On the way back from India I had gotten to the Los Angeles airport where I was waiting between planes. I had come from this thing in the temple and then I’d been in Kyoto in Japan in a temple, and from there I’d come directly to Los Angeles where I was waiting for a plane to my cabin. And I was sitting in the lotus position on a bench in the American airlines terminal. And three soldiers came by on their way back from Vietnam and they were talking about whether they wanted to meet some women or get a bottle first. That was their discussion. One of them took a look at me and said, “What are you some kind of a yogurt?” It’s hard to imagine the space my head was in in those days. First I had been silent for 7 months, working on a slate board even in Japan. I was used to living in a very quiet space. So this was all very much. Their words were floating around and I could feel all the vibrations and everything the being was, was saying and so on. And I just felt this incredible wave of love and I looked at him and I said, “Well as a matter of fact I am a yogi and I’ve been in the Himalayas studying” and I looked right at him you know, like “Right. You know. Right on.”
Well all I can tell you is that within about probably a minute and a half he was sitting next to me telling me about how he watched his best friend being shot to death in the tent they were living in in Vietnam, and what he felt like facing death and so on. And 30 minutes later when their plane was called they could barely part. It was the shaking hands and “It’s been SUCH a thing to meet you”. Well that blew my mind, because that had nothing to do with me obviously. I mean clearly that would never have happened with me. But whatever it was that I had picked up in India was like some kind of bug in the digestive system. It was doing something to me so that these people were seeing something or other. I felt very much like a middle man in the whole operation.
So I went to stay in this cabin on my father’s property, and I was recreating India and one day I went shopping, my father was up for the weekend and I took his big fancy car and I went into the city to buy groceries, by myself. There were these two hippies hitchhiking by the side of the road right near town so I waved at them, because I wasn’t going very far. They waved back and when I came out of the store they were standing by the car with four other hippies. One came up to me and said “Hey man, you got any acid?” and I said, “No why are you asking me?” and he said “Well we heard a connection was coming up from Boston and we saw this big Cadillac with a Massachusetts license plate and this guy with a beard so we figured you must be it.” I said, “Well I’m…” see this is my giveaway line. This is the line where I created a whole new thing of karma, you gotta watch how you create karma out of desire. All I had to say at that point was, “Gee I’m sorry I’m not your connection, see ya around” and I could go back to my retreat and I could keep India forever. But karma being what it is, I said, “Gee, I’m sorry, I’m not THAT kind of a connection”.
And therein lies the tale that I’m still paying for. If you’ve got power desires you get everything you ever wanted. That’s what’s so horrible about it. You recognize having something that you wanted about 10 years ago. And you gotta have it now. And if you want to get rid of it you’ll have it again, that’s what so horrible about it. You just gotta have it. Let it run off, running off old karma. My Theravada Buddhist essence mediation teacher, every time I’d get all hung up in my personality I’d go to him for an explanation of it in Buddhist terms and he’d say, “You’re just running off old karma”. It’s like running off stuff, old records, tapes, you’re just running off. But don’t get attached to doing anything about them or you’re just going to start more. Then you’ll always be getting the rewards of previous desires.
Now they said, “What kind of connection are you?” and I said “Well blahblahblabh” and they said “Can we come up and see you?” and I said “Sure.” So then I started to see people, and they came and then they brought their friends, and they brought their friends’ friends, and the friends brought their ministers, and the ministers brought their parents and the whole thing kept proliferating until every day I’d go out and there’d be like 400 people sitting out on the lawn just dropping by for the afternoon. All the time I’m talking to my guru saying “What the hell did you do?” Because as far as I’m concerned, I’m just the guy that went to India in the first place and nobody did this before. Whatever happened? It might be the dress I don’t know.
– Ram Dass at the Unitarian Church, Boulder CO, 11-20-1972
I’m supposed to send u $ for what?
You are not “supposed” to do anything. If you have a better use for your money then this story probably doesn’t speak to you. If you were interested you could look up the foundation in some detail and find out how much they take in and how much they spend. The way the “magic” works is those who have it to share and want to share will see this and send in some money they are not using. If you do not have it to share then you will just pass the request over. No one expects you to donate or do anything.
What do you need?
Ram Dass was summoned back from Maui, where he had retired to bliss out forever. He regarded us benignly from his wheelchair, nodded gently and said: “We are all conversations in the Mind of God”.
<3 Willow Arthur
WHAT RAMDASS IS SAYING IS HIS OPINION BUT READ THIS ITS REVEALATION FROM PUR LORD AND YOUR LORD- But monasticism they invented – only seeking God’s pleasure, We ordained it not for them, and they observed it not with right observance. We therefore gave the believers among them their reward; and many of them are sinners.” – The Quran , 57:27
It’s said in India that if a thief goes to meet a saint, the thief will see only his pockets. We all see at our own level of vision. In contrast to your own dogmatic, heavy-handed and judgmental screed, for almost 50 years Ram Dass has been consistently loving, kind and non-judgmental. Seems to me that there’s a lot you could learn from him.
What a beautiful way to express an idea. I loved it. I enjoy the way you see this subject. I think it is so hard to even comment without making more problems. Everyone is so easily offended and looking for it everywhere. Thanks for the solid POV 🙂
(1) Allah is the Protecting Guardian of those who believe. He bringeth them out of darkness into light. As for those who disbelieve, their patrons are false deities. They bring them out of light into darkness. Such are rightful owners of the Fire. They will abide therein.
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #257)
He calleth unto him whose harm is nearer than his benefit; verily an evil patron and verily an evil friend!Al-Hajj, Chapter #22, Verse #13)
The likeness of those who choose other patrons than Allah is as the likeness of the spider when she taketh unto herself a house, and lo! the frailest of all houses is the spider’s house, if they but knew. Al-Ankaboot, Chapter #29, Verse #41)
Is there anyone a faithful of the Lord who wants to discuss with me the truth about the Lord and his message to mankind through his faithfull prophets so that we save ourselves from polytheism and idol worship which the greatest sin-
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=273731372648086
Uh…..no…
-Oz
“You’re just running off old karma”. the process of which is so mysterious and when you’re
in the karma energy-action; you can be the observer or you can be everything observed…i think the whole thing is that the dress makes the man in that it is the way one carries themselves in this infinite spirit energy of Baba Ram Dass..it is so very special an energy too, and that makes the duality stop and take notice and the kicker karma to dissolve if not disappear entirely into eternity as this awesome unwaivering peace to descend upon all…and just like those days of our youth, not so long ago and we have them with us always…the sunsets lasted forever as their starlit afterglow continues to birth our lasting love.
So really what we’re reading is that this article and website is all because he said, “Well I’m blahblahblah” to the 4 hippies by the car.
we’re reading a ripple.
Funny, I think I know what you are talking about. That scene in the airport. When someone just shows up, unloads the deepest pain they are carrying, and shares it with you as though you were a life-long friend. I think that is where the spiritual aspects of yoga, meditation, and other such practices become most important. Lacking such context for these events, I have often found myself at a loss for words. It’s probably better that way, as I seem to do my best work by listening, and being receptive.
-Oz
Hi, that guy posting from the Quran is totally off key and doesn’t understand the true meaning of the Quran is very similar to what Ram Dass ji posted about what he learnt from his visit to India. The first word of the Quran is ‘Read and the next sentence says, ‘read with compassion and kindness.’ That’s the essence of the Quran. It is tragic that anything else is associated with this wonderful and inspiring book. Allah is an energy, a divine light, not an angry being who wants to separate people in the name of religion and community. I share my grief at the ignorance that goes around about the Quran and the religion of Islam. Thank you for sharing your lovely message about the teachings of your Guru, but a guru can only teach you what is already there, you are such a good soul.
Thank you Saima, for sharing this truth. Blessings to you.
Thank you for these words, Saima. They are beautiful, good, and true. Masalaama
haha! such a great story! I think that maybe… the patience and peace that you brought with you was the best thing to connect with others. even though you didn’t have the other connections.
Love this story.
Thank you for this beautiful reply, it touched my heart.