Neem Karoli Baba: The Divine Guru Who Influenced the Best

Satya Baba
Apr 19, 2023
4 min read

Neem Karoli Baba was a Hindu saint who lived in northern India in the 20th century.
He was born in 1900 in the village of Akbarpur, near Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, India.
His birth name was Lakshmi Narayan Sharma.
Neem Karoli Baba was also known by the names Maharaj-ji, Neeb Karori Baba, and Karori Baba.
He spent much of his life in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India.
Neem Karoli Baba was known for his simple, humble lifestyle and his deep devotion to God.
He was said to have had miraculous powers and was known for his ability to heal people.
Neem Karoli Baba was also known for his love and compassion for all people, regardless of their religion or social status.
His teachings emphasized the importance of selfless service, love, and devotion to God.
Neem Karoli Baba's teachings were not based on any particular religion, but were grounded in the principles of Sanatana Dharma (eternal truth).
Some of his teachings have been compiled in the book "Miracle of Love: Stories about Neem Karoli Baba" by Ram Dass.
Neem Karoli Baba's ashrams and temples are located in various parts of India, including Vrindavan, Kainchi, and Taos, New Mexico in the United States.
His ashram in Kainchi is located in a remote forest and is known for its peaceful, meditative environment.
Many of Neem Karoli Baba's followers are Westerners who were drawn to his teachings of love and devotion.
Some of his more famous Western disciples include spiritual teacher Ram Dass and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Neem Karoli Baba's teachings have influenced many spiritual and religious movements, including the Bhakti movement and the Hare Krishna movement.
He was known for his unconventional approach to spiritual practice, which included the use of marijuana and other substances to help people achieve a higher state of consciousness.
Neem Karoli Baba was also known for his playful and mischievous personality, and his ability to use humor to teach spiritual truths.
He passed away on September 11, 1973, in Vrindavan, India.
After his death, Neem Karoli Baba's followers continued to spread his teachings and establish new ashrams and temples in his honor.
Some other books about Neem Karoli Baba and his teachings include "Neem Karoli Baba and the Path of Divine Love" by Sri Neem Karoli Baba Ashram and "I Am That: The Life of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj" by Maurice Frydman.

Teachings:

Here are some teachings from the book

Miracle of Love: Stories about Neem Karoli Baba - by Ram Dass

Love everyone, serve everyone, remember God, and tell the truth.
All religions are paths to God, and it is important to respect and honor all faiths.
The most important spiritual practice is to develop love and devotion to God.
Selfless service to others is a way of serving God.
One can experience God's love and grace through devotion, prayer, and meditation.
The ego is the main obstacle to spiritual growth, and it is important to surrender it to God.
Simplicity and humility are important virtues for spiritual growth.
The purpose of life is to realize one's true nature as a soul and merge with God.

Here are some of the most famous people who met him, along with a short description of their experience:

Ram Dass - Ram Dass (formerly Richard Alpert) was a Harvard professor and psychologist who traveled to India in search of spiritual enlightenment. He met Neem Karoli Baba and became his devotee, eventually writing a book about his experience called "Be Here Now".
Steve Jobs - The late co-founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, traveled to India in the 1970s in search of spiritual guidance. He visited Neem Karoli Baba's ashram and later said that meeting him was one of the most profound experiences of his life.
Mark Zuckerberg - The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, also visited Neem Karoli Baba's ashram while on a trip to India. He later said that the experience had a profound impact on him and inspired him to incorporate spiritual practices into his life and work.
Krishna Das - Krishna Das is a well-known musician and singer who became a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba in the 1970s. He has written extensively about his experience and continues to perform music inspired by the guru.
Lama Surya Das - Lama Surya Das is a Buddhist teacher who also became a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba. He has written several books about his spiritual journey, including "Awakening the Buddha Within".
Bhagavan Das - Bhagavan Das is a musician and spiritual teacher who traveled to India in the 1960s and met Neem Karoli Baba. He became his devotee and later wrote a book about his experiences called "It's Here Now (Are You?)".
Jai Uttal - Jai Uttal is a musician and singer who also became a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba. He has recorded several albums inspired by the guru and has written about his experiences in his book, "Here and Now: The Yoga of Sacred Music".
Lama Palden - Lama Palden is a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who met Neem Karoli Baba in the 1970s. She later became a disciple of his disciple, Surya Das, and has written about her spiritual journey in her book, "The Wisdom of a Loving Heart: A Practical Guide to Unconditional Love".
Rameshwar Das - Rameshwar Das is a writer who became a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba in the 1970s. He has written extensively about his experiences with the guru and co-authored several books with Ram Dass, including "Be Love Now" and "Polishing the Mirror".
Raghu Markus - Raghu Markus is a writer and podcast host who also became a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba in the 1970s. He has written about his experiences with the guru and co-founded the Love Serve Remember Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the teachings of Ram Dass and Neem Karoli Baba.

Books you can refer :

"Be Here Now" by Ram Dass
"The Journey Home" by Radhanath Swami
"Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson
"Becoming Facebook" by Mike Hoefflinger
"Chants of a Lifetime" by Krishna Das
"Awakening the Buddha Within" by Lama Surya Das
"It's Here Now (Are You?)" by Bhagavan Das
"Here and Now: The Yoga of Sacred Music" by Jai Uttal
"The Wisdom of a Loving Heart