2008: That Was the Beatle Year That Was: the Maharishi dies

December 29, 7:13 AMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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(If you were a Beatle fan, you have to admit 2008 was a strange year in regard to news from the Beatles. There was great news and there was weird news. This is one of a series of items we're writing as a review of Beatle news from the past year.)

His soft voice didn't have much power, but his words more than made up for it. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, reportedly born in 1917, began teaching what became his trademark transcendental meditation (TM) in 1955 and began taking it worldwide in the late '50s.

But the impact of those teachings probably wouldn't have been as widespread had it not been for four students who came to him in 1967 to learn TM. The Beatles first met the Maharishi in London, then spent a weekend studying with him in Wales. They then took him up on an offer to come to India to study with him in Rishikesh. Brian Epstein had been due to join the Beatles later that holiday weekend, but was found dead of an accidental overdose in his house on the day he had planned to join the gathering. The trip was not only productive for their mediation studies, but it also helped them creatively, as Paul and John strummed guitars and wrote music together while there.

One at a time, though, the Beatles left the compound. First Ringo and Maureen, then Paul and Jane. After a story circulated that the Maharishi had behaved inappropriately with a female member of the Beatles' entourage, George and John left as well. John later wrote "Sexy Sadie" about it all. The Maharishi denied the charge. McCartney, Harrison and Starr later expressed doubts the accusations were true.

The Beatles weren't the only celebrities to become students of TM. Beach Boy Mike Love, Donovan, comic Andy Kaufman, magician Doug Henning, Clint Eastwood and Republican William Scranton of Pennsylvania were all followers of the Maharishi as well.

After leaving Rishikesh, the Beatles ended their direct association with the Maharishi, though they didn't give up meditation.  The Maharishi, meanwhile, continued to preach and teach meditation until his death Feb. 5, 2008. He was thought to be 91. He had announced his retirement only the previous month.

After his death, Paul McCartney released a statement saying, "I was asked for my thoughts on the passing yesterday of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and I can only say that whilst I am deeply saddened by his passing, my memories of him will only be joyful ones. He was a great man who worked tirelessly for the people of the world and the cause of unity. I will never forget the dedication that he wrote inside a book he once gave me, which read; ‘Radiate, bliss, consciousness’ and that to me says it all. I will miss him but will always think of him with a smile."

Ringo Starr put it a little more wistfully. "One of the wise men I met in my life was the Maharishi. I always was impressed by his joy and I truly believe he knows where he is going." 

Wikipedia notes that on the day of his death, in an event scheduled before his passing, the song "Across the Universe" was beamed into space by NASA to celebrate the song's 40th anniversary. The song contained the lyrics "Jai Guru Deva Om" -- words that the Maharishi taught the Beatles.

A coincidence or what? Martin Lewis, the organizer of the "Across the Universe" event, told me it was planned long before. But maybe the Maharishi has a way with those cosmic vibes. You might want to meditate on that one for a bit.