You Are The Guru

12’’x12’’ Archival Paper Print

Dr. Richard Alpert, a late Harvard professor, took an excursion to India in the 1960's to answer his questions about the phenomena of psychedelic's, and his spiritual awakening that resulted from their use. During this trip he encountered an Enlighted being said to be the incarnation of a Hindu deity called Hanuman. This guru was Neem Karoli Baba. In this encounter Baba awakened Alpert to a glimpse of his true self, and set him on a path to later become the spiritual teacher known as Ram Dass. Ram Dass's teachings stem from this lineage of Bhakti Yoga and devotion to this Guru and Hanuman. His teachings of selfless service, spiritual practice, devotion, and love have now spread around the world.

I first came across Ram Dass's teachings by finding my self at the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram in New Mexico by accident while doing farm work trade almost six years ago. I had never head of any of the teachings at the time, and acquired the book Be Here Now while staying at the ashram. It was a life changing experience for me, and Ram Dass lectures and singing mantra have since become a huge part of my life and healing journey.

After that trip, I had one of the most intense dreams of my life. I entered a tree portal that took me into a fractalizing vision, that then spit me out onto a beach. A book was on a stone pedestal that read, You Are The Guru, with the deity hanuman above me floating in the sky. And thus, the idea of this painting was born.

I hope to have captured the spirit of service, compassion, and presence that these beings have given me through this painting, and that the highest truth and light resides within our own hearts.