[1][2][3] The core book was first printed in 1970 as From Bindu to Ojas and its title since 1971 comes from a statement his guide, Bhagavan Das, made during Ram Dass's journeys in India.

Be Here Now has been described by multiple reviewers as "seminal",[2][4][5][6][7] and helped popularize Eastern spirituality and yoga with the baby boomer generation in the West.

Ram Dass closes the first section of the book with this passage: Now, though I am a beginner on the path, I have returned to the West for a time to work out karma or unfulfilled commitment.

The narrative flow, in the form of a continuous free-verse poem, addresses the reader directly, with Dass's insights gained through different spiritual traditions.

The last section, "Painted Cakes Do Not Satisfy Hunger" (a Zen commentary on liturgy), contains a list of recommended books on religion, spirituality, and consciousness.

[2][15][1] In addition to introducing its title phrase into common use, Be Here Now has influenced numerous other writers and yoga practitioners, including the industrialist Steve Jobs,[16] the self-help author Wayne Dyer,[17] and the poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.