Ram Dass

Ram Dass (born Richard Alpert) was an American spiritual teacher, psychologist, and writer best known for his 1971 book *Be Here Now*.

Ram Dass (born Richard Alpert) was an American spiritual teacher, psychologist, and writer best known for his 1971 book *Be Here Now*. After early work as a Harvard psychologist and psychedelic researcher, he became a prominent figure in the spread of Eastern spirituality, meditation, and yoga in the West. He died in 2019 at age 88.

Early life and academic career

Richard Alpert was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1931. He worked as a psychologist and professor at Harvard University, where his early research later became linked to the 1960s psychedelic movement.

Spiritual transformation

After travelling to India, Alpert studied Hindu spirituality and was given the name Ram Dass by Neem Karoli Baba. This marked his shift from academic psychology toward spiritual teaching.

Writings and influence

His 1971 book *Be Here Now* became a landmark work of the counterculture era and helped introduce yoga, meditation, and Eastern spirituality to Western audiences. He later wrote and taught on spirituality, service, and conscious aging.

Later life and legacy

Ram Dass remained an influential spiritual teacher for decades and continued to inspire followers through books, retreats, and public talks. He died in Maui, Hawaii, in 2019 at age 88.

Influence in Canada

Ram Dass’s books and teachings were widely read in Canada through the broader North American yoga, meditation, and wellness movements.