Becoming Nobody

This is a very easy and interesting watch. Contrary to some reviews here I don't think the director gets in the way at all. Ram Dass is quite frail at the time of filming and to get more out of him Director Jaime Catto needs to engage a bit. As soon as Ram Dass is talking the director backs off and lets us listen.

While an interesting subject, the director/interviewer (Catto) seemed more interested in inserting himself into the narrative of Ram Dass instead of providing an insightful dive into Ram Dass' teachings.

The hypocrisy of Catto's ever present ego on film felt at odds with the true spiritual teachings of Ram Dass. Nevermind that 50% of this film was random stock footage hap-hazardly laid over narration.

Stock footage is an ok tool, but when it has nothing to do what's shown on screen it leaves the audience wondering if they're watching a real movie or an amateur's college term project.

I love Ram Dass to begin with, I've listened many of his old talks and watched the movie, Going Home as well. His humor, humbleness, his honesty about his own journey, openness about his own feelings and thoughts make you feel much closer to him and relate to as well. He is not preaching, as he says in the movie, he just tells his story like a close friend and a beautiful soul, so that we can see and discover the truth and the path to freedom in ourselves.

Although there a few things that would better not to take place in the movie, first being the producer's long talks that even outtalk Ram Dass most of the time and the clips that cause so much distraction that it becomes harder to concentrate on what Ram Dass is saying (that's why I've closed my eyes and just listened him most of the time), I still found the movie really beautiful and meditative.

I've just finished watching in the middle of the night in silence and it made me cry so much and I felt his presence in my heart. For me he was not a "perfect being" or a "saint" or a "guru", he was a beautiful human being who has gone through more or less the same journey and difficulties as all of us, has never played a role of a "guru" and has always been open about it with his humbleness and humor. I really love him and although I think the movie could have been better, I still loved it and would definitely recommend everyone to watch it.

The world has so much to learn from his love, compassion, beauty, humor and humbleness.

I'm glad for having the chance to know you Ram Dass.

Namaste.

Some of us have no idea how important this documentary is for people like me. We, the weirdos who give up their comfortable life to embrace the unknown. We, the ones who can't stand a minute longer not knowing who we really are and what life is about. Life will teach you lessons no matter what you do and some lessons are so painful that sometimes only death seems the real way out. Ram Dass is not your usual guru, he had a life just like you and I. During his journey of self discovery, he had the courage to explore the effects of lsd on himself and others thus jeopardising his position as a respected psychology professor at Harvard University. I am Italian, born in 1967 in Italy and raised there. The first time I watched this documentary I thought - Ram Dass and Timothy Leary made history with their discoveries, why there's no mention of them in history books? -. I had to learn the names of war-oriented individuals from history books while those who truly made a huge positive impact on humanity by spreading their light and love had been deliberately left out by main stream media and education. Dear Jamie, thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the truth. I have already watched this documentary several times as a reminder that there's more to life that meets the eye. The first time I watched it, I was feeling suicidal due to a sudden illness which has disabled me and the message in the documentary is so powerful that it gave me the courage and faith to keep on living but most importantly: I am not alone!

After seeing some other reviews of this film that I don't believe did it justice (based on my experience) I felt compelled to write this review.

Overall, I was coming to this film the way I would go to a dharma talk. To hear Dass share wisdom, and see some of him in the process. Didn't really know what to expect.

What I found left me very moved and at the end absolutely transfixed, and deeply in touch with my being and truth. One interaction in particular between Ram Dass and the film maker moved me so deeply that I could learn more of his teaching from the interaction than from the talks.

Other views are certainly valid. I felt the need to share because depending on the mindset and expectations you have going in, you may find this film speaking to you in a way the raw score would not suggest.

Blessings.