Hey Ben, this reminded me of a Spalding Gray monologue and I saw most of them live. Why not do that Ben Sinclair style with some amazing video projections on a stage? "But after any type of rejection, it was as though a leak opened in the tub basin." Nugget? I think this is brilliant. I have a cousin who is the best video designer in the city, Alex Koch, and I have been known to direct things well. But this is not a pitch for that, just a suggestion. This post is dope/fire/lit/blahblahblah! You're onto something methinks. And this is about your trip / not theirs. But maybe ours.
Appreciating the Ram Dass disco, and it's bringing back memories of my own self-righteous enlightenment of the past (which is completely different from my self-righteous enlightenment of the present).
Warning though; Josh be the cold water that springs forth and distorts the heat of the desert that broke the brain, but that dude "Koch, Alex Basco" is legitimately unhinged. More like a sand-witch perched in the dry dunes offering only salty platitudes.
Loving this space, Ben. Thank you for all the good words you're putting down.
High Maintenance was an iconic show and it's ridiculous that you couldn't get any interest in anything after that. You are very apologetic, but I think sometimes part of moving on is acknowledging you got fucked without contorting yourself excessively.
Ben, I think this essay IS the show. Also fuck Hollywood. It's really bullshit. Don't look for worth there. And speaking of Hollywood, the Epstein files ARE outrageous and the beginning of the end of patriarchy. That also is part of the show. Your old friend, Sera
Hi old friend! Yes, fuck em. Glad you are catching my drift. Taking these ideas away from trying to play the game and connecting via these essays are indeed the show… much love!
Hey Ben fwiw, I’d be first in line to watch a full length documentary on how you arrived at these insights in Maui. Maybe it’s not a bankable treatment, but the path is winding and kudos to you for letting us in on your journey. All these thoughts are more relatable than you probably realize. Thanks again for sharing them with us. 🙏
Thanks Ben for this piece and for the video. I vibe with the artistic/spiritual struggle.
I am not sure if your Ram Dass concept would be considered a bio-pic or a bio-series but for me the whole concept of bio-pic is fraught, especially within the subject’s living memory. Maybe there are a few notable exceptions but most are god-awful because perhaps the concept, however well flushed out or engineered, often radiates from something like “let’s represent or celebrate or exploit or deify this persons life” (not that I assume that you did not have a solid concept). I think it can also be disastrous when drama is bound by attempting to accurately depict reality. Even bio-pics I have seen that have gotten critical acclaim seem to me to be more like technical achievements.
Maybe this video and Substack piece are your Ram Dass project. They contain some of the elements that make for compelling drama, radical honesty and confession. Thank you.
Thanks for this note. I am very much feeling the same. I thank my lucky stars I didn’t spend all those years trying to make something that was god-awful. I don’t think I could been able to do it without pissing off a bunch of people, trying to average it all out for the executives and the audience. Yikes
I’m curious to know what it is about the Ram Das story that keeps bringing you back to it? And what service you want that story to perform in the world? Spiritual journeys and communities are often full of characters that are tender and hilarious and true and weird and universal all at once. The stories told in High Maintenance captured depth and breadth of so many characters in one place in a way that transcended the central figure. And I wonder whether there’s something in the Ram Das story that could go to that same collective place?
Oh, I love your substack. Your musings feel deeply familiar and I feel like I know instinctively what you are trying to do or learn for yourself. How to feel worthy of love when there are these inner assholes we carry around that think and feel the worst, most shameful things? The best we do is to eventually understand that these asshole parts are not the entirety of who we are. Ram Das spoke about turning them into little shmoo's, as in... ASSHOLE PARTS ARE NO BIG DEAL - fighting with them just makes them bigger; best just to accept them and find them a seat in the corner. But that is our work in this life. And it's unfortunately complicated in those of us who are (for some reason) masochistically attached to being an asshole. Blessings to you for sharing your struggle. We are all learning from it.
Thanks Willa. It feels good to feel known in this way. The only thing to do with the musing it seems is to present them so that they maybe help a fellow pilgrim on the journey to getting free from all of it.
That hit my core, I appreciate your honesty. I realized recently that for me -on my own similar journey of trying to break out of the natural narcissism of the human condition- that listening to someone’s awareness of where they’re at is much more powerful than reading about the ideals I strive for. Your self dissection and humility, in all its squalor, means more to me than those spiritual aphorisms that plunge me into a panicked need to jump straight into the deep end of my shadow. This is life and it’s a slow and steady burn that is not only manned by you, there is a universe out there giving you what you need and that’s such a comforting thought!! Relinquishing a bit of that control and responsibility brings curiosity back into the centre. Anyways, I appreciate you publicizing your humanness, being comfortable with being flawed is a huge feet and I admire you for it! Have you read Erich Fromm? I’m squeezing his books dry at the moment. If you haven’t- read The Art Of Love and Having and Being.
Read that Lasch book The Culture of Narcissism. Despite being written almost 40 years ago, it’s wildly prescient and affirms that if you are born in this day and age you really just fall on a spectrum of culturally indoctrinated narcissism. Folks who say they know how to live might know for themselves, but it’s hard to take their advice when experience is the best (dare I say only real) teacher. Thanks for this affirmation Danny. More squalor to come.
This was really great. It reminded me of a recent Q&A with RD I heard through Love Save Remember. Someone asked him if there was a group he could join that discussed & supported his work. He kind of scoffed & said no. He wouldn’t want something like that; makes me wonder what he would think of the groups & continuing books. You said 2 things that really hit me: one about a “star” no longer there AND the very relatable: when I wasn’t stoned, the shame was louder & when I was stoned, it was stylized. Thanks for sharing this.
I heard RD confided in KD that he didn’t want a church… My hot take, LSR makes use of the media library and the brand, and Hanuman Maui seems like the way to love Dassi and take care of her the same way she took care of Ram Dass. It’s all genuinely a satsang, a hang, and it’s not unlike a sports team or a shared hobby. They love each other and I don’t see anything wrong with that. I just find it paradoxical and interesting how hard it is for them to let go…
Hey Ben, this reminded me of a Spalding Gray monologue and I saw most of them live. Why not do that Ben Sinclair style with some amazing video projections on a stage? "But after any type of rejection, it was as though a leak opened in the tub basin." Nugget? I think this is brilliant. I have a cousin who is the best video designer in the city, Alex Koch, and I have been known to direct things well. But this is not a pitch for that, just a suggestion. This post is dope/fire/lit/blahblahblah! You're onto something methinks. And this is about your trip / not theirs. But maybe ours.
Josh, your comments are always like a cold glass of water on a hot day 🙌
Aww, that’s such an uplift, thank you Ben. So happy you’re here.
Appreciating the Ram Dass disco, and it's bringing back memories of my own self-righteous enlightenment of the past (which is completely different from my self-righteous enlightenment of the present).
Warning though; Josh be the cold water that springs forth and distorts the heat of the desert that broke the brain, but that dude "Koch, Alex Basco" is legitimately unhinged. More like a sand-witch perched in the dry dunes offering only salty platitudes.
Loving this space, Ben. Thank you for all the good words you're putting down.
Also look at some of Mike Albo's work in this arena
High Maintenance was an iconic show and it's ridiculous that you couldn't get any interest in anything after that. You are very apologetic, but I think sometimes part of moving on is acknowledging you got fucked without contorting yourself excessively.
Ben, I think this essay IS the show. Also fuck Hollywood. It's really bullshit. Don't look for worth there. And speaking of Hollywood, the Epstein files ARE outrageous and the beginning of the end of patriarchy. That also is part of the show. Your old friend, Sera
Hi old friend! Yes, fuck em. Glad you are catching my drift. Taking these ideas away from trying to play the game and connecting via these essays are indeed the show… much love!
Hey Ben fwiw, I’d be first in line to watch a full length documentary on how you arrived at these insights in Maui. Maybe it’s not a bankable treatment, but the path is winding and kudos to you for letting us in on your journey. All these thoughts are more relatable than you probably realize. Thanks again for sharing them with us. 🙏
Thanks Ben for this piece and for the video. I vibe with the artistic/spiritual struggle.
I am not sure if your Ram Dass concept would be considered a bio-pic or a bio-series but for me the whole concept of bio-pic is fraught, especially within the subject’s living memory. Maybe there are a few notable exceptions but most are god-awful because perhaps the concept, however well flushed out or engineered, often radiates from something like “let’s represent or celebrate or exploit or deify this persons life” (not that I assume that you did not have a solid concept). I think it can also be disastrous when drama is bound by attempting to accurately depict reality. Even bio-pics I have seen that have gotten critical acclaim seem to me to be more like technical achievements.
Maybe this video and Substack piece are your Ram Dass project. They contain some of the elements that make for compelling drama, radical honesty and confession. Thank you.
Thanks for this note. I am very much feeling the same. I thank my lucky stars I didn’t spend all those years trying to make something that was god-awful. I don’t think I could been able to do it without pissing off a bunch of people, trying to average it all out for the executives and the audience. Yikes
Yah Ben, that’s the spirit!
"Ram Dass’ guru Maharajji once said marijuana makes you forget your family."
No wonder I love getting stoned so much lol
A penny for your thoughts on the 15% of polyamory that you believe in… or the 85% that you don’t.
Only 15% of those who try actually have time, energy and continued interest in all of the conversations necessary to make it work
“The ego, even in retreat, keeps receipts.”🫰
I’m curious to know what it is about the Ram Das story that keeps bringing you back to it? And what service you want that story to perform in the world? Spiritual journeys and communities are often full of characters that are tender and hilarious and true and weird and universal all at once. The stories told in High Maintenance captured depth and breadth of so many characters in one place in a way that transcended the central figure. And I wonder whether there’s something in the Ram Das story that could go to that same collective place?
Yeah I wonder too… I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…
Appreciate your honesty. Many messy post divorcés have done worse and had less / no awareness after the fact. Bless us all.
Sitting around the fire with you on this. love it.
Oh, I love your substack. Your musings feel deeply familiar and I feel like I know instinctively what you are trying to do or learn for yourself. How to feel worthy of love when there are these inner assholes we carry around that think and feel the worst, most shameful things? The best we do is to eventually understand that these asshole parts are not the entirety of who we are. Ram Das spoke about turning them into little shmoo's, as in... ASSHOLE PARTS ARE NO BIG DEAL - fighting with them just makes them bigger; best just to accept them and find them a seat in the corner. But that is our work in this life. And it's unfortunately complicated in those of us who are (for some reason) masochistically attached to being an asshole. Blessings to you for sharing your struggle. We are all learning from it.
Thanks Willa. It feels good to feel known in this way. The only thing to do with the musing it seems is to present them so that they maybe help a fellow pilgrim on the journey to getting free from all of it.
Ben have you seen the Taylor Camp documentary? You'll love it, I'm sure. 😉
No but I have seen the book of photos and I wish I was there!
“To feel loved without staging the conditions”
That hit my core, I appreciate your honesty. I realized recently that for me -on my own similar journey of trying to break out of the natural narcissism of the human condition- that listening to someone’s awareness of where they’re at is much more powerful than reading about the ideals I strive for. Your self dissection and humility, in all its squalor, means more to me than those spiritual aphorisms that plunge me into a panicked need to jump straight into the deep end of my shadow. This is life and it’s a slow and steady burn that is not only manned by you, there is a universe out there giving you what you need and that’s such a comforting thought!! Relinquishing a bit of that control and responsibility brings curiosity back into the centre. Anyways, I appreciate you publicizing your humanness, being comfortable with being flawed is a huge feet and I admire you for it! Have you read Erich Fromm? I’m squeezing his books dry at the moment. If you haven’t- read The Art Of Love and Having and Being.
Xx
Read that Lasch book The Culture of Narcissism. Despite being written almost 40 years ago, it’s wildly prescient and affirms that if you are born in this day and age you really just fall on a spectrum of culturally indoctrinated narcissism. Folks who say they know how to live might know for themselves, but it’s hard to take their advice when experience is the best (dare I say only real) teacher. Thanks for this affirmation Danny. More squalor to come.
"No abstraction without goodwill," is a beautiful sentiment. Did Carl come up with that?
No, I think Robert Svoboda
This was really great. It reminded me of a recent Q&A with RD I heard through Love Save Remember. Someone asked him if there was a group he could join that discussed & supported his work. He kind of scoffed & said no. He wouldn’t want something like that; makes me wonder what he would think of the groups & continuing books. You said 2 things that really hit me: one about a “star” no longer there AND the very relatable: when I wasn’t stoned, the shame was louder & when I was stoned, it was stylized. Thanks for sharing this.
I heard RD confided in KD that he didn’t want a church… My hot take, LSR makes use of the media library and the brand, and Hanuman Maui seems like the way to love Dassi and take care of her the same way she took care of Ram Dass. It’s all genuinely a satsang, a hang, and it’s not unlike a sports team or a shared hobby. They love each other and I don’t see anything wrong with that. I just find it paradoxical and interesting how hard it is for them to let go…