A library on campus has been a long-held dream for the Omega community. Just as it would be hard to imagine a college campus or local neighborhood without a library, members of the Omega community have long conveyed their wish for this cornerstone of learning to be part of the Omega experience.

The Ram Dass Library at Omega was completed, opening its doors to guests and staff on August 12, 2002. The architectural design of the building superimposes a square on square plan to create eight directions, inspired by the eight petals of the lotus blossom—illustrating the unfolding of energy of divine essence.

Devoted to spiritual studies, the Ram Dass Library serves as a place to read quietly, study, listen to audiotapes, or access related Internet sites. It also plays host to the Ram Dass Library Reading and Lectures Series and showings of videos consistent with Omega's mission. The library houses a collection that includes inspiring works from the world's wisdom traditions and spiritual practices, as well as works of past and current Omega faculty. Most importantly, the library encourages explorations of our greatest resources—those that reside deep within our hearts.

It is our great privilege to honor Ram Dass in this way. For more than 30 years, Ram Dass has been a trusted guide to thousands of spiritual seekers all over the world. He has been teacher, friend, board member, and guiding visionary to the Omega community since our earliest days. Ram Dass has passionately supported Omega and other organizations that are devoted to "doing inner work," serving public health, advancing social justice, and supporting spiritual development.

Ram Dass is recognized worldwide as a major influence on the emergence of meditation and other aspects of Eastern spirituality in the West. He is author of Be Here Now and other classics of spirituality, service, and conscious living, including The Only Dance There Is and Grist for the Mill (with Stephen Levine). His most recent book, Still Here, explores issues of aging and dying.

Ram Dass was born in 1931, as Richard Alpert. He had a stellar academic career in psychology, social science, education, and health. In the 1960s, with Timothy Leary and others, Alpert conducted the now-famous Harvard research experiments on altered states of consciousness. He journeyed to India in 1967, where he found his guru, Neem Karoli Baba. He returned with the name Ram Dass and began teaching an integration of Eastern philosophy into Western thought.

In 1974, Ram Dass created the Hanuman Foundation to support spiritual teachings in the West. The Hanuman Foundation developed the Living-Dying Project, providing conscious care and support for the terminally ill and dying. It also developed the Prison-Ashram Project. In 1978, Ram Dass cofounded the Seva Foundation, an international public health and social justice organization.

In February 1997, Ram Dass suffered a debilitating stroke that left him partially paralyzed and with limited speech. Known for his quick wit and remarkable ability to articulate the mysteries of being human, this was a powerful change for Ram Dass and for those who love him and his work. Describing his stroke as "fierce grace," Ram Dass uses his own healing experience to share an inspiring and passionate vision on aging consciously for spiritual growth.

The Ram Dass Library has a capacity to house more than 12,000 books and audiotapes. At this time we have a collection consisting of more than 7,000 books and audiotapes. Collections of the quality we envision are built over time. With the assistance of faculty members and volunteers, we have compiled wish lists for the library.

The library is divided into three collections; wisdom traditions, Ram Dass favorites, and general interest. Within the wisdom collection you will find books on all of the major religions, as well as indigenous traditions from around the world. The Ram Dass collection includes books on subjects of personal interest to Ram Dass. Here you will find books on aging, death and dying, teenagers, service, and psychedelics. Both of these collections help to make the Ram Dass Library unique in its scope.

Rounding out the shelves of the library, we include books on subjects that are taught in Omega workshops and works from our faculty members. With a brief look at the Omega catalog you will see the diversity of our offerings. While browsing through the library you will find books on mind-body transformation, creativity, gender studies, relationships, yoga, bodywork, martial arts, nature and the environment, and the arts.

You can help us build the collection. Your suggestions of titles to include are welcome, as are donations of books—in good condition—that are consistent with the subject matter found in the Ram Dass Library. Every donated book will bear recognition of your gift.

Through the generosity of many Omega friends, the Ram Dass Library has become a reality. We continue to seek funds that will enhance the collection and provide ongoing support for technology, staffing, and administration. Libraries in America are supported by the private sector—friends who understand the critical importance of education, a quality collection, and access to these special resources.

Each book that becomes part of the collection, on average, costs nearly $15 to purchase and process. Even donated books have significant cataloging costs. Your gift will help defray those costs and allow Omega's modest budget allocation to go farther.

We invite you to become a Friend of the Ram Dass Library to help keep the Ram Dass Library a vibrant element of the Omega campus. In addition to helping build the collection, your charitable donation can help

• cover office equipment rental
• provide Internet access
• pay for membership in professional associations
• offset costs for utilities and phones
• defray staff salaries

I want to mail or fax my donation to the Ram Dass Library (pdf format - must have Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Thank you for supporting the Ram Dass Library.

We are seeking people with library experience to join Omega's seasonal staff and help maintain the library when our campus is open from May to October. For more information on the library and how you can help, please contact Toni Sinopoli 845-266-4444, ext. 305 or email pac@eomega.org.