On August 24th in music history, one significant event occurred in 1967 when The Beatles met the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a famous Indian guru, at the London Hilton. This meeting would have a profound impact on the band's musical and spiritual journey.

The Beatles, already fascinated by Eastern philosophy and culture, were introduced to the Maharishi by Pattie Boyd, George Harrison's wife. The guru was giving a lecture on Transcendental Meditation (TM) at the hotel, and the band members attended, eager to learn more about this practice.

Impressed by the Maharishi's teachings, The Beatles decided to attend a weekend seminar on TM in Bangor, Wales. However, their enthusiasm was cut short when they received the devastating news that their manager, Brian Epstein, had died from an accidental drug overdose.

Despite this tragedy, The Beatles remained intrigued by the Maharishi's teachings. In February 1968, they traveled to Rishikesh, India, to attend an advanced TM training course at the Maharishi's ashram. During their stay, which lasted several weeks, the band members immersed themselves in meditation, yoga, and Eastern philosophy.

This period was highly productive for The Beatles, particularly in terms of songwriting. Many of the songs that would later appear on the "White Album" were composed during their time at the ashram, including "Dear Prudence," "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

However, the band's relationship with the Maharishi soured amid rumors of his inappropriate behavior towards female students. John Lennon, disillusioned with the guru, wrote the scathing song "Sexy Sadie" (originally titled "Maharishi") as a response to these allegations.

Despite the controversial end to their association with the Maharishi, The Beatles' exploration of Eastern spirituality and philosophy had a lasting impact on their music and cultural influence. The meeting on August 24th, 1967, marked the beginning of a transformative journey that would shape the band's legacy and contribute to the broader cultural shifts of the late 1960s.