Ep. 261 – Honoring Lineage

Ep. 261 – Honoring Lineage

Author: Ram Dass / Love Serve Remember October 1, 2024 Duration: 44:53

In this Q&A session from 1994, Ram Dass talks about the importance of honoring lineage, the potential of the rave scene, how to bring a heart quality to academia, and much more.

Ram Dass Here & Now is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ramdass and get on your way to being your best self.

This show is also sponsored 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 question and answer session Ram Dass conducted at a talk in Boulder, Colorado, in June of 1994.

  • Ram Dass begins by answering questions about self-destructing methods, lineage versus eclecticism, and advising people on what methods are best suited to them. He talks about the importance of honoring lineage and respecting each other’s journeys.
  • Next up is a dose of psychedelics and politics. Ram Dass answers a question about the burgeoning rave scene in 1994 and includes his thoughts on the state of psychedelics at that moment. He then takes on a question about fundamentalism, which prompts him to talk about the Clinton administration.
  • Ram Dass wraps things up with questions about bringing a heart quality into academia, his view on open marriages, and the importance of honoring our teachers. He talks about being able to respond to the presence of uncertainty and chaos in a reflective way, rather than a reactive way. 

Want to participate in the discussion about this episode of Here and Now? Join us for the SoulPod Meet-Up on October 8th at 3 p.m. EDT.

“In the story of lineages, the transmission is passed from individual to individual through specific teachings. I think we should honor and appreciate and treasure the fact that human consciousness has valued and transmitted ways to become free. I think that’s what honoring a lineage means. I think that we’ve got to separate the practice of honoring a lineage from the result of honoring the lineage, which is to be free. And that means free of lineage. You can’t be free of all form, you’re free within form. And within form, you can be in the lineage.” – 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: 307

Ram Dass Here And Now
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 186 – The Chain of Reactivity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:00
In this Q&A session from 1989, Ram Dass answers questions about addiction, greed, and lust, and talks about the chain of reactivity that fuels our deepest attachments.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and C…
Ep. 185 – Playing with Reality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:42
In this episode of Here and Now, Ram Dass tells a series of stories about how his guru, Maharajji, was fond of playing with reality and adding a feeling of whimsy to the universe.This episode of Ram Dass’ Here & Now Podc…
Ep. 184 – Tools of Balance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:10
In this episode of Here and Now, Ram Dass explores our obsession with personality, the possibilities of a compassionate society, and how we can all become tools of balance.This episode of Ram Dass’ Here & Now Podcast is…
Ep. 183 – Psychedelics: Understanding the Risks and Rewards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:33
On this episode of Here and Now, Ram Dass breaks down the history of psychedelic use and helps us in understanding the risks and the rewards of these consciousness-altering chemicals.This episode of Ram Dass’ Here & Now…
Ep. 182 – Excerpts on Social Responsibility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:42
In this dharma talk from 1969, Ram Dass explores social responsibility, protesting, and the money trip, plus he details the origins of Be Here Now and gets us drunk on the love of God.This podcast is brought to you by Ea…
Ep. 181 – Giving Space to the Universe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:59
In this episode of Here and Now, Ram Dass explores love, letting go of our models, and giving space to the universe, plus leads a guided meditation and chants “We All Come From God.” Don’t miss Alan Watts – Being in the…
Ep. 180 – The Way of Harmony [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:21
In this vintage 1969 dharma talk, a ‘fresh from India’ Ram Dass relays how to live our ‘karmic trip’ in the Tao – the Way of Harmony – before sharing stories of the spiritual scene at his father’s farm.In this dharma tal…
Ep. 179 – Astral Planes, Time, Paradox, and Freedom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:03
Mapping the physical, causal, and astral planes of existence, Ram Dass reconciles time within the paradox of ‘being here now,’ inviting us into the freedom of limitless awareness.Illuminating the interconnected nature of…
Ep. 178 – The Path of the Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:35
Walking the path of the Heart, Ram Dass shares the hungry ghost pitfalls veiling the unity behind our separateness and invites us into the proverbial 'hot tub' of Maharajji's unconditional love.In this unique dharma talk…
Ep. 177 – Perspectives on Work and Money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:45
In this recording from 1989, Ram Dass talks about looking through the veil of role and personality in the business world, and offers his unique perspectives on work and money.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priva…