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

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

Related Credits and Links

Host: Sitaram Dass

A/V: zander cole

SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu

Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

Bala Yancey and Nivay Sahaye sit down with zander to discuss the Just Love Forest Ashram. They discuss the path of founding the Forest Ashram and highlight themes of: listening to the heart, fostering community, reverence, spiritual practice, green burials, stewarding, sovereignty, and communing with nature.

Just Love Forest 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

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

Related Credits and Links

Just Love Forest: https://www.justloveforest.com

Podcast Host and A/V: zander cole

SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu

Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

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 IG: @connorburns.ca

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

SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu

Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

After giving a talk on Loving Imperfections, 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, is an intimate and contemplative collection of writings on the spiritual path.

Connect with Sitaram Dass at http://sitaramdass.com

And follow his music on your favorite streaming service: 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.

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

Related Credits and Links

Podcast Host and A/V: zander cole

SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu

Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

Sitaram Dass discusses how to love imperfections without having to "jump through cognitive hoops" to do so. This talk was recorded on day 3 of the 2024 Sacred Community Retreat on Salt Spring Island, and it preceded a 40-minute Loving-Awareness mantra meditation.

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, is an intimate and contemplative collection of writings on the spiritual path.

Connect with Sitaram Dass at http://sitaramdass.com

And follow his music on your favorite streaming service: 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.

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

Related Credits and Links

Podcast Host and A/V: zander cole

SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu

Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

In this talk from the 2024 Sacred Community Retreat, Sitaram Dass talks about Love, lessons learned from ram Dass, and mantra meditation as a form of "applied Bhav."

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, is an intimate and contemplative collection of writings on the spiritual path.

Connect with Sitaram Dass at http://sitaramdass.com

And follow his music on your favorite streaming service: 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.

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

Related Credits and Links

Podcast Host and A/V: zander cole

SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu

Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

Swapnil Abrol discusses the nature of bhakti as unconditional love and asks the question, "What would you do if you really knew that you were infinitely loved just as you are?" Recorded from the 2024 Sacred Community Retreat in British Columbia. Learn more about the 2025 retreat this upcoming August 14-17 2025.

Swapnil Abrol (he/him) is an SCP board member and retreat facilitator. 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.

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

Related Credits and Links

Podcast Host: Sitaram Dass

SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu

Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski

Swapnil Abrol discusses unconditional love, and why we perform the bhakti ritual of aarti. Recorded from the 2024 Sacred Community Retreat in British Columbia. Learn more about this year’s retreat this upcoming August 14-17 2025.

Swapnil Abrol (he/him) is an SCP board member and retreat facilitator. 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.

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

Related Credits and Links

Podcast Host: Sitaram Dass

SCP Logo: Beverly Hsu

Podcast Intro Music: Carl Golembeski