Richard Alpert

American psychologist who was Timothy Leary's colleague at Harvard, where he was dismissed for psychedelic research — then traveled to India, met Neem Karoli Baba, became Ram Dass — and whose Be Here Now (1971) and subsequent teaching made him one of the most influential spiritual teachers in America.

Created the most influential bridge between Western psychology and Hindu spirituality — Be Here Now's combination of personal narrative, Hindu teaching, and psychedelic experience articulated the core insight of non-dual awareness in a way that resonated with an entire generation — making present-moment awareness the central practice.