In January 2025, Bonhams Auction House in London was making headlines for an extremely unusual reason: the sale of a handwritten letter from Steve Jobs. This was no ordinary letter, but one written on his 19th birthday in 1974 when Jobs was still a young man, far removed from the global tech icon he would become. Sold at a staggering $500,312.50, it was to garner all the attention that this letter brought; however, the monetary value of the auction wasn't the most important. It was this letter that revealed some deep spiritual aspirations that Steve Jobs had possessed throughout his lifetime.
Steve Jobs deeply desired to visit Kumbh Mela—the largest spiritual and religious festival on Earth, once every 12 years in India. What we know about Jobs is that he was a tech visionary but what we don’t know is the spiritual facet of his personality. This letter of his reveals a profound philosophical and spiritual journey that would mould his life, indirectly shaping the future of Apple Inc.
It was a historic Bonhams auction that saw an audience captivated by a simple handwritten letter from Steve Jobs. But few knew the man behind this; he did not talk about Apple or some sort of tech innovation. Instead, 19-year-old Jobs showed deep spiritual yearning. He talked about his interest in Zen Buddhism and wanted to attend Kumbh Mela, the world's largest spiritual gathering.
His words, "I want to go to India for the Kumbh Mela," revealed a search for inner peace, which was above material success. This was quite a surprise insight into Jobs' spiritual side. His search was beyond technology and into the world of spirituality in seeking answers to the most existential questions of life.
The letter was written in the quiet solitude of Jobs' childhood home in California to his childhood friend, Tim Brown. This was a time in his life when Jobs was a young man trying to make sense of the world, with his thoughts consumed by Eastern philosophy and the quest for inner peace. The Kumbh Mela would later symbolize his spiritual journey, but it was more than a religious festival for Jobs. It was his deep longing for simplicity, mindfulness, and enlightenment.
By writing about Kumbh Mela, he revealed one attribute of his persona that was not very commonly expressed—the quest for getting in touch with the deeper sense of life beyond the materialist culture he was being exposed to at this age. His early interest in Hinduism and meditation laid the premises for Jobs' later personal development and his philosophy on how to create Apple products. The letter further foreshadowed how simplicity, intuition, and clarity will define his business and personal life.
Flash to 2025: almost a decade since the death of Steve Jobs. His widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, decided to fulfill a promise to her late husband. Laurene went on a pilgrimage to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, not only to honor her husband's spiritual search but also, in her words, to follow her own self-discovery and understanding process. This spiritual gathering that Laurene participated in was more than a tribute to Steve; it was her moment of connection to the enlightening experience that had influenced his life and legacy.
As Laurene arrived at the Kumbh Mela, she was shocked by the magnitude and spiritual energy of the event. Maha Kumbh Mela is a colossal spiritual congregation in India, held once every 12 years. Millions of devotees from every corner of India and the globe come to take part in sacred rituals at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers that are believed to purify the soul. Laurene, wearing simple clothes with a serene expression, walked among the sea of people not as an outsider but as a fellow seeker looking to connect with the same spiritual essence that had deeply resonated with Steve.
Kumbh Mela is far more than a religious event; it is a confluence of faith, culture, and spiritual practice on a grand scale. Millions of devotees throng to this festival, centered around the sacred dip in the Triveni Sangam—the point where three holy rivers meet—for purification, salvation, and inner peace. For Laurene, seeing devotion and unity in the crowd, she began to understand why this event had been so important for Steve.
As all walks of people congregated to meditate, pray, and take the holy bath in the Ganges, Laurene was overcome by the depth of transformation that was occurring in all directions around her. Ahead of the Mahakumbh Mela, she was renamed 'Kamala' in honor of a spiritual leader. The ceremony took place at Niranjani Akhara in Prayagraj. She participated in the sacred rituals for herself as well, embracing the humility and simplicity that Steve had once sought. Through these sacred rituals, Laurene had a deep feeling of interconnectedness with the spiritual practices that Steve had immersed himself in during his travels to India.
It was not just a journey of remembrance for Laurene; the Kumbh Mela had turned into a very profound symbol of the universal human quest for peace, connection, and spiritual awakening. She felt that the practices she witnessed were something deep within herself, realizing that the event was far more than religious observance - it was a testament to the shared human experience of seeking meaning beyond the material world.
During his visit in the 1970s in India, Steve Jobs underwent a spiritual journey. As he moved forward into early adulthood, Jobs grew tired of Western materialism, so he found his answers in the East. It was Neem Karoli Baba's ashram in Uttarakhand where Steve Jobs went and spent his days in meditation, immersing himself in the simple spirit of it all.
Despite having passed away years before Jobs began visiting the ashram, what remained was its innate spiritual energy, which not only helped sharpen Jobs' worldview on life but also his approach to technological matters.
He internalized the philosophies of intuition over intellect and simplicity over complexity during this period. These philosophies actually shaped his approach to designing as well as living, and he would be one of the pioneers in producing friendly, minimalist technology. His time in India gave him a framework for thinking that valued clarity, focus, and simplicity—principles that would later define Apple's products.
One of the most transformative influences on Jobs during his time in India was reading the Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda. The teachings of the book about meditation, inner peace, and the interconnectedness of all beings significantly touched his heart. Jobs would often refer to this book as one of the most metamorphic pieces of literature he had ever read.
For most of his remaining life, there was only that one book - yes, literally - on his iPad. It indicates the depth by which it impacted his approach to life, in addition to moulding a different perspective on the world in its wake.
The lessons of intuition, simplicity, and inner peace that Jobs learned in India became part of the design ethos of Apple. His spiritual journey laid the foundation for innovative, intuitive products from Apple.
For Laurene, it was a journey not only to fulfill Steve's dream but also for her transformation. Laurene observed all the traditional Hindu protocols in Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi. She prayed there with great reverence and did not touch the Shivling. As non-Hindus are not permitted to touch the sacred Shivling, Powell Jobs honored this rule by viewing it from outside the sanctum. Her compliance with these customs underscores her respect for the sanctity of Indian religious practices.
In India, Laurene reconnected with the same spiritual practices that inspired Steve toward a deeper insight into the spiritual roots of the philosophy that guided his work. The pilgrimage allowed Laurene to reflect upon a lasting legacy Steve had left behind: not in technological creations, but in unshakeable commitment to simplicity, mindfulness, and spirituality.
Standing by the banks of the Ganges River at sunrise, Laurene realized how deeply spiritual and technological realms intertwined. Steve Jobs was a bridge between two worlds: Eastern spirituality and Western innovation. His journey to India and the lessons he learned from his spiritual experiences were all part of the same larger story. Laurene's pilgrimage underscored the notion that true innovation does not come from the mind alone but from a deeper understanding of oneself, the world, and the interconnectedness of all things.
The Kumbh Mela, in its message of unity, transformation, and inner peace, encapsulated the spiritual journey Steve had undertaken. Laurene's participation made it very clear that the highest form of innovation is the creation of a better, more connected world—a world that harmonizes technology with the pursuit of wisdom and inner peace.