Bhagavan Das is an American yogi who spent six years in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka in the 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of kirtan, devotional chanting, in the United States, long before it became popular in yoga studios around the world. And it was he who introduced Richard Alpert, later known as Ram Dass, to his guru, Neem Karoli Baba. That meeting changed Alpert’s life and, through his book *Be Here Now*, the lives of thousands.
His teacher
Bhagavan Das describes Neem Karoli Baba as someone who almost never gave instructions. When people brought him their problems, he would answer “What to do?” while repeating the name of God. He taught through his presence and the repetition of the divine name, not through orders.
He recalls that when his teacher touched his head while saying the name Ram, that name permeated his whole soul. And that in his presence, devotion and faith transformed everyone there.
God with form
Bhagavan Das worships God with form. He follows the view of Sri Ramakrishna, for whom God is both formless and with form. He finds it easier to offer devotion to a concrete form, like a tree, than to the boundless sky.
For him, the guru is God working through a person, and the teacher’s individual personality hardly matters. He points out that India has many saints, known and unknown. And he stresses the importance of emotional connection: a personal relationship with a teacher or a deity gives devotion its energy, so that you wake up crying out to God.
God first
One of his most direct pieces of advice: put God first, and everything else, money and relationships included, will follow. But each person has to discover what that means for themselves.
Remembering death
Bhagavan Das keeps death constantly in mind. He sees Kali Ma, the fierce goddess, as a figure who leads us towards reality. He tells how the sudden death of a young woman reminded him how much every moment has to count. And he asks: if today were our last day, we would stop gossiping, planning and overthinking, and simply love.
His daily practice
- The golden hours: 4 to 6 am, with a little hatha yoga, chanting and tea. But he acknowledges that everyone has to find their own routine, even if it is an hour’s walk.
- An altar: with flowers, a candle, incense and an image that inspires you: a deity, a Shivalinga or someone you admire.
- Study and devotion: he reads Sri Ramakrishna, practises pranayama and recites the thousand names of Ganesh or the Divine Mother.
- Japa through the day: taking breaks to repeat a mantra on a blessed mala.
- Nature: spending time with trees and rivers.
- Will: getting out of bed and not falling into spiritual laziness.
The “Ram walk”
For anxiety or low mood, he suggests something very simple: walk briskly for an hour repeating “Ram“. He says it shifts consciousness, and that many people tell him it helps. (If you are going through a really hard time, this doesn’t replace professional help; it can be a good complement.)
A kirtan pioneer
Long before the big festivals, Bhagavan Das was already chanting mantras for American audiences. He led large kirtan gatherings, and his style, with a deep voice and traditional instruments, paved the way for many of the artists who now fill halls chanting divine names.
Taking it into practice
- Make a small altar corner at home, even if it is just a candle and a flower.
- Try the Ram walk: 20 minutes at a brisk pace, repeating a mantra silently or softly with each step.
- Chant: put on a kirtan and sing along, without worrying how it sounds. Devotion isn’t after a beautiful voice, but an open heart.
Source: Integral Yoga Magazine – Connecting with the divine.
