Video Interview with Steven Hassan

In the following short video, Steven Hassan, of FreedomOfMind.com interviewed Gina Catena about Transcendental Meditation during the  International Cultic Studies Association conference in Trieste, Italy on July 6, 2013. This interview was impromptu and unrehearsed.


Ex-Transcendental MeditationTM (TM) Gina Catena with Steve Hassan July 6th 2013 from Steven A Hassan on Vimeo.


Sadly, only a few hours after filming this interview, another young person who was raised with TM met a tragic death before a train, in the precise location where another suicide took place a few years before.

My (Gina's) postscript to the interview:  I don't think TM causes ALL the problems experienced by many devotees. However, TM often creates a smokescreen which masks underlying problems, thereby rendering the root problem untreatable. The smoke screen can become an expensive and dangerous distraction.

We at TMFree send sincere condolences to the recently deceased's family, and to others with losses related to cognitive dissonance and depression often experienced with cult mentality.

Concern for such losses keeps us "here."

Old Yogi Pension Fund Ends!

(SCROLL DOWN FOR 5/20/13 ADDENDUM)

Those who lost the most from their devotion to Transcendental Meditation, having never obtained a functional career and are unable to focus in the material world, have three months to generate an income. They will be on their own and must learn to support themselves.

Emails have been flying with the latest TM Movement news that the Settle Fund will cease in 90 days. See recent blog post "Dozing for Dollars" which described a sort  of “Old Yogi Pension Fund” of a subsistence wage, calculated by some to average $3.80 per hour, for those who meditated full time.  

Transcendental Meditation’s spiritually elite Citizen Sidhas and Governors of the Age of Enlightenment who’ve supported themselves in recent years by full participation in the padded domes’ meditation programs are already seeking personal sponsorships from TM’s wealthy to continue their lifestyle.

According to circulating emails, Bevan Morris made this announcement last week in an “Experience Meeting” of the Invincible America (I.A.) Assembly.

Once again, the TM cult organization blames the victims for their loss of livelihood, rather than owning up to the learned helplessness which Maharishi encouraged through his teaching of “Do less accomplish more until you do nothing and accomplish everything”.

One person seeking sponsorships shared Bevan’s claim “... how sad the Settles were after investing 100 million dollars over the last 7 years and not reaching the goal of 2000 yogic flyers in the golden domes.  Howard (Settle) expressed his disappointment in not being able to get the 400 pundits we needed from India; he feels this was a major factor in his lack of success in the last few months.”

 

(what hooey!)

Per one post on the Fairfield Life yahoo group,  “Yep, Dr. Bevan Morris, Prime Minister of the Global Country of World Peace and President of Maharishi University of Management yesterday morning announced to the Invincible America Assembly the end of the Invincible America grant program.”   

Of note, there never was a stable endowment for these sponsorships. Personal grants were supported by depleting an account established by Howard and Alice Settle. As Mike Doughney commented on the “Dozing for Dollars” post :

“ Basically, the foundation that's been offering the grants to dome snoozers was set up by the donation of an exploration company owned by Howard to the foundation, the foundation in turn sold it off / "liquidated" it and invested the proceeds.

That investment isn't enough to pay out the grants they've been handing out indefinitely, so the investment was consumed over just a few years. I.e. if they wanted it to last indefinitely they'd have it pay out a few percent of its value, no more, every year. They didn't do that, instead they paid it out at a very high rate, so it was gone after a few years, presumably. The IRS filings confirm this up through two years ago, eventually the filings for the current year will come out and the exact reasons will be public.

I would also note that this deal with the Settles and their foundation, as far as I can tell, is a bit different from the predecessors like the Kaplans in that the foundation money, though looped through the "Global Country," is, as far as I can tell, fully accounted for as to what its final destination is (this small group of Fairfield residents in the domes under certain rather tight conditions, and perhaps, a small administrative cut of it kept by the "Country"). The Kaplan money seems to have vanished off to India where, I would presume, it went into their school and other enterprises there. Once offshore, and particularly, in India, keeping track of where the money went would, I think, become difficult.”

According to an anonymous email “Bevan explained that the leaders of the movement have been meeting for days to come up with some solutions.”

+++ Addendum +++ May 20, 2013 +++

Commentary upon "Dr." Bevan Morris' email from MUM's development office :

From: development@mum.edu
To:
Sent: Mon, May 20, 2013 1:59 PM EDT
Subject: Important change in the Invincible America Assembly

Dear Friend of Maharishi University of Management,

 Bevan explains that :

"The Settle Foundation is facing financial challenges due to difficulties that have arisen in the past five months in the business that underlies the foundation's giving."

Bevan defers to Raja John Hagelin's directives and explains the situation : 

Word of this has reached the Invincible America Assembly grant recipients, so Raja John Hagelin asked me to explain the situation to everyone on the Assembly, which I did on Thursday.

I explained that the Settle grants would be coming to an end over the next months.

He suggests that the grant recipients find gainful employment during their few free hours daily. This reminds me of the 1979 first Word Peace Assembly when Maharishi told everyone to brainstorm on businesses to support themselves in Fairfield - resulting in numerous scammers, multi-level marketing businesses, telemarketing and other fly-by-night scenarios, some of which were shut down for SEC violations.

I said everyone should quickly make plans to be self-sufficient through "cashing in" in the afternoon (i.e., working at a job in the afternoon) as Maharishi described it, or any other approach, including, at least for some, personal funds.

Bevan attempts to explain himself, clarifying rumors that must have circulated after his public announcement. As in the past, no promises are made, but always efforts to provide for those dependent : 

I also said Raja John Hagelin, Raja Wynne and Maureen, Raja Bob Lopinto, Raja Harris  and myself are trying to come up with a plan for new sources of income that will allow the program to continue as much as possible, and we are talking to our Indian leaders about this. Of course, supporting the 600 Vedic Pandits we have here now is extremely important, and if we are successful in raising new funds, bringing the 400 Maharishi Vedic Pandits who are in India waiting to come, to create a much higher level of national coherence.

Innuendo provides a ray of hope for the most consistent participants (and therefore, least capable of holding a job) : 

I emphasized that in the future the grant, when available, would probably be for a smaller number of Yogic Flyers, especially the most active flyers, who do really long flying and make a long-term commitment to the Invincible America Assembly program. Maharishi said this from the beginning and Dr. Doug and Dr. Linda Birx have been working on this throughout. This will reduce the numbers, but we will have a more powerful group.

I pointed out the present situation means that we have been depending on the generosity of Howard and Alice too much. We need to take responsibility afresh to engage all the Sidhas of America in national invincibility.

Ever emphasizing the love and beauty of these generous souls, and how enlightened and feel-good everyone is : 

The response was extremely beautiful. Speaker after speaker sent their infinite love and gratitude to the Settles, saying they understand how they must be feeling, and want them only to feel the depth of their gratitude and love.

Yes, the I.A.A course existed before the grant - formerly known as the Creating Coherence Course - once costing $200 monthly per person to attend. Does anyone know the current cost? Oh, but wait! That's not necessary! You can apply to MUM and use governmental backed loans and other student financial aid to receive academic credit for your time on the sheet-covered padded foam! Maybe even obtain a doctorate in Vedic Studie$$!

The common feeling was that the Invincible America Assembly will continue even without the grant. The Assembly Maharishi created even before there was a grant, and it will continue even now that the grant is not possible for some time. Some also said they would apply to become Maharishi University of Management students so they could use financial aid to continue.

So what's the focus on Mexico? 8,000? hmm.. there should be no more crime in Mexico! (by Maharishi's own calculations, right?) : 

They suggested we fly at the same time as the 8,000 Yogic Flyers in Oaxaca, Mexico, that we adjust lift-off for flying time to accommodate people with jobs in Fairfield, and other positive ideas. They reminded us that Maharishi said, "I am--India and America for a bright future for the world" and we have to fulfill Maharishi's direction, all of us together.

It was a very moving and even blissful occasion. We will continue in the Invincible America Assembly experience session with more thinking from everyone.

A new campaign is also starting for all Sidhas in Fairfield, Maharishi Vedic City, and nationally to participate in the Invincible America Assembly to create a better fortune for the nation.

In closure, it's imperative to thank those who gave $100 million to support the coiffures of Maharishi's family business.

We are all so grateful to Howard and Alice for giving nearly $100 million over the past seven years--it is really just phenomenal and historic--and we know that they will continue to do everything to support national invincibility.

With Best Wishes,

Jai Guru Dev

Bevan

 (President of Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, Prime Minister of the Global Country of World Peace, President of Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation, Prime Minister of the United States Peace Government, President of the Maharishi World Peace Fund, and a founder of the Natural Law Party)
  

We at TMFree sincerely hope that those who've become dependent upon the Settle grant are able to find and hold gainful employment, and a life beyond cult dependency.

Tingalingalingaling... Ringing Bells of Invincibility

In gold lettering, the white ribbon reads "A Woman's Place is in the Dome". The green ribbon reads "Maharishi Invincibility".

These bells were in a box with some old family items. These small bells probably came from the 1981 celebration to inaugurate the Bagambhrini Golden Dome. The bells were distributed for attendees to ring rather than clap. The sound of hand clapping was considered too crude. Attendees were told to ring these little bells, creating group tingalinging, in response to inspirational talks about group meditation, enlightenment, and Maharishi's world plan.

Such bells were also used in group meditation by an assigned "timer" or "bell ringer" to announce time to change from the mental practice of TM (...aingnamah... aingnamah... aingnamah... aingnamah..), to next think the TM-Sidhi Program (...friendliness.. compassion... happiness.. strength of an elephant...), tingaling to switch to deemed-flying (...relationship of body and akasha, pause, lightness of cotton fiber... repeat...), tingaling again to lie down and rest while listening to an oral reading about soma flowing through and around Hindu gods, from a translation of the Rig Veda's 9th mandala.

TM devotees still practice the TM-Sidhi program for hours twice daily in gender segregated domes. The better constructed men's dome was built first and is near to  the women's dome. Dome participants believe they influence global events through their TM-Sidhi program.

One friend, also raised in the TM Movement, responded when I texted him this bell image, "Ugh!! Such victimized sweet people. It really makes me sick to think about Maharishi and how callously he used people."

tingalingalingalingaling   You may excuse yourself now in silence.

TM Super-Radiance to direct Politics (!)

This post does not endorse, nor criticize any politician nor government policies.
This post highlights the TM Movement's emphasis on group Program to address public issues.
The following images are not copyrighted, so TMFree can display them in full.


Anyone from the TM Movement (past or present) can vouch for community pressure to attend group Program ~ 4-8 hours of gender-segregated daily ritual in an enclosed space lined with white padded foam, preferably inside designated large wooden gold-roofed domes.

Program consists of a few minutes of yoga, followed by hyperventilating breathing exercises, meditation and other mental techniques for mystical powers such as invincibility, strength, friendliness, compassion and levitation.

Program promises a path to enlightenment with an elite spiritual group. Program will supposedly save the world, create peace, ideal weather, economic stability, happiness and even guide elections to maximize "the support of nature."

On the above poster, "Ideal Community Group" thanks Dome Program participants for their work to sway the election. "The Ideal Community Group", founded by TM leaders Bevan Morris and John Hagelin, "is dedicated to inspiring Transcendental Meditation practitioners and Yogic Flyers to visit the town and its neighbor, Maharishi Vedic City - and to join the Invincible America Assembly."

The "Thank you message" above credits Program for America's recent smooth re-election of President Barack Obama. If group meditations do carry a national and global influence, one wonders why Hurricane / Storm Sandy occurred despite the regular practice of Program. Program failed to prevent Sandy's devastation to America's eastern seaboard and the Caribbean.  (Oops! My bad for seeking logic in non-logic.)


Fairfield's TM Community has been overwhelming pro-Obama since  Obama campaigned in Fairfield for the 2007 caucus, speaking publicly with his podium facing the cult-valued Eastern direction, his meeting with TM-mayor, Ed Malloy, and interview on Dennis Raimondi's radio show, "Speaking Freely with Dennis". Dennis' interview with Senator Obama can be watched on video link here. (By the way, Hilary Clinton refused to campaign in the guru-dictated fray of Jefferson County Iowa).

Before the recent election, the TM Movement flattered their devout's spiritual power by encouraging group Program before the national election. The poster below uses cult loaded language "to create coherence in the national consciousness", with a meditator flanked by the American flag and the flag for Maharishi's Global Country of World Peace, even promising attendance prizes. The lure of prizes confirms my knowledge that TM's faithful are straying. There is diminishing interest in Dome participation. Perhaps desperation has led to new methods, flattery rather than guilty obligation to encourage Program attendance?

Recovering from Transcendental Meditation, part 2012

For many, recovering from TM takes a lifetime.  So if you're still recovering after many decades, don't lose hope, and don't berate yourself.  It's normal.

I hope that some day there will be better techniques available to help people recover more quickly.  Right now, the best advice is to learn about mind control.  Other things that help are:  conversations with other former members, physical exercise, practicing real-life skills that you lost (or never learned if you were raised in a cult), psychotherapy, residential recovery centers, continued reading about destructive cults.  One exit counsellor suggested writing down every single thing you remember from your time in the destructive cult.

Gina (a co-contributor to this blog - see panel on the right) published a post on this blog, ("Psychotherapy with Former Cult Members" posted September 2, 2011;  http://tmfree.blogspot.com/2011/09/psychotherapy-with-former-cult-members.html), in which she informed the readers of a new Continuing Education Units course for psychotherapists.  I was moved to send the following e-mail to the teacher of this course, as follows:

From:  Laurie ------    

Date:  June 14, 2012 

To:  Patrick O'Reilly  

Subject:  Recovery for former destructive cult members

Dear Dr. O'Reilly:  

I am a friend of Gina Catena's, and like her, I am in recovery from the Transcendental Meditation (TM) organization. 

She showed me your excellent internet article on how therapists can help former cult members by encouraging them to learn about mind control.  I am grateful that you are putting the information about mind control and post-cult syndrome (which can masquerade as other mental health conditions) out there, and are offering a CEU course.

Since the psychological community is still at the beginning stages of learning how to help former destructive cult members, and since you are a leader in educating therapists on how to help cult victims, I hope it will be helpful for you if I share three additional steps that I had to go through in order to help me recover from my cult.

1.  I needed to learn information about my particular group - the specific lies that my particular group taught which kept me a believer.  Even though I already understood mind control, I still was a believer because of the 600 research studies I had been taught about, which proported to prove how marvelous TM was for every aspect of every person's life.  I had to read anti-TM websites to discover that TM experiments were usually biasedly designed and/or biasedly conducted in order to produce only positive results.  Also, I learned that some research had shown that TM sometimes produces unimpressive or harmful results, but that the TM organization had kept that information from us.

2.  I needed to talk to other former TMers who had been at my level of involvement in TM.  Even though I had spent over 20 years telling my TM experiences to sympathetic friends, therapists, and former TMers who had been at lower levels of TM involvement than I, TM memories continued to flood my mind.  However, when I finally found peers, and told them my memories, the memories finally stopped.  

3.  I have been in psychotherapy for many years.  By working on family-of-origin issues, TM has less and less hold over me.  

If these additional steps were necessary for me, then I assume there must be others out there who also need more than just education about mind control in order to recover from their destructive cult.

I hope this information is helpful to you.  Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance to you.

Please keep up the good work!  Thank you for what you are doing! 

Sincerely,

Laurie --------" 

I have been out of TM for 31 years, and I am still recovering.  As Sudarsha, a co-moderator for this site, has said, "You have to claw yourself out of the TM mindset, ('Maheshism') inch by inch."  For instance, it was only last month that I realized that part of the reason I eat a lot of nuts on my morning cereal is because Mahesh said that nuts were very good for you.

A problem I still have 31 years after leaving TM is my difficulty in learning new skills from books.  Before I got into TM, I had taught myself guitar, typing, shorthand and crocheting from books. But since leaving TM, I find it excruciatingly hard to learn new things from books, , like how to use a  computer or follow a recipe.  I think this is because when I try to learn something new, it activates the feelings I had when I was learning to "fly:"  "If you're don't 'fly' twice a day, you're wasting your life."

What stratagems have been helpful in your recovery from TM-brain?  In what areas are you still recovering?

The light of accomplishment

I have been thinking about III 32 in Mahesh’s (most likely Vernon Katz’) translation of the yoga sūtras - by saṃyama on the light in the head, vision of the siddhas is gained.

For the past 30 years I have known a different understanding of this sūtra, perhaps key to the whole yoga sūtra, “sidhi” conundrum. I have been thinking I might write about it for TM-Free, but I hae me douts  that this could be of any interest. Today, I decided to take the leap anyway.

The Sanskrit Scholar, Arthur A. Macdonell, put Patañjali, the compiler of the yoga sūtra anthology, in the 2nd century BCE. This would be at least 300 years after the Buddha. Personally, it has always seemed to me that the Brāhmaṇical revival of the 8th or 9th century CE (whenever the time of Śaṅkara is thought to have lived), attempted to incorporate Buddhist ideas and make them seem Brāhmaṇical. Not altogether unlike the early Christians who kept the Egyptian, Roman and Greek (as well as Persian) myths and just called it Christian (i.e. same old stuff you love, just new names to make you feel special).

This is not necessarily a problem in that the Buddha never claimed he owned or possessed his teachings; he didn’t copyright them, trademark them, restrict them or charge money for them. He widely and consistently proclaimed that they were for the benefit of everyone.

Hence, we see a lot of Buddhist ideas in the yoga sūtras and this number will vary depending upon which version of the yoga sūtras one gets hold of … there are 4 versions, but the only difference is that two of the sūtras which are commentarial in nature are either both included, neither is included or one or the other is included … both of these are in the 3rd section, the “siddhi” section. Here, versions should not be confused with translations. Sūtra III 32 or whatever its number is in whatever version you have to hand, is usually translated more or less as Vernon has done. There are lots of variations, but they seem to say the same thing. This, I think is a trick of the grammar. The point at which Mahesh could have turned TM into something of monumental importance for everyone rather than turning it into a circus of never-ending futility, a constant bazaar of things to buy hopelessly trying to make it work. I question his competence to teach, but it would be dangerous to underestimate his mastery of great depth when it comes to skilfully wielding the carrot-on-the-stick.