What has Ram Dass taught that was anything more than feel good self-help level material put into a palatable form fit for those wanting to hear soothing words?
Sure, he was intelligent, had a PhD, and was a likeable guy. He also spent much of his early years doing drugs (LSD experiments) and bouncing around ashrams in India with less than reputable gurus.
The guy was quoted as saying Jerry Garcia was a Bodhisattva, if that says anything about his state of mind.
He was, like most gurus, exceedingly arrogant at times. 'It is useful here to remember that your guru, even though you may not have met him in his manifest form knows everything about you, everything.' Who says stuff like that?
Dass was no more put together than anyone else, especially considering how he boucned around with ideas, even becoming a devout evangelical Christian at one point. The guy was put on a pedestal by people and he made the best of it.
There is tons of stuff that weighs against the guy, but I'm on mobile and out and don't remember much. I don't consider him to be wholly malicious in his actions like many purported 'gurus,' but he is still a scam artist for letting others follow him while reaping the benefits.
There would be no 60's generation w/o Ram Dass and Tim Leary. We would have continued the 1950's mind set. As they say, "those 2 just closed the door shut on the '50s, and blew our minds with what came next."
Sounds like you are missing that part. I've attended Ram Dass lecture, he just blew us all away. He was that far out. He got it. He really did. Life, Death and what comes next. Just got it. Like no one else. He just did.
HIGHLY suggest watch this one.
Dying To Know - Ram Dass & Timothy Leary - Documentary
Sure, he was intelligent, had a PhD, and was a likeable guy. He also spent much of his early years doing drugs (LSD experiments) and bouncing around ashrams in India with less than reputable gurus.
The guy was quoted as saying Jerry Garcia was a Bodhisattva, if that says anything about his state of mind.
He was, like most gurus, exceedingly arrogant at times. 'It is useful here to remember that your guru, even though you may not have met him in his manifest form knows everything about you, everything.' Who says stuff like that?
Dass was no more put together than anyone else, especially considering how he boucned around with ideas, even becoming a devout evangelical Christian at one point. The guy was put on a pedestal by people and he made the best of it.
There is tons of stuff that weighs against the guy, but I'm on mobile and out and don't remember much. I don't consider him to be wholly malicious in his actions like many purported 'gurus,' but he is still a scam artist for letting others follow him while reaping the benefits.