Ram Dass was an American spiritual teacher and author, best known for his influential book “Be Here Now,” and his role in promoting Eastern spirituality in the West. He was formerly known as Richard Alpert, a Harvard professor who played a significant part in the psychedelic movement of the 1960s.
Personal and Family Life
Ram Dass was born as Richard Alpert on April 6, 1931, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the son of Gertrude Levin and George Alpert, both from Russian Jewish families. At the age of 78, he learned that he had a son named Peter Reichard, who was born from a relationship during his time at Stanford University.
Career Transformation
In 1963, Alpert was dismissed from Harvard for his involvement in psychedelic research with Timothy Leary. After a transformative journey to India, he returned to the U.S. in 1968 as Ram Dass, sharing teachings about mindfulness and spirituality. His book “Be Here Now,” published in 1971, became a cornerstone of spiritual literature in the counterculture movement.
Death and Legacy
Ram Dass passed away on December 22, 2019, in Maui, Hawaii. His legacy as a spiritual guide continues to influence many, emphasizing the importance of being present and cultivating inner peace. He co-founded The Seva Foundation, using the proceeds from his lectures and writings to support charitable initiatives.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Crazy Wisdom: The Life and Times of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche | 2011-11-25 | |
| Hofmann’s Potion: The Pioneers of LSD | 2002-09-01 | Self |
| One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das | 2013-05-08 | Himself |
| Dying to Know: Ram Dass & Timothy Leary | 2016-08-26 | Self |
| Mondo Hollywood | 1967-06-30 | |
| Huxley on Huxley | 2009-03-17 | Self |
| The Transcendental Object at the End of Time | 2014-11-16 | |
| Aliens from Spaceship Earth | 1977-01-01 | Self |
| Ram Dass, Going Home | 2017-09-24 | Himself |
| The Reality of Truth | 2016-07-19 | Self |
| 1 Giant Leap | 2002-09-10 | Self |
| Be Here Now: Awakening In the Moment | 2011-05-05 | Himself |
| Becoming Nobody | 2019-09-06 | Self |
| Ram Dass: Fierce Grace | 2001-05-21 | Himself |
| Diaries, Notes, and Sketches | 1968-03-01 | Self |
| Sunseed | 1973-11-21 | |
| The Quietest Place On Earth | 2014-11-09 | Self |
| Sunseed: The Journey | 2020-01-06 | |
| Surviving You, Always | 2021-02-04 | Self (voice) |
| Saint Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie | 2010-12-08 | Self |
| The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling | 2018-03-26 | Self |