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The Beatles' Meditation Yogi Dies

According to NME.com, the Beatles' former guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, died at his Dutch home of Vlodrop yesterday at the age of 91. With the help of the Beatles and their interest in Eastern culture, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi helped make transcendental meditation popular in the west in the late '60s.

Originally meeting the band only days before the death of their manager, Brian Epstein, the Beatles continued their lessons by following Maharishi to India at his ashram retreat. This is where the bulk of songs featured on the White Album were written. Paul McCartney revealed on the Beatles' 1997 Anthology that the lyrics to "Everybody's Got Something To Hide (Except for Me and My Monkey)", a song written by John Lennon, were based on several of the Maharishi's teachings and sayings from their time in India.

Last month the Maharishi retired from teaching, reportedly saying, "My work here is done." A release from a spokesman for the Maharishi has said, "he died peacefully at 7 PM."

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
02.06.08