Recent earthquakes in Nepal have left the populace in crisis.
---------------
According to the Oxfam International website:
"...Hundreds of thousands of displaced people
need urgent humanitarian assistance now - including children and women
who are forced to be out in the open, huddled in groups with no food,
safe water, or shelter...."
---------------
According to Maharishi’s Global Family Chat, 16 May 2015:
"A far-reaching and permanent solution to Nepal’s emergency....
...Many people are helping Nepal from many angles at this time. Raja Kingsley presented a...plan to support all efforts from the inside out...[by] enlivening the collective consciousness for permanent harmony on all levels – including environmental....
...Nepal has a rich, unbroken tradition of Vedic Pandits, and currently has 500 Gurukuls (training schools for Pandits)....The first step of the plan is to train Transcendental Meditation Teachers for each Gurukul so they will take care of teaching the students and the local community. The next level is to build five Maharishi Vedic Institute campuses for the training of the Pandit boys when they leave Gurukul. In this way tens of thousands of Maharishi Vedic Pandits can be trained most economically and effectively to support the growth of Nepal....
...Your support will make a difference to how quickly and well Nepal recovers. A powerful emergency programme to create 2,500 Sidhas at a cost $50 each (a total of only $125,000), will create a wave of sustainable coherence...To donate, please visit...."
---------------
From a youtube video of MUM students questioning Bob Roth, (vice president of the David Lynch Foundation, which helps spread TM):
"...Student: Is there any scientific proof that the yagyas work?
Roth: Let me get back to you on that...."
---------------
From TM-Free Blog article entitled "Regarding Maharishi Yagyas," written by me, and posted May 20, 2014:
"...a TMO [TM organization - ed. note] email from December 18, 2013 states that:
'...the National Yagya program is now averaging [i.e., receiving donations of - ed. note]
$429,000 USD per month....The whole world is enjoying the blessings of the daily
performance....'
That's $5,148,000 a year income for the 'National Yagya program' alone...."
---------------
From an anonymous TM-Free Blog follower who sent us the Maharishi Global Family Chat announcement:
"...I can't express how repulsed I am by this low-rent attempt to fund raise."
---------------
What do you think?
Showing posts with label Desperate for $$. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Desperate for $$. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Sunday, January 13, 2013
How much does TM cost? (including the "extras")
One of our readers recently asked in the "comments" section of this blog how much the entire TM program ultimately costs. I thought that was an important question, and decided to devote a post to answering it.
In some places I have just had to give educated guesses on costs. That's because some of the TM-sponsored websites describe the product or service but don't give a price. Also, some of the websites are old and the prices have changed. Also, sometimes policies change. Where I had to guess the price, I have guessed on the lower end rather than the higher end. If you have more accurate pricing information, please share it in the "Comments" section below.
TM-Free Blog and the author of this post do not offer, sell, teach, endorse, recommend, believe in, encourage the purchase of (etc., etc.) any of the products and services mentioned in this post. Neither do we non-endorse, non-recommend, discourage, etc. them. Rather, the purposes of this post are: to cast a light on the actual cost of living life the TM way, as opposed to the impression the TM organization (TMO) tries to give about the cost. Also to examine if the TMO, which bills itself as a secular educational movement, is actually trying to disseminate a type of Hinduism. Also to look at how ethical the TMO is in its advertising and in where the money goes, and how central to the TMO mission is their raising of money.
Please note that some of these costs are one-time only fees (such as cost for learning TM). Other costs can be repeated over and over. OK, here goes. All quotations are from TM-sponsored websites.
1. Cost of personal instruction in TM: $1,500 (?)
2. First Advanced Technique: $1,500 (?)
3. Second Advanced Technique: $1,500 (?)
4. Third Advanced Technique: $1,500 (?)
5. Fourth Advanced Technique: $1,500 (?)
6. TM-Sidhis Program: $5,000 (?)
7. Fee to practice TM-Sidhis program at a TM Center: $20?/month, or $240?/year
8. Weekend retreats: $250?/weekend. Recommended on their website as the most valuable thing you can do for your evolution. Recommended: at least 4 a year = $1,000?/year. "These beautiful advanced programs are the golden key to living the full potential of life in higher states of consciousness - Enlightenment - bringing perfect health, happiness, and the fulfillment of desires." - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. (From "Advanced Programs for Meditators" at http:/www.advanced.tm.org/).
9. Comprehensive Life Kundali (in depth study for self): $400
10. Maharishi Jyotish Consultation (provides answers to questions or gives predictions): $150 for 15 minutes, $450 for 45 minutes.
11. Maharishi Yagya(SM) Performances "to create life-supporting effects and help avoid...unwanted...before it manifests." The larger (more expensive) yagyas are said to produce more effective results. Size should be "on basis of intensity of problems or speed of achieving objective." The principle to apply is, "Do not perform yagyas below one's financial capacity." (From www.maharishiyagya.org/apply/index.html.) No prices are given. Personal communications with author have stated that yagyas have been performed for $3,000, $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000. "Donations are used to support Maharishi Yagya performances and to promote education and training programs in Maharishi Vedic Science and Technologies(SM)....It is wise to enhance...influence[s] through Maharishi Yagya performances year after year, and even month after month...."
12. Muhurta (selection of favorable moment for beginning a new activity): $300.
13. Compatibility Analysis (marriage, business partnerships): $300
14. Ascertaining correct birth time (if you don't know a birth time, for TMO astrology services): $600
15. Nam Karan (provides first syllable for new baby or company): $200
16. Additions to a Comprehensive Life Kundali (adding relatives): $300 per relative. "It is vital...to have one's Comprehensive Life Kundali examined regularly...in order to determine what the future may bring...."
17. Maharishi Yagya(SM) performance for the nation, "to enliven total Natural Law for each nation....A new set of Maharishi Yagya performances for the nation will begin...approximately every 2 weeks...Many large contributions are needed...Catagory A donations are $1,000,000 (USD). ...Category J are $1,250....With a contribution of $1,250 or more, your name will be acknowledged in the Maharishi Yagya performance...The first priority is to have your personal Maharish Yagya performances on a regular basis...." You may pledge to donate for a Maharish Yagya performance for the nation anywhere from one time to "monthly forever."
18. Maharishi Vedic Vibration Technology - for health. Prices range from $187/session for serious health conditions, and take 12 sessions for a total of $2250; or $450 for a Standard session, or $900 for an "enhanced consultation." Sessions are 40 to 60 minutes. "The fees listed are RESEARCH FEES (emphasis in original) offered for those agreeing to participate in our Research Program by completing a short self-evaluation form after each session and periodic follow-up self-evaluations over the course of one year. For those unwilling to participate in the Research, the fee is US $4,000 per disorder for 3 sessions." (i.e. $1,333/session).
19. Maharishi Gemstones. Primary gem cost: ?
20. Maharishi Gemstones. Secondary gem cost: ?
21. Maharishi Ayurveda consultations: Cost ? Some components of the consultation are #22, 23 and 24:
22. Recommended Maharishi herbal food supplements. Cost: ?
23. Detoxification program. Cost: ?
24. Educational follow-up. Cost: ?
25. Maharishi Vastu Architecture. Services include: predesigned homes, custom design, consulting with developers. Cost: ? From 2010 website: "Over $400,000,000 (four hundred million dollars U.S.) in Fortune-Creating(R) homes and other buildings, and a score of communities have been built worldwide...."
26. - or - buying or renting a MaharishiVastu Architecture home. Cost: ?
27. Regular requests for donations from the David Lynch Foundation, special appeals after tsunamis, requests for donations to transport TMers to group meditations, etc. Cost ???
28. The Raj (health spa): from $533 a day to $1,150 a day. Stay is from 3 days to 30 days. Repeat as desired.
29. TM Teacher Training: approx. $15,000
How much does that come to? Have I left anything out? What have been your experiences with the TMO and money? How much money have you given to the TMO? How much money have people you know given to the TMO? Have you found yourself spending more money for TMO products and services than you had anticipated? Have you found your TMO products and services to be worth the price? Have you ever been pressured or guilt-tripped into spending more? Other musings welcome!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
TM Leader Hagelin Perverts Science to Sell Expensive TM Products
John Hagelin is the national director of the Transcendental Meditation(R) Program in the United States. (His official title is "Raja of Invincible America"). He has a Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University.
A reader of TM-Free Blog who is on a TM email list was kind enough to send the TM-Free co-editors an email which he received from the TM organization in early September 2012. It included a letter from Dr. Hagelin. Highlights from Hagelin's letter are as follows. (All quoted material is in red).
"Dear Friends,
As a direct result of the generosity and vision of our donors, the Maharishi National Yagya(SM) program has grown into a powerful force for America. ["Maharishi Yagyas" are, briefly, large groups of people chanting Sanskrit for many hours or days in a manner taught by the TM Organization -ed.].
We are beginning to see a correlation between the specific appeals of these massive Yagyas and positive developments for the Nation.
Last month our National Yagya included an appeal for rain where needed[.]
- Since the start of that Yagya we have been receiving many beautiful reports from supporters all around the country of welcome and refreshing rain.
- In Fairfield, Iowa, where the largest number of National Yagya supporters reside, it started to rain when the Yagya began in India....
Previous National Yagyas included an appeal to increase the number of Pandits [TM org. chanters - ed.] in the U.S. campus[.]
- 556 Pandits now have passports....
- The first phase of the kitchen expansion to accommodate the new Pandits has been completed....
...In this time of great opportunity we hope that you will be inspired to give and-if at all possible-to commit to regular monthly sponsorship. [Emphasis in original.]
Our next 11-day National Yagya will begin on September 19. Please click now [emphasis in original] to offer your support....
With a donation of $1,250 or more, you-or anyone you designate-will be named in the Sankalpa [intention - ed.] of a National Yagya(SM) performance.
For smaller donations, a new feature on our web site allows you to make a gift in honor or memory of someone...."
As to the scientific sophistication of this national leader with a Ph.D., I quote from a Wikipedia article entitled "Correlation does not imply causation." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation):
"Correlation does not imply causation" is a phrase used in science and statistics to emphasize that a correlation between two variables does not necessarily imply that one causes the other....
Example
With a decrease in the wearing of hats, there has been an increase in global warming over the same period.
Therefore global warming is caused by people abandoning the practice of wearing hats.
The website Sceptic School (http://scepticschool.com/2012/05/07more-logical-fallacies/) offers an excellent introduction to logical fallacies. The author of the website teaches logic to 12-14 year olds, so one would think a Ph.D. would be familiar with this stuff. From the website:
"Post-hoc ergo propter hoc - saying that because A happened before B, A must have caused B....[C]laiming that because a rooster crows before the sunrise, a rooster's crow causes the sunrise."
So let's look again at Hagelin's comment: "We are beginning to see a correlation between the specific appeals of these massive Yagyas and positive developments for the Nation." i.e. the yagyas caused rain, and caused more chanters to head to the U.S.
Whatever is Hagelin thinking? Why does he write messages like this? Does he get a commission? Is he so cynical that he thinks gullible people will believe him? Is his mind so damaged by the cult-think of Maheshism that he can no longer think scientifically?
And what about the people who buy the yagyas? Have they lost the capacity to think logically? Lots of people must be convinced, because the IRS tax form for non-profits (yes, you can get a tax deduction for buying Maharishi yagyas) for the Brahmananda Saraswati Foundation (http://www.vedicpandits.org/pdf/BSF-2011-Form-990.pdf) shows that in 2010, total donations received for purchase of yagyas were $2,027,650, and in 2011 total donations were $3,714,902.
If you want to read more hard sell, guilt-induction, begging and flattering to obtain money; and pseudo-science, you can google "Maharishi yagyas."
Do you have any experience with the TM organization's yagyas? With the pandits? With the TMO's begging for money? With the TMO's guilt-tripping? With their poor science?
A reader of TM-Free Blog who is on a TM email list was kind enough to send the TM-Free co-editors an email which he received from the TM organization in early September 2012. It included a letter from Dr. Hagelin. Highlights from Hagelin's letter are as follows. (All quoted material is in red).
"Dear Friends,
As a direct result of the generosity and vision of our donors, the Maharishi National Yagya(SM) program has grown into a powerful force for America. ["Maharishi Yagyas" are, briefly, large groups of people chanting Sanskrit for many hours or days in a manner taught by the TM Organization -ed.].
We are beginning to see a correlation between the specific appeals of these massive Yagyas and positive developments for the Nation.
Last month our National Yagya included an appeal for rain where needed[.]
- Since the start of that Yagya we have been receiving many beautiful reports from supporters all around the country of welcome and refreshing rain.
- In Fairfield, Iowa, where the largest number of National Yagya supporters reside, it started to rain when the Yagya began in India....
Previous National Yagyas included an appeal to increase the number of Pandits [TM org. chanters - ed.] in the U.S. campus[.]
- 556 Pandits now have passports....
- The first phase of the kitchen expansion to accommodate the new Pandits has been completed....
...In this time of great opportunity we hope that you will be inspired to give and-if at all possible-to commit to regular monthly sponsorship. [Emphasis in original.]
Our next 11-day National Yagya will begin on September 19. Please click now [emphasis in original] to offer your support....
With a donation of $1,250 or more, you-or anyone you designate-will be named in the Sankalpa [intention - ed.] of a National Yagya(SM) performance.
For smaller donations, a new feature on our web site allows you to make a gift in honor or memory of someone...."
As to the scientific sophistication of this national leader with a Ph.D., I quote from a Wikipedia article entitled "Correlation does not imply causation." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation):
"Correlation does not imply causation" is a phrase used in science and statistics to emphasize that a correlation between two variables does not necessarily imply that one causes the other....
Example
With a decrease in the wearing of hats, there has been an increase in global warming over the same period.
Therefore global warming is caused by people abandoning the practice of wearing hats.
The website Sceptic School (http://scepticschool.com/2012/05/07more-logical-fallacies/) offers an excellent introduction to logical fallacies. The author of the website teaches logic to 12-14 year olds, so one would think a Ph.D. would be familiar with this stuff. From the website:
"Post-hoc ergo propter hoc - saying that because A happened before B, A must have caused B....[C]laiming that because a rooster crows before the sunrise, a rooster's crow causes the sunrise."
So let's look again at Hagelin's comment: "We are beginning to see a correlation between the specific appeals of these massive Yagyas and positive developments for the Nation." i.e. the yagyas caused rain, and caused more chanters to head to the U.S.
Whatever is Hagelin thinking? Why does he write messages like this? Does he get a commission? Is he so cynical that he thinks gullible people will believe him? Is his mind so damaged by the cult-think of Maheshism that he can no longer think scientifically?
And what about the people who buy the yagyas? Have they lost the capacity to think logically? Lots of people must be convinced, because the IRS tax form for non-profits (yes, you can get a tax deduction for buying Maharishi yagyas) for the Brahmananda Saraswati Foundation (http://www.vedicpandits.org/pdf/BSF-2011-Form-990.pdf) shows that in 2010, total donations received for purchase of yagyas were $2,027,650, and in 2011 total donations were $3,714,902.
If you want to read more hard sell, guilt-induction, begging and flattering to obtain money; and pseudo-science, you can google "Maharishi yagyas."
Do you have any experience with the TM organization's yagyas? With the pandits? With the TMO's begging for money? With the TMO's guilt-tripping? With their poor science?
Friday, February 19, 2010
Transcendental Meditation Fire Sale on Used Mantras!
As the TM Movement continues to implode, it appears that, like the true corporate salesmen they are, they've SLASHED the prices on buying yourself a mantra in order to raise desperately needed capital.
If you would like to support the last gasps of a dying organization, you might consider picking up a used mantra at fire-sale prices!
Now with even MORE Vedic Power!
Call in next 20 minutes & receive a FREE set of Ginzu™ Knives!
The below edited to avoid infringing on copyrights.
Special Family Rate to Learn the TM programOFFICE OF THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Special family rate for spouses and children of Meditators:Special family rate for parents and grandparents of Meditators:
- $750 for spouses of Meditators
- $375 for children under 18 of Meditators
These offers are now extended to March 31st, 2010
- $750 for parents and grandparents
- (50% of the standard course fee)
"[Standard Testismonial Blurb from True Believer]" —Janet Nichols, Wife, Mother and Businesswoman
Dear Meditator,
[M]any have asked whether this family rate could be expanded to include parents and grandparents as well. Now it can.
[snip]
We want to do all we can to help as many people as possible learn the TM technique.
Best wishes,
John Hagelin, Ph.D.
National Director Transcendental Meditation Program, USA *
©2010 Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation
When you see Transcendental Meditation Marketers in their funny robes & Burger King crowns, don't you think J. Edgar Hoover in a dress?
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