Ep. 286 – The Pull of God Versus the Pull of Humanity
whatshot 9 snips
Sep 10, 2025
The discussion delves into the tension between divine connection and human experience, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between spirituality and daily life. Reflecting on love and responsibility, it highlights the significance of authentic connections over competition. It also addresses the profound journey of the soul, navigating themes of karma and spiritual growth. Listeners are encouraged to embrace both the form and formlessness as they explore their spiritual paths while remaining engaged and compassionate in a chaotic world.
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insights INSIGHT
Choice At The Edge Of Liberation
At the point of near-complete liberation you can choose Maha Samadhi or return to form as a Bodhisattva.
Returning is a compassionate choice to serve beings who still need awakening.
insights INSIGHT
Suffering As A Vehicle For Awakening
From supreme wisdom you see that all form contains suffering and that suffering can be a catalyst for awakening.
You recognize the universe's perfection, including suffering, as part of spiritual growth.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Balance Eyes: God And World
Keep one eye on God and one eye on the world to serve effectively without losing clarity.
Avoid having both eyes only on the world or only on God, since both extremes fail to help others.
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In this often fierce talk from Ram Dass, he reflects on the pull of God versus the pull of humanity and how we can find the balance between keeping one eye on God and one eye on the world.
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This episode of Here and Now comes from a talk Ram Dass gave in Florida in 1975.
Ram Dass describes how, through practice, we can come to a point where we have a choice between fully merging back into God or returning into form. “That moment,” he says, “You have choice. Choice to give up the form, go into the formless. Or, choice to play in the formless, but come back into the form.”
Why would we come back into form? Ram Dass talks about seeing the perfection of the universe, including all of the suffering, but also playing your part as an instrument of the Dharma. “You are a statement that will enlighten those who are ready to be enlightened. That is your only function, it’s the only reason you’re on Earth.”
Ram Dass explores how true service arises not from the desire to help, but the desire to find freedom for ourselves and others. He talks about how the spiritual path requires balancing the pull of God and the pull of humanity; to recognize the perfection of the cosmic dance and the reality of human suffering.
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“You get so fascinated with God, with enlightenment, with the wisdom of the ages. And in your zeal to do that, it’s very easy to forget. To forget humanity. To forget politics. To forget human concerns. To overlook the daily stuff around you.” – Ram Dass
Ram Dass Here And Now 
