Be Here Now: The Book That Defined a Generation

BY NICOLE LAU

Be Here Now, published in 1971, became one of the most influential spiritual books of the 20th century. Ram Dass' account of his transformation from Harvard professor Richard Alpert to spiritual seeker, combined with the book's unique hand-lettered format and psychedelic spiritual art, captured the zeitgeist of a generation seeking meaning beyond materialism. With over 2 million copies sold, the book introduced countless Westerners to meditation, yoga, karma, and the transformative power of present moment awareness. Its message—simple yet profound—continues to awaken seekers: Be here now.

The Book's Unique Structure

Be Here Now is unlike any spiritual book before or since:

Part One: Journey - The Transformation of a Man

The story: Ram Dass tells his journey from Richard Alpert—ambitious Harvard professor, psychedelic researcher, seeker—to his transformation in India with his guru Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji).

The honesty: He shares everything—his privilege, his emptiness, his sexuality, his drug use, his spiritual hunger. This radical honesty made him relatable and trustworthy.

The arc: From achievement-oriented academic to humble spiritual student, from seeking through drugs to finding through devotion, from head to heart.

Part Two: From Bindu to Ojas - The Core Book

The format: This section is entirely hand-lettered in brown ink on white paper, illustrated with simple line drawings and mandalas. It looks like a spiritual comic book or illuminated manuscript.

The content: Eastern spiritual teachings presented in accessible, contemporary language—karma, reincarnation, chakras, meditation, the guru-disciple relationship, and the path to enlightenment.

The innovation: By hand-lettering the text and adding illustrations, Ram Dass made ancient wisdom feel immediate and alive. The format itself embodied the message—be present, pay attention, slow down.

The psychedelic aesthetic: The visual style reflected the psychedelic era while pointing beyond drugs to genuine spiritual transformation. It spoke to the counterculture in their own visual language.

Part Three: Cookbook for a Sacred Life

Practical guidance: Specific practices, techniques, and resources—meditation instructions, yoga exercises, reading lists, and organizations to contact.

The accessibility: Ram Dass provided everything needed to begin the spiritual journey—not just philosophy but practical how-to guidance.

Part Four: Painted Cakes Do Not Satisfy Hunger

Book list: An extensive annotated bibliography of spiritual books, organized by tradition and topic. This became a roadmap for seekers exploring different paths.

The Core Teachings

Be Here Now - The Central Message:

The present moment: The past is memory, the future is imagination—only now is real. Yet we spend most of our lives lost in thoughts about past and future, missing the only reality there is.

The practice: Bring attention back to the present moment, again and again. Notice when you're lost in thought and return to now—to breath, to sensation, to awareness itself.

The liberation: When you're fully present, there's no problem. Problems exist in past regrets or future anxieties. Now, as it is, is complete.

The Witness Consciousness:

The observer: You are not your thoughts, emotions, or experiences but the awareness that witnesses them. Develop the ability to observe your mind without identifying with its contents.

The practice: Notice thoughts arising and passing like clouds in the sky. You are the sky, not the clouds. This creates space and freedom from mental suffering.

The shift: From "I am anxious" to "I notice anxiety arising." This small shift creates profound freedom—you're no longer trapped in the experience but witnessing it.

The Guru and the Path:

The guru's role: Ram Dass describes how Maharaj-ji saw through his ego, loved him unconditionally, and guided his transformation. The guru is a mirror reflecting your true nature.

The teaching: "Love everyone, serve everyone, remember God." Maharaj-ji's simple instruction became Ram Dass' core message—spirituality is about love and service, not achievement.

The devotion: Bhakti yoga—the path of devotion and love—as accessible and powerful as meditation. Opening the heart is as important as quieting the mind.

Karma and Reincarnation:

The explanation: Ram Dass presents karma and reincarnation in clear, accessible terms—not as exotic Eastern beliefs but as frameworks for understanding life's challenges and inequalities.

The perspective shift: Seeing life as one episode in a long journey of soul evolution changes how you relate to difficulties. Challenges become opportunities for growth, not random suffering.

The responsibility: You're creating your future through present actions. This empowers rather than victimizes—you're not helpless but actively shaping your destiny.

The Illusion of Separation:

We are all one: The feeling of being a separate, isolated ego is an illusion. At the deepest level, we're all manifestations of one consciousness, one divine reality.

The implications: Harming others is harming yourself. Serving others is serving yourself. Love is recognizing the divine in all beings.

The experience: This isn't just philosophy but something to be directly experienced through meditation, service, and opening the heart.

The Visual Language

The book's hand-lettered format was revolutionary:

Why Hand-Lettering?

Slowing down: Hand-lettered text forces you to slow down and pay attention. You can't skim—you must be present with each word. The format embodies the message.

Personal touch: The handwriting feels intimate, like a letter from a friend rather than an impersonal printed book. This creates connection and trust.

Psychedelic aesthetic: The visual style spoke to the counterculture, making Eastern wisdom accessible to people who might not pick up a traditional spiritual text.

The Illustrations:

Simple line drawings: Mandalas, chakras, yogis in meditation, spiritual symbols—all drawn in a simple, accessible style that demystifies Eastern imagery.

Visual teaching: Complex concepts like chakras or the cycle of reincarnation are explained through diagrams and illustrations, making them easier to grasp.

Sacred art: The book itself becomes a sacred object—something to be contemplated, not just read. Many people kept it on their altar or meditation space.

The Constant Unification Perspective

Be Here Now demonstrates universal truths through accessible language:

• Present moment = Eternal now: Ram Dass' "be here now" and Eckhart Tolle's "power of now" point to the same timeless truth
• Witness consciousness = Mindfulness: Buddhist mindfulness and Ram Dass' witness are the same practice—observing without identifying
• Guru's love = Divine grace: Maharaj-ji's unconditional love and Christian grace are the same transformative force
• We are all one = Mystical union: The recognition of unity is the same realization described by mystics across all traditions

The Cultural Impact

A Generation Awakened:

The timing: Published in 1971, the book arrived at the perfect moment—the counterculture was seeking alternatives to materialism, many had experimented with psychedelics and were looking for sustainable paths to consciousness expansion.

The audience: Hippies, students, seekers, and ordinary people disillusioned with conventional life found in Be Here Now a roadmap for transformation.

The spread: The book passed from hand to hand, shared among friends, discussed in communes and college dorms. It became a cultural touchstone.

Introducing Eastern Wisdom:

Meditation: Many Americans first learned about meditation from Be Here Now. The book provided clear instructions and made the practice accessible.

Yoga: While yoga was known, the book helped popularize it as a spiritual practice, not just physical exercise.

Karma and reincarnation: These concepts became part of Western spiritual vocabulary largely through books like this.

The guru tradition: Ram Dass introduced Westerners to the guru-disciple relationship, inspiring many to seek their own teachers.

Influencing Spiritual Seekers:

Famous readers: Steve Jobs, George Harrison, and countless others credit Be Here Now with transforming their spiritual understanding.

Ashrams and centers: The book inspired many to visit India, join ashrams, or establish spiritual communities in the West.

The ripple effect: Those influenced by the book went on to teach, write, and share, creating waves of influence that continue today.

Practical Applications

Being Here Now Practice:

Morning intention: Begin each day with the intention to be present. Notice when you drift into past or future and gently return to now.

Breath awareness: Throughout the day, take conscious breaths. The breath is always now—it anchors you in the present moment.

Sensory presence: Engage your senses fully. What do you see, hear, smell, taste, touch right now? This brings you into the present.

Witness Consciousness Practice:

Thought watching: Sit quietly and watch thoughts arise and pass. Notice you're not the thoughts but the awareness observing them.

Emotion witnessing: When strong emotions arise, practice observing them rather than being consumed by them. "I notice anger arising" rather than "I am angry."

The gap: Notice the space between thoughts, the silence between sounds. This gap is your true nature—pure awareness.

Heart Opening Practice:

Loving-kindness: Practice sending love to yourself, loved ones, neutral people, difficult people, and all beings. This opens the heart and dissolves separation.

Service: Find ways to serve others without expectation of return. Service is love in action.

Gratitude: Cultivate gratitude for the present moment as it is. This opens the heart and reveals the perfection already here.

The Book's Enduring Relevance

Still Transforming Lives:

New generations: Despite being over 50 years old, Be Here Now continues to find new readers and transform lives. Its message is timeless.

Digital age relevance: In our age of constant distraction and digital overwhelm, the message to "be here now" is more relevant than ever.

The simplicity: The teaching is simple enough for anyone to understand yet profound enough to guide a lifetime of practice.

The Legacy:

Mindfulness movement: Today's mindfulness boom traces lineage through books like Be Here Now that introduced present moment awareness to the West.

Spiritual but not religious: The book helped create the "spiritual but not religious" movement by showing that profound spirituality doesn't require traditional religious structures.

Heart-centered spirituality: Ram Dass' emphasis on love, service, and opening the heart influenced how Westerners approach spirituality—less about achievement, more about compassion.

Conclusion

Be Here Now is more than a book—it's a transmission, an invitation, a roadmap for transformation. Through Ram Dass' honest account of his journey, the unique hand-lettered format, and the clear presentation of Eastern wisdom, the book made spiritual transformation accessible to millions.

Its central message remains as powerful and necessary today as in 1971: Be here now. Stop living in past regrets or future anxieties. The present moment is all there is, and it's enough. When you're fully present, you discover the peace, joy, and love you've been seeking.

For modern seekers, Be Here Now offers both inspiration and practical guidance. It shows that transformation is possible, that Eastern wisdom can enrich Western life, and that the spiritual path is about opening the heart and being present, not achieving perfection.

The book's invitation remains open: Be here now. This moment, as it is, is the doorway to awakening.

In our next article, we'll explore Ram Dass' core teaching of Loving Awareness, examining how the practice of unconditional love and present moment awareness can transform consciousness and life.

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This article is part of our Western Esotericism Masters series, exploring the key figures who shaped modern mystical practice.