Being Ram Dass
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- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Ram Dass
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Summary
Set against a backdrop of nine decades of sweeping cultural change， Being Ram Dass shares this modern day luminary's journey from psychologist to renegade Harvard psychedelics researcher to beloved spiritual icon。
Perhaps no other teacher has sparked the fires of as many spiritual seekers in the West as Ram Dass。 If you've ever embraced the phrase "be here now，" practiced meditation or yoga， tried psychedelics， or supported anyone in a hospice， prison， or homeless center—then the story of Ram Dass is also part of your story。
From his birth in 1931 to his luminous later years， Ram Dass saw his life as just one incarnation of many。 This memoir puts us in the passenger seat with the one time Harvard psychologist and lifelong risk-taker Richard Alpert， who loved to take friends on wild rides on his Harley and test nearly every boundary—inner or outer—that came his way。
Here， Ram Dass shares his life's odyssey in intimate detail: how he struggled with issues of self-identity and sexuality in his youth， pioneered psychedelic research， and opened the doorways to Eastern spiritual practices。 In 1967 he trekked to India and met his guru， Neem Karoli Baba。 He returned as a yogi and psychologist whose perspective changed millions。
Populated by a cast of luminaries ranging from Timothy Leary to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross， Allen Ginsberg to Sharon Salzberg， Aldous Huxley to Alan Watts—this intimate memoir chronicles Ram Dass's experience of the cultural and spiritual transformations that resonate with us to this day， a journey from the mind to the heart， from the ego to the soul。
Before， after， and along these waypoints， readers will encounter many other adventures and revelations—each ringing with the potential to awaken the universal， loving divine that links this beloved teacher to all of us。
Perhaps no other teacher has sparked the fires of as many spiritual seekers in the West as Ram Dass。 If you've ever embraced the phrase "be here now，" practiced meditation or yoga， tried psychedelics， or supported anyone in a hospice， prison， or homeless center—then the story of Ram Dass is also part of your story。
From his birth in 1931 to his luminous later years， Ram Dass saw his life as just one incarnation of many。 This memoir puts us in the passenger seat with the one time Harvard psychologist and lifelong risk-taker Richard Alpert， who loved to take friends on wild rides on his Harley and test nearly every boundary—inner or outer—that came his way。
Here， Ram Dass shares his life's odyssey in intimate detail: how he struggled with issues of self-identity and sexuality in his youth， pioneered psychedelic research， and opened the doorways to Eastern spiritual practices。 In 1967 he trekked to India and met his guru， Neem Karoli Baba。 He returned as a yogi and psychologist whose perspective changed millions。
Populated by a cast of luminaries ranging from Timothy Leary to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross， Allen Ginsberg to Sharon Salzberg， Aldous Huxley to Alan Watts—this intimate memoir chronicles Ram Dass's experience of the cultural and spiritual transformations that resonate with us to this day， a journey from the mind to the heart， from the ego to the soul。
Before， after， and along these waypoints， readers will encounter many other adventures and revelations—each ringing with the potential to awaken the universal， loving divine that links this beloved teacher to all of us。
Reviews
Rene Low
，
Audiobook 4。5 starsParts of this challenged me and parts of it entertained me but it definitely changed me also。 Filling in gaps of my understanding that I felt but hadn’t articulated this book had such depth。 Following the full arc of Ram Dass’s life was extraordinary。
Elly Sands
，
One thing for sure is his book "Be Here Now" was a huge hit and quite an influence in our hippie days。 So of course I was curious about his life and after reading this memoir there are absolutley no secrets left。 No questions as he tells ALL！！！ The strange underlying feeling I had while reading it is that a man who was known for wanting to rise above his ego his book was filled with just that-EGO。 Yes， when writing a memoir you talk about yourself but I just couldn't lose this uncomfortable feel One thing for sure is his book "Be Here Now" was a huge hit and quite an influence in our hippie days。 So of course I was curious about his life and after reading this memoir there are absolutley no secrets left。 No questions as he tells ALL！！！ The strange underlying feeling I had while reading it is that a man who was known for wanting to rise above his ego his book was filled with just that-EGO。 Yes， when writing a memoir you talk about yourself but I just couldn't lose this uncomfortable feeling。 He led a full out interesting and experimental life and this book covers it all from the beginning until the very very end。 。。。more
Christine Jacobi
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Interesting look at the evolution from ego to soul， with all the relationships that inform the journey。
Jt O'Neill
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I was a college student in the mid 1970’s when Be Here Now was making a splash on college campuses across the country。 Yes， I was intrigued with the author Ram Dass and curious about the path that took him to writing this unique book。 I will admit that Be Here Now was not an easy book for me to read。 One reason is that the formatting does not follow the usual book publishing rules。 I had to physically adjust myself and work just to read it。 The different formatting along with the dark writing on I was a college student in the mid 1970’s when Be Here Now was making a splash on college campuses across the country。 Yes， I was intrigued with the author Ram Dass and curious about the path that took him to writing this unique book。 I will admit that Be Here Now was not an easy book for me to read。 One reason is that the formatting does not follow the usual book publishing rules。 I had to physically adjust myself and work just to read it。 The different formatting along with the dark writing on dark pages and the intricate illustrations made it uncomfortable to read but so did the actual text。 It was all unfamiliar territory for me。 I was from a working class Catholic family and I needed help just understanding these new concepts。Eventually， I grew in depth and understanding。 Eventually， I came to greatly appreciate the work of Ram Dass and I grieved when I learned of his death in December of 2019。 I was delighted to see that his autobiography would be published posthumously in early 2021。 Being Ram Dass is four hundred pages of a life story。 There is a lot of minutia， some of it interesting， some of it monotonous。 Although I enjoyed reading the sections on his childhood and his work at Harvard and Stanford detailed in Parts I and II， I was also familiar with those years as he had summarized them in the opening （non numbered pages） of Be Here Now。 Those twenty or so pages will offer a reader the background to the rest of his life but I did enjoy his storytelling。 He weaves together names， places， and events of the era in an engaging fashion。 For me， Parts III， IV， and V were more compelling。 Throughout his life， Ram Dass took charge of his own story but these sections detail the compassion and grace that made his life so remarkable。 He does not hold himself up to be a model of a perfect human being。 In fact， he holds himself accountable for his humanity and yet he resonates with light and wisdom。 I was especially interested in his path as he looked carefully at aging and dying。 For me， this book was more of an autobiography than a memoir。 What’s the difference， you ask？ The difference is in the details。 An autobiography， told in the first person， tends to focus more on the facts of a person’s life。 A memoir， also told in the first person， might reveal facts but tends to focus more on reflection and the author’s emotional response to events of their life。 In my ideal book， Ram Dass would have paired down some of the minutia and written even more from the heart about his life story。 Don’t get me wrong。 He did write from the heart but sometimes that writing got buried in details。 Another reviewer suggested that if some of the pages get too bogged down， just read the opening sentence in each paragraph and you will get the general idea， freeing you up to focus on the more engaging sections。 That’s advice worth considering。If you are interested in the 1960’s/1970’s， the counterculture， and research on psychedelic experiences， this book might appeal to you。 If you are looking for a model of compassion， openness， and truth then this book will definitely appeal to you。 Ram Dass was a gift to us from the Universe。 He taught us how we are all walking each other home and I found his words to be thoughtful and inspiring。 。。。more
Nathalie
，
Although the facts， names and details were overwhelming for someone not familiar with Ram Dass， this book creates the right atmosphere for a deeper understanding of the man and his look on the cosmos。My suggestion if you find the details of some sections make you nod off: start reading the first sentences of paragraphs only， you'll get the idea and you can concentrate on the more engaging pages。 Although the facts， names and details were overwhelming for someone not familiar with Ram Dass， this book creates the right atmosphere for a deeper understanding of the man and his look on the cosmos。My suggestion if you find the details of some sections make you nod off: start reading the first sentences of paragraphs only， you'll get the idea and you can concentrate on the more engaging pages。 。。。more
Jeff Bauer
，
I was really pleased with how this memoir "filled in the gaps" on a lot of Ram Dass' story。 He speaks frankly about his missteps and about his sexuality。 This book inspired me to go back and read several of his other books。 Highly recommended， even for those who are familiar with his life story I was really pleased with how this memoir "filled in the gaps" on a lot of Ram Dass' story。 He speaks frankly about his missteps and about his sexuality。 This book inspired me to go back and read several of his other books。 Highly recommended， even for those who are familiar with his life story 。。。more
Jon
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Incredible。
Felipe
，
A great biography as well as a great snapshot of the counterculture Revolution。
Isaiah
，
I always love the stories of yogis abs how they found their way。 It was an enjoyable book and a form of motivation for me to keep working on my spiritual side
Steve
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Sorry， Ram Das。 I admire you， and believe you did much good for the world。 May your spirit be for a blessing。 But I couldn't finish the book。 The Harvard/Leary years have been covered in greater detail elsewhere， and the guru stuff is not for me。 Great pictures， though。 Sorry， Ram Das。 I admire you， and believe you did much good for the world。 May your spirit be for a blessing。 But I couldn't finish the book。 The Harvard/Leary years have been covered in greater detail elsewhere， and the guru stuff is not for me。 Great pictures， though。 。。。more
Kelley
，
Love。 Serve。 Remember。 Thank you for your teachings。 Thank you for your service。 ॐ नमः शिवाय
Cherie
，
I got this book the day it came out， and spent the next month or so and spent my time savoring this book。 My only complaint was I wish this book was double the size; I knew many of the stories， and they went by a bit faster than I would have liked。 But a WONDERFUL wonderful look at Ram Dass's life， from a baby as Richard Alpert， to Harvard professor， to psychedelic guru， to speaker about Maharaji， to figuring life out。 Just such a truly beautiful special book。 Loved the photos and will be reread I got this book the day it came out， and spent the next month or so and spent my time savoring this book。 My only complaint was I wish this book was double the size; I knew many of the stories， and they went by a bit faster than I would have liked。 But a WONDERFUL wonderful look at Ram Dass's life， from a baby as Richard Alpert， to Harvard professor， to psychedelic guru， to speaker about Maharaji， to figuring life out。 Just such a truly beautiful special book。 Loved the photos and will be rereading this again。 。。。more
Triseugeny
，
A gem。 A gift。 I will always remember。
Finja
，
What a life。 So inspiring。 Incredibly grateful for the existence of this book。 🤍
Jeremy Hartley
，
This book was both fascinating and inspirational from beginning to end。 It was a journey of almost 90 years。 Of Richard Alpert starting life as a young boy， becoming a grown man， experimenting with LSD， meeting his guru， Maharajji （Neem Karoli Baba）， becoming Ram Dass and finally the long journey to just becoming a soul。 There were so many interesting characters that pass by along the way。 So many of whom have had a role in shaping my life。 Living， dying， psychedelics， faith， devotion are just s This book was both fascinating and inspirational from beginning to end。 It was a journey of almost 90 years。 Of Richard Alpert starting life as a young boy， becoming a grown man， experimenting with LSD， meeting his guru， Maharajji （Neem Karoli Baba）， becoming Ram Dass and finally the long journey to just becoming a soul。 There were so many interesting characters that pass by along the way。 So many of whom have had a role in shaping my life。 Living， dying， psychedelics， faith， devotion are just some of the topics that came by。The story is lovingly told by Rameshwar Dass who wrote this book with him。 I strongly recommend the audio book， which is read by Rameshwar Dass。 This is the strongest recommendation I could give for a book。 Would give more stars if I could。 。。。more
Elbrackeen Brackeen
，
This straightforward account of his life was great for me to connect a whole bunch of dots that I have been accumulating since the mid-80s。
Maya Michel
，
His story in his words。 The tales of many layers in detail。 So much of the old cassette tapes that I would listen to in the 80s and how “Be Here Now” came about。 So much！ I loved this book。 I bought it for my daughter who loved this book。 So many sides， so many depths， so knowing， honest and descriptive。 If you are a Ram Dass follower， it makes sense to pick this up for clarity and a reminder that everything， every decision comes down to love。。。 What an extraordinary life。
Luke Schalla
，
Simply an account of the dance of a yogi’s soul as he journeyed home。 “Love holds the universe together。 Love is the emotion of connection and merging。 Viewed from the soul， the world is a manifestation of love。 Love is the bridge， the transfer of energy between form and formless， matter and spirit。”
David Przybylinski
，
Really enjoyable honest read from Ram Dass。 From his days as a professor through is time in India to his death。 Ram Dass had a lot of interesting stories and insight to Hindu and Buddhist traditions。
Agatha Glowacki
，
intense。 dense。 detailed。 pretty much a masterpiece memoir of a brilliantly lived life
Denise
，
This is the epic tale of Richard Alpert， aka Ram Dass， and his unlikely transformation from Harvard professor to internationally-known spiritual guide。 His memoir is filled with fascinating anecdotes， famous people， world-wide travel， and an easily accessible narrative guaranteed to entertain and educate the reader。
Emily Gould
，
Thank you to #NetGalley and #SoundsTrue for my advance copy。 Admittedly， I didn't know much， but was always curious about Ram Dass， so I picked up this book on a whim。 It's a surprisingly warm， relatable and funny memoir of an extraordinary life。 From growing up Jewish in Boston to getting kicked out of Harvard with Timothy Leary for their LSD experiments， to finding his guru and calling。。。。an amazing and inspiring read。 Loved it！ Thank you to #NetGalley and #SoundsTrue for my advance copy。 Admittedly， I didn't know much， but was always curious about Ram Dass， so I picked up this book on a whim。 It's a surprisingly warm， relatable and funny memoir of an extraordinary life。 From growing up Jewish in Boston to getting kicked out of Harvard with Timothy Leary for their LSD experiments， to finding his guru and calling。。。。an amazing and inspiring read。 Loved it！ 。。。more
Kevin Urbanski
，
An absolutely beautiful and honest telling。 Every page has a purpose， exploring the layers an amazing life， and life itself。
Dan Secor
，
Come for the Acid trips， stay for the enlightenment 。。。。Or， If Richard Alpert/Ram Dass didn't exist， mankind would have had to make him up。Throughout my adult life I have searched for a form of spirituality that I could identify with and settle into。 About 15-20 years ago， I settled in Buddhism with some Taoism and Hinduism sprinkled in。 I have been to several meditation and/or yoga retreats to Kripalu in Western Mass。 over the years， including a couple where I have met some amazing people and l Come for the Acid trips， stay for the enlightenment 。。。。Or， If Richard Alpert/Ram Dass didn't exist， mankind would have had to make him up。Throughout my adult life I have searched for a form of spirituality that I could identify with and settle into。 About 15-20 years ago， I settled in Buddhism with some Taoism and Hinduism sprinkled in。 I have been to several meditation and/or yoga retreats to Kripalu in Western Mass。 over the years， including a couple where I have met some amazing people and learned so much about myself。However， the political polarity and COVID anxieties have led me to stray from my practice。 My tipping point came this past weekend when a much anticipated training for meditation teacher training left me feeling empty。 And then came this wonderful autobiography。Without going into details about this amazing man's transformation， I will say this。 Ram Dass was a self-acknowledging flawed man who grew up in privilege and recognized the power of ego， only to give himself to teaching and love。 He finished this book （with Rameshwar Das） very shortly before his life ended。 It was remarkable， touching， sad and triumphant。This book came along just when I needed it。 。。。more
Amy
，
Ram Ram Ram。
Giles
，
It is impossible to overstate the cultural and spiritual significance of Ram Dass （formerly psychologist Richard Alpert） and his work。 As a pioneer of the 1960s counterculture， both as a psychologist and as spiritual explorer， he has had a powerful impact， even if some of it has been under the radar。You may not want to embrace the Hindu cultural and spiritual trappings that provided a context for his work。 Nevertheless， there is a lucidity and a joyful sense of wonder about the heart of his life It is impossible to overstate the cultural and spiritual significance of Ram Dass （formerly psychologist Richard Alpert） and his work。 As a pioneer of the 1960s counterculture， both as a psychologist and as spiritual explorer， he has had a powerful impact， even if some of it has been under the radar。You may not want to embrace the Hindu cultural and spiritual trappings that provided a context for his work。 Nevertheless， there is a lucidity and a joyful sense of wonder about the heart of his life and teachings。 In fact Ram Dass， along with Gandhi would say that his life was his teaching。 I have heard many of the stories in this book before （though not all of them）， but that didn't matter at all。 The autobiographical perspective， looking back from the end of his life， and told to one of his closest friends Rameshwar Das， gives them a fresh feel and manages to uncover new layers of spiritual significance in each one。Reading this book， was a happy experience。 Despite the fact that Ram Dass left his body a little over a year ago I could feel a tangible sense of the presence of this loving and joyful soul。 I am sure I will read it again on many occasions。 。。。more
Sertac
，
Mixed feelings。。。 After reading about his Richard Alpert years， then 'Be Here Now' and watching 'Ram Dass， Going Home' twice， I decided to read 'Miracle of Love' about Maharaj-ji。 I really wanted to understand how a man of science can change so dramatically and fall into bhakti。 Who am I to criticise; I just wanted to understand。 I've looked for clues about this transition in 'Being Ram Dass'。 I couldn't find many answers。 Especially after reading 'Miracle of Love'， I'm still struggling with Mah Mixed feelings。。。 After reading about his Richard Alpert years， then 'Be Here Now' and watching 'Ram Dass， Going Home' twice， I decided to read 'Miracle of Love' about Maharaj-ji。 I really wanted to understand how a man of science can change so dramatically and fall into bhakti。 Who am I to criticise; I just wanted to understand。 I've looked for clues about this transition in 'Being Ram Dass'。 I couldn't find many answers。 Especially after reading 'Miracle of Love'， I'm still struggling with Maharaj-ji being such much associated with unconditional love。 Additionally， all those supernatural things they say he has done are accepted without much （scientific） questioning。 I understand and respect that people need to believe in anything/something/someone that can transform and make them enlightened and loved/happier human beings in many ways。 Still， I am having difficulty comprehending and getting into Ram Dass' and Maharaj-Ji and all the 'hype' created around。 I've heard this saying: ''Guru doesn't fly; the devotees make him fly'。 I sincerely tried to find clues to prove this wrong but no luck。 I'd appreciate if anyone could shed light and help me understand what that extraordinary and still 'real' about Maharaj-Ji was。 I have to say; I got bored of reading glorification of him all over the book which I was expecting more about love and compassion and how Ram Dass understand life and death overall， which I found in Part V finally。 No matter what this is a great human being's astonishing life story which is a 5-star read。 。。。more
Sam Bradley
，
This is a beautiful book written more as inner and spiritual growth than a summary of triumphs and failures。 There are touching lessons throughout the book sprinkled with humor and insight。 I found myself wondering if maybe he got too high on psychedelics and the rest of his life was a result of just flying too close to the sun， but I didn’t get that sense。 He and another Harvard professor Timothy Leary are basically responsible for introducing the western world to psychedelics in the 60’s。 To m This is a beautiful book written more as inner and spiritual growth than a summary of triumphs and failures。 There are touching lessons throughout the book sprinkled with humor and insight。 I found myself wondering if maybe he got too high on psychedelics and the rest of his life was a result of just flying too close to the sun， but I didn’t get that sense。 He and another Harvard professor Timothy Leary are basically responsible for introducing the western world to psychedelics in the 60’s。 To me， Leary seems have gotten too high while Ram Dass moved on and used those experiences as a catalyst for deeper meaning， inner growth and teaching。 Psychedelics aren’t the theme of the book if someone is looking for that; but I did find it interesting they were experimenting with psychedelics in the early 60’s at the same time lobotomies were still being widely performed。 To me there are two ways of looking at his book。 In a psychological sense it’s a marvel the way he looked at things。 The positivity he found in situations， the lessons he saw in things， how he handled relationships or inner and outer strife。On the other hand， not trying to measure how he interacted and viewed things and just letting my mind wander with the magical feel the book is filled with。。。wow。 。。。more
Robert Julius
，
Quintessential—beautifully orchestrates Ram Dass’s life of love from beginning to end。 A delight for anyone who wants to understand his dharma and receive a beautiful message: that we are all Loving Awareness。
Roger
，
I forgot I pre-ordered this posthumous memoir back in November， so it was a pleasant surprise to read an email on Tuesday saying this book was now available。 Perfect timing。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Being Ram Dass
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Being Ram Dass&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Being Ram Dass&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0