They say a person undergoes immense transformation before achieving success. From grueling hard work to crushing pain, life teaches humility before granting triumph. Before Steve Jobs founded Apple, his journey was similar. A confused and lost 19-year-old Jobs made a pilgrimage to Kainchi Dham, the ashram of Neem Karoli Baba, and years later, he created Apple, the company behind the device you might be using now.
The Spiritual Wisdom Behind Apple
On April 1, 1976, Steve Jobs founded Apple alongside Steve Wozniak. What started as a dream operating out of Jobs' family garage has since delivered groundbreaking tech products like the iPhone, Mac, iPod, and Apple Watch, transforming lifestyles worldwide. While the innovation thrives today, its inspiration was born years earlier. In 1974, a young Jobs quit his job to follow his calling in the East. 'For me, it was a serious search,' he later told biographer Walter Isaacson. 'I'd been turned on to the idea of enlightenment and trying to figure out who I was and how I fit into things.'
Along with Daniel Kottke, whom he met at Reed College in 1972, Jobs embarked on a trek to India seeking spiritual enlightenment. They aimed to visit Neem Karoli Baba at his Kainchi ashram in Nainital, Uttarakhand. The trip was inspired by both men reading Ram Dass' influential book 'Be Here Now,' which captured the spirit of a generation of young Americans turning toward Eastern spirituality.
Finding the Lost Guru
According to Business Today, when the duo reached the ashram, it was nearly deserted as Neem Karoli Baba had died a year earlier, in September 1973. Despite this, Jobs stayed at the ashram for days, drawing inspiration from the guru's teachings. He continued living in temples, dormitories, and with village families, traveling on foot with little money. According to media reports, Steve Jobs traveled from Haridwar to Nainital and Manali, visiting numerous holy places across India. 'The people in the Indian countryside don't use their intellect like we do, they use their intuition instead, and their intuition is far more developed than in the rest of the world. Intuition is a very powerful thing, more powerful than intellect, in my opinion. That's had a big impact on my work,' he said of his 1974 visit, as per Isaacson.
Jobs spent seven months in India understanding the country's culture and undergoing profound transformation. He carried one book throughout his journey: Paramhansa Yogananda's 'Autobiography of a Yogi,' which he read in India and continued to read annually. His encounter with simplicity and belief in intuition greatly influenced his values moving forward.
The Rise of Apple
After returning to the US, Jobs and Wozniak began building and selling primitive computers for hobbyists. With a $1,300 investment, they founded Apple Computer in his parents' garage. Today, Apple has a net worth of $4.01 trillion. Many of Jobs' close friends believe his visit to the Himalayan ashram and the guru he never met stayed with him for decades. According to Isaacson, India deeply influenced Jobs' intuition, minimalism, and emotional awareness, which later shaped Apple's design philosophy and leadership style.
Who Is Neem Karoli Baba and Why Is He Famous Worldwide?
Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Maharaj ji, was a revered Indian saint and spiritual master famous for his simple yet powerful teachings of love, devotion, compassion, and selfless service. He inspired people to live a pure life by serving others and remembering God. Over time, his teachings became famous in countries like the USA, Canada, and Europe, and he remains known for his spiritual teachings worldwide.
