Who Is Ram Dass
...Now to Me?

 

by Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D.

I'm sitting in the wake of Ram Dass passing, glued to Youtube for three days now. I can’t take my eyes off of his eyes. And I can’t stop listening to his voice as I take in the meaning of his message. I’m in awe of the life story of this fellow psychologist and spiritual seeker/teacher.

The last clip I listened to this morning was about how we judge and distance ourselves from others based on our perceptions. That’s exactly what I did with Ram Dass in the 70’s. I am compassionately ashamed of myself.

He had been portrayed as a maverick experimental psychologist studying my greatest love “altered states” via my greatest aversion “drugs to get there.” And I tuned him out...just exactly as he says in his lecture. I made a judgement and distanced myself from this brilliant man. Why?

Here’s why...

In 1972, I awakened to “altered states” through learning Transcendental Meditation as a Psychology major in college. It became my daily mental shower, the fueling of my success, my source of ecstasy and my connection to God.

I used to say, “I’m experiencing what people are paying money on the streets to get in order to be high.” I said that over and over and over to anyone who would listen.

I was clearly proud of myself for discovering how to do this naturally. As I look back over my life, I’m not surprised that I became a teacher of this fundamental life skill and blessing.

My Judging = My Distancing

When I got to graduate school at Northwestern, I decided to do my doctoral research on the psychophysiology of mediation and its implications for psychotherapy. In combing through the literature on altered states, I discovered Dr. Richard Alpert/Ram Dass.

Even though we were both enamored with the subject of “altered states of consciousness,” I could not take in his work. I couldn’t assimilate it. And here’s why. My two older brothers had heroine addictions.

As a young woman, I vowed never to take “hazardous drugs” as my mother called them...and certainly not for a taste of ecstasy. It seemed sacrilegious and against everything I had become through meditation and through witnessing the impact of my brothers’ additions on my family.

To insulate me from my brothers earlier “bad behavior” (as my parents referred to it), I was sequestered in a little school for gifted children from the time I was 8 years old. I funneled all of my energy into mindful enthusiastic learning and academic excellence. I was a straight A student on the Dean’s list at Northwestern University. There was no way I’d even entertain for a moment looking in the direction of the subject I so vehemently shunned. And so, I never looked back until now.

Then to drive that judgement/shunning home even further, I surrendered my life to a man, after accidentlly getting pregnant, who then shunned me for my devotion to experiencing the message of this enlightened man. I am only beginning to realize the impact (and now blessings) of this, though I have mentioned it in many other writings.

My Ram Dass Awakening

Ram Dass was a psychologist speaking about consciousness…awareness…God. And he was a meditator giving accurate psychological perspective. He understood both ends of the psychology spirituality continuum. His message is one of love, present focus and acceptance. In my opinion, he was a true bridge between clinical psychology and practical spirituality.

I’m so moved by taking Ram Dass into my life today, as his message is one I have carried in my heart for 47 years now. Stand with me to celebrate the life and legacy of this evolved and loving man Baba Ram Dass. In Love, Dr. Jeanne King, PhD.

Dr Jeanne King helps people break the cycle of narcissistic, domestic abuse and find wholeness, happiness and harmony. To learn more, visit http://www.preventabusiverelationships.com/ and claim Free Instant Access to The 7 Realities of Verbal Abuse.

© Dr Jeanne KingPhD - Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention