As a rebellious, news obsessed 8th grade kid “grounded” to my room by my devout catholic parents because the nuns reported my “wise guy” actions at school, I had a classically described out of body experience so profound that I never spoke of it for 2 decades. To speak of it would be in my mind to forever diminish its spiritual import. I knew then the sacred oneness of all things. I was in the holiest understanding. I was 12 yrs old and began using drugs in pursuit of that spiritual recall. By the time LSD was outlawed in 67, I had shared many dozens of high dosage trips including bringing lots of friends into the fold. I read about the work at Harvard and was turned away from Millbrook when I tried to visit in 68 because I was a kid, now over 100 trips in, I felt I belonged. They wanted me out of there, right now. I understood their position.
I knew Richard grew, Ram Dass had evolved. I followed, I listened, I read.
It was late 70s when I got the postcard explaining why and how Ram Dass was selling his MG as the speeding ticket was undeserved because the car was moving in it’s proper momentum. He explained to the cop that it was tuned in to the rhythm of the cosmos. Cop was unmoved.
It was 1986, a huge force struck me in my 47th St apartment beckoning me to drive to Virginia. I thought my rented house in Lynchburg VA was calling, I left NYC and drove 8 hours knowing I had important business but not knowing exactly what it was. I had to go.
10 miles before I would arrive at my house I stopped for gas. As I gassed my car, a long time enlightened friend pulled up to the next pump. Charlie said, ” hey Tom are you on your way to UVA to see Ram Dass at University Hall too.” What? “Yeah in two hours, and I have an extra ticket.” That moment of knee buckling awareness cannot be overstated. Stunned with the crushing electric joy of now knowing why I was here, I parked my car behind the station and got in his car.
I’m sure many readers of this missive were there that evening.(and may correct my timing) In the arena, with Ram Dass at center stage, he spoke, he taught, he inspired, he laughed, he set us into groups around the circular space and he led us in the most profound, amazing series of successive chants that I am still convinced, lifted the building off its moorings. He carried us into a space above this plane and held us there. The collective energy moved the very universe and we rose.
To end the night he stayed, he invited anyone who wished, to come to the stage for a hug. Very many did. I lingered till there was but a few left to hug because I had to tell him how and why I had come. His brilliant blue eyes sparkled indescribably as I hugged him with abandon and looked deeply into his glistening smile and told of my journey. Without a moment’s pause his smile brightened, his love glowed even more and he said, “I know.”