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by Don Krieger, former Executive Governor & TM Teacher
The TM technique is simple mental repetition of a
"mantra" or word. The TM movement claims that only
specific "words" can be used. They claim that the selection of
words is based upon a secret formula. Court documents have shed some
light on this "secret" process. It is nothing other than a set
of words given out by age, and/or age and sex, depending on the teacher
training course the TM teacher attended. Here are the mantras from a
1978 course.
Age Mantra Age Mantra Age Mantra Age Mantra
10-12 'ENG 18-20 'AENG 26-30 `SHIRING 45-50 ~KIRING
12-14 'EM 20-22 'AEM 30-35 `SHIRIM 50-55 ~KIRIM
14-16 'ENGA 22-24 'AENGA 35-40 ^HIRING 55-60 "SHYAM
16-18 'EMA 24-26 'AEMA 40-45 ^HIRIM 60 + "SHYAMA
Notes: "Age" is that of the initiate at the time of
learning the technique. The symbol preceding each mantra indicates the
meaning: '=Saraswati, devi of learning, music, speech; `=Lakshmi, devi of
wealth; ^=Bhuvanesvari; ~=Devi Kalika; "=Shiva.
The Maharishi himself, in a quote from the Beacon Light of the
Himalayas, admits that the mantras he dispenses invoke householder
gods: "For our practice, we select only the suitable mantras of
personal Gods. Such mantras fetch to us the grace of personal Gods and
make us happier in every walk of life." (Beacon Light of the
Himalayas, Maharishi [Bala Brahmachari] Mahesh Yogi [Maharaj], 1955,
p. 65.)
Is TM a religion? MALNAK v. YOGI, APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY, (D.C. Civil Action
No. 76-0341) -- found that the TM technique, Science of Creative
Intelligence, and the TM puja are religious and are to be excluded from
being taught in New Jersey public schools. "The teaching of SCI/TM
and the Puja are religious in nature, no other inference is permissible
or reasonable...." This decision was subsequently upheld: MALNAK v.
YOGI, Nos. 78-1568, 78-1882, UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD
CIRCUIT, 592 F.2d 197, December 11, 1978, Argued, February 2, 1979,
Decided. "We agree with the district court's finding that the
SCI/TM course was religious in nature. Careful examination of the
textbook, the expert testimony elicited, and the uncontested facts
concerning the puja convince us that religious activity was
involved...."
Is TM harmless? Numerous negative psychological side effects
have been reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals including
partially impaired mental faculties, loss of self-determination and
motivation, derealization and depersonalization, "ego-alien"
and epileptic-like experiences, aggravation of preexisting mental
illness, and the onset of mental illness.
Below are some suggested questions to ask the
lecturer. Don't accept vague generalities, attempts to change the
subject, or evasive remarks. And don't be in a rush. A TM teacher will
know the answers to all these questions. If he/ she doesn't know the
answers, ask that they get them and you will call for them:
- How long have you been involved? Are you enlightened? Why not?
- Is TM a religion?
- Is TM harmless, i.e. without negative side effects? Have you ever felt
spaced out, had strong emotions, had physical movements, or had headaches
as a
result of TM?
- Is TM a life style? What were you doing before you started TM? What
do you
do now?
- What are the names of the other organizations that are affiliated
with TM?
- Is TM considered to be controversial by anyone? If people are
critical of
TM, what are their main objections?
- What are Maharishi's background and qualifications? What don't you like
about him or the group?
Want more Information?
Meditation Information Network - http://minet.org/, TranceNet - http://www.trancenet.net.
Below is a translation of the ceremony of
thanksgiving in which you will participate when you start TM.
You will be required to bring fruit, flowers, and a new white
handkerchief to be used in the ceremony. You will be required to remove
your shoes before entering the initiation room. After the ceremony is
performed, you will be invited to kneel to the picture of the Maharishi's
dead master:
- Whether pure or impure, whether all places are permeated by purity or
impurity, Whoever opens himself to the expanded vision of unbounded awareness
gains inner and outer purity.
- Invocation: To Lord Narayana, to lotus-born Brahma the Creator, to
Vasishtha,
to SHAKTI and his son, Parashara, to Vyasa, to Shukadeva, to the great
Gauda-Pada, to Govinda, ruler among yogis, from him to his disciple, Shri
Shankaracharya, from him to his disciples, Padma Pada and Hastamalaka, to
him, Trotakacharya and Vartika-Kara, to others, to the eternal tradition
of our abode of the wisdom of the Shrutis, Smritis and Purana, to the
abode of compassion, to the personified glory of the Lord, to Shankara,
emancipator of the world, I bow down.
- To Shankaracharya, the Emancipator, adored as Krishna and Badarayana,
to the
two authors of the commentary on the Brahma Sutras, I bow down To both
expressions of the Divine, in Shankara, I bow down again and again.
- At whose door the whole galaxy of gods pray for perfection day and
night, Adorned with immeasurable glory, preceptor of the whole world,
having bowed to Him we gain complete fulfillment. Skilled in dispelling
the cloud of ignorance of the people, the bestower of happiness, the
glorious emancipator, Brahmananda Sarasvati, full of
brilliance, Him I bring to my awareness.
- Offering the invocation to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering a seat to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering a ablution to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering cloth to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering sandalpaste to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering full rice to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering a flower to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering incense to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering light to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering water to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering fruit to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering water to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering a betel leaf to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering a coconut to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down
- Offering camphor light.
- White as camphor, the incarnation of kindness, the essence of creation
garlanded by the Serpent-King. Ever dwelling in the lotus of my heart, Lord
Shiva with Mother Divine to Him I bow down.
- Offering light to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering water to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- Offering a handful of flowers.
- Guru Dev is the glory of Brahma the Creator, Lord Vishnu the
Maintainer, and
the great Lord Shiva. Guru is the glory of the Supreme Transcendent
personified,
to Him, to the glory of Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- The Unbounded, like the endless canopy of the sky, the omnipresent in
all creation, the sign of That has been revealed, to Him, to Shri Guru
Dev, I bow down.
- Guru Dev, Shri Brahmananda, Guru Dev, in the glory of the bliss of the
Absolute, in the glory of transcendental joy, in the glory of Unity, the very
embodiment of knowledge, who is beyond the universe like the sky, as the
goal of
"that thou art" and other (Shrutis which grant eternal unity of life).
- The One, the Eternal, the Pure, the Immovable, the Witness of all
intellects,
whose status transcends thought -- the Transcendent along with the three
gunas,
the true preceptor, to Shri Guru Dev, I bow down.
- The blinding darkness of ignorance has been removed by the
application of the
ointment of knowledge, the eye of knowledge has been opened by Him,
therefore to
Him, to Shri Guru Dev, bow down.
- Offering a handful of flowers to the lotus feet of Shri Guru Dev, I
bow down.
A TranceNet Publication - http://www.trancenet.net (C) 1996, 1997
trancenet.net. Permission automatically given to reprint for any
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