Ram Dass, born Richard Alpert, was an American spiritual teacher, psychotherapist, and author who gained worldwide recognition for his teachings on Eastern spirituality and his advocacy for psychedelic drug use as a means of expanding consciousness. He became a key figure in the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s and is considered to be a pioneer of the Western Yoga movement. Despite facing many challenges throughout his life, including a stroke that left him paralyzed at the age of 65, Ram Dass continued to inspire millions of people around the world with his message of love and compassion, and his legacy continues to live on.
Ram Dass was born on April 6, 1931, in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Tufts University and later earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Stanford University. In the early 1960s, he began to experiment with psychedelic drugs, including LSD, which led him on a path of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. He met the spiritual teacher Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Maharaji, in India in 1967, which had a profound impact on his life and teachings. He wrote about these experiences in his seminal book, “Be Here Now,” which has sold over two million copies worldwide.
Ram Dass’s teachings centered around the concept of self-realization, which he defined as the process of discovering our true nature beyond the ego. He believed that the human experience was characterized by suffering and that the path to enlightenment involved transcending this suffering through the practice of meditation, mindfulness, and loving-kindness. He emphasized the importance of living in the present moment, letting go of attachment, and cultivating an attitude of non-judgment and acceptance.
Ram Dass’s advocacy for psychedelic drug use as a means of spiritual exploration was controversial, but he believed that these drugs could provide a glimpse into the true nature of reality and help individuals break free from their limited perceptions of the world. He argued that psychedelics could be a powerful tool for healing trauma and could facilitate an experience of interconnectedness with the universe, which could lead to greater compassion and empathy for others.
In 1997, Ram Dass suffered a severe stroke that left him paralyzed on the right side of his body and unable to speak. This experience forced him to confront his own mortality and dependence on others, which he described as a profound spiritual awakening. Despite his physical limitations, he continued to write and teach through his website, workshops, and audio recordings until his death in 2019 at the age of 88.
Ram Dass’s life and teachings continue to inspire generations of spiritual seekers worldwide. He was a pioneer of Western spirituality and his message of love, compassion, and self-realization resonates with people of all backgrounds and faiths. His legacy will continue to live on through his writings, teachings, and the millions of lives he touched throughout his life. As Ram Dass famously said, “We’re all just walking each other home.”
