Sacred Community Podcast

Merging with Love: Visualization Meditation with Sitaram Dass

This recorded audio meditation is from the 2024 Loving Rock Training. Sitaram Dass leads a heart-opening visualization of merging with a being of unconditional love. This meditation was from the module on Dream Logic, and it led to a discussion about how intention and imagination can open us to "non-ordinary states of consciousness." Find out more about the upcoming Loving Rock Training program and register before March 1, 2026. The This 70-hour introductory course unfolds from March through September, and is designed for compassionate beings who see service as a core element of their spiritual path and feel called to deepen their ability to be a “loving rock” for themselves and others on their spiritual journeys. Read more about the course or sign up here: https://sacredcommunityproject.org/loving-rock-training [https://sacredcommunityproject.org/loving-rock-training] Sitaram Dass (K. Sandin, LCSW) (he/him) spent several years serving his beloved teacher Ram Dass on Maui, where he was shown the path of Bhakti, the yoga of service and devotion to God. He is a kirtan singer, social worker, author, and spiritual counselor. As the director of the Sacred Community Project, he works to lower the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices. His book, From and for God [https://sacredcommunityproject.org/from-and-for-god], is an intimate and contemplative collection of writings on the spiritual path. Connect with Sitaram Dass at http://sitaramdass.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDlsMnYwbFZaOHdvb1RoSWdtcDY5N0xtSUswZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsaV92bWdiYnhhMmM1QWgyNkRvcnpRaTg3dVhfZ19XdVpWeW5HRWhoZV9GZHZoTExNV19LZ21lRmFEWU9MMHpqRHpZU0J0ZGlXRU9GbF8zTlZPd3VHMnFRSmV1NmF2R21zbDVkUmpJS2Y4NktwaTdGQQ&q=http%3A%2F%2Fsitaramdass.com%2F&v=Q8eREPgmEvQ] The Sacred Community Podcast is an inter-spiritual hub of the universal teachings, “Love, Service, Remembrance, and Truth.” Home to Sacred Community Project interviews, live workshop recordings, dharma talks, and meditations, each episode is carefully curated to ensure its alignment with SCP values [https://sacredcommunityproject.org/values]. Sacred Community Project works to lower the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices through free, donation-based, and affordable offerings, spiritual support, and prison outreach. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at: https://sacredcommunityproject.org [https://sacredcommunityproject.org]   Related Credits and Links Podcast Host and A/V: zander cole [https://zandercole.com/] SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu [https://www.beverlyhsu.com/] Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

Dream Logic: Navigating Non-Ordinary Realities with Swapnil Abrol

In this talk from the 2024 Loving Rock Training, Swapnil Abrol (he/him) shares his personal reflections from along the spiritual path. Starting from his first psychedelic experience, exploring different modalities of connection to being trained as a shaman, Swap offers insights on how to navigate alternate states of reality and integrate them into our everyday lives. Find out more about the upcoming Loving Rock Training program and register before March 1, 2026. The This 70-hour introductory course unfolds from March through September, and is designed for compassionate beings who see service as a core element of their spiritual path and feel called to deepen their ability to be a “loving rock” for themselves and others on their spiritual journeys. The twice a month classes support those who are committed to exploring and deepening their practice of being a loving rock, “So another person can push against you and pull against you, and you stay rooted in love” (Ram Dass). Read more about the course or sign up here: https://sacredcommunityproject.org/loving-rock-training [https://sacredcommunityproject.org/loving-rock-training] Swapnil Abrol will be a guest teacher for the Dream Logic Module in the Advanced Course. He discovered the Bhakti tradition through a formal Amazonian shamanic apprenticeship. Through connecting with Maharajji, he found himself returning to his once neglected Hindu roots. Now following the path of Bhakti yoga, he deepens his practice through devotional musical expression. Also an active participant in the world of business, Swapnil enjoys learning new ways of bringing love and compassion into worldly situations. The Sacred Community Podcast is an inter-spiritual hub of the universal teachings, “Love, Service, Remembrance, and Truth.” Home to Sacred Community Project interviews, live workshop recordings, dharma talks, and meditations, each episode is carefully curated to ensure its alignment with SCP values. SCP works to lower the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices through free, donation-based, and affordable offerings, spiritual support, and prison outreach. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at: https://sacredcommunityproject.org [https://sacredcommunityproject.org]    Related Credits and Links Host: Sitaram Dass A/V: zander cole [https://zandercole.com/] SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu [https://www.beverlyhsu.com/] Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

Just Love: Birth of a Forest Ashram with Bala and Nivay

Bala Yancey and Nivay Sahaye sit down with zander to chat about the Just Love Forest Ashram [https://www.justloveforest.com/]. They discuss the journey of its founding and highlight themes of: Listening to the heart, fostering community, reverence, spiritual practice, death, green burials, stewarding, sovereignty, and communing with nature.  Just Love Forest [https://www.justloveforest.com/] is a 716- acre conservation ashram in Poetry, GA that offers a unique blend of natural beauty, spiritual exploration, and ecological consciousness. In a time of constant noise, we enter the forest as a sanctuary and a teacher, returning more whole, more attuned, and more devoted. Sitaram Dass will be leading a Loving Awareness weekend retreat with an optional week-long Forest Sadhana Immersion at Just Love on March 20th. Learn more at: https://www.justloveforest.com/iamlovingawareness [https://www.justloveforest.com/iamlovingawareness]   Bala Is a meditation teacher, forest-therapy guide, and founder-steward of Just Love Forest Ashram in Poetry, GA. Trained in mindfulness with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, he weaves together devotion, ecology, and lived practice. Nivay is a steward of Just Love Forest, where he tends the land as both sanctuary and mirror for the inner journey. His path weaves devotion to Hanuman and Neem Karoli Baba with practices of surrender, honesty, and heart-centered living. The Sacred Community Podcast is an inter-spiritual hub of the universal teachings, “Love, Service, Remembrance, and Truth.” Home to Sacred Community Project interviews, live workshop recordings, dharma talks, and meditations, each episode is carefully curated to ensure its alignment with SCP values. SCP works to lower the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices through free, donation-based, and affordable offerings, spiritual support, and prison outreach. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at: https://sacredcommunityproject.org [https://sacredcommunityproject.org]    Related Credits and Links Just Love Forest: https://www.justloveforest.com [https://www.justloveforest.com/] Podcast Host and A/V: zander cole [https://zandercole.com/] SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu [https://www.beverlyhsu.com/] Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

Meditation: Sacred Mindfulness with Connor Burns

Connor Burns leads a short mindfulness meditation at the 2024 Sacred Community Retreat on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. Connor Burns (he/him) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and emotional wellness advocate living in Vancouver, BC Canada. Connor's curiosity of the human condition started from a young age and has led to hundreds of hours of yoga and mindfulness trainings and more than ten years of experience working with vulnerable populations and at-risk youth. In March 2025 Connor received Jukai from Roshi Joan Halifax at Upaya Zen Centre and was given the name Daitoku, meaning Great Devotion. Connor holds certifications in Dr. Gabor Maté's Compassionate Inquiry, Dr. Sue Johnson’s Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. connorburns.ca [https://connorburns.ca] IG: @connorburns.ca [https://www.instagram.com/connormburns/] The Sacred Community Podcast is an inter-spiritual hub of the universal teachings, “Love, Service, Remembrance, and Truth.” Home to Sacred Community Project interviews, live workshop recordings, dharma talks, and meditations, each episode is carefully curated to ensure its alignment with SCP values. SCP works to lower the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices through free, donation-based, and affordable offerings, spiritual support, and prison outreach. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at: https://sacredcommunityproject.org   Related Credits and Links Podcast Host and A/V: zander cole [https://zandercole.com/] SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu [https://www.beverlyhsu.com/] Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

40-minute Mantra Meditation: Sitaram Dass at Salt Spring Island

After giving a talk on Loving Imperfections [https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7hj6k-195d71e], Sitaram Dass leads a 40-minute Loving Awareness mantra meditation.  This meditation was recorded on day 3 of the 2024 Sacred Community Retreat on Salt Spring Island.   Sitaram Dass (K. Sandin, LCSW) (he/him) spent several years serving his beloved teacher Ram Dass on Maui, where he was shown the path of Bhakti, the yoga of service and devotion to God. He is a kirtan singer, social worker, author, and spiritual counselor. As the director of the Sacred Community Project, he works to lower the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices. His book, From and for God [https://sacredcommunityproject.org/from-and-for-god], is an intimate and contemplative collection of writings on the spiritual path. Connect with Sitaram Dass at http://sitaramdass.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDlsMnYwbFZaOHdvb1RoSWdtcDY5N0xtSUswZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsaV92bWdiYnhhMmM1QWgyNkRvcnpRaTg3dVhfZ19XdVpWeW5HRWhoZV9GZHZoTExNV19LZ21lRmFEWU9MMHpqRHpZU0J0ZGlXRU9GbF8zTlZPd3VHMnFRSmV1NmF2R21zbDVkUmpJS2Y4NktwaTdGQQ&q=http%3A%2F%2Fsitaramdass.com%2F&v=Q8eREPgmEvQ] And follow his music on your favorite streaming service: https://hyperfollow.com/sitaramdass [https://hyperfollow.com/sitaramdass] The Sacred Community Podcast is an inter-spiritual hub of the universal teachings, “Love, Service, Remembrance, and Truth.” Home to Sacred Community Project interviews, live workshop recordings, dharma talks, and meditations, each episode is carefully curated to ensure its alignment with SCP values [https://sacredcommunityproject.org/values]. Sacred Community Project works to lower the barriers of access to contemplative and devotional practices through free, donation-based, and affordable offerings, spiritual support, and prison outreach. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at: https://sacredcommunityproject.org [https://sacredcommunityproject.org]   Related Credits and Links Podcast Host and A/V: zander cole [https://zandercole.com/] SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu [https://www.beverlyhsu.com/] Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski