Ep. 238 – Spiritual Work Equals Social Action

Ep. 238 – Spiritual Work Equals Social Action

Author: Ram Dass / Love Serve Remember November 6, 2023 Duration: 1:01:22
Speaking to us from 1983, a time of widespread fear about nuclear war, Ram Dass explores how spiritual work equals social action, and yet, we can’t just wait until we are free to take action. Want to be part of the discussion about this episode of Here and Now? Join the Ram Dass Fellowship virtual meetup on November 21st at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Sign up for the General Fellowship group here to receive more information. 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 of Here and Now, Ram Dass speaks about:How spiritual work equals social actionThe two ways that the game of awakening is playing outHow Gandhi molded his social action movement, bringing together social action and spiritual workHow the path of social action and the spiritual journey comes down to karma yoga and using the stuff of our life to get free, but we can’t wait until we are free to take action“And when we are strong enough to look at ourselves, then we will be strong enough to demand truth. But most of us do not have integrity in our own lives. We are all full of righteousness and good here, and right over here we have deception, we have hoarding, we have all kinds of stuff. And to me, in my life, that isn’t good enough, it stinks. I can’t have any room any longer for guilt and self-deprecation about it. I have to appreciate that’s my evolving humanity, but I see where the path of real social action comes. I see what Gandhi’s talking about when he says make yourself into zero and your power is invincible.” – Ram Dass See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The voice of Ram Dass carries a unique and enduring warmth, a blend of profound spiritual insight and grounded, often humorous, humanity. Ram Dass Here And Now is a curated archive of this wisdom, drawing from a rich tapestry of lectures recorded over four decades. Each episode is a focused journey into themes of consciousness, love, service, and the intricate paths of awakening, all filtered through Ram Dass's distinctive heart-centered perspective. The podcast is presented by the Love Serve Remember Foundation, with longtime friend and director Raghu Markus providing contextual introductions that connect these timeless talks to our contemporary moment. Listeners will find themselves immersed in conversations that weave together Eastern philosophy, particularly from the Hindu and Bhakti traditions, with practical Western psychology, exploring how spiritual principles manifest in everyday life, relationships, and societal challenges. It’s less a formal lecture and more an intimate, meandering dialogue with a wise elder, offering reflections that feel both ancient and immediately relevant. This isn't about dogma, but about the shared, often messy, human experience of seeking meaning and connection. To spend time with this podcast is to encounter a gentle guide, one who points persistently toward the present moment, toward compassion, and toward the recognition of our shared essence.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Ram Dass Here And Now
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 253 – Dharmic Anger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:40
In this 1981 Q&A session, Ram Dass addresses surrender, astrology, dharmic anger, the illusion of separateness, relative reality, love, hallucinogens, and more. Participate in the discussion about this episode of Here an…
Ep. 252 – An Imaginary Playmate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:49
In this Q&A session, Ram Dass talks about dealing with disturbances in meditation, letting go of identifications, seeing the guru as an imaginary playmate, being too formless, and more. This episode is brought to you by…
Ep. 251 – Resting in ‘I Am’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:20
In this classic talk, Ram Dass explores resting in ‘I am,’ a place where we can see the perfection of all things, including suffering, and how we can balance that place with an open heart. This episode is brought to you…
Ep. 250 – Eat It Like It Is [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:14
Who are you? What are you doing here? In this classic talk about identity and attachment, Ram Dass asks where you could possibly stand in a world filled with pain and suffering to ‘eat it like it is?’ This episode is bro…
Ep. 249 – Balance and Tension [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:34
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. Want to participate in the discussio…
Ep. 248 – Patterns of Interdependency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:00
Speaking to issues of ecology, politics, and social action, Ram Dass shares stories of compassionate action and explores patterns of interdependency we can recognize in the world. Want to participate in the discussion ab…
Ep. 247 – Dreams Within Dreams Within Dreams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:08
In this Q&A session, Ram Dass talks about transcending dualism, the significance of clairvoyance, how reincarnation is part of our dreams within dreams within dreams, and more. Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.…
Ep. 246 – How to Be Responsive, Not Reactive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:29
In this classic talk from 1987, Ram Dass explores working with suffering, keeping our hearts open, finding the intuitive heart space, and being responsive rather than reactive. This episode is a continuation of the talk…
Ep. 245 – Taking Off Our Spacesuit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:31
In this essential talk from 1987, Ram Dass uses his life experience to guide us through the process of taking off our spacesuit of identity and embracing the curriculum our lives offer us. Want to be part of the discussi…
Ep. 244 – A Love Song Between Form & Formless [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:22
In this deeply meditative recording from 1976, Ram Dass talks about going beyond form and intellect and then is joined by Krishna Das to chant a love song between formless and form. Today's podcast is sponsored by Better…