"Now, when I was with Maharaji in early ‘68 I asked him, “Maharaji, how can I know God?” and he said, “Feed people.” That was such a weird answer that I assumed the translator screwed up, so I figured I’d rephrase it, “Maharaji, how can I get enlightened?” and he said, “Serve people.”
Those of you that have enjoyed esoteric spiritual teachings, secret teachings… say you go to the mystic Orient, and you climb a secret mountain and walk into a cave and then a special mantra is whispered to you.. Is this what you are thinking will change your whole spiritual life? That’s what I was waiting for. What I got instead was this old guy in a blanket saying “Feed people” and “Serve people.” So I thought, “What does he know??” But the problem was, I knew he knew, and I just didn’t want to cop to it. So I did everything else instead until I came back around to what he’d told me." - Ram Dass
I do not wish to know god, as I am an atheist. But I do wish to know how to find enlightenment. I do wish to know how to do good in the world. I do wish to know how to be closer to my soul. And Ram Dass here has summed it up quite nicely. Feed people. Serve people. Whether you are spiritual, religious, or atheist, doing good in the world is just, well, good. It's good for you. It's good for others. It's good for everyone. I am not saying you have to dedicate your life to this, but you can certainly do it on the side. Help someone out. Hand out cash to people who need it. Give them coats or shoes or whatever else you can.
Just help people.
If that is your only way you practice human connection on this earth or is your only path to spirituality? Then you are doing right on this earth. Don't give to the point of hurting yourself or letting yourself get hurt, but do what actually can, while keeping yourself and your family safe.
Feed people. Serve people. Help people. Love people. And love yourself, too.
I am trying to do this in my own way on my new website (which will be available soon). We'll see how that turns out *wink*.
Here is Ram Das' full talk on this:
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