Ram Dass

Ram Dass, born Richard Alpert, became an influential spiritual seeker who fundamentally shaped Western engagement with Eastern philosophy. His transformative journey led him to become one of the most prominent voices in the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Ram Dass authored his most celebrated work, 'Be Here Now', while living at the Lama Foundation, an alternative spiritual community near Taos, New Mexico. The book combined autobiographical reflection with repackaged Eastern spirituality and drew on diverse religious traditions and prominent writers. Beyond his writing, Ram Dass made significant humanitarian contributions. He helped establish the Seva Foundation, which provides free and low-cost eye care globally. In 1981, he co-founded the Living/Dying Project to promote death as a conscious spiritual experience. During the 1980s, Ram Dass modified his public image by shaving his beard and distancing himself from his cultish persona, though he remained actively engaged in teaching and writing.