Ram Dass: podcast appearances and interviews

Ram Dass, born Richard Alpert on April 6, 1931, was an American spiritual teacher, guru of modern yoga, psychologist, and author. He gained prominence with his 1971 book Be Here Now, which is considered seminal in helping to popularize Eastern spirituality and yoga in the West. Over the course of four decades, he authored or co-authored twelve books on spirituality, including titles such as Grist for the Mill, How Can I Help, and Polishing the Mirror. Ram Dass was initially involved in research at Harvard University alongside Timothy Leary in the early 1960s, focusing on the therapeutic effects of psychedelic drugs and participating in the 1962 Good Friday Experiment, a controlled study of drugs and mystical experiences. His work and association with Leary led to their dismissal from Harvard in 1963 amid controversy. In 1967, he traveled to India and became a disciple of Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba, who gave him the name Ram Dass, meaning Servant of Ram. He co-founded the Seva Foundation and Hanuman Foundation, supporting charitable causes through the years. After suffering a stroke in 1997 that resulted in paralysis and expressive aphasia, he viewed the event as an act of grace and continued to teach and write. In 2004, after falling seriously ill during a trip to India, he moved to Maui, Hawaii, where he hosted annual retreats alongside other spiritual teachers until his death in 2019. His affiliation with the Love Serve Remember Foundation reflects his ongoing commitment to spiritual service.