Ram Dass, Going Home

Exceptional! The world needs more of this. The film is a slow walk with a good friend.

First of all, my humble obeisances to Baba Ram Dass. He is among my spiritual teachers, and such an amazing soul.

This film introduces Ram Dass, and walks us through his day, gives us an intimate insight into his thoughts and meditations. You see him sitting in his chair, with his mala beads, chanting "I am loving awareness, I am loving awareness..." That is exactly who Ram Dass is, loving awareness, a servant of Ram, a teacher for everyone. In front of him is a large photograph of his Guru, Neem Baba Karoli or Maraji, the soul who inspired Ram Dass's first book, Be Here Now. Although Maraji has left the body, his presence is ever so...present... in the room and throughout the film.

After Ram Dass had his stroke, it forced him inside his soul, more than he already was. He said "I don't wish you the stroke, but I wish you the grace from the stroke." That grace is prevalent throughout this film. The cinematography is astounding, as is the teachings of Baba Ram Dass. His words, though slower now from the stroke, hit you just the same. A more beautiful film , for me, has yet to be seen. The sheer beauty is breath taking, it is one that I will watch over and over.

Ram Dass has been teaching people how to die consciously for decades and now that his time may be near, he is doing it with grace. "It's like taking off a tie shoe," he says.

Haribol, Hare Krishna, Ram Ram Ram....

There is a tendency for most non-fiction films to spend far too much time elucidating historical exposition regarding the legacy of a subject, working just to prove to audiences that such a figure deserves a film about them in the first place. But thankfully this elegant cinematic exploration of the spiritual icon Ram Dass does not oblige itself to such conventions. Instead the film is patient and lyrical as director Derek Peck gives us only what we need to know as we are seeing a man's world unfold before us, confidently allowing space for the deeper lessons to gently exhume themselves and offering us the privilege to truly be in the room with Ram Dass. Peck's intentions are clearly not concerned with chronicling the details of his eighty-five years in this life, and there is certainly no interest with forcing a conflict-driven paradigm to the story, which most documentaries wrestle with. Rather, Peck's intentions seem to be more focused on pure presence. We watch a fragile man express a profound grace in the midst of what could be a tragedy for the rest of us: as a survivor of a stroke, paralyzed on one side of his body, with a band of caregivers helping with his every move as he miraculously insists to go deeper into his own spiritual practice with a warm smile across his face. His sagacity is not only in his words, but in his way of life. Shot with delicate poignancy and edited with a visceral awareness of the senses, sounds and images flow like a benevolent memory, increasingly building a profound weight to all that seems ordinary, with a feeling of boundlessness bursting from all around. From tiny lizard creatures, to the simplicity of a meal, to an infinitely expanding ocean, we see through the eyes of Ram Dass and his world, sensing life where we may not have seen it before, blooming in places we would have otherwise taken for granted. This may very well be the last time we see Ram Dass on screen and this viewer is certainly grateful he has been captured not as a didactic figure to be idolized, but as a simple man with sincere compassion.

This is an experience of being here now and simultaneously sliding towards home. I literally felt the Grace of Truth and Love being transmitted. It is beautifully filmed, edited and so entertaining focused, that it feels you are visiting with Ram Dass. A healing remembrance of who and All we are on many dimensions. Needs to be seen by healing professionals. An amazing gift to the hospice community as well as all the unsung heroic caretakers of the world.

Look forward to revisiting this movie again.

Having known and being an Ayurvedic doctor to Ram Dass for may years, I love Him dearly. Director Derek Peck captured the essence and insight of the Spirit of Ram Dass, in such a gross yet subtle way. The film was an excellent example of a great Director who really knew how to zone on what is in the mind, heart and spirit of one of our Great Spiritual Teachers of the 21st Century. I love the part that Ram Dass explains His love for Hanuman and why His Guru, Neem Keroli Baba gave Him the sacred name, RAM DASS (The servant of the Hindu God RAM, from the epic story, The Ramayana). A great Powerful film, to raise the consciousness to a higher level, for everyone who experiences it !! Blessings to Director Derek Peck for bringing this into the Light. Love, Kanubhai dasa