Adil talks about what it was like growing up next to this miraculous site, and how much he likes to travel and be with nature.  The discuss the power of intention and the importance of trusting the universe to magnify those intentions.  Adil's magnificent energy and attitude are so clear and come through the recording in an amazing way.

Satsang with Sitar and Krishna.  Krishna runs the Double Rainbow Organic Farm on Leopard Mountain, in Banepa, Nepal.  They talk about organic farming, Sadhu Ways, and chanting The Chandi.  This episode was recorded on Krishna's Property, inside a bamboo teepee.  It was good times.

Satsang with Sitar and Aditi Devi, a Yogini Who leads Kali Puja in Boulder, Colorado every Saturday night. She also teaches online, and offers in depth sadhanas. Inspired by Amanda Palmer's TED Talk, Sitar and Aditi discuss leaps of faith and how to merge into the universal love field. It is also revealed that neither of them are morning people. There is some talk about Nepal, and its spiritual landscape. A breathing practice for communing with the Great Mother is also given.

Satsang with Sitar and Brenda McMorrow, Kirtan Artist and resident of Guelph, Ontario.  Brenda and sitar remember Shyamdas, a beloved member of the yoga community.  They discuss his devotion, his wisdom, and his humor.  Brenda talks about how he inspired her creative process and spiritual growth.  They also talk about kirtan as a practice of singing to God, and how to create a song that will please Maharaji.  A shared love for Ramana Maharshi is discovered. Some Coco Cafe is enjoyed.

Satsang with Sitar and Dan Farella, Yogi and master herbalist at Return to Nature. They talk about the plants, and how they are manifestations of the Goddess.  They speak about the importance of working with the mental conditioning that keeps us separate from nature, and the healing medicine that may be growing in our own back yards. All Plants Are Prasad!

Satsang with Sitar and Jason Villarreal, Senior teacher at The Clairvoyant Center of Hawaii. Jason and Sitar discuss all of Jason's amazing psychic powers.  They talk about grounding, body centered meditations, and how to use them to create the salad of your life.

Satsang with Sitar and Zat Baraka. Zat and Sitar discuss mindfulness meditation and what separates the men from the boys.  Zat confronts the limiting beliefs we have around money and abundance.  They share some of their favorite books with each other, and then after careful consideration, they decide to talk about the balanced man.

Pankaj Sharma and Sitar discuss Evolution vs Revolution and the archetypes of yoga asana. Pankaj asks Sitaram Das not to use the derogatory and xenophobic term, 'aliens', and educates him that the politically correct term is 'star family'.  After Sitaram Das apologizes for his insensitivity, they go on to talk about how our true self is very likable, and that every action that a person performs has the potential to be performance art.  They reference The Three Amigos, Tilopa's Song of Mahamudra, and The Prinicpia Discordia.

Sitaram Das has a chance to talk to Matt Staggs, the host of the Disinfo Podcast.  Matt pulls out his skeptic tool box, and gives Sitar a run for his money.  The discuss languages of magic and spirituality, how dumb it is that marijuana is illegal, and if spiritual experience is real, or just something that happens in the mind.  Sitar pretends he knows about neuro science and quantum physics.

Dawn and Sitar talk about the benefits of a lovemaking sequence, allowing goodness and attention to flow in, and Dawn's eyes.  They discuss the tantric ideals of being holy, whole, and lovable.  They explore the magic of intentional sessions and skillful action.

Sitar and Joe Longo talk about capturing the light within using photography and yoga and meditation.  They discuss the value of a good teacher, and how to pick one. They also talk about being the lighthouse, the practical aspects of manifestation, and how we are stronger than our mind would like us to believe. Oh, btw, Joe lives in awesome town.

Sitar and Author Elise Miller Discuss Vegetarian diets and Paleo diets.  They talk about how to write the hero's quest, and the problem with creating unlikable characters.  They talk about Ray Bradbury and Writing from a place of delighted joy. Sitar discloses why he didn't wait until he was an enlightened master before he started teaching yoga.

Grandmom talks about her grandparents, farming, and how to get the most out of life.

Kate tries to teach Sitar how to pronounce Hawaiian words.  They talk about her work as a healer and Lomi Lomi practitioner on Kauai.  They discuss the consciousness of bones, and the stories that our bodies hold. They share Lord Shiva's dessert recipe, and Sitar's anger management meditation.

Sitaram Das and Jordanna talk about how Krishna is a cowboy, The Gita, Spiritual Tattoos, and The six realms of existence.

Sitaram Das and Maura discuss putting it out there, holding space, spirit science,  indigo cats, cosmic parties & more.

Sitar and Mei Yann talk about Kung Fu, Shamanism, and the similarities between meditation and changing your underwear.  They also want to know, how much are you willing to receive?

Sitar and John McCarthy talk about functional medicine and the colonies of bacteria that life in your gastro-intestinal tract.

Sitar and Brooke talk about The power of practice, India, Ram, Hanuman, Sita, Sati, and a bunch of other historical figures whose names they can't remember.

Sitar and Emmy nominated documentarian JJ Kelley discuss his new movie about the Ganga River, "Go Ganges".  The talk about sacred cows, JJ's love of adventure, which rivers are the most dangerous, and try to figure out why India's 'lawless region' is so safe.

Sitaram Das offers a meditation practice from The Radiance Sutra Translation of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra.  Then we discuss some lesser known Ganesha mythology, and consider some meditation on the concept of obstacles.

Sitar and Amy Galper of Buddha Nose discuss Zen Shiatsu, the hara, karma yoga, The problems with industrial food and industrial smells, essential oils,  the tantric practice of meditating with smells, and the tantric practice of meditating with a potato.

Click on this Link to visit Buddha Nose and enter the code word "sitar" on check out to get 15% off.

Sitar and Julie discuss the Bhagavad Gita. They talk a bunch about the gunas, and also mention Wavy Gravy, Timothy Leary, and Tom Shadyac.