Ram Dass, born Richard Alpert, was a spiritual teacher who taught about—and lived a life of—love, compassion, and service. The year 2024 marked five years since Ram Dass passed away, but his impact lives on. Along with an eclectic group of public health experts and activists, he was one of the cofounders of Seva. His teachings around the concept of seva—compassionate service and helping others without expecting anything in return—inspired a generation and are at the heart of Seva Canada’s mission to restore sight and prevent blindness all over the world.
“When I got involved with Seva, it was like putting on an outfit that multiplied my capacity to be involved with the relief of suffering a thousand-fold. Because this group had such extraordinary diversity of skills and talents and preoccupations, if you will. And we were able at the same moment to do something that was sophisticated scientifically, and that was financially large-scale and responsible and at the same moment be involved with the individual human heart.”
– Ram Dass
Ram Dass’ ideas still guide Seva Canada and countless individuals, reminding us how powerful compassion can be in tackling global problems. Ram Dass’ legacy and teachings continue to be relevant today, pushing for a kinder, more united world.
