Be Here Now

Name: Be Here Now
Price: 19.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Dass, Ram
ISBN: 9780517543054

✍️ Dass, Ram

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Uncover your luminous inner self and truly "Be Here Now."

This seminal work chronicles the profound transformation of Richard Alpert, a Harvard academic, into the revered spiritual teacher Ram Dass. Disillusioned despite conventional success, Alpert's journey through psychedelic exploration led him to dismantle his constructed identity, revealing an intrinsic, luminous awareness. Published in 1971, it became an immediate touchstone for the counterculture, offering practical guidance on meditation, yoga, and self-discovery. It remains a powerful invitation to shed attachments and embrace the timeless wisdom of the present moment, sparking global interest in mindfulness.

Key themes

{'title': 'Path to Awakening', 'body': 'Ram Dass vividly recounts his radical shift from a successful academic to a spiritual seeker. His narrative details the dissolution of ego and conventional identity, particularly influenced by psychedelic experiences, which served as a catalyst for understanding a deeper, true self beyond societal roles and material possessions.'} {'title': 'The Power of Presence', 'body': "Central to the book's teachings is the profound importance of living in the present moment. It offers practical insights and methods, including meditation and yoga, to cultivate mindfulness. This practice is presented as the key to escaping mental constructs and finding genuine peace and self-acceptance, rather than seeking external validation."} {'title': 'Transcending the Ego', 'body': 'The work explores the process of shedding layers of identity, from professional roles to physical self-perception. Ram Dass illustrates how this stripping away of the ego-driven self reveals an underlying, luminous consciousness. This realization fosters a profound sense of inner trust and boundless love, liberating one from fear and superficial existence.'}

🏛 Harmony 📅 1971 📖 416 pages 🌐 en 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9780517543054

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Fun fact

"Be Here Now" is an essential volume for anyone embarking on a spiritual path, brilliantly articulating the journey from conventional success to profound inner peace. Its blend of autobiography, philosophy, and practical guidance makes it remarkably accessible. While its counterculture origins might not appeal to all, and some language feels dated, it stands as a timeless beacon for mindfulness and self-realization, a cornerstone in modern spiritual literature.

📝 Description: Be Here Now

Beloved guru Ram Dass tells the story of his spiritual awakening and gives you the tools to take control of your life in this "counterculture bible" (The New York Times) featuring powerful guidance on yoga, meditation, and finding your true self. When Be Here Now was first published in 1971, it filled a deep spiritual emptiness, launched the ongoing mindfulness revolution, and established Ram Dass as perhaps the preeminent seeker of the twentieth century. Just ten years earlier, he was known as Professor Richard Alpert. He held appointments in four departments at Harvard University. He published books, drove a Mercedes and regularly vacationed in the Caribbean. By most societal standards, he had achieved great success. . . . And yet he couldn't escape the feeling that something was missing. Psilocybin and LSD changed that. During a period of experimentation, Alpert peeled away each layer of his identity, disassociating from himself as a professor, a social cosmopolite, and lastly, as a physical being. Fear turned into exaltation upon the realization that at his truest, he was just his inner-self: a luminous being that he could trust indefinitely and love infinitely. And thus, a spiritual journey commenced. Alpert headed to India where his guru renamed him Baba Ram Dass--"servant of God." He was introduced to mindful breathing exercises, hatha yoga, and Eastern philosophy. If he found himself reminiscing or planning, he was reminded to "Be Here Now." He started upon the path of enlightenment, and has been journeying along it ever since. Be Here Now is a vehicle for sharing the true message, and a guide to self-determination.

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⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.7/5

★★★★★

If you feel an unshakeable longing for deeper meaning beyond material success, or are ready to explore the nature of your consciousness, this book is for you. Seekers interested in meditation, self-inquiry, and 1970s counterculture spirituality will find a profound guide.

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❓ Frequently asked questions

While Ram Dass's early explorations involved psychedelics, the book's core message transcends their use. It focuses on universal spiritual principles of mindfulness, presence, and self-realization, offering practices accessible to everyone, regardless of their personal journey.

"Be Here Now" draws heavily from Eastern spiritual traditions, particularly Hinduism and Buddhist mindfulness practices. Ram Dass integrates these ancient wisdoms with his Western academic background, making complex concepts relatable for a broad audience seeking inner transformation.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Path to Awakening

Ram Dass vividly recounts his radical shift from a successful academic to a spiritual seeker. His narrative details the dissolution of ego and conventional identity, particularly influenced by psychedelic experiences, which served as a catalyst for understanding a deeper, true self beyond societal roles and material possessions.

The Power of Presence

Central to the book's teachings is the profound importance of living in the present moment. It offers practical insights and methods, including meditation and yoga, to cultivate mindfulness. This practice is presented as the key to escaping mental constructs and finding genuine peace and self-acceptance, rather than seeking external validation.

Transcending the Ego

The work explores the process of shedding layers of identity, from professional roles to physical self-perception. Ram Dass illustrates how this stripping away of the ego-driven self reveals an underlying, luminous consciousness. This realization fosters a profound sense of inner trust and boundless love, liberating one from fear and superficial existence.

💬 Quotes from the book

«The quieter you become, the more you can hear.»

«We are all just walking each other home.»

📜 Historical context

Published in 1971, "Be Here Now" arrived at a pivotal moment, addressing a widespread spiritual hunger within the counterculture movement. It became a foundational text for the emerging mindfulness revolution, translating Eastern spiritual philosophies for a Western audience. Ram Dass's personal journey, incorporating psychedelic insights, uniquely positioned him as a central figure in defining 20th-century spiritual seeking.

📚 Glossary

Ego
Mindfulness
Spiritual Awakening

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on a time you felt a sense of profound presence. What were the circumstances, and how did it feel?
What aspects of your identity do you feel most attached to? How might detaching from them reveal a deeper self?
Consider the concept of "luminous being." What does that mean to you, and how might you cultivate that awareness in your daily life?