Ep. 265 – Ram Dass and Timothy Leary: No Signposts
Nov 26, 2024
Timothy Leary and Ram Dass reflect on their transformative journeys during a heartfelt reunion at Harvard. They humorously recount their groundbreaking experiments in the psychedelic movement, including the notorious Good Friday Experiment. The duo emphasizes the significance of 'set and setting' in exploring consciousness. They also share anecdotes from their post-Harvard lives, touching on their collaborative spirit and personal transformations. The conversation highlights the intertwining of psychology, spirituality, and gratitude over the decades.
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Leary's Homecoming
Timothy Leary describes his return to Harvard as a homecoming, connecting to his Irish ancestry who migrated to Boston.
He reflects on leaving Massachusetts for California, becoming a frontier person on the Pacific coast for 30 years.
insights INSIGHT
Harvard's Transcendental Tradition
Leary highlights Harvard's tradition of transcendental thinking, tracing it back to Ralph Waldo Emerson.
He notes Emerson's influence from European thinkers and his call for self-reliance and inner divinity.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Psychedelic Research
Leary recalls the early days of the Harvard Psychedelic Research Project, emphasizing the simplicity and lack of guidelines.
They explored altered states of consciousness with various individuals, including prisoners and divinity students.
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This book is a collection of lectures delivered by William James at the University of Edinburgh between 1901 and 1902. It focuses on the personal and subjective aspects of religious experiences, rather than on theology or organized religion. James examines various types of religious experiences, including healthy-mindedness, the sick soul, conversion, mysticism, and saintliness. He emphasizes the importance of feeling and personal experience in religion, arguing that these experiences are the primary source of religious beliefs and practices. The book also discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of these experiences, highlighting their complexity and life-altering nature[2][3][4].
The principles of psychology
William James
Published in 1890, 'The Principles of Psychology' is a two-volume work that lays the groundwork for understanding psychological phenomena through a scientific lens. William James discusses the relationship between mental processes and their underlying physical conditions, introducing key concepts such as the 'stream of consciousness,' the James–Lange theory of emotion, the importance of habit, and the concept of will. The book is based on James's classroom lessons and avoids metaphysical explanations, focusing instead on empirical observations and physiological processes. It has been influential in shaping the field of psychology and continues to be relevant today[4][5][2].
Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita is a central text in Hinduism, embedded within the epic Mahabharata. It recounts a dialogue between the warrior-prince Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna, who is an avatar of the god Vishnu. The text explores themes of dharma (duty), karma (action), and the path to spiritual enlightenment. Krishna advises Arjuna on the importance of performing his duties without attachment to the outcomes, emphasizing the concept of nishkama karma (nonattached action). The Gita synthesizes various strands of Indian religious thought, including Vedic concepts, samkhya yoga, and bhakti (devotion), providing a coherent vision of Hindu philosophy and spiritual practice[2][4][5].
Grist for the mill
Ram Dass
Dying to Know
Dying to Know
The Epic Friendship That Shaped Generations
Timothy Leary
Dying to Know is a captivating exploration of the profound friendship between Timothy Leary and Ram Dass, two iconic figures who significantly impacted the counterculture movement and the exploration of consciousness. The book delves into their shared journey, from their groundbreaking work at Harvard to their later reconciliation, offering insights into their personal lives and their shared mission to expand human consciousness. It examines their collaborations, their individual paths, and their perspectives on death and spirituality. The book also highlights their influence on psychology, spirituality, and the cultural landscape. Through their story, Dying to Know inspires readers to question societal norms and embrace personal growth.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain
Published in 1884 in the UK and 1885 in the US, 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' is a sequel to Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'. The novel follows Huck Finn, a young boy who escapes his abusive father by faking his own death, and Jim, a runaway slave. Together, they embark on a perilous journey down the Mississippi River on a raft. Along the way, they encounter various characters, including con artists and feuding families, and Huck grapples with moral dilemmas, particularly regarding his support for Jim despite the societal norms against helping a runaway slave. The novel is a critique of pre-Civil War American society, especially its treatment of slavery and racial issues, and it has been praised for its realistic portrayal of boyhood and its exploration of complex moral themes[1][3][5].
In this talk from their 20-year reunion at Harvard, Timothy Leary reflects on the journey he and Ram Dass shared as they explored the boundaries of consciousness with no signposts to guide them.
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This episode is part two of the Ram Dass and Timothy Leary reunion event at Harvard University on April 24, 1983. Don’t miss part one: The Explorer’s Club. In this recording:
Timothy Leary takes center stage to share his perspective on the journey he and Ram Dass took when they came together at Harvard. He begins with a brief history of the tradition of transcendental thinking at Harvard which began with Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Timothy talks about the simplicity of their work in those early days as he and Ram Dass explored the boundaries of human consciousness with no signposts to guide them. He shares some thoughts on the notorious Good Friday Experiment and discusses the important insights into psychopharmacology they discovered, including the concept of set and setting.
Shifting topics to their post-Harvard lives, Timothy talks about the “happiness hotels” he and Ram Dass were running. They share some laughs about the Harvard Crimson, being tracked by the CIA, and Timothy’s description of Ram Dass in his autobiography. Finally, they discuss the mileage they got out of various myths over the years and what their post-Harvard voyages of discovery were like for each of them.
Today's talk was chosen in celebration of the new book, Dying To Know, which chronicles the epic friendship between Ram Dass and Timothy Leary that shaped generations of seekers. Get your copy today!
“In those days, it did seem almost miraculously simple. We gave, we shared; we took these drugs as novices, as amateurs, hesitantly moving into a field that had no signposts or guidelines. There was simply no language in Western psychology to describe altered states of consciousness or ecstasies or visions or terrors. A psychiatrist said these were psychotomimetic experiences, but that didn’t seem to tell us too much. We were smart enough, and I give us this credit, to know how little we knew.” – Timothy Leary
Ram Dass Here And Now 
