Ram Dass on Being a Patient
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics July 1, 2000 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180100903190 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Spiritual healing Spirituality Inner peace Acceptance Meaning in suffering Spiritual wisdom Coping with illness Navigating illness Health challenges Patient experience Vulnerability Resilience Illness management Illness coping Patient care Caregiver support Health support Compassion Illness support |
| Key points | Argues that Ram Dass, born Richard Alpert, is a renowned spiritual teacher with a psychology Ph.D. from Stanford, who taught at Stanford and Harvard before traveling to India and receiving his spiritual name from his guru. He has been active in charitable service, especially healthcare for the underserved, and authored several notable books, including Be Here Now and Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying. |
Abstract
Ram Dass is one of America's most renowned spiritual teachers. Born Richard Alpert, he received his Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University and taught there and at Harvard University before going to India and receiving the name Ram Dass (“Servant of God”) from his guru. He has long been involved in many charitable service organizations, particularly those devoted to providing healthcare for underserved populations. Among his many books are Be Here Now (currently in its fortieth printing), How Can I Help, and Compassion in Action; his newest book is Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying (Putnam, 2000).