Comedy & Consciousness | Duncan Trussell, Chris Grosso, Lama Surya Das at ABC Deepak Homebase

After an introduction to the wonderful Deepak Homebase and the Be Here Now Network in association with Ram Dass and Love Serve Remember Foundation, Nina Rao leads a wonderful chant to start off the show.

The comedian, Duncan Trussell, sits down with Be Here Now Network teachers Chris Grosso, Lama Surya Das, and Raghu Markus. Listen as Chris speaks of his struggles with alcoholism and how spirituality has helped him balance his addiction. He also talks about how he has found spirituality pervade all facets of life, even at a Slayer concert. Chris is an accomplished author with two published books, but he has a humble demeanor on the stage talking of his deep internal experiences that led to his new writing gig. Much of the information in the books was inspired into him while he was simply out going on runs. This is proof to him and the audience that anything you do can become a spiritual practice if you allow it to come in.

Lama Surya Das comes up onto the stage after Chris tells his story and speaks about the story of the Buddha’s enlightenment and goes beyond the mythology to explain to us how removing “I” from experience grounds us in everything. This truly represents oneness in all things. “I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together,” Lama Surya Das says, to quote the Beatles. The Lama is casually throwing jokes back and forth with Duncan, while simultaneously bringing great wisdom to the conversation effortlessly.

Finally, Raghu Markus comes to the stage to share his experience with Duncan Trussell and talk a bit about how the Be Here Now Network came to be through him. He related it to how Duncan took the first step to meet Raghu and it led to such a fruitful, symbiotic relationship. Before you can make any sort of life change, you have to have the courage to make that first step. He dives deeper into the idea by telling a story of how Maharajji told him that “Courage is everything.”

The four teachers have a short question and answer session, where they talk about their experiences of “enlightenment” and what it really means in our everyday lives. This is followed by a closing meditation and chant led by Lama Surya Das chanting “Om mani padme hum.”