Be Here Now - Ram Dass needs our help

[housewolf]

Ram Dass is sick, broke, wheelchair-bound and about to lose the house he is renting. He needs our help NOW.

If these words touch your heart, as they do mine, please go here and find out how you can help.

http://www.drwaynedyer.com/articles/

This is a letter from Dr. Wayne Dwyer, a long-time friend of Ram Dass, who has put out the call to all who were touched by Ram Dass, his words, his work and his service from the 1960's onward, to help.

It's our time to Be Here Now.

[HeeBGBz]

1. Wasn't he Timothy Leary's Harvard buddy?

What a shame to hear he's barely surviving.

[enough]

2. Yes, named Richard Alpert before taking the name Ram Das.

[MadisonProgressive]

9. Was he with the Tiajuana Brass?

[housewolf]

3. Yes, the one and same

For many of us who came of age in the 60's and early 70's, his book "Be Here Now" had a profound impact on the revolution that occured in consciousness, spirituatlity and individuality that took place durig those years. He has continued to teach and speak throughout the years.

During the 90's he took on the task of being his father's primary caretaker while his father suffered from Alzheimer's. In 1996 (or thereabouts), Ram Dass had a stroke that left him wheelchair-bound, yet he continued to travel, speak and teach. In December he had a bout with a rare bacterial infection that has left him unable to travel over the past few months.

Many years ago, when Ram Dass became a Buddhist, he took a vow of poverty. His life path since then, regarding money, has been one of allowing money to flow through and around him but not one of accumulating money or material goods. So while his teaching and speaking sustained him, he did not accumulate wealth. So since he has been unable to travel and work for a few months he finds himself in the same position as many others who have faced an illness - in need of help at this time. He is still able to teach but he is on Maui and cannot travel at this time. He has some events scheduled later in the year and hopefully will be able to meet those commitments.

At any rate, a man who had a powerful influence on the culture and times of the 1960's, who affected many of us, a teacher for many of us, is in need of our help.

[lumpy]

4. Be Here Now

helped me to be here now. As well as Man's Eternal Quest( Parmahansa Yogananda),Alan Watts, Paul Tillich, Krishnamurti and a host of other advanced spiritual thinkers. Besides my innocent child questioning, the New Testament first started me on the road. From then on I was like ia sponge soaking up everything regarding spiritual seeking. Thank God we were created with free will and a thirst for knowledge.

[Swamp Rat]

24. "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Parmahansa Yogananda was a great read.

"Thank God we were created with free will and a thirst for knowledge." - Yes! :)

[amazona]

5. I had no idea

I don't have much but I'll try to find a way to send something.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[amazona]

6. bump NT

.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[jbm]

7. I have wonderful memories of "Be Here Now", but...

I'm a little surprised at Wayne Dwyers politics. It won't stop me from donating, but you'd think he would know better..

http://www.drwaynedyer.com/articles/art2.cfm

<snip>
ACT ON THE BASIS OF WHAT IS MORAL AND FAIR, NOT ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED. I heard over and over in the election debate that the inheritance tax should remain because only 2 percent of the population is affected by this tax. I have paid all of the taxes I owe to my government. What is left is mine to do with as I please. My death ought not trigger another tax on my remaining savings that have been already taxed. It does not matter if the tax affects one person or a million people. It is simply wrong. When our ancestors moved to abolish slavery, they didn't say, "Only 2 percent of the populations is enslaved, so let's keep this practice lawful." They finally realized that slavery was morally wrong.

Let those who aspire to greater abundance in their lives do so knowing that politicians are not going to confiscate it at the moment of their death. Do what's right and what's moral, even when it affects only a small percentage of the population.

STOP MIXING PERCENTAGES AND DOLLAR AMOUNTS AS A RATIONALE FOR YOUR PHILOSOPHY. If there is a surplus in tax revenues, it is an overpayment and belongs to those who sent it in. It ought to be returned in the same lawful proportion that it went in.

If I paid one million dollars in taxes, it is not so outrageous that I should have returned to me a higher dollar amount than someone who sent in $2,000 in taxes. To say that the wealthy will receive $18,000 each while the poor will only get an $1,800 tax cut is a spurious argument. If you paid no tax, you don't get a tax cut. You can't cut zero and get something back. If you paid $200,000 in taxes and you get a $40,000 refund, that's a 20 percent tax cut. If you paid $500,000 in taxes and you get back $20,000, that is only a 4 percent tax cut.

It stands to reason that if you are going to ask the top 10 percent of income earners to foot over 50 percent of the tax bills, then when it comes time to cut the taxes and return the surpluses, it ought to go back to the taxpayers in the same proportion. Similarly, if the bottom 40 percent of wage earners pay no taxes, then they get no refund. It may not appeal to most voters, but it makes sense to this working stiff who has been in all of those tax brackets at one time or another in his life.
<snip>

[amazona]

10. I don't care for Dyer either

I think he's an idiot, however, a person can be an idiot and still by accident occasionally do a good thing and I think bringing some attention to helping Ram Dass is a good thing.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[jbm]

13. I agree..

It's funny, cause I had never even heard of Dyer until a couple days ago, and now I keep running into his name everywhere. I had heard him described as an extreme leftist type, but after reading some of his stuff I'm thinking he's more of a 'conservative who thinks he's a liberal' guy or something.

[ikojo]

22. If Mr Dyer has this much money why doesn't he

just buy the house Ram Dass is living in? Why must he solicit donations from others?

[Wilms]

8. kick n/t

[neohippie]

11. I still have "Be Here Now" on my bookshelf

Ram Dass is a great man, it is sad to hear of these circumstances.

[sweetheart]

12. Ram Das is a great soul

I'll certainly be contributing. Ram Das was the first man who ever
turned me on to meditation. It is deeeply disconcerting to hear that
such a great man is having such dire circumstances, and it breaks my
heart.

Symbolic indeed, that the heart of america is increasingly impoverished
whilst the war-mongers kill thousands in vainglorious lust.

Great guru lord Rama, please protect Ram das from these evil filth in
to the next world. He is a guardian of the great doorway to the unknown
in this kaliyuga time, may his every action be blessed with
enlightenment. Lord Rama, please protect us all in this time of
evil strife.

namaste.

[G_j]

14. yes I agree

I've learned a lot from this man's writings, talks etc. through the years. He is a very authentic and wise being. A great "American", a great soul, a great ispiration and teacher.

If you haven't seen "Savage Grace" it is well worth watching.

[sweetheart]

18. Savage Grace...

Thanks G_j. :-) I've written him a letter with me cheque, telling
him what an amazing inspiration and spiritual agent he has been.

Perhaps, were all those whom he has touched, to touch him back, he'd
laugh with ecstatic joy for the rest of his years.

I have not seen Savage Grace.... i'll check it out... thanks very much
indeed. :-)

[kenny blankenship]

15. Is this another excuse for an Oasis thread?

If not, then maybe they should help him since they ripped off his title for an album.

[Wilms]

16. kick n/t

[omega minimo]

17. I worked at a wedding he performed 20 years ago

The dog (not his) that sat under his chair all day and I felt he was the real deal.

Thanks for spreading the word.





:O8)

[thebaghwan]

19. I saw Ram Dass and Ravi Shankar at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. must have

been 1972 or 3. We were sitting way in the back by the entrance and I looked over the side and standing at the side of the entrance was Timothy Leary. Ram Dass is a great teacher, a pious man and a great soul. We need to do anything we can to help him.

[Wilms]

20. kick n/t

[sweetheart]

21. Hare Ram

Hare Ram
Rama Rama
Hare Hare

[sweetheart]

23. Hare Krishna

Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare

[BeHereNow]

25. Well, you KNOW I found this thread!

Thanks for posting this.
BHN