Ep. 287 – Engaged Compassion: Mirabai Bush

The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering?
How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.
For the fifth episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Mirabai Bush, (mirabaibush.com) marking her third appearance on the Metta Hour. Mirabai is an author, social entrepreneur, teacher, and spiritual leader. She is recognized for her pioneering role in integrating mindfulness and contemplative practices into secular sectors of American life, including business, higher education, law, and social activism. Mirabai’s contributions include co-founding influential organizations such as theCenter for Contemplative Mind in Society (contemplativemind.org) and theSeva Foundation (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seva_Foundation) and co-developing Google'sSearch Inside Yourself Leadership Institute. (siyli.org) She is also a longtime board member of theLove Serve Remember Foundation (ramdass.org). Her latest book, Almost Home, is a memoir published in 2025.
Please note this conversation contains discussion of gun violence during and civil unrest at Kent State University in 1970.
youtu.be/ywY6HGunefw
In this conversation, Mirabai and Sharon speak about:
• The process of writing a memoir
• Why Mirabai went to the East
• What drew Mirabai to activism
• Meeting Ram Dass and Neem Karoli Baba
• Mirabai in the civil rights movement
• Sustaining engagement over time
• Non-attachment alongside passion
• Loving Awareness as taught by Ram Dass
• How acceptance leads to change-making
• The role of hope in activism
• Revolution is bread and roses
• Seva Foundation’s roots
• Mirabai’s advice for social engagement
• Staying informed in a balanced way
• How communities respond to compassion action
• The Lovingkindness Nun in Burma
Additional Resources
To close out the episode, Mirabai leads a “Just Like Me” meditation. Learn more about Mirabai’s workright here (mirabaibush.com). Her most recent book, Almost Home, is availableright here (amazon.com/Almost-Home-Dharma-Social-Change/dp…). You can listen to Mirabai’s previous episodes on the Metta Hourhere (sharonsalzberg.com/metta-hour-podcast/ep-94-ra…) andhere (sharonsalzberg.com/metta-hour-podcast/ep-114-r…).
Related Metta Hour Episodes
Episode 94 (sharonsalzberg.squarespace.com/metta-hour-podc…) Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush on the Metta Hour, released in 2019.
Episode 114 (sharonsalzberg.squarespace.com/metta-hour-podc…) Remembering Ram Dass with Mirabai Bush and Raghu Markus on the Metta Hour, released in 2020.
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