Most organizations seem susceptible to splintering. Christianity, the Republican Party, you name it. Why not the T.M. movement, following the death of its charismatic founder?
John Hagelin, "Raja of Invincible America," appointed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi before Mahesh's death, is the final arbiter on what is and is not official American T.M. policy. (The T.M. organization was designed by Mahesh as a monarchy, not as a democracy.)
Hagelin has sent out an email to all "certified governors." (I assume that means all T.M. teachers in good standing.) The email informs them that they are to ignore an upcoming event coordinated by T.M. teacher George Hammond. Hagelin is concerned that T.M.ers might take this presentation seriously because the well-loved Jerry Jarvis, former head of the U.S. Students International Meditation Society (a T.M. organization) seems to have given this presentation his blessing. Hagelin is also concerned that this presentation of mediumship will lower T.M.'s credibility in the mainstream community, such as public schools and the military, where T.M. is trying to make inroads. Also of interest to me was his concern that the "purity of the teaching" would be diluted; although some might read that as a concomitant concern that Hagelin's power would be diluted. Although Hagelin's email was confidential, it has become public through posting on the website FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com. Anyone with access to a computer can read his email here:
https://www.mail-archive.com/fairfieldlife@yahoogroups.com/msg331114.html
The event in question is a free lecture presentation entitled “The Pervasive Influence of Personalities and Ideas on Human History.” It will take place on November 30, 2014, starting promptly at 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria,Virginia, near Washington DC. The presentation will be live-streamed for free, and will be followed by a question & answer session which will not be live-streamed. The presentation and possibly the Q&A will be recorded, and will be available for free online at a later date.
Hammond claims that Mahesh Yogi appeared to Hammond several years after Mahesh's death, and instructed Hammond to share a message with the world. Hammond says that the reason Mahesh wants people to hear this message is because "[h]earing these clear explanations should disintegrate many deeply embedded but totally unnecessary fears."
You can see the invitation to this event by clicking:
http://30thnovember.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/30th-November-Lecture-Invitation-PDF.pdf
No RSVP is necessary for the free live streaming. TMFree Blog takes no position on if the message given at this presentation actually comes from the deceased Mahesh, nor do we have an opinion on the content of the message itself, whatever it will turn out to be. However, I will listen in to the live streaming because I am curious to see how the politics of the T.M. movement will play out, and I invite all interested to listen to the streaming, too. Then we can discuss it on TM-Free if we wish.
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