Dr. Richard Alpert, better known as Ram Dass, discovered spirituality later on in his life after experimenting with psychedelics. Before then, he was a psychology professor at Harvard University where he and Dr. Timothy Leary heavily researched the effects of psychedelics.
In 1967, Richard took a trip to India that changed his perspectives completely; this is when he met Neem Karoli Baba – his guru who introduced him to real spirituality. After coming back from India, Richard renamed himself and started sharing his newfound knowledge with others.
Be Here Now by Ram Dass is an iconic book that introduced Eastern philosophy and ancient customs to the Western world in a relatable way. Even today, Ram Dass provides his wisdom on how spirituality can enhance our lives. His spiritual guidance has helped numerous people find contentment.
Here are the 21 life-changing lessons of Ram Dass:
1. Everyone can love unconditionally.
Love is part of our very essence. We don’t love someone or something for a specific reason, rather it’s simply a state of being. Love doesn’t require anything in return, we can just love without conditions.
2. As you become quieter, you will be able to hear more.
The more you subdued your thoughts, the clearer they become. Silence gives you the ability to hear what’s going on around you. We often don’t hear what we don’t want to because our mind is constantly analyzing, planning, and prioritizing activities. As you become quieter, you’ll be able to hear much more.
3. Take nothing for granted.
You should never expect anything, and instead, make use of every opportunity as a teaching experience. Our strategies frequently do not go the way we want them to, but that’s okay! You can move while being still. Even though you are dissatisfied, be happy with yourself.
4. The moment you let go of it, you can have everything.
The most elegant paradox: the moment you let go, you can have it all. You cannot have power as long as you want it. Once you stop wanting power, though, more will come than ever seemed possible.
Suffering only shows where you are attached. That is why, to those on the path, suffering is grace. — Ram Dass
3. Don’t let your thoughts control your life.
Taking control of your thoughts may not seem like an easy feat, but it is possible. When you become more aware of the role your thoughts play in your life, you can begin to change them for the better. You have the power to choose what you think about, so don’t let harmful thoughts take over. If you don’t like the way your life is going, change your thoughts. If you want to be happier, think of happier thoughts. If you want to attract more love into your life, think about love. The power is within you to create the life you want by choosing the thoughts you think.
4. Let your life be a statement of love and compassion.
We’re all on the same journey, and we’re all linked. We are all traveling toward someplace, and our goal should be to live a life of love and compassion. If that isn’t the case, you know what areas you need to improve in. Spirituality is about connecting with something larger than ourselves, and it is about being kind and compassionate to others. When we live our lives with love and compassion, we make the world a better place. We are all walking each other home.
Only that in you which is me can hear what I’m saying. — Ram Dass
5. Cherish your connections, but don’t allow them to define you.
Our relationships are essential to our happiness and well-being, but they should not be allowed to define us. The people in our lives can provide support, love, and laughter, but we must ultimately find our way in the world. When we allow our relationships to control our lives, we lose sight of who we are and what we want. Instead of living for ourselves, we start living for others. This can lead to resentment, heartache, and a lifetime of regret. So cherish your relationships, but don’t allow them to control your life. Walk your path and you’ll find your way home.
6. Don’t be a lover; simply be love.
When we let go of our attachment to the ego, we can tap into a higher state of consciousness where love is ever-present. From this place, we can share our love with the world without expecting anything in return. We can simply give from the overflow of our hearts. Ram Dass’s teachings offer a profound spiritual perspective on what it means to truly love others. By letting go of our attachments and ego-centered desires, we can open ourselves up to a higher level of love that is all-encompassing and ever-present.
7. We are all affecting the world in some way at all times.
We shape the world with every decision, whether we intend to or not. Because we are interconnected, our actions and state of mind matter. The most crucial action anyone can take at any given moment is to concentrate on their consciousness, and being loved is the greatest creative act available.
8. Life does not end with death.
Though death may appear to be the end, it is not. Some have had near-death experiences that can vouch for this fact. What happens after death largely depends on spirituality. Some think we’re reborn into another lifetime while others believe in different realms entirely. Whatever the truth may be, once we die, it’s only a new beginning.
9. Souls love. Egos don’t.
The main difference between a soul and an ego is that souls love while egos do not. Become a soul and look around; you’ll be astounded at the number of other beings that are also souls. Be one, observe one. When many individuals have this heart connection, we will realize that we are all part of the same species on this planet: humans. We will become one.
10. Be here now.
It’s a palliative for our weary minds. Our world is so fast-paced and constantly connected that it’s easy to dwell on the past or worry about the future. This can lead to anxiety, stress, and depression. But when we focus on the present moment, we are free from these negative emotions. Instead, we can appreciate the beauty of the world around us and find joy in everyday tasks.
Be Patient. You’ll know when it’s time for you to wake up and move ahead. — Ram Dass
11. Everyone has a divine spark inside of them.
If we could recognize the divine spark in everyone, it would be as if we were walking through a beautiful garden filled with blossoming flowers. Recognizing this light within others leads to a more compassionate and grateful way of life. It is not always simple to see the best in people, but it is well worth attempting. When we do, we are frequently kinder and more forgiving when we make mistakes. If everyone looked at the world through the lens of love, our society would be significantly more peaceful.
12. Keep your emotions in check.
Understanding that emotions are like waves can help us ride them out instead of trying to fight against them. Just as waves arise and then dissipate, so too do our emotions. Trying to bottle them up only creates more turmoil.
13. Experience unconditional love.
Unconditional love is like water for our souls; once we drink from that well, we can never go back to living without it. Just as our bodies need water to survive, our souls need love to thrive.
Sometimes it takes three breaths rather than two to release, but you can do it. Don’t be so delicate with yourself; you can let go of things. It’s okay to let go of stuff on occasion. People carry everyone’s belongings all the time.
15. We are all spiritual comrades.
On this path, we’re all the same. That’s who we are on this spiritual journey: family and friends. We’re all related until we discover that we’re all the same and there’s only one of us—one compassionate awareness. May you be a part of it in love.
16. Without genuine wisdom, knowledge alone becomes despair.
Knowledge is frequently referred to as power. Knowledge does give us considerable power. We may comprehend the world and our position within it. We can see how everything is connected and how our actions influence others. We can also have a great deal of respect for all life, which may help us to see that we are all connected. However, without genuine insight, merely knowing information might be debilitating. We may view the world with fresh eyes, but if we do not know how to alter our behavior, we will only feel powerless and helpless in the face of the world’s issues. Knowledge alone is insufficient. We must also have the wisdom to utilize what we know for the good of everyone else.
17. Relationships only work when we realize that we are all connected.
In a relationship, it’s so important to see the other person – to see them as an extension of yourself. When you can do that, the relationship will work in a spiritual sense because you are then compassionate, understanding, and accepting of the other person. You’re not looking at them as an outside entity that you have to deal with, but instead, as a part of yourself that you need to take care of. That’s when relationships are the most fulfilling and they provide the most growth opportunities – when we can see the other person as ourselves.
18. Your intuition will guide you on your journey towards enlightenment.
Use your intuition to guide you on your journey toward enlightenment. If you listen to your inner voice, it will tell you what the next step is in your evolution toward the light. Sometimes it may be something as simple as taking a different route to work or saying “no” to an invitation. Other times, it may be a more significant change like quitting your job or leaving a relationship. But if you trust your intuition is correctly guiding you, it will never lead you astray. So the next time you’re unsure about which direction to take or feel lost, simply listen to your heart and let it guide you on your path toward enlightenment.
19. It’s not about becoming someone; it’s all about becoming nobody.
Our life’s purpose isn’t to become rich or famous, but rather to let go of our pride and see our innermost selves. This might not sound easy, but it is. We simply need to detach ourselves from things we’ve grown attached to like money and material objects. When we do this, we open our hearts and minds up, and we become kinder and more loving individuals. We also begin to realize that we are all part of the same thing. This doesn’t imply that our objectives and aspirations are any less significant. It simply implies that we understand they aren’t the most essential things in life.
20. Only when a caterpillar finishes growing does it become a butterfly.
It’s a lovely reminder that we’re all on the same journey to discover our own version of joy. It’s only when we’ve completed our trip that we can truly be who we were meant to be. Just as a caterpillar turns into a butterfly through metamorphosis, we turn into our highest selves through transformation. Although it’s not easy, it’s worth going through the process.
21. Recognize the drama. It is not who you are.
This is a message we can all relate to. We are the same and we are all on a path. It also implies that we should be considerate of each other since we have no idea what others are experiencing. We all have our problems, and it’s easy to become obsessed with them. We are more than the sum of our issues. We are far more intricate and fascinating than that. We may begin to see the splendor in life when we learn to watch our drama unfold without getting too caught up in it, even when things are difficult.
Ram Dass’s lessons are very simple!
Ram Dass has acquired a lot of knowledge in his life and he passes it on in his 21 rules for living. These teachings are easy to understand, yet profound, and if followed can have a big impact on your life. If you want to make some changes in your life, start with these 21 rules from Ram Dass. We hope you enjoyed this blog post; Be sure to visit our blog for more intelligent material like this!
Meditation Guidance