The Brilliance of Ram Dass
And a beautiful meditation practice for you
For all our Paid Subscribers with my gratitude for your support, there is a 45 minute philosophy talk and meditation that explains my experience with Ram Dass and I lead a meditation at the end that will also teach you an at home practice in the Audio Members Section. Love Jac
One of my favorite teachers was Ram Dass. His sincerity, honesty, and humility deeply influenced how I approach both practice and teaching. I was incredibly fortunate to have a one-on-one mentoring session with him—a rare opportunity, as he only offered them sparingly. That hour was transformational, and I want to share some reflections from our conversation and a meditation he taught me.
When I met him, Ram Dass had been living with the effects of a stroke for two decades. For someone whose life’s work had been built around the clarity and resonance of his speech, losing much of that ability was profound. He asked for my patience as he spoke, and his words came slowly, with long pauses as his body worked to keep up with his mind. Those pauses created an unexpected spaciousness, and it completely recalibrated the way I listened. I couldn’t plan my response or think ahead; I had to be fully present.
It taught me the art of true communication—not just listening for the words, but feeling into the energy and intention behind them. Most of us think of communication as a back-and-forth exchange, but this was different. It was a vibrational meeting, a practice of presence that stripped away the need to perform or prove. Ram Dass had this gift of turning every moment into a lesson, even when he wasn’t trying.
One of the most impactful questions he asked me was, “What’s your sadhana?” Sadhana, your spiritual practice, is a term that can feel loaded, and I immediately launched into an explanation: my meditation routine, my yoga, my tea ceremonies. But he paused me and asked, “Can you see the difference between what you do and how you live?” He reminded me realize that sadhana isn’t about the things we tick off a spiritual to-do list; it’s how we bring ourselves to every moment.
True sadhana is in the way we handle the small, often uncomfortable moments—sending a difficult email, navigating a conflict, or responding to someone who cuts us off in traffic. It’s in how we show up when life challenges us in unexpected ways. The tiny, everyday interactions are what prepare us for the bigger moments. If we can meet those with presence and intention, we create a flow between ourselves and the world—a loop where we give and receive without resistance. That’s the essence of sadhana: integrating our practice into life itself.
Another powerful teaching he shared was the concept of “role vs. soul.” At the time, I was struggling to balance being a teacher, mother, partner, and friend. The transitions felt clunky—moving from preparing dinner to teaching a class to parenting my daughter—and I felt stretched thin. Ram Dass gently pointed out, “You’re too invested in your roles.” He explained that when we define ourselves by these roles, we create separation and resistance. But when we strip them away and approach life from the level of the soul, everything flows.
This shift has been transformative for me. Rather than switching hats and trying to "perform" each role, I focus on bringing the same authentic, grounded energy to every part of my day. It’s not always easy, but it’s liberating. The soul doesn’t need to prove itself or carry the weight of identity. It just moves with ease from moment to moment.
Service was another central theme of our conversation. For Ram Dass, service wasn’t about sacrifice or selflessness in the traditional sense. He believed service comes from dissolving the self—not erasing who we are, but softening the ego and meeting the world with genuine care. He shared the importance of small, seemingly insignificant acts of kindness, which often have the most profound ripple effects.
One story that stuck with me many years ago that I read about in I think the New Yorker, was about a librarian who noticed a homeless man drawing in the library every day. He explained he was there just keeping out of the bad weather and he would ask for a pen and paper. And in ballpoint pen he would draw these intricate drawings. She asked him if he was an artist and he explained he wasn’t, and she said let’s change that and decided to hold a small exhibition for him. It was simple: a few pieces of paper taped to a wall, with staff gathering to admire his work. That moment changed his life. He said, “For the first time, I felt like an artist.” The librarian didn’t have to do this—it wasn’t part of her job—but she chose to follow a small impulse of kindness. The impact of that gesture, given that 8 or so years later I am still sharing it, has inspired countless others, including me.
As we approach times like the holidays—when roles and expectations can feel particularly tight—these teachings feel especially relevant. Family dynamics, social roles, and societal pressures often clash with who we are or how we’ve grown. Ram Dass’s advice was to approach these moments with spaciousness and heart. Let go of the need to perform or prove, and simply meet the moment as it is. Not every situation requires a boundary or a hard line; sometimes, showing up with softness and without an agenda can be a powerful act of service.
He often reminded me that service isn’t about grand gestures or martyrdom. It’s about following those tiny cues—the impulse to reach out, to express love, to offer help. How many times have you thought, “I should do this,” only to let it slip away? Imagine if we followed through more often on those moments of loving awareness. Each small act of kindness contributes to a collective expansion.
Ram Dass once said, “If you think you’re enlightened, spend a week with your family.” It’s a reminder that growth happens not in isolation, but in the messy, real-world moments where we’re challenged to live our practice. So as we move through this season, I invite you to reflect on how you can bring presence, kindness, and love to the world—not by performing a role, but by simply being your soul.
EARLY BIRD RATE FOR THOSE KEEN TO JOIN OUR CERTIFIED 2025 GUIDED MEDITATION TEACHER TRAINING
Bonus time! If you enrol by December 7th in our Guided Meditation Teacher Training for Mind, Body & Soul, you’ll lock in the Early Bird Rate, saving $200, and gain exclusive access to a bonus hour-long recorded call with me. In this session, I’ll guide you in preparing for the 10 weeks ahead, helping you get clear on your intention, guide your meditation practice leading up to the Training in February and also give you ample reading and listening to pave the way to your research.
If you’ve been feeling called to guide others toward greater calm, clarity, and connection, now is the perfect time to prepare. Over 8 weeks of the Training, I’ll guide you through an online certification program designed to equip you with everything you need to confidently lead guided meditations that inspire relaxation, resilience, and personal growth. This training is perfect for teachers, coaches, therapists, and anyone passionate about creating positive change. Together, we’ll explore practical tools, creative techniques, and a holistic approach that spans the mind, body, and soul to help you feel confident and ready to make a real impact.
This is a wonderful opportunity to invest in your growth and join a supportive, like-minded community. With live calls, flexible scheduling, and a globally recognized certification, this program will help you step into leadership and serve in a way the world truly needs right now.