Ram Dass first went to India in 1967. He was still Dr. Richard Alpert, an already eminent Harvard psychologist and psychedelic pioneer with Dr. Timothy Leary. In India, he met his guru, Neem Karoli Baba (affectionately known as Maharaj-ji), who gave Ram Dass his name, which means “servant of God.” In that moment, everything changed — his intense dharmic life started, and he became a pivotal influence on a culture that has reverberated with the words “Be Here Now” ever since.

Be Here Now, Ram Dass’ monumentally influential and seminal work, still stands as the highly readable centerpiece of Western articulation of Eastern philosophy, offering guidance on how to live joyously 100 percent of the time in the present, luminous or mundane. Be Here Nowcontinues to be the instruction manual of choice for generations of spiritual seekers. Forty years later, it’s still part of the timeless present.

Ram Dass now resides on Maui, where he shares satsang and kirtan, and where he can amplify the healing process in the air and waters of Hawaii. His work continues to serve as a path of wisdom and inspiration to countless seekers. Ram Dass’ spirit has been a guiding light for three generations, carrying along millions on the journey, helping free them from their bonds as he worked his way through his own.