Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Flying Fraud
Betty and Anomalous have made a significant contribution to TM criticism (perhaps a new genre similar to literary criticism). I think it is of tremendous importance that we first and foremost do not live in the past. HOWEVER, it is paramount that we do not forget the past because it is the foundation of right now and right now is the foundation of the future. I think we must make every effort right now to remember what Mahesh said when he beguiled us into his web of deceit and then how he changed his story to prop up his failing fantasy life.
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Rocky said, “the wacky marketing schemes dreamed up by the TMO, said it was.”
Betty said, You are mistaken. I knew people who sat with MMY on the early flying courses. He asked them if they were afraid to actually fly and blamed them and not his teaching for the fact they were not floating in the air. We were told point blank in 1977 that we would learn to fly on these course, not hop. If we weren't successful at flying, the least that we would get was perfect health. The flagrant lies did not stop until the movement was sued for fraud. Maharishi is directly responsible for these lies, not some wacky TM teachers.
Anomalous said: Thanks Betty. This is the first response I have elicited on this forum which says what needs to be said about the ertswhile flying bullshit. I am glad you were there and know just what the facts are about this fraud. One wonders if the naive Westerners should also be charged with negligent stupidity. Perhaps they are also culpable for Mahesh's fraud in that they begged for it and refuse, even now, to see fraud for what it is, since he's so holy'n'shit. I have asked many times, to no avail, if there is any record of the Meshuganishi actually flying, but I never get even an acknowledgement of the query, let alone an answer. He never levitated. You know it. Then, they say that was never the point or something like that. Western suckers!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Charisma of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Founder of Transcendental Meditation
About a month ago, I attended a 2-hour workshop on healing through movement. After this brief workshop, I wanted to immediately buy the presenter's book, take his classes, do home practice off his audiotapes, immerse myself in his technique and philosophy, and become a true believer, practitioner and follower.
I had to shake myself awake! It was only because of my years in recovery from TM that I so quickly recognized that I was thinking irrationality. Why would I become a "true believer" after only 2 hours?
I picked apart my reactions, and realized that what I had been reacting to had been the teacher's "charismatic" presentation. Here is what he did that won me over:
1. He appears absolutely sure of the truth of his knowledge.
2. His teaching encompassed sweeping areas of life (health, biology, movement, evolution, physiology, healing, the brain).
3. His teaching was internally consistent.
4. He promised us great things.
(fluidity of movement, no more aches and pains, healing of chronic injuries).
5. He backed up his promises both with fascinating anecdotes and with quotes from science.
6. He appeared knowledgeable about his competitors' products, and discredited them in a way both loving and condescending.
7. His teaching was original and off the beaten track.
8. His personality was attractive (a happy, warm man.)
9. He promised his technique would give me exactly what I longed for (relief from chronic pain and healthy aging.)
Put this all together, and it was so easy to take the internal steps from, "How nice if this were true," to "Wow, there is some evidence that this is true," to "This must be true. How lucky I am to have found it!"
Upon reflection, I could see how closely this brief experience paralleled my experience with Maharishi. Each of the qualities I experienced in this exercise teacher, I also experienced 40 years earlier in Maharishi:
1. Maharishi seemed absolutely convinced of the truth of his knowledge. No gray areas.
2. Maharishi's teachings encompassed physical, mental, emotional, social, financial, governmental, educational, philosophical and spiritual regeneration.
3. His teachings were internally consistent. (If you didn't dig too deep.)
4. He promised great things for us: enlightenment, having the support of nature and inner peace; and later he also promised us perfect health, immortality, and world peace.
5. He backed up his promises with endless fascinating anecdotes of people who he said had benefited from TM, as well as appeals based on scientific research.
6. He described what he said were the different types of meditations, and explained why his meditation technique was superior. He quoted scientific research to back it up.
7. His teaching was original and off the beaten track.
8. His personality was attractive (joyous, bubbly, happy).
9. He promised that his technique would give me exactly what I personally longed for (peace of mind, self-esteem.)
So it wasn't surprising that at the naive age of 19, I fell under the sway of Maharishi and his teachings.
What were your experiences of the persuasive powers of Maharishi?
As long as I'm talking about Maharishi's public appeal, I wanted to comment on Maharishi's physical appearance. It's ironic that TM teachers became known for looking "corporate" (business suits, clean shaven, etc.), - Maharishi had a strict dress code - because in fact, Maharishi looked like the quintessential "flower child." He had the long hair, flowing beard , beads, carried a flower, sandals or bare feet, sat cross-legged, talked about love. In fact, his only lapse was wearing a dhoti instead of blue jeans and a tie-dyed shirt! Which came first - Maharishi, with flower children emulating him? Or flower children, with Maharishi imitating them?
I had to shake myself awake! It was only because of my years in recovery from TM that I so quickly recognized that I was thinking irrationality. Why would I become a "true believer" after only 2 hours?
I picked apart my reactions, and realized that what I had been reacting to had been the teacher's "charismatic" presentation. Here is what he did that won me over:
1. He appears absolutely sure of the truth of his knowledge.
2. His teaching encompassed sweeping areas of life (health, biology, movement, evolution, physiology, healing, the brain).
3. His teaching was internally consistent.
4. He promised us great things.
(fluidity of movement, no more aches and pains, healing of chronic injuries).
5. He backed up his promises both with fascinating anecdotes and with quotes from science.
6. He appeared knowledgeable about his competitors' products, and discredited them in a way both loving and condescending.
7. His teaching was original and off the beaten track.
8. His personality was attractive (a happy, warm man.)
9. He promised his technique would give me exactly what I longed for (relief from chronic pain and healthy aging.)
Put this all together, and it was so easy to take the internal steps from, "How nice if this were true," to "Wow, there is some evidence that this is true," to "This must be true. How lucky I am to have found it!"
Upon reflection, I could see how closely this brief experience paralleled my experience with Maharishi. Each of the qualities I experienced in this exercise teacher, I also experienced 40 years earlier in Maharishi:
1. Maharishi seemed absolutely convinced of the truth of his knowledge. No gray areas.
2. Maharishi's teachings encompassed physical, mental, emotional, social, financial, governmental, educational, philosophical and spiritual regeneration.
3. His teachings were internally consistent. (If you didn't dig too deep.)
4. He promised great things for us: enlightenment, having the support of nature and inner peace; and later he also promised us perfect health, immortality, and world peace.
5. He backed up his promises with endless fascinating anecdotes of people who he said had benefited from TM, as well as appeals based on scientific research.
6. He described what he said were the different types of meditations, and explained why his meditation technique was superior. He quoted scientific research to back it up.
7. His teaching was original and off the beaten track.
8. His personality was attractive (joyous, bubbly, happy).
9. He promised that his technique would give me exactly what I personally longed for (peace of mind, self-esteem.)
So it wasn't surprising that at the naive age of 19, I fell under the sway of Maharishi and his teachings.
What were your experiences of the persuasive powers of Maharishi?
As long as I'm talking about Maharishi's public appeal, I wanted to comment on Maharishi's physical appearance. It's ironic that TM teachers became known for looking "corporate" (business suits, clean shaven, etc.), - Maharishi had a strict dress code - because in fact, Maharishi looked like the quintessential "flower child." He had the long hair, flowing beard , beads, carried a flower, sandals or bare feet, sat cross-legged, talked about love. In fact, his only lapse was wearing a dhoti instead of blue jeans and a tie-dyed shirt! Which came first - Maharishi, with flower children emulating him? Or flower children, with Maharishi imitating them?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Transcendental Meditation program removed from Australia high school
According to a 15 September report in the Sunshine Coast Daily, a Queensland, Australia, newspaper, plans to continue a program of Transcendental Meditation in Beerwah High School were interrupted following community meetings:
What I find most interesting about this is that the paper did not report on what the nature of the concerns of members of the community were, except to repeat the allegation that those concerns "centered around religion," attributed to the Australian promoter of "Maharishi" branded products, Wendy Rosenfeldt:
In fact, there are many other reasons to object to the promotion of Transcendental Meditation in public schools beyond its obvious roots and its promoters' continued adherence to various Indian religious traditions and practices. As I've written previously, the organization's deep-rooted and clear contempt for medicine and science - while it somehow manages to put forward doctors and scientists as spokespersons - is more than enough reason to eject TM promoters from schools.
“In response to (community) concerns, the school held community information sessions in July to provide details of the program, its benefits and how the school was managing the implementation of the initiative,” the spokesperson said.
“As a result of the level of concern expressed by the Beerwah community, the principal, in consultation with the regional office, decided the meditation program would not continue at this stage.”
What I find most interesting about this is that the paper did not report on what the nature of the concerns of members of the community were, except to repeat the allegation that those concerns "centered around religion," attributed to the Australian promoter of "Maharishi" branded products, Wendy Rosenfeldt:
However, the woman who took the classes, Wendy Rosenfeldt, said teachers were responsible for the complaints and their concerns centred around religion.
“Some teachers went to the (education) department with misinformation from the internet,” she said.
“The department never contacted us about what it was actually about.”
In fact, there are many other reasons to object to the promotion of Transcendental Meditation in public schools beyond its obvious roots and its promoters' continued adherence to various Indian religious traditions and practices. As I've written previously, the organization's deep-rooted and clear contempt for medicine and science - while it somehow manages to put forward doctors and scientists as spokespersons - is more than enough reason to eject TM promoters from schools.
I'm also intrigued by the recurring allegation from TM promoters, that certain websites contain "misinformation" regarding the TM program and the rest of the products the organization sells. An obsession with "negative websites," and evidence of a clear desire to shut down such independent sources of information, is clear from some of the insider documents available at wikileaks.org.
Update/Note: It appears that this article was edited since it was first published on the newspaper's website, specifically attributing the "religious grounds" allegation to Rosenfeldt and changing the headline. For the earlier version, see this post at Fairfield Life.
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