Raghu Markus, Sharon Salzberg, and RamDev talk more about the gifts of Ram Dass’ legacy, plus Sharon leads a Metta meditation and answers questions related to that practice.
Get more wisdom from Sharon Salzberg and RamDev on the Be Here Now Network
More Gifts of Ram Dass’ Legacy
This episode is a continuation of Mindrolling Ep. 421. Raghu welcomes Sharon to the fun, and asks her to get real about the gifts of Ram Dass’ legacy, such as his honesty. Sharon and RamDev talk about how Ram Dass was a pioneer and an inspiration when it came to service and social action. Raghu brings up the importance of Satsang in these turbulent times.
“I remember going into prisons with [Ram Dass], and working with dying people, and it wasn’t really about helping people, it was about awakening. It was actually service as a path to awakening.” – RamDev
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Offering Blessings (19:00)
Raghu, Sharon, and RamDev share more stories of their time with Ram Dass, including from the famed 1974 Naropa sessions. Sharon leads a Metta meditation, a practice where we’re offering blessings to ourselves and to others. RamDev and Sharon offer a crash course on Ram Dass’ concept of the Witness.
“And if you find your attention wandering, and this is the key, don’t worry about it. Realize you’ve been gone, see if you can let go gently, and simply come back to the phrases. Nothing’s been ruined, nothing’s been lost, we just need to begin again.” – Sharon Salzberg
All About Metta (37:45)
Sharon responds to a series of questions from the live audience all about Metta, also known as Lovingkindness practice. She talks about how there are many different creative elements that can be added to Metta practice, not getting too caught up in the phrases said during the practice, and why she doesn’t focus on ‘radiating Metta’ in her teachings.
“The radiation feeling, the emotion, it comes and goes. And I have just put in so many hours doing this practice, feeling nothing, thinking nothing was happening, only for me to look back later and say, ‘Look at that, something was happening.’ And I couldn’t have told myself that at the time, I wouldn’t have believed it.” – Sharon Salzberg
JoAnna Hardy explores cultivating love through Metta practice on BHNN Guest Podcast Ep. 50
