A portrait of my friend’s meditating Guru, which was created as a gift to remind him every day of balance, peace of mind and joy.
Ram Dass, born Richard Alpert, was an American psychologist, spiritual teacher, and author of the seminal book Be Here Now. In the 1960s, he conducted research on psychedelics at Harvard University alongside Timothy Leary, which sparked his spiritual journey and ultimately led him to India, where he became a disciple of Neem Karoli Baba. His teachings blended psychedelic experiences, Eastern spirituality, and Western psychology, characterized by authenticity, deep empathy, and an emphasis on living in the present moment.