(Free WAV Download available here under '••• More'; and eventually, as part of a future solo album)

Happy Sunday my SC friends. I’m having a great time revisiting my favorite books and movies, trying to find inspirational material for these liner notes. The author I want to share today is one of my greatest influences in life (and one many of you know as well)… Ram Dass.

I’ll be sharing some of my favorite quotes of his momentarily. But before I do that, I would like to mention why he was so inspiring to me. 

What makes Ram Dass a unique esoteric/spiritual voice is that he actually started out as an Atheist. But he openly struggled with not knowing the answers to life’s most profound questions, and he was willing to pursue alternative ways of thinking, and update his beliefs based on his direct experiences. 

While he was still Dr. Richard Alpert, he began his explorations through the use of psychedelics while teaching at Harvard University. He joined Timothy Leary in these studies; but Harvard wasn’t thrilled with this potentially scandalous exploration, and fired them both. He then decided to take his spiritual explorations to India. This is where he had a perspective shifting, unexplainable first encounter with Neem Karoli Baba (who later became his guru, affectionately known as Maharaj-ji). He was given the name Ram Dass (servant of God) by his guru; and after spending several years at Neem Karoli Baba’s ashram, he became one of the leading voices of the 60s counter-culture movement. 

For me, his is a voice of love and humor and acceptance. And when I read his books and hear him speak, the feeling I get is ‘Hey, I don’t have it all figured out just yet. But I’m willing to put in the daily practice, and see if I’m a better person tomorrow. Do you want to join me on this adventure, fellow traveler?” And that is so refreshing when you just need the gentle, loving voice of a compassionate friend. 

Here are some of my favorite thought provoking quotes (many from his book, One Liners):
_______

“In most of our human relationships, we spend much of our time reassuring one another that our costumes of identity are on straight.”

“You can’t be free if in any fashion you’re holding the hand of fear.”

“It is important to expect nothing, to take every experience, including the negative ones, as merely steps on the path, and to proceed.”

“Treat everyone you meet like God in drag.”

“At the moment when there’s nothing more to lose, the Ego breaks open—and then we see who we are behind who we thought we were.”

“A feeling of aversion or attachment toward something is your clue that there’s work to be done.”

“To materialist eyes, India is a developing country; to spiritual eyes, the United States is a developing country.”

“If you think you’re enlightened go spend a week with your family.”

“Our journey is about being more deeply involved in life, and yet less attached to it.”

“Everything changes once we identify with being the witness to the story, instead of the actor in it.”

“We’re all just walking each other home.”
_______

Those are just a few of my favorite quotes. If you enjoyed those, you’ll love his books and recorded lectures (easily found on YouTube) as well. His voice has been a kind and gentle presence for me since my teens, and his passing back in 2019 was a sad day for me. But it’s like he said, “When someone we love dies, we get so busy mourning what died that we ignore what didn’t.” His ideas will live on in my heart for the rest of my life, and that is a priceless gift. I hope you enjoy ‘Upgrading My RAM So DASS Will Launch’. :)

WTF! The Musical

Upgrading My RAM So DASS Will Launch

“Mother of the Universe” is a devotional mantra in the Bhakti tradition – inspired by Indian saint Shri Siddhi Ma and the presence of the Divine Mother. A heartfelt chant in the spirit of my treacher Krishna Das, inviting stillness and love.“
Dheera Das

Mother of the Universe

Dheera Das’ journey began when he found everything he was seeking, yet the key to the heart was missing. Grace led him to chanting and to his teacher Krishna Das, where he felt at home. 
Rooted in devotion to Neem Karoli Baba, a great saint from India, Dheera Das blends original songs with traditional chants, carried by the soulful sound of harmonium and voice, inviting listeners into love, reflection, and self-discovery.

"The practice of chanting is a means to remember who we are—not a belief to follow, but an experience to embody through practice."

(Jan 9th, 2025) Just a quick message to let you know I'm not going to be active here for a while. If you need to reach me, you can always message me at GrevusAnjl@mac.com. 
__________________

Welcome to my sonic playground. I don't consider myself a skilled musician. I just sculpt sounds to quiet my mind... often with surprising and humorous results. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed your visit. :)

New tracks tagged #neemkarolibaba