In 1997, Ram Dass (who died at 88 last month) suffered a debilitating stroke. Shortly after he was interviewed by Inquiring Mind editor Wes Nisker. He asked Ram Dass about the stroke and it's effect on him spiritually -
"I see the stroke as a new chapter in the life of this body. It’s very interesting to me because it is so uniquely different than the last chapter. In that chapter I spoke, and in this chapter I’m mostly silent. I have this new identity to explore, which is that of a wheelchair-bound person—someone “physically challenged,” or whatever we are called these days. I’m really exploring what it means not to have power. Remember, I can’t get out of bed or go to the toilet without somebody helping me. I used to drive a car, and I loved driving, but in my new identity, I’m always a passenger. Of course, there are certain advantages: as a chauffeured person, I can look around at the scenery because I don’t have to keep my mind on the road."
"I see the stroke as a new chapter in the life of this body. It’s very interesting to me because it is so uniquely different than the last chapter. In that chapter I spoke, and in this chapter I’m mostly silent. I have this new identity to explore, which is that of a wheelchair-bound person—someone “physically challenged,” or whatever we are called these days. I’m really exploring what it means not to have power. Remember, I can’t get out of bed or go to the toilet without somebody helping me. I used to drive a car, and I loved driving, but in my new identity, I’m always a passenger. Of course, there are certain advantages: as a chauffeured person, I can look around at the scenery because I don’t have to keep my mind on the road."
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