Getting older isn’t easy. And living with the after effects of a stroke can obviously make it even harder. Faith in God, and in the Divine Order of things, is often the first thing to go
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Friday is Book & Movie Day on the blog, when we take a look at texts and films – old and new — that I highly recommend you not miss. This week’s recommendation: Fierce Grace: The Story of Ram Dass
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The other night I rented and watched for the first time a remarkable film about the spiritual visionary known as Ram Dass. This biographical documentary was made in 2001.
Get the movie. It will speak to you in wonderful ways.
First, a word about the man around whom the film swirls. From Wikipedia comes this about Ram Dass…
Dr. Richard Alpert (born April 6, 1931), also known as Baba Ram Dass, is a contemporary spiritual teacher, well-known for his association with Timothy Leary at Harvard University in the early 1960s, both having been dismissed from their professorships for experiments on the effects of psychedelic drugs on human subjects.
In 1967 Alpert traveled to India, where he eventually met the Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba, better known in the West as Maharaj-ji, who soon became Alpert’s guru and gave him the name “Ram Dass”, which means “servant of God”. It was his life-changing experiences in India that inspired Ram Dass to write the contemporary spiritual classic, Be Here Now, in which he teaches the harmony of all people and religions.
In February 1997, he suffered a stroke which left him with expressive aphasia, however, he understands his stroke as an act of grace and continues to travel giving lectures, as his health permits. When asked if he could sum up his life’s message Ram Dass replied, “I help people as a way to work on myself, and I work on myself to help people… To me, that’s what the emerging game is all about.”
The film Fierce Grace chronicles Ram Dass’ experience of the stroke, and the personal growth work he has done around that experience. It is a remarkable movie for what it moves us as viewers to understand about life itself, and the journey upon which we are all embarked. In the film, Ram Dass acknowledges that “being stroked,” as he repeatedly calls it, created the most difficult test of his life. His faith in the God of his understanding, and in what he assumed to be his larger awarenesses about life, was severely tested. Actually, he says, it was lost. And then, re-found again.
This is a film that every person would benefit from seeing, but it would be especially beneficial to anyone who is now undergoing some sort of major challenge in their life — a health challenge of any other kind of challenge.
In the film Ram Dass says something about healing that I will always remember — and that I will use for the rest of my life when people ask me about the power of God (and the process of personal creation; i.e, we create our own reality) to bring about healing of any condition.
“Healing is not, after all, the same as ‘curing’,” Ram Dass observes. “Healing does not mean going back to the way things were before, but rather, allowing what ‘is’ now to move us closer to God.”
Yes, yes. Amen, and amen.
Rent the movie. Get the movie. Watch the movie.
Beliefnet
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posted March 28, 2008 at 6:39 am
Neale, Thanks for the recommendation on this movie about Ram Das. I remember you speaking kindly about Ram in the Tampa “Happier than God” seminar. By the way, that was a spiritual experience for me and for many of the participants. I spoke to quite a few of them and we are grateful to you for your graciousness. I will watch this video and open my heart to receive its message.
On another note, I read the postings on yesterdays blog about global warming, and I see most of them are still skeptical about our effects on the environment. This is precisely the reason we are in this situation because as we co-create our reality, the majority still think we are not at risk here. All the more reason for those of us that know We Are creating this, to join together and bring others into the fold to create unity of thought – helpful, positive and constructive thoughts, words and actions to create our Earth anew.
Namaste
posted March 28, 2008 at 6:44 am
I’m aure that I WOULD love this film. And in light of the information, I have seen it’s effects first hand. My brother who is 40 and ia a very athletic person, runs marathons, my sister who is 37 and is driven, not necessarily as healthy, but both had strokes in the last 4 months. No indication of it on our past except maybe high blood pressure, heart disease, and high cholesterol?? Well, the point is that they are awake now. They along with myself know and I’m sure can picture possibilities of the end result, but do you think that this like global warming is something they should keep in the back of their mind no pun intended. I doubt that focusing on all the bad things they have done or could do that contribute to this is going to have a healthy effect either. I believe Ram Dass has the answers or at least some of the very innate ones anyway. It is go inward, be at peace, listen to your source or God, and ask not what you can do, rather what it wants from you to make the changes. And if having a stroke is what it took for him to be aware then, well that is his answer.
Depending on how fast the train is a comin, it could take a 1/2 mile to a mile for it to stop. Some may not be aware of this and may well,endure its effects while others may only bear witness to the same and endure its effects, and yet still others may escape the situation all together and learn from the effects. Why do some get off and why do some not?? I think it is a question that is pretty hard to define. Why do these things happen? Why is the Earth changing? Why is the World in a state of constant chaos? Why did Ram Dass suffer a stroke? I guess you can look to Ram Dass re: this, but of the other questions, well he may also have feelings odf them as well, but I think he might say,”If I had all of the answers, I might not have had a stroke and then where would I be—wherever else I might have been led instead.”
posted March 28, 2008 at 10:35 am
Yes, I will try to find this movie, I sure could use anything too help me on my path at this time. You see I am very sick and I have to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rockchester NM on May the 7th, I have been told to get and see the movie Lorenzo’s Oil, I have just found it so I am going to try and watch that one today and I will also try to find this one and watch it, I believe in anything that will keep us growing closer to the Cod of our own understanding, thanks so much for this new info.
posted March 28, 2008 at 11:15 am
As a multiple stroke survivor myself I can only say that it’s a little like falling off a bicycle. You can either get up and get on with things or you can wallow in self pity. The “Why Me Lord” mentality will get you no where. Sh*t happens in life and that’s just the way it is. There is an old saying amongst my folk: “When a soul comes into this life it is given two cups. One is a cup of sweetness and the other is a cup of bitterness. A soul will not leave this life without having tasted of both cups”
Seamus MacNemi
posted March 28, 2008 at 11:16 am
As a multiple stroke survivor myself I can only say that it’s a little like falling off a bicycle. You can either get up and get on with things or you can wallow in self pity. The “Why Me Lord” mentality will get you no where. Sh*t happens in life and that’s just the way it is. There is an old saying amongst my folk: “When a soul comes into this life it is given two cups. One is a cup of sweetness and the other is a cup of bitterness. A soul will not leave this life without having tasted of both cups”
Seamus MacNemi
posted March 28, 2008 at 12:00 pm
To Seamus MacNemi—–very interesting name and I enjoyed your thoughts!! A friend of mine is losing her mom. They grew up very poor and their mom worked HARD by herself to raise three girls. All three girls have been through very tough times as well but always had their mom close by. They just found out ~4 months ago that their mom is terminal. Ironically their mom also just won a lawsuit that showed test results of her having cancerous cells upto 2 years ago and was never informed, or tested further. At any rate she won a big settlement and will now be able to give her girls a little help with their lives, I’m sure she’s thinking the help she never could, but at the cost of losing her life?? Seems odd huh?? She said and I quote,” I have no desire to go anywhere or do anything, but to just spend time with my girls and their children, something I didn’t get to do much of when they were young.”
posted March 28, 2008 at 12:17 pm
To Karen, This is one of my favorite movies. I have watched it many, many times. The first time was just for fun, but it really made me think. I was very ill at the time and it hit a chord in me that I have always carried with me. “I” believe that there is amongst creation a lesson in every illness and obstacle. Otherwise how would life make sense?? Sometimes it is for us and sometimes for others to learn. I wish you well on your journey, and my positive thoughts will be with you.
posted March 28, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Hi Karen,
If you need inspirational things there is no end to the material that is available out there. In my opinion during any illness it is the bonds of our family and friends that help us the most. I don’t know what ails you but am sure that you will feel good soon.
Bye,
Akshay Mathur
posted March 28, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Guys please dont forget tommorow at 8.00 pm is earth hour. We simple shut down all electrical usage for an hour to increase awareness of problmes facing the planet.
posted March 28, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Akshay,
My husband, kids and I are allin agreement that we should do this once a week at the same time every week. We used to do this years ago with our older children as fun. We’d get out the lanterns and cook popcorn on the cook stove and tell stories for fun. However, my husband just brought up an interesting point. Unless we actually unplug all of the appliances, etc. we will still be pulling phantom power, so is everyone unplugging, or just turning off?
MMB
posted March 28, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Baba Ram Dass
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7930664166418534364
LOVE and PEACE
Marceau
posted March 28, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Baba Ram Das
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7930664166418534364
LOVE and PEACE
Marceau
posted March 28, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Hi michelle,
I have a pretty simple dwelling so it’s only the fridge that will be on at my place. But in many cities like whistler they are supposed to turn off parking lot lightings and stuff and it’s expected to be quite dim for an hour, not too dim for safety reasons. But yeah the idea is that earth hour doesn’t come once every year but every day, basically to eliminate unnecessary usage of power.
Akshay