Ram: Ayurveda, Ayahuasca & Seeing Through the COVID Illusion” | Ep.22

Ram shares what it was like joining the Hare Krishna movement in the 1970s, his personal encounters with Srila Prabhupada, witnessing the movement change after Prabhupada's passing, and why he eventually began searching beyond the institution while holding onto the spiritual truths that first transformed his life. The conversation also ventures into Ram's experiences studying Ayurveda, traveling into the Peruvian Amazon to work with Shipibo shamans, encountering ayahuasca, confronting mortality, observing the mind, and discovering why extraordinary spiritual experiences can point toward truth—but cannot replace the daily work of becoming who we're meant to be. And beneath all of those experiences is one remarkably simple message: Love everybody. Serve everybody. Remember God. The discussion later turns toward institutional trust, COVID-era policies, vaccines, government authority and the responsibility of spiritual leaders to question the institutions they trust. These portions represent the participants' views and personal experiences and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Chapters 00:00 A Shamanic Blessing to Open the Conversation 03:43 Finding God in Everything Around Us 05:26 The Real Test of Your Spiritual Life 07:01 The Greatest Misunderstanding About Identity 09:18 Aging, Death & Making Every Interaction Matter 10:02 Love Everybody. Serve Everybody. Remember God. 11:35 Ram's First Night at a Hare Krishna Temple 13:36 Who Is Richard "Ram" Masla? 14:40 Ayurveda, Panchakarma & Chronic Stress 20:49 From Hare Krishna Devotee to His Own Spiritual Path 22:06 Leaving Home at 17 to Search for Truth 24:35 The Mysterious Bell That Woke Him Every Morning 27:13 How the Moody Blues Sparked a Spiritual Search 30:17 Why Music Can Transform Consciousness 33:46 Inside the Hare Krishna Movement of the 1970s 37:41 When Money Began Changing the Mission 40:13 What Happened After Prabhupada's Death? 41:31 Ram's First Journey to India 44:38 The Question That Changed 27 Years of Devotion 46:19 Building the Ayurvedic Health Retreat 47:18 Almost Giving Up on the Dream 47:58 Why Ram Traveled to the Amazon 50:18 Fear Before His First Ayahuasca Ceremony 54:09 What the Ayahuasca Experience Felt Like 58:40 Confronting Death During a Ceremony 1:01:29 Your Mind May Be Running the Same Thoughts Every Day 1:03:19 People Come Into Our Lives to Be Loved, Not Judged 1:03:47 Meditation & Becoming the Witness of Your Mind 1:09:05 What Psychedelic Experiences Taught Them About the Soul 1:10:24 Can Plant Medicine Lead You Toward God? 1:11:37 Why the Experience Isn't Enough 1:12:55 "Love Is What the Whole Universe Is Made Of" 1:13:12 When Spirituality Loses Its Authenticity 1:14:30 COVID, Health & Institutional Trust 1:29:52 Why Spiritual Leaders Must Question Authority 1:36:00 Can You Trust Leaders Who Won't Admit They Were Wrong? 1:39:42 Power, Politics & the Search for Truth 1:45:39 Fear, Globalism & Political Awakening 1:50:02 Ram's Message After 50 Years of Seeking 1:51:48 "The World Doesn't Need More Buddhists..." 1:52:49 How to Fight Lies Without Becoming Consumed by Anger 1:53:34 Final Thoughts & Where to Find Ram Whether you come from Christianity, Krishna consciousness, another spiritual tradition—or you're simply trying to understand what it means to live authentically—this conversation asks a question worth considering: Are we becoming more loving, truthful and awake—or simply becoming better at looking the part? If this conversation challenges or encourages you, like the episode, subscribe to the 8th Element Podcast, and share it with someone who's searching for something deeper.