‘Take My Advice’
An unearthed typewriter letter from Ram Dass that speaks to this moment in time.
Several years ago, I discovered a letter in the Ram Dass archive, typed on a real typewriter. Back in those days, I often found new content to share by sifting through boxes of physical transcripts and reel-to-reels in our storage unit with my headlamp on. I sometimes miss those old ways of doing things, I felt like I was spelunking for spiritual teachings, never knowing what I might stumble upon. It almost felt like that cool, dark, quiet storage room was the inside of Ram Dass’s mind and I got to pore through it. Flashing forward, a more rational part of me is grateful that we’ve updated our systems, digitizing and preserving most of that gold, so we can more easily share it with you and those who will come after us.
This particular letter is special, it’s an affirmation for today and all days, and something that I read quite often. When I feel stuck in my drama, when I can’t see a way out my suffering, when I’m feeling petty and vindictive. On a wider perspective, the teaching is a balm for a society that is so stuck in separateness and polarization that we oftentimes fail to see even a grain of our shared humanity, our shared air, our shared water, and our shared ecosystem. I hope you find some comfort and healing in these words, as I have.
— Rachael Fisher, Creative Director, Love Serve Remember Foundation // RamDass.org
Don’t sell yourself short by thinking you are only your body or your personality, no matter how intriguing and dramatic they may be. For behind them, there lies a more profound part of your true self. Call it ‘spiritual’ or call it ‘higher consciousness’… call it what you will, but… Call it!
One of the doorways to that higher self is through the cultivation of your intuitive wisdom. As you learn to listen to and trust your intuition, you will find a quiet place in the heart of your being that is wise and can guide your actions. One of the things it will remind you of is your interconnectedness to all things. And out of that appreciation will spontaneously arise compassion for those who suffer; for the earth, and for all living things.
When that happens, don’t be overwhelmed by the suffering you see, by the darkness that exists in the human condition. True, there is much of it. But so, too, is there much caring and compassion in the world. Mahatma Gandhi said, “What you do may seem insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.” It is important for yourself, as well as for the balances in the world. As you let your compassion guide you into action to help heal the earth and those who suffer, your very acts will feed your own compassionate heart and in so doing, open the inner gates to knowing your own highest self.
I promise you that plumbing the depths of your being is an unparalleled adventure. I wish you well on the journey.
In Love,
Ram Dass
Published by the Love Serve Remember Foundation, the nonprofit caretaker of Ram Dass’s teachings since 2010. Learn more at RamDass.org or join our virtual community and archive at Inneracademy.ramdass.org.
This is an EVERYDAY reading 💜🙏
I waited until I turned 47 to get a tattoo, and 49 until sitting my first silent retreat. And Ram Dass was instrumental in both. Thank you for continuing to share his wisdom with us.