Be Here Now

Be Here Now (1971) by Ram Dass (formerly Dr. Richard Alpert) is a seminal work of modern spirituality that bridges Eastern wisdom traditions with Western cultural contexts. Ram Dass, who was once a psychology professor at Harvard University, collaborated with Timothy Leary on early psychedelic research before traveling to India, where encounters with Neem Karoli Baba reshaped his worldview. First published by the Lama Foundation, Be Here Now blends memoir and spiritual teachings to guide readers toward deeper self-awareness. Belonging to the broader genre of spiritual and philosophical literature, the book became iconic in the counterculture era for its presentation of themes such as Centering Mindfulness to Live in the Eternal Present, The Importance of Ego Dissolution and Devotion, and Blending Eastern and Western  Spiritual Traditions to Access Universal Truths.

This guide references the 2010 Libby eBook edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of substance use.

Summary

Ram Dass’s Be Here Now is structured into distinct sections that chronicle his evolution from a Harvard psychology professor to a spiritually-oriented teacher immersed in Indian devotional practices. The first section, “Journey: The Transformation,” outlines his life before and after his introduction to psychedelics. Alpert found early success as a psychologist and academic, immersed in lecture circuits and research grants. Yet, privately, he felt a “sound-proof” disconnection—a sense that, despite scholarly achievements, there was a hollowness in his endeavors. Teaming up with Timothy Leary at Harvard in the early 1960s, Alpert helped pioneer studies on psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Although these substances offered him flashes of expanded consciousness, he soon realized their effects were fleeting. Returning repeatedly to what he called the “coming down,” Alpert was left with a nagging sense of incompleteness.

A trip to India and a chance meeting with the Westerner-turned-sadhu, Bhagwan Dass, radically changed Alpert’s course. Traveling deeper into the Indian subcontinent, he eventually encountered Neem Karoli Baba (referred to as Maharaj-ji), a guru whose simple presence and seemingly boundless love challenged Alpert’s Western rationality. The guru’s capacity to know intimate details of Alpert’s life, coupled with his informal grace, convinced Alpert that genuine spiritual insight surpassed any fleeting psychedelic high or academic accolade. Renamed “Ram Dass,” meaning “servant of God,” he dedicated himself to spiritual disciplines such as meditation, devotional chanting, and service to others. The “Journey Book” closes with Alpert’s transformation into Ram Dass, no longer content with chemical epiphanies but seeking a lasting, heart-based awareness.

The second major portion, “From Bindu to Ojas” (often called the “Core Book”), is an unconventional “guide” combining swirling calligraphy, sketches, and concise spiritual maxims. Here, Dass expounds on the nature of illusion (maya), the tension between the ego-self and the deeper divine identity, and the importance of love and service. He integrates concepts from Hindu, Buddhist, and other mystical traditions, rendering them accessible to Western seekers of the 1970s. Affirmations like “As soon as you give it all up you can have it all” highlight spiritual paradoxes (188)—for example, the idea that genuine power only emerges once the personal ego is surrendered. By balancing personal anecdotes with universal teachings, Dass shows how each moment of life can reveal the “Clear Light” if approached with an open, devoted mind.

In the “Cookbook for a Sacred Life” section, Dass provides practical advice and exercises for transforming one’s daily routine into a path of continuous spiritual practice—sadhana. From dietary suggestions emphasizing the purity of body and mind to breathing disciplines (pranayam) to guidelines for hatha yoga, chanting, and mindful service, he reframes mundane tasks as opportunities for present-moment awareness. This section also addresses deeper themes like sexual energy, the possibility of transmuting lower drives into higher compassion, and the notion of siddhis (mystical powers). Rather than glorifying extraordinary feats, Dass cautions that such abilities can seduce the ego, diverting a seeker from authentic realization.

Throughout Be Here Now, Dass weaves commentary on how psychedelics initially cracked open his worldview. Yet, he also underscores their limitations. He advocates disciplined meditation and “heart-centered devotion” as more sustainable than chemical means. He portrays moments of “ego death” not as one-time peaks but as a daily practice of relinquishing identification with status, achievement, and conventional thinking. By referencing teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, Buddhist koans, Sufi poetry, and Christian mysticism, Dass points to an underlying unity across all spiritual traditions.

The text concludes with the assertion that true knowledge is self-realization—that each person is already divine at the core. Rather than focusing on external gurus or fleeting events, Dass highlights the endless potential for inner unfolding. His final messages challenge readers to continue exploring, remain vigilant about the ego’s subtleties, and keep returning to the abiding truth of the present moment.