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The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

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Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#61

Post by taneq »

everdev wrote: post #7
zafka wrote: post #2

It makes me happy to see this article here. I have always been impressed with the way Ram Dass has traveled through life.

I agree that the message is beautiful. I do have reservations however about gurus, in that the ones I'm aware of tend to live in isolated places where they are worshiped. I feel like it's easy to love and support others when you have peace, quiet, love and support in abundance around you. I'd like to see how these individuals operate in higher stress situations and if they've really perfected the art of love or if it…

All you need in order to be happy is to be treated like a minor demigod by all around you. Sounds legit.

My favourite example of this (albeit not one that's always been at peace) is the Dalai Lama. Dude goes around talking about love and acceptance and whatnot, which is great and he seems like a great guy, but his experience as someone with an international organisation dedicated to looking after him is maybe not 100% relevant to the life of some random pleb in a Western country.

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#62

Post by josephcooney »

everdev wrote: post #7
zafka wrote: post #2

It makes me happy to see this article here. I have always been impressed with the way Ram Dass has traveled through life.

I agree that the message is beautiful. I do have reservations however about gurus, in that the ones I'm aware of tend to live in isolated places where they are worshiped. I feel like it's easy to love and support others when you have peace, quiet, love and support in abundance around you. I'd like to see how these individuals operate in higher stress situations and if they've really perfected the art of love or if it…

funnily enough Ram Das has a great quote on this - something like "If you think you're enlightened go and spend some time with your family".

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#63

Post by itomato »

reidjs wrote: post #38
davebryand wrote: post #8

Understanding and living his message (or any other non-dualist teacher) is the #1 to do if you want a successful startup. (Really, it's the recipe for a successful life. In fact, when you've tasted what he's offering, you may find that stock options, sales funnels, and customer acquisition costs no longer excite you.)

I feel like if you’re excited by those things you will have more success running a startup, no?

Your focus would be completely misplaced.

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#64

Post by itomato »

cuspycode wrote: post #14
FraaJad wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ram Dass (dāsa=devotee (of Lord Rama)). You might have known other people with similar last name (eg: Anil Dash). The most common pronunciation is "Das"

Why does anyone feel the need to take on a new name just because you change your religion? I never understood that. I have had epiphanies that dramatically changed my world-view, but I never thought "Now I must take a new name". I'm not criticizing those who do this, since people change their names all the time anyway, but I'm genuinely curious why this phenomenon is so common when people change their religion?

You'd use a new title if you switched trades. How is this any different?

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#65

Post by jonnybgood »

taneq wrote: post #61
everdev wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that the message is beautiful. I do have reservations however about gurus, in that the ones I'm aware of tend to live in isolated places where they are worshiped. I feel like it's easy to love and support others when you have peace, quiet, love and support in abundance around you. I'd like to see how these individuals operate in higher stress situations and if they've really perfected the art of love or if it…

All you need in order to be happy is to be treated like a minor demigod by all around you. Sounds legit. My favourite example of this (albeit not one that's always been at peace) is the Dalai Lama. Dude goes around talking about love and acceptance and whatnot, which is great and he seems like a great guy, but his experience as someone with an international organisation dedicated to looking after him is maybe not 100…

Curious. Is it avoidable? If you’re trying to teach people to be better and happier through a spiritual context, and they feel they are better and happier, how do you avoid being seen as someone divinely inspired?

I don’t think the Dalai Lama is a great example. He doesn’t do it out of choice but out of duty. It’s what a Dalai Lama is expected to do. They are believed to be the reincarnation of an enlightened person who represents compassion. He’s also the head of the exiled Tibetan state, so he probably will have people looking after him whether he likes it or not.

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#66

Post by 8bitsrule »

moretai wrote: post #25
gawin wrote: post #19

After a 2 year long burn-out his book ‘Be Here Now’ brought back balance, a peace of mind, and incredible love and joy in my life.

It's a placebo. The peace was always within you.

The water is always out there too, but if I've forgotten the way to the well, it's good to see a pointing finger.

Richard Bucke got to me before Richard Alpert. Alpert's advanced technology just delivered more current.

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#67

Post by 8bitsrule »

vijucat wrote: post #11

I've always been conflicted by these gurus, so let me play devil's advocate and present some things I found when I researched Ram Dass / Neem Karoli Baba a while ago: http://www.strippingthegurus.com/stgsamplechapters/dass.html Some interesting tales by Ram Dass about how Neem Karoli read his mind, ingested ginormous amounts of LSD without any effect, etc; here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb2BWvRN090 The specifi…

'a large number of these gurus turn out to be sexual predators'

The news only talks about the maybe 5 predators, not the 2000 who haven't completely lost their Way.

Turns out The Church had the same problem, on steroids.

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#68

Post by [deleted] »

krackers wrote: post #60
vijucat wrote: post #11

I've always been conflicted by these gurus, so let me play devil's advocate and present some things I found when I researched Ram Dass / Neem Karoli Baba a while ago: http://www.strippingthegurus.com/stgsamplechapters/dass.html Some interesting tales by Ram Dass about how Neem Karoli read his mind, ingested ginormous amounts of LSD without any effect, etc; here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb2BWvRN090 The specifi…

Never heard of UGK before, but I just looked into him and he's quite the interesting fellow. Definitely agree with his views on the "quest" for enlightenment or the aggrandization of medidation/awakening. From what I can tell the actual content of his philosophy seems to consist of a mix of nihilism and determinism

[deleted]

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#70

Post by 0db532a0 »

refset wrote: post #30

It feels important to emphasise that Ram Dass is not a guru by his own definition: Unity of God, guru, and Self is the higher truth, and if your veil of attachment is very thin, you may be able, like Ramana, to penetrate directly to that essence in the heart. But most of us, to get through our busy human incarnation and the profusion of forms we find in our lives, need guidance and help. Seeing the guru as separate f…

What does it actually mean to say that all the universe is love, and that everything has love in it? Is this more a way in which he is choosing to view things, or an actual statement of fact?
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