In this blast from the past, Ram Dass is the ringmaster for some astral fun and games as he takes on miracles, psychedelic powers, and connecting across different planes of existence.
Links from this episode: Becoming Nobody
A Matter of Miracles
What is the value of astral fun and games? Ram Dass tells stories of miracles performed by Neem Karoli Baba, Sai Baba, and Nityananda, and how they can inspire people who are lost in the illusion of the dance of life.
“These miracles start a process, they start an opening, a faith.” – Ram Dass
Astral Planes (28:50)
Ram Dass talks about exploring different astral planes and how it’s possible to connect with a being on a different plane of existence. He reflects on how the trap of moving from plane to plane is much like that of using LSD. Ultimately, it can be an ego trip and not true liberation.
“You’ve got to understand the way these planes are related to desire systems.” – Ram Dass
Are Methods Traps? (45:10)
In view of your karmic predicament, how do you get beyond dualism? Ram Dass talks about how in Zen Buddhism, methods are considered traps. Don’t do, just be. For those who aren’t comfortable on that steep path, practice can be a stepladder to liberation.
“Don’t cling to whatever plane of reality you’re in, including this one, because a free being is not bound by any plane of reality whatsoever.” – Ram Dass
My 20 year old granddaughter committed suicide last Monday, March 22, 2021. Her funeral was yesterday. She was my step-granddaughter but she was no different to me that my biological grandchildren. She was 13 months old when she came into my life. She at a young age question who she was and was very spiritual but also a typical kid and teenager/young adult. There is generational mental illness and suicide on her mother’s maternal and paternal side. We found out that she had started hearing voices and seeing ‘ghosts’ in her mother’s house (where her mother’s father had committed suicide). This has been painful to me even though I feel she just ‘went through the door’. Listening to Ram Dass speak about people who are deemed mentally ill are beings who feel the pull on another plan to God and don’t want to be here, I wonder if that was what she was going through or doing. I know here leaving is also giving us all lessons on this plane. I just don’t want her short life here being overshadowed by this. I will miss her.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your granddaughter, Barbara. Thank you for sharing about her. Please feel free to reach out to me if I can be of service to you – [email protected] – Namaste.