http://tmfree.blogspot.com/
Posted by John M. Knapp, LMSW at 9/04/2008 02:19:00 PM
Some weeks ago, I corresponded with a TM Org employee from India. He
made some startling allegations about the late Maharishi's pandit and
yagya programs that I quote below.
For those unfamiliar with pandits and yagyas, a pandit is a high-caste
Brahmin who chants Hindu Vedas and mantras and may perform various
religious rituals. Yagyas are religious rituals performed for a
specific effect, such as to promote business success. Although
Transcendental Meditation claims not to be a religion, for the past 20
years they have charged TMers high fees to have these Hindu rituals
performed in their names. (More detail below.)
A word of caution: I have tried to confirm the employee's charges
through other parties. But as is so often the case with
whistleblowers, it appears that it is very difficult to find others
willing to talk about his charges. So his story remains unconfirmed —
yet quite disturbing. (He has requested anonymity.)
I shall be happy to honestly tell you the truth about movement without
any motivation whatsoever. I am no more with the movement so there is
no moral dilemma to keep quiet about the wrong doings. I am a free
person so I can speak my mind.....
I joined Movement in 1995 to become a translator for jyotishies. I
studied jyotish and some tricks to do my work efficiently. We were
encouraged to be regular practitioner of TM and sidhi. We learned it
for almost free. Our pay in India was linked to the meditation hall
sittings. If we were unable to attend one sitting we had lo lose the
pay for that sitting. There were exceptions to the rule too.
Br[amhachari] Nandakishore was controlling all happenings of Jyotish
and yagya programme then. Their sole aim was to get as much yagya
business as possible as it is high margin business for them. They
never gave importance to good professionals. They also got yagya
Pandits in a very unhealthy living environment so they never bothered
to do their work sincerely. It is still the case. You would be shocked
to know that at times there were uprising and I know a few Pandits got
killed. They have local police in their side as regular payments are
made to them. Almost all political parties get donation from movement
so they never got into any big trouble. There were a lot of politics
to decide who goes to what country as far as we professionals are
concerned. I can say for sure there is still nobody in the Indian
Movement who really cares about the sincere execution of the various
programs. All are looking for opportunities to make money. This is the
case today too with international. I know many of the movement people,
who are working against the interest of Movement from inside. Some are
using their official position and official email address to extract
business for their confidants outside the Movement.
I wrote back asking for more detail.
The Pandit killing happened at Karondi ashram in Madhya Pradesh. It
happened in 2001 or 2002. I was at Vlodrop then. It was an uprising
and probably stress of some Pandits. Some Pandits killed a Pandit for
some heated exchange. I think it was not intentional. It did not make
any well known paper. Movement is good at suppressing such events.
Most of the Pandits are from very poor family so movement never faced
any challenge from any of the Pandit family.
Re tricks, they are normal instructions like recommend yagyas as per
the financial situation of a client and his desperation. Always try to
keep the client happy by telling him/her what he/she likes to listen.
Promote other movement programs through consultations and lectures.
Never contradict a fellow jyotish.
Re yagya I am not surprised. I worked for the department for 8 years.
I know clients pay high. Some pay millions of $. Yagya performance is
a Vedic procedure. Sometimes it is chanting of a specific mantra and
sometimes it is repetition of a mantra in the mind by the Pandits. For
some performances there is a fire ceremony in the end. It is a genuine
good technique if done sincerely with devotion. For different purposes
different deities are invoked. Ganesh is invoked to keep obstacles
away and knowledge. Mahalaxmi for wealth, success in business. Vishnu
for enlightenment, evolution etc. Shiva for health, enlightenment etc.
For love Mother divine (Durga). Actually it is a big list and it
depends upon the jyotish chart of the person. For planets there is
specific mantra. Usually 11 Pandits form a group to do a yagya. For
bigger yagyas more Pandits are used. All Pandits get money in the end,
which is called daxina.
No I have no contact with any movement leaders including Br
Nandakishore. I am too small a person to have contact with a leader
figure.
I know some Movement Governors from Australia, Uzbekistan, Russia,
Italy, Germany, France, USA some of them are running TM centers,
Ayurveda clinic, Vastu related business, some are leaders of their
country are having yagya performances done by ex TM joyotish people
and also encourage their students to have yagya performance because
they are beneficiary (financially like earning a commission or free
yagya for themselves).
I am no more with Movement so I do not know exactly under what program
the Pandits are going. Usually they sign a contract to stay for 2
years or something like that. They promise to live a tailor made life
style. They are paid in India. In USA too they sign some agreements
without properly understanding what they are signing. Defection is
always a problem. I know a few jyotish and translators defected but
movement did not take any action. Probably they were not in a position
to do so.
My conversation with this former TM employee are ongoing. I will
continue to share his allegations as I learn them.