Leslie's story: "The Truth Pissed Me Off"

This is another unsolicited, contributed story from a former TM meditator, Leslie (not her real name). She points out the habits that TM critics are quite familiar with: pervasive narcissism, isolation, avoidance, and dependence on others to live a life that's supposedly "without stress." Ultimately, for some, living with a long-time meditator, who's living a lifestyle centered on TM and adopting the movement's pervasive belief system - a lifestyle and belief that TM's proponents consistently maintain, does not exist - may be hazardous to your health.

---

Stock photo, not the contributor. (Shutterstock)

I learned TM in 1999 after meeting my husband-to-be, who was a long-time meditator and "Siddha." Soon we got married--and I moved from the U.S. to Europe where he lived. We would meditate together every day during the entire length of our marriage--15 years. 

We never joined any of the advanced programs due to the fact that we never had the funds to do so (or I should say, I never joined because he had already taken those advanced programs long before we met). But we started to get very interested in the developments in Fairfield, Iowa and the "Global Country of World Peace." We would have moved to Iowa if we had the funds. In a way, we had been in the "fringe" of the movement, just meditating on our own. My ex-husband did not practice the Siddhi program very often, and when he did, I never saw him do the yogic flying or even hops, only twitches in the body. He never told me any details about this program due to his "secrecy" vows. Through him, I learned about the many fantastic benefits of moving up on the Consciousness ladder, and he often described how "superior" he was in his physical perceptions, his creative power and his ability to read people--attributing those to the TM and Siddhi program, leading me to aspire to one day be able to take the advanced courses and move toward "Cosmic Consciousness."

During the entirety of our marriage, the theme of "living without stress"--one of the promises of TM--was prominent. It was his life goal and he made sure he did his part--he quit his job as soon as I moved in with him, letting me do all the hard work to bring home the bacon. Since then he never held any meaningful jobs for more than a short period of time. After 15 years of this, I was anything but "free from stress." However, "thanks to" the daily meditation, I felt I could go on with this lifestyle because it was helping me de-stress and forget about life's struggles. After all, we lived a life rather isolated from the rest of the world and felt "free" in our own world. But I developed a serious physical illness because of frustrations of not being able to develop a meaningful career for myself due to the need to support his creative career. I also had bouts of depressive episodes, burnout and suicidal ideation. Sometimes I would have outbursts of anger due to this internal frustration, but was gaslighted and my feelings dismissed.

Ashley's story: My experience of my husband's journey into Transcendental Meditation

Stock photo of a generic young couple, not the contributors.
(scop.io)

Here's the second of the personal stories contributed by Tony and Ashley (not their real names), a couple who were challenged by Tony's involvement with the Transcendental Meditation program. This is Ashley's recounting of her experience, in which she explains how she watched her husband both gain some benefits from TM practice, while his behavior and beliefs changed in ways she found uncomfortable and disturbing. She describes in detail how an individual's priorities can radically change over time through TM involvement, beginning with simple twice-a-day TM, to the point of threatening their marriage. All of this occurred despite the frequently repeated claims by TM teachers that TM doesn't involve a change in beliefs or lifestyle. Fortunately, as Tony recalled in the first part, he disengaged from the TM program and they're now working to bring their relationship back to normal.

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My experience of my husband's journey into Transcendental Meditation: 

A few years ago my husband Tony announced that he would like to learn Transcendental Meditation. He'd been looking into various mindfulness apps and still hadn't found what he was looking for. At this time he suffered from crippling social anxiety to the point where it was difficult for us to even have a normal social life, so I agreed that this was worth a try. The cost seemed pretty exorbitant and part of me was skeptical, but if this form of meditation worked the way it said, it would it all be worth it. 

There were a few odd things about the course: Despite being "non-religious" it started with a ritual involving prayer, fruit and a handkerchief but this was no big deal really and he did love what he learned. Despite my doubts, my husband threw himself into this new regime of meditating morning and night for 20 minutes, and indeed it did seem to be working. We could now go to a dinner party or drinks with his colleagues without him becoming agitated and withdrawn on the way there. In this one small way TM had changed both of our lives for the better and it had all been worth it. The daily meditation continued like clockwork. 

My husband started going along to weekly meetings at his local TM center which was only 10 minutes walk from our house. He'd found an exciting new interest and wanted to meet others who practiced TM. He went along to an advanced course which would set us back about an extra US$ 600. I didn't mind the cost but I was quite surprised when he seemed to be back from the course within an hour or so each day. Surely a weekend course costing that much money would be all weekend? 

He continued his meditation through the following months and there were more advanced courses and a few weekend retreats. These were very regimented programs of relaxation which sounded awful from an outsider's point of view but he loved them, so I was keen to be supportive. 

I can't pinpoint at exactly what point in the process my husband began changing his belief system, but I remember some very uncomfortable discussions where he was telling me things that just sounded plain crazy as non-negotiable facts. Some of these facts were: 

• That if he did enough advanced courses he could learn "yogic flying," a basic form of beginner levitation that would eventually lead to him being able to fly.
  
• That a certain number of people doing yogic flying together could stop wars and car accidents in other parts of a country where yogic flying was happening.
  
• That some kind of a forcefield of goodness was created by meditators, especially those practicing yogic flying.
  
• That everyone in the world must do TM in order to live fully to their potential.
  
• That TM was the answer to climate change. 

Tony's story of his journey through, and out of, the TM program

We’ve received here at the TM-Free Blog, a dual submission of personal stories, from Tony, a meditator, and his wife Ashley. Their names have been changed to protect their anonymity. Here's Tony's story, which starts with his search for a meditation practice, and ends, while deciding not to proceed with the TM-Sidhis, also known as the "Yogic Flying" course, with the realization that he'd "been handing over my mind to the TM organization in exchange for 'Enlightenment.'" He also talks frankly about the balance between the benefits of TM that he experienced, and what those benefits might have eventually cost him if he'd continued down the path of deeper involvement with the TM program.

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Photo illustration of a TM lecture, with video.
(Shutterstock/BBC World Service)

I’ve always been interested in the non-physical world, lightly dabbled in various meditations and read various spiritual books over the years. However, in 2016, I decided to make a go of practicing meditation. I wished to find an inner sense of stability in life and not get as stressed internally about upcoming events or past failures. 

The most popular way that didn’t involve a teacher was using the Headspace app to develop a mindfulness meditation practice. I practiced this daily for a few months and indeed found benefits of more control of my reactivity in stressful or pressured situations, such as at work. This was great but I felt like the meditation was a lot of hard work for the mind, struggling to bring it back to focus on something all the time, and I had the feeling there must be a more effortless technique out there. I stumbled upon Transcendental Meditation (TM). I was disappointed in not being able to find much about the technique online - it always said one needs to learn it from a teacher. However, as my luck would have it, I found a TM teacher close by so I signed up for an intro talk. I was a bit confused about why the teacher wouldn’t tell me much about the technique itself, they just went on and on about the benefits. However, I was intrigued and had to find out if it was indeed that beneficial. 

So, a few months later I learned TM from this certified teacher. In my very first meditation (at the instruction session) I experienced a profound settling of my mind - moments of beautiful silence. This seemed encouraging. As it seemed very expensive given the length of the course (about US$ 1000 for 1 hr/day over 4 consecutive days), I was very dedicated to doing the prescribed 20 minutes morning and 20 minutes in the evening every day without fail. Within my first week, my social anxiety dropped to virtually zero. I realized this one day when about to go to a social gathering and the very uncomfortable feeling of wanting to get out of my own skin and run and hide from the world was simply gone. Over the next few months, the enjoyability of my meditations always varied - mostly on the enjoyable side. Once back from our 2 month summer vacation, I made sure to attend the free Thursday evening TM center group meditations with the hope of maximising my progress. 

During these Thursday group sessions, after the 20-minute group meditation, the teacher would show videos of Maharishi (the founder of TM) talking on various subjects. I found listening to Maharishi’s answers rather long-winded, and he didn’t always make total sense to me. Meditation seemed to be enhancing my life by slowly but surely giving me a sense of inner calm. Thus I had developed quite an enthusiasm for promoting it and would find myself recommending it to other people and talking about it whenever the chance arose in conversation. 

Please share your experiences with Yagyas

Sometimes when I read TM-sponsored websites, I come across glowing testimonials of the marvelous results of Maharishi Yagyas.  These testimonials are so euphoric that I think they act to reinforce the hypnotic belief system of Maharishi.  Therefore, I think it would be therapeutic for those of us trying to recover from "Maheshism" (Maharishi's belief system) to get to hear the other side of the story - of all the times the yagyas failed to work.

Therefore, I am putting out a request to readers of TM-Free Blog who have purchased Maharishi Yagyas (or who know someone who has purchased them), where the results were disappointing.  Please tell us in the comments section as much as you feel comfortable sharing -- perhaps how much you paid, what they promised, what you requested, what results you got, and anything else that you are interested in writing about the experience.

Thank you! 

Transcendental Meditation's Testimonials

"I lost 150 pounds in 4 weeks!" (RESULTS NOT TYPICAL.)

When I look at pro-Transcendental Meditation websites, I often find testimonials of people pleased with the results of TM. Some of these testimonials are deeply moving, even heart-wrenching.

Scientists call testimonials "anecdotal evidence," and it is poor science. That's because while a testimony is suggestive of what may be worth studying, it is far from proof. Testimonials do not take into account that for every one person with a positive experience, there may be many with a neutral or even negative experience. They do not take into account the long-term effects of the product. They do not take into account the subjectivity of the testifier. (Note, for example, the paper about TM commonly called the "German Study," which observes that some TMers extolled the efficacy of TM while ignoring their increased anxiety and depression.) There are many reasons why anecdotal evidence is a poor scientific tool.

But for those of us who were deeply involved in the TM movement, positive opinions about TM may have been the only opinions we heard. After living on a TM course for 1.5 years and hearing only positive testimonials, I came to believe that everyone who learned TM had positive results. And for non-TMers who are looking for ways to improve their lives, these testimonials may seem quite convincing.

"I was always afraid. Now I am peaceful inside - and
I am getting A's." - Student

"For years I was tortured by my memories. Now I have a way out of the darkness." - Former soldier

"I am winning my battle with demons of drugs. Thank
you for this, David Lynch." - Homeless person

(from the davidlynchfoundation.org website.)

I am sorry for these people's suffering, and I am glad they found some relief through TM. But are these results universal? Are they typical? Are they even frequent? Can other modalities accomplish the same or better results more effectively or less expensively?

So to help recovering TMers who may have been mind-controlled into believing that TM is the answer for everybody, and to help non-TMers who are trying to decide if they want to learn TM, here is my own compilation of TM testimonials. And I didn't even solicit or pick over testimonies to find critical ones. They are just quotes or paraphrases from random acquaintances whom I have met over the years:

"When I learned TM, it didn't seem like anything special. There were other types of meditations I had learned that, from the first time I did them, I knew they were a practice I wanted to continue for a long time. I didn't feel that way about TM." - Social worker, 2008.

"When I first learned TM, I thought it was great and wanted to become a TM teacher. Except I felt the organization was too cult-like. Years later I learned to relax using biofeedback, and I couldn't believe the experience. I had never had such deep profound relaxation in my life." - Psychotherapist, 2010

"I was one of those people TM didn't work for." - Lawyer, 2008

"The first three days of TM was fabulous. It got me higher than the recreational drugs I used. But after a few days the high wore off, so I stopped meditating." - College student, 1972

"What results have I gotten from TM? Well, I used to take a nap when I got home from work every day. Now after work I do TM instead of taking a nap. No, no other benefits." - Elementary school teacher, 1974

"When I first started TM, I stopped taking drugs and drinking. But after a few years, I went back to the drugs and alcohol. Years later, I learned a different type of meditation. That got me off substances permanently. Also, TM left me feeling spacey, but the new meditation left me feeling grounded." - Retired secretary, 2008

"I started TM because I was a compulsive gambler and was desperate to stop. I saw the research charts on TMers stopping alcohol, drugs and cigarettes, so I thought maybe it could help me. Four months in, and I'm sorry to report it has done me no good." - Engineer, 1974

Now it's your turn. Would you like to share your TM results, or the results of people you know? Or your experiences with being mislead by TM publicity? Or anything else?

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.

Interesting Article on "Brainwashing"

This history of "brainwashing" is pertinent because some here consider brainwashing or "thought reform" one of the processes used in cult "mind control."

My own view is that brainwashing is at best a metaphor for the groupthink that takes place in a cult — and which I do think took place at certain levels of the Transcendental Meditation Organization.

But I'm really interested in what you think. I look forward to reading your comments below.

J.

Thirty Years Later - the next generation's satire

A generational cohort of "kids" raised in TM and Fairfield are now in their thirties and younger.
They continue to support one another with friendships forged through shared confusion.

An insightful myspace site unites them after leaving childhood "utopia" to enter the "world of ignorance."

Myspace profile for "Children of the Golden Spaceships"

Read comments, view videos of Lynch w/ Raja while listening to Mother Divine voices - for shared memories, frustration, and looney loved ones still captured in group-think.

Be sure to scroll down their site for enlightening videos and comments!

Some "kids"continue familial devotion to Maharishi, blaming Movement dysfunction upon TM's administrative space-cadettes.

Others are angry about MVED's slick scam which governed their lives.

By and large, their lifelong friendships support one another across the belief spectrum.

While I am not of this cohort (I preceded them & babysat during their preschool years), all can appreciate enlightened satire!

Enjoy! Enlightenment at its finest!

Myspace profile for "Children of the Golden Spaceships"

AND.. more tongue-in-cheek! Myspace profile for Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - while Donovan sings "Hurdy Gurdy Man" and links to our long-lost "family"!

g :)

Mother Divine Calls

Replay of April 12th National Conference Call

Dial-in number: 1-512-703-6115

We very much enjoyed connecting with all the mothers and ladies of the

United States on the Global Mother DivineSM organization's first United States

National Conference Call.

This call can be heard on-demand beginning Monday, April 14th at 10 a.m. and will play continuously until our next conference call.

Please feel free to share this information with anyone who might not have had an opportunity to connect with us on Saturday.

Jai Guru Dev

Global Mother Divine United States

Please provide us with your contact information so we can keep you up to date on all the latest news and information: http://motherdivine.org/gmd

SMGlobal Mother Divine is a trademark licensed to Maharishi Vedic
Education Development Corporation and used under sublicense or with permission.

What Makes M.U.M. unique? A Student Video

"When you meet the friendliest people you have ever known, who introduce you to the most loving group of people you've ever encountered, and you find the leader to be the most inspired, caring, compassionate and understanding person you've ever met... and all of this sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true! Don't give up your education, your hopes and ambitions, to follow a rainbow."
Jeanne Mills, Former member of the People's Temple,1978
(JonestownSurvivor)

"What Makes M.U.M. Unique?" A student video

The people, by and large, are wonderful!

To maintain group connection, one slowly learns to ignore the under current of dysfunction. Such blinders are limiting and may be hazardous.

Watch the film, you will hear familiar scripted inspiration. One young woman even sits in a quasi-asana. Utopia.

Denial Makes the World Go Round

An interesting article about the dual purpose that denial serves for human coping.

Many of us crossed the line to detrimental denial in justifying continued Movement involvement, or avoiding facing it full-on after departure. Enjoy!

Denial makes the world go round.

Calling a spade a spade may be painful, but it's the only way to wake up and recover.

If it walks like a cult, quacks like a cult, acts like a cult, and looks like a cult.. well then...

The Hurdy Gurdy Man (Maharishi) Pull$ the $tring$

Donovan Plans Meditation University


Donovan HomePage

Personally, twice daily catnaps are great! The Maheshism cult is dangerous!

The Deerskin, a personal story

One day in Fiuggi, I was up very early and went around to the meeting room Mahesh used. His deerskin was still on the couch. No one was around, so I sat on the deerskin, crossed my legs into the lotus position (Mahesh had bragged how Guru Dev sitting in the lotus position demonstrated what a great yogi he was) and I just sat there.

But having thrown caution to the wind, it didn't seem all that prudent to overdo a good thing. I got up and waited in the back of the room and soon it filled up. I wondered, would Mahesh go all cosmic and perceive that something was amiss. He hated being touched and appeared to be so sensitive that only the finest silk could touch his skin, only the finest shahtoosh shawl cold be worn.

Would he blow an aneurysm knowing something as gross as I had defiled his asan? Would he leap into the air like a cat on a hot tin roof?

I waited, wondering what would happen as he sat down.

He sat.

He asked what we had been talking about last time and proceeded to ramble on and on. At Estes Park he had lied about his revelations from the Rig Veda. Here was another lie: he wasn't quite so cosmic.

Experiences!

Advanced TM practice emphasizes "experience," rather than externally measureable phenomena.
Of course only feel-good experiences are valued.
Negative experiences are discredited as "un-stressing."

Some of us (moderators), along with experts in coercive persuasion, agree that many TM "experiences of (so called) higher states of consciousness" were induced through prolonged meditations, pseudo-hypnotic suggestion and group dynamics.

We observed others' "experiences" to the extremes of psychosis, schizophrenic-like symptoms, some leading to mental institutions and suicides. sigh.

The following New York Times article describes studies of induced "out of body experiences."
This is among the first of such neurologic research, using external sensory stimuli to create internal experiences.

Using electronic devices, out-of-body experiences were induced in participants. We hope there will be more such studies to come. Such studies may eventually explain 'siddhi-experiences.'
To read about this, click here.

Guru-Tender

First Truly International Currency?
Articles about the Raam - the official currency of Maharishi's Global Country of World Peace.

"Dutch Give Nod to Guru Currency" BBC News, April 2003

Online Essay about the Raam, by udayms, 24th Mar, 2007

"The Raam Development Currency" Appropriate Economics, undated, anonymous author

Discussion of the Raam, The Edge; Environmental News from the Brink, November 2002

"Raam" by Answers.com

Response to "Request for Help"

Response to Request for Help
Gina Catena, M.S.

Dear Ms. "X":

You lived as a second-hand cult member. Ouch! You survived a confusing and painful period with a loved one.

Please take whatever you find useful from below and discard the rest. You are not alone in the confusing period you lived. Nor are your children. There are many who struggle with similar situations.

You are affected by a psychological phenomenon that is not yet labeled by the American Psychological Association (APA). Some forward thinking therapists are studying this.

I expect there will eventually be a diagnosis category in Psychiatry's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Meanwhile, I choose to call this Cult Affected Personality Disorder (CAPD).

Dr. Philip Zimbardo and other leading psychologists and social psychologists have written extensively about cult thought reform. Very few have written about cult members' effects on loved ones.

Unlike other personality disorders, it is possible to recover from what I half-joking call CAPD. And like any other personality disorder, there is a broad spectrum of manifestations.

You are not crazy, even though you may have felt as if you were. You were given confusing mixed messages, and judgements that had nothing to do with objective reality.

With three generations of my family influenced by devout TMers, I likewise have ongoing influence from gradations of what you describe. There is always more to learn, and I am continually humbled by both our brains’ resilience and vulnerability.

TM practitioners have a broad expression spectrum. There are “lifers” on monastic programs who cannot function in the working world, to those barely affected who meditated for a few years but never disclosed their mantra.

You believe your ex-husband's noble intentions and well-rehearsed philosophy. The nobility contrasts greatly with his behavior. His intentions are good! This contrast creates dissonance in you, the outsider.

Some experts claim that cult members behave as those who have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). You can find help for living with a Borderline Personality Disorder person in your life through BPD Central.

IMHO, your ex was addicted to the "bliss of meditation" - his meditation endorphin induced high - refocus.org offers helpful tips for recovering from trance-addiction.

His anger after meditation was likely in response to mental shock when jumping out of his trance state into full-on real functioning.

You asked how he could be so angry after meditating six hours daily for six years? That statement originates from TM's promises that prolonged meditations would magically dissolve inner anger. Not so.

In actuality meditating for six hours daily does not cure anger or frustration, if anything it will be the CAUSE of frustration when he tries to function in the real world (as a "householder" in TM terminology). Everyday life is a continual bombardment that interferes with the "feel the bliss."

Your husband believed that he wanted to "witness" life, to experience total bliss internally and observe the world around him. The Beatles described that state "and the eyes in his head see the world spinning round."

His failure to maintain that state when interacting with you, or anyone else, frustrated him! So, anger lashed out. His anger was his own frustration from being pulled out of trance.

He tries carefully to live "an evolutionary life in support of nature" such that the simplest variation from his narrow view could provoke anxiety, another cause of anger. You were the recipient because you happened to be there. Nothing more.

Of course, you didn't know that, and probably wondered what you did to provoke his anger. Merely asking him where the newspaper is could provoke agitation when he is in that state.

In my experience, any attempt at truly rational conversation with a devoted cult member will result in angry arguments. (read conversations in our "comments" and on TM online groups for ongoing examples).

Again, I acknowledge everyone's experience is unique. However, many have shared similar experiences with me.

There are many many such cases documented by the International Cultic Studies Association.

As to your theory of his frozen emotional development - I would say a resounding "Yes".. for political correctness, I should say "Probably".

Once again, ICSA studies found that cult members are regressed (or in your ex-husband's case frozen) at approximately the age of a fifteen. A devoted cult member will trust first and foremost in the cult leader(s), who are not held accountable to anyone. After all, to whom would a voice of God or spiritual Master be accountable?

A cult member who puts wholehearted trust in the cult leader(s), or methodology (Maharishi, SCI, and the lifestyle) as the answer to life problems is unable to navigate the difficult terrain of moral decisions, gradations of right and wrong and personal prioritization.

Trusting in this divine leadership, the cult member/devotee/thought reformed individual lives according to the group's higher purpose.

In TM this higher purpose manifests as a narcissistic drive to enlightenment and global world peace through large group meditations. The devout TMer believes in the nobility of these goals. S/he does not see the apparently narcissistic drive to maintain their trance-induced high.

Most who join cults are of above average intelligence, somewhat idealistic and were caught at a vulnerable time of life (IQ is not a protective factor for thought reform susceptibility). Many, as we know, continue to function well in the business world or other facets of their life. Many, however, fail abysmally. Just like any addiction manifestation spectrum.

The promised allure, like Pizarro's mythic fountain of youth, "TM is a scientific method for deep rest, increased intelligence, improved test scores, happiness, infinite support of the laws of nature, enlightenment, world peace, perfect health, flying, and invincibility” may entice someone at a vulnerable time of life. (Has MMY promised followers they can walk on water or rise from the dead yet?)

The lure of support from this noble group is slow but sure for those vulnerable to the trance state, or looking a higher meaning or perfect support group.

Arthur Deikman in "Them and Us" describes the lure to remain in
childlike innocence, trusting someone else to lead the way. He compares cult mentality to that of a child sleeping peacefully in the back seat of a car, trusting in the parent to drive safely.

True adulthood is not lived in the back seat of one's own life. True adulthood involves taking the driver's seat - usually without a roadmap. For someone who has been in a cult for decades, that IS frightening!

When leaving TM, the organization or the technique, a "walk away" has not necessarily left the mentality or neuro-programming that occurred during the years (decades?) of TM involvement. The depth of involvement will determine the extent of needed recovery. Many seek other so-called spiritual teachers to provide direction. Many become cult-hoppers after learning of TM’s false promises, only to commit themselves to another leader.

Undoing the brainwash takes concerted effort. Other studies show between 18 months to three years to undo the effects for someone who obtains appropriate exit counseling or self education about thought reform.

For someone who does not invest in cult-recovery, the patterns may continue as a permanent part of their personality. (See
Rick Ross' website for his booklist- unfortunately, Rick is upgrading his website and it may not be currently accessible.)

If your TMer left the Movement and technique, but has not learned what happened to him and how his mind and behavior were controlled for decades, he will continue to function as if still from the TM trance-induced mentality, regardless of what other form of meditation he practices.

Physical neural dendrites (brain cell branches) were formed permanently in his brain. The physical pathways will remain always. Those physical structures will continue to govern his brain functioning until alternative pathways are grown in his brain. I kid you not!

Like learning to ride a bicycle, or perform complicated ice skating stunts, growing new dendritic pathways, takes determination and repetition. Eventually the new patterns will run automatically. There will be an occasional reversion to old patterns when confronted with an unexpected trigger. A person can learn to identify when they are triggered, and compensate accordingly.

With appropriate exit counseling, or motivated retraining, he may become more well-adjusted. However you cannot impose that upon him. It is his choice to become well or not. It is hard work. TM training biased him against therapy or any psychological literature. Many leave TM and continue to function as emotional/psychological cripples for years.

There is some evidence to support "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” as a helpful specialized therapy for former cultists attempting to retrain their brain.

Continuing with the cult-(non)functional member in your life is difficult. In my humble opinion, you took the only option that you could - you saved yourself and your sanity.

Your children will learn to function between you two. They deserve to love both their parents. They will have their own struggles with the situation.

Again, there are very few studies on children raised in cults, or by cult-affected parents. You may search the ICSA website for the few studies on the effects to children of dissociated parents.

I wish you well in your challenging path. Thank you, "X", for having the courage to voice what others experienced living with devout TMers, or with those who recently left TM after depths of involvement.

g

The Lucifer Effect

"The Lucifer Effect; Understanding How Good People Turn Evil" is a new book by Philip Zimbardo, Emeritus Professor Stanford University and past president of the American Psychological Association.

Click on the link below for an excerpt from the book's webpage:

Resisting Influence; Cults Want to Own Your Mind and Body

Admittedly, most TMers did not succumb to exteme devotion within TM-as-cult.

TM's influence spectrum is broad, fortunately!
(and Maharishi lacked a taste for sadistic violence... forgive my twisted humor)

Zimbardo's latest book examines extreme influence resulting in cruel acts by coerced individuals.
As with any research on negative outcomes, extreme examples are the most obviously identified.

Any of us within the TM organization witnessed good individuals who changed with time to become controlling, judgemental, or hateful to those who questioned regimentation or doctrine. We often giggled while avoiding the "program nazis."

We also know those who lost compassion, blaming others' hardships on deserved bad karma, or lack of purity.

And we know kind generous individuals, afraid to speak their minds lest they would be ostracized from "Program."

My dome badge was nearly revoked because I publicly maintained close friendships with those following another guru. The control mentality frightened me. At the time, stigma of being kicked out of the dome (even though I rarely participated) would have caused me to lose all that I loved - a disquieting proposition.

Those "badge snatchers" believed they were working for the higher good, the "purity of the teaching." We who coveted our badge's active status (even if we did not attend) likewise valued our membership in this noble group. The group psychology influenced us.

We also know individuals who 'willingly' relinquished careers, finances beyond their means, and neglected families to follow the "knowledge" for "support of Nature," "spreading the teachings" and "meditating for world peace."

Good hearted kind people lost the ability to successfully interact outside our protected cocoon.

Did a personality flaw predispose devotees' susceptibility to our "taste of Utopia"? I don't think so.

Is something inherently flawed with a person because their neurologic response to alcohol varies from that of their neighbor? No.

Despite critical comments to the contrary, we own our accountability for prior participation.
That is why we are here.

How about accountability for group leaders and sub-leaders who knowingly deceive?
What of those born or raised in such a group who lack skills for interaction and human connection outside?

Once again, Zimbardo succinctly explains dynamics of social psychology. I recommend the link, and entire website, to his lastest book as above.

g

Lifton's Criteria of Thought Reform Applied to TM. Part Eight of Eight

Lifton’s Criteria of Thought Reform - Part Eight
As applied to Transcendental Meditation
Gina Catena, M.S.

The final series installment.

You may begin and follow the series by clicking here.

Lifton's eighth criteria addresses "Dispensing of Existence."

DISPENSING OF EXISTENCE

“Since the group has an absolute or totalist vision of truth, those who are not in the group are bound up in evil, are not enlightened, are not saved, and do not have the right to exist. "Being verses nothingness"”(1)

Fully devout TMers call us (on this blog) demons, dull, sentenced to eternity in hell and worse. TM's devoted believe they have the true path to enlightenment, and others’ opinions are unworthy of consideration.

Those who have not learned TM are considered to live “lives of ignorance.” To have a life in ignorance is akin to a fate worse than death. Many TM devotees and youth, including myself decades ago, fear to live outside their global community’s protected shell. They cannot meaningfully connect with outsiders. Leaving the movement to live on the outside was one of the more difficult decisions and processes of my life. It took years to convince my then-husband to leave, and years to learn to function outside. Was it worth the effort? A rejoicing Yes!

Upon a recent visit to Fairfield, one TM friend said, “How do you make friends out there? I want to leave. We are dying here, but it takes a Sidha to know a Sidha.” Using TM’s loaded language, she stated that it takes another semi-enlightened being for her to form a friendship. She is unable to connect with non-TMers. She acknowledges her inability to relate outside of her cult mindset.

“One outside the group may always receive their right of existence by joining the group.”(2)

Once learning TM, according to the higher teachings, one’s “good karma outweighs his/her bad karma. A person has received the key to enlightenment,” or admission to the spiritually elite. Outsiders are actively recruited to join the elite group. Once initiated, a person is accepted as one-of-us. Thus, upon earning this point of entry, initiation, a person is instantly accepted as spiritually elite.

“Fear manipulation -- if one leaves this group, one leaves God or loses their transformation, for something bad will happen to them. The group is the "elite", outsiders are "of the world", “evil", "unenlightened", etc.”(3)

Leaving the TM group is not restricted to changing geographic locale. A person can leave the community, but continue in the mindset whether involved with a TM Center, or living quietly as a TM-yogi. However, to disavow the teachings is to choose a “life of ignorance.”

When still in the group, and group members moved away, we rarely thought about them. It was assumed they had chosen a less valuable life. We stayed in touch with an occasional friend, hoping for their eventual return. We were preoccupied with our TM-centered endeavors, building heaven-on-earth, our Taste of Utopia, or recruiting to Maharishi University. We were community-centric in our creativity, lifestyle and goals.

When I relocated away, it was with the implicit understanding that I would lose connection with loved ones in the community. Leaving was a painful decision, knowing that I chose a break with my history and all that I loved. Their quest for enlightenment defined my decision as a move to the-dark-side, to be “lost to the world of ignorance”.

Connections with loved ones inside the TM Movement were maintained only by my efforts. There was no effort on the part of those within the group to maintain connections with someone who left. Why should they? The lives of committed devotees are involved with something they deem more noble. That is how it goes.

TM Sidha communities busily build “Utopia” or “Maharishi’s Ideal Society,” just as Jonestown built “Paradise.” Fortunately, Maharishi lacks a taste for death. Our Fool-on-the-hill is smarter than Jones and built something of global mulitbillion-dollar proportions.

Most former TMers do not return. Their departure was prompted by awakening to TM’s underbelly. As Joseppi writes on his profile, he walked away and “until early in 2006, I never looked back.” Unlike converts who later leave, those raised in the group maintain connections, as the group is our family. If we speak our mind, our history will reject us. We keep dark secrets to protect our family and loved ones.

Upon several return visits to the community, many welcome me home with open arms. They encourage my family to return, touring us through new Vastu-Vedic buildings, crooning over Maharishi’s latest plans for global enlightenment. These developments come at high price. Further questioning reveals that many other now-grown youth left. Devotees whose children have relocated are saddened and do not understand why their adult children maintain distance.

Others will not converse with me, as if shunning. I believe that my presence, as having succeeded on the outside, threatens their paradigm. I should apologize for having a happy fulfilling life on the outside. I should have failed in the world’s ignorance.

Admitedly, it can be lonely out here, after leaving one's family of origin in cult mentality. After cult-life, nothing compares to the high of our connection and purpose.

Some folks return years after having left the community, because they struggled in the real world. Failure on the outside confirms, for True Believers, their spiritual safety net from demonic outside influences. They do not question if the TM mindset (programming) was so ingrained to interfere with outside social and professional relationships. The community jokingly refers to this latter-return phenomenon as “the rubber band effect.” This plays upon “The Maharishi Effect” wherein large groups of meditators support global peace and crime reduction.

One old friend, upon returning to Fairfield after a miserable twenty-year failed hiatus on the outside, said, “It is wonderful to be back in this pure atmosphere. I’ve returned to the womb!” He believes he returned to the spiritual source of creation. Or perhaps he returned to an emotional childhood, relinquishing himself to group directives.

Lifton’s seminal model of eight criteria of Thought Reform when taken together, create a powerful affect on the psychology and physical brain structures. Any one or two of the criteria can be identified with any group. But in combination, they form a strong group bond, difficult to combat within the psyche. Of course, there are degrees of indoctrination, just as there are degrees of alcohol use. It is important to be wary of the influence spectrum. When taken together, the dynamics can be hazardous.

“In combination, they create an atmosphere which may temporarily energize or exhilarate, but which at the same time pose a grave human threat.” (4)

There is a spectrum to be aware of. TM twice a day causes no harm to my knowledge. However, a full cult conversion is a risk for the vulnerable.

But by the grace of God, there go I.

1) Lifton, R. (1989) Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism. Chapel Hill. University of North Carolina Press.
2) ibid Lifton
3) ibid Lifton
4) ibid Lifton

Lifton's Criteria of Thought Reform applied to TM. Parts Six and Seven of Eight

by Gina Catena, M.S.

This is a continuation of an essay series. This blogpost addresses how Lifton's sixth and seventh criteria of thought reform apply to the Transcendental Mediation program.

You may begin Part One of this series by clicking here.


LOADING THE LANGUAGE

“The language of the totalist environment is characterized by the thought-terminating cliché (thought-stoppers) Repetitiously centered on all-encompassing jargon, The language of non-thought. Words are given new meanings -- the outside world does not use the words or phrases in the same way -- it becomes a "group" word or phrase.” (1)

Loaded language isolates a person from meaningful communication with others who do use words in the same way. The classic TM thought-stopping cliché is the attribution of any sadness or anxiety to “unstressing.” A person will discredit discomfort or doubts by believing they are “unstressing.”

Another thought stopping cliché is taught during the TM-checking procedure “if you experience any roughness, pay it no mind and gently return awareness to the mantra.” In that one sentence, TM teachings acknowledge that some individuals may experience anxiety or "roughness" in response to this meditation practice, and simultaneously denies the validity of inner conflict by directing a person to return to their hypnotic mantra-repitition. Many currently practicing TMers, and former TMers, say they automaticly return to the mantra, even involuntarily, during times of stress.

Other altered terms are common to TM-speak such as gaining "Spontaneous Support of the Laws of Nature" when things fall into place in one's life solely because they meditate. “Bliss” refers to experiencing the “transcendent” or the source of all thought within ourselves. The physics term “Unified Field” refers alternately to “transcendental consciousness,” “God,” “Being,” or “the Absolute.” “Ignorance” refers to that state of not having learned TM, such as that of any outsider. "Group concsiousness" or "coherence" refers to the power of the group process. More specific Vedic-derived terms apply to minutiae of lifestyle guidelines for diet, dress, architecture, food supplements, music, astrology and gemstone therapies.

Upon leaving the TM community, I struggled to integrate into my present community (family suburbia). It was difficult to eliminate the loaded language from my thoughts and speech. It was more difficult to extricate TM’s loaded language from my thought processes, than it was to learn two foreign languages. Others raised in the TM movement, but younger than me in age, verify the same experience.

One young woman said, "those thoughts and directions keep coming in my head. They get in the way of everything. It's hard to shake off those inner life cliche's and focus on tasks in front of me. Some things are good, but others just prevent me from thinking properly. And that mantra! It still keeps coming in my head. What the f**k is THAT about? I just want it to go away!"

DOCTRINE OVER PERSON

“Every issue in one's life can be reduced to a single set of principles.” (2)

When in the TM mindset, The Science of Creative Intelligence (SCI) and Maharishi Ayur-Ved are the only accepted sources of truth and life principles. Maharishi taught us the 33 lesson course of SCI encompasses all the "Laws of Nature."

“If one questions the beliefs of the group or the leaders of the group, one is made to feel that there is something inherently wrong with them to even question -- it is always "turned around" on them and the questioner/criticizer is questioned rather than the questions answered directly. The underlying assumption is that doctrine/ideology is ultimately more valid, true and real than any aspect of actual human character or human experience and one must subject one's experience to that "truth."(3)

To be truly on the TM path to enlightenment, there is limited acceptable variation of individual thought or expression. Maharishi taught us that doubting (him) could jeopardize our chances to enlightenment. He threatened with, “If you doubt, the doubt will manifest. Never doubt.” We were afraid to question.

The experience of contradiction can be immediately associated with guilt. One is made to feel that doubts are reflections of one's own evil. When doubt arises, conflicts become intense.” (4)

Many who leave the TM organization do not tell old friends, or family members, of their decsions to live outside the TM paradigm after moving away. Current True Believers (TBs) attempt to reconvert us back to TM. The thoughtful person who left the TM program, is deemed misguided at best, and evil at worst. (I am officially a lost cause now!)

Speaking against the TM organization risks losing our loved ones, and being ostracized for ever. Prior posts on this blog, and some comments, express the knee-jerk defensive response that many devout TMers have to our online discussion and analysis. It is sad to read vehement attacks on us here and elsewhere on the internet, in defense of threatened ingrained beliefs. We once also believed that those who spoke against TM were "lost in ignorance," or erroneously directing their "unstressing." We thought, "If only they would meditate again, their anxiety would leave and they would see the light again."

“The pattern of doctrine over person occurs when there is a conflict between what one feels oneself experiencing and what the doctrine or ideology says one should experience.” (5)

Inner conflict between doctrine and personal thinking, as described by Lifton, may be the cause of TM-related psychosis and suicides. Since most of those who committed suicide did not leave notes behind, we cannot know with certainty.

When inner thoughts conflict with the deemed-to-be-ultimate-truth, one’s community, and everything one loves, an existential crises may ensue. The TM solution to this “experience of intense unstressing” would be to return to meditate and calm oneself. This silences disquieting thoughts by returning to transcendence, or a self induced inner trance.

“Witnessing” in TM refers to the state of observing oneself as if an outsider, ostensibly because one is grounded in the “Absolute” (God) and experiences even their own existence as cosmically inconsequential. The doctrine and inner experience is more important than any individual. The ultimate goal of TM's "transcendence" is "Cosmic Consciousness."

TM teaches that in Cosmic Consciouisness (CC), one observes even themselves as if from the outside, twenty-four hours per day. This constant separation of self is the goal. The individuality leaves and all creation is ultimately connected as one in the highest state of Unity Consciousness (UC). In UC the ultimate dimunition of personhood would be exalted, as individual personhood disappears. Unity Consciousness is the extreme valuation of "doctrine over person," since personal idenity ceases.


The final segment may be read by clicking here.

1) Lifton, R. (1989) Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism. Chapel Hill. University of North Carolina Press.
2) ibid Lifton
3) ibid Lifton
4) ibid Lifton
5) ibid Lifton

Lifton's Thought Reform Criteria Applied to TM. Parts Four and Five of Eight.

You may begin Part One of this series by clicking here.

CONFESSION

"Cultic confession is carried beyond its ordinary religious, legal and therapeutic expressions to the point of becoming a cult in itself." (1)

Forced confessions are used by a variety of cultic groups, especially in closed Large Group Awareness Trainings (LGATs) or cult-like all night Bible revivals. TM does not agressively employ this method of thought reform (we got a break on this one!)
TM employs this tactic on applications for advanced courses, and for publicly "sharing of experiences" with Maharishi.

On applications for advanced courses, an applicant must essentially prove emotional stability by stating that he or she never had need for therapy or other forms of external support outside of the TM Organization. It is also important to state that one does not abuse drugs or alcohol. The nature of the application, and desireabilty of acceptance to advanced courses, often encourgae a person to lie about external associations. Applicants often lie, denying marital counseling or other involvements. On the other hand, I know of many individuals who avoided seeking help because they feared being ostracized from advanced programs.

Cult-like public confessionals are "an act of symbolic self-surrender. Making it virtually impossible to attain a reasonable balance between worth and humility." (2)

TM confessionals exist in “sharing of experiences” when meditators come forth to share spiritual visions such as, “golden soma dripping down my scalp,” or “past life visions of torturing others during the inquisition, and now burning off such karma through prolonged meditations,” or "envisioning the mantra as the guide leading me through the portal to pure Absolute bliss." These are actual confessionals that I heard from others. The more "flashy" one's experience, especially if it involved visitation by Hindu dieties or karmic connections to past lives, the greater Maharishi praised the confessor.

However, TM teachings deny validity of psychotherapy. Confessing one's inner insecurities and goals comes close to true therapy and is thus officially avoided with TM.

Maharishi teaches that, “therapy merely stirs up the mud in one’s consciousness. For true help one must transcend to the deep Absolute pure bliss of one’s awareness. Through repeated exposure to the transcendent layer of life, the transcendent will gradually permeate all levels of one’s awareness. In this way the mud, or stress, of one’s life is washed away. Therapy works only on the surface level of life and is of no use.”

If someone received effective therapy, he or she might decide to leave the TM organization!

With experience confessionals, an unstated spiritual hierarchy is created amongst participants, "The more I accuse myself, the more I have a right to judge you" (3). This encourages those with flashy experiences to feel superior to those who do not speak of such inner glamor.

One former TM-teacher, "Governor" said, "I think there was a kind of informal confessional -- or at least I thought there was when I wrote my Lifton paper for Jajna. On staff, there was a kind of competition to claim the most fucked-up award for our pre-TM days. I used to do so much acid, my first marriage was a nightmare before TM, etc., etc. It wasn't ritualized with speeches from the dais, but it was a kind of bonding-confession."

SACRED SCIENCE

“The totalist milieu maintains an aura of sacredness around its basic doctrine or ideology, holding it as an ultimate moral vision for the ordering of human existence. Questioning or criticizing those basic assumptions is prohibited. A reverence is demanded … Offers considerable security to young people because it greatly simplifies the world and answers a contemporary need to combine a sacred set of dogmatic principles with a claim to a science embodying the truth about human behavior and human psychology.” (4)

Maharishi’s Science of Creative IntelligenceTM, the Holy Tradition of Spiritual Masters, the copyrighted ancient Ayur Vedic methods are deemed infallible sources of truth. Questioning the veracity of these myths is akin to blasphemy for a devoted TMer.

Maharishi began to use Wallace and Benson's studies of brainwave during TM as the basis of a 'scientific verification' for the effficacy of Transendental Meditation. Benson later proved identical results found with practitioners of traditional forms of Buddhist and Judeo-Christian meditation. The sacredness of TM research however continues.

Larry Domash, PhD, Deepak Chopra, MD, John Hagelin, PhD and other educated devotees continue to apply scientific terminology to the esoteric teachings of TM, to marketing their beliefs. Stress researchers receive funding for research on TM, when in fact other methods would prove as beneficial, as Benson demonstrated.

For those not versed in true science, this blur of science and esoterica creates a belief system based upon distorted science, thus Lifton's "sacred science."

This post is dedicated to Joel, Angel, Debbie, Rudy, Deja, Debby, Noel, Angelica, Harry, Brendon, Shuvender, Jennifer, Nikky, Gena, Caroline, Jenny and others whose reality was shaken to this core during involvement with TM's sacred science and twisted psychology.


The next installment of this series, parts Six and Seven, may be viewed here.

1. Lifton, R. (1989) Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism. Chapel Hill. University of North Carolina Press.
2. ibid Lifton
3. ibid Lifton
4. ibid Lifton