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holatortuga's review
4.0
have been studying the writings/teachings of ram dass for the past few months since experiencing one of the worst chronic illness experiences of my life - i came to find ram dass through exploring the ideas of grace and transmuting suffering. i have always felt a strong drawing towards his way of expressing specific ideas, mainly how to engage fully in the dance of life while also navigating our way along the spiritual path. i found myself in tears reading his writings on dying, that really felt like a consciousness shift for myself.
in particular, i have found his discussion of finding one's particular dharma according to the life you're living at the moment most helpful in orienting myself on this path - you CAN be a 'neurotic' messy being and, if you offer that to God fully, find your way there.
“If we follow our heart, there is nothing to fear. As long as our actions are based on our pure seeking for God, we are safe. And any time we are unsure or frightened about our situation, there’s a beautiful and very powerful mantra—“The power of God is within me. The grace of God surrounds me”—which we can repeat to ourselves. It will protect us. Grace will surround us like a gentle force field. Through an open heart, one hears the universe.”
however, reading this was one of the first times i really saw ram dass not just as a spiritual guide but as a fully-formed, human man who came from a specific background and was raised in a specific historical moment. i really struggled to reconcile his teachings overall and the very hard line he sets down on abortion in the early pages of the book - specifically, referring to it as a type of killing with 'relatively light karma' attached. it is definitely beyond the remit of this review to get into the spiritual argument about that, but that passage stood in sharp contrast to the tone of the rest of the book. it was a short passage but one that danced on the border of dealing in control of another's will and fundamentally, the right to choose one's path. i understand his position changed over the years about this viewpoint certainly suggested to me a separateness that 'awakening to oneness' is meant to overcome. for the first time i could see ram dass as a man who was born in a very different historical time, when the common wisdom on women's rights and capabilities as humans was very different.
as well, i think he never fully addresses the questions of political inequality, though the inklings he sets down on the contradictions between accepting what comes and being active in service to others are certainly good starting points for anyone approaching the question from spiritual position.
overall, this was a more challenging view of ram dass for me but a worthwhile one and I'm very glad to have read it. i recommend it to everyone else on this path... so that's everyone really.
in particular, i have found his discussion of finding one's particular dharma according to the life you're living at the moment most helpful in orienting myself on this path - you CAN be a 'neurotic' messy being and, if you offer that to God fully, find your way there.
“If we follow our heart, there is nothing to fear. As long as our actions are based on our pure seeking for God, we are safe. And any time we are unsure or frightened about our situation, there’s a beautiful and very powerful mantra—“The power of God is within me. The grace of God surrounds me”—which we can repeat to ourselves. It will protect us. Grace will surround us like a gentle force field. Through an open heart, one hears the universe.”
however, reading this was one of the first times i really saw ram dass not just as a spiritual guide but as a fully-formed, human man who came from a specific background and was raised in a specific historical moment. i really struggled to reconcile his teachings overall and the very hard line he sets down on abortion in the early pages of the book - specifically, referring to it as a type of killing with 'relatively light karma' attached. it is definitely beyond the remit of this review to get into the spiritual argument about that, but that passage stood in sharp contrast to the tone of the rest of the book. it was a short passage but one that danced on the border of dealing in control of another's will and fundamentally, the right to choose one's path. i understand his position changed over the years about this viewpoint certainly suggested to me a separateness that 'awakening to oneness' is meant to overcome. for the first time i could see ram dass as a man who was born in a very different historical time, when the common wisdom on women's rights and capabilities as humans was very different.
as well, i think he never fully addresses the questions of political inequality, though the inklings he sets down on the contradictions between accepting what comes and being active in service to others are certainly good starting points for anyone approaching the question from spiritual position.
overall, this was a more challenging view of ram dass for me but a worthwhile one and I'm very glad to have read it. i recommend it to everyone else on this path... so that's everyone really.
mollybwell's review
5.0
This book is a collection of lectures reformatted into chapter form. It is my introduction to Ram Das. I had some idea of his influence in society during the late 70's but this informed my ignorance and mis-information from the lens in which I had been taught. He really is a transcendent soul taught in the language franca, so to speak. Somewhat a modern day Paul (without all the sturm and drang of Saul). I enjoyed it and I am grateful it fell into my path.
scifi_geek's review against another edition
5.0
There is a reason Ram Dass is considered a spiritual heavyweight - he deserves it. No matter what you think of him as a person, he has a ton of wisdom to share and can elucidate it like very few, perhaps like no others when it comes to speaking across all spiritual/religious traditions. Can't recommend this enough!
4ndysmith's review
5.0
Some, if not, most, of this book went over my head, but I think that's more on me.
Taking an idea that I've learned from this book:
This book is most likely often on a different plane of reality; its a very good environment that reflects and allows the reader to grow.
I have no doubt I'll read this book again at some point, and when I do, I'll probably get more and more out of it. As for right now, even though most of it went over my head, the sections that didn’t were truly life-giving.
Taking an idea that I've learned from this book:
This book is most likely often on a different plane of reality; its a very good environment that reflects and allows the reader to grow.
I have no doubt I'll read this book again at some point, and when I do, I'll probably get more and more out of it. As for right now, even though most of it went over my head, the sections that didn’t were truly life-giving.
yogilawyer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0