Ram Dass (Richard Alpert)

Richard Alpert was born on 6 April in 1928, 1931, or 1933, depending on whom you believe) in Boston, Massachusetts. He became a university lecturer in psychology but despite 5 years of psychoanalysis by 1961 he was very depressed, very anxious, drinking heavily and smoking pot while the fear before every lecture produced diarrhoea and tensions. He was nominally Jewish but felt no spirituality in his religion, no love in his family, was disillusioned with his understanding of psychology and experiencing a deep malaise when he met Timothy Leary. Leary had returned from a European holiday he financed by passing bad cheques ie stealing but this didn't stop Alpert from becoming his drinking buddy and adoring disciple. He believed Leary had "an absolutely extraordinary intellect" and who knows, at this time, maybe he still had.

After taking psilocybin in 1961, his life became dominated by the taking of "psychedelic" drugs in as great a combination as was possible. His excitement and belief in the transcendant and revolutionary social effects of these drugs seems silly now after thirty years of their (ab)use. By 1967, despite his survival of an extraordinary amount of drugs with faculties reasonably intact he was once again deeply depressed and in despair touring in India suffering from physical discomfort & paranoia caused by hashish withdrawal when he met a guru, Jagat Gurudev Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj. "Maharaji" (or "great king" - in India gurus are usually given honorifics by their followers that would be considered excessive in European societies ) who in Alpert's photos appears an ugly, fat old man dressed in a striped blanket soon convinces Alpert that he is actually omniscient, omnipotent and et, etc. He receives the name Ram Dass, or "servant of God" and returns to the United States where he edits and publishes 'Remember, Be Here Now'.

The book contained 3 sections, the first was an autobiography of Richard Alpert up until the time he became a follower of 'Maharaji' mainly devoted to his drug experiences ending with Since his most recent return to the West from India he has been floating about on an ocean of love. The second section is devoted to his "philosophy" formatted in "late 60's hippy multi-media" ie text was handwritten, partially ignoring the convention of left to right & straight lines interspersd with naif sketches. The third section was a brief introduction to yoga, "spiritual" life practices and techniques with inspirational quotes - a sort of mini 'Perennial Philosophy' and a do it yourself spirituality textbook. 'Be Here Now' was an unexpected publishing bombshell and made 'Ram Dass' famous and commenced his thirty year career as an author and "teacher".

Because he is a public figure who compulsively discusses his private life in public it is possible to determine the results of his spiritual practice and his devotion to his guru over a thirty year period. In public seminars conducted in 196 marketed as 'Truth and Transformation' he reveals that 30 years since writing 'Be Here Now' he has gained no spiritual insight or experience from meditation and that his cherished beliefs about this divine guru are just that - beliefs.

On 19 February 1997, Ram Dass suffered a stroke which left him paralyzed of the right side of his body and limited his ability to speak. He is still recovering. He has not lost his sense of humour.

Books by Ram Dass

Audio