INDIA (Room 403)
INDIA (Room 403)
In February 1968 The Beatles flew to India to spend time with The Maharishi at a transcendental meditation academy in Rishikesh on the banks of the River Ganges. George had become infatuated with Indian culture and John was also desperate to seek enlightenment. Paul was like wise curious and Ringo went along for the ride. Their regime was quite relaxed. In between meditation sessions the Beatles had plenty of time to relax and reflect but before very long they found themselves writing new songs. Cynthia, Patti, Maureen, and Jane Asher, together with Donovan and Mike Love from The Beach Boys, accompanied them. John seemed to be relishing the opportunity to meditate in isolation. Much later Cynthia would learn that he was sloping off to personally collect his mail sent by Yoko! Ringo meanwhile (who reputedly brought a case load of baked beans) was finding it increasingly tough to adapt and was to be the first to leave declaring, “It was a bit like Butlins.” All but George became quickly disillusioned and spending time together away from the glare of publicity, only served to highlight the different paths each was taking. Seldom, if ever, could a band have been so productive, writing enough songs in a few weeks for several albums. However, this merely caused George to complain, “We’re not here to write our next album, we’re here to meditate!” Whatever John was searching for he didn’t find it in Rishikesh, although Donovan did teach him finger-picking guitar techniques. Paul followed soon after Ringo had left and eventually John found his excuse. It was alleged that The Maharishi had made a pass at one of the female students on the course, not something that you would expect from a Holy Guru. Lennon later recalled that they saw through the Maharishi and they confronted him about the allegations. When the Maharishi asked John why he was leaving, he retorted, “If you’re so cosmic you’ll know why!” After eight weeks of love, peace and understanding, John was now eager to return to Yoko, who he couldn’t stop thinking about. George, the most loyal to the Maharishi was having second thoughts and hastily returned to England with John Lennon affirming ‘they had been taken in’. However, for George this was but one stop on his religious journey and of all of The Beatles he got most from the visit. Indeed a few years prior to George’s death in 2001 George visited the Maharishi again, to discuss spiritual matters.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
INDIA (Room 403)
In February 1968 The Beatles flew to India to spend time with The Maharishi at a transcendental meditation academy in Rishikesh on the banks of the River Ganges. George had become infatuated with Indian culture and John was also desperate to seek enlightenment. Paul was like wise curious and Ringo went along for the ride. Their regime was quite relaxed. In between meditation sessions the Beatles had plenty of time to relax and reflect but before very long they found themselves writing new songs. Cynthia, Patti, Maureen, and Jane Asher, together with Donovan and Mike Love from The Beach Boys, accompanied them. John seemed to be relishing the opportunity to meditate in isolation. Much later Cynthia would learn that he was sloping off to personally collect his mail sent by Yoko! Ringo meanwhile (who reputedly brought a case load of baked beans) was finding it increasingly tough to adapt and was to be the first to leave declaring, “It was a bit like Butlins.” All but George became quickly disillusioned and spending time together away from the glare of publicity, only served to highlight the different paths each was taking. Seldom, if ever, could a band have been so productive, writing enough songs in a few weeks for several albums. However, this merely caused George to complain, “We’re not here to write our next album, we’re here to meditate!” Whatever John was searching for he didn’t find it in Rishikesh, although Donovan did teach him finger-picking guitar techniques. Paul followed soon after Ringo had left and eventually John found his excuse. It was alleged that The Maharishi had made a pass at one of the female students on the course, not something that you would expect from a Holy Guru. Lennon later recalled that they saw through the Maharishi and they confronted him about the allegations. When the Maharishi asked John why he was leaving, he retorted, “If you’re so cosmic you’ll know why!” After eight weeks of love, peace and understanding, John was now eager to return to Yoko, who he couldn’t stop thinking about. George, the most loyal to the Maharishi was having second thoughts and hastily returned to England with John Lennon affirming ‘they had been taken in’. However, for George this was but one stop on his religious journey and of all of The Beatles he got most from the visit. Indeed a few years prior to George’s death in 2001 George visited the Maharishi again, to discuss spiritual matters.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
INDIA (Room 403)
In February 1968 The Beatles flew to India to spend time with The Maharishi at a transcendental meditation academy in Rishikesh on the banks of the River Ganges. George had become infatuated with Indian culture and John was also desperate to seek enlightenment. Paul was like wise curious and Ringo went along for the ride. Their regime was quite relaxed. In between meditation sessions the Beatles had plenty of time to relax and reflect but before very long they found themselves writing new songs. Cynthia, Patti, Maureen, and Jane Asher, together with Donovan and Mike Love from The Beach Boys, accompanied them. John seemed to be relishing the opportunity to meditate in isolation. Much later Cynthia would learn that he was sloping off to personally collect his mail sent by Yoko! Ringo meanwhile (who reputedly brought a case load of baked beans) was finding it increasingly tough to adapt and was to be the first to leave declaring, “It was a bit like Butlins.” All but George became quickly disillusioned and spending time together away from the glare of publicity, only served to highlight the different paths each was taking. Seldom, if ever, could a band have been so productive, writing enough songs in a few weeks for several albums. However, this merely caused George to complain, “We’re not here to write our next album, we’re here to meditate!” Whatever John was searching for he didn’t find it in Rishikesh, although Donovan did teach him finger-picking guitar techniques. Paul followed soon after Ringo had left and eventually John found his excuse. It was alleged that The Maharishi had made a pass at one of the female students on the course, not something that you would expect from a Holy Guru. Lennon later recalled that they saw through the Maharishi and they confronted him about the allegations. When the Maharishi asked John why he was leaving, he retorted, “If you’re so cosmic you’ll know why!” After eight weeks of love, peace and understanding, John was now eager to return to Yoko, who he couldn’t stop thinking about. George, the most loyal to the Maharishi was having second thoughts and hastily returned to England with John Lennon affirming ‘they had been taken in’. However, for George this was but one stop on his religious journey and of all of The Beatles he got most from the visit. Indeed a few years prior to George’s death in 2001 George visited the Maharishi again, to discuss spiritual matters.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON