Sunday, February 18, 2007

Lifton's Criteria of Thought Reform applied to TM. Parts Six and Seven of Eight

by Gina Catena, M.S.

This is a continuation of an essay series. This blogpost addresses how Lifton's sixth and seventh criteria of thought reform apply to the Transcendental Mediation program.

You may begin Part One of this series by clicking here.


LOADING THE LANGUAGE

“The language of the totalist environment is characterized by the thought-terminating cliché (thought-stoppers) Repetitiously centered on all-encompassing jargon, The language of non-thought. Words are given new meanings -- the outside world does not use the words or phrases in the same way -- it becomes a "group" word or phrase.” (1)

Loaded language isolates a person from meaningful communication with others who do use words in the same way. The classic TM thought-stopping cliché is the attribution of any sadness or anxiety to “unstressing.” A person will discredit discomfort or doubts by believing they are “unstressing.”

Another thought stopping cliché is taught during the TM-checking procedure “if you experience any roughness, pay it no mind and gently return awareness to the mantra.” In that one sentence, TM teachings acknowledge that some individuals may experience anxiety or "roughness" in response to this meditation practice, and simultaneously denies the validity of inner conflict by directing a person to return to their hypnotic mantra-repitition. Many currently practicing TMers, and former TMers, say they automaticly return to the mantra, even involuntarily, during times of stress.

Other altered terms are common to TM-speak such as gaining "Spontaneous Support of the Laws of Nature" when things fall into place in one's life solely because they meditate. “Bliss” refers to experiencing the “transcendent” or the source of all thought within ourselves. The physics term “Unified Field” refers alternately to “transcendental consciousness,” “God,” “Being,” or “the Absolute.” “Ignorance” refers to that state of not having learned TM, such as that of any outsider. "Group concsiousness" or "coherence" refers to the power of the group process. More specific Vedic-derived terms apply to minutiae of lifestyle guidelines for diet, dress, architecture, food supplements, music, astrology and gemstone therapies.

Upon leaving the TM community, I struggled to integrate into my present community (family suburbia). It was difficult to eliminate the loaded language from my thoughts and speech. It was more difficult to extricate TM’s loaded language from my thought processes, than it was to learn two foreign languages. Others raised in the TM movement, but younger than me in age, verify the same experience.

One young woman said, "those thoughts and directions keep coming in my head. They get in the way of everything. It's hard to shake off those inner life cliche's and focus on tasks in front of me. Some things are good, but others just prevent me from thinking properly. And that mantra! It still keeps coming in my head. What the f**k is THAT about? I just want it to go away!"

DOCTRINE OVER PERSON

“Every issue in one's life can be reduced to a single set of principles.” (2)

When in the TM mindset, The Science of Creative Intelligence (SCI) and Maharishi Ayur-Ved are the only accepted sources of truth and life principles. Maharishi taught us the 33 lesson course of SCI encompasses all the "Laws of Nature."

“If one questions the beliefs of the group or the leaders of the group, one is made to feel that there is something inherently wrong with them to even question -- it is always "turned around" on them and the questioner/criticizer is questioned rather than the questions answered directly. The underlying assumption is that doctrine/ideology is ultimately more valid, true and real than any aspect of actual human character or human experience and one must subject one's experience to that "truth."(3)

To be truly on the TM path to enlightenment, there is limited acceptable variation of individual thought or expression. Maharishi taught us that doubting (him) could jeopardize our chances to enlightenment. He threatened with, “If you doubt, the doubt will manifest. Never doubt.” We were afraid to question.

The experience of contradiction can be immediately associated with guilt. One is made to feel that doubts are reflections of one's own evil. When doubt arises, conflicts become intense.” (4)

Many who leave the TM organization do not tell old friends, or family members, of their decsions to live outside the TM paradigm after moving away. Current True Believers (TBs) attempt to reconvert us back to TM. The thoughtful person who left the TM program, is deemed misguided at best, and evil at worst. (I am officially a lost cause now!)

Speaking against the TM organization risks losing our loved ones, and being ostracized for ever. Prior posts on this blog, and some comments, express the knee-jerk defensive response that many devout TMers have to our online discussion and analysis. It is sad to read vehement attacks on us here and elsewhere on the internet, in defense of threatened ingrained beliefs. We once also believed that those who spoke against TM were "lost in ignorance," or erroneously directing their "unstressing." We thought, "If only they would meditate again, their anxiety would leave and they would see the light again."

“The pattern of doctrine over person occurs when there is a conflict between what one feels oneself experiencing and what the doctrine or ideology says one should experience.” (5)

Inner conflict between doctrine and personal thinking, as described by Lifton, may be the cause of TM-related psychosis and suicides. Since most of those who committed suicide did not leave notes behind, we cannot know with certainty.

When inner thoughts conflict with the deemed-to-be-ultimate-truth, one’s community, and everything one loves, an existential crises may ensue. The TM solution to this “experience of intense unstressing” would be to return to meditate and calm oneself. This silences disquieting thoughts by returning to transcendence, or a self induced inner trance.

“Witnessing” in TM refers to the state of observing oneself as if an outsider, ostensibly because one is grounded in the “Absolute” (God) and experiences even their own existence as cosmically inconsequential. The doctrine and inner experience is more important than any individual. The ultimate goal of TM's "transcendence" is "Cosmic Consciousness."

TM teaches that in Cosmic Consciouisness (CC), one observes even themselves as if from the outside, twenty-four hours per day. This constant separation of self is the goal. The individuality leaves and all creation is ultimately connected as one in the highest state of Unity Consciousness (UC). In UC the ultimate dimunition of personhood would be exalted, as individual personhood disappears. Unity Consciousness is the extreme valuation of "doctrine over person," since personal idenity ceases.


The final segment may be read by clicking here.


1) Lifton, R. (1989) Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism. Chapel Hill. University of North Carolina Press.
2) ibid Lifton
3) ibid Lifton
4) ibid Lifton
5) ibid Lifton

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's important to point out, once again, that what Gina describes is very rarely, if ever, experienced by TMers who have not heavily involved themselves in the TMO or who were brought up in the TMO (and not even by all of those who have by any means).

Inner conflict between doctrine and personal thinking, as described by Lifton, may be the cause of TM-related psychosis and suicides. Since most of those who committed suicide did not leave notes behind, we cannot know with certainty.

This may give readers the impression that suicide is common among TMers. As far as I'm aware, there are no data showing that a higher percentage of TMers commit suicide than among the general population. Perhaps someone will attempt to do a study one day, but until then we shouldn't trivialize the great personal tragedy of suicide by appearing to attribute the cause to TM or the TMO.

In the meantime, one can certainly ask whether the TMO should do a better job of preventing suicide among TMers who are involved with the TMO.

Judy Stein

Anonymous said...

Judy said: This may give readers the impression that suicide is common among TMers.

It didn't give me that impression at all.

Gina noted: Inner conflict between doctrine and personal thinking, as described by Lifton, may be the cause

I have emphasized "may be the cause" -- this is important note carefully. It may further be necessary to take careful note of “as described by Lifton”.

As far as I am aware, the TM organization has never made any effort to determine who should and who should not go beyond the 2x20 daily recommendation. It therefore seems that the TM organization does places little if any importance on the well being of the practitioner.

The Mahesh and his organization have consistently been irresponsible with respect to a money-first mentality.

If the organization and its leader are to do a "better job", then any Inner conflict between doctrine and personal thinking with respect to what Mahesh teaches and those who pay heavily to learn it is going to have to be addressed.

I had the impression that this was what this Blog was endeavouring to accomplish.

aka S

Anonymous said...

As far as I am aware, the TM organization has never made any effort to determine who should and who should not go beyond the 2x20 daily recommendation.

Actually, it does take a stab at it on course applications; acceptance isn't automatic. But ironically, some of the same people who complain that TM doesn't watch out for practitioners' welfare also complain about what you have to go through to get on a course, and then complain about the prescribed routine on the course.

And plain-vanilla TMers are repeatedly told not to meditate longer than recommended.

Granted, the various levels of screening are not expertly applied, and people who are having trouble may find it difficult to get help, or even be discouraged from doing so.

I don't really think better screening is the answer; it just wouldn't be practical, for a lot of reasons. But meditators should be encouraged to seek help at the first sign of problems; and there should never be any stigma attached to getting professional assistance.

Judy Stein

Anonymous said...

I don't really think better screening is the answer; it just wouldn't be practical, for a lot of reasons. But meditators should be encouraged to seek help at the first sign of problems; and there should never be any stigma attached to getting professional assistance.


While I almost absolutely agree, Mahesh himself has traditionally been very negative about "professional help".

And I wonder why "it just wouldn't be practical". Practical for whom? Impractical for whom?

So much supposed "science" has gone into proving TM is good for everyone, what would be the reason to avoid any effort to find for whom it would not be good?

Well, it is obviously not in the best financial interests of the TM organization to advertize any negative effects. In that way, the TM organization shares a lot with the tobacco companies, doesn't it.

Can anyone cite any contemporary efforts on the part of the TM organization to interfere with individuals seeking professional, non TM, help?

Boaz said...

Interesting post.
My mom has been involved with TM for over 30 years. Recently I have been trying to better understand the TM organization and its philosophy/religion, I have thought a little bit about this language issue.

One word that I find to be tricky is the word "subtle". I have noticed this in particular because I study physics and have looked into John Hagelin's claims.
This word seems to act to communicate between the world of experience and the world of physics. MMY and Hagelin's descriptions of physics use this word. They describe the job of modern physics as getting down to more and more "subtle" levels of existence.

Its a clever and interesting word.
But it does not have a clear definition in physics.

I am not entirely against this attempt to try and find connection between Hinduism or experience and various aspects of modern physics. And I suppose to do this, one may need some new vocabulary. But although Hagelin has made an impressive attempt, what I don't appreciate is that the results are determined ahead of time. It is not an open inquiry into the connections. MMY's ideas are taken at face value. A certain subset of physics ideas are also taken at face value (or shifted a bit), and then words are chosen to connect these two pieces together.

The fact that many people think of physics as fixed and authoritatve (i.e. that a theory of "everything" is indeed close at hand) make this a very hard box to think oneself out of. I would think this would be particularly true for those who know a little physics, but don't have much practical experience with it.

Hagelin's most detailed writing on the topic that I know of is here:
http://www.slac.stanford.edu/spires/find/hep/www?key=2106868

If people know of other places where more details are spelled out, or places where this topic is discussed, I'd be interested. I found a phd dissertation by Mikael Rothstein that gets at this issue and I've been trying to absorb it, but its pretty dense.

Sorry, hope this was relatively on topic. I've just started reading this blog.
Thanks,
Boaz

Gina said...

Tks Boaz,

Oh yes, all about subtle experiences, subtle levels of thought, the finest level of creation, experiencing the subtlest form of the senses, the subtlest minutiate of physics... blah blah.

I'll edit-in something about that. Tks for reminding me! :)

Yes, I know a physist who has worked to debunk the pseudo science applied by folks such as Hagelin, Chopra and others. I will try to find some of his references online and post into a blogpost.

Welcome aboard! Thanks for participating!
Gina

Anonymous said...

And I wonder why "[screening] just wouldn't be practical". Practical for whom? Impractical for whom?

You'd have to give those who teach TM fairly extensive training in psychology, I should think, to enable them to make the proper distinctions. You'd have to examine prospective course participants, and many would be likely to find this invasive. I just don't see how it could be implemented easily or fairly.

Anonymous said...

I believe Hagelin published two articles in the MUM journal "Modern Science and Vedic Science." The URL you cite appears to be to a version of the first one ("Restructuring Physics..."), but I'm pretty sure there was a follow-up a few issues later.

Judy Stein

Boaz said...

Thanks for the welcome Gina!
I'll try to participate when I can.

I believe Hagelin published two articles in the MUM journal "Modern Science and Vedic Science." The URL you cite appears to be to a version of the first one ("Restructuring Physics..."), but I'm pretty sure there was a follow-up a few issues later.

Thanks, Judy.

Do you know approximately what year? If available online, I'd be interested in finding the second article. Also, do you know in what way the second article differed from the first? Similar to the book The Tao of Physics, (or, in the case of Christianity, The Physics of Immortality by Frank Tipler) what I found was description of two separate systems and then metaphorical (not causal) connection between them.

I'm interested in whether this theoretical structure has been developed at all. My sense is that it has not been for awhile. I understand that there was a time when TM posters were popular in physics departments, with hot new delopments in string theory, various attempted unified field theories etc. connected to TM. But now it seems that Hagelin has moved on to politics, sociology (via the maharishi affect) brain research and other stuff that he was not trained in and not really updating the physics.
I did read some MUM press recently about TM being akin to the Meissner effect in super-conductors. But no reference was given.
I know that there was "What the Bleep .." but although entertaining, its certainly not a scholarly work.
I'll take a look at "Modern Science and Vedic Science."
best,
Boaz

Sudarsha said...

And I wonder why "[screening] just wouldn't be practical". Practical for whom? Impractical for whom?

You'd have to give those who teach TM fairly extensive training in psychology, ... [as above]

In other words, people who teach TM should know what they are doing?

I agree. It's too bad that Mahesh didn't think of that before sending 30-day (and sometimes 14-day) wonders out to rake in the $ for his enterprise.

Gina said...

"Train TM teachers in psychology" - not likely, IMHO.

TM's sales pitch is about the magic bullet to solve ALL of life's problems. Like Pizarro's mythical fountain of youth. There will always be those who go the ends of the Earth for a magical solution to life's quandries.

If TM teachers were trained in real psychology, screening applicants, forewarning new initiates of possible adverse effects, or referring them for help when needed, then TM teachers might recognize the scam and cease teaching.

Preparing TM teachers with training for "this could be hazardous to your health" would be counterproductive to the TMOrg's goal of increasing revenue and cultivating low cost labor.

Later this week, I'll dig up those physics references and post them as a blog post.

Have a great day all!
Gina

Anonymous said...

Boaz, I don't remember the year, but it was in a relatively early issue of Modern Science and Vedic Science--maybe in the second year of publication, whenever that was.

As far as I know, the article isn't on the Web anywhere. You might want to contact MUM Press and see if they still have the issue available.

I also don't remember how it differed from the first article. I believe it was an elaboration on it, not any kind of major departure.

I have both articles in a box in storage. If I could get at them easily, I'd dig them out for you, but I can't!

Judy Stein

Boaz said...

Ok, thanks Judy.

If its that hard to get, I probably won't try to find for awhile. But if it is indeed the basis for the claimed connection between TM and quantum field theory, it should be more widely available if it is to be quoted as a reference. Maybe Gina will provide some helpful references.

Yes, I would hope there would be further elaboration. Because, as I stated, I found little in the paper I read beyond hand waving and artistic placement of two sets of terminology next to one another. I think it serves the purpose of making it easier to hold the two systems in one's mind at the same time, but does little to substantiate the physical equivalence of consciousness and flipped SU(5).

best,
Boaz

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