Be Here Now: Ram Dass

Item is excellent but damaged due to Evri leaving it out in the rain.

Written in 1971, this book must have been one of the first written to the new generation of 'cats' who were interested in Indian spirituality and yoga, but knew next to nothing about it. So as others have said, it's in three parts (the fourth is simply a list of recommended books). The first I found very interesting about the early journey of Ram Dass. It gives a real flavour of the time, when nothing was tired and people were open to new ideas and experiences. The second part is a kind of creative vision of text and drawing which at first will seem naive to modern eyes, and yet grows on you. There are some ideas that can seem so dry on the page, but with art really comes alive with feeling - ideas you will have read before if you're into the subject. Also, the creative spirit of the 60s is there, which is no small thing. The third part is a 'manual for being a conscious being' and again, if you've read round this subject in other books there won't be many surprises, but again, it harkens to a time when this thinking was absolutely new to the western ear. The information in the book still holds true today, despite being very earnest in the last part at points. However, the book is ultimately made with love - the love that sustained those early seekers, and continues to sustain those today looking for an idea of what a Guru is, how others made that journey, and what it might look like for you. A social history, a spiritual comic, a guide to enlightenment.

A truly beautiful book: beautifully typographed with words and drawings combined to create a beautiful visual journey through Baba Ram Dass’ most loving and enlightening words. Truly, both a deep read, and an inspirational ‘dip-in’. 🙏🏻

I cant stress enough just how helpful this book was to me. The middle part just seemed to explain so many things that I had gone through that no one else up to that point had been able to explain (except doctors saying stress/breakdown which I knew it was nothing of the sort). I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has experienced any spiritual awakening symptoms or has any spiritual questions inside them. The book also has an extensive book recommendation list which caters for every level of the spiritual quest.

This book was always totally mad, and it has no equal. I bought it again to bring back memories of a late hippy youth with the new agers. Certainly not a theological treatise but with a unique spirituality of its own that, if totally chaotic, is still fun to be with if you aren't too orthodox in the religion of your grown up years!

Good

I'm About to finish this book, it's so lovely and I reccomend to anyone curious about spirituality, and wanting to know what happens when you explore and follow that path. From the perspective of someone that had no idea about this world and was a complete skeptical. Very easy to relate.

Loved this book. It’s not your usually page by page story. The middle is extra groovy with drawings illustrated I presume by the man himself. Ram Dass has a special place in my heart.

ti apre un nuovo mondo, una diversa prospettiva per vedere il cambiamento

Beau Livre, mélange écrit et lecture méditative avec dessins extraits de proverbes et autres. Personnellement c’est une bible pour tous ceux qui entreprennent un chemin spirituel et qui sont peut être perdus après une expérience psychédélique importante. Ram Dass qui était un professeur de psychologie à harward et qui entreprend un chemin spirituel, quel délice à lire. Un livre qui mélange histoire biographique de quelqu’un qui a expirimente les psychedelics et qui fini sur une voie spirituelle pas facile mais finalement qui termine par être un guide pour beaucoup d’entre nous. J’adore

Amazing book

I can't believe it took me this long to read this book, especially considering its similarity with the majority of books I read. I was completely blown away by how mind-bending and honest the book appears to me. "Be Here Now" includes a brief autobiographical introduction from Ram Dass (formerly known as Richard Alpert), a zen koan-like middle passage full of different ways to see reality, a concluding section detailing various methods that one can undertake in his or her spiritual journey, a glossary of terms, and an amazing list of books to read at the end. The autobiographical section did not impress me as much as I had originally hoped, but that was mainly because I was looking forward to reading the middle passage, with its inspiring artwork and psychedelic calligraphy. I zoomed through the introduction, but I consider it to be a very important section of the book because it really sets the tone and helps the reader to understand how Ram Dass became the person who he was when he wrote the book. The middle section blew my mind. I don't know what else to say about it. It reminds me of Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching" in some way - full of wisdom and a unique way at looking at reality. I couldn't help feeling like the words printed on the page were the truest things I had ever set my eyes upon. Honest in some way that I don't yet understand, but hope to one day. The third section, with its descriptions of various spiritual practice was at once both a great overview of things I have read about in the past and also an introduction to some new approaches that I may choose to incorporate on my own spiritual journey. This section in particular was really motivating for me and reinvigorates my desire to continue on the path I have already begun. The glossary of terms does an effective job at explaining the foreign words and concepts that are found throughout the book. It would be extremely beneficial to anyone (including myself) that is not familiar with Sanskrit or traditionally Eastern religious ideas and ways of expressing them. By far the best part of this book is the section of three lists of other books to read. They are: 1. Books To Hang Out With 2. Books To Visit With Now & Then 3. Books It's Useful To Have Met I plan on building a larger portion of my To-Read list out of the books that are contained on these lists, and have great faith that they will be eye-opening and helpful on my journey. "Be Here Now" is without a doubt one of the most impactful and uplifting books I have ever read. Although I found myself confused while reading the majority of the book, I do believe that in time I will come to understand more and more. I would easily recommend this book to everyone I know, and everyone you know too.

Simple, deep, loving and beautifull. Lovingly fast shippin and it came savely packed. RamRamRam. Sita Rama Jai Hanuman. Jai Maharadji Jai Ram Dass Just Be Here Now