Stories about Steve Jobs visiting India are well-known, but did you know that the Apple co-founder was deeply influenced by Indian spirituality? Steve Jobs was significantly inspired by the Indian mystic saint, Neem Karoli Baba. In fact, it was Jobs who encouraged Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook, to visit the Neem Karoli ashram in India. This famous ashram is located at Kainchi Dham in Nainital, Uttarakhand.
Who Was Neem Karoli Baba?
Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Neeb Karori Baba, was a devoted follower of the Hindu deity Hanuman. He was a yogi and saint, revered by many, including numerous American hippies who travelled to India in the 1960s and 1970s. Baba was affectionately called Maharaj-ji by his followers.
Steve Jobs’ Visit to Neem Karoli Baba’s Ashram
Steve Jobs’ deep connection with India is evidenced by his visits to the Hare Krishna temple. In 1974, Jobs travelled to India with his friend Dan Kottke, searching for peace and inspiration after experiencing several setbacks. He wanted to meet Neem Karoli Baba, having heard about the ashram’s spiritual legacy and hoping to receive his blessings. Unfortunately, by the time Jobs arrived, Maharaj-ji had passed away (Mahasamadhi) on September 11, 1973.
Despite not meeting Baba, Jobs and Kottke stayed at the ashram for some time, absorbing the teachings and meditating. Upon returning to the US, Jobs founded Apple Inc., with Kottke becoming the company’s first employee. Apple Inc. is now a globally renowned company.
The Link Between Neem Karoli Baba, Steve Jobs, and Apple’s Logo
Steve Jobs’ spiritual journey in India profoundly influenced him. According to some accounts, Neem Karoli Baba’s favourite fruit was an apple, inspiring Jobs to choose the apple as the logo for his company. This connection underscores the spiritual influence on one of the world’s most innovative companies. It is also said that during Jobs’ final moments, he kept a photograph of Baba under his pillow.
Steve Jobs Advised Mark Zuckerberg to Visit Neem Karoli Ashram
Vinod Joshi, a long-time devotee of Neem Karoli Baba, recalls Mark Zuckerberg’s visit to the ashram. As reported by the Economic Times, a few years ago, Joshi received a call from Larry Brilliant, former director of Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, and an American physician. Brilliant informed Joshi that Zuckerberg would visit the ashram for a day. At the time, Zuckerberg was not yet widely known, and Facebook had not reached its current scale. Zuckerberg ended up staying at the ashram for two days.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Experience at Neem Karoli Ashram
During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, Zuckerberg shared this story. He mentioned that, on Steve Jobs’ advice, he visited Baba’s temple in India. At a Town Hall meeting at Facebook headquarters in 2015, Zuckerberg told Modi,
“So I went and travelled for almost a month, and seeing people, seeing how people connected, and having the opportunity to feel how much better the world could be if everyone has a strong ability to connect reinforced for me the importance of what we were doing and that is something I’ve always remembered over the last 10 years as we’ve built Facebook.”
The Lasting Influence of Neem Karoli Baba
The story of Neem Karoli Baba and Steve Jobs is fascinating, illustrating how the mystic yogi’s teachings touched the lives of many, including some of the most influential figures in the tech industry.