Pandits for (non)Profit

Essay 3 of a 3-part Series.
The first in this series may be read  here - Pandits in Captivity.
The second essay may be read here - CPs : Course Participants or Captive Pandits.

The TM Organization focuses upon FUNDRAISING for Pandits, while promising magic. Despite TM's assertion, there is no evidence that Pandits' impact global harmony. After years of fundraising for world peace through chanting Pandits, neither Maharishi's Global Country of World Peace nor other TM nonprofits disclose finances related to these captive Indians.

In a recent TM Organization announcement, Raja (Dr.) John Hagelin encourages donations to support an 11-day national Yagya (prayer ceremony) to begin on September 19, 2012. The final date for payment for this particular yagya was to be September 13. For of a mere $1,250, a donor could designate someone to be named during the performance.

The message flatters donors for TM Pandits’ prayer ceremonies, “As a direct result of the generosity and vision of our donors, the Maharishi National Yagya program has grown into a powerful force for America.”

Hagelin credits the Pandits' Yagyas with Iowa’s summer rains, and for redirecting this summer’s Hurricane Isaac : 

“A few people have asked about Isaac. Originally forecast to be a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, it only reached Category 1. While the storm produced flooding in some of the most vulnerable areas, the City of New Orleans was largely spared.” 

“The rain’s subsequent northward march provided welcome relief to some of the most drought-stricken areas of the country. When national invincibility is more firmly established, we can anticipate even greater protection against national disasters.”

Some True Believers continue to donate to these campaigns, otherwise why would the TM Movement continue to send such messages?

Deemed-scientific correlation between the Pandits and selective good news is as logical as Laurie’s (of TMFree) correlation that 99% of murderers begin their life drinking milk; thus milk leads to murdering.

Hagelin’s message continues, “We are on the verge of realizing Maharishi’s desire of 30 years. The generosity of our donors has brought us to this place. With your support, we will soon have the Super Radiance community we have worked so hard to build.”

Hagelin updates about plans to grow Pandit population  :

“  * 556 Pandits now have passports, and 541 have completed their visa applications.
   * The first phase of the kitchen expansion to accommodate the new Pandits has been completed, and the next phase is well underway.
   * More than 1/3 of the funds needed to bring all 556 Pandits to the U.S. has been raised.
   * The arrival of these Pandits will secure the daily Super Radiance numbers in Fairfield and Maharishi Vedic City at more than 2,000. Closing in on the Goal” 

Another recent fundraising email from Stan Crowe earlier this summer declared,“a special 11-day National Yagya performance beginning on Guru Purnima, July 3. We chose this date to honor our beloved Maharishi on this most auspicious day, the day of the Guru. The Yagya will also coincide with America’s Independence Day, July 4.”

Donations are designated for “Increased harmony, peace, invincibility and prosperity for the nation and its citizens; AND increasing the number of Pandits in Maharishi Vedic City to our desired goal as quickly as possible.”

Having failed to create a permanent community of 2000 people practicing Maharishi’s TM-Sidhi program twice daily in MUM’s golden domes, In 2001 Maharishi decided to offer donors the opportunity to sponsor others to meditate for them. The sponsorship concept already existed on a smaller scale in the TM Movement. It used to be common practice for those with less funds to seek sponsorships, often arranged as tax deductible donations, to attend advanced TM courses. Wealthy TMers also often sponsored the celibate participants on the Purusha  or Mother Divine programs for tax deductions, personal glory, and good karma.

Since 1979's first "World Peace Assembly" in Amherst Massachusetts, Maharishi and the TM Movement promoted the idea that a small percentage of the population could influence world peace, weather, crime and the economy through group meditation. This would create "The Maharishi Effect" to bring heaven on earth, or so Maharishi and the organization's retroactive selective studies claimed.

As Sudarsha suggested in a private message, this goal is as scientific as shooting a blank wall, then drawing a target circle around the spot you hit.

The goal of changing the world was and is used to inspire, or pressure, TM-Sidhi practitioners to devote their lives and funds to Maharishi's plans. This also feeds the narcissism of people who would believe their thoughts alone are powerful enough to influence government decisions and weather patterns.

Since that course in 1979 (Yes, I was there) Maharishi and his minions such as Bevan Morris, John Hagelin and others have long  threatened Maharishi's followers with global warfare and other calamities unless a core group of at least 2000 people practiced Maharishi’s TM-Sidhi Program together twice daily.

For example, in 1979 Bevan Morris pulled me aside for a private audience in a small dark room, saying someone had reported me to him for not attending Program as prescribed. Bevan said that I personally would be responsible for bringing WWIII or economic collapse to the world because I did not fully participate in "Program" many hours daily. In response I said that motherhood and supporting my family took precedence over group meditations, that my family is my Program. I told Bevan that Maharishi did not have children, so he didn't understand families. Bevan excused me, seemingly without officially black-listing me. Others tell similar stories of intimidation and threats for their non-participation in program, or if they requested permission to leave.

In the early 1980's Maharishi claimed that donations to support participants on the celibate Purusha and Mother Divine programs would bring financial prosperity, health and speed enlightenment for donors. In fact, my (then)husband wanted us to tithe 10% of our income to support his former girlfriend on the Mother Divine course. They had attended and graduated together in 1981 from Maharishi International University. She was a sweet young woman, who vigilantly 'put her attention' on my husband's business daily and wrote us newsy letters about Maharishi's latest inspirations. The young woman's prolonged meditations did not enhance our economic status. My (then) husband often blamed his business problems on the bad karma that I brought to his business because I did not attend “Program” (6-8 hours) daily. This was a prevalent community attitude at that time.

Per their own counts, the TM Movement repeatedly fails to realize the mystical 2000 meditator/Sidhas for twice-daily Program attendance. Other TMers must be making similar choices about responsibilities,  personal and family needs, thereby decreasing Program attendance.

To solve this problem, Maharishi came up with the  brilliant idea of raising funds to import professional meditators from India. This idea was proposed as early as November 2001.

Note : Maharishi's idea is FUNDRAISING for Pandits, not to really improve the world through mystical practices.

In January 2002, after coming out of his annual silent retreat to begin the new year, Maharishi proposed that for a mere $250 Million, the world’s problems could be solved by establishing a permanent community with 10,000 Pandits. 

Maharishi's fundraising scheme to support a group of meditating Pandits provided, then and now, a means for TM's wealthy donors to assure spiritual good karma, enlightenment or entry to heaven by donating large sums of money for others meditate in their stead.

This is remarkably similar to the Medieval Catholicism when noblemen paid servants to make spiritual pilgrimages for them, thereby gleaning heavenly accolades for both the nobleman and the pauper who made the pilgrimage.

I doubt the Movement will attain the 2000 which they claim necessary for a Super Radiance effect. This dream is an eternal carrot-on-a-stick, never to be achieved. After all, the Movement would lose credibility with its followers if 2000 Pandits meditate twice daily, and the world inevitably continues with political travails, natural disasters, environmental carcinogens and economic vicissitudes.

Being a practical Guru, Maharishi established nonprofit corporations so that donors could receive tax deductions while profiting their Guru. Despite public perception, a "nonprofit" organization does not have to meet any ethical qualifications. The primary difference between a nonprofit corporation vs a for-profit is the stated purpose of the organization, how funds are dispersed and taxed. Nonprofits are allowed to generate revenue surpluses (er, that would be synonymous with ‘profit’).

Using threats of global collapse to fear-monger for Pandit donations in October, 2003, a national conference call quoted (still living) Maharishi "'The world would not completely end, there will be a few people left...You don't know how fast the destruction is approaching. Do it, go fast... 'Don't wait until tomorrow when the whole thing collapses. If you don't prevent this, don't blame us.'"

In 2003, the Program "8000 Now" was created to fundraise for a Pandit program. Their website cleverly does not initially reveal their true intentions, until one clicks about on various links.

TMFree readers may enjoy videos on the  "National Yagya Program" website. Among highlights, see Raja Dr. John Hagelin explain how important it is to “engage the power of natural law at a very deep level” through the performance of Yagyas to help Japan after their tsunami and nuclear crisis. Japan's Raja also reads aloud a letter of gratitude for Pandits he credits with helping Japan.. 

In his documentary film David Wants to Fly, David Seiveking interviews Earl Kaplan. Earl admits that he is not proud of his former TM-alliance and donations exceeding $150million to Maharishi. Earl also says he asked Maharishi about the promised Pandits; despite Earl's large donation for this purpose, none had been gathered together. Earl says that Maharishi told him "I don't know if it will work." In his former brainwashed state, Earl was shocked that his Guru had been recruiting for a cause that he was not sure would work. Earl, his twin brother David, and their wives then left the Movement.

In late October 2006, shortly after Howard Settle granted $600 per person monthly scholarship to hire pandits, up to one million dollars monthly, an initial group of Pandits arrived from India.  The Movement announced "A permanent group of 1,000 Maharishi Pandits has been established in America”. Photos here show TM Movement dignitaries  (note their requisite beige/gold themed suits) greeting Pandits at the airport, and chatting at the Pandits' welcome dinner.

Ostensibly, there are plans to bring enough Pandits for a permanent group creating a global Maharishi Effect of world peace, balanced economy, wealth, good weather, lush agriculture, and enlightenment for all!  
The Pandits are hired to save the world by meditating en masse.

For obscure reasons, the Movement still fails to have the requisite number of Pandits together. Looks like stalling tactics to me, to keep donations flowing.

For those with special needs and the ability to make tax deductible donations, the Organization states Pandits can customize mystical Yagya ceremonies for special purposes. Even my late-father had purchased several custom Yagyas for himself.

Lacking foresight, when the first Pandits arrived to Iowa in autumn of 2006, they lacked proper clothing for Iowa’s subzero winters. Local meditators in Fairfield and Vedic City created a coat drive to garner winter wear so these thin Indian men could survive their first subzero winter. Many Pandits had arrived from India to the United States with only simple kurtas and shawls.

One year after their arrival, Maharishi approved the provision of winter coats in October 2007, for the Pandits. Separate fundraising efforts were conducted to purchase these coats, 

Interestingly, Vedic City has an identity crisis about their Pandits.

Official Vedic City maps, provided by The Raj Spa's receptionist, do not identify the location of this fenced, guarded compound. Still, it’s easy enough to find. Just drive north in front of The Raj along Jasmine Ave., turn left, west, at 170th street at toward their touted luxury Rukmapura Park Hotel. The fenced Pandit compound is almost directly across 170th street from the hotel’s gravel driveway, conveniently outside the   official grid of Vedic City's Master Plan, at the intersection of 170th Street and  “Invincible America Ave.” 

While not listed among Vedic City's attractions, a small image of meditating Pandits appears in the upper banner of Vedic City’s website.

Vedic City wants tax benefits for the Pandits, according to a February 2011 story from Iowa’s Heartland Connection, channel 3 KTVO posted on February 17th "Can Census Make 1000 Iowans Disappear? ” 

Vedic City officials claim the US Census miscounted their residents, neglecting to include over one thousand residents of the pandit compound at 1675 Invincible America Drive. According to the 2001 Boundary and Annexation Survey file, the Pandit compound lies within Vedic City's boundaries.
  
Are the Pandits actually Iowans as claimed by KTVO news? Are they legal residents of Vedic City, Iowa and the USA? Are they guests, or students? Only their US State Department Visas know for sure. 

As expected by anyone familiar with the TM Movement, Vedic City claims or disavows the Pandit presence according to what is most advantageous at any given moment. 

“Funnily enough” (one of Maharishi’s phrases), 2010 tax returns for only one fundraising arm for the pandit and yagya donations can be viewed here - 2010 Exempt Organization Tax Return "Brahmananda Saraswati Foundation". And an overview of the financial status of Maharishi's Global Country of World Peace can be viewed here.

Transcendental Meditation Organizations keep separate legal and financial structures. Readers can glean a glimmer of this global organization by clicking on a few links and drop down menus on this site for Maharishi's Global Country or here for Peace Initiative Projects.

On a human note - One wonders if the fenced Pandits know their rights as foreign nationals within the United States. Human rights agencies queried in Chicago and elsewhere require a complaint filed by one of the Pandits themselves to initiate an investigation about unlawful restraint, confinement, or anything else. 

How would an imprisoned person, with neither English language fluency nor outside access, inquire for assistance or file a complaint?

John Hagelin, away from the media spotlight

From the "Global Family Chat" e-mail of June 11. An image to keep in mind whenever you happen to see former physicist John Hagelin at a staged Transcendental Meditation promotional event, where he'll be trying to sound all businesslike, scientific, legit and not the least bit like a member of a marginally sane religious cult. He also has a crown, gold medallions, and Doug Henning's silly grin in his wardrobe somewhere.

Let us entertain you - TM and cult educative video links

The following youtube videos were brought to my attention today- I don't know who posted these onto youtube.

These are simultaneously funny and distressing - too good to be true. They will stir memories for many TMFree readers.

The first animated video exemplifies a meeting with a Course Participant's (CP's) rejection from Dome participation (prolonged group meditation and "flying" practice). You see, attendance at Transcendental Mediation advanced programs requires "security" clearance with updated identification cards. The TM Movement tracks dates of individuals' attendance at TM-Sidhi training, Teacher Training Courses, payment status, and reports of deemed-spiritual infidelities or being "off the Program".

Decades ago I experienced questionings of my "devotion" to "Program". Bevan Morris interrogated me on two or three separate occasions in the late 1970s and early 1980s, questioning my commitment to Program because of frequent absenteeism to care for my children. I held fast (at the time) that Maharishi would not want me to neglect my children. Surprisingly, the TM authorities did not revoke my "badge". My mother submitted to such interrogation by Maharishi in 1975 in Switzerland when she requested to visit her Italian mother over Christmas. Again, in her case Maharishi relented and granted my mother a brief holiday visit to her family with return to Switzerland in good standing with the TM Movement.

"Heaven on Earth." Any second now.

To follow up on last week's News Brief article on the birthday celebrations for King Tony, er, (deep breath) "His Majesty Maharaja Adhiraj Raja Raam," the leader of the organization that teaches Transcendental Meditation, here is the first of two video excerpts that serve to illustrate the kinds of things that are said during these events, which are generally not all that accessible to the general public.

These comments were culled from a few hours' worth of video on the Maharishi Channel, and come after a lengthy period of Vedic performances and recitations, and a fair amount of rather incomprehensible speech-making by the leaders of the "Global Country of World Peace," as the leaders of the organization call it.

Here we have John Hagelin, in the full "raja" crown and costume, taking his turn of bestowing accolades on King Tony, as I call him. Perhaps some are used to seeing Hagelin in a suit selling TM in a Western setting, as he was during last month's New York "press conference" and gala with the David Lynch Foundation. This is not that. It's more a throwback to some bizarre royal court.

I've previously written about how the TM movement, internally, takes the form of a millenarian cult, that is, its existence is centered on some future drastic transformation of the world brought about by the group's anticipated actions or even its very existence. Here, Hagelin makes that kind of expectation among his peers very explicit. He also alludes to the leader's alleged immortality, a claim that's occasionally been made as a benefit of some of the TM movement's programs throughout the latter part of its history.

Transcript of Hagelin's remarks. Note that these are three short excerpts edited together in this video.

All of us and the whole global family are filled with feelings of loving wishes for Maharaja's absolute fulfillment on every level, and long life in immortality, and absolutely glorious achievements leading to the transformation of life on Earth.

...the first sovereign ruler of the Global Country of World Peace that administers the world, ultimately responsible for the purity and perpetuation of Maharishi's knowledge, and through that knowledge, the transformation and destiny of the whole human race.

...Maharishi chose Maharaja Adhiraj Raja Raam as the natural representative and natural leader of this precious movement which will in short order transform the world and realize the fulfillment of Maharishi's legacy.

Copyrighted letter announces hidden family of Transcendental Meditation's King Nader

Some of our readers have questioned the veracity of the news of Maharaja Nader Raam's hidden family, newly revealed.

The official letter was forwarded to us, with the appropriate golden letterhead from Raja (Dr.) John Hagelin's office.
The email letter was dated January 19, 2010, titled in bold face blue :
"Summary Global Council Meeting January 17, 2010."

However, the letter is copyrighted with the following paragraph in the letter's footer margin :

©Copyright 2010, Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation. Distribution, redistribution, publication or reproduction of this communication in any form is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient please advise us so that we can remove you from the distribution list. If you have received this communication in error we apologize, please dispose of it and kindly advise us at communication@tm.org.

TM Organization attorneys have contacted us, at TMFree, in the past about posted insider emails.
All the TM insider emails with copyright notices have since been removed from this site.

Thus we are reluctant to repost the copyrighted message written from Bevan with the TM's golden letterhead logo of
"Global Country of World Peace, Dr. John Hagelin, Raja of Invincible America"

The contents of the letter from Bevan are essentially what has already been posted on this site. Revealing such information is critically important to demonstrating that the TM Organization has an agenda beyond bringing stress coping methods to school children through the David Lynch Foundation.

Interesting how the TM Organization uses copyright as a tool to try to keep things secret.

The news is not protected by copyright, but Bevan's and Hagelin's words are. The issue always is whether the use is fair use.
Quoting a section of copyrighted material for use in discussion is generally considered to be fair use. Please feel free to comment and discourse further on this material, which is quoted within accepted fair use laws.

The middle section of Bevan's letter from Hagelin's office is excerpted below. Of course the opening and closing of the letter, not quoted, are equally glorious :

********

"The nervous system of the Global Country of World Peace is the Global Council, Global Mother Divine Organization, our Indian leadership and their care of the Maharishi Vedic Pandits and Vedic experts, Purusha and Mother Divine, and all the leaders and teachers of the Transcendental Meditation program and Yogic Flyers everywhere. In addition he explained specific bodies that had been set up to secure the proper use of funds for the expansion of our activities, and the preparation of courses of Total Knowledge form Maharishi which embody his wishes.

Majaraja also quietly shared that he had been married for seven years with a young family (two young daughters ages 5-1/2 and 3-1/2), with whom he has been residing under Maharishi's loving guidance. At the same time, he strongly emphasized that everyone who had the direction of being Purusha and Mother Divine amongst our world family should grasp this chance with no delay, as this is such a great ideal of life that Maharishi had set in the world.

The response from all sides in the Global Council was very warm and loving in response to this news. Everyone appreciates so much the wonderful leadership role Maharaja-ji has been performing in the past two years since Maharishi has been no more there to answer our every question, and he is much beloved by all for his incredible scientific grasp of Maharishi’s knowledge, and his tender heart. The atmosphere in the meeting was very blissful and unified, and in that good feeling everyone was inspired to move ahead even more rapidly in 2010 to fulfill all our duties to the knowledge and to our world family, as Maharishi charged us to do.

The Purusha Rajas commented that Maharishi always upheld Maharaja Adhiraj Raja Raam on the level of the Purushottoma itself--—the supreme Purusha, the eternal silence in which Prakriti (infinite dynamism) is perpetually flowing--—in the line of Sri Raam--—Raja Raam of Ayodhya--—for whom Maharishi named our Maharaja.

Many may have heard some of this news, so we thought to let you know what had unfolded."

[Gina's comments -- a few more sentences refer to the King's infinite silence blessing all nations, construction of national towers of invincibility, and the importance of Yogic Flyers. The letter then closes]

"With best wishes,

Jai Guru Dev

Bevan"

Transcendental Meditation's "King" has a royal family - Maharaja Nader Raam with wife and children

Frequent TMFree contributor, Bjarne Hansen shared this:

Just home from a lovely holiday in India and not updated ....have You guys shared the great news of normality?

***********************

From Raja Hagelin:

In a beautiful, tender moment following our Gita Study today, Maharaja-ji quietly shared the following.... See More

He announced that, with Maharishi's blessing, he had gotten married some eight years ago, and has two beautiful daughters, age 5-1/2 and 3-1/2. Maharishi had requested him to, for the children's sake, maintain the privacy of his family until the oldest was old enough to begin school. That time has come, and Maharaja therefore felt it was proper to share this news with his family of Rajas and Ministers and global leadership.

Maharishi had told him that, in the tradition of rulership, having the support of a Royal Family brought stability and strength to the Kingdom. Of course, as was obvious to all--and as Maharaja himself emphasized--nothing has changed, or would change, in his Administration, and his continued one-pointed focus on the fulfillment of Maharishi's global legacy: bringing Total Knowledge--Raam Raj--to the world, while focusing on his own deep silence and realization of the supreme goal of Brahmi Chetana.

Many were surprised, including me, but the atmosphere was most festive and joyous.

Jai Guru Dev

Raja John (Hagelin)

Transcendental Meditation: Which Video Doesn't Belong?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

1. Transcendental Meditation "Raja" John Hagelin as he speaks to TM faithful in a monthly Governor's chat, May 24 2009; edited and posted December 15, 2009.
2. Heaven's Gate leader "Do" introducing prospective members to his group. Talk prior to 1998; posted June 13, 2008.
3. Two Transcendental Meditation members testifying to its effects in their lives; shinedmdigitaltv interview, October 02, 2009.
4. Two Heaven's Gate members discussing their impending mass suicide; taped ~1998, posted August 15, 2009.
5. "Sri Sri" Ravi Shankar speaking to Art of Living members. Date of talk unknown; posted September 19, 2007.
6. Art of Living insider and Miss Universe Canada 2009, Ketevan Chigogidze, testifying to Ravi Shankar's effect on her life; recorded ~2009, posted May 09, 2009.
7. "Quantum Physicist," President, David Lynch Foundation, and TM "Raja" John Hagelin speaking about TM to the public. Posted by meditationchannel May 09, 2009.

Transcendental Meditation Fire Sale: More Prime Real Estate

This BusinessWeek article has the info on how TM slashed 33% off the asking price of their showcase Wall Street address for Global Country of World Peace.

While the group “could absolutely not be happier” with the building, a sale would benefit the non-profit’s charitable mission, Hagelin said in September. “Financial resources at that level would be a huge boost to us in fulfilling our various goals,” he said.

TMFB editor Mike Doughney recently speculated on a possible world-wide contraction of the Transcendental Meditation movement, as suggested by sales of a number of real estate holdings recently. He suggested this may be for the purposes of consolidating the movement in India.

Looking more likely every day....

J.

John Hagelin in high-weirdness mode

If you attended or were watching today's news conference, with Bob Roth, John Hagelin, David Lynch, a bunch of other movement dead-enders, and a bunch of people who should know better, and came away from it thinking, gee, these guys are kind of weird... yeah, they're more than kinda weird.

The TM movement that Lynch was promoting today actually calls itself the "Global Government of World Peace."

And when the people who run this toy government get together, they call each other "Raja" and dress like this:

This is Raja John Hagelin, from a photo taken at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's funeral, available here.

And if you're thinking, gee, that looks like a Burger King crown on his head... we certainly agree.

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