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Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

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Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
OccupationTranscendental Meditation

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (b. Mahesh Prasad Varma on January 12, 1917) is the founder of Transcendental Meditation and the Transcendental Meditation Movement. Maharishi states that his teachings are based on the principles espoused by the Adi Shankara (c. 788-820 AD)[1], and taught by his own master, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati. His meditation techniques have been taught to millions[2][need quotation to verify] of people around the world.

Biography

Early life

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was born on January 12, 1917 [3] to a Hindu family living in the small village of Chichli, Madhya Pradesh, India. His name at birth was Mahesh Prasad Varma. He earned the equivalent of a master's degree in physics at Allahabad University, graduating in 1940.

After completing his studies, he became a disciple and secretary to the Hindu Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, who gave him the name Bal Brahmacharya Mahesh, from 1941 to 1953. He then practiced meditation in retreat for long periods during the year or so that he stayed near Uttarkashi in the Himalayan foothills.

In 1955, he assumed the title "Maharishi" (Great Sage or Great Seer) and began publicly teaching what he states is a traditional meditation technique which he later renamed Transcendental Meditation. In 1957 he founded The Spiritual Regeneration Movement in India, the first of his many organizations that are informally referred to as the TM Movement, and began the first of many tours to bring Transcendental Meditation and related programs around the world. Maharishi has said that Transcendental Meditation unfolds the sequentially developing experience of finer and finer levels of consciousness, until the whole depth of the ocean of consciousness, Atma, is fathomed, and Ayam Atma Brahm—the Self is brought to memory and realized as Brahm—Totality, the Light of God. "The whole field of knowledge is for everyone. Great glory to the Tradition of my Master who has inspired me to look into it, and put it in simple words for the people to gain the benefit of it." —Maharishi

File:Maharishi Mahesh Yogi 2.jpg
Maharishi on the front cover of Time Magazine on October 13, 1975

The Transcendental Meditation Movement

According to the group's website, Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation program has been taught worldwide to over 5 million people [4]. The number of TM teachers trained to teach meditation since the beginning of the movement is reported to be in the tens of thousands[citation needed], of those, the number who continue to practice and teach meditation today may still be more than a thousand[citation needed]. Over its fifty-year history the TM Movement has gone through many phases of reorganization.

The TM movement maintains a number of websites. Their Maharishi Open University website provides basic information for the general public and broadcasts Maharishi's weekly webcast press-conferences via satellite [5]. Information is also available on what he has named "Consciousness Based Education" [6], the Maharishi University of Management, the American K-12 school, Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment [7], and what is claimed to be the largest chain of privately owned schools in India, Maharishi Vidya Mandir [8].

During the 1960s and early 1970s the TM Movement became seen as part of the then current "counter-culture" phenomenon, at which time a number of celebrities learned TM. Celebrity students at that time included The Beatles, the Beach Boys (including singer Mike Love [9] who became a TM teacher) and singer-songwriter Donovan, who befriended Maharishi and put his picture on the back cover of his A Gift from a Flower to a Garden album. Comedian Andy Kaufman and magician Doug Henning were also students of Maharishi, while Clint Eastwood [10] and David Lynch are two notable directors who have practiced TM. Lynch is currently involved in an effort to raise $7 billion to teach TM to all students in the USA, via his David Lynch Foundation. [11]

Today

After the September 11, 2001 attacks Maharishi started issuing cautions, in weekly satellite press-conference and webcasts, about the prevailing directions of societal change in the world. As a solution to current world problems he proposed creating large permanent groups of TM-Sidhi practitioners performing their programs to create the claimed Maharishi Effect.

In February 2007 Maharishi initiated a 6-point program to create an invincible defense for every nation:

  1. Vedic Defence - creating an influence of positivity and coherence in collective consciousness through practice of Yogic Flying in large groups [12]
  2. City and country planning in accord with the principles of Vedic Architecture
  3. Establishment of Vedic Medical Colleges to produce healthy medicines
  4. Establishment of Consciousness-based education
  5. Production of Vedic Organic Agriculture
  6. Elmination of poverty through the support of adequate wages, housing, and education for those living in scarcity and suffering [13]

Explaining his theory of invincible defense, Maharishi said: "It is a great joy to inaugurate this field of knowledge which will purify this generation and will always give rise to enlightened generations. Peace will be everywhere; prosperity will be everywhere; real pursuit to God-realization will be everywhere, and the Light of God will shine in every man—the Light of God will shine everywhere."

Transcendental Meditation

Main article: Transcendental Meditation

Practicing Transcendental Meditation involves the use of a mantra, or sound, and the proper technique of how to use it. Some TM practitioners report that during the practice their mind becomes very alert but their body receives deep rest, and these effects continue afterward. Maharishi calls this state "Transcendental Consciousness" or restful alertness. He says that mantras come from the age-old Vedic tradition[14], and are just sounds designed as vehicles for the mind to settle down to the quieter states of awareness at its finer levels. The practice is done for 20 minutes, twice a day, while sitting in a relaxed but upright posture with eyes closed. Certain studies have shown that TM and other meditation techniques can lower blood pressure, heart rate, and other physiological measures.(Psychosomatic Medicine 46: 267–276, 1984; American Psychologist 42: 879–881, 1987; Hypertension 26: 820–827, 1995; Journal of Human Stress 5: 24-27, 1979.)

How Maharishi and the TM organization view his role

In the introduction to the 1955 book the Beacon Light of the Himalayas, Maharishi makes the following offer to humanity: "Oh ye of the peaceless and suffering humanity! My happiness desires to root out your suffering. Will you extend your arm and allow me to lift you up from the mire of misery and peacelessness?" [15]

TM literature states "Maharishi in the world today is a Cosmic figure, caring for the well-being of all mankind.... a quiet guardian of all nations." (Maharishi's Absoute Theory of Government 555-556). Another TM publication says that his achievements are "unequaled today or at any time in recorded history." (Maharishi Vedic University 255).

In 1959 Maharishi stated that he would "Fill the Earth with love and create Heaven on Earth." [16]

The Beatles

In 1967 the popular British rock group The Beatles learned Transcendental Meditation, and in early 1968 for varying lengths of time attended a Transcendental Meditation teacher training course in Rishikesh, India, under Maharishi’s supervision. They left the course before the end for various reasons, with much media attention given to John Lennon’s statement that he left because he came to believe rumors that Maharishi had made sexual advances toward a young woman.[17] [18] [19] Paul McCartney and George Harrison disputed the rumors in subsequent interviews.[20] Also rumored was an incident related to actress Mia Farrow, who was on the course, but her autobiography is ambiguous about the incident.[21]

According to several authors (Brown and Gaines, 1983; Miles, 1998; Spitz, 2006; Cynthia Lennon, 1978), Alexis Mardas, who was characterized by Guardian Unlimited as being a "total fraud"[1], deliberately engineered these rumors in a devious way, because he was bent on undermining the Maharishi's influence on the Beatles. The following statement made by George Harrison is supported by comments made by Sir Paul McCartney in his approved biography (Miles, 1998).

Someone started the nasty rumour about Maharishi, a rumour that swept the media for years. There were many stories about how Maharishi was not on the level or whatever, but that was just jealousy about Maharishi. We'd need analysts to get into it. I don't know what goes through these people's minds, but this whole piece was invented. . . . The story was put around about our leaving and, of course, the newspapers jumped on that. As it says in The Rules, 'The press got hold of the wrong end of the stick and started beating about the bush with it.' Now, historically, there's the story that something went on that shouldn't have done—but nothing did.

—George Harrison, [22]

Books

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is credited as the author of more than 16 books.

  • ISBN 8175230150 Celebrating Perfection in Administration
  • ISBN 8175230134 Celebrating Perfection in Education: Dawn of Total Knowledge
  • ISBN 8175230045 Constitution of India Fulfilled through Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation
  • ISBN 9991160892 Enlightenment and Invincibility
  • ISBN 9080600512 Ideal India-the Lighthouse of Peace on Earth
  • ISBN 8175230061 Inaugurating Maharishi Vedic University
  • ISBN 8175230037 Maharishi Forum of Natural Law and National Law for Doctors - Perfect Health for Everyone
  • ISBN 0140192476 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad-Gita: A New Translation and Commentary, Chapters 1-6
  • ISBN 8175230088 Maharishi Speaks to Educators - Mastery Over Natural Law
  • ISBN 8175230126 Maharishi Speaks to Students - Mastery Over Natural Law
  • ISBN 8175230010 Maharishi University of Management - Wholeness on the Move
  • ISBN 9071750175 Maharishi Vedic University - Introduction
  • ISBN 8175230002 Maharishi's Absolute Theory of Defence - Sovereignty in Invincibility
  • ISBN 8175230029 Maharishi's Absolute Theory of Government-Automation in Administration
  • ISBN 0452282667 Science of Being and Art of Living: Transcendental Meditation

See also

References

  1. ^ Tapasyananda, Swami (2002). Sankara-Dig-Vijaya. pp. xv–xxiv. gives this date. However there have been other dates proposed also. See above
  2. ^ Bhagavad-Gita, Ch. 1-6, in the Light of Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation, Scientific Research Results, p. 298
  3. ^ "Religious Movements Homepage: Transcendental Meditation". Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  4. ^ "Maharishi's Message to America — Life is Bliss through Transcendental Meditation". Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  5. ^ "Maharishi Open University". Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  6. ^ "Consciousness-Based Education Association". Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  7. ^ "Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  8. ^ "Maharishi Vidya Mandir".
  9. ^ Lovett, Michael (May 25, 2006). "The Beach Boys' Mike Love: From 'Good Vibrations' to transcendental meditation". Retrieved 2007-03-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ Sullivan, Robert. "TLGolf.com: Clint Eastwood Profile". TLGolf. Retrieved 2007-03-17. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ "Transcendental Meditation : Education : David Lynch Foundation". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  12. ^ "Invincible Defence". Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  13. ^ "Global Financial Capital of New York". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  14. ^ Human Physiology - Expression of Veda and the Vedic Literature, p. 472
  15. ^ "'Beacon Light of the Himalayas' Kerala, October 1955- www.paulmason.info". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  16. ^ "Creating Heaven on Earth: A Transcendental Meditation (TM) portal for teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  17. ^ Miles, Barry (1998) Many Years From Now pp.397, Vintage-Random House. ISBN 0-7493-8658-4.
  18. ^ "Beatles in Rishikesh - Additional Stories, The Beatles, The Maharishi, Sex & Money". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  19. ^ Kent, Stephen A. From slogans to mantras: social protest and religious conversion in the late Vietnam war era, Syracuse University press, 2001, ISBN 0-8156-2948-6 page 19-20
  20. ^ The Beatles Anthology, Chronicle Books, 2000, pp. 285-86
  21. ^ Mia Farrow, What Falls Away Doubleday, 1997, pp. 140-141
  22. ^ The Beatles Anthology, Chronicle Books, 2000, pp. 285-86
  • Deans, Ashley, PhD (2005) A Record of Excellence: The Remarkable Success of Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment
  • Miles, Barry (1998) Paul McCartney : Many Years from Now, ISBN 0-7493-8658-4
  • Spitz, Bob (2006) The Beatles -- The Biography, Aurum Press, ISBN 1-84513-160-6
  • Lennon, Cynthia (1978) A Twist of Lennon, W. H. Allen, ISBN 0-352-30196-1
  • Mason, Paul (1994, revised 2005), The Maharishi -- The Biography of the Man Who Gave Transcendental Meditation to the World
  • Farrow, Mia (1997) What Falls Away
  • Wynn, Ned (1993), We Will Always Live in Beverly Hills; Random House Value Publishing, ISBN 0-517-10885-2
Official TM sites
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