The Beatles and India

Last night I watched the documentary The Beatles and India (directed by Ajoy Bose), which describes the band’s time with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi from the London Hilton Hotel to a retreat in Wales and then across to India. A string other well-known figures in England and beyond were part of the entourage of seekers who followed the Maharishi, but The Beatles clearly were used as a highlight to advertise and confirm his burgeoning influence on the transcendental movement. The film is well done, highlighting a specific event that changed each member of The Beatles forever.

Not a lot has been known about that era as much of it steeped in a mystical experiment meant to be kept sacred, but the film does a good job of not only providing details of what the Maharishi thought of each Beatle, but where they slept and meditated, as well as moments that provided songs in the conclusive ‘While Album,' which we all know was heavily influenced by events of that time. We also get a soundbite from an unearthed interview with George Harrison where he explains the frustrations of being famous while traveling.

In a short span, The Beatles went from child-like devotion to bitter rebellion within the TM movement, and well, the Maharishi. To be fair, they had reason though he gave them all a needed perspective—a way to break from addictions, including toxic people and situations. They were heavily into LSD and some members had begun to dabble in heroin, so meeting the Maharishi was essential to their well-being. TM in general is meant to teach self-dependence, to go within and seek higher authority. Drugs were definitely counterculture to TM. In a few years’ time, the music scene would lose both Hendrix and Joplin to drugs, and you can only guess Lennon would have followed . . . if not for TM and the Maharishi. The world would have never heard “Imagine.”

For the Maharishi himself, a childlike joyous creature, he was human and people forget that. He had a test as we all do at some point in our existence, and he failed. It would be hard to be around the brightest and all that money, power and fame and not fail at least a little. As far as I know, the Maharishi went on to serve many in an ethical way without failure. Did he proposition Prudence Farrow (Dear Prudence) or was it all a lie? Without a yes or no, because none of us were there and the movie does not provide an answer, I think it’s fair to say that anyone who followed the Maharishi to India was there for some-thing. Was he unethical? Certainly not on the level of a Jim Jones—which is how many psychopathic cults end up. I don’t think he was anything near that level of ethics (or lack of), I think he had a momentary slip of the ego. It was a movement and a teachable era. It was healthy for The Beatles to be part of TM, and it was even more healthy to leave the entourage. If TM teaches you anything, it should be how to think for yourself.

I loved how The Beatles and India showed their learning process and how the waves of doing so affected many. Sadly, manager Brian Epstein died within that process. Two vignettes in particular that I found touching: John going up in a helicopter with the Maharishi (hoping to get “the answer”) and being shown that the people in the valley would wish for them to crash because they were poor and someone like John would equate a falling star. John said to the Maharishi, “If you don’t move your ass on the seat, their prayers will be answered.” Or something like that. Typical John. Another time, a young woman shivered inside the group during a nighttime gathering and sweet George offered to share his shawl to keep her warm. She expressed great sorrow in having said no to him. What could have been?

We all know the events, but we did not know the fine details. The Beatles and India does a great job at providing the answer. I'm going to watch it again tonight. The film is available on Amazon Prime and there's even a soundtrack.

I write about John Lennon and his time with the band in India in: NOTHING TO GET HUNG ABOUT a novel told in John's voice and perspective about his time of transformation mid-late 60s.