I was recently watching a workshop that included Ram Dass, author of the classic book “Be Here Now,” and he said that whenever he is overcome with thoughts, whether positive or negative, he recites to himself, “I am loving awareness.”

Dass was one of three facilitators of the workshop, and he’d already cautioned against living too much in our thinking, worldly minds. He said our minds don’t have to know anything with any immediacy, but we should, instead, “embrace this moment.”

I’ve been a fan of his since I first read “Be Here Now” in the 1970s. I recommend it highly. In it, he says that this is the only moment that exists so do not waste it by not being fully present.

I saw him in person in New Orleans at that time. Now he has aged, along with me, and he has had some medical maladies. But his spirit has remained buoyant, and I love him. His current work is done through his Love Serve Remember Foundation.

Love. Serve. Remember.

Ram Dass is all about love. In fact, he is an embodiment of love. He exudes love. He is love. He serves others by helping them remember that they, too, are love. Love is the twinkle in his eye that he is more than happy to share!

I believe that we are all spiritual beings having a mortal existence, and I, like Ram Dass, believe that’s important to remember. I believe we are all one energy. And I believe that energy is only love. We are one, and we are love.

So how could anybody not be compassionate? How could anyone willfully hurt themself? How could anybody be other than blissfully loving? Besides, it feels really, really good to serve others, especially the unsuspecting, a dose of unconditional love. By doing so, our communal love must grow. And, because it does feel grand, that will set off an all-encompassing chain reaction of love growth.

Ram Dass also wrote “Be Love Now.” And I suggest we all try to do as he suggests. Embody love and spread it around. Radiate love. Be love now. We all can do it! And what a happy world this will be when we remember our true essence!

Say this with me: I am loving awareness. I am loving awareness. I am loving awareness. I love. I serve. And this is likely the most important: I remember.

Marcelle Hanemann is a reporter for The Daily News. You can email her at marcelle.hanemann@bogalusadailynews.com or call her at 985-732-2565, ext. 301.