Miracle of Love

This is a painting of Neem Karoli Baba or Maharaj-ji, the guru of Ram Dass and the quiet force behind so much of the great love that has shaped my life.
The first time I met Ram Dass I was three. My mom took me to one of his events in Berkeley. At 20 I went to his talk in Vancouver. He has been my teacher ever since, and about 20 years ago he became a dear friend and neighbor here on Maui.
This painting carries his guru’s presence so strongly it felt like a transmission that came through me. The eyes are alive with mischievous compassion. The smile is gentle, knowing, and quietly laughing at the whole human drama. The face radiates the same warmth people always described when they sat with Maharaj-ji.
Ram Dass kept this painting right outside the entrance to his room. Every single time he walked past it, he would stop, burst into laughter and pure bliss, and sometimes just stand there beaming.
This is not just an image. It is the feeling of being seen by him, loved by him, and gently laughed at by him in the most healing way possible.
The title “Miracle of Love” fits. Because that is exactly what Maharaj-ji was and still is: living proof that love is the only miracle we ever really need.
For anyone who knows the lineage, this painting carries real emotional resonance — the same resonance that made Ram Dass light up every single day. The love is still here. The laughter is still here. The miracle is still happening.
May this painting bring you the joy and presence it brought to Ram Dass every single day.