In Feb. 1968, the Beatles and fellow sixties icons Donovan, a Beach Boy or two, Mia Farrow and other hipsters from around the world converged on an ashram in India to meditate with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement. This gathering received worldwide attention and is considered a significant early encounter between Western pop culture and the mystical East. But what went on inside the compound has been the subject of speculation and rumor. Only one journalist was allowed inside: Lewis Lapham, covering the TM sensation. In a book of charming history and wry cultural commentary, he recalls with wit, grace, and poignancy what turned out to be a pivotal moment of the sixties. Photos.