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“Be Here Now” is a spiritual classic written by Ram Dass, a spiritual teacher, psychologist, and former Harvard professor. The book was published in 1971 and has since been a popular guide to mindfulness and spiritual growth for readers around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In “Be Here Now,” Ram Dass explores the concept of mindfulness and the importance of being present in the present moment. He argues that by living in the present, we can find true happiness and enlightenment. The book also covers topics such as meditation, the nature of the ego, and the role of service in spiritual growth. Through personal anecdotes and practical exercises, Ram Dass encourages readers to let go of their attachments and embrace a life of spiritual fulfillment. Overall, “Be Here Now” is a thought-provoking and inspiring guide to finding meaning and purpose in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The core message of “Be Here Now” is to focus on the present moment rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Ram Dass emphasizes cultivating full awareness of the here and now.This concept is fundamental to many spiritual traditions and has gained popularity in recent years through mindfulness practices. The idea is that by fully engaging with the present, we can reduce anxiety, increase happiness, and gain deeper insights into ourselves and the world around us.Ram Dass describes several practices to help cultivate present-moment awareness:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He shares a personal story of how psychedelic experiences initially gave him glimpses of intense present-moment awareness:”I remember taking LSD and suddenly realizing that the room I was in, which I had seen countless times before, was actually vibrating with life and energy. Every object seemed to pulse with its own rhythm. I felt completely immersed in the present, as if past and future had fallen away.”However, Ram Dass cautions that while psychedelics can offer temporary glimpses of presence, sustainable awareness requires ongoing practice and integration.An analogy he uses is that of tuning a radio:”Our minds are like radios constantly flipping between stations of past, future, and present. Practices like meditation help us tune into the ‘present moment’ station more consistently, reducing the static of regrets and worries.”To illustrate the power of presence, Ram Dass often told this story:A student approached a Zen master and asked, “How can I find enlightenment?”
The master replied, “Have you eaten your breakfast?”
“Yes,” said the student.
“Then wash your bowl,” answered the master.This simple exchange highlights how enlightenment is not some distant goal, but can be found in fully engaging with ordinary moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ram Dass encourages releasing attachment to one’s ego, social roles, and constructed identity. He describes his own journey of shedding his identity as Dr. Richard Alpert, successful Harvard professor, to become Ram Dass, spiritual seeker.This transformation was not easy or instantaneous. Ram Dass shares how he initially clung to his academic credentials and social status, even as he began exploring Eastern spirituality. He recalls a pivotal moment during his first trip to India:”I arrived at my guru’s ashram wearing my Harvard professor outfit – tweed jacket, tie, the works. I thought I was so important. My guru took one look at me and burst out laughing. In that moment, I realized how ridiculous my attachment to this identity was.”Over time, Ram Dass learned to let go of fixed notions of who he was, embracing a more fluid sense of self. He uses the metaphor of actors in a play:”We’re all playing roles – professor, parent, spiritual seeker. But we’re not the roles themselves. We’re the awareness behind the roles, free to step in and out of different parts as needed.”To help readers explore their own identities, Ram Dass suggests exercises like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasizes that letting go of ego doesn’t mean becoming a blank slate, but rather holding identities lightly and recognizing our deeper essence beyond surface-level labels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Be Here Now” details Ram Dass’s experiences with psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin as tools for expanding consciousness. However, he ultimately found more sustainable altered states through meditation and spiritual practices.Ram Dass’s journey with psychedelics began in the 1960s when he was a professor at Harvard. He and colleague Timothy Leary conducted some of the first scientific research on the effects of psilocybin and LSD. Ram Dass describes his first psilocybin experience:”It was as if the curtain of ordinary reality had been pulled back, revealing a world of vibrant energy and interconnectedness. I felt a profound sense of unity with everything around me.”These experiences led Ram Dass to question his materialist worldview and sparked a deep spiritual search. He continued to use psychedelics for several years, but eventually found their effects limited:”The problem with psychedelics is that you always come down. I was seeking a way to maintain that expanded awareness more consistently.”This quest led him to explore meditation, yoga, and other spiritual practices. He found that while these methods were more subtle, they offered a path to sustainable altered states:”Through meditation, I discovered I could access many of the same insights and expanded states I’d experienced on psychedelics, but in a way that integrated with daily life.”Ram Dass uses the analogy of mountain climbing to describe different approaches to altered states:”Psychedelics are like taking a helicopter to the mountaintop. You get an amazing view, but you haven’t learned how to climb. Spiritual practices are like learning to climb the mountain yourself. It’s slower, but you develop the skills to stay at the top.”While Ram Dass moved away from advocating psychedelic use, he acknowledged their potential for opening doors of perception when used carefully. He suggested that the ideal approach combines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ram Dass introduces many concepts from Hinduism, Buddhism, and yoga philosophy in “Be Here Now.” He describes how his trip to India and meeting his guru Neem Karoli Baba transformed his spiritual understanding.Before his journey to India, Ram Dass had intellectually studied Eastern philosophy but hadn’t fully embraced its practices. He recalls:”I could lecture for hours on the Bhagavad Gita or Buddhist sutras, but I was still living from my ego and feeling separate from others.”His encounter with Neem Karoli Baba (whom he called Maharaj-ji) changed everything. Ram Dass shares several stories of his guru’s seemingly miraculous abilities and unconditional love. One famous anecdote:”I had been thinking about my mother, who had died months earlier. Without me saying anything, Maharaj-ji suddenly said, ‘Your mother is not dead.’ He then accurately described a dream I’d had about her the night before. I was stunned.”These experiences convinced Ram Dass of the reality of higher states of consciousness and the validity of Eastern spiritual teachings. He began integrating practices like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ram Dass uses the metaphor of a toolbox to describe these various practices:”Western psychology gave me one set of tools for understanding the mind. Eastern spirituality offered a whole new toolbox, with instruments for directly experiencing higher states of consciousness.”He emphasizes that embracing Eastern spirituality doesn’t require rejecting Western ideas, but rather integrating the best of both worlds. Ram Dass encourages readers to explore different traditions and find practices that resonate with them personally.To help readers engage with Eastern concepts, “Be Here Now” includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ram Dass’s embrace of Eastern spirituality transformed not just his beliefs, but his entire way of being in the world. He often said:”I went to India looking for a guru to give me enlightenment. What I found was a mirror reflecting my own divine nature.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Be Here Now” offers various meditation techniques and mindfulness practices to quiet the mind and access higher states of awareness. Ram Dass emphasizes how these practices can lead to profound insights and transformation.Ram Dass describes meditation as “the art of diving into the gap between thoughts.” He explains that by learning to observe our mental chatter without getting caught up in it, we can access deeper levels of consciousness.The book outlines several meditation techniques, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ram Dass shares his own experiences with developing a meditation practice:”At first, my mind was like a wild monkey, jumping from thought to thought. But with patience and persistence, I began to experience moments of profound stillness and clarity. These glimpses motivated me to keep practicing.”He uses the analogy of cleaning a dirty window to describe the process of meditation:”Our minds are like windows covered in dust and grime. Meditation is the process of slowly, patiently cleaning that window. As it becomes clearer, we can see reality more accurately and let in more light.”To help readers establish their own practice, Ram Dass offers practical advice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasizes that the goal of meditation is not to achieve a blank mind, but to develop awareness and equanimity in the face of thoughts and emotions.Ram Dass also introduces the concept of “witness consciousness” – the ability to observe one’s thoughts and experiences without getting caught up in them. He describes this as a key to spiritual growth:”As you develop the witness, you start to see that you are not your thoughts or emotions. You are the awareness in which these experiences arise and pass away.”To illustrate the power of meditation, Ram Dass often shared this story:A student came to a meditation master and said, “My mind is so restless. How can I calm it?”
The master replied, “Show me this mind of yours and I will calm it for you.”
The student thought for a moment and said, “But when I try to show you my mind, I can’t find it!”
“There,” said the master, “I have calmed it for you.”This exchange highlights how the very act of observing the mind can lead to greater peace and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How would you rate Be Here Now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n