David Lynch and Maharishi – the Giggling Guru’s post-Beatlemania Legacy

A hundred miles from Des Moines, winding through farm fields and woods, there is a small town with a population of less than 10,000.  Why did a group of legendary musicians and artists recently gather there?

One reason: Maharishi.  The Beatles had a much publicized dalliance with him.  Sir Paul McCartney still sings the praises of Transcendental Meditation.  The David Lynch Foundation spreads the virtues of TM as well.  So, who was the man whom Paul McCartney still celebrates and who founded an international, quasi-religious organization?  With the recent news that Oscar-nominated David Lynch is set to direct a feature film about Maharishi, this interesting character is gaining mainstream cultural relevance.

the Beatles with their guru. From left to right: John Lennon, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, the Maharishi, George Harrison, Mia Farrow, Donovan, Paul McCartney, and Jane Asher.

An out-of-print book by my friend, Jack Forem, is considered one of the definitive books on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and his meditation method.  I offer no attempt to even summarize the movement.

As the Times noted when Maharishi died this past year,

He set out on his international mission to achieve this vision in 1959, beginning in Los Angeles, where he established his movement with an initial following of 25 devotees. From this small beginning the Maharishi over his lifetime developed a global organisation with nearly 1,000 TM centres, property assets valued in 1998 at $3.5 billion and an estimated four million disciples.

It seems there’s a resurgence in interest these last few months.  James McCartney, Sir Paul’s son, visited Fairfield.  So did the British musical legend Donovan.  Other TM dabblers include Moby and Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins.   The list of celebrity TMers (as they’re known) goes on.

The Beach Boys (minus Wilson) bring their good vibrations to the small town of Fairfield, Iowa:

David Lynch makes Transcendental Meditation sound almost like a drug.

The cultural impact of this one Guru is lasting and subtle.  Deepak Chopra and John Gray (author of Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus), have drawn from Maharishi’s philosophy, going on to influence such culture-shapers as Oprah Winfrey.

Even his scandals have found their way into pop culture — John Lennon admitted that the song “Sexy Sadie” is about Maharishi, following the Mia Farrow scandal.  And how many times have artists covered “Across the Universe” which includes the Maharishi mantra “Jai Guru Deva.”  This TV video footage shows them in Rishikesh, India in 1968. I don’t know why it’s in Italian.

Through the consistent efforts of the guru’s passionate disciples, the small town of Fairfield, Iowa has been a vibrant community of free-thinkers, deep-thinkers and kooky-thinkers. Not to mention it was the birthplace of the Rhodes bros.

After learning about his constant involvement with TM, I look forward to meeting David Lynch some day and asking him some good questions.  Until then, I’m glad to say that the man makes me think.  (See “Absurdly Smarter: Your Brain on David Lynch“)

And I’m a fan of the David Lynch Interview Project.  Going on a cross country tour and interviewing a cross section of today’s culture is something I’ve dreamed of doing… David Lynch’s project does it so well.