Dear Community,
Many of you may know that I have been a longtime student of Ram Dass, the beloved spiritual teacher whose love, wisdom and humor have inspired and transformed the lives of millions, from the publication of his seminal book Be Here Now in the early 1970's to his exemplary teachings on conscious aging and dying.
Ram Dass left his body in December of 2019, yet I feel his presence in my life even more deeply now. I have recently been made an ambassador of theRam Dass Fellowship, a global network of communities that share the mission of disseminating Ram Dass' teachings.
I am pleased to announce the creation of Ram Dass Fellowship Ithaca, our new local chapter of this worldwide community. I have created a Facebook group that you are invited to join, as well as an email list to keep you informed of upcoming gatherings and online resources.
This Fellowship is a forum for discussion of topics related to Ram Dass’ life, work and teachings, and serves to promote online and in-personsatsangs(meetings for spiritual study).
Obviously, during this time of social distancing, we will begin meeting online via zoom, facebook, and other social media tools, until it is safe for us to gather together in person. Here's my vision:
We will share Ram Dass’s teachings through video and audio archives, as well as study writings from his many books. The format of our gatherings may also include chanting, meditation, traditional prayers and sharing ofprasad (blessed food offerings) honoring the lineage of Neem Karoli Baba, the great Indian saint and guru to whom Ram Dass credits his personal awakening.
Our meeting format, timing, and content will evolve to meet the needs of participants as our community grows. Everyone’s input is welcome!
And, you do not need to be living in the Ithaca area to participate, since we can connect online. I look forward to creating a wide circle!
The ultimate purpose of this group is to build community, to support one another in bringing Ram Dass’ teachings into our everyday lives--through personal practice and service to others--and to keep his legacy alive for ourselves and for the next generation.
If you would like to be on the mailing list, please sign up here. I look forward to staying connected and growing this Fellowship together!
In Loving Awareness,
Jyoti