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Transcendental Meditation and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: a critical view

Friday, May 09, 2008

A Journalist Blogs Following a Visit to Fairfield

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We specialize in critical and skeptical views of Transcendental Meditation™, its founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the TM organization, the David Lynch Foundation, and the products and services that they offer.

The TM-Free Blog is the work of an informal group of individuals who contribute their time and resources, and it and its contributors aren't affiliated with, part of, or paid by, any corporation or organization.

The primary focus of this blog are the specific techniques and products that are associated with Maharishi, and/or offered by the Maharishi Foundation, David Lynch Foundation, and related organizations, primarily in the United States but also globally. Others who use the term "transcendental meditation" generically to describe some other form of meditation, who are unaffiliated with those organizations, or who don't claim to have been trained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi are not part of that primary focus.

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As suggested at the top of the page, this blog specializes in critical and skeptical views of Transcendental Meditation and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Many if not most posts here present that sort of critical/analytical view with respect to Transcendental Meditation, the movement, and the writings or activities of those involved or formerly involved with those things. If you have a problem with that, you probably won't enjoy it here.

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Former TM meditator, creator of the first website dedicated to critical examination of TM, and the ex-cult Resource Center.

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  • Beacon Light of the Himalayas (1955)
  • Excerpts, and commentary on "Beacon Light"
  • Meditations of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1968)
  • Wikileaks "Transcendental Meditation" category
  • Roark Letter
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  • Kropinski's Answer to Interrogatory No. 40
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  • Book Review: "TRANSCENDENTAL DECEPTION: Behind the TM curtain - bogus science, hidden agendas, and David Lynch’s campaign to push a million public school kids into Transcendental Meditation while falsely claiming it is not a religion" by Aryeh Siegel
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Transcendental Meditation Critic/Skeptic Links

  • Minet.org - including TM-EX Archives
  • Trancenet.net
  • Falling Down the TM Rabbit Hole by Joe Kellett
  • Behind the TM Facade
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  • "Transcendental Deception" by Aryeh Siegel
  • Transcendental Meditation in America: How a New Age Movement Remade a Small Town in Iowa, by Joseph Weber
  • Judith Bourque's exposé of her affair with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
  • Michael Persinger's "TM and Cult Mania"
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  • Paul Mason's Resources on TM & Guru Dev, including the biography of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
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  • CultNews101
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Transcendental Meditation related Wikipedia articles

"Wikipedia is written collaboratively by largely anonymous Internet volunteers who write without pay. Anyone with Internet access can write and make changes to Wikipedia articles..." The neutrality and accuracy of Wikipedia articles is often disputed. Consider tracing the origin of any assertion found in articles there back to its source, generally found in the references at the end of each article, and weighing the veracity of that source.
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Transcendental Meditation Movement sites

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Cult Recovery Links

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  • List of cult recovery specific support groups and therapists
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  • Steve Hassan, Freedom of Mind Resource Center
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  • JBFCS Cult Hotline & Clinic, New York
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Cult Research Links

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Recent Comments

  • MikeDoughney

    These days, it seems likely that "laughing crow" has changed his online handle to "laughing shrimp." Transitioning from avian being to bottom dweller.

    Somehow that seems quite appropriate.

    http://tmfree.blogspot.com/2009/07/welcome-to-world-of-tm-blogging.html · 2 years ago

  • MikeDoughney

    In case you were under the misimpression that toxic aspects of Hindutva culture, like caste discrimination, were confined to India. This California lawsuit attempting to exempt caste discrimination...

    TM-Free Blog: Maharishi's meeting with Hindu supremacist, right-wing political leaders · 2 years ago

  • Erik Snead

    John Lennon was correct. Few of us were prepared to question those purporting wisdom/spiritual health. I was initiated October 8, 1972. I resumed smoking marijuana in 1981. So many residences...

    TM-Free Blog: Breaking: US Department of Justice allegedly funded Transcendental Meditation "Quiet Time" program in Chicago · 2 years ago

  • William

    Thank-you for your follow up post. I was seriously considering TM and am now just about set not to learn it. I was always drawn to their ads but was turned off after hearing that you may have to...

    Transcendental Meditation: critical/skeptical views of TM and related programs associated with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: TM-Free Blog: Tony's story of his journey through, and out of, the TM program · 2 years ago

  • William

    I was going to learn TM but am having second thoughts now after reading this website. How much do the TM advanced techniques cost? I don't want to learn TM and then have to pay more money to learn...

    Transcendental Meditation: critical/skeptical views of TM and related programs associated with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: TM-Free Blog: Ashley's story: My experience of my husband's journey into Transc... · 2 years ago

  • Heather Lillian Frew

    same here. I would actually really love to speak with you about your experience, if you're willing. I just left Fairfield about a month ago.

    Transcendental Meditation: critical/skeptical views of TM and related programs associated with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: TM-Free Blog: Ashley's story: My experience of my husband's journey into Transc... · 2 years ago

  • Heather Lillian Frew

    Hi Leslie, Thank you so much for being open about your story. I would love to connect with you, if you are willing. I just got out of the Movement a little over a month ago and moved out of...

    Transcendental Meditation and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: critical views: TM-Free Blog: Leslie's story: "The Truth Pissed Me Off" · 2 years ago

  • Joe

    Hi,
    Did you ever publish this research? Im interested in reading it.
    Thanks

    Transcendental Meditation: critical/skeptical views of TM and related programs associated with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: TM-Free Blog: TM-Free Does The Scientific Research that TM Avoids · 3 years ago

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