"John Bush has a unique and inspired vision of the art of documentary film”
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON
INTO THE HEART OF INDIA
is an immersive journey to ancient sites; a cultural portrait offering
an experience of openness and interconnection.
Bodhgaya
Experience a vast landscape with luminous paths, the inspired diversity
of spiritual India from a western seeker’s point of view.
Nanda Devi - Himalayas (25,643 ft)
LANDSCAPE AND SCOPE
Traveling over 2,500 miles—from the snows of the Himalayas to the temple-dotted
shores of India’s southern tip—INTO THE HEART OF INDIA offers a rare view of the
nation’s sacred geography. The series becomes a cinematic pilgrimage, honoring
the beauty of India’s spiritual diversity. What unfolds is a radiant tapestry of
landscape, tradition, and the human heart.
ORIGINS AND RELEVANCE
INTO THE HEART OF INDIA brings ancient wisdom into the rhythm of modern life,
offering a journey that moves both inward and across sacred land. Yoga, meditation,
and mindfulness—now embraced around the world—arose in India as paths not of
escape, but of return. They lead one into presence, into stillness, into the quiet
unfolding of the heart. This cinematic journey brings one to their source—to the
forests, rivers, and temples where breath became prayer, movement became offering,
and silence became knowing.
John Bush Amarmath Kashmir 1971 Seeker and Filmmaker
In 1969, John Bush—an anti-war artist—left behind a restless America in search of
something deeper than struggle: peace. Drawn to India, he found a world alive with
spiritual depth and open-hearted welcome. For two years, he immersed himself in
hatha yoga, bhakti devotion, and mindfulness meditation. Alongside other Western
seekers, he lived and practiced within India’s revered pilgrimage centers under the
direct guidance of his revered guru Neemkaroli Baba, later known to the world
through Be Here Now.
Now, more than five decades later, John Bush returns—not only as a pilgrim, but as
a respected filmmaker—still deeply connected to the sacred pulse of India. With two
talented Indian film professionals and a spirit of gratitude he sets out on pilgrimage
once again. The result is INTO THE HEART OF INDIA: a cinematic offering shaped by
lived experience, cultural respect, and the quiet hope that these timeless traditions
touch something vital in the viewer.
Neemkaroli Baba (1900 - 1973) Bridge Between Worlds
From filmmaker John Bush -
Many of the universal themes I explore in this series were first awakened during my two years with Neem Karoli Baba, the beloved Indian saint we knew as Maharaj-ji. Being with him in the early 1970s, and his deep presence and boundless compassion left a mark that has guided much of my life and creative work.
More than five decades after his passing, Maharaj-ji continues to inspire devotion across India. In recent years, his influence has taken root among a new generation—especially in the tech and creative worlds—partly due to the story of Steve Jobs, who journeyed to India seeking him. Though he arrived just after Maharaj-ji’s death, Jobs remained at the ashram and credited that pilgrimage as a turning point, shaping his vision of human connection that would eventually lead to the iPhone.
For many, this connection between a Himalayan ashram and Silicon Valley is more than a curious anecdote—it’s a sign that timeless wisdom can quietly shape the most modern of lives.
“As large as the universe is, so large is the space within the heart. Both heaven and earth are contained within it, both fire and air, sun and moon, lightning and stars.”
The Chandogya Upanishad
Radha & Krishna
”When a person responds to the joys and sorrows of others as
If they were their own, they have attained the highest state of spiritual union.”
THE BHAGAVAD GITA
John Bush - Director’s Statement
Every human being is born a pilgrim - on a unique, lifelong journey of the spirit.
INTO THE HEART OF INDIA is a six-part cinematic series exploring India’s
sacred geography through the enduring tradition of pilgrimage. Filmed
over a year in total, along with Indian film professionals, this non-sectarian
series offers an immersive portrait of a spiritual culture that is ancient yet
vividly alive in the present. For thousands of years, pilgrims have walked
these revered paths, passing a quiet flame of devotion from one generation to the next. That living continuity has shaped a profound spiritual landscape - one that still resonates across India today.
This series uncovers universal truths embedded in India’s diverse spiritual
heritage. While I am not affiliated with any religion, I have been deeply
nourished by these traditions and feel compelled to share their relevance
for today’s audiences. The intention is not to promote any belief system,
but to open a window into the practice of pilgrimage that inspires connection, introspection, and unity.
The River Ganges
Director’s statement continued
At the heart of Indian thought lies a profound paradox: nirvana and samsara -
the divine and the delusional - existing both in the world and within each of us.
Pilgrimage has long served as a transformative act to awaken and reconcile these
aspects of being.
The series is not only a visual journey through sacred sites—it is a meditation on
the timeless human search for meaning. Through the intimacy of pilgrims’ faces
and the depth of India’s spiritual legacy, INTO THE HEART OF INDIA welcomes
viewers to reflect on their own inner journey.
After all, one reason we go on pilgrimage is to remember that we are already
on one - together.
