Episode 8: Be Here Now, But With Better Org Charts
- Georgina Brown (hershe)
- Aug 18
- 3 min read
What Ram Dass Teaches Us About Conscious Culture
Inclusion, presence, and awareness all start with one thing: attention.
Not a training module.Not a committee.Not another policy designed by people who can’t sit still in a room together.
Enter: Ram Dass—spiritual teacher, Harvard psychologist turned mystic, and pioneer of radical presence.
While the business world chases KPIs and quarterly reports, Ram Dass whispers (gently but firmly): “Be here now.”Not next quarter. Not next promotion. Not after you’ve read that McKinsey report.
Now. Because this moment, this breath, is where transformation begins.
Sound too floaty for the boardroom? Neuroscience says otherwise.
At BARDO Inclusive, we’re all about conscious culture—where awareness isn’t a bonus trait for HR away days, it’s the engine of inclusion.
The Science Bit: Attention as the Foundation of Neuro-Inclusive Leadership
Ram Dass taught that presence is the deepest act of love. Neuroscience confirms it’s also the deepest act of regulation.
When you pay full attention, to yourself, to others, to the energy in the room, you shift:
From autopilot (default mode network)
To embodied, reflective awareness (prefrontal cortex activation)
With reduced reactivity from the amygdala (aka, no more panicked replies to that snarky Slack message)
Inclusion begins in the brain’s ability to stay curious instead of reactive, present instead of defensive.
Presence creates safety. And safety, as we know, creates space for difference to thrive.
“You can’t punish people into presence.” – probably not Ram Dass, but very BARDO
How Ram Dass Supports the NIMM
Ram Dass’s legacy echoes across the NIMM maturity domains:
Neuroscience-Informed — anchoring presence as brain-state regulation
Mindset-Shifting — from ego-driven certainty to awareness-driven humility
Trust-Building — showing up, really showing up, for each other
He reminds us: inclusion isn’t about fixing others. It’s about waking up.From our habits. From our hierarchies. From our culturally conditioned “us vs them.”
Real Inclusion Requires Real Presence
Forget “bringing your whole self to work” if your brain is trapped in a threat loop.
We need workplaces where presence isn’t just a personal practice, it’s embedded in culture:
Meetings with space for pause, not just performance
Leaders who notice nervous systems before they manage performance
Cultures that value silence as much as speaking
Try This: A Ram Dass-Inspired Neuro-Nudge for Your Next Leadership Meeting
Before your next meeting, stop. Breathe. Put both feet on the floor.
Ask: “Who do I need to be to create safety here?”
Listen. Really listen. Not to respond, but to understand.
If someone’s voice shakes, don’t rush to reassure or redirect. Let silence do its work.
This isn’t mindfulness wallpaper. It’s neural hospitality.
“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” – Ram Dass
Want More Ram Dass? Start Here:
Be Here Now – the classic, mind-bending, beautifully illustrated starter pack.
Polishing the Mirror – practical wisdom for navigating ego, ageing, and attachment.
Ram Dass on Spotify or YouTube – recorded talks that soothe your nervous system and surprise your logic.
Reflect:What part of your leadership could slow down, soften, or stay still a little longer?
What would happen if your org culture prized attention as much as action?
Next Up in the Series:
Episode 9: adrienne maree brown and Emergent Strategy: How Change Actually Happens in Real Brains and Real Time
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