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Riding the Spirit Bus: My Journey from Satsang with RAM Dass to Lama Foundation and Dances of Universal Peace (Edition, New of Life Unfolding)

Cobb, Ahad
Reader rating
4.6
(1 reviews) 35 sold
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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Journey through the heart of 60s spiritual counterculture with a firsthand guide.

Ahad Cobb’s memoir invites readers on a profound personal odyssey, tracing his spiritual awakening from the tumultuous 1960s onward. Beginning with a transformative encounter with Ram Dass, Cobb deeply immerses himself in three pivotal spiritual movements: the Ram Dass satsang, Lama Foundation, and the Dances of Universal Peace. His narrative weaves together insights from Vedic astrology, sacred dance, and a courageous exploration of self through Jungian analysis, past-life work, and trauma release. This intimate account offers a vivid window into a lifetime dedicated to inner discovery and community, charting the evolution of a soul through decades of seeking.

Key themes
Navigating Spiritual Communities Inner Work & Self-Discovery Esoteric Wisdom & Practice
Historical context

This memoir serves as an intimate chronicle of the 1960s spiritual counterculture, documenting the author's deep immersion in pivotal movements like Satsang with Ram Dass and the Lama Foundation. It captures the era's shift toward Eastern philosophy and communal living within the broader context of Western esotericism.

Difficulty
●● Moderate
Fans will love it
Ram Dass · Alan Watts · Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
🕯️ Occult Philosophy
🏛 Inner Traditions International 📅 2023 📖 352 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781644115350
Fun fact
Ahad Cobb's memoir is a compelling, heartfelt account, providing a rare insider's look into the vibrant spiritual movements of the latter 20th century. It excels at weaving personal transformation with historical context, making the esoteric accessible. Readers seeking purely academic analysis or a detached perspective might find its deeply personal narrative less fulfilling. However, for those craving an authentic journey through the heart of the counterculture's enduring spiritual legacy, this book is an invaluable and illuminating read.

📝 Description: Riding the Spirit Bus: My Journey from Satsang with RAM Dass to Lama Foundation and Dances of Universal Peace (Edition, New of Life Unfolding)

A memoir of spiritual awakening and travel in the 60s and 70s, sacred dance in the 80s and 90s, and astrological insight in the 90s and 2000s - Recounts the author's deep involvement with three spiritual community movements originating in the sixties which are still thriving today: the Ram Dass satsang, Lama Foundation, and Dances of Universal Peace - Offers insights from his study of Vedic astrology, sacred dance, his search for love, and his personal work with past-life recordings, Jungian analysis, and trauma release After coming of age and graduating in the tumultuous sixties, Ahad Cobb found himself wandering without direction. A chance road trip with a friend led him to Ram Dass, thus beginning an enthusiastic journey of spiritual awakening and deep involvement with three spiritual communities that originated in the sixties and still thrive today: the Ram Dass satsang, Lama Foundation, and Dances of Universal Peace. Sharing his opening to the inner life, his poetry and dreams, and his spiritual passions and astrological insights, Ahad Cobb's memoir begins with his summer with Ram Dass, immersed in meditation, devotion, and guru's grace. His path takes him to New Mexico, to a newly established intentional spiritual community, Lama Foundation, where he lives on the land for thirteen years, experiencing the discipline and rewards of communal living and spiritual practice. At Lama, he is initiated into universal Sufism in the tradition of Hazrat Inayat Khan and the Dances of Universal Peace. He travels overseas to spend time with Sufis in Chamonix, Istanbul, Konya, and Jerusalem. After the birth of his son, Ahad moves off the mountain and serves as sacred dance leader and musician for 35 years in Santa Fe and later Albuquerque. When Lama Foundation is nearly destroyed by a forest fire in 1996, Ahad serves as a trustee, guiding the rebuilding of the community. Ahad's memoir imparts insights from his personal work with Jungian analysis and trauma release, shares his search for and discovery of his soul mate, and details his twelve years of study with Hart DeFouw in the wisdom stream of Vedic astrology. Offering a poignant reflection on life lived from the inside out, and the delicate balance between spirituality and psychology, this memoir leads readers on an outer and inner journey steeped in poetry, music, astrology, and spiritual practice in the context of community that is devoted to awakening.

💎 Expert review

💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
Cobb’s narrative is a vivid, personal odyssey that successfully weaves together Vedic astrology, sacred dance, and Jungian analysis. While it offers valuable insights into the Lama Foundation and Dances of Universal Peace, this memoir may not suit readers seeking detached historical analysis or those uninterested in first-person accounts of trauma release and past-life work. It is deeply subjective, focusing on one soul's evolution rather than broad theological debate. However, for those willing to engage with its intimate tone, it stands as a significant document of mid-century spiritual seeking and the enduring quest for inner peace through communal and esoteric practices.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is ideal for seekers interested in the lived experience of the 1960s spiritual awakening and those curious about the intersection of Vedic astrology, Jungian analysis, and sacred dance. Ahad Cobb offers a candid look at how personal trauma and past-life exploration can fuel profound inner discovery. Readers who value community building and alternative paths to enlightenment will find his journey from Ram Dass satsang to the Dances of Universal Peace both inspiring and educational. It provides a unique window into how diverse esoteric practices converge in a single life, making it essential for anyone tracing the evolution of modern spiritual movements.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★
If you're drawn to authentic personal accounts of spiritual seeking, especially within the vibrant counterculture of the 60s and 70s, this memoir is for you. Readers interested in the origins and evolution of transformative communities and esoteric practices will find Cobb's journey deeply resonant.

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Esoterica Books editorial team

Cobb’s narrative is a vivid, personal odyssey that successfully weaves together Vedic astrology, sacred dance, and Jungian analysis. While it offers valuable insights into the Lama Foundation and Dances of Universal Peace, this memoir may not suit readers seeking detached historical analysis or those uninterested in first-person accounts of trauma release and past-life work. It is deeply subjective, focusing on one soul's evolution rather than broad theological debate. However, for those willing to engage with its intimate tone, it stands as a significant document of mid-century spiritual seeking and the enduring quest for inner peace through communal and esoteric practices.

❓ Frequently asked questions

It provides an intimate, participant's view of three major movements – Ram Dass's satsang, Lama Foundation, and Dances of Universal Peace – detailing their formation, daily life, and the author's profound personal evolution within them.
While rich in historical detail, Cobb's narrative is deeply personal, sharing his methods for inner work, including Jungian analysis, past-life regressions, and astrological insights, making it relevant for contemporary seekers.

📖 Who should read this

If you're drawn to authentic personal accounts of spiritual seeking, especially within the vibrant counterculture of the 60s and 70s, this memoir is for you. Readers interested in the origins and evolution of transformative communities and esoteric practices will find Cobb's journey deeply resonant.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Navigating Spiritual Communities

Cobb provides an insider's perspective on the foundational years and enduring spirit of iconic movements like the Ram Dass satsang, Lama Foundation, and Dances of Universal Peace. He illustrates their transformative power and the challenges of communal living, offering a unique historical and personal lens on these influential spiritual paths.

Inner Work & Self-Discovery

The memoir delves into Cobb's dedicated journey of psychological and spiritual healing. He candidly shares his engagement with Jungian analysis, the exploration of past-life recordings, and processes of trauma release, showcasing a holistic approach to understanding the self and achieving profound personal growth beyond conventional methods.

Esoteric Wisdom & Practice

Cobb integrates diverse esoteric practices into his life, notably his deep study and application of Vedic astrology. His experiences with sacred dance and the concept of a guru's grace highlight how these ancient wisdom traditions and embodied practices shaped his worldview and spiritual development over several decades.

💬 Quotes from the book

“The path wasn't a straight line, but a labyrinth of teachers, communities, and inner landscapes. Each turn brought me closer to understanding the true nature of spirit, often through the crucible of my own unexamined self.”

“In the communal embrace of Lama, or the ecstatic flow of the Dances, I found reflections of universal truth. These weren't just movements; they were living templates for a more connected, conscious way of being.”

📜 Historical context

This memoir serves as a vital firsthand document of the spiritual ferment that emerged from the 1960s counterculture, shaping the modern New Age movement. It chronicles the genesis and sustained impact of influential communities and practices, offering a personal narrative that illuminates a pivotal era in Western spiritual history and its continuing legacy.

📚 Glossary

Satsang
Lama Foundation
Vedic Astrology

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. Reflect on a pivotal encounter or community that profoundly shifted your spiritual or personal trajectory. How did it change your understanding of yourself or the world?
  2. Cobb engaged with diverse practices like Jungian analysis and Vedic astrology. What unconventional or holistic methods have you explored for self-understanding, and what did you learn?
  3. Consider the concept of "spiritual awakening" in your own life. What moments or experiences have felt like an opening to a deeper inner life, and what practices sustain that connection for you?

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