In this dharma talk from 1982, Ram Dass illuminates how happiness, boredom, suffering, past and future, life and death, it’s all right here in every moment we experience.
Momentary Models
Did you know that it’s all right here, right now? Ram Dass begins with a brief meditation on letting go of what your model of this moment is about. He explores how spiritual practice is not about collecting experiences, it’s about the transformation of being.
“Maybe the true growth will not follow our expectations. And maybe your wanting mind will block you from receiving just that food which you hunger for.” – Ram Dass
It’s All Right Here (23:55)
This moment, right here and now, includes everything. Ram Dass talks about how past and future, all people, all feelings, everything is in this moment – there should be no exclusivity of perception. Getting caught up in your life, the happiness and the fear, means you lose this present moment.
“I want to come more and more into this moment until you and I are so fully, richly, thickly present. That we are present whether we are here or there, we are present now and we are present then.” – Ram Dass
Boredom and Death (32:53)
Everything is included in each moment, and there’s a richness to it all, including boredom, suffering, and death. Ram Dass talks about breaking the attachment to being an experiencer and recognizing you are so much more.
“It’s in the midst of the darkness exists the light. It’s not that the light exists in spite of the darkness.” – Ram Dass
Really enjoyed this, this is a talk that was on when I was born in 1982 and I feel privileged to know that ramdas talks are widely available..
I know many moments in my life where I wasn’t present to them as I was stuck in other moments prolonging my own suffering of course.
In each moment is everything, we just keep running from it..
Everything is in the moment..
Ahh a new moment old age
A new moment death etc
The minute we attach to anything we create our own suffering.
Ramdass is such a great speaker and we all have our own neurosis and stach of suffering, he’s great at getting to the heart of things.
Be here now it’s the only place life is lived.