John Bkila Sub-Editor jbkila@oakvillebeaver.com Artscene 21 | Friday, February 26, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Oakville resident Paul Saltzman had the rare opportunity to spend time with the Beatles in 1968 when they were all at the same meditation ashram -- a monastic community -- in Rishikesh, India. At left, the late John Lennon sits with his guitar. At right, Lennon (in middle) and Paul McCartney (at right) play together while Ringo Starr (at far left) sits and listens along. The photos will be among those shared by Saltzman during a March 1 event at Oakville Public Library's Central Branch, where he'll be telling stories of his encounter with the Beatles and finding meditation in India. For more photos, visit insidehalton.com/oakville-on. | photos by Paul Saltzman Chance Beatles encounter, `life-changing': Paul Saltzman Local resident sharing stories of India, Beatles at Oakville Public Library March 1 by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff It's often said the Beatles changed the course of music history. But for Paul Saltzman, a two-time Emmy Award-winning film and television producerdirector, they did more than that. In fact, it would be the words of one particular Beatle that would change the course of the Oakville resident's life. In a chance of a lifetime, Saltzman would find himself sitting with the late George Harrison in the meditation room of an ashram -- a monastic community -- in Rishikesh, India, in early 1968. Saltzman was working in New Delhi, India as a sound engineer on the National Film Board of Canada's Juggernaut documentary at the time. A "devastating" breakup made him look to meditation to get over his heartbreak and would lead him to the same ashram in Rishikesh the Beatles happened to be at, and which was closed to the public. After some time and realizing he was not part of the media, the maharishi of the ashram would let Saltzman in and it was there he met the Beatles. Both Harrison and Saltzman were 24 years old at the time. "We were just, you know, two kids sitting there talking, except one of us was one of the biggest pop stars in the world," said Saltzman of the encounter in the meditation room. "And George was a man of profound humility, true humility... he was a kind, gentle, brilliant soul." At one point, "without guile, just complete modesty," Saltzman noted, Harrison told him, "Like, we're the Beatles after all, aren't we? We have all the money we could ever dream of; we have all the fame you could ever wish for; but it isn't love, it isn't health, it isn't peace inside, is it?" "I never forgot that and it's informed my life," said Saltzman. "I've made money; I've won probably 50 awards for my films; I've been all over the world, but I think part of the inner peace I feel is that perspective." Born in Toronto, he now lives in Oakville with his partner Anne Peace. Saltzman is not only an accomplished filmmaker, but an author and photographer as well. Paul Saltzman He said he'll be sharing intimate stories, photographs and video of the "life-changing" time he spent with the Beatles and the "beauty of India" at the Oakville Public Library on Tuesday, March 1. "I have a great deal more inner peace than ever and it only keeps getting better. It's not difficult to attain," the 72-year-old said of how his trip to India changed him. During his time with the Beatles, Saltzman was afforded the opportunity to take photos the press -- who would arrive at the closed ashram daily -- couldn't get. "They (the Beatles) let me become a part of their group there. I was no longer a fan," he said, noting they did not raise any issue when he took photos of them. "The pictures are rare and really beautiful... and I wanted to share them with the world," said Saltzman. In 2006, he self-published a deluxe limited edition of his book of photographs, The Beatles in India, of which Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney each have a copy, he said. After his initial trip to India in 1968, Saltzman has returned to the country more than 50 times and has taken to leading tours to help others discover it the way he has. "I designed a tour of all my favourite places that would share my joy and experience of India, and I took a tour in 2013, of 22 people, and everyone had the time of their lives," he said, noting he plans to lead another small group from Sept. 22-Oct. 8. Anyone interested in signing up for the tour can email paul@sfl-films.com to learn more. The free talk at the Oakville Library's Central Branch, 120 Navy St., takes place in the auditorium from 7-8:30 p.m. Seating is limited. To register for the event online, visit www. bestway.com.