The Advanced Course - Ram Dass Full Lecture 1993

We suffer when there is an imbalance between our inner truth and the way we live our lives. Responding to a comment by one of the participants at the 1993 "Wisdom Heart" retreat, Ram Dass gave this lecture about bringing greater awareness into each and every moment of our lives.
Photos: Lisa Law, Tom Asher, Rameshwar Das
Recorded at the Wisdom Heart retreat - Summer 1993.
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[@Robert_Gray]

ran out of Allan Watts, so now im on to Ram Das.

[@xsuploader]

Same lol

[@carterlemcke9036]

😆😭

[@MrAbhilash02]

We are fortunate to have many spiritual masters to guide us

[@xsuploader]

@@MrAbhilash02 I feel like we are just getting attached to the voices and the fun of listening rather than furthering the practice.

[@michelangequay2794]

@@xsuploader who is we, and when? we're responsible right now for what we're doing, there's no furthering over there, and now back there to criticize, no body on the other side of our eyes to evaluate, just the intention we're responding with right now. we're responsible, right now :)

[@denisewittman975]

I loved him. He changed my life when he said Death is like taking off a tight shoe.

[@bizinsky]

denise wittman he just blew my heart wide open and then said “have a good day.” Magic.

[@spyorgclubbord9520]

I had a near death experience some years ago and that's how it is

[@tommoylan7069]

Yes, wonderful. Although, technically, that was a disembodied friend who said it to him. I think his name was Emmanuel.

[@denisewittman975]

@Tom Moylan. You are right. Coincidentally I am reading Emmanuel again now while I have time

[@Robert_Gray]

that is really a soothing thought

[@Orghoroth]

Just hearing his voice gives me joy.

[@dorasteimer4656]

Just hearing his voice calms me down.

[@ginaderamo7110]

Ditto !

[@diannerichardson2613]

I love that this is called Advanced Corse. I love his playful mind. It helps me let go of my ego. I listen to these podcasts and wonder if he recognized the teenage who regarded him a crackpot and walked all the way through the Haybarn Theater at Goddard Collige, over 50 years ago

[@graxjpg]

His voice unearths the lords joy within me!

[@poutv7344]

Every time I feel anxious, just his voice makes me feel better after a while. I love this soul... 💖

[@sue-lf9ti]

Ram Dass talking about the magic of a grateful dead concert!! Wow..I was a 17 yr old girl from the UK, lost and lonely in this world and I got the opportunity to move to the USA and went to a grateful dead concert and literally left with a van full of hippies and for the next 6 years lived on the road, going from one grateful dead show to the next,criss crossing across America and doing hair wraps at shows to make cash to get to the next show, lifted up and along with the love and acceptance that I felt around these hippies straight outta the 60's!! It was a spiritual experience and I will never forget it, I'm forever thankful for that beauty and psychedelic adventure and how it changed me from the inside out xxx

[@B-rock251]

Must have been a truly beautiful experience for you to witness. Reminds of the song Share the Land by the Guess Who. Thank you for sharing

[@oscaryeager5030]

Good ol grateful dead!

[@lve6211]

WEIR EVERYWHERE!

[@lve6211]

check out ram dass's eulogy to Jerry.

[@3EBstudio]

Outstanding

[@beholden1663]

Wow how Prescient Ram Dass was. This is 1993 and he mentioned America’s fascination with Donald Trump and materialism and class differences. He also referenced that we are living in the Information Age

[@roxinante8345]

Ahead of his time.

[@duciduci.italianfood]

He is amazing

[@dianeward5405]

To make you feel safer in unsafe situations.Also, 'Nobody cares is a statement of compassion'... What does that mean? Ram Dass also says Is serial monogamy bad? (Rhetorical question.)

[@dianeward5405]

The myth "be fruitful and multiply" & the tasty phrase " equal opportunity for all"..hmmmmm.

[@out_grazing]

I know right! Every time he speaks I am just floored at his insight that applies ro today.

[@richardbelisle7626]

Some nights I just like to hear his voice as sleep comes

[@oneness6045]

Same here

[@ahmedelectobri1164]

Same here 💚

[@brittanthomas4180]

Same here... Every night

[@Samantha-rv4ss]

Me too 😊

[@dogsquadindia]

Him.and Eckhart

[@fluidstatic5564]

He left his body today. He'll be missed. 💚

[@tpstrat14]

Where did he go?

[@STATUStheSHOKWAVE]

@@tpstrat14 to the ones crying he probably said where would i go

[@djensoer]

He just dropped the old body .... One of many

[@stevenr6874]

"I am the dream and these are my Fathers hands".

[@kasunlee7489]

His voice is a pull towards the unknowing. My ego is the pull towards the knowing.

[@marie22tully10]

I just love this. So inspiring! Listening to this in 2022, his words about a world caught in fear are so obviously, sadly true.

[@emilywebb5322]

Though Ram Dass gave this lecture almost 30 years ago, it seems as he's talking to us about today's global situations. Things have only gotten worse - more fear, more separation - is this part of the consciousness evolution that we are going through as human beings? We need to awaken together in order to not self-destruct by forces allowed by our own fears and delusional actions.

[@ThomasCorfield]

Especially when he mentioned Trump!

[@Nobody-wt7ip]

It's all part of the process of awakening, after all if your bed is cozy and confortable and you're having this beautiful dream where you're happy and fulfilled, if the alarm clock doesn't ring why would you wake up? I see this moment in history as the alarm clock

[@travishibachi]

@@Nobody-wt7ip Great analogy. 2020 was the loudest ringing in awhile and it continues now.

[@traceyvaccarino]

Tearing down the dysfunctional to rebirth the new 💗💗💗

[@ashishkiift]

Guru Ram Dass is so intellectually gifted, blessed by the Maharaj-ji himself and the way he articulates his synthesis of the psychology and divinity of life is just second to none. I have grown so much listening to him.. THANK YOU 🙏🙏🙏

[@willd.8040]

I smile when I realize that I FINALLY "get it", and know that I am not separate from everything else. It's still a challenge to not go back to our old ways when we're surrounded by people who don't understand this, and behave in really terrible ways. I know so much more now after 8 years of being on this journey, but I find myself having to come back to lectures like this, to ground myself and remember that everyone is me, and I am everyone. I know that over time, I will get better and better at staying in this state of consciousness, and not go back to being asleep.

[@KatrissaBallet]

You’re always remembering, until you forget, until one day, you forget that you ever needed to remember it… ♥️

[@DivineWhispers-333]

I struggle with the same thing and probably will for the rest of my life but I hope the intensity of suffering becomes less and less as I become more “aware” in my daily practices

[@DivineWhispers-333]

@@KatrissaBalletwell said 👏

[@rachelhaumate1237]

Thank you Ram Dass for your Spiritual teaching's. Until a week ago, I knew nothing of this great teacher.

[@rachaelandreata]

Me too rach🙏⚘

[@tugzsurf]

I wish he was my neighbor so we could have morning talks about life everyday... so blessed these were all recorded or I would never have found his and many others wisdom. Thanks to all the gurus! 🙏🏻

[@VeganRevolution]

I hope your actual neighbour never reads this :0

[@willd.8040]

I was thinking about this, and then I realized that everyone is essentially him, but they just don't know it. That would have sounded crazy to me a few years ago, but it's really the truth. Few can reach the level of enlightenment that he had, but it's inside all of us. Still, I wish I had a Ram Dass to talk to.

[@mary-janegibson8691]

I soooooo wish he was my neighbour too!!

[@johndee3301]

Thank you for everything Baba! I'll see you again soon, in the next lifetime.

[@ti2218]

He's still here, he always has been and always will be. His body and ego is gone but HE is still here. As all of us are and always will be. We are all one.

[@seancameronkert]

Well, Ram Dass nailed it once again! Talking about voluntary simplicity and an evolution of consciousness, and this was almost twenty years ago! Namaste.

[@Dawn-fx1ql]

i wondered why ram dass was on my mind the last two days. namaste.. on to the next life, the next spiritual development. namaste

[@ellerenee4355]

Loved this talk! So many hilarious moments! “Nobody cares!” Haha! The advanced teaching! So deep and so wonderful. It’s rare to hear the Taoist concept of emptiness elaborated on with such awareness. 🙏

[@skrwdUNi]

this just changed my life.

[@Lilacleaf49065]

I love listening to his outlook and his experiences but most of all I love his laugh. A thing of great beauty that.

[@emilyloosli]

Jai jai jai, Baba Ram Dass--to me, you are just as alive as ever before.

[@sethflix]

"this is what we would teach if we had an advanced course... but we don't" Ran Dass after just teaching us everything from an advanced point of view and then playfully saying that we don't teach this.I love Ram Dass sooo much! Thanks for uploading this!

[@dexterj5615]

Thought i was being egotistical clicking on the "advanced" class, but after the first sentence realized i was here now

[@VideographerExperience]

[ 52:01 ] *Truth* rallies *Peace* rallies: "What do we want?!" *"Peace!"* "When do we want it?!" "Right *MF* now!!!" I love it, his humor was the best teacher.

[@willd.8040]

I feel that the more someone has suffered, the more likely they are to seek out the truth, and start walking the path that Ram Dass, and so many others have. I know it's the case with me. Since childhood, I was asking myself questions that no one had answers to. It led to a lot of depression and anxiety, and I reached a point where I realized I needed to SEEK the answers, wherever they were. People who haven't really suffered, I think tend to stay asleep in "their" reality, but suffering must be a huge catalyst for spiritual growth.

[@Paul_Palma]

"Suffering is Grace"! Ram Dass has said this.

[@voidmoon.]

Thank you so much Ram Dass.. May your light shines on earth through our hearts.. forever.. 🙏🏾💛

[@foreveryactionthereisacons1683]

This is on point for what's going on right now. 😭💫✊✌️🙏💫

[@riccardo830]

I like the bit he talks about "attachments"and Aversions-and about change.Reminds me that it's about impermanence -when you fight it that it does create suffering-So clear to see it all.

[@gardenradio4460]

29:00 - 29:28 is important.

[@willaylwardcoaching]

Timeless wisdom.

[@LtGlenn]

Thank you forever. Cutting through, seeing clearly, lifting up. Here we are.

[@macoeur1122]

For a minute there... 29:00 through 30:12 where he mentions both Donald Trump and the Mexican boarder ...I started wondering if this was really a 1993 lecture. .... Just a little "twilight zone moment" I guess...

[@JesusChrist-uc8ct]

X files theme plays louder and louder

[@innovativeyogis4145]

Me too... wondering if this really is from 1993. This Gem is for today's time. 🙏

[@catherinetarantini8549]

Yeah, its there. Far out! I've been listening to every one of his lectures for years. First time. He's mentioned Reagan, Nixon, etc, never Trump. Trump is way way after his stroke. KUDOS. Nice awareness 👏

[@macoeur1122]

@@catherinetarantini8549 I was thinking this video might possibly have been a number of talks...pieced together.... and whoever compiled them to make the video might have inadvertently slipped a more recent talk in. I don't know when his stroke was, but he hasn't been speaking this clearly since....So it must just be a random coincidence...(or premontion or...again..."woo woo".."twighlight zone" material :)

[@catherinetarantini8549]

Have you seen "Becoming Nobody" on Prime? Ram Dass talks put together in movie. Sums up his philosophy. Its extraordinary ✨

[@juneack5848]

Do you want to be right? Or do you want to be free?

[@faridehassani5230]

We need you in those days

[@adblrow1514]

It’s funny how if you go looking most of the time you find exactly what you’re looking for… that’s what this video is for me exactly what I’m looking for. Rare. Thank you baba ram dass

[@catherinebridges2541]

I was always trying to fix things and suffered so much. Chogam Trungpa and Shambhala the Sacred Path of the Warrior is my path since the 90’s and I am loving living as still a hippie in this biblical pandemic in peace and Love. Be Here Now and listening to you every night on u-tube has helped me face my fear an be involved in living with consciousness choosing to be here now with involvement and energy and you are my favorite playmate

[@lucasbarreira2957]

This man is a blessing to all of us

[@imdrifter534]

Anyone thinking this is a wild and insightful talk! So beautiful really

[@ScarlettFire341]

Godspeed Fellow Traveler Ram Dass ! ( an expression of good wishes to a person starting a journey)

[@windshipboyd6600]

Joy personified...

[@sojunsamurai7412]

Played back at 25:40... Ram Dass sheds an enlightened light towards some of Trungpa Rinpoche's wisdom 🙏📿

[@kaylesharp8209]

I’ve basically noticed overnight this book continuously will help you conversate whatever your trying to pinpoint because it’s not subjective and it can be pointed out

[@ThomasCorfield]

I like the bit where he talks

[@zenbuddah420]

He was a fan of Grateful Dead, excellent

[@catherinebridges2541]

I agree that Love is the best. I enjoy you so much Ram Dass . You dance me to the dance of love and humor and becoming a better human being

[@hanneoustrup1628]

So good being on the channel pf Ram Dass

[@neildmedia]

So ahead of his time. He mentions Trump at around 29- 31m and the Mexican border in relation to compassion.

[@tigerkite9520]

Its one of my favorite qoutes from Ram Dass, so well put and pertinent today!

[@traceyvaccarino]

Wise words. I never tire of your voice

[@riccello]

What’s it like to finally wake up, having awakened in the sleep? See you on the other side dude.

[@jitendrarajoriya8586]

Jai siya Ram 🙏 jai siya Ram 🙏 jai siya Ram 🙏 jai siya Ram 🙏 jai siya Ram 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@wonderousearth8225]

Thoroughly Joyfull Thank You Beloved Spirit Brother ❤ Ram Dass 6 hours straight listening A daily routine Continuing, can't wait for what's next, Now ❤ Sending Much Love, Light and Blessings to All On this Channel 🙏 . Ah Sa Hum Namaste 🙏 ❤

[@ks-b7427]

revisiting this one given the moment. so deeply resonant and FUNNY. i love u baba

[@mezlandia]

29:25 “…our collective denial; That allowed us to idealize and place on our alters, people like Donald Trump. …we knew that the permanent underclass was being created.” 🎤 🔥

[@mikerozander3676]

My heart is breaking Thx 4 share

[@jessef88]

Richard Alpert had very unique stream of consciousness and he was born with that energy already in him and all the books he read furthered his born genius. RIP

[@healthyhappyhealedpodcast]

I love you Ram Dass.. I love You Maharaji. Ram Ram .. LOVE & LIGHT to all beings ..

[@BabaRamDassChannel]

We at the channel salute you!

[@healthyhappyhealedpodcast]

@@BabaRamDassChannel RAM RAM🌺🌹💐🌸

[@JontheShinko]

Thank You very much for this!!!

[@kellyschultz7309]

Love love love love

[@dharmag6600]

Long time follower now, well if you count time that is! A wonderful Australian called Michael Domekyo Rowland introduced me to Ram Dass and his works back in 2008, it has helped me through the best and worst times of life, including the death of beloved family members. So much content so glad its being recorded for everyone to listen absorb and have some freedom 🙏

[@kayleemegan2759]

That Donald Trump reference though

[@andreasdautermann8517]

Amazing, right?

[@newstyle8121]

No bodys perfect...

[@mezlandia]

Heard it, paused the vid, and looked for the first comment 😨

[@mezlandia]

@@newstyle8121 Nobody.

[@kararibravo9652]

Trump shouldn’t exist.

[@lisatowner5407]

Haahaa he's the BEST 👌 👍 😍

[@Zanzenite]

29:05 - Odd hearing this in 2022 🤔

[@JankyJankProductions]

No kidding, bizarre

[@mmarkwardt96]

I just got a sign from God. The Grateful Dead is indeed my Favorite band and Ram Dass is indeed my favorite spiritual teacher. The universe had me listening to this video right here right now! *Much love*

[@gabestoczen5242]

Schizos be like

[@ScarlettFire341]

(~);} ditto

[@ti2218]

My friend, you ARE God. We are all God. Everything is "God". You could also replace the word God with the Universe. The Brahmin. Krishna. Consciousness. God is not a bearded dictator in the sky, it is everything. You are not your ego, not your body, not your mind, but those are parts of you. You can experience a separation from those via meditation, certain chemicals, even just a shifting of your own identity. Know thyself. Know your true self. Buddha just means one who has awoken to their true self. This isn't belief either. It is an experience and having that experience is the only way to truly know. You are connected with everything. Everything is connected. The only thing keeping you from that is your own resistance to the present moment. Resistance to yourself. Desire to change it, to improve your life or a craving for more. A feeling of things not being good enough. Of you not being good enough. Or that things ARE good, but they could be "better". Desire IS the root of all suffering, and desire comes from not being able to decide that the present moment is enough to enjoy. I've trimmed down a lot of these things for the sake of not writing an entire essay, so I don't expect anyone to believe any of this, but these are all Ram Dass' teachings, along with the teachings of almost all great minds throughout human history.

[@travishibachi]

@@ti2218 You just explained this reality perfectly well done 🙏

[@newstyle8121]

Ram Dass Rules...Keep Rockin!!!

[@tylercoyle7026]

29:24 this lecture aged well

[@lydiamulfinger6781]

He's so savage😭😂 "maybe you'll understand this in the next life", "you're not ready for the advanced course" 😂😂😂

[@PaulHessell]

thank you so much Baba Ram Dass ❤

[@clairelloydstephen7833]

Thank you always

[@wastepreserve]

i feel like wisdom is something that is accurate across generations and ram dass no doubt had at least a little of it

[@68Gkirby]

Thank you, Ram Dass. :-)

[@Fenderstratosphere98]

So many gold nuggets

[@covidfan6371]

Forget them. Only you Baba Ramdass.

[@JennieStrahan]

34:37-34:47. The truth of all truths.

[@adirdagal]

This guy was incredibly kind... Such beautiful eyes. From what I can tell from his face, his karma was almost perfect, he had the physiognomy of a leader. Still, his parents weren't ideal, that's what probably lead him to have a stroke. Life has a funny way of balancing the equation.

[@jeff4312]

I love Ram Dass and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but he got himself into a lot of trouble throughout his life. Like sex-filled LSD parties with Harvard students, inviting devotees to his quarters to see his "holy pictures", being seen standing in lines at gay movie theaters, making questionable associations and claims about certain people (Joya Santana) when he should've really known better, and so forth. Yet unlike the other myriad of disgraced gurus like Osho and Satyananda Saraswati or the ones who have questionable claims about them like Sai Baba, Paramahansa Yogananda, and Sadhguru; Ram Dass actually spoke up, addressed claims against him or outright confessed about his sinful activities, and accepted responsibility for his actions. He worked on a policy of honesty. He actively denied being an avatar, bodhisattva, or even a guru and always deflected credit back to Maharaji like a true devotee would. He was a humble man who would fall, get back up, and keep climbing towards his goal. This is what truly makes him so special. Now regarding his stroke... its unfair to place the blame on his parents. He healed his relationships with them and was with each of them for their deaths. His father even allowed him to host huge gatherings on family property and would always offer him money/resources. I can imagine the real karma of it was for his sexual appetite. Its hard to get things going on when you're stuck in a wheel chair.

[@adirdagal]

@@jeff4312 Your comment isn't bad at all! It's filled with honest recollections and quite beautiful to behold, considering how these acts of flesh and desire were as roots for the life of this man... Disgrace doesn't turn one's actions into falsehoods, it just brings forth the darkness that was graced by light. I spoke of his family karma from experience, and I still sustain that it occurred due to the imbalance in his father's ancestors. This is to say that health occurs when balance is restored, and it usually occurs through loss of the material... And, a you've proficiently pointed out, there much more to consider, but I'm certain that this was the central struggle behind the stroke. Anyway, divinity is the absolute and we all partake of it. Indeed the humbleness of the one who let's go of "grasping the light" is wondrous to behold. Letting go is a beautiful process, and I agree whole-heartedly that Ram Dass was truly a special guide who allowed the word to become flesh in himself. Or something like that hahaha :D

[@3EBstudio]

Everytime I listen to ram Dass I always find some useful Philo that is in line on my journey @26:00 today . Hope.

[@faridehassani5230]

Love Ram Dass

[@bw4025]

Bravo. Sense of humor (Chogyam Trungpa) in tension of duality, (tension no), way thru is thru suffering, balance between two, Christ way of the cross, between fundamentalism and mysticism, true/false self....separate/part of whole, caregiver/sufferer, Jew/Muslim, particular/universal....Good video with read of Chogyam Trungpa Spiritual Materialism....

[@mamahappyness6569]

love you Ram Dass x

[@covidfan6371]

Yes Baba Ramdass. After I released it so I can practice with ease.

[@carpo719]

37:48 is an excellent point we would all do well to admit

[@carpo719]

***** He has always been one of my favorite speakers. He had a stroke some years ago, and cannot speak well anymore. But his stories are great.

[@musicmavenpublishing2265]

Thank you Baba Ram Dass

[@adammada511]

27:25 Powerful stuff!

[@Mewithoutthemadness]

Thank you ram dass

[@chumbucketjones9761]

Every time he communicates with us the lesson is there.

[@NikList]

Wow this is so rich and dense! TY for uploading

[@CZSayre]

And also so free and light. 😉

[@donaldauld4467]

Ram Dass my high elder of super excellence!!!really, yes to Ram Dass all phases of the trip. For me since 1996-97 to current. I want to plant "what's with the formal spiritual beings on clairvoyant interception? I know mostly all are well. I pursue from here Hindu teachings but I ain't a spiritual being and I don't wanna think of metaphysics. Anyway I got a couple bogey dudes and comprises a collective of aspirants that tangent into categorical systematics. Ram Dass we gotta free all of it even belief oftentimes an adversary. Suzuki zen text similar to Vipassana meditation. I WANT the great many majority of beings livelihood , service , no imposition to coexist and survive as a civilization that understands. I love you Ram Dass. I love Neem Karoli Baba!

[@danobrien9925]

Ram Dass is phenomenal

[@nameless-face]

I love the "advanced class joke" there is no advanced class. If your ears and heart are both open there is only 1 class. Or just what is happening now. 😋

[@PJ-ns6um]

"For people associate by discourse, and a false and improper imposition of words strangely possesses the understanding; For words absolutely FORCE the understanding, and put ALL things into CONFUSION." -francis bacon (1561-1626)

[@daylight_indie8142]

What a beautiful me, Ram

[@_eddiecole]

Thanks unc!

[@covidfan6371]

You are great Baba Ramdass.

[@the_earthway]

I love u Richard!!! :-)

[@zacharydavis2368]

i wish we would have grown a better skin....guess its time to try and shed all this disconnection with reality and nature because without our connection with nature we do not survive and there is no way around that because no matter how hard anyone and everyone tries to fill that hole inside of you it will erode away until we are all empty shells.....relearn yourself for the soul reason of personal insight and to find personal respect.(and if you think respect comes from image rather than character and actions(not the way you walk but the way you take yourself and anything you do with pride and a sense of passion) good luck to all in the world!

[@brightlights23]

29:21 - just fell off my (proverbial) chair....

[@tiffhansen8787]

Travel well Ram Dass

[@treiber671988]

The ending.....keep going!!

[@NickClarkDrums]

Even Ram Dass was calling out Donald trump 29:27

[@chrislaro1396]

best thing about dass was his potent pauses oft'times before speaking and that he never took himself seriously but for his compassionate duty to the suffering. He himself as a man, he understood how meaningless he was - what the fk happened to that in this fkd culture t'day when WE all highly value ourselves to the point of vomitus! Peace & aho ram dass. Love ya for who you were and what you became in the afterworld realm.

[@paid1717]

For who you ARE***. 🕉