About August
“Man is a mystery. If you spend your whole life trying to puzzle it out, do not say you have wasted your time. I occupy myself with that mystery because I want to be a man.”
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
Augie, center of the second row, bug-eyed in his bow-tie
Born in July 1952 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August Turak grew up in a large, vibrant family of ten siblings. The cacophony of his household instilled in him early lessons in collaboration, resilience, and the power of shared experiences. These formative years laid the groundwork for his future explorations into the mysteries of life.
August, known as “Augie” but most, attended the prestigious Hotchkiss School, where he encountered the intellectual rigor and philosophical challenges that would ignite his quest for meaning. As a scholarship student from a lower-middle-class background, he experienced a profound cultural shock. The first two years were marked by struggle—academic failure, homesickness, and difficulty making friends.
These trials, though difficult, became the crucible that forged his character. They propelled him into deep introspection, transforming him into the deep thinker he remains today. By his senior year, he had turned his struggles into a profound sense of possibility and determination, realizing that the path to meaning lay in personal transformation.
He continued his education at the University of Pittsburgh, where he pursued a degree in Russian history. Yet, the allure of spiritual and philosophical inquiry led him to drop out of college, embarking on a bold journey into the world of mysticism and self-discovery. In the early 1970s, Augie encountered the mystic and Zen teacher Richard Rose during a talk in Pittsburgh. This meeting sparked a transformative period in his life, leading him to study with Rose and immerse himself in Zen Buddhism and mysticism. Augie lived a nomadic life during this time, working as an itinerant carpet installer and residing in unconventional places like an abandoned ice cream parlor with fellow Zen practitioners. Despite his unconventional path, these experiences provided valuable lessons in entrepreneurship and personal growth.
His spiritual journey also brought him into contact with influential figures like Louis R. Mobley, the former director of the IBM Executive School. Mobley’s integration of philosophical ideas into business education left a profound impression on Turak. After completing his senior year, Turak maintained a close relationship with Mobley, who provided guidance in leadership and philosophy. In turn, Turak assisted Mobley in finding clients for his consulting business, further enriching his understanding of the intersection between business and spirituality.
Augie worked closely with Rose, living on his farm and immersing himself in Rose’s teachings. This period was marked by intense labor and spiritual discipline, as Rose taught him and others through hands-on projects, (as pictured to the left), to instill the principles of Zen. These experiences not only deepened Turak's understanding of Zen but also enabled him to share these transformative lessons with others, fostering a communal journey of learning and growth.
IBM Executive School
Turak's professional journey began with MTV and later included a successful stint with a software startup in North Carolina. By 1993, he and three spiritual friends had established their own successful company. Despite his success in business, Turak saw his work as a means to explore and understand himself and others, viewing business as a spiritual endeavor.
In 1996, Turak faced a major life crisis after a skydiving accident resulted in a shattered right ankle and a week-long hospital stay. This traumatic event triggered a deep personal crisis, leading him to confront his fear of mortality. In search of healing, Turak visited Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery in South Carolina.
The Abbey, known for its contemplative environment and dedication to a life of prayer and simplicity, offered Turak a sanctuary for reflection and renewal. Immersed in the tranquil rhythm of monastic life, he found solace and profound insights through the monks' disciplined practices and their embrace of selfless service.
His transformative experience at the Abbey inspired his Templeton Prize-winning essay, Brother John: A Monk, A Pilgrim, and the Purpose of Life, which was published in hardcover in 2008. The essay, now turned published work enriched by 22 oil paintings by artist Glenn Harrington, marked a turning point in Turak’s life, propelling him into a new career as a writer and speaker.
Augie and Brother John
The success of "Brother John" led Turak to explore the intersection of spirituality and business in his first book, Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks: One CEO’s Quest for Meaning and Authenticity. His work with the monks at Mepkin Abbey profoundly influenced his writing, offering insights into the transformative power of service and selflessness.
Mepkin Abbey
Trappist peers, Mepkin Abbey
In 1999, Turak founded the Self Knowledge Symposium Foundation, and as we now know it - the August Turak Foundation. The foundation was established to promote self-knowledge and the transformative power of service and selflessness. It initially engaged with students at NC State, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where Turak led discussions on philosophical and spiritual questions, guiding individuals toward a deeper understanding of life’s meaning.
Today, Turak resides on Iron Gate Farm in North Carolina, where he integrates his passion for farming with his work at the August Turak Foundation. His life’s work is a testament to the transformative power of service and selflessness, guiding others toward a deeper understanding of themselves and their impact on the world.
As Turak contemplates new book ideas, including stories from his time with Richard Rose and his spiritual odyssey, he reflects on a life devoted to searching and finding meaning. His journey from a troubled student to a successful author and spiritual guide underscores his commitment to exploring and sharing the essence of a life well-lived. For Turak, the pursuit of meaning remains a profound and ongoing journey, embodied by the Dostoevsky quote that has accompanied him throughout his life, and to this day adorns the front of his refrigerator:
“Man is a mystery. If you spend your whole life trying to puzzle it out, do not say you have wasted your time. I occupy myself with that mystery because I want to be a man.”
This quote, a constant companion in his youthful quest for meaning, captures the essence of Turak's lifelong journey.