Ram Dass, a spiritual teacher and author, discusses the art of resting in change and balancing multiple planes of reality simultaneously. He explores the mysteries of suffering, death, and love, emphasizing the importance of keeping our hearts open to others. Ram Dass reflects on aging, handling tension, and the collaborative nature of human interactions.
Therapy enhances social interactions by improving communication and conflict resolution skills.
Resting in unchanging aspects amidst change creates a balance and tension, emphasized in spiritual teachings.
Grace and authenticity are essential in navigating different planes of consciousness and social justice issues.
Approaching challenges with equanimity and joy fosters emotional growth and harmonious balance.
Living on multiple levels simultaneously can lead to playful spiritual connections in earthly encounters.
Managing social energy levels is crucial for maintaining a healthy social life without feeling drained.
Deep dives
Self-awareness through Therapy
Therapy can provide self-awareness to help individuals build a social life that doesn't drain their social battery. By improving communication skills, learning conflict resolution, and more, therapy assists in finding the right balance in social interactions.
Recognizing Unchanging Reality
Amidst the changing aspects of life, there is a component of reality that remains constant. Resting in this unchanging aspect while embracing change creates a balance and tension, a core concept emphasized by spiritual teachings.
Navigating Social Justice and Multilevel Consciousness
Understanding different planes of consciousness shapes perceptions of social justice issues, requiring grace and authenticity to navigate them effectively. Acknowledging diverse experiences while recognizing unity is crucial, even amid complexities highlighted through nuanced conversations.
Compassion, Equanimity, and Appreciation
Practicing love without attachment and judgment fosters emotional growth towards others. By appreciating life and approaching challenges with equanimity and joy, individuals can respond to change with a harmonious balance, offering a profound human experience.
God and the State Trooper Interaction
A humorous anecdote illustrates the concept of living on multiple levels simultaneously. The playful encounter with a state trooper unfolds as an interaction perceived through the lens of a spiritual connection, showcasing a blend of divine love and earthly encounters.
Sponsorship and Social Battery Awareness
The podcast sponsors BetterHelp and discusses the dynamic nature of social energy levels. It emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in managing social interactions to maintain a healthy social life without feeling drained.
Cultivating Love, Unity, and Understanding
Embracing love, unity, and understanding allows individuals to transcend personal limitations. Through appreciating diversity and recognizing unity, one can navigate interactions with a compassionate heart and a sense of oneness.
Ramdas Foundation Support and Gratitude
The episode concludes with a message of gratitude for the support of the Love Serve Remember Foundation and Ramdas.org. Encouraging continued support through donations, the podcast expresses appreciation for the listeners and the shared journey.
Fundamental Spiritual Teachings
The episode delves into fundamental spiritual teachings, emphasizing aspects such as constant reality amidst change and the art of living with balance and tension. These teachings underscore the importance of spiritual growth and navigating life's complexities.
Navigating Turbulence with Presence and Grace
Exploring the theme of navigating challenges with presence and grace, the podcast conveys the power of equanimity and appreciation in embracing life's uncertainties. By balancing passion and equanimity, individuals can enhance their responses to life's unpredictable and transformative moments.
Fostering Interconnectedness and Compassion
Encouraging a shift from self-centered perspectives to interconnectedness and compassion, the podcast highlights the benefits of appreciating others without conditions. Through fostering a sense of unity and love, individuals can approach life's challenges with a broader, more compassionate outlook.
Practicing Love and Equanimity in Daily Interactions
Incorporating concepts of love and equanimity in daily interactions, the podcast emphasizes the transformative power of approaching life with open-heartedness. By practicing appreciation and embracing life's moments with joy, individuals can navigate complexities with deeper understanding and compassion.
In this exploration of suffering, death, and love, Ram Dass talks about resting in change and handling the balance and tension of inhabiting multiple planes of reality simultaneously.
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Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/ramdass
This episode is also brought to you by Magic Mind, a matcha-based energy shot infused with nootropics and adaptogens designed to crush procrastination, brain fog, & fatigue. Use the code RAMDASS at checkout to get up to 50% off your subscription: Magic Mind
This episode of Here and Now is from a 1992 lecture in Edgartown, MA. It continues the talk started in Here and Now Ep. 248 - Patterns of Interdependency.
Exploring his work with death and people who are dying, Ram Dass talks about how he’s learning to live simultaneously on multiple planes of reality and consciousness. To him, the art form of being human is the ability to open our hearts to suffering and acknowledge that it hurts like hell, while also appreciating the awesome nature of the mystery, which includes suffering and death.
Ram Dass addresses aging and the nature of change. He talks about resting in change and handling the balance and tension of inhabiting multiple planes of consciousness simultaneously.
Ram Dass opens up about the trouble he has keeping his heart open to certain people. He talks about the collaborative nature of creating environments where people won’t get trapped in their roles.
Ram Dass ends the talk with some reflections about love and not living out of a deprivation model. He shares his classic story about the state trooper who just might have been Krishna in drag as an example of living on more than one level at one time.
“When you are able to simultaneously live on those planes of consciousness and handle that tension and that balance, then your every act towards other human beings brings to bear with it equanimity, spaciousness, and joy.” – Ram Dass
