The Unified Theory of Ram Dass • Hacker News Board

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#81

Post by refset » Sat, Dec 01, 2018, 10:12 AM UTC

filoeleven wrote: post #72

eludwig wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with you, but I don't necessarily see a conflict between someone "teaching" me (what a guru basically is: a teacher, in a way) and other facets of their personality. I've had many teachers that were superb at imparting their lessons while living with the foibles and flaws of being real people. You take what you need from the teacher and move on. An example in popular culture: someone like Bill Cosby, who I am…

There’s a recorded conversation between Ram Dass and Terence McKenna during which Ram Dass says, “My life is my message,” and McKemma replies, “My message is my message, my life is a mess!”

That conversation is absolutely brilliant and, in combination with the Going Home documentary, is what got me probing deeper into Ram Dass' message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ih4Fg6P730

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#82

Post by Nomentatus » Sat, Dec 01, 2018, 5:30 PM UTC

neonate wrote: post #57

brianberns wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you think he was fired at Harvard then? I'm not saying he actually raped anyone. I'm saying that he attempted to seduce a student with drugs. He seems to admit that himself.

I'm afraid you're misinterpreting some well-established history. Leary and Alpert were allowed to do their psychedelic study at Harvard on condition that they only give the drugs to grad students. Andrew Weil asked to join the study and was turned down because he was an undergrad. But then Alpert allowed a different undergrad to participate (not Weil - I got that bit wrong above). When Weil found out, he wrote a stor…

Ram Dass's intention was to get a chance to sleep with someone he found attractive, and he was willing to use drugs (against a solemn agreement) to help get himself there. Euphemisms have nothing to do with it; just what he's admitted to in so many words. If you find drugging others for sexual purposes acceptable behavior, make sure you check out local statutes before you act on that belief. We can probably infer that the strategy didn't work, but I think we can also infer that the failure wasn't due to any inaction on Ram Dass's part.

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#83

Post by 0db532a0 » Sat, Dec 01, 2018, 5:59 PM UTC

refset wrote: post #77

0db532a0 wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From what I’ve read of Jordan Peterson, he seems like a reasonable guy on many topics, but I don’t agree with Darwinian Truth. The only truth is what I experience. Everything outside of that is a game of language, including Jordan Peterson’s and Harris’s arguments. I don’t see how invoking Jordan Peterson’s ‘Darwinian Truth’ gives any weight to the claim that all the universe is love. I would agree that you could ind…

> I would agree that you could indeed hold it to be an axiom. Challenge accepted, I will play your language game :) > You might believe that it is beneficial for humans to hold this axiom to be true and act accordingly, but this is still your subjective opinion. I live in quiet certainty that one day, eventually, everyone will be holding this same opinion and hold this axiom to be true. I do not necessarily expect to…

Thanks for linking the video. I completely agree with that mindset.

I’m really not sure what to say regarding the love, though. I’ll leave it here.

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#84

Post by adrice727 » Sat, Dec 01, 2018, 5:59 PM UTC

Nomentatus wrote: post #75

toofy wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other than this article, I’m pretty much unfamiliar with Ram Dass, so I’m curious what leads you to believe some form of rape took place. Is there something in Ramm Dass’ past that the article doesn’t cover? I feel like I must be missing something, surely it’s not the drug use alone that has led you to believe this, right?

Ram Dass admits in the article using LSD as an attempt to seduce a male student, against the specific strictures of the University. You aren't allowed to drug people to seduce them. That shouldn't need to be said. But he still thinks that's fine.

No, he doesn't.

"...I got dismissed from Harvard because I had given psychedelics to an undergraduate. We had agreed with the dean that we would not give psychedelics to undergraduates.” Ram Dass flashes a mischievous grin. “He was an attractive kid.”

That's all that is said about the situation.

Re: The Unified Theory of Ram Dass

#85

Post by FlyMoreRockets » Sat, Dec 01, 2018, 10:37 PM UTC

brianberns wrote: post #53

FlyMoreRockets wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there any actual data to support your claim?

It's in the article: “I had leanings towards homosexuality.... I got dismissed from Harvard because I had given psychedelics to an undergraduate. We had agreed with the dean that we would not give psychedelics to undergraduates.” Ram Dass flashes a mischievous grin. “He was an attractive kid.”

This isn't even close to proving intent.

Edit: From the link below: "To prove someone guilty of any crime, the prosecution generally must prove, 1. That the person physically committed the act in question, and 2. That the person intended to commit the crime. Intent in criminal law is complicated. It refers to a person's state of mind. Criminal intent can be either general intent or specific intent. Most crimes are classified under one of the those two categories. Specific intent crimes, require that the person actually intend to commit the crime. General intent crimes only require proof that the person intended to commit the act, not the crime. For example, theft requires specific intent of not only taking the item but also intending to permanently keep it - depriving the owner of possession permanently. With general intent crimes, the fact that the act was committed is enough to prove intent. "

https://videos.lawinfo.com/litigation-and-appeals/how-can-a-...