Ram Dass – Here and Now Podcast

Ram Dass first traveled to India in 1967.

At the time, he was Dr. Richard Alpert, a Harvard psychologist and psychedelic researcher working alongside Dr. Timothy Leary. His journey to India marked a transformative turning point in his life.

There, he met his guru, Neem Karoli Baba—affectionately known as Maharaj-ji—who gave him the name Ram Dass, meaning “servant of God.” From that moment Richard Alpert was a servant of God, his spiritual path deepened, shaping a movement that continues to resonate with the powerful message of “Be Here Now.” Through the Bhakti practice of unconditional love, Ram Dass taught that we can all connect with our true nature. His teachings have shared the wisdom of Maharaj-ji with countless followers.

Ram Dass’ groundbreaking book, Be Here Now, remains a defining work in the Western understanding of Eastern philosophy. It offers timeless guidance on living with joy and love in the present moment. Generations of spiritual seekers continue to turn to it as an essential manual for mindfulness and self-discovery.

His other books include The Only Dance There Is (Anchor/Doubleday), Grist For The Mill (with Stephen Levine, Celestial Arts), Miracle of Love: Stories of Neem Karoli Baba (Hanuman Foundation), How Can I Help? (with Paul Gorman, Knopf), Compassion in Action: Setting Out on the Path of Service (with Mirabai Bush, Bell Tower Press), Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing and Dying (Riverhead Books), One-Liners: A Mini-Manual for a Spiritual Life (Bell Tower Press), and Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita (Harmony Books).

Ram Dass passed away at his home on Maui on December 22, 2019. In his later years, he continued to teach at his retreats alongside esteemed Bhakti and Buddhist thought leaders.

Since 2012, the Here and Now Podcast—originally hosted by Raghu Markus, President of the Love Serve Remember Foundation—has shared wisdom from his lectures spanning over four decades.

Today, Jackie Dobrinska, Community Director and Fellowship leader for LSRF, hosts the Here and Now Podcast. Discover how you can be part of the Ram Dass community, both virtually and in person, through the Ram Dass Fellowship.

For more from Ram Dass, visit RamDass.org.