-16% 🏆 Bestseller Be Here Now — Mysticism

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Be Here Now

Name: Be Here Now
Price: 15.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Dass, Ram
ISBN: 9780517543054

✍️ Dass, Ram

Reader Score

4.8

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

First published in 1971, this text documents Richard Alpert's transformation from a Harvard professor holding appointments in four departments into the seeker Ram Dass. After psilocybin and LSD experiences dismantled his previous identity, he traveled to India to study under his guru. The resulting book offers tools for mindful breathing, hatha yoga, and meditation. It outlines a path toward self-determination and spiritual awareness rooted in Eastern traditions.

Dass, Ram

📚 all books by this author (4) →

🌌

Mysticism

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

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

Before he was known as Baba Ram Dass, the author served on the faculties of both Stanford and Harvard Universities. Known then as Professor Richard Alpert, he held appointments across four departments at Harvard, published books, and lived a conventional life of academic achievement. Experiments with psilocybin and LSD altered his path, prompting a trip to India where his guru gave him the name Ram Dass, meaning servant of God. His background combines academic rigor with hands-on practice in hatha yoga, mindful breathing, karma yoga, devotional yoga, guru kripa, alongside Sufi and Jewish studies. This 1971 publication functions as a vehicle for sharing his spiritual awakening and a guide to self-determination. The text presents core guidance on yoga, meditation, and Eastern philosophy, drawing directly from the teachings he received in India. It documents his transition away from physical and academic identity toward his inner self, addressing the spiritual emptiness he experienced despite outer success. This book suits readers interested in early counterculture movement history, mindfulness, meditation, and practical guidance on Eastern philosophy. It does not suit those looking for a standard academic text or readers seeking modern scientific studies on psychedelic research.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Ram Dass’s narrative chronicles his transformation from Harvard academic Richard Alpert, offering a unique blend of personal anecdote and spiritual instruction. While it remains a powerful guide for mindfulness and self-discovery, it may not suit readers preferring rigorous academic theology or those skeptical of the counterculture’s psychedelic influences. The text relies heavily on personal experience rather than dogmatic structure, which might feel abstract to some. However, for those open to shedding conventional identities, it provides an invaluable, candid look at spiritual practice. It is a compelling, if somewhat dated, resource for understanding the intersection of psychology and mysticism.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a profound shift in perspective will find immense value in this text. It is ideal for those disillusioned by conventional success or constructed identities, offering a powerful invitation to dismantle ego and uncover their luminous inner self. The book provides accessible, practical guidance on meditation, yoga, and self-discovery, making it perfect for beginners and seasoned seekers alike. By focusing on the timeless wisdom of the present moment, it helps individuals shed attachments and embrace true awareness. This work is essential for anyone ready to embark on a transformative journey toward genuine spiritual awakening and inner peace.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.8/5

★★★★★

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.

Reader rating

4.8

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Ram Dass’s narrative chronicles his transformation from Harvard academic Richard Alpert, offering a unique blend of personal anecdote and spiritual instruction. While it remains a powerful guide for mindfulness and self-discovery, it may not suit readers preferring rigorous academic theology or those skeptical of the counterculture’s psychedelic influences. The text relies heavily on personal experience rather than dogmatic structure, which might feel abstract to some. However, for those open to shedding conventional identities, it provides an invaluable, candid look at spiritual practice. It is a compelling, if somewhat dated, resource for understanding the intersection of psychology and mysticism.

❓ 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.

📜 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?