When I was just a young teen many, many moons ago, I remember running across a book called,BE HERE NOW, by Ram Dass. Being young and very impressionable, I ingested every word, without necessarily understanding exactly what he was into- psychedelically speaking.
You see, Ram Dass was Dr. Richard Alpert in his earlier life. A scholar, professor, and very upwardly mobile educator in the academic community coming from an influential Jewish East Coast family. He had the beauty, brains, and money that put him at the top of his game in the 60's. His name was connected with Harvard, Stanford,and UC-Berkley just to name a few. He seemed to have it all.
He began a friendship and eventually a working relationship with Timothy Leary when they began to experiment and research with LSD(via the psilocybin mushroom) much to the chagrin of contemporary moralists. Of course, at the time he seemed very cool to the youth of the day trying to navigate the changing mores, like me.
If that was his only claim to fame, I would not be writing about him in this blog. Nope, the downfall of Dr. Alpert(in the minds of some)was only the beginning of his story. After making a trip to India, Ram Dass became an enlightened teacher of a different sort. Studying and subsequently practicing ancient philosophies, he returned to share his own take on the meaning of life. Hence, the birth of Baba Ram Dass (meaning Servant of God).
For the next four decades, Dass has become a spiritual teacher who has influenced many of our modern-day thinkers. A stroke about 10 years ago may have weakened the voice, yet it has not dimmed the light that shines around him.
So, while reading one of my gazillion books on becoming a meaningful person from the inside- out, I revisited his initial study of living in the present. Taking away some of the "Age of Aquarius" prose of the time that may prejudice some readers, he is as we said back then, Right On!
We spend way too much time worrying and planning for the future or blaming our troubles on the past. We rush through our daily lives in a blur of activity that has nothing to do with what is really important. Wouldn't it be nice if we just lived in the moment? Trusting that our lives will enfold the way they are supposed to without constant manipulation from us or others.
Think of a world where we stopped to enjoy our family or loved ones, the classes we are taking or teaching, the jobs that we have chosen to make a living at each day, or even the notion that we can improve our lives and those around us right now- today. Jumping off the fast track and taking time to smell those proverbial flowers we all heard about.
That is my take on it. I am not hankering to go to India and study with a guru, but I do think I am going to practice some of their teachings. My Christian upbringing is not really different from what these ancient wise ones were saying anyway.
If you peel away the self-righteous leanings of current religious affiliations, it seems like God is saying the same thing to all of us. The approach may be different, but I believe we are here to learn valuable lessons to share with the next generation using whatever version we are told.
Live in Peace, be tolerant of the differences while honoring the spirit that connects us all, and most importantly live in the present. That is all we really have, you know!
Namaste...Until next time.
