I Brake to Be Here Now: Ram Dass & Mindfulness in a Nutshell

In 1971, Ram Dass published a book called Be Here Now. This book would change the west as we know it by bringing eastern philosophy, yoga, and meditation to America. Ram Dass’ name would eventually become synonymous with service, mindfulness, and peace. Holding this illustrious book, its power is potent. There is a certain magic to it: the hand-lettered text, the illustrations, the colors, even the feel of the pages. He would go on to author and co-author 12 more books on spirituality including Grist for the Mill (1977), How Can I Help (1985), and Polishing the Mirror (2013).

In the 1960s, Richard Alpert and Timothy Leary were cohorts at Harvard University. They were pioneers in the use of psychedelics to probe the depths of human consciousness. It was in March 1961, Alpert first tripped on synthetic psilocybin and experienced “ego death” which he described as both freeing and joyous. Their experimentation into the therapeutic benefits of LSD would ultimately lead to Alpert’s dismissal and Leary’s contract expiring from the university. However, by that point, they had already ignited a worldwide counterculture movement.

Ego death is when the line between internal self and the external world dissolves and causes a person to feel at one with the universe, nature, and humanity. This temporary state is linked to a reduced activity in the brain which is commonly seen in a range of psychedelic substances use as well as physical death. With high doses of psilocybin, LSD, DMT, and ayahuasca, ego death is commonly experienced. It can also be achieved through prolonged meditation, deep breath work, and mystic contemplation. Ego death has also been described during near-death experiences. These experiences can potentially be disorienting or emotionally overwhelming, but lead to a greater understanding of oneself, less desire for material or personal gain, more empathy for others, and an overall feeling of peace.

Once his work in psychedelics started, Alpert sought to sustain the elevated state of consciousness without the use of substances. He eventually found himself in existential crisis, unable to unlock the answers to his spiritual questions. Alpert made the quest to India where he would abandon his first-class travel plans after meeting a fellow American traveler, Bhagavan Das. In the foothills of the Himalayas, Bhagavan Das would introduce Alpert to his guru, Neem Karli Baba (Maharaj-ji) who would anoint him with the name Ram Dass meaning “Servant of God”.

Ram Dass was skeptical of the guru and his devotees, at first, perceiving them through an arrogant and cynical lens. During their first meeting, Maharaj-ji accurately detailed Ram Dass’ mother passing away just the year before from a "disease of the spleen". His intellectual defenses collapsed as there was no way the guru could have known these details about him. He broke down and wept for days describing a profound sense of being unconditionally loved and understood. He would stay in India for several months immersing himself in the experience. This first visit to India would lay the foundation for Be Here Now.

So, what does “be here now” really mean? Be here now is mindfulness. As an esoteric definition, be here now means living fully in the present, letting go of ego attachments, and seeing divinity and love in all people and experiences. In layman’s terms, it’s the idea that one is not living in the past or thinking about the future. It is being engaged with our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings in the present through a nonjudgmental lens. Non-judgmental acceptance is a component of mindfulness meaning to have experiences without labeling them as “good” or “bad”. Mindfulness is becoming a neutral observer.

Non-judgmental awareness of present-moment experiences, mindfulness was founded over 2600 years ago. Mindfulness is a practiced skill that can be applied to any task: walking, eating, working, etc. It can be applied and practiced through meditation, breath work, body scans, or simply noticing one’s surroundings. Mindfulness has been proven to lower stress, improve focus and memory, help emotional regulation, and foster more patience, compassion, and peace.

From the 1960s to the 1970s, Ram Dass toured across the United States giving lectures detailing his shift in consciousness, psychedelic experiences, and spiritual practices. Describing himself in his early years as an atheist, he is quoted as saying, “I didn’t have one whiff of god until I took psychedelics”. His work in psychedelics started a counterculture movement that still survives today. Be Here Now has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide.

If you would like to hear more from Ram Dass himself, you can listen to recordings here:

Be Here Now

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