Conference hydra::dejavu

    I spent last winter away from home, was obliged to raid someone elses'
    library for something to read and they had a few Ram Dass books.
    
    Generally I was very impressed. The style of expression could get in
    peoples' way (particularly if they're not ageing hippies like me!) but
    the guy is very honest, very gentle and has a lot to offer (me).
    
    I'd recommend his books. They're easy to read, positive in mood, and
    tackles the big questions with a lot of loving insight.
    
    Brian (who loves it the way it is!)
    

    
    	For the question, Who is he?
    
    	Ram Dass aka Richard Albert, was a Harvard Professor of Psycology.
       in the early/mid 60's he hooked up with fellow Harvard professor
       Timothy Leary. Richard became Tim's right hand man and after Harvard
       threw them both out for their LSD experiments, they formed the
       "League for Spiritual Discovery". This League of Acid heads lived
       in a commune in upperstate New York in a place called Millbrook.
       Millbrook, (the house), was a big rambling white mansion on a huge
       estate owned by the Hitchcock family,(of Alfred Hitchcock fame).
       The Mansion had a huge face of Buda painted across the front of it
       and had bowling alleys and animals like Monkeys and such running
       around. There was a meeting here between Ken Kesey,(California's
       answer to Tim Leary), and his band of Merry Pranksters, and Tim
       Leary's people. This meeting is talked about in the book "The
       Electric Coolaid Acid Test". After a couple of years of expanding
       their colective concience and finaly being raided by I believe
       G. Gorden Liddy (sp?),(of watergate fame), who was at the time
       New Yorks Attorney General, The League broke up. After this Richard
       I think went to India to find himself and instead found a Guru whose
       name I can't remember. This journey of his prompted him to write
       one of his famous books titled "Be Here Now". Some time after this
       he became a self professed Guru and took the name Ram Dass.
    
    	I know most of the above because my sister lived in Millbrook with
      Richard and Tim and liked them both very much. When I was about
      eleven years old or so my sister tried to have me come and stay there
      during the summer. My parents wouldn't let me go and I couldn't 
      understand why at the time. All I knew was that there was a Bowling
      Alley there and Monkey's and the House had a big face painted on it.
      I didn't speak to my parents for week's.
    
    	I never read this conferance and this is a strange note for me
      to be replying to right now. My sister tried to reach Ram Dass 
      about three weeks ago to speak with him one last time. Unfortunatly
      he was away at the time. My sister died last week after a short but
      bad illness. She liked Richard very much and would have liked to talk
      to him again.
    
    	I know other people who lived with him and keep in touch with him
      and if I can ask them any questions about him for you I will.
    
    	Mike
    
      

    
    Re.2
    
    Mike,
    
    That is so sad to hear about your sister.  You have my sympathies.
    
    Thank you for your offer.
    
    Cindy

    Re: .2

    Mike,

    I'm so sorry about your sister.

    Deepest sympathies,

    Linda

    RA/RD's guru is Neem Karoli Baba.
    
    Ram Dass is a wonderful door.  
    
    karl

	.2 Mike
	
	Wow, cool note. Strange coincidence.
	Sorry about your sister.
	You've summarized a good portion of the book _Flashbacks_, the
	autobiography of Timothy Leary. The raid on Millbrook by Liddy
	was only the begining of Leary's troubles and the turning point
	in Richard Alpert's life.
	
	My question is, was it Harvard that changed Richard Alpert?
	
	Jay

    By less dramatic coincidence, last week my SO pulled out my ancient 
    Ram Das record "Love, Serve, Remember."  I hadn't listened to it in 20
    years, but its still great.   Great stuff on his claimed experience of
    higher consciousness as a unity of all conciousness (yoga) and how to
    get there.
    
    Carter