Be Here Now

Timothy Leary was an American psychologist and writer who rose to prominence in the early 1960s for his experiments with psychedelic substances, initially at Harvard University. Best known for his catchphrase “Turn on, tune in, drop out,” he played a central role in catalyzing the counterculture movement’s fascination with LSD and other consciousness-expanding drugs. In Be Here Now, although Leary does not appear as a major character in the narrative, his influence and partnership with Dass (then Richard Alpert) are significant to the book’s origins. Leary’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of academic research—by exploring the therapeutic and mind-altering potential of psychedelics—paved the way for Alpert to embark on the spiritual quest that eventually led to Be Here Now.

Leary’s early collaboration with Alpert occurred at Harvard, where the pair led the Psilocybin Project, investigating the effects of psychedelics on the mind’s capacity for introspection. This radical research challenged mainstream academia, inciting controversy over the ethics of administering psychedelics, yet it also created a fertile intellectual environment for groundbreaking spiritual insights. When Harvard dismissed both men, Leary continued to advocate for “psychedelic liberation,” while Alpert traveled to India, embarking on a more traditional mystical route. Still, the reverberations of Leary’s approach to consciousness studies permeate Be Here Now since the book’s call for open-mindedness and personal transformation can be traced back to the door Leary helped push open.

Though Dass would eventually move beyond reliance on psychedelics—highlighting the transitory nature of drug-induced epiphanies—Leary’s legacy remains deeply embedded in the text’s early chapters. He symbolizes the merging of Western scientific curiosity with a yearning for deeper existential truths. Dass’s journey diverged sharply from Leary’s, but the intellectual and cultural boldness Leary championed reinforced Dass’s conviction that human consciousness is vastly unexplored. By illustrating a willingness to challenge the status quo, Leary’s presence in Be Here Now shows that spiritual exploration demands risk and the courage to step outside established norms.

Bhagwan Dass is a tall, blonde American traveler whom Richard Alpert (Ram Dass) meets in India at a pivotal point in Be Here Now. Serving as Alpert’s initial guide to Hindu spirituality and ashram life, Bhagwan Dass exemplifies the Western seeker who has immersed himself so deeply in Indian devotional culture that he appears more “Indian” than Western, embodying the Blending of Eastern and Western Spiritual Traditions to Access Universal Truths. His background—a California surfer-type turned wandering sadhu—demonstrates how Eastern practices can transform a person’s identity. In the text, Bhagwan Dass plays a crucial bridge role, taking Alpert under his wing and introducing him to the customs, mantras, and routines that became fundamental to Ram Dass’s spiritual evolution.

Their travels together in rural India reveal Bhagwan Dass’s adaptability: he is equally at ease in temples, villages, or remote pathways. Alpert’s observation of Bhagwan Dass’s unwavering devotion and his swift acceptance by various swamis, lamas, and fakirs underscores that being on a spiritual path is less about social constructs and more about inner sincerity. Bhagwan Dass’s youthful, open-hearted approach—carrying a one-stringed ektara, singing kirtan (devotional songs), and alternating between different forms of Buddhist and Hindu worship—reaffirms that sincere faith transcends sectarian boundaries.

One of the most significant contributions Bhagwan Dass makes to Alpert’s journey is introducing him to Neem Karoli Baba. Their meeting with the saintly figure sets in motion Ram Dass’s final break with Western rationalism and reaffirms that the real “knowing” emerges from lived devotion rather than intellectual speculation. Whereas Leary and Western academia had sparked Alpert’s initial boundary-breaking perspective, it is Bhagwan Dass who led him onto the ground of Indian spirituality.

In Be Here Now, Bhagwan Dass symbolizes the archetypal fellow traveler—a wanderer who not only speaks the language of mantras and asanas but also lives it wholeheartedly. By modeling continuous worship, chanting, and fearless acceptance of life’s unpredictability, he shows Alpert that being “high” on consciousness requires earnest, day-by-day dedication. His presence in the narrative shows the sense of trust that arises when one learns from peers who walk the path, ensuring that spiritual discovery is not confined to gurus alone but blossoms in shared devotion and experience.

Neem Karoli Baba, affectionately known as Maharaj-ji, is the Indian guru whose influence transforms Alpert into Ram Dass. Portrayed in Be Here Now as a warm, blanket-wrapped figure radiating unconditional love, Maharaj-ji embodies the heart of bhakti—a living reservoir of divine presence. Despite his apparent simplicity—frequently found seated, accepting fruit, or saying little—his swift insights into personal details and his clairvoyant empathy startle Alpert and other disciples, eroding their intellectual defenses. This catalytic effect reorients Alpert’s life, demonstrating the power of direct spiritual transmission.

In the narrative, Maharaj-ji’s minimal instructions sharply differ from elaborate doctrinal lectures, implying that love, grace, and intuitive guidance surpass discursive reasoning in nurturing spiritual growth. His miracles—knowing hidden facts, surviving extreme climates, and distributing blessings through food—underscore a cosmic approach to teaching. By emphasizing devotional surrender rather than scholastic learning, Maharaj-ji challenges a Western mindset that prioritizes analysis over heartfelt connection. As Alpert repeatedly experiences Maharaj-ji’s ability to see “everything,” he relinquishes his identity as a Harvard psychologist, stepping fully into the devotional path that soon takes form in Be Here Now.

Beyond his interactions with Alpert, Neem Karoli Baba’s legacy in the text includes inspiring a wave of Western devotees who gravitate to India seeking an authentic spiritual teacher. His simple injunctions—serve people, feed others, love everyone, and tell the truth—offer universal guidance that transcends cultural and religious divides, cementing Blending Eastern and Western Spiritual Traditions to Access Universal Truths. The book’s repeated references to Maharaj-ji’s nonverbal demonstrations of compassion affirm that spiritual awakening arises from a pure heart and direct experience more than from any philosophical treatise. Neem Karoli Baba embodies the possibility of living in constant union with the divine while remaining accessible and ordinary in outward appearance. His portrayal in Be Here Now demonstrates that genuine holiness is not a dramatic spectacle but a gentle, unwavering presence of love.