Friday, October 31, 2014


Interview with Barbara Ford-Hammond 
for the Body, Mind, Spirit blog



Please introduce yourself:

My name is Ram Das Batchelder; I’ve been on the planet 52 spins around the sun and I’m hot on the trail of Enlightenment. American by birth, I had a spiritual awakening when I was in college, fuelled by several things: intense theatre studies, psychotherapy, and marijuana. I went from cynical atheist to deluded prophet within a year! I had no knowledge of the spiritual path at all, I didn’t even know there was one, but suddenly, there was no doubt about it, God was talking to me. This awakening culminated with meeting an angel, whose name was Serenity, and then a trip to a mental hospital in a police car, siren wailing! I quickly talked my way out the door, and the next day met an old friend, who told me, before I’d said a word, that he’d just had a vision of an angel. I was having so many divine experiences in those days that I thought I might be the Messiah! It’s a very funny story, actually, how I finally overcame that delusion and discovered the genuine spiritual path. I also had a powerful experience with Jesus in those early days – he came into my body one night, filling me with bliss and permanently blowing away my scepticism. But what’s funny is that when Jesus left my body that night, I suddenly understood that reincarnation is true. That was his gift for me. Eventually, I started meditating, and with the help of a good therapist, I quit smoking cigarettes and marijuana, dropped my delusions, discovered “A Course in Miracles” and found a girlfriend who wanted to try tantric sex. All that was very healing for me, especially the sex. About a year later I met Amma, the hugging Saint, and I’ve spent most of the last 25 years in India. The first twelve years I was a desperately horny monk, and for the last twelve years I’ve been happily married to a beautiful Venezuelan woman. In addition to “Rising in Love” I’ve written four children’s books for Amma’s ashram, and they’ve all been translated into four European languages and are selling well on Amma’s tours. I also wrote a novel in rhyming verse, “Sathyaram Discovers the Mother of All,” and handed out 5000 copies of it to the devotees in India. My meditation has progressed steadily, and during the last couple of years I’ve been having frequent samadhi experiences; these have been accompanied by a growing sense of peace. But I don’t call it Enlightenment yet; if you congratulate my wife on how spiritual I am, you may get a sceptical look: “You think so? Try living with him.”
That’s the short version of my story; for the long, juicy and very funny version, I’d recommend reading “Rising in Love.”

Where do you get the inspiration to write?

All my books have actually come when I’m saturated with meditation. When my inner battery is fully charged, some kind of inspiration for a writing project will often come, and a kind of subtle inner command appears from my Guru: “Try it,” or “Write that book!” So the inspiration comes straight from my Guru, and that being the case I can’t really claim credit for the writing either. I’m not someone who sits down to write every day; I wait until I get the prodding from God to get down to it. The words usually flow quite easily at that point.

Was the process of writing as you expected? If you have written more than one book does the process change?

The four children’s books and the novel I did were all in rhyming, rhythmic verse, so that’s a very slow and deliberate process. You have to choose your words very carefully to create not only a perfect rhyme but exactly the meaning you want to convey in each couplet, so the rhymes don’t sound contrived. And of course, there were some constraints in writing for kids, and for an audience of ashramites, a kind of censoring which naturally occurs. I was okay with that, but I must say it was a great relief to write “Rising in Love,” which is being published not by the ashram but by O Books, and is written in rocking PROSE, so I could open the floodgates and let my mind flow onto paper without any need to censor myself. I totally enjoyed the writing process, and I think readers will have a blast, too.

Where do you write?

For the most part, “Rising in Love” was written at a small desk in our 10th floor flat in Amma’s ashram, overlooking a river which stretches out for miles to the north, with a slice of ocean visible to the west, and an endless forest of coconut palms in between them. The ashram is located on a narrow peninsula between the “Backwaters,” as the river is called, and the Arabian Sea. It was from the balcony outside our room that I looked down, on Dec, 26th 2004, to discover that the Asian Tsunami had completely flooded the ashram. More than 60 people were killed on the peninsula, but no one in the ashram was hurt. It was amazing to see the incredible compassion with which Amma responded to the tragedy.

Have you advice for someone who wants to write a book?

This may not work for everybody, of course, but my best advice is, first: get down with God and ask God what S/He wants to say through you. Step 2: ask the God within you, that is, yourself, what you really want to say to the world. When those two align, you’ll naturally be inspired, empowered and guided to write, for the service of all beings. Write to awaken and to help others awaken. Be a beacon of light to humanity. Life is too short for anything else. Then the whole universe will be singing through your fingers.

What type of books do you like to read?

One of my favourite books is “Miracle of Love: Stories about Neem Karoli Baba,” by the famous American teacher, Ram Dass. (Same name as mine but spelled differently.) If you read this book, Neem Karoli Baba will somehow make his presence known to you; he will literally tap you on the shoulder, and that’s pretty amazing considering he left the body in 1973. He’s one of the immortal Masters, and an incredibly fun fellow to get to know. (Ram Dass played a small role in my own story. When he came to see Amma for the first time, in Boston in 1988, and was lying on Amma’s lap receiving her blessings, it suddenly dawned on me -- Amma and Neem Karoli Baba are one! This realization rapidly snowballed into the discovery that night that Amma was a full Divine Incarnation – and that she was my Guru.)
Back to the books, I also love the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Robert Adams, Anandamayi Ma and many others. It’s a little embarrassing to admit it, but I do most of my scriptural reading these days on (gasp!) Facebook. I know, how terribly unspiritual! But paper is just so passĂ©, is it not? Besides, I like Flirtbook, er, Facebook.

And your favourite book of all time?


“Fifty Shades of Grey” – hahaha! Just kidding!  I guess I would have to say the Ashtavakra Gita, an amazing Advaita scripture. “Let the waves of the Universe rise and fall as they will. You have nothing to gain or lose. You are the ocean.” 


3 things people might not know about you:

Three weeks ago, I gave up sugar, wheat, corn, cheese, dancing naked on the laundry roof, and peanuts. Due to a popular outcry, I’ve taken dancing naked off the list, but limited my hours from 2:00-4:00 a.m., in an effort to keep the elderly ladies who frequent the roof at other hours from proposing. So far I’m doing great with my diet; my hands only shake when I walk near a bakery.

My wife and I lead tours to the sacred cities of India, and I give classes to our tour groups in both English and poorly pronounced Spanish. Our English website is currently under construction, but our Spanish site is http://nirvana-merida.com. You can also contact me by email at ramdasbatch@gmail.com or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ramdasbatch and https://www.facebook.com/risinginlovetours.

I recently edited “Spiritual Experiments,” the autobiography of Matias Flury, and it has just been accepted for publication by O Books! Hurray!


What is happening next in your writing career?


My guess is that I will soon attain full Enlightenment and remain in a perpetual state of levitation. Since my computer will be unlikely to levitate with me, I will then be above this petty writing game. My disciples, however, will write many books about me, and I will effortlessly make millions of dollars by awakening everyone’s Kundalini, whatever that is, and selling videos. Since I will then be completely free from all attachments, I will give every penny to charity, the only exception, of course, being my 88 Rolls Royces. Those are MINE.

All joking aside, all royalties from “Rising in Love” will be donated to Amma’s orphanage in Kerala, India.


Anything you’d like to mention – if you host events, talks or similar.


I wrote and taught a university course about Hinduism in Venezuela a few years back, and I am now available to give talks in English and Spanish about numerous aspects of Hindu Philosophy, each class accompanied by an elaborate Powerpoint Show. I’m also happy to give a workshop entitled “Becoming an Empty Flute: the Art of Writing Spiritually-in-tune Children’s Books.” And yes, at the drop of a hat I give racy readings from “Rising in Love.” Did I mention I used to act in American soap operas? I love to perform my writing.

To order Rising in Love, and for more information about Amma and her charities, 
see http://www.rising-inlove.org.



Pure Compassion: an interview  with Rev. Myron Jones                                        



PURE COMPASSION
An interview with Ram Das Batchelder,
author ofRising in Love: My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now,
with Amma, the Hugging Saint”

By Rev. Myron Jones (author of “Healing Family Relationships” and “Hey, Holy Spirit, It's Me Again”)


Rev. Myron Jones:  So, tell us a little bit about your new book, “Rising in Love.” I love the subtitle: “My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now, with Amma, the Hugging Saint.” What does it mean, “My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now”?

Ram Das Batchelder:  Well, that’s my way of stating the spiritual goal, to be completely centered in the here and now, and abiding in the Supreme Peace that’s always present. And of course, my story is a wild and crazy ride. No way around that!

RMJ: I gather you’ve spent many years with Amma. How long, exactly?

RDB: I met Amma in 1987, on her first US Tour, and have spent something like 18 years in her ashram in India. So I’ve had a lot of hugs!

RMJ: I guess so! That’s her way of giving a blessing, isn’t it? I’ve read that she’s given something like 30 million hugs in all.

RDB: Yes, and in the old days at the ashram, the people living there could get eight hugs every week! That was like living in a heaven realm. I guess it goes without saying that her hugs are not ordinary hugs; they’re direct contact with the Divine. And after all these years, even though now it’s more like four or five hugs a year, due to the large crowds, I’m still totally amazed by Amma. I feel like she’s hugging me all the time now. In my eyes, she’s one of the greatest divine incarnations every to walk the Earth.

RMJ: So, you believe she’s a divine incarnation?

RDB: Well, yes, that’s definitely my own experience of what she is. But each person is free to have their own ideas about her. Some think she’s just a humanitarian, and that’s fine with Amma. Everyone’s free to come and have a hug, think whatever they like, and create their own relationship with Amma.

RMJ: Have you met other Gurus, or is Amma the only one?

RDB: Yes, I’ve met many other Gurus; I guess you could say it was part of my spiritual education. At one point, I actually left Amma’s organization, and spent seven years visiting other saints in India, and in the West also. I’ve seen many miracles, and I’ve had several satori experiences…

RMJ: Satori?

RDB: It’s a Zen term for temporary Enlightenment experiences. You get zapped with so much bliss and peace, and your mind dissolves… You feel like you’re totally Enlightened, but eventually satori experiences fade, leaving you wiser, hopefully, but still seeking. They’re kind of like sign posts on the way to Enlightenment.

RMJ: So, after some years with Amma, you left her organization, and after seven years of seeing other Gurus you came back to Amma’s organization?

RDB: Yes, with a fiancé, and Amma married us. My wife and I have been living as a couple at her ashram for the last 13 years.

RMJ: And… what do you do in the ashram? Can you describe a typical day?

RDB: One thing I love about Amma’s ashram is that even though there is a recommended schedule, people are free to make their own. My wife and I feel completely free there to do our own thing. I’ve been writing books for Amma’s organization, four children’s books and a novel in rhyming verse prior to this new book, my autobiography. So I spend a lot of hours at the computer, writing or editing art on Photoshop, or designing books. And I also do a lot of meditation, and spend some time helping out in the dining hall each day, as a contribution to the community. When Amma’s there, I try to spend as much time as I can in her presence. She’s like a giant sun of Love, radiating bliss and peace in all directions. I’m convinced that she knows every thought in my mind all the time.

RMJ: Really?

RDB: Well, that’s been my experience for more than two decades, but everyone is free to have their own experience with Amma. I long ago accepted Amma’s omniscience as just a fact of nature, but it’s also clear that she wears a disguise much of the time, hiding her omniscience, you could say, to allow people from all walks of life to come closer to her. More important than something like omniscience, what Amma embodies is pure compassion. She’s constantly expressing unconditional love for all beings, love in action. That’s something anyone can discover. Her programs are free.

RMJ: So how did an American kid end up leading such a life? Were your parents into Gurus?

RDB: No, not at all. They did went to an Ivy League divinity school for their Masters degrees, so that’s a pretty lucky set of parents to get, I guess. But American religious education in the 1950s had more of a focus on the intellect than on developing a direct spiritual connection, and they graduated with probably less faith than when they entered the seminary. In my childhood they were more interested in social action and politics than finding a direct relationship with God. I guess they just didn’t know it was possible.

RMJ: Were you spiritually inclined as a child?

RDB: Well, not really. I mean, as a young boy, I remember feeling not so much faith, but total certainty that God was everywhere; it was somehow as obvious as air when I was very young. But by my early teens I picked up my parents’ science-based agnosticism, and finally decided that God was nothing but bunk. It wasn’t until my third year of college, when a combination of psychotherapy, intense emotional work in theater classes, and experimentation with marijuana opened me up to directly experience the existence of God.

RMJ: You had some kind of awakening?

RDB: Yes, a huge awakening. I went from cynical atheist to deluded prophet in about a year! I was hearing God’s voice… I even met an angel.

RMJ: You met an angel?

RDB: Yes, angels really do exist. Her name was Serenity.

RMJ: Drugs were involved in that?

RDB: Yes, but nothing more potent than a joint. A couple of days after that incident, I connected with an old friend of mine from high school, and before I’d said anything, he told me that he had just had a vision of an angel. You could call it divine synchronicity. It was potent confirmation that it hadn’t been just my imagination.

RMJ: So, you started by meeting an angel. That’s quite a beginning. I’m curious how you ended up with a Hindu Guru.

RDB: Well, it’s a long and very wild story. But one night, when I was alone in a park near my parents’ house, I had a powerful experience. At that point I didn’t even really believe in God, and thought the whole Jesus thing was a lie. But that night, out of nowhere, Jesus Christ came into my body, filling me with exquisite energy and incredible bliss. It totally blew my mind! And what’s interesting about it is that when he left, after about ten minutes, I suddenly knew that reincarnation was true. That knowledge was his gift for me. And it was the beginning of a whole new way of seeing the world. I felt as if he was subtly pointing me towards the Masters of Hinduism.

RMJ: That’s fascinating.

RDB: But it took me a long time to get centered on the path. I was quite confused for several years, in fact, for a while, I thought I was the Messiah! It’s a very funny story, really, how I finally overcame that delusion. I just didn’t know anything about the spiritual path at all, and the experiences I was having were so totally divine, and so incredibly beyond anything I’d ever heard of before, that the Messiah idea seemed like the only explanation. My confusion was, well, I guess you could say it was part and parcel of awakening to God in the midst of a spiritually ignorant culture. That’s one excuse, anyway! I was also smoking heaps of marijuana in those days. It wasn’t until I gave up drugs completely that I really got my sanity back and discovered the true spiritual path.

Rev. Myron Jones: So, do you now consider yourself a Hindu?

Ram Das Batchelder: No, I really wouldn’t say that; I never like to limit myself in that way. Hinduism is amazing, in that it is so broad that it can accommodate just about any approach or concept. And there are some very potent truths revealed in the Hindu scriptures that seem to be not yet understood in the West. But as I see it, the various religions are really just fingers pointing at the moon. The point is to reach the moon, not obsess about one of the fingers. If I had to define myself, the only true thing I could say is that I am the Atman, the Divine Self, which is timeless, limitless, pure Awareness. I experience that every day in meditation. But that doesn’t make me special in any way; the Atman is the true Self of all beings. It’s beyond any categories. And it’s always here, now, awaiting our discovery.

*

Rising in Love is available as a paperback in bookstores
and as paperback and ebook on Amazon
and other major online stores.
978-1-78279-687-9 (Paperback) 
978-1-78279-686-2 (eBook)

For reviews, info and links to Amazon see: www.rising-inlove.org