Teaching
Ram Dass brought together bhakti, devotion centred on the Hindu deity Hanuman, with Buddhist meditation and karma yoga, spiritual practice as service to others. His book Be Here Now introduced meditation, yoga and Eastern spirituality to many Western readers. 1
Who it is for
For Western readers interested in devotion, meditation and service, told through an American teacher's own path from academic psychology to an Indian guru.
Life and places
- Born Richard Alpert in Boston on 6 April 1931, he became a psychology professor at Harvard. 1, 2
- In 1967 he travelled to India, where he met Neem Karoli Baba, who gave him the name Ram Dass. 1
- In 1974 he founded the Hanuman Foundation; in 1997 a stroke left him paralysed on the right side of his body and limited his ability to speak. 1
- He moved to Maui in 2004 and died at his home there on 22 December 2019. 1
Works
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Be Here Now
Book · 1971 · Lama Foundation, San Cristobal, New Mexico
His book of 1971, which introduced meditation, yoga and Eastern spirituality to many Western readers; he published it with the permission of his guru Neem Karoli Baba.
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Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying
Book · 2000 · Riverhead Books, New York
A book on aging, change and dying.
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Be Love Now: The Path of the Heart
Book · 2010 · HarperCollins
A book on the path of the heart, devotion and unconditional love, written with Rameshwar Das.
The short summaries are ours.
In their own words
Short passages in the words of Ram Dass, each with its source. Where the quoted text is not in the language of this page, a translation follows and says whose it is.
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Well, I take one look at him, and I don’t have any questions. I just wanna fall out and touch his feet.
Talk at the Esalen Institute, 12 June 1969; transcribed excerpt on the page of Here and Now, episode 313 · ramdass.org Recorded: Transcribed from the recording of the talk by the Love Serve Remember Foundation, which keeps his recordings. -
And you shift gears; you no longer try to collect love. You just are in love with everybody.
Talk at the LA Whole Life Expo, 18 February 1989; transcribed excerpt on the page of Here and Now, episode 308 · ramdass.org Recorded: Transcribed from the recording of the talk by the Love Serve Remember Foundation, which keeps his recordings. -
These simple teachings, to love, serve, and remember, became the guideposts for my life.
Polishing the Mirror: How to Live from Your Spiritual Heart · Excerpt reproduced by his foundation ('What does it mean to Be Here Now?'), paragraph on Maharaji's teachings; page not given · ramdass.org -
Being in the moment, at ease with whatever comes one’s way, becomes contentment.
Polishing the Mirror: How to Live from Your Spiritual Heart · Excerpt reproduced by his foundation ('What does it mean to Be Here Now?'), second-to-last paragraph; page not given · ramdass.org -
My primary practice is guru kripa, the method of the guru, which involves maintaining a somewhat continuous dialogue with him.
Interview in Yoga Journal, September/October 1986, answer to the question 'What is your day-to-day practice like?' · yogajournal.com Recorded: Interview conducted and published by Stephen Bodian in Yoga Journal.
Documented teaching relationships
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Learned personally with Neem Karoli Baba
Ram Dass describes Neem Karoli Baba as his guru; the estate publishes his memories of the first trip to India in 1967.
Self-reported · ramdass.org , ramdass.org (2)
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Personal encounter with Eckhart Tolle
Ram Dass and Eckhart Tolle held a public conversation in Maui, Hawaii, in 2011, hosted by Tami Simon of Sounds True; it was their first time on stage together.
Stated by an institution · integralyogamagazine.org , mindfulnessexercises.com
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Personal encounter with Krishna Das
His publisher writes that Krishna Das met Ram Dass in the winter of 1968, was taken with his stories of his recent trip to India, where Ram Dass had met Neem Karoli Baba, and soon afterwards set off for India to meet Neem Karoli Baba himself.
Stated by an institution · hayhouse.co.in
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Personal encounter with U Pandita
In a 1986 Yoga Journal interview, Ram Dass is asked how his work with the Vipassana teacher U Pandita in Burma helped bring about a change in him, and he answers that the moment-to-moment mindfulness was certainly a component.
Self-reported · yogajournal.com
Teaching relationships are documented statements. They confer no trust and do not attest realisation.
Sources
- About Ram Dass · Love Serve Remember Foundation The foundation that keeps his work; biography and complete book list accessed 13 Oct 2026
- Ram Dass · Deutsche Biographie (GND 118598074) Biographical index based on the authority file of the German National Library; dates and place of birth accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Be Here Now (Lama Foundation, 1971) · Open Library Library catalogue record accessed 12 Oct 2026
Compiled by us from the sources listed. Last checked 13 Oct 2026.
This description is factual. It contains no recommendation, ranking or assurance. Statements about effects are those of the respective source.