The New York Times of Sunday, March 7th (hard copy edition) had an interesting front page article about exiting and exposing Scientology.
Those who left the Transcendental Meditation Movement after working close to inner core activities probably can relate to Scientology tactics in this article... abysmally low wages, expensive advanced courses, repression of bad outcomes, promotion, protection & catering to celebrity participants, intimidation tactics about departure & about publicly disclosing inner 'secrets', rejection from so-called loved ones after speaking doubts about cult teachings or departing, difficulty integrating to the outside world.
For those interested, this link brings you to the online article:
Defectors say Church of Scientology Hides Abuse published by New York Times, March 6, 2010 (internet edition).
Showing posts with label disclosure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disclosure. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Transcendental Meditation property listed in New York City
The Global Country of World Peace has listed their Wall Street Maharishi Invincibility Center, The Global Financial Capital of New York, onto the real estate market.
Article: Wall Street Meditators Seek $45 Million for Property (Update1).
Cult critics have long suggested that the Transcendental Mediation Group's push to build "Peace Palaces" with donated funds and tax-exempt bonds was merely a real estate investment program backed by tax payer funds.
This "Global Financial Center" is still functioning to recruit and teach various TM programs in New York City's financial hub, such as their latest (inauguration pending October 9) Center for Leadership Performance.
A September 18, 2009 Bloomberg article describes the recent listing of this TMO property in New York City's financial district.
The article explains that most New York office buildings have dropped in value by 30 to 50 percent, since their peak in 2007.
Yet, this " Wall Street center for transcendental meditation is being offered for sale for $45 million, eight times more than the followers of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi paid for it in 2004"
"The non-profit Global Country of World Peace bought the property in the Financial District, two blocks south of Wall Street, for $5.5 million in May 2004. The Iowa-based group used the city’s backing in 2005 to obtain $6.2 million in financing through tax-exempt bonds. The group uses the building to teach meditation."
“Thanks to a remarkably flexible zoning, 70 Broad Street can be used either as an office, mixed-use property or residence and is ideal for a corporation, individual, or institution,” reads the listing by broker Danielle Grossenbacher. The building was subject to “an extensive and complete renovation” this year.
Grossenbacher referred calls to Brown Harris Stevens spokeswoman Amy Gotzler, who declined to comment. Robert Roth, a spokesman for Global Country of World Peace, confirmed that the group is selling the building.
“The whole place is going great, there’s a great interest in this now,” Roth said.
Luxury Apartments
One of the luxury apartments inside the building is sometimes used by John Hagelin, the Natural Law Party’s 1996 and 2000 candidate for U.S. president, Roth said. Hagelin is the chairman of the Center for Leadership Performance, the transcendental meditation program based at 70 Broad that is geared toward CEOs and business professionals.
Roth said the center was formerly known as the “Maharishi Invincibility Center,” while the Web site refers to it the “International Center for Invincible Defense.”
Meditation classes at the Broad Street location cost between $750 to $1,500 for a one-hour-a-day program that spans four days, Roth said.
Global Country of World Peace benefited from a city economic development program that allowed non-profits to use triple tax-exempt bonds to help pay for capital projects."
The full Bloomberg article, September 18, 2009 :
Wall Street Meditators Seek $45 Million for Property (Update1)
Article: Wall Street Meditators Seek $45 Million for Property (Update1).
Cult critics have long suggested that the Transcendental Mediation Group's push to build "Peace Palaces" with donated funds and tax-exempt bonds was merely a real estate investment program backed by tax payer funds.
This "Global Financial Center" is still functioning to recruit and teach various TM programs in New York City's financial hub, such as their latest (inauguration pending October 9) Center for Leadership Performance.
A September 18, 2009 Bloomberg article describes the recent listing of this TMO property in New York City's financial district.
The article explains that most New York office buildings have dropped in value by 30 to 50 percent, since their peak in 2007.
Yet, this " Wall Street center for transcendental meditation is being offered for sale for $45 million, eight times more than the followers of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi paid for it in 2004"
"The non-profit Global Country of World Peace bought the property in the Financial District, two blocks south of Wall Street, for $5.5 million in May 2004. The Iowa-based group used the city’s backing in 2005 to obtain $6.2 million in financing through tax-exempt bonds. The group uses the building to teach meditation."
“Thanks to a remarkably flexible zoning, 70 Broad Street can be used either as an office, mixed-use property or residence and is ideal for a corporation, individual, or institution,” reads the listing by broker Danielle Grossenbacher. The building was subject to “an extensive and complete renovation” this year.
Grossenbacher referred calls to Brown Harris Stevens spokeswoman Amy Gotzler, who declined to comment. Robert Roth, a spokesman for Global Country of World Peace, confirmed that the group is selling the building.
“The whole place is going great, there’s a great interest in this now,” Roth said.
Luxury Apartments
One of the luxury apartments inside the building is sometimes used by John Hagelin, the Natural Law Party’s 1996 and 2000 candidate for U.S. president, Roth said. Hagelin is the chairman of the Center for Leadership Performance, the transcendental meditation program based at 70 Broad that is geared toward CEOs and business professionals.
Roth said the center was formerly known as the “Maharishi Invincibility Center,” while the Web site refers to it the “International Center for Invincible Defense.”
Meditation classes at the Broad Street location cost between $750 to $1,500 for a one-hour-a-day program that spans four days, Roth said.
Global Country of World Peace benefited from a city economic development program that allowed non-profits to use triple tax-exempt bonds to help pay for capital projects."
The full Bloomberg article, September 18, 2009 :
Wall Street Meditators Seek $45 Million for Property (Update1)
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 4: Bowing Down
(Note: This essay is fourth in a series. See also Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 1, posted 11/11/2008, Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 2: The Puja ("Traditional Ceremony of Gratitude"), posted 11/20/2008, and Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 3: The Mantra, posted 12/5/2008.)
There is a knock at the door of the initiation room. The initiator opens the door and welcomes in the initiate, who is carrying his basket of fruit, flowers, handkerchief and initiation form. The initiator takes the basket, and both sit down.
Fantasy Initiation #4
Question from initiate: May I ask you a few questions about all this before we begin?
Answer from initiator: Okay.
Q: I've heard that at the end of this traditional non-religious ceremony of gratitude, you bow down to the floor in front of the painting of Maharishi's teacher. Is that so?
A: We don't bow down. We kneel.
Q: OK, whatever you call it, isn't that a problem for you?
A: No. Why should it be?
Q: Well, I understand that you're Jewish.
A: Yes, I am, but so what?
Q: Well, isn't it against your religion to bow down -
A: We don't bow down. We kneel.
Q: - to kneel before anyone other than God?
A: Oh. I see what you're getting at. Over 600 published scientific research studies prove that Transcendental Meditation benefits an individual in every area of life. To preserve this precious teaching, the teacher teaches it exactly as given. The nonreligious ceremony of gratitude, which has been passed down for centuries, is the traditional way to remind the teachers of their responsibility to preserve the purity of the teaching, so that the student gets maximum benefits. That traditional ceremony includes certain age-old words, objects, and gestures, and it includes kneeling at the end. For maximum benefits for the student, the teacher promises not to deviate from the correct way to teach it.
Q: That's very nice. But couldn't Maharishi make an exception, for people whose religion prohibits them from bowing down -
A: We don't bow down. We kneel.
Q: - from kneeling before anyone other than God?
A: Oh no. Maharishi said that if he made an exception for one group, other people would say that he should make an exception for their group too, and before you know it, the purity of the teaching is lost.
Q: Well, that's reasonable. But you still haven't answered my original question.
A: Which was what?
Q: Don't you feel you're going against the precepts of your own religion by bowing down-
A: By kneeling.
Q: - by kneeling before someone other than God?
A: No. Maharishi explained that it is not a violation of my religion to kneel before a picture of Guru Dev.
Q: Oh. That's nice. I didn't realize that Maharishi was an expert on Judaism.
A: Well, he pointed out that religious people kneel all the time in front of things that are not God.
Q: They do?
A: Yes. They kneel in front of closets and cars.
Q: What?
A: He pointed out that even the most religious people kneel in front of their closets to tie their shoelaces, and in front of their cars to change a tire.
Q: But isn't that totally different? I mean, you're not worshipping the closet or the car.
Q: Well, Maharishi explained that kneeling at the end of the non-religious traditional ceremony of gratitude is just a procedure. Bowing down would be worship, but kneeling is just a physical procedure, just like kneeling in front of a car. So there's no conflict with any religion.
Q: Doesn't Maharishi's answer strike you as a little disingenuous?
A: No.
Q: Oh. Well, does this mean that you're going to have to give up teaching TM when you get older?
A: Of course not. Why would it?
Q: Suppose your joints get too stiff to bow dow- to kneel.
A: Oh, I see what you're getting at. No, I wouldn't have to give up teaching TM when I get old. One woman on our TM Teacher Training Course said she couldn't kneel due to arthritis. She said that if she got down, she wouldn't be able to get up again! The instructor told her that was OK, she wouldn't be required to kneel.
Q: But you just told me that Maharishi said he couldn't start making exceptions, or before you knew it the purity of the teaching would be lost. Well, here he's making an exception for people with arthritis. How do you explain that?
A: I don't know.
Q: Could it be a matter of intent? The person with arthritis wanted to bow dow- wanted to kneel but wasn't able to, while the religious person was able to kneel but refused.
A: I don't know.
Q: Or could it be a matter of obedience? The person with arthritis wanted to obey Maharishi but wasn't able to, while the religious person was able to obey Maharishi but wouldn't?
A: I don't know.
Q: Don't you think you're a little bit lacking in healthy curiosity?
A: No.
Q: Could it be about the relationship with Guru Dev? The arthritic woman wanted to worship Guru Dev but wasn't able to, while the religious person was able to worship Guru Dev but wouldn't?
Q: We don't worship Guru Dev. That would be against my religion, and Maharishi says that TM doesn't conflict with any religion. TM is a simple, natural, nonreligious, scientific technique.
Q: So that's that? The woman with arthritis isn't required to kneel?
A: Right. But they did tell her to make a comparable gesture at that point.
Q: Oh! What gesture did they tell her to make?
A: No, no. They didn't show her a comparable gesture to make. They told her, "Make a comparable gesture."
Q: You mean she made up the gesture herself?
A: Yes.
Q: Did she run it by Maharishi after she decided on one?
A: No.
Q: Well, then how could they assure the purity of the teaching if they let any old person invent part of the ceremony?
A: I don't know. I'm sure the instructors knew what they were doing.
Q: Why?
A: Well, they were chosen by Maharishi.
Q: Don't you think you're showing a slight lack of intellectual acuity here?
A: Of course not. Over six hundred published research studies prove that TM improves all areas of life, including intelligence.
Q: But how could this woman know what gesture of her own choosing might be comparable to kneeling if the only rationale for the kneeling was "it's just a physical procedure" and "that's the way it's always been done"?
A: Oh, wait. I just remembered another reason for kneeling. Maharishi said, "We kneel so that we should not fall."
Q: Oh. Did he say that if you didn't feel in danger of falling, then you didn't have to kneel?
A: No.
Q: Did you ever feel you were in danger of falling?
A: No.
Q: Do you think maybe you were doing the ceremony improperly?
A: Certainly not.
Q: I mean, if you had done it properly, perhaps then you would have felt like you were in danger of falling.
A: No, I do the ceremony properly. Every word, every gesture has been passed down for centuries, and they didn't let us graduate until we could do it all properly.
Q: Then if you were doing it properly, why didn't you feel like you were going to fall?
A: I don't know.
Q: Do you think Maharishi was perhaps saying what was expedient?
A: No. He wouldn't lie.
Q: Did you know that you don't recognize weakness in logic when you hear it?
A: I don't think that's true.
Q: Oh well. Let's get back to that woman who was told to "make a comparable gesture" to keep from falling. What would be a comparable gesture?
A: I don't know. I've never thought about it. I don't have arthritis.
Q: Hmm, do you think she could have pushed a few chairs together, and at that point she could lie down on the chairs?
A: Of course not. That's ridiculous.
Q: Maybe at that point in the ceremony, she could grab onto the furniture to keep from falling.
A: I really think you're making a joke out of this.
Q: I am not.
A: Lying on chairs, grabbing onto furniture. That's no way to show reverence.
A: But there's no need to show reverence. Isn't this simply about keeping from falling?
A: Of course it's about reverence. Part of the translation of the traditional non-religious ceremony of gratitude goes like this:
"White as camphor, kindness incarnate, the essence of creation garlanded with Brahman, ever dwelling in the lotus of my heart, the creative impulse of cosmic life, to That, in the form of Guru Dev, I bow down."
Q: Don't you mean "I kneel"?
A: No. This is the translation. "Guru in the glory of Brahma, Guru in the glory of Vishnu, Guru in the glory of the great Lord Shiva, Guru in the glory of the personified transcendental fullness of Brahman, to Him, to Shri Guru Dev adorned with glory, I bow down.
The Unbounded, like the endless canopy of the sky, the omnipresent in all creation, by whom the sign of That has been revealed, to Him, to Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
Guru Dev, Shri Brahmananda, bliss of the Absolute, transcendental joy, the Self-Sufficient, the embodiment of pure knowledge which is beyond and above the universe like the sky, the aim of "Thou art That" and other such expressions which unfold eternal truth, the One, the Eternal, the Pure, the Immoveable, the Witness of all intellects, whose status transcends thought, the Transcendent along with the three gunas, the true preceptor, to Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
The blinding darkness of ignorance has been removed by applying the balm of knowledge. The eye of knowledge has been opened by Him and therefore, to Him, to Shri Guru Dev, I bow down. Offering a handful of flowers to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down."
Oops. I don't think I was supposed to tell you the translation.
Q: Why not?
A: Er, because you might misunderstand it.
Q: What might I misunderstand?
A: Well, there's the possibility you might think TM is religious in nature.
Q: Oh, come on. How could I possibly think anything else after hearing that translation?
A: See? You did misunderstand. TM is just a simple natural non-religious scientific technique. Or you -
Q: Did you notice that any time I ask you a potentially embarrassing question, instead of thinking it through, you answer by quoting Maharishi like you're a broken record?
A: I don't do that. - Or you might misunderstand and think we worship Guru Dev.
Q: How could I possibly think anything else after hearing that translation?
A: You see? You misunderstood that too. The traditional non-religious ceremony of gratitude is just a procedure. It's not a worshipping of Guru Dev.
Q: Then why did you keep saying, "I bow down"?
A: That's just the translation. Oh, I just remembered another reason why we kneel. At one lecture, Maharishi explained, "When I was designing the ceremony, when I came to the final line, I was so overcome with emotion that there wasn't anything I could possibly think of doing at that point except kneel."
Q: What?! Do you know how many times in the last five minutes you've insisted that this ceremony is ancient?
A: I'm sure Maharishi didn't mean that the way it sounds.
Q: Oh. What do you think he meant, then?
A: I'm sure it's an ancient ceremony. Maharishi wouldn't lie.
Q: I'm sure he wouldn't. When was it written?
A: I don't know.
Q: Who wrote it?
A: I don't know.
Q: What were the author's qualifications?
A: I don't know.
Q: What happens if you teach TM without doing the ceremony?
A: I don't know.
Q: What happens if you do the ceremony without kneeling at the end?
A: I don't know. I'm sorry. We didn't learn any of that on the course.
Q: Didn't you ever have any doubts, or try to find out?
A: No.
Q: Despite all Maharishi's contradictions?
A: Maharishi doesn't contradict himself. He teaches a simple, natural, non-religious scientific technique.
Q: You don't think he shades the truth?
A: Of course not.
Q: Don't you think he discourages you from questioning his word?
A: No.
Q: Don't you think you have an impaired capacity for logical thinking?
A: Of course I don't.
Q: Have you noticed that you often contradict yourself?
A: I don't. This is a scientific technique, backed up by science.
Q: Did you notice that you lie to your students?
A: I wouldn't do that!
Q Did you know that you lie to yourself and aren't even aware of it?
A: I really can't agree. I don't do any of those things. Over six hundred published research studies prove that TM benefits an individual in all areas of life. Well, any more questions? No? Alright then, shall we begin? I said, shall we begin? Excuse me? Sir? Shall we begin?
- end -
(Note: The author attended TM Teacher Training in La Antilla, Spain in 1974. What she learned there informs this article. People who attended other courses may have learned different things.)
There is a knock at the door of the initiation room. The initiator opens the door and welcomes in the initiate, who is carrying his basket of fruit, flowers, handkerchief and initiation form. The initiator takes the basket, and both sit down.
Fantasy Initiation #4
Question from initiate: May I ask you a few questions about all this before we begin?
Answer from initiator: Okay.
Q: I've heard that at the end of this traditional non-religious ceremony of gratitude, you bow down to the floor in front of the painting of Maharishi's teacher. Is that so?
A: We don't bow down. We kneel.
Q: OK, whatever you call it, isn't that a problem for you?
A: No. Why should it be?
Q: Well, I understand that you're Jewish.
A: Yes, I am, but so what?
Q: Well, isn't it against your religion to bow down -
A: We don't bow down. We kneel.
Q: - to kneel before anyone other than God?
A: Oh. I see what you're getting at. Over 600 published scientific research studies prove that Transcendental Meditation benefits an individual in every area of life. To preserve this precious teaching, the teacher teaches it exactly as given. The nonreligious ceremony of gratitude, which has been passed down for centuries, is the traditional way to remind the teachers of their responsibility to preserve the purity of the teaching, so that the student gets maximum benefits. That traditional ceremony includes certain age-old words, objects, and gestures, and it includes kneeling at the end. For maximum benefits for the student, the teacher promises not to deviate from the correct way to teach it.
Q: That's very nice. But couldn't Maharishi make an exception, for people whose religion prohibits them from bowing down -
A: We don't bow down. We kneel.
Q: - from kneeling before anyone other than God?
A: Oh no. Maharishi said that if he made an exception for one group, other people would say that he should make an exception for their group too, and before you know it, the purity of the teaching is lost.
Q: Well, that's reasonable. But you still haven't answered my original question.
A: Which was what?
Q: Don't you feel you're going against the precepts of your own religion by bowing down-
A: By kneeling.
Q: - by kneeling before someone other than God?
A: No. Maharishi explained that it is not a violation of my religion to kneel before a picture of Guru Dev.
Q: Oh. That's nice. I didn't realize that Maharishi was an expert on Judaism.
A: Well, he pointed out that religious people kneel all the time in front of things that are not God.
Q: They do?
A: Yes. They kneel in front of closets and cars.
Q: What?
A: He pointed out that even the most religious people kneel in front of their closets to tie their shoelaces, and in front of their cars to change a tire.
Q: But isn't that totally different? I mean, you're not worshipping the closet or the car.
Q: Well, Maharishi explained that kneeling at the end of the non-religious traditional ceremony of gratitude is just a procedure. Bowing down would be worship, but kneeling is just a physical procedure, just like kneeling in front of a car. So there's no conflict with any religion.
Q: Doesn't Maharishi's answer strike you as a little disingenuous?
A: No.
Q: Oh. Well, does this mean that you're going to have to give up teaching TM when you get older?
A: Of course not. Why would it?
Q: Suppose your joints get too stiff to bow dow- to kneel.
A: Oh, I see what you're getting at. No, I wouldn't have to give up teaching TM when I get old. One woman on our TM Teacher Training Course said she couldn't kneel due to arthritis. She said that if she got down, she wouldn't be able to get up again! The instructor told her that was OK, she wouldn't be required to kneel.
Q: But you just told me that Maharishi said he couldn't start making exceptions, or before you knew it the purity of the teaching would be lost. Well, here he's making an exception for people with arthritis. How do you explain that?
A: I don't know.
Q: Could it be a matter of intent? The person with arthritis wanted to bow dow- wanted to kneel but wasn't able to, while the religious person was able to kneel but refused.
A: I don't know.
Q: Or could it be a matter of obedience? The person with arthritis wanted to obey Maharishi but wasn't able to, while the religious person was able to obey Maharishi but wouldn't?
A: I don't know.
Q: Don't you think you're a little bit lacking in healthy curiosity?
A: No.
Q: Could it be about the relationship with Guru Dev? The arthritic woman wanted to worship Guru Dev but wasn't able to, while the religious person was able to worship Guru Dev but wouldn't?
Q: We don't worship Guru Dev. That would be against my religion, and Maharishi says that TM doesn't conflict with any religion. TM is a simple, natural, nonreligious, scientific technique.
Q: So that's that? The woman with arthritis isn't required to kneel?
A: Right. But they did tell her to make a comparable gesture at that point.
Q: Oh! What gesture did they tell her to make?
A: No, no. They didn't show her a comparable gesture to make. They told her, "Make a comparable gesture."
Q: You mean she made up the gesture herself?
A: Yes.
Q: Did she run it by Maharishi after she decided on one?
A: No.
Q: Well, then how could they assure the purity of the teaching if they let any old person invent part of the ceremony?
A: I don't know. I'm sure the instructors knew what they were doing.
Q: Why?
A: Well, they were chosen by Maharishi.
Q: Don't you think you're showing a slight lack of intellectual acuity here?
A: Of course not. Over six hundred published research studies prove that TM improves all areas of life, including intelligence.
Q: But how could this woman know what gesture of her own choosing might be comparable to kneeling if the only rationale for the kneeling was "it's just a physical procedure" and "that's the way it's always been done"?
A: Oh, wait. I just remembered another reason for kneeling. Maharishi said, "We kneel so that we should not fall."
Q: Oh. Did he say that if you didn't feel in danger of falling, then you didn't have to kneel?
A: No.
Q: Did you ever feel you were in danger of falling?
A: No.
Q: Do you think maybe you were doing the ceremony improperly?
A: Certainly not.
Q: I mean, if you had done it properly, perhaps then you would have felt like you were in danger of falling.
A: No, I do the ceremony properly. Every word, every gesture has been passed down for centuries, and they didn't let us graduate until we could do it all properly.
Q: Then if you were doing it properly, why didn't you feel like you were going to fall?
A: I don't know.
Q: Do you think Maharishi was perhaps saying what was expedient?
A: No. He wouldn't lie.
Q: Did you know that you don't recognize weakness in logic when you hear it?
A: I don't think that's true.
Q: Oh well. Let's get back to that woman who was told to "make a comparable gesture" to keep from falling. What would be a comparable gesture?
A: I don't know. I've never thought about it. I don't have arthritis.
Q: Hmm, do you think she could have pushed a few chairs together, and at that point she could lie down on the chairs?
A: Of course not. That's ridiculous.
Q: Maybe at that point in the ceremony, she could grab onto the furniture to keep from falling.
A: I really think you're making a joke out of this.
Q: I am not.
A: Lying on chairs, grabbing onto furniture. That's no way to show reverence.
A: But there's no need to show reverence. Isn't this simply about keeping from falling?
A: Of course it's about reverence. Part of the translation of the traditional non-religious ceremony of gratitude goes like this:
"White as camphor, kindness incarnate, the essence of creation garlanded with Brahman, ever dwelling in the lotus of my heart, the creative impulse of cosmic life, to That, in the form of Guru Dev, I bow down."
Q: Don't you mean "I kneel"?
A: No. This is the translation. "Guru in the glory of Brahma, Guru in the glory of Vishnu, Guru in the glory of the great Lord Shiva, Guru in the glory of the personified transcendental fullness of Brahman, to Him, to Shri Guru Dev adorned with glory, I bow down.
The Unbounded, like the endless canopy of the sky, the omnipresent in all creation, by whom the sign of That has been revealed, to Him, to Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
Guru Dev, Shri Brahmananda, bliss of the Absolute, transcendental joy, the Self-Sufficient, the embodiment of pure knowledge which is beyond and above the universe like the sky, the aim of "Thou art That" and other such expressions which unfold eternal truth, the One, the Eternal, the Pure, the Immoveable, the Witness of all intellects, whose status transcends thought, the Transcendent along with the three gunas, the true preceptor, to Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
The blinding darkness of ignorance has been removed by applying the balm of knowledge. The eye of knowledge has been opened by Him and therefore, to Him, to Shri Guru Dev, I bow down. Offering a handful of flowers to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down."
Oops. I don't think I was supposed to tell you the translation.
Q: Why not?
A: Er, because you might misunderstand it.
Q: What might I misunderstand?
A: Well, there's the possibility you might think TM is religious in nature.
Q: Oh, come on. How could I possibly think anything else after hearing that translation?
A: See? You did misunderstand. TM is just a simple natural non-religious scientific technique. Or you -
Q: Did you notice that any time I ask you a potentially embarrassing question, instead of thinking it through, you answer by quoting Maharishi like you're a broken record?
A: I don't do that. - Or you might misunderstand and think we worship Guru Dev.
Q: How could I possibly think anything else after hearing that translation?
A: You see? You misunderstood that too. The traditional non-religious ceremony of gratitude is just a procedure. It's not a worshipping of Guru Dev.
Q: Then why did you keep saying, "I bow down"?
A: That's just the translation. Oh, I just remembered another reason why we kneel. At one lecture, Maharishi explained, "When I was designing the ceremony, when I came to the final line, I was so overcome with emotion that there wasn't anything I could possibly think of doing at that point except kneel."
Q: What?! Do you know how many times in the last five minutes you've insisted that this ceremony is ancient?
A: I'm sure Maharishi didn't mean that the way it sounds.
Q: Oh. What do you think he meant, then?
A: I'm sure it's an ancient ceremony. Maharishi wouldn't lie.
Q: I'm sure he wouldn't. When was it written?
A: I don't know.
Q: Who wrote it?
A: I don't know.
Q: What were the author's qualifications?
A: I don't know.
Q: What happens if you teach TM without doing the ceremony?
A: I don't know.
Q: What happens if you do the ceremony without kneeling at the end?
A: I don't know. I'm sorry. We didn't learn any of that on the course.
Q: Didn't you ever have any doubts, or try to find out?
A: No.
Q: Despite all Maharishi's contradictions?
A: Maharishi doesn't contradict himself. He teaches a simple, natural, non-religious scientific technique.
Q: You don't think he shades the truth?
A: Of course not.
Q: Don't you think he discourages you from questioning his word?
A: No.
Q: Don't you think you have an impaired capacity for logical thinking?
A: Of course I don't.
Q: Have you noticed that you often contradict yourself?
A: I don't. This is a scientific technique, backed up by science.
Q: Did you notice that you lie to your students?
A: I wouldn't do that!
Q Did you know that you lie to yourself and aren't even aware of it?
A: I really can't agree. I don't do any of those things. Over six hundred published research studies prove that TM benefits an individual in all areas of life. Well, any more questions? No? Alright then, shall we begin? I said, shall we begin? Excuse me? Sir? Shall we begin?
- end -
(Note: The author attended TM Teacher Training in La Antilla, Spain in 1974. What she learned there informs this article. People who attended other courses may have learned different things.)
Friday, December 05, 2008
Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 3: The Mantra
(Please note: This is a four-part series. Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 1 was posted on 11/11/2008, Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 2: The Puja ("Traditional Ceremony of Gratitude") was posted on 11/11/2008, and Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 4: Bowing Down was posted on 1/1/2009.
The last initiate has just left. The initiator is again standing alone in the initiation room. There is a knock at the door. The initiator opens the door and welcomes the next initiate, who is carrying his basket of fruit, flowers, white handkerchief and the initiation form. The initiator closes the door and both sit down. The initiator takes the basket and looks over the form, circling and checking items with a red pen.
Q: What?
A: There wasn't very much to learn. It's just a simple grid. You know, it's like if you weigh 100 lbs. or less, you get mantra "A." If you weight 100-200 lbs., you get mantra "B." If you weigh 200 lbs. or more, you get mantra "C."
Q: (Picks form off the floor and looks at it.) But I didn't write my weight on this form.
A: I didn't say it was by weight. I said it was "like" weight. We just go by the numbers.
Q: (Looks at form again.) The only number I wrote on this form is my age.
A: That's true.
Q: That's all? You choose my mantra according to my age?
A: I gave Maharishi my word that I wouldn't reveal the mantras he gave me or how to choose them.
Q: Fine, you choose the mantra by age. Then why were you circling and checking off things on my form?
A: Maharishi said to do that so it would look like we were choosing your mantra. He said to be sure to use a red pen. It makes it look more official, don't you think?
Q: (Looks at form again.) But you haven't even circled my age. You've circled all sorts of other things.
A: He specifically said to not circle the age.
Q: Then why are all these questions on this intake form? Look, I've answered all sorts of personal questions: my mental health, my physical health, what previous self-development programs I've tried, even which illegal drugs I've taken. Is none of that relevant?
A: None of it. I don't even read any of that.
Q: Oh, for pity's sake! Then what's the big deal? I'm paying you $2,000 just so you can assign me a mantra by age?
A: Oh no, there's much more to it than that. We maintain the precious purity of this teaching to ensure maximum results for every student, so that everyone who learns is assured of getting exactly what was passed down through the centuries by the Holy Tradition of Masters.
Q: So I receive the identical instructions and the identical mantra, no matter who teaches me?
A: Absolutely. (Long pause) Well, actually, no. I understand that from one course to the next, Maharishi taught different age criteria for the mantras. And on some courses he taught different mantras. And on some courses he taught by age plus sex.
Q: Didn't you feel betrayed when Maharishi told you that?
A: Oh, no. Maharishi never told us that. I found that out later, on the internet. (Author's note: See minet.org/mantras.)
Q: What sort of boondoggle is this, anyway?
A: Please, don't judge so hastily. There are other things that make TM unique and wonderful, like the special way we use the mantra.
Q: What do you mean?
A: Well, as you know, the mantra is a sound that has no meaning and the effects of which are known to be beneficial. The sound keeps the mind alert, yet the meaninglessness of the mantra keeps the mind undirected. That's crucial. So, when we use the mantra in a particular way, the mind, undirected by meaning, naturally dives inward -- (Pause.)
Q: Now what?
A: I just realized that sometimes the mantra actually does have a meaning. And yet that has never prevented anyone's mind from diving inward.
Q: "Sometimes" it has a meaning? But in the preparatory lecture, you told us that the mantra has no meaning.
A: Well, before Maharishi came to the west, he taught TM in India. And the mantras he gave out were already familiar to some Indians. They knew the meaning of them, but TM worked
for them all the same.
Q: What did the mantras mean to the Indians?
A: Maharishi would choose the right mantra for the initiate by asking him, "Who is your favorite god?" The Hindus have lots of gods, you know. Depending on what the student answered, Maharishi would assign a mantra --
Q: Pardon my sarcasm, but what happened to the unchanging Holy Tradition of choosing the mantra by age, or by sex, using a different criterion each year?
A: Well, he realized that asking "Who is your favorite god?" wasn't going to mean much to westerners....
Q: So he personally invented the age and sex system?
A: I don't know. He assured us that this teaching was all passed down in its unchanging purity for generations. But anyway, the mantras he gave out in India did have a meaning to some Indians.
Q: Alright, what did the mantras mean?
A: Some of them were the names of Hindu gods, and some of them were the "seed form" of the names of the Hindu gods. I don't understand the fine points of Hinduism, but certainly some of the Indians recognized these mantras as the names or seed names of gods. Yet the Indians had no trouble doing TM. Hmm, I'm baffled. Maharishi taught us that TM can't work if the mantra has a meaning. I can't figure this out.
Q: So in the west he decided not to hand out the names of Hindu gods?
A: Oh, no, that's not so. All of the mantras Maharishi taught on my course are the seed form names of Hindu gods.
Q: What? Didn't you find that a little contradictory to Maharishi's contention that TM is not a religious practice?
A: Oh no, not at all. You see, Maharishi never told us that the mantras were the names of Hindu gods. He told us that the mantras were meaningless sounds. I learned about the Hindu gods later, on the internet.
Q: Alright, let me get this straight. You are about to teach me a technique whereby I am going to be thinking the name of a Hindu god for 40 minutes every day without my informed consent?
A: Well, yes.
Q: And yet you say in the introductory lecture that TM is not a religious practice?
A: (Laughing) Oh no, of course it isn't. Maharishi says that TM is not a religious practice. And Maharishi wouldn't lie. (Pause.) My, you're so quiet. You must have run out of questions. Well then, shall we begin?
- end -
The last initiate has just left. The initiator is again standing alone in the initiation room. There is a knock at the door. The initiator opens the door and welcomes the next initiate, who is carrying his basket of fruit, flowers, white handkerchief and the initiation form. The initiator closes the door and both sit down. The initiator takes the basket and looks over the form, circling and checking items with a red pen.
Fantasy Initiation #3
Question from initiate: If I have any questions as we go along, is it OK if I ask them?
Answer from initiator: Sure. (She puts pen and form on the floor.) In this personal instruction, you will receive a mantra or sound--
Q: Can I ask you something about the mantra?
A: Yes.
Q: Just now, when you were reviewing my form, were you choosing my mantra?
A: Yes.
Q: How do you know which mantra is right for me?
A: We go by the neurophysiological specificity of the individual in order to choose the mantra which is most appropriate and will bring the most beneficial -- (She stops, remembering her recent vow to herself to be honest with her students from now on.) (Author's note: See Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 2, Nov. 20, 2008.) -- well, actually, choosing the mantra is a totally mechanical, mindless process. There's no sophisticated discernment involved in it at all.
Q: But in the preparatory lecture you said that you had a complicated criteria and it took you months to learn to be a TM teacher.
A: Well, the course itself lasted 5 months. A lot of that time we were meditating. But learning the mantras themselves and how to select the right one took a total of 3 minutes.
Q: What?
A: There wasn't very much to learn. It's just a simple grid. You know, it's like if you weigh 100 lbs. or less, you get mantra "A." If you weight 100-200 lbs., you get mantra "B." If you weigh 200 lbs. or more, you get mantra "C."
Q: (Picks form off the floor and looks at it.) But I didn't write my weight on this form.
A: I didn't say it was by weight. I said it was "like" weight. We just go by the numbers.
Q: (Looks at form again.) The only number I wrote on this form is my age.
A: That's true.
Q: That's all? You choose my mantra according to my age?
A: I gave Maharishi my word that I wouldn't reveal the mantras he gave me or how to choose them.
Q: Fine, you choose the mantra by age. Then why were you circling and checking off things on my form?
A: Maharishi said to do that so it would look like we were choosing your mantra. He said to be sure to use a red pen. It makes it look more official, don't you think?
Q: (Looks at form again.) But you haven't even circled my age. You've circled all sorts of other things.
A: He specifically said to not circle the age.
Q: Then why are all these questions on this intake form? Look, I've answered all sorts of personal questions: my mental health, my physical health, what previous self-development programs I've tried, even which illegal drugs I've taken. Is none of that relevant?
A: None of it. I don't even read any of that.
Q: Oh, for pity's sake! Then what's the big deal? I'm paying you $2,000 just so you can assign me a mantra by age?
A: Oh no, there's much more to it than that. We maintain the precious purity of this teaching to ensure maximum results for every student, so that everyone who learns is assured of getting exactly what was passed down through the centuries by the Holy Tradition of Masters.
Q: So I receive the identical instructions and the identical mantra, no matter who teaches me?
A: Absolutely. (Long pause) Well, actually, no. I understand that from one course to the next, Maharishi taught different age criteria for the mantras. And on some courses he taught different mantras. And on some courses he taught by age plus sex.
Q: Didn't you feel betrayed when Maharishi told you that?
A: Oh, no. Maharishi never told us that. I found that out later, on the internet. (Author's note: See minet.org/mantras.)
Q: What sort of boondoggle is this, anyway?
A: Please, don't judge so hastily. There are other things that make TM unique and wonderful, like the special way we use the mantra.
Q: What do you mean?
A: Well, as you know, the mantra is a sound that has no meaning and the effects of which are known to be beneficial. The sound keeps the mind alert, yet the meaninglessness of the mantra keeps the mind undirected. That's crucial. So, when we use the mantra in a particular way, the mind, undirected by meaning, naturally dives inward -- (Pause.)
Q: Now what?
A: I just realized that sometimes the mantra actually does have a meaning. And yet that has never prevented anyone's mind from diving inward.
Q: "Sometimes" it has a meaning? But in the preparatory lecture, you told us that the mantra has no meaning.
A: Well, before Maharishi came to the west, he taught TM in India. And the mantras he gave out were already familiar to some Indians. They knew the meaning of them, but TM worked
for them all the same.
Q: What did the mantras mean to the Indians?
A: Maharishi would choose the right mantra for the initiate by asking him, "Who is your favorite god?" The Hindus have lots of gods, you know. Depending on what the student answered, Maharishi would assign a mantra --
Q: Pardon my sarcasm, but what happened to the unchanging Holy Tradition of choosing the mantra by age, or by sex, using a different criterion each year?
A: Well, he realized that asking "Who is your favorite god?" wasn't going to mean much to westerners....
Q: So he personally invented the age and sex system?
A: I don't know. He assured us that this teaching was all passed down in its unchanging purity for generations. But anyway, the mantras he gave out in India did have a meaning to some Indians.
Q: Alright, what did the mantras mean?
A: Some of them were the names of Hindu gods, and some of them were the "seed form" of the names of the Hindu gods. I don't understand the fine points of Hinduism, but certainly some of the Indians recognized these mantras as the names or seed names of gods. Yet the Indians had no trouble doing TM. Hmm, I'm baffled. Maharishi taught us that TM can't work if the mantra has a meaning. I can't figure this out.
Q: So in the west he decided not to hand out the names of Hindu gods?
A: Oh, no, that's not so. All of the mantras Maharishi taught on my course are the seed form names of Hindu gods.
Q: What? Didn't you find that a little contradictory to Maharishi's contention that TM is not a religious practice?
A: Oh no, not at all. You see, Maharishi never told us that the mantras were the names of Hindu gods. He told us that the mantras were meaningless sounds. I learned about the Hindu gods later, on the internet.
Q: Alright, let me get this straight. You are about to teach me a technique whereby I am going to be thinking the name of a Hindu god for 40 minutes every day without my informed consent?
A: Well, yes.
Q: And yet you say in the introductory lecture that TM is not a religious practice?
A: (Laughing) Oh no, of course it isn't. Maharishi says that TM is not a religious practice. And Maharishi wouldn't lie. (Pause.) My, you're so quiet. You must have run out of questions. Well then, shall we begin?
- end -
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 2: The Puja ("Traditional Ceremony of Gratitude")
Please note: This is a four-part series. "Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 1," was posted 11/11/2008. "Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 3: The Mantra" was posted 12/5/08. "Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 4: Bowing Down" was published 1/1/2009.
The initiator finishes instructing the initiate, and he leaves. The initiator is now alone.
The initiator is striken with a bout of conscience. "Good heavens!" she thinks to herself. "I told that initiate one lie after another. I thought I was a person of integrity. I'm ashamed of myself. I've got to turn over a new leaf. I hereby promise myself that from this moment forward, while keeping my promises to Maharishi, I will also be truthful with my initiates."
There is a knock at the door. The next initiate enters with his basket. They both sit down.
Fantasy Initiation #2:
Question from initiate: Is it OK if I ask you a few questions as I'm learning?
Answer from initiator: Sure.
Q: Why do you do the ceremony of gratitude in the traditional way? Why don't you express gratitude in a Western way?
A: Well, Maharishi said that to assure the purity of the teaching of TM, we should start with this traditional ceremony.
Q: But you do so many other things that deviate from the tradition, that are the Western way.
A: You're right. Maharishi was very strict about us wearing Western clothes - he forbade us from wearing Indian costumes when representing TM. And he told the men that they were absolutely not to grow their hair long in imitation of him - they had to keep their hair cut short. Also he modified the traditional meditation posture into sitting in a chair to make it comfortable for Westerners. And he was insistent that we use Western scientific research to sell TM. He changed the language from traditional "God" to "Creative Intelligence" to make it more Western. So you're right - I really can't prove to you that the traditional way is essential.
Q: You said in the preparatory lecture that the reason you do the ceremony is to remind yourself to teach TM in its purity, accurately. Why do you have to remind yourself? My school teachers taught me all sorts of things accurately, without a big reminder priming themselves to teach it accurately. Isn't it enough to just have a minimum level of integrity?
A: Well, when I was learning to be a TM teacher, Maharishi told us to tell the public something different from what was the real reason for the ceremony. He said that when the initiator invokes all those great teachers or gods during the puja -
Q: Gods? Didn't you assure us that this wasn't a religious ceremony?
A: Yes, that's what I said, but there are gods named in the puja.
Q: And didn't you assure us that TM wasn't a religious technique?
A: Well, yes, it isn't. Anyhow, when the initiator invokes the names of the gods and masters, it sort of enlivens the room with the qualities of those beings -
Q: What are you talking about? This sounds like some weird spiritualist religion.
A: Oh, no, it's not a religion. TM is a simple natural non-religious technique. Anyhow, when the initiator invokes the names of the gods and masters, it sort of conjures up the essence of those beings, and Maharishi said that the initiator takes on some of the qualities of those beings -
Q: It sounds like Maharishi trained you to be a medium. It sounds like you're channeling these creatures. Now you're taking on their qualities. Do you think you're "possessed?"
A: Of course not. I continue to say the words I had planned to say; I don't find myself speaking the being's words.
Q: I don't believe in this conjuring stuff. To put it in Western terms, don't you think it would be accurate to say that you go into an altered, highly suggestible state?
A: I've never heard that. But anyhow, when the initiator is vibrating with the qualities of the gods and masters, in that state, we can teach TM properly.
Q: You said in the introductory lectures that TM is a mechanical technique that uses the natural tendency of the mind to go to increasing charm. If it's such a natural technique, why do you have to go into an altered state in order to teach it properly?
A: Maharishi told us on Teacher Training that when the initiator is in that state, the initiate becomes sort of in awe of or intimidated by the initiator, sort of like "cat and mouse" were his words. If the initiator does something, the initiate does it back.
Initiate: That sounds nefarious. It sounds like you're trying to control me. Why can't I just follow your instructions of my own free will, because I want to learn? Why do you have to entrance me into obeying you?
A: I don't know. Maharishi didn't cover that point.
Q: You told us that the ceremony is just a reminder for yourself. But you want me in a suggestible state, right? That's why I have to be present, right?
A: Well, I wouldn't put it that way.
Q: Well, does the puja do anything else aside from supposedly making you resonate with these beings and making me compliant?
A: Well, during the ceremony, I sing out loud in Sanskrit as I simultaneously translate it into English in my head. Then there's a certain point where I start offering objects to the painting of Guru Dev in a very prescribed way. And at the same time, I am supposed to be thinking prescribed "puja feelings" that the actions and words are supposed to be inspiring in me. Like when I am offering water, I am supposed to be thinking of feeling "I feel an upsurge of purifying waves of knowledge." So I am doing four things at once.
Q: Yeah, so what's the point?
A: Maharishi said that the purpose of thinking the "puja feelings" was to amplify the feelings that I was already having.
Q: What's wrong with the feelings you're having naturally? Why do you have to amplify them?
A: I don't know.
Q: So Maharishi wants you to amplify your feelings. You mean talking yourself into feeling an emotion strongly that you may only feel slightly?
A: Yeah, I guess so. Embroidering. Embellishing. Mood-making. It's strange, because Maharishi had such contempt for, and taught us the worthlessness of, what he termed "mood-making." That was the term he used for when people kidded themselves that they were having a spiritual experience. He used the term contemptuously for people who claimed spiritual experiences but did not practice TM. And here he was encouraging us to "mood make."
Q: Well, did you find it successfully amplified your feelings?
A: No. Most of the time I find it sort of disorienting, because it's not easy to keep two thoughts going at the exact same time. (I don't know if other initiators have that same problem. ) Even though he said it was a "feeling," we had to memorize the feeling as specific words. I think it made me sort of woozy. By the end of the puja, I am thoroughly zonked.
Q: Why would Maharishi want you in an altered state by the end of the puja?
A: He said that between invoking the beings to possess some of their qualities, and amplifying the feelings, we get into a deep state, and it is from there that we "pick up" the mantra. Then when we impart it to the initiate, we are "planting" the mantra, and it heads right back inward from whence it came, thus facilitating the inward direction of the meditation.
Q: Wait a minute. In the preparatory lecture, you said that the mantra moves inward due to the natural tendency of the mind to seek increasing charm. Now you're giving me this mumbo jumbo that the mind moves inward because with the help of these beings and your trance state, you have dug up the mantra from some esoteric realm and the mantra wants to go back there. This doesn't make any sense to me, and it certainly doesn't square with what you told us, that this is scientific and non-religious. You have a whole esoteric spiritual teaching going on here. So Maharishi told you that you virtually channel these creatures, and that you and the initiate go into a hypnotic state?
A: Isn't it strange that you should put it that way; because at the end of the teacher training course, he told us there were two things we should specifically avoid: channeling and hypnosis. Well, do you have any more questions? No? OK, then shall we begin?
- End -
(Note: The author attended TM Teacher Training in La Antilla, Spain in 1974, and is using those experiences to inform this article. People on other Teacher Training courses may have learned different things.)
The initiator finishes instructing the initiate, and he leaves. The initiator is now alone.
The initiator is striken with a bout of conscience. "Good heavens!" she thinks to herself. "I told that initiate one lie after another. I thought I was a person of integrity. I'm ashamed of myself. I've got to turn over a new leaf. I hereby promise myself that from this moment forward, while keeping my promises to Maharishi, I will also be truthful with my initiates."
There is a knock at the door. The next initiate enters with his basket. They both sit down.
Fantasy Initiation #2:
Question from initiate: Is it OK if I ask you a few questions as I'm learning?
Answer from initiator: Sure.
Q: Why do you do the ceremony of gratitude in the traditional way? Why don't you express gratitude in a Western way?
A: Well, Maharishi said that to assure the purity of the teaching of TM, we should start with this traditional ceremony.
Q: But you do so many other things that deviate from the tradition, that are the Western way.
A: You're right. Maharishi was very strict about us wearing Western clothes - he forbade us from wearing Indian costumes when representing TM. And he told the men that they were absolutely not to grow their hair long in imitation of him - they had to keep their hair cut short. Also he modified the traditional meditation posture into sitting in a chair to make it comfortable for Westerners. And he was insistent that we use Western scientific research to sell TM. He changed the language from traditional "God" to "Creative Intelligence" to make it more Western. So you're right - I really can't prove to you that the traditional way is essential.
Q: You said in the preparatory lecture that the reason you do the ceremony is to remind yourself to teach TM in its purity, accurately. Why do you have to remind yourself? My school teachers taught me all sorts of things accurately, without a big reminder priming themselves to teach it accurately. Isn't it enough to just have a minimum level of integrity?
A: Well, when I was learning to be a TM teacher, Maharishi told us to tell the public something different from what was the real reason for the ceremony. He said that when the initiator invokes all those great teachers or gods during the puja -
Q: Gods? Didn't you assure us that this wasn't a religious ceremony?
A: Yes, that's what I said, but there are gods named in the puja.
Q: And didn't you assure us that TM wasn't a religious technique?
A: Well, yes, it isn't. Anyhow, when the initiator invokes the names of the gods and masters, it sort of enlivens the room with the qualities of those beings -
Q: What are you talking about? This sounds like some weird spiritualist religion.
A: Oh, no, it's not a religion. TM is a simple natural non-religious technique. Anyhow, when the initiator invokes the names of the gods and masters, it sort of conjures up the essence of those beings, and Maharishi said that the initiator takes on some of the qualities of those beings -
Q: It sounds like Maharishi trained you to be a medium. It sounds like you're channeling these creatures. Now you're taking on their qualities. Do you think you're "possessed?"
A: Of course not. I continue to say the words I had planned to say; I don't find myself speaking the being's words.
Q: I don't believe in this conjuring stuff. To put it in Western terms, don't you think it would be accurate to say that you go into an altered, highly suggestible state?
A: I've never heard that. But anyhow, when the initiator is vibrating with the qualities of the gods and masters, in that state, we can teach TM properly.
Q: You said in the introductory lectures that TM is a mechanical technique that uses the natural tendency of the mind to go to increasing charm. If it's such a natural technique, why do you have to go into an altered state in order to teach it properly?
A: Maharishi told us on Teacher Training that when the initiator is in that state, the initiate becomes sort of in awe of or intimidated by the initiator, sort of like "cat and mouse" were his words. If the initiator does something, the initiate does it back.
Initiate: That sounds nefarious. It sounds like you're trying to control me. Why can't I just follow your instructions of my own free will, because I want to learn? Why do you have to entrance me into obeying you?
A: I don't know. Maharishi didn't cover that point.
Q: You told us that the ceremony is just a reminder for yourself. But you want me in a suggestible state, right? That's why I have to be present, right?
A: Well, I wouldn't put it that way.
Q: Well, does the puja do anything else aside from supposedly making you resonate with these beings and making me compliant?
A: Well, during the ceremony, I sing out loud in Sanskrit as I simultaneously translate it into English in my head. Then there's a certain point where I start offering objects to the painting of Guru Dev in a very prescribed way. And at the same time, I am supposed to be thinking prescribed "puja feelings" that the actions and words are supposed to be inspiring in me. Like when I am offering water, I am supposed to be thinking of feeling "I feel an upsurge of purifying waves of knowledge." So I am doing four things at once.
Q: Yeah, so what's the point?
A: Maharishi said that the purpose of thinking the "puja feelings" was to amplify the feelings that I was already having.
Q: What's wrong with the feelings you're having naturally? Why do you have to amplify them?
A: I don't know.
Q: So Maharishi wants you to amplify your feelings. You mean talking yourself into feeling an emotion strongly that you may only feel slightly?
A: Yeah, I guess so. Embroidering. Embellishing. Mood-making. It's strange, because Maharishi had such contempt for, and taught us the worthlessness of, what he termed "mood-making." That was the term he used for when people kidded themselves that they were having a spiritual experience. He used the term contemptuously for people who claimed spiritual experiences but did not practice TM. And here he was encouraging us to "mood make."
Q: Well, did you find it successfully amplified your feelings?
A: No. Most of the time I find it sort of disorienting, because it's not easy to keep two thoughts going at the exact same time. (I don't know if other initiators have that same problem. ) Even though he said it was a "feeling," we had to memorize the feeling as specific words. I think it made me sort of woozy. By the end of the puja, I am thoroughly zonked.
Q: Why would Maharishi want you in an altered state by the end of the puja?
A: He said that between invoking the beings to possess some of their qualities, and amplifying the feelings, we get into a deep state, and it is from there that we "pick up" the mantra. Then when we impart it to the initiate, we are "planting" the mantra, and it heads right back inward from whence it came, thus facilitating the inward direction of the meditation.
Q: Wait a minute. In the preparatory lecture, you said that the mantra moves inward due to the natural tendency of the mind to seek increasing charm. Now you're giving me this mumbo jumbo that the mind moves inward because with the help of these beings and your trance state, you have dug up the mantra from some esoteric realm and the mantra wants to go back there. This doesn't make any sense to me, and it certainly doesn't square with what you told us, that this is scientific and non-religious. You have a whole esoteric spiritual teaching going on here. So Maharishi told you that you virtually channel these creatures, and that you and the initiate go into a hypnotic state?
A: Isn't it strange that you should put it that way; because at the end of the teacher training course, he told us there were two things we should specifically avoid: channeling and hypnosis. Well, do you have any more questions? No? OK, then shall we begin?
- End -
(Note: The author attended TM Teacher Training in La Antilla, Spain in 1974, and is using those experiences to inform this article. People on other Teacher Training courses may have learned different things.)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 1
(Note: This is a four-part series. Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 2: The Puja ("Traditional Ceremony of Gratitude") was posted on November 20, 2008. Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 3: The Mantra was posted on December 5, 2008. Revisiting TM Initiation, Part 4: Bowing Down was published on January 1, 2009.)
Since leaving the TM movement 27 years ago, I have been impressed with how tenaciously my mind has held onto illogical TM beliefs, even though I have researched mind control, studied the dishonesty in the TM movement, been exit counseled, learned about suggestibility, etc.
I used to think that my indoctrination occurred on my five-month Teacher Training Course, where I meditated up to 12 times a day, leading to a state of heightened suggestibility. Later, I decided that the indoctrination came earlier, at a one-month course I had taken the previous year, where I meditated up to 6 times a day.
Now I realize that TM mind control started even earlier. I see now that some of the groundwork was already set in place by the day of "initiation" (personal instruction). I don't mean the specific beliefs were in place, like "Don't eat meat - it's bad for your spiritual evolution," but a basic mindset necessary for further indoctrination into the TM world view was already in place. These never-explicitly articulated, yet understood ground rules included: Don't ask awkward questions. Obey. Don't rock the boat. Overlook inconsistencies. Collude. Don't embarrass the teacher. Believe everything Maharishi says.
I did see people showing independent thought and asking difficult questions at the Introductory Lecture and the Preparatory Lecture. But by the time of initiation, I was already a lot more sheep-like. And the other people who learned TM the same day as me seemed to be, too. I mean, I don't recall hearing any pointed questions in the three days of follow-up.
So let's go back in time to the "Initiation." Fortunately for me and for you, the reader, I can tell you almost exactly what happened in your and my initiation room, even though it happened to me 37 years ago, because the initiators had to learn the initiation verbatim. My thanks to the website minet.org/steps.html. for writing up the initiation word-for-word.
In the waiting room, the assistant asks the initiate (student) to remove his/her shoes, and then, to carry the basket containing the fruit, flowers, handkerchief and initiation form, and to follow the assistant to the initiation room. The assistant knocks, the initiator welcomes the initiate in, the assistant departs, and the initiator closes the door.
The initiator offers the initiate one of two chairs and both sit down in front of an altar, set with a painting of Guru Dev on a raised dais, a brass tray, brass water holders with water, incense holder with incense, candlestick with candle, etc. The initiator takes the basket from the initiate and looks at the initiation form again.
Here is what the initiator has been memorized to now say, verbatim: "In this personal instruction, you will receive a mantra, or sound, and then the procedure how to use it properly. Once you know the mantra, or sound, by tradition, we keep it to ourself. Also, the actual procedure of meditation that you receive is to be kept private. For maximum results, all that we learn in private, we keep private. Do you agree? (Initiate agrees.)
Now, please come, stand here, (both stand) you would like to have a flower? (hands initiate a flower) and witness the ceremony which I perform in gratitude to the tradition of Masters who have given us this wisdom of integration of life. This is a picture of Guru Dev, His Divinity Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi's Master, from whom we have this meditation. Now I'll begin -- and you just witness." (Initiator performs ceremony and then instructs initiate in how to do Transcendental Meditation.)
It is my opinion that in these twelve minutes, from taking off their shoes in the waiting room to hearing their mantra for the first time, the initiate has systematically relinquished more and more independent thinking and has fallen into the TM mindset. Let me explain why I believe that.
Let's return to the moment when the initiate and the initiator sit down in front of the altar. Let's slow down the initiation to a snail's pace, so that the initiate can maintain his/her ability to think independently and capacity to process inconsistencies. Let's see what questions the initiate might have asked if he/she were not already falling under the pressure to not ask awkward questions, to obey, to not rock the boat, to overlook inconsistencies, to collude, to not embarrass the initiator, and to believe everything Maharishi says.
My Fantasy Initiation:
Question from initiate: Is it okay if I ask you a few questions while I'm learning?
Answer from initiator: Sure.
(Stop the film! I would like to point out that, on Teacher Training, we were NOT taught to answer questions honestly. What we were taught to do was to give the answer that Maharishi wanted us to give. Thus, whenever I as a TM teacher was asked a question, I had four possible options:
1) If Maharishi had so instructed, answer truthfully.
2) If Maharishi had so instructed, answer with a prepared lie.
3) If Maharishi said to keep it a secret, find a way to hedge.
4) If Maharishi never told us what to say regarding a certain question, try to figure out what I think Maharishi would have wanted me to say - using the three choices above as guidelines - and say that.)
Start rolling the film again. Let's see what an initiation might look like if the initiate continues to use their critical thinking and does not fall under the TM unspoken ground rules. It is astonishing how many opportunities for slippage into unclear thinking exist in just 126 words.
Question from initiate: Is it okay if I ask you a few questions while I'm learning?
Answer from initiator: Sure.
Q: Why was I told to take off my shoes?
A: Um....It's part of the traditional ceremony of gratitude.
Q: Why do you take off your own shoes?
A: Same reason.
Q: But why did the assistant take off her shoes? She's not in the ceremony.
A: Um...tradition.
Q: You said I wouldn't participate in the ceremony, only watch it. Now you're asking me to take off my shoes. That makes me part of the ceremony.
A: Well, it's to show respect.
Q: I respect a lot of things, but I don't take off my shoes for them.
A: Well, it's the traditional way.
Q: Why was I instructed to bring fruit, flowers and a white handkerchief?
A: For the traditional ceremony of gratitude.
Q: But why those particular items?
A: Um...tradition.
Q: Why the fruit?
A: Well, it's symbolic.
Q: Fruit and flowers I can understand. But why a handkerchief?
A: Um...well originally it was a white cloth.
Q: But why?
A: Um....It's traditional. I'm sure you'll like the ceremony.
Q: But why are you doing a traditional Indian ceremony? We're Americans.
A: Um....Maharishi's request. For the teacher to remember to preserve the teaching in its purity.
Q: Then why not do it alone? Why do I have to be present?
A: Um....
Q: Is it in English?
A: No, it's in Sanskrit.
Q: Do you understand Sanskrit?
A: Just a little. I understand the translation of the ceremony.
Q: Will you translate it into English for me?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Um....
Q: How do you know I'd be comfortable with its sentiments if you won't translate it?
A: Um...It's just a ceremony of gratitude.
Q: Then why won't you translate it for me?
A: Um....
Q: Will you explain the ceremony to me?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Um....
Q: Well, that's all the questions I have for now. I'm ready to proceed.
Initiator: "In this personal instruction, you will receive a mantra or sound --"
Q: How do you choose the mantra?
A: Um...Well, by the individual's characteristics. We were carefully trained.
Q: What characteristics do you look at?
A: Um....
Q: Are you allowed to tell me how you choose the mantras?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Um....to keep the purity of the teaching. So only people properly trained will teach.
Q: How many mantras do you choose from?
A: Um...a handful.
Q: How many?
A: Um....
Q: Are you not supposed to say?
A: That's right.
Q: Why not?
A: Um....
Q: I'm through with questions for now. Please go ahead.
Initiator: "In this personal instruction, you will receive a mantra, or sound, and then the procedure how to use it properly.
Once you know the mantra, or sound, by tradition we keep it to ourself --"
Q: Why?
A: To go inward.
Q: But you said it's the natural tendency of the mind to go to the Transcendent. So my saying it out loud or not wouldn't interfere with that.
A: Um....
Q: Why do you say "we." I'm the one who's learning it, not "we."
A: It's a little more polite to say "we."
Q: Why do you say "ourself?" That's not even a word.
A: Um....
Q: I'm through with my questions for now. Please go on.
Initiator: "Also, the actual procedure of meditation that you receive is to be kept private--"
Q: Why?
A: So that it's only taught correctly, by someone thoroughly trained.
Q: Please go on.
Initiator: "For maximum results, all that we learn in private, we keep private--"
Q: Why does it bring maximum results if all that I learn in private I keep private?
A: I just explained. To make sure it's only taught by thoroughly trained teachers.
A: No, you explained that to keep the purity of the teaching, I shouldn't teach it if I'm not trained. But you didn't explain why for maximum results, all that I learn in private I should keep private. Why will keeping it private lead to maximum results?
A: Um....
Q: When you say "all that I learn in private" do you mean just the mantra and how to meditate, or do you mean the ceremony, the altar, etc.?
A: Um....
Q: I'm done with questions for now. Please go ahead.
Initiator: "Do you agree?"
Q: Do you mean, do I agree to keep this private?
A: Right.
Q: If I don't agree to keep this private, then what happens?
A: Then I can't teach you.
Q: Well, I want to learn. This seems like a great technique. OK, I agree.
Initiator: "Now, please come, stand here--"
Q: Why should I stand?
A: To witness the ceremony.
Q: I can see it fine from my chair. Can't I stay seated?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Um....
Q: You said I wouldn't participate in the ceremony, just observe it.
A: Um....
Q: Well, go on.
Initiator: "You would like to have a flower?--"
Q: Why would I want a flower?
A: Maybe you'd like to hold one.
Q: What for?
A: To feel part of the ceremony.
Q: But you said I'd just watch it, not participate.
A: Okay, don't take the flower.
Q: Go on.
Initiator: "And witness the ceremony that I perform in gratitude to the tradition of Masters who have given us this wisdom of integration of life --"
Q: "Tradition of Masters"? What does that mean?
A: One person taught the next, down through history. That's why we have Transcendental Meditation today.
Q: Then why is there only one person in the painting?
A: Um....I don't know. I guess that's traditional. That's Maharishi's direct teacher.
Q: What do you mean by "integration of life"?
A: One hundred percent inner life, 100% outer life.
Q: What do you mean by 100% inner life and 100% outer life?
A: Complete unfoldment of inner potential, complete successful activity in the world.
Q: Do you have 100% inner life and 100% outer life?
A: No.
Q: Do you know anyone who does?
A: No.
Q: Then how do you know that TM produces this?
A: Um...Well, Maharishi says so.
Q: Does Maharishi have 100% inner and 100% outer life?
A: Yes.
Q: How do you know?
A: Um....well, I know. He says so....Well, he never exactly says so. But you can tell....
Q: How can you tell?
A: Um....
Q: Did he get this 100% of inner and outer life by doing TM?
A: No, he got it by being in the presence of his teacher.
Q: Please go on.
Initiator: "This is a picture of Guru Dev, His Divinity Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi's Master, from whom we have this meditation --"
Q: Why do you call him "His Divinity?"
A: Um....
Q: Is he God?
A: No.
Q: Do you worship him as a God?
A: No.
Q: Does Maharishi think he is a God?
A: Um...I don't think so.
Q: Please go on.
Initiator: "Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi's Master, from whom we have this meditation--"
Q: But you just said you have the TM from a tradition of Masters. Now you're saying you have the TM from Guru Dev.
A: Um....
Q: Did these Masters only teach it to one other person, so that the technique was passed down from one person in each generation to one person in the next generation?
A: Um....I don't know.
Q: Or just like Maharishi trained teachers to teach it to many people, didn't these ancient sages teach it to many people?
A: Um...I don't know.
Q: How do you know these ancient teachers taught TM?
A: Um...well, it's part of the tradition.
Q: India is a country that has been in a lot of trouble for centuries. Are you saying that TM has been taught for centuries and yet India is such a mess?
A: Well, there were times when the purity of the teaching was lost. Guru Dev revived it and passed it on to Maharishi.
Q: So then there isn't really a "tradition of Masters." You're saying there were breaks in the teaching.
A: Um...yes.
Q: Never mind, go on with the lesson.
Initiator: "Now, I'll begin and you just witness."
Initiator begins to do ceremony, singing in Sanskrit and waving the fruit, flowers, water, candle, etc. around.
Q: Why are you holding that flower in that odd position?
A: Um....
Q: Why are you dipping the flower in the water?
A: Um...it's the traditional way to give gratitude.
Q: Why are you shaking the flower over your head?
A: It's traditional in India. It's different from the way we do things in America.
Q: Who devised this ceremony?
A: Um....
Q: How long ago was it invented?
A: I don't know.
Q: Why are you putting objects on the tray?
A: Um...Traditional way to give thanks.
Q: Are they gifts to Guru Dev?
A: Um, metaphorically, I guess.
Q: It's only a painting. The painting doesn't have any use for flowers and fruit.
A: Well, that's true.
Q: Why is the painting on a dais, higher than everything else?
A: I guess to honor him.
Q: What's in that bowl?
A: Sandalwood paste.
Q: What's sandalwood paste?
A: I'm not sure. I think it's ground up wood from the sandalwood tree.
Q: What's it for?
A: I think in India, people put it on their foreheads.
Q: Why?
A: I don't know.
Q: What's that stuff there?
A: That's camphor.
Q: What's camphor?
A: I don't know.
Q: What's it good for?
A: I don't know.
Q: What's that stuff?
A: Those are rice grains.
Q: Why are you placing them in front of the picture?
A: Traditional ceremony of gratitude.
Q: I can understand what a flesh-and-blood teacher could do with fruit or flowers. But what's he going to do with a few grains of rice?
A: I don't know.
Q: Why are you waving the candle and incense in circles in front of him?
A: Um....
Q: Now you're holding the flowers in your hands in a prayer position. Are you praying to Guru Dev?
A: No.
Q: Then what are you doing?
A: Um....
Q: Why are you kneeling?
A: It's the traditional ceremony of gratitude.
Q: Are you worshiping Guru Dev?
A: No.
Q: It looks like you're worshiping his picture.
A: No, I'm not.
Q: The Ten Commandments said "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. Thou shalt not make graven images of God." I think this ceremony conflicts with my religion.
A: No, it doesn't.
Q: You said in the introductory lecture that TM doesn't conflict with my religion.
A: It doesn't.
Q: You don't even know what my religion is; so how can you know if it conflicts with my religion or not?
A: Um...TM is just a simple, natural non-religious technique.
Q: You said TM isn't a religion, but you're certainly kneeling in front of that painting like it's a religion.
A: Um....
Q: You gestured for me to kneel.
A: Um....
Q: I can't kneel before a graven image.
A: Okay, then stay standing.
Q: You told me that I would not participate in the ceremony, that I'd just witness it. But you just gestured for me to kneel.
A: Um....
----
End of article.
Since leaving the TM movement 27 years ago, I have been impressed with how tenaciously my mind has held onto illogical TM beliefs, even though I have researched mind control, studied the dishonesty in the TM movement, been exit counseled, learned about suggestibility, etc.
I used to think that my indoctrination occurred on my five-month Teacher Training Course, where I meditated up to 12 times a day, leading to a state of heightened suggestibility. Later, I decided that the indoctrination came earlier, at a one-month course I had taken the previous year, where I meditated up to 6 times a day.
Now I realize that TM mind control started even earlier. I see now that some of the groundwork was already set in place by the day of "initiation" (personal instruction). I don't mean the specific beliefs were in place, like "Don't eat meat - it's bad for your spiritual evolution," but a basic mindset necessary for further indoctrination into the TM world view was already in place. These never-explicitly articulated, yet understood ground rules included: Don't ask awkward questions. Obey. Don't rock the boat. Overlook inconsistencies. Collude. Don't embarrass the teacher. Believe everything Maharishi says.
I did see people showing independent thought and asking difficult questions at the Introductory Lecture and the Preparatory Lecture. But by the time of initiation, I was already a lot more sheep-like. And the other people who learned TM the same day as me seemed to be, too. I mean, I don't recall hearing any pointed questions in the three days of follow-up.
So let's go back in time to the "Initiation." Fortunately for me and for you, the reader, I can tell you almost exactly what happened in your and my initiation room, even though it happened to me 37 years ago, because the initiators had to learn the initiation verbatim. My thanks to the website minet.org/steps.html. for writing up the initiation word-for-word.
In the waiting room, the assistant asks the initiate (student) to remove his/her shoes, and then, to carry the basket containing the fruit, flowers, handkerchief and initiation form, and to follow the assistant to the initiation room. The assistant knocks, the initiator welcomes the initiate in, the assistant departs, and the initiator closes the door.
The initiator offers the initiate one of two chairs and both sit down in front of an altar, set with a painting of Guru Dev on a raised dais, a brass tray, brass water holders with water, incense holder with incense, candlestick with candle, etc. The initiator takes the basket from the initiate and looks at the initiation form again.
Here is what the initiator has been memorized to now say, verbatim: "In this personal instruction, you will receive a mantra, or sound, and then the procedure how to use it properly. Once you know the mantra, or sound, by tradition, we keep it to ourself. Also, the actual procedure of meditation that you receive is to be kept private. For maximum results, all that we learn in private, we keep private. Do you agree? (Initiate agrees.)
Now, please come, stand here, (both stand) you would like to have a flower? (hands initiate a flower) and witness the ceremony which I perform in gratitude to the tradition of Masters who have given us this wisdom of integration of life. This is a picture of Guru Dev, His Divinity Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi's Master, from whom we have this meditation. Now I'll begin -- and you just witness." (Initiator performs ceremony and then instructs initiate in how to do Transcendental Meditation.)
It is my opinion that in these twelve minutes, from taking off their shoes in the waiting room to hearing their mantra for the first time, the initiate has systematically relinquished more and more independent thinking and has fallen into the TM mindset. Let me explain why I believe that.
Let's return to the moment when the initiate and the initiator sit down in front of the altar. Let's slow down the initiation to a snail's pace, so that the initiate can maintain his/her ability to think independently and capacity to process inconsistencies. Let's see what questions the initiate might have asked if he/she were not already falling under the pressure to not ask awkward questions, to obey, to not rock the boat, to overlook inconsistencies, to collude, to not embarrass the initiator, and to believe everything Maharishi says.
My Fantasy Initiation:
Question from initiate: Is it okay if I ask you a few questions while I'm learning?
Answer from initiator: Sure.
(Stop the film! I would like to point out that, on Teacher Training, we were NOT taught to answer questions honestly. What we were taught to do was to give the answer that Maharishi wanted us to give. Thus, whenever I as a TM teacher was asked a question, I had four possible options:
1) If Maharishi had so instructed, answer truthfully.
2) If Maharishi had so instructed, answer with a prepared lie.
3) If Maharishi said to keep it a secret, find a way to hedge.
4) If Maharishi never told us what to say regarding a certain question, try to figure out what I think Maharishi would have wanted me to say - using the three choices above as guidelines - and say that.)
Start rolling the film again. Let's see what an initiation might look like if the initiate continues to use their critical thinking and does not fall under the TM unspoken ground rules. It is astonishing how many opportunities for slippage into unclear thinking exist in just 126 words.
Question from initiate: Is it okay if I ask you a few questions while I'm learning?
Answer from initiator: Sure.
Q: Why was I told to take off my shoes?
A: Um....It's part of the traditional ceremony of gratitude.
Q: Why do you take off your own shoes?
A: Same reason.
Q: But why did the assistant take off her shoes? She's not in the ceremony.
A: Um...tradition.
Q: You said I wouldn't participate in the ceremony, only watch it. Now you're asking me to take off my shoes. That makes me part of the ceremony.
A: Well, it's to show respect.
Q: I respect a lot of things, but I don't take off my shoes for them.
A: Well, it's the traditional way.
Q: Why was I instructed to bring fruit, flowers and a white handkerchief?
A: For the traditional ceremony of gratitude.
Q: But why those particular items?
A: Um...tradition.
Q: Why the fruit?
A: Well, it's symbolic.
Q: Fruit and flowers I can understand. But why a handkerchief?
A: Um...well originally it was a white cloth.
Q: But why?
A: Um....It's traditional. I'm sure you'll like the ceremony.
Q: But why are you doing a traditional Indian ceremony? We're Americans.
A: Um....Maharishi's request. For the teacher to remember to preserve the teaching in its purity.
Q: Then why not do it alone? Why do I have to be present?
A: Um....
Q: Is it in English?
A: No, it's in Sanskrit.
Q: Do you understand Sanskrit?
A: Just a little. I understand the translation of the ceremony.
Q: Will you translate it into English for me?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Um....
Q: How do you know I'd be comfortable with its sentiments if you won't translate it?
A: Um...It's just a ceremony of gratitude.
Q: Then why won't you translate it for me?
A: Um....
Q: Will you explain the ceremony to me?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Um....
Q: Well, that's all the questions I have for now. I'm ready to proceed.
Initiator: "In this personal instruction, you will receive a mantra or sound --"
Q: How do you choose the mantra?
A: Um...Well, by the individual's characteristics. We were carefully trained.
Q: What characteristics do you look at?
A: Um....
Q: Are you allowed to tell me how you choose the mantras?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Um....to keep the purity of the teaching. So only people properly trained will teach.
Q: How many mantras do you choose from?
A: Um...a handful.
Q: How many?
A: Um....
Q: Are you not supposed to say?
A: That's right.
Q: Why not?
A: Um....
Q: I'm through with questions for now. Please go ahead.
Initiator: "In this personal instruction, you will receive a mantra, or sound, and then the procedure how to use it properly.
Once you know the mantra, or sound, by tradition we keep it to ourself --"
Q: Why?
A: To go inward.
Q: But you said it's the natural tendency of the mind to go to the Transcendent. So my saying it out loud or not wouldn't interfere with that.
A: Um....
Q: Why do you say "we." I'm the one who's learning it, not "we."
A: It's a little more polite to say "we."
Q: Why do you say "ourself?" That's not even a word.
A: Um....
Q: I'm through with my questions for now. Please go on.
Initiator: "Also, the actual procedure of meditation that you receive is to be kept private--"
Q: Why?
A: So that it's only taught correctly, by someone thoroughly trained.
Q: Please go on.
Initiator: "For maximum results, all that we learn in private, we keep private--"
Q: Why does it bring maximum results if all that I learn in private I keep private?
A: I just explained. To make sure it's only taught by thoroughly trained teachers.
A: No, you explained that to keep the purity of the teaching, I shouldn't teach it if I'm not trained. But you didn't explain why for maximum results, all that I learn in private I should keep private. Why will keeping it private lead to maximum results?
A: Um....
Q: When you say "all that I learn in private" do you mean just the mantra and how to meditate, or do you mean the ceremony, the altar, etc.?
A: Um....
Q: I'm done with questions for now. Please go ahead.
Initiator: "Do you agree?"
Q: Do you mean, do I agree to keep this private?
A: Right.
Q: If I don't agree to keep this private, then what happens?
A: Then I can't teach you.
Q: Well, I want to learn. This seems like a great technique. OK, I agree.
Initiator: "Now, please come, stand here--"
Q: Why should I stand?
A: To witness the ceremony.
Q: I can see it fine from my chair. Can't I stay seated?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Um....
Q: You said I wouldn't participate in the ceremony, just observe it.
A: Um....
Q: Well, go on.
Initiator: "You would like to have a flower?--"
Q: Why would I want a flower?
A: Maybe you'd like to hold one.
Q: What for?
A: To feel part of the ceremony.
Q: But you said I'd just watch it, not participate.
A: Okay, don't take the flower.
Q: Go on.
Initiator: "And witness the ceremony that I perform in gratitude to the tradition of Masters who have given us this wisdom of integration of life --"
Q: "Tradition of Masters"? What does that mean?
A: One person taught the next, down through history. That's why we have Transcendental Meditation today.
Q: Then why is there only one person in the painting?
A: Um....I don't know. I guess that's traditional. That's Maharishi's direct teacher.
Q: What do you mean by "integration of life"?
A: One hundred percent inner life, 100% outer life.
Q: What do you mean by 100% inner life and 100% outer life?
A: Complete unfoldment of inner potential, complete successful activity in the world.
Q: Do you have 100% inner life and 100% outer life?
A: No.
Q: Do you know anyone who does?
A: No.
Q: Then how do you know that TM produces this?
A: Um...Well, Maharishi says so.
Q: Does Maharishi have 100% inner and 100% outer life?
A: Yes.
Q: How do you know?
A: Um....well, I know. He says so....Well, he never exactly says so. But you can tell....
Q: How can you tell?
A: Um....
Q: Did he get this 100% of inner and outer life by doing TM?
A: No, he got it by being in the presence of his teacher.
Q: Please go on.
Initiator: "This is a picture of Guru Dev, His Divinity Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi's Master, from whom we have this meditation --"
Q: Why do you call him "His Divinity?"
A: Um....
Q: Is he God?
A: No.
Q: Do you worship him as a God?
A: No.
Q: Does Maharishi think he is a God?
A: Um...I don't think so.
Q: Please go on.
Initiator: "Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi's Master, from whom we have this meditation--"
Q: But you just said you have the TM from a tradition of Masters. Now you're saying you have the TM from Guru Dev.
A: Um....
Q: Did these Masters only teach it to one other person, so that the technique was passed down from one person in each generation to one person in the next generation?
A: Um....I don't know.
Q: Or just like Maharishi trained teachers to teach it to many people, didn't these ancient sages teach it to many people?
A: Um...I don't know.
Q: How do you know these ancient teachers taught TM?
A: Um...well, it's part of the tradition.
Q: India is a country that has been in a lot of trouble for centuries. Are you saying that TM has been taught for centuries and yet India is such a mess?
A: Well, there were times when the purity of the teaching was lost. Guru Dev revived it and passed it on to Maharishi.
Q: So then there isn't really a "tradition of Masters." You're saying there were breaks in the teaching.
A: Um...yes.
Q: Never mind, go on with the lesson.
Initiator: "Now, I'll begin and you just witness."
Initiator begins to do ceremony, singing in Sanskrit and waving the fruit, flowers, water, candle, etc. around.
Q: Why are you holding that flower in that odd position?
A: Um....
Q: Why are you dipping the flower in the water?
A: Um...it's the traditional way to give gratitude.
Q: Why are you shaking the flower over your head?
A: It's traditional in India. It's different from the way we do things in America.
Q: Who devised this ceremony?
A: Um....
Q: How long ago was it invented?
A: I don't know.
Q: Why are you putting objects on the tray?
A: Um...Traditional way to give thanks.
Q: Are they gifts to Guru Dev?
A: Um, metaphorically, I guess.
Q: It's only a painting. The painting doesn't have any use for flowers and fruit.
A: Well, that's true.
Q: Why is the painting on a dais, higher than everything else?
A: I guess to honor him.
Q: What's in that bowl?
A: Sandalwood paste.
Q: What's sandalwood paste?
A: I'm not sure. I think it's ground up wood from the sandalwood tree.
Q: What's it for?
A: I think in India, people put it on their foreheads.
Q: Why?
A: I don't know.
Q: What's that stuff there?
A: That's camphor.
Q: What's camphor?
A: I don't know.
Q: What's it good for?
A: I don't know.
Q: What's that stuff?
A: Those are rice grains.
Q: Why are you placing them in front of the picture?
A: Traditional ceremony of gratitude.
Q: I can understand what a flesh-and-blood teacher could do with fruit or flowers. But what's he going to do with a few grains of rice?
A: I don't know.
Q: Why are you waving the candle and incense in circles in front of him?
A: Um....
Q: Now you're holding the flowers in your hands in a prayer position. Are you praying to Guru Dev?
A: No.
Q: Then what are you doing?
A: Um....
Q: Why are you kneeling?
A: It's the traditional ceremony of gratitude.
Q: Are you worshiping Guru Dev?
A: No.
Q: It looks like you're worshiping his picture.
A: No, I'm not.
Q: The Ten Commandments said "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. Thou shalt not make graven images of God." I think this ceremony conflicts with my religion.
A: No, it doesn't.
Q: You said in the introductory lecture that TM doesn't conflict with my religion.
A: It doesn't.
Q: You don't even know what my religion is; so how can you know if it conflicts with my religion or not?
A: Um...TM is just a simple, natural non-religious technique.
Q: You said TM isn't a religion, but you're certainly kneeling in front of that painting like it's a religion.
A: Um....
Q: You gestured for me to kneel.
A: Um....
Q: I can't kneel before a graven image.
A: Okay, then stay standing.
Q: You told me that I would not participate in the ceremony, that I'd just witness it. But you just gestured for me to kneel.
A: Um....
----
End of article.
Monday, July 28, 2008
"Larry King Live!" July 31st interviews Juliana Buhring of 'Children of God'/ 'The Family'
Keep your eyes peeled for "Larry King Live" on July 31st! (I hope Larry King doesn't change the program's date)
Juliana is young, beautiful, intelligent and a dynamic speaker! This interview undoubtedly will be wrenching and enlightening for American viewers!
Her memoir with her sisters "Not Without My Sister" was a 2007 & 2008 bestseller in UK and Australia; their publisher, Harper Collins, did not promote the book well in the USA.
Juliana and her siblings were raised around the world in the cult 'Children of God'/'The Family', the ultimate Bible-based free love group, which included ample 'sharing love' with everyone including children, i.e. pedophilia as religious practice.
The 'Children of God' organization now officially denies these teachings. Their leadership remains in hiding.
Juliana unrelentingly publicizes damage wrought to children raised within destructive groups, and works to create international codes for child protection, including removal of statutes of limitations which protect perpetrators.
Juliana is driven by concern for her younger siblings still within the group, and for others who live with crippling psychosis or who've needlessly died.
You won't want to miss this one!
Juliana's engaging, heartfelt stories, matter of fact humor, and poise are a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.
Juliana is young, beautiful, intelligent and a dynamic speaker! This interview undoubtedly will be wrenching and enlightening for American viewers!
Her memoir with her sisters "Not Without My Sister" was a 2007 & 2008 bestseller in UK and Australia; their publisher, Harper Collins, did not promote the book well in the USA.
Juliana and her siblings were raised around the world in the cult 'Children of God'/'The Family', the ultimate Bible-based free love group, which included ample 'sharing love' with everyone including children, i.e. pedophilia as religious practice.
The 'Children of God' organization now officially denies these teachings. Their leadership remains in hiding.
Juliana unrelentingly publicizes damage wrought to children raised within destructive groups, and works to create international codes for child protection, including removal of statutes of limitations which protect perpetrators.
Juliana is driven by concern for her younger siblings still within the group, and for others who live with crippling psychosis or who've needlessly died.
You won't want to miss this one!
Juliana's engaging, heartfelt stories, matter of fact humor, and poise are a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Transcendental M & Ms
TM Mortalities and Morbidities
In the medical world we have monthly M&M meetings to discuss cases or 'negative outcomes.' These M&M meetings help to improve practice management. This is standard practice, regardless of the deemed cause of injury or death.
Those who spent years deeply involved with the TM Movement know individuals, or heard stories of those, who experienced severe problems. Most of us did not have severe problems, other than adapting to normal society after cult/Movement life.
In the interest of discussing risks and extent of cult-related problems, we were recently asked, “Does anyone know how many TM-related deaths there are?” Of course, an official tally does not exist. The TM-Movement would never track this.
Many of us know folks who passed away due to medical neglect because they chose intensive AyurVed treatments or yagyas (costly prayer rituals) while avoiding efficacious medical treatments until too late. Others committed suicide. Some confused youth passed away due to drug overdose. Some youth were victimized by sexual predators. Some individuals experienced psychotic breaks on prolonged rounding courses.
Naturally, the causes were attributed to individual weakness or "unstressing"
In the interest of having some data, Sudarsha offered to keep a list. This list will NOT be made public, but at least there could be a discussion about documented TM-related mortalities and morbidities.
We are not arranging this for legal action, only to have an idea of case histories.
Again, this list would remain confidential in Sudarsha’s possession.
If you know of anyone directly (not just rumor) who passed away due to a TMO-related reason, or went psychotic while on prolonged TM program, or other chronic medical problems (neglected medical care in favor of AyurVed), please jot a quick email to Sudarsha.
The list has begun.
We will repost this request periodicly.
Please provide Sudarsha with:
* Name *year of death or psychotic break *adult or child/youth (if minor, then age) *city *official cause of death or incident.
You could send this to Sudarsha at:
sudarshaisnamaskar@gmail.com
Thank you for kindly sharing your knowledge of these tragic histories.
In memory of loved ones lost or damaged.
In the medical world we have monthly M&M meetings to discuss cases or 'negative outcomes.' These M&M meetings help to improve practice management. This is standard practice, regardless of the deemed cause of injury or death.
Those who spent years deeply involved with the TM Movement know individuals, or heard stories of those, who experienced severe problems. Most of us did not have severe problems, other than adapting to normal society after cult/Movement life.
In the interest of discussing risks and extent of cult-related problems, we were recently asked, “Does anyone know how many TM-related deaths there are?” Of course, an official tally does not exist. The TM-Movement would never track this.
Many of us know folks who passed away due to medical neglect because they chose intensive AyurVed treatments or yagyas (costly prayer rituals) while avoiding efficacious medical treatments until too late. Others committed suicide. Some confused youth passed away due to drug overdose. Some youth were victimized by sexual predators. Some individuals experienced psychotic breaks on prolonged rounding courses.
Naturally, the causes were attributed to individual weakness or "unstressing"
In the interest of having some data, Sudarsha offered to keep a list. This list will NOT be made public, but at least there could be a discussion about documented TM-related mortalities and morbidities.
We are not arranging this for legal action, only to have an idea of case histories.
Again, this list would remain confidential in Sudarsha’s possession.
If you know of anyone directly (not just rumor) who passed away due to a TMO-related reason, or went psychotic while on prolonged TM program, or other chronic medical problems (neglected medical care in favor of AyurVed), please jot a quick email to Sudarsha.
The list has begun.
We will repost this request periodicly.
Please provide Sudarsha with:
* Name *year of death or psychotic break *adult or child/youth (if minor, then age) *city *official cause of death or incident.
You could send this to Sudarsha at:
sudarshaisnamaskar@gmail.com
Thank you for kindly sharing your knowledge of these tragic histories.
In memory of loved ones lost or damaged.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The Raja speaks : It's your fault/obligation. Please come!
Invincible America
For Information and to apply to the course: www.InvincibleAmerica.org
Please Read Immediately
OPEN LETTER FROM DR. JOHN HAGELIN
TO AMERICA'S YOGIC FLYERS
September 24, 2007
Dear Fellow Governors and Sidhas:
I had the great honor of announcing in July to Maharishi and the world press the results of the first year of our Invincible America Assembly.
The news was excellent-and exactly what we had predicted one year earlier: a record-breaking stock market and a surprisingly robust economy; mounting bipartisan support for a peaceful resolution of the Iraq conflict; improved relations with North Korea, including an unexpected treaty; and fewer natural disasters (in fact, no hurricanes hit the US mainland in over a year-defying the predictions of every respected meteorologist in the country!).
The cause of such extraordinarily good news is an established scientific fact: nearly 1800 Yogic Flyers assembled together in groups in Maharishi University of Management and Maharishi Vedic City-enough to create a high degree of coherent national consciousness-the basis for a healthy, peaceful, prosperous, invincible nation.
But now, two months later, it's a different story. The market has turned volatile, peace efforts in Iraq have stalled, and US-Iran relations are flaring up again.
Why? There are now up to 200 fewer Yogic Flyers in the flying halls.
I write to every Yogic Flyer in America to give a gentle but urgent call: Please come here and fly together in a large group! We must immediately bring our numbers up again above the super radiance threshold of 1730. And ideally, we must increase those numbers to 2000 and beyond!
Yes, it is true that more Vedic Pandits are on their way from India and should be here in a few months. And their arrival will certainly raise our numbers.
But the Vedic Pandits should come here to "crown the nation with invincibility"-not to lay the groundwork. Creating national coherence is the responsibility of all American Yogic Flyers-including all of us who are blessed to be living in this sublime community.
Please come. You will hasten the rise of your own supreme enlightenment and enjoy life in a state of perpetual bliss consciousness. And you will radiate your bliss to America and the world.
Thank you so much.
Jai Guru Dev
John
Monday, September 10, 2007
Transcendental M & Ms
TM Mortalities and Morbidities
In the medical world, we have monthly M&M meetings, to discuss cases of 'negative outcomes.' These M&M meetings help us identify ways in which we can improve our medical management. This is standard practice, regardless of the deemed cause of injury or death.
Those who spent years deeply involved with the TM Movement know individuals, or heard stories of those, who experienced severe problems. Most of us did not have severe problems, other than adapting to normal society after the Movement experience.
In the interest of discussing risks and extent of cult-related problems, we were recently asked, “Does anyone know how many TM-related deaths there are?” Of course, an official tally does not exist.
Many of us know folks who passed away due to medical neglect because they chose intensive AyurVed treatments while avoiding efficacious medical treatments until too late, others committed suicide, while some confused youth passed away due to drug overdose; some experienced psychotic breaks on various prolonged rounding courses.
Naturally, the causes were always attributed to individual weakness.
In the interest of having some kind of data, Sudarsha offered to keep a list. This list will NOT be made public, but at least there could be an answer to the question about number of documented TM-related mortalities.
Sudarsha requested that we also list those who went psychotic or had other chronic apparently-TM-related disability.
We are not arranging this for legal action, only to have an idea of numbers.
Again, this list would remain confidential in Sudarsha’s possession.
If you know of anyone directly (not just rumor) who passed away due to a TMO-related reason, or went psychotic while on prolonged TM program, or other chronic medical problems (neglected medical care in favor of AyurVed), please jot a quick email to Sudarsha.
The list has begun.
We will repost this request on a monthly basis.
Please provide Sudarsha with:
* Name *year of death or psychotic break *adult or child/youth (if minor, then age) *city *official cause of death
You could send this to Sudarsha at:
sudarshaisnamaskar@gmail.com
Thank you for kindly sharing your knowledge of these tragic histories.
In memory of loved ones lost or damaged.
In the medical world, we have monthly M&M meetings, to discuss cases of 'negative outcomes.' These M&M meetings help us identify ways in which we can improve our medical management. This is standard practice, regardless of the deemed cause of injury or death.
Those who spent years deeply involved with the TM Movement know individuals, or heard stories of those, who experienced severe problems. Most of us did not have severe problems, other than adapting to normal society after the Movement experience.
In the interest of discussing risks and extent of cult-related problems, we were recently asked, “Does anyone know how many TM-related deaths there are?” Of course, an official tally does not exist.
Many of us know folks who passed away due to medical neglect because they chose intensive AyurVed treatments while avoiding efficacious medical treatments until too late, others committed suicide, while some confused youth passed away due to drug overdose; some experienced psychotic breaks on various prolonged rounding courses.
Naturally, the causes were always attributed to individual weakness.
In the interest of having some kind of data, Sudarsha offered to keep a list. This list will NOT be made public, but at least there could be an answer to the question about number of documented TM-related mortalities.
Sudarsha requested that we also list those who went psychotic or had other chronic apparently-TM-related disability.
We are not arranging this for legal action, only to have an idea of numbers.
Again, this list would remain confidential in Sudarsha’s possession.
If you know of anyone directly (not just rumor) who passed away due to a TMO-related reason, or went psychotic while on prolonged TM program, or other chronic medical problems (neglected medical care in favor of AyurVed), please jot a quick email to Sudarsha.
The list has begun.
We will repost this request on a monthly basis.
Please provide Sudarsha with:
* Name *year of death or psychotic break *adult or child/youth (if minor, then age) *city *official cause of death
You could send this to Sudarsha at:
sudarshaisnamaskar@gmail.com
Thank you for kindly sharing your knowledge of these tragic histories.
In memory of loved ones lost or damaged.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
He’s Enlightened, He’s Hairy, He’s HOT!
When I first started TM I, like many others, had heard the story of MMY’s supposed dalliance with Mia Farrow while in Rishikesh on the teacher training course the Beatles attended in 1968.
I was curious of course. I had heard that MMY presented himself as a celibate monk. Was it possible that he had succumbed to Ms. Farrow’s charms? As I was progressing quickly through the TM ranks (I was always a lousy dabbler…..it was all the way or nothing with me) in 1971 I wanted to know the truth about this incident since I felt that to use the master/disciple relationship to get laid was a fundamental no-no.
Eventually, learning more about fellow travelers from Apple Corp. who were also on the 1968 Rishikesh course, I became convinced that it was all a case of personal jealousy and manipulation by several members of the Apple Corp. staff. One Apple staff member in particular, known as “Magic Alex” apparently had tried to set a trap for MMY using his then girlfriend as bait. The plot failed. I was satisfied that my beloved saint MMY was a pure as the driven snow and lived far above such base human feelings as lust.
Several years later I was somewhat disturbed to read excerpts from Mia Farrow’s biography where she recalled MMY taking her into his dark meditation basement at Rishikesh for a special “puja”. She felt, as she recalled, two hairy arms embrace her around her waist in the dark and try to pull her down to the bed. She quickly left.
I was in the midst of taking the SCI course at the time, preparing to leave for my teacher training course, when I read about Ms. Farrow’s account of her time in MMY’s meditation chamber. I decided that this was nothing more than the faulty memory of an eccentric actress.
Several years later, on one of my many advanced courses in Switzerland, I recall hearing rumors about women following MMY into his room late at night in Seelisberg. This caught my attention since the source was none other than one of MMY’s personal secretaries, popularly known as “skin boys” since they carried the dear skin MMY sat on wherever he chose to park his blessed rump. There was talk about the state of MMY’s sheets on occasion when they were changed in the morning after these visits.
I took notice, but decided it was all too far fetched to be true. I mean, how could my enlightened master be concerned with sex? Hell, that would make him like me! And he was in Unity Consciousness, right? No, it was not possible. I had been spending a lot of time around MMY and had noted some odd behavior such as outbursts of temper and paranoia about the CIA, but the idea of him actually having sex with the granola girls was hard to figure.
1978- I left the TMO for many reasons, not looking back…..until 2006.
For some reason I became intensely curious about the time spent time in the TMO and around MMY. Those who know me well know that when I become curious I am INSATIABLY curious! I embarked on a quest to find out what had happened in the TMO during the time I was gone. I read as many books about TM as I could find, many pro, some con. One of the books I read was by a woman named Nancy Cooke de Herrera. She was a woman who had been with MMY in the early days of the TMO. She, in fact, had arranged with a friend, to fund the building of the Academy of meditation at Rishikesh.
In the mid-70s, about the same time I was attending one of my last courses, Nancy returned to attend one of the early siddhi courses. Her book, “All You Need Is Love’ is an excellent read. She takes an open, honest look at her many years serving MMY. Her story about the Gestapo like atmosphere in place on the mid 70s courses, and being accused by MMY of being in the “CIA” when she attempted to contact him several years later in India, brought back a flood of memories from those days.
About this same time in 2006 I began to contact people I had known back in the day, including several of the “skin boys” I had known from Switzerland. One thing led to another and soon I was in contact with a private chat group consisting of former secretaries and skin boys of MMY’s from the 60’s and 70’s as well as other members of the 1970’s era MMY inner circle. As information began to flow in, several pieces of the puzzle from those days fell into place.
I read long dialogs between former MMY skin boys discussing the comings and goings to MMY’s bedroom of several favored woman…usually in early morning hours. One woman in particular would be awakened, and clothed only in panties and top, be summoned to MMY’s room at 4am to “read mail”.
I read with interest two first hand accounts of an incident in Seelisberg, were two of MMY’s skin boys… who happened to be “on the door” that evening, entered MMY’s room to find him in the act, on top of a naked woman. MMY (or his female companion) inadvertently rolled over onto his contact button, the one used to summon an assistant. According to this account, MMY jumped up, and the two startled fellows quickly left the room.
There were also first hand reports from secretaries from the Rishikesh era, who were quite clearly aware of MMY’s sexual activity with two women in particular during the late 60s. A minimum amount of research on this topic will actually lead you to names and photos of these two women. One has indicated that she will publish her memoirs on these incidents after MMY has passed on. She has spoken privately to certain members of the inner circle from those days, giving graphic details of her dalliances with MMY.
It’s interesting to note, by the way, how many of the former secretaries and “skin boys” of MMY have now left the TMO and have reported on a very different side of 24/7 life with MMY than commonly presented to the true believers. It’s a large group, far outnumbering the few who remain committed to maheshism.
Another book, written by yet another personal secretary from the early days, in this case the early 60’s, is ‘Call No Man Master’ by Joyce Collins-Smith. Among many other interesting accounts of the ever changing nature of the TMO, based in London in those days, Ms. Collins-Smith recalls MMY inviting young female devotees into his room (one at a time) and locking the door. Prior to that time, Ms. Collins-Smith had been instructed by MMY to come in any time, the door would be open.
You might say, all this is hearsay, you have no concrete proof of any actual indiscretion. You would be correct. I am not trying to “prove” anything. I am only recounting my own personal investigation into this area of MMY’s life and reporting on the conclusions I have drawn.
As I mentioned in the beginning, MMY presented himself as a celibate monk. He clearly encouraged celibacy in others. In fact, he personally encouraged me to be celibate when I spoke with him on a course in the 70s in Switzerland, and I was married. For the record, I maintained the celibate state for a grand total of 19 minutes after I spoke with MMY! Clearly, I was not cut out for the life of a monk. Neither is MMY, at least not in my view.
The truest of the true believers, don’t care if MMY had sex with his followers, believing that the actions of an enlightened being are inherently correct. If you feel this way, so be it. But recognize that this is the same kind of totalitarian thinking that allowed a group to follow Jim Jones or masses to follow Adolph Hitler.
During the fall of 2006 I became aware of another person who MMY had attempted to seduce. This time, it didn’t involve names from the distant past, reported by one of the many disillusioned personal assistants to MMY. This time it was someone I am personally acquainted with, a woman who still retains stature within the TMO. She has absolutely nothing to gain by reporting an incident where MMY exposed himself and asked to be “attended to” and everything to lose. This woman has been wrestling with conflicting feeling about this incident for years. I respect her privacy and can only offer my best hopes for her recovery and understanding. But even the slightest remaining personal doubt about MMY’s sexual activities with his female followers during the 60’s and 70’s was now erased.
There are many reasons why I chose not to follow maheshism. MMY’s sexual activities in the 60s and 70s with female devotees only represent a small piece of a very large, tainted pie.
I was curious of course. I had heard that MMY presented himself as a celibate monk. Was it possible that he had succumbed to Ms. Farrow’s charms? As I was progressing quickly through the TM ranks (I was always a lousy dabbler…..it was all the way or nothing with me) in 1971 I wanted to know the truth about this incident since I felt that to use the master/disciple relationship to get laid was a fundamental no-no.
Eventually, learning more about fellow travelers from Apple Corp. who were also on the 1968 Rishikesh course, I became convinced that it was all a case of personal jealousy and manipulation by several members of the Apple Corp. staff. One Apple staff member in particular, known as “Magic Alex” apparently had tried to set a trap for MMY using his then girlfriend as bait. The plot failed. I was satisfied that my beloved saint MMY was a pure as the driven snow and lived far above such base human feelings as lust.
Several years later I was somewhat disturbed to read excerpts from Mia Farrow’s biography where she recalled MMY taking her into his dark meditation basement at Rishikesh for a special “puja”. She felt, as she recalled, two hairy arms embrace her around her waist in the dark and try to pull her down to the bed. She quickly left.
I was in the midst of taking the SCI course at the time, preparing to leave for my teacher training course, when I read about Ms. Farrow’s account of her time in MMY’s meditation chamber. I decided that this was nothing more than the faulty memory of an eccentric actress.
Several years later, on one of my many advanced courses in Switzerland, I recall hearing rumors about women following MMY into his room late at night in Seelisberg. This caught my attention since the source was none other than one of MMY’s personal secretaries, popularly known as “skin boys” since they carried the dear skin MMY sat on wherever he chose to park his blessed rump. There was talk about the state of MMY’s sheets on occasion when they were changed in the morning after these visits.
I took notice, but decided it was all too far fetched to be true. I mean, how could my enlightened master be concerned with sex? Hell, that would make him like me! And he was in Unity Consciousness, right? No, it was not possible. I had been spending a lot of time around MMY and had noted some odd behavior such as outbursts of temper and paranoia about the CIA, but the idea of him actually having sex with the granola girls was hard to figure.
1978- I left the TMO for many reasons, not looking back…..until 2006.
For some reason I became intensely curious about the time spent time in the TMO and around MMY. Those who know me well know that when I become curious I am INSATIABLY curious! I embarked on a quest to find out what had happened in the TMO during the time I was gone. I read as many books about TM as I could find, many pro, some con. One of the books I read was by a woman named Nancy Cooke de Herrera. She was a woman who had been with MMY in the early days of the TMO. She, in fact, had arranged with a friend, to fund the building of the Academy of meditation at Rishikesh.
In the mid-70s, about the same time I was attending one of my last courses, Nancy returned to attend one of the early siddhi courses. Her book, “All You Need Is Love’ is an excellent read. She takes an open, honest look at her many years serving MMY. Her story about the Gestapo like atmosphere in place on the mid 70s courses, and being accused by MMY of being in the “CIA” when she attempted to contact him several years later in India, brought back a flood of memories from those days.
About this same time in 2006 I began to contact people I had known back in the day, including several of the “skin boys” I had known from Switzerland. One thing led to another and soon I was in contact with a private chat group consisting of former secretaries and skin boys of MMY’s from the 60’s and 70’s as well as other members of the 1970’s era MMY inner circle. As information began to flow in, several pieces of the puzzle from those days fell into place.
I read long dialogs between former MMY skin boys discussing the comings and goings to MMY’s bedroom of several favored woman…usually in early morning hours. One woman in particular would be awakened, and clothed only in panties and top, be summoned to MMY’s room at 4am to “read mail”.
I read with interest two first hand accounts of an incident in Seelisberg, were two of MMY’s skin boys… who happened to be “on the door” that evening, entered MMY’s room to find him in the act, on top of a naked woman. MMY (or his female companion) inadvertently rolled over onto his contact button, the one used to summon an assistant. According to this account, MMY jumped up, and the two startled fellows quickly left the room.
There were also first hand reports from secretaries from the Rishikesh era, who were quite clearly aware of MMY’s sexual activity with two women in particular during the late 60s. A minimum amount of research on this topic will actually lead you to names and photos of these two women. One has indicated that she will publish her memoirs on these incidents after MMY has passed on. She has spoken privately to certain members of the inner circle from those days, giving graphic details of her dalliances with MMY.
It’s interesting to note, by the way, how many of the former secretaries and “skin boys” of MMY have now left the TMO and have reported on a very different side of 24/7 life with MMY than commonly presented to the true believers. It’s a large group, far outnumbering the few who remain committed to maheshism.
Another book, written by yet another personal secretary from the early days, in this case the early 60’s, is ‘Call No Man Master’ by Joyce Collins-Smith. Among many other interesting accounts of the ever changing nature of the TMO, based in London in those days, Ms. Collins-Smith recalls MMY inviting young female devotees into his room (one at a time) and locking the door. Prior to that time, Ms. Collins-Smith had been instructed by MMY to come in any time, the door would be open.
You might say, all this is hearsay, you have no concrete proof of any actual indiscretion. You would be correct. I am not trying to “prove” anything. I am only recounting my own personal investigation into this area of MMY’s life and reporting on the conclusions I have drawn.
As I mentioned in the beginning, MMY presented himself as a celibate monk. He clearly encouraged celibacy in others. In fact, he personally encouraged me to be celibate when I spoke with him on a course in the 70s in Switzerland, and I was married. For the record, I maintained the celibate state for a grand total of 19 minutes after I spoke with MMY! Clearly, I was not cut out for the life of a monk. Neither is MMY, at least not in my view.
The truest of the true believers, don’t care if MMY had sex with his followers, believing that the actions of an enlightened being are inherently correct. If you feel this way, so be it. But recognize that this is the same kind of totalitarian thinking that allowed a group to follow Jim Jones or masses to follow Adolph Hitler.
During the fall of 2006 I became aware of another person who MMY had attempted to seduce. This time, it didn’t involve names from the distant past, reported by one of the many disillusioned personal assistants to MMY. This time it was someone I am personally acquainted with, a woman who still retains stature within the TMO. She has absolutely nothing to gain by reporting an incident where MMY exposed himself and asked to be “attended to” and everything to lose. This woman has been wrestling with conflicting feeling about this incident for years. I respect her privacy and can only offer my best hopes for her recovery and understanding. But even the slightest remaining personal doubt about MMY’s sexual activities with his female followers during the 60’s and 70’s was now erased.
There are many reasons why I chose not to follow maheshism. MMY’s sexual activities in the 60s and 70s with female devotees only represent a small piece of a very large, tainted pie.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Reader Submission: Full Age of Enlightenment Techniques
We received the following in today's email from a reader who wishes to remain anonymous. The Age of Enlightenment techniques were taught on the fabled 6-month course in the mid-1970s. The cost of the course would be approximately $25,000 in today's dollars. Enjoy the "fruits" below -- for free!
A couple points interest me.
The above techniques are very similar to some beginning techniques taught by Yogananda. We hope to have a post discussing this shortly.
Also, the TM Governors were instructed to repeat the mantra "OM" 7 times. This despite the Maharishi's constant warnings, going back to 1956 and The Beacon Light of the Himalayas, that it was dangerous for "householders" to repeat "Om":
Finally, we are aware that there were several variations on these techniques taught to succeeding 6-Month Courses. Here you will find a link to an alternate description of the techniques given as testimony in the infamous Kropinski fraud case against the TM Orgs and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
If you have knowledge of Transcendental Meditation Org secrets, please consider emailing jmknapp53@gmail.com. Your confidentiality and anonymity are assured, if you wish.
To: jmknapp53@gmail.com
[F]rom my personal, handwritten notes. Enjoy!
Keep up the great work.
Full Age of Enlightenment Technique
After T[ranscendental]M[editation]S[idhi]P[rogram]:
Place attention on the following in sequence:
- Nostrils
- Lips
- Ears
- Eyes
- Between Brows
- Top of head
- Whole head
- Throat
- Chest
- Stomach
- Sides of the body
- Back
- Upper back
- Shoulder blades
- Upper arms
- Lower arms
- Palms
- Fingers
- Upper legs
- Ankles
- Feet
- Whole body
Then have sequential and growing awareness of the following spaces, along with the mantras which follow:
- City you are in
- Country you are in
- Continent (North/SouthAmerica)
- Africa
- Europe
- Austral-Asia
- Whole world
- Earth and the Sun together
- The Solar System
- The Galaxy
- Clusters of Galaxies
- Whole Universe
- The Absolute
- The Whole Body
Lokas (done simultaneously with the above):
- Om Bhu (mentally utter at level of clouds)
- Om Bhu Va (higher and higher)
- Om Sva
- Om Maha
- Om Jana
- Om Tapa
- Om Sat Yam (pron: Om Sut Yum)
When you utter "Sat Yam" place attention on the top of your head.
Have an awareness of the Whole Body.
Sutra: Soma, soma, soma.
Rest 5-10 minutes.
A couple points interest me.
The above techniques are very similar to some beginning techniques taught by Yogananda. We hope to have a post discussing this shortly.
Also, the TM Governors were instructed to repeat the mantra "OM" 7 times. This despite the Maharishi's constant warnings, going back to 1956 and The Beacon Light of the Himalayas, that it was dangerous for "householders" to repeat "Om":
"Ladies should never repeat any Mantra beginning with Om. The pronunciation of Om is like fire to the ladies. This is the practical experience of many devoted ladies who repeated 'Om Namah Shivaya' or 'Om Namonarayanaya' or 'Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya' or any such mantra beginning with Om. It cannot be God's wish that you should suffer in your devotion to him. Do not cling to the unhelpful Mantras. The moment you find you have got into the wrong train, it is wise to get down from it as soon as possible. It is foolish to stick on to the wrong train and go wherever it takes you."
Finally, we are aware that there were several variations on these techniques taught to succeeding 6-Month Courses. Here you will find a link to an alternate description of the techniques given as testimony in the infamous Kropinski fraud case against the TM Orgs and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
If you have knowledge of Transcendental Meditation Org secrets, please consider emailing jmknapp53@gmail.com. Your confidentiality and anonymity are assured, if you wish.
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