Ram Dass (April 6, 1931- December 22, 2019) was born Richard Alpert, the bright and personable scion of a wealthy, influential Jewish family. His father, George Alpert, a prominent Boston lawyer, helped found Brandeis University and was president of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. Alpert taught at Harvard in the '60s, joining his colleague Timothy Leary in "consciousness-raising" experiments.
Unsatisfied by that research Alpert then traveled to India where he met a man, Neem Karoli Baba, who would become his Hindu guru. Alpert stayed on to study Hinduism with this master, was renamed Ram Dass, and subsequently came back to the States to spread word of new techniques for spiritual practice based on yoga and transcendental meditation using a repeated mantra, such as "Om.
Richard Alpert’s experiences with Neem Karoli Baba (known as Maharaj-ji) in 1967 were life-altering, transforming him from a disgraced Harvard psychologist focused on LSD research into the spiritual teacher Ram Dass. The core of their relationship involved Alpert being "bathed in love," experiencing unconditional acceptance, and finding a spiritual guide who validated his experiences with higher consciousness. 
Richard Alpert's experiences with the Indian saint Neem Karoli transformed him from a former Harvard psychology professor and psychedelic researcher into a spiritual teacher, known thereafter as Ram Dass. His experiences were marked by profound spiritual revelations, unconditional love, and a complete shift in his worldview. 
Key Experiences and Transformative Moments:
The Miraculous Revelation: In their first meeting, Neem Karoli Baba, without being told, revealed he knew intimate details about Alpert's life, specifically that he had been thinking about his deceased mother on a hill the previous night and that she died of "spleen" (spleen cancer).
The LSD Test: Alpert, curious about the guru's power, gave Neem Karoli Baba large doses of LSD (915 μg total). The guru remained completely unaffected, showing no signs of intoxication, and told Alpert that a similar state could be achieved through meditation and living in that state permanently, leading Alpert to abandon psychedelics for meditation.
Feeling "At Home" and Unconditional Love: Alpert described the feeling around Neem Karoli Baba as being "bathed in love and forgiveness". This, for the first time, gave him a sense of "home" and that his journey of seeking was over.
Renaming to Ram Dass: Neem Karoli Baba gave Richard Alpert the name "Ram Dass," which translates to "Servant of God" or "Servant of Ram," signifying a shift from an ego-driven life to one of service.
Shifting from Intellect to Heart: Alpert realized that Neem Karoli Baba allowed his devotees to open their hearts, fostering immense love for each other and for the divine. He noted, "It wasn't that he loved us, it was that when we were around him we loved him and each other so much". 
Experience of touching the Forehead
When Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji) touched Richard Alpert’s forehead (specifically tapping his third eye three times with his fourth finger) in 1967, it initiated a profound spiritual transformation, causing Alpert to feel a deep sense of "pure love," peace, and "home". 
Immediately following the interaction, Alpert burst into tears because he felt as though his long spiritual journey was over and he had "come home". Alpert described himself as dazed, radiating, and unable to communicate normally immediately after the, describing it as being in another space. The touch, coupled with Maharaj-ji knowing intimate details about his mother's death (which Alpert had not told anyone), shattered his intellectual, skeptical persona.
That moment on, the former Harvard professor dedicated his life to Neem Karoli Baba, transforming from a researcher of consciousness into a disciple, receiving the name Ram Dass ("Servant of God") shortly thereafter. 
Ram Dass recalled that this experience was the culmination of a period of deep emotional and spiritual distress, marking his transition from the "ordinary waking swamp" to a life of service.
Later life
In February 1997, Ram Dass suffered a stroke which left him with expressive aphasia. However, he interprets his stroke as an act of grace and continues to travel giving lectures, as his health permits. When asked if he could sum up his life's message he replied, "I help people as a way to work on myself, and I work on myself to help people... To me, that's what the emerging game is all about." Ram Dass was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in August 1991. 
Ram Dass is a vegetarian and has also acknowledged his bisexuality. In the 1990s, he became more forthcoming about sexuality while avoiding labels and asserting that who we are "isn't gay, and it's not not-gay, and it's not anything—it's just awareness." At 78, Ram Dass learned both that he had fathered a son when he was a 24-year-old at Stanford, and that he was now a grandfather. 
Impact on Alpert
"Be Here Now": These experiences were documented in Alpert’s book, Be Here Now, which became a cornerstone of spiritual literature in the West. Alpert gave up his former lifestyle, dedicated his life to sharing the teachings of his guru, and returned to the West to promote a path of love and service. 
“The Only Dance There is” is one of the powerful books he wrote about how insignificant human life is. He says we are playing to the tune of the Almighty. We are all delusion thinking that we are doing everything. We never realize how our ego shrouds our true nature. We are dancing to the tune of God. He gives several examples where he was shocked to find out how Maharaj was in control of his movements and life. 
He has written more than 25 books.