When art, science, and compassion meet
The Nepal Blindness Survey at 40
Tag: Ram Dass
Donor Shout-Outs – Fall 2023
- “They Shared Everything.” Seva supporter Dennis Donham gives back.
- Ann Lowry’s commitment to Seva & the world. Creating a legacy of eye care.
- Two Words We Like: Direct and Powerful. Wellness expert, writer, yoga teacher, devoted human to Vladimir the rescue pup.
- Miracle Pop-Up is a Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that partners with locations all over the world during the holiday season.
Donor Shout-Outs – Spring 2023
To know Terrie Velasquez is to know goodness
In the early 70s, a series of experiences – from reading Ram Dass’s “Be Here Now,” to being a fan of The Grateful Dead, to learning about Wavy Gravy – led Terrie Velasquez to Seva. She’s a firm believer in giving back to communities, and for her, the stars aligned with Seva.
“I knew that Seva worked in many countries, and I knew Seva held many of my own personal values. SEVA = selfless service.”
Continue readingHow Ram Dass put his Compassion into Action
Today, we celebrate Ram Dass’s birthday. As Co-Founder of Seva Foundation, Ram Dass’s life was the definition of service, unconditional love, and generosity – he was, first and foremost, on a quest to relieve human suffering.
Over the years, Ram Dass wore many hats to advance our mission of a world free of avoidable blindness, from spokesperson to super fundraiser to program architect. He listened, worked diligently, and stood side-by-side with the communities we served. His focus was compassion in action – a motto that we live and breathe here at Seva today.
Here are a few ways in which he did just that:
Continue readingTake a beat & take this quiz!
And we’re back…with another Seva Quiz! Ever wonder about the people, places, and solutions that guide our work? Well, look no further! We asked our team, dug our archives, and have a brand new & fun game of trivia to see how well you know the magic that makes Seva possible.
Take it now & you may even learn something new!
Continue readingLead with love in honor of Ram Dass
Today – April 6th – is a special birthday: Ram Dass’. He embodied a life of selfless service, compassion, and generosity, setting a precedent for Seva and millions of others around the world: Lead life, first and foremost, through love.
In the 1950s, Ram Dass, then still known as Dr. Richard Alpert, was a prominent Harvard psychologist and author researching human consciousness. His cosmic spiritual shift began in 1967, while on a trip to India. There, he met his guru Neem Karoli Baba, who gave him the name Ram Dass – meaning “servant of God” in Hindi.
Upon receiving guidance from his guru, Ram Dass co-founded Seva in 1978 with a singular goal to reduce human suffering. “When I got involved with Seva, it was like putting on an outfit that multiplied my capacity to be involved with the relief of suffering a thousandfold, because this group has such extraordinary diversity of skills, and talents, and preoccupations if you will,” he shared.
With Ram Dass’ vision, support, and guidance over the last four decades, 46+ million people have received Seva-supported eye care services. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy, spirit, and unconditional love lives on in each and every one of these individuals, and the millions more who will go on to receive the gift of sight.
Today, in the memory of Ram Dass, bring joy and spread unconditional love to your friends, family, and the world. If you’d like to support Ram Dass’ vision of a world free of avoidable blindness, please click on the link below.
