Ep. 259 – Altered States: American Psychological Association Address Part 1

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Sep 2, 2024

Ram Dass shares his transformative insights on altered states of consciousness, drawing from personal experiences with psychedelics and their impact on perception. He reflects on his journey from academia to spiritual exploration and the challenges of integrating profound insights into everyday life. The discussion touches on the complexities of fortune and misfortune, emphasizing the need for curiosity in personal development. Ultimately, he invites listeners to embrace the oneness that connects us all, encouraging a deeper understanding of reality.

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ANECDOTE

Presenting as a Case Study

Ram Dass presented himself as a case study at a psychiatry grand rounds.
They initially mistook him for a patient due to his attire and posture.

ANECDOTE

Embracing the Datum

Ram Dass and Tim Leary faced criticism for their introspective research using psychedelics.
Ram Dass chose to be a "datum," embracing the changes resulting from his experiences.

ANECDOTE

First Psychedelic Experience

Ram Dass describes his first psychedelic experience, including seeing himself in different social roles.
He experienced ego dissolution and a sense of "is-ness," followed by a shift in perspective.

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Presenting his unique life as a case study, Ram Dass offers insights into the human mind and altered states of consciousness to a gathering of the American Psychological Association.

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This episode of Here and Now is from the first part of Ram Dass’ address to the Meeting of the American Psychological Association in Montreal, Canada, on September 3rd, 1980.

Ram Dass presents his case to the American Psychological Association, talking about a set of experiences and shifting perceptions that confronted him with the issue of what reality truly is.
He explores his time as a professor at Harvard, meeting Tim Leary, and the power of his first psychedelic experience. That experience propelled Ram Dass to years of research with these consciousness-altering chemicals and a deep exploration of the human mind.
Having become a master of getting high, Ram Dass talks about the horrors of coming down. But these studies with psychedelics helped him to empty his mind, become more of a witness to his experiences, and be less associated with his emotional states.
Finally, Ram Dass shares what led to him going to India, his experience of giving his guru psychedelics, and how his concept of time started to change. He closes by talking about the different planes of consciousness.

“I found myself becoming less identified with my emotional states and my psychological qualities and characteristics, and perplexedly enough, at the same moment, more involved with them. I seemed to be living more fully in the moment of the feelings, and yet, at the same moment, being more spacious around them.” – Ram Dass

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