Ep. 321 – Ram Dass and the Freedom to Be Human

19 snips

Apr 23, 2026

A reflective exploration of freedom, inspired by Ram Dass’s playful embrace of being. Discussions on nonattachment, letting go of preferences, and meeting pain with compassion. Stories linking Buddhist teachings to activism, nature, and resilience. Practical moments on supporting hearts under siege and bearing difficulty with dignity.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Meeting Ram Dass And His Glance Of Mercy

Jack Kornfield recounts first meeting and long friendship with Ram Dass, highlighting his storytelling and playful nonattachment.
Ram Dass taught liberation of the heart through his guru's "glance of mercy" and famously embodied "be here now" even while joking about counting audiences.

ANECDOTE

Ram Dass In A Wheelchair Saying I Love My Pain

Jack describes Ram Dass in a wheelchair after a major stroke who responded to pain by saying, I love my pain.
That response exemplified Ram Dass's radical acceptance and freedom from resisting unpleasant experience.

INSIGHT

Freedom Comes From Not Being Attached To Preferences

Nonattachment to preferences is central to freedom, echoed by Zen and Buddhist teachings Jack cites.
The Buddha warned that clinging to views causes suffering, so liberation begins by loosening fixed opinions.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

In this illuminating talk, Jack explores the heart of freedom through the lens of his friendship with Ram Dass, reflecting on how to cultivate a heart that can meet it all with loving awareness.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:

Ram Dass and the liberation of the heart
The Dharma teaching of letting go
Freedom from attachment to preferences
Compassion in difficult times
The wisdom of Buddhist teachings in modern life

“There was something so liberating about Ram Dass because he wasn't attached to who he was—he was playing with it.” –Jack Kornfield

This episode was first recorded on Feb 23, 2026 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Talk and Meditation

About Jack Kornfield:

Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.

Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

“The great way is not difficult for those who are not attached to their preferences.” –Jack Kornfield

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.