summary ofBe Here NowBook by Ram Dass

first KEY POINT

Love for yourself is a guaranteed path to a peaceful state of being

To truly experience our most authentic selves, we must give in to the fullness of love for others and ourselves. Love is a part of our true nature as humans; deep within our core resides a storehouse of immense, unconditional love. This kind of warm affection is without any condition or price.

Unfortunately, we attach too many conditions to love for others, and until the conditions get met, they don't deserve it. This behavior is but an extension of just how we treat ourselves. You may not have observed it, but we can only love others to the degree that we love ourselves. In other words, how you treat others says a lot about your relationship with yourself.

Love should be empty of any conditions; we should give and receive it simply because we exist and nothing else. It shouldn't matter if you fail or succeed; when you find true love for yourself, nothing can erase it. Love is often used today as a bargaining chip in relationships, most especially. People offer love because they think you meet some standard or requirement. This act is unhealthy and ultimately damaging.Love yourself even when things don't go your way. Decide today that you will take every failure or setback as a step in the right direction; each time we stumble, it is merely a part of our journey that must be appreciated and learned from. Each experience we have must not be taken for granted; they are opportunities to grow and become better versions of ourselves. In the following chapters, we will learn just what we need to do to truly gain control of our minds and create a much better living experience.Ram Dass aims to educate more people about the benefits of living in the present and never missing out on the gift of being alive. Dass is long dead, but the principles he taught are still very much alive and working.