The Dharma of Alan Watts and Ram Dass

Jackie (Love Serve Remember Foundation); Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

The Dharma of Alan Watts and Ram Dass Virtual Course: introductory call with Mark Watts

Baba reading Be Here Now

(Baba Ram Dass) Premiered Sept. 20, 2023: Celebrating the Dharma of Alan Watts and Ram Dass with a call in from Alan Watts' son, Mark Watts, and Jackie of the Love Serve Remember Foundation, Raghu, and Justin.

Learn more at: ramdass.org/dharma. Monday, Oct. 2 through Saturday, Oct. 28. Come immerse in the profound teachings of Westerners Alan Watts and Ram Dass, two cultural icons who were essential in bringing Eastern mysticism to a Western audience. Sign up today: ramdass.org/dharma.

Two cultural icons, two unique perspectives, one understanding of the presence of the Way.

Dropping acid (LSD) for science

Alan Watts (KPFA and KQED TV) was a scholar and a philosopher; his ideas were deeply profound yet entirely accessible for Westerners. Ram Dass (Harvard's Dr. Richard Alpert, author of Be Here Now) was an explorer of human consciousness and heartfulness; his life was his message [which was to communicate the love he felt from his guru, Neem Karoli Baba/Maharaji, whose sex scandals only came to light later].

Both were essential to transmitting Eastern mysticism to a Western audience, opening the minds and hearts of millions of people, particularly Americans as both were based in the U.S.

BOOK: Be Here Now (Ram Dass)

Though the two traveled different paths of spirituality and mindfulness -- Alan on the path of non-duality, Ram Dass on the path of Bhakti Yoga (union through devotion) -- they came together in friendship and in understanding the Tao or the Way of things.

There are many pathways up the mountain of spirituality, but the destination remains the same [given the extreme similarities between Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism]

[Mahayana or Universalist Buddhism is much influenced by Taoism, Shinto, Bon shamanism, yoga, and esoteric practices, but is to be distinguished from Early Buddhism, particularly of the surviving Theravada school, which focuses on practice and direct experience through serenity (samadhi) and systematic fourfold setting up of mindfulness (satipatthana), calm and insight, for personal realization of the historical Buddha's Teachings].

ABOUT: Love Serve Remember Foundation and the Alan Watts Organization invite all to open their mind, open their heart, and tap into the living truth of these two seminal figures. In this 4-week course, one will...

• 

  Buddhist Alan Watts was an Episcopalian priest

  immerse oneself in profound teachings from Alan Watts and Ram Dass, two cultural icons who were essential in bringing Eastern mysticism to a Western audience
• recognize the possibility of a true merging of mind and heart through two very different perspectives on the spiritual path
• discover ways to create greater balance and harmony in life
• develop intuition and sensitivity and leave behind the analytical mind
• learn how to navigate the worlds of business, money, and pleasure, and use the stuff of life to get free
• abandon the complicated games and self-interests that make us doubt ourselves
• gain discernment for the “divine madness” of love, sex, romance, and parenting
• start to recognize our true nature in connection to our humanity
• develop deeper trust in ourselves, nature, and the Way of things

Learn more at: ramdass.org/dharma