Write a letter like this:
310 Nova Albion Way
San Rafael, CA 94903
cc. San Rafael City School Board members
Marin Independent Journal
16 October, 2006
Carole Ramsey, principal of Terra Linda High School (TLHS), deserves
acknowledgement for her efforts to improve student life, reduce
stress and increase academic success at TLHS through the David Lynch
Foundation grant for Transcendental Meditation (TM).
Given my family history, it was surprising to see two consecutive
Marin Independent Journal cover stories about Transcendental
Meditation’s introduction to Terra Linda High School.
As a TLHS parent, and someone whose life has been profoundly affected
by TM, I am uniquely qualified to express concerns about this program
presented to our community. The TM presentation on October 12 at TLHS
was sophisticated and convincing. However, the presenters did not
provide full disclosure of the TM program. Repeatedly, they insisted
that TM is not a religion. They skillfully dodged specific questions
regarding TM instruction, methods and follow up. In the interest of
full disclosure of the TM program for TLHS, I offer the following.
I speak from forty years and three generations’ of family involved
with TM. The Spiritual Regeneration Movement (SRM) is the founding
organization to promote TM in the western hemisphere. The TM program
promoted to TLHS is presented as non-religious. I beg to differ. TM
as originally taught by SRM is identical to that offered through the
David Lynch Foundation.
The Transcendental Meditation community of Fairfield, Iowa is as-if
my extended family. I harbor no ill will toward individuals in the TM
Movement; in fact I love many of them. To this day, some graduates of
MSAE request my guidance as they strive to function in the real
world, outside of their protected meditation society. Their
intentions are noble, as are those of any True Believer.
However, I believe full disclosure is mandatory for programs promoted
in our public schools.
Scientific documentation of medical benefits from deep rest grew in
the seventies. Between 1970-1972 Robert Keith Wallace, PhD and
Herbert Benson, M.D. published landmark scientific studies on the
benefits of Transcendental Meditation. Benson subsequently separated
from Wallace. Benson documented identical benefits experienced
through traditional forms of Christian and Jewish prayer. Benson
published his “Relaxation Response” method of stress reduction
without the mysticism associated with TM. Short structured rest
periods provide health benefits!
Evidence suggests that TM may be more than a catnap. Research
indicates that TM may trigger a shift in one's psychological and
physiological states. Like a prescription medication, this might be
beneficial for the right person in the right dosage. Others
experience negative results such as anxiety or nervous ‘ticks’. There
have been suicides. There was a recent murder on the MUM campus.
TM instructors do not screen individuals prior to instruction. TM is
presented as the magic bullet to solve all ills for all people.
I understand the good intentions of TM presenters, as well as the
scripted timing of their unveiling of information. They knowingly
mislead by omission of information. I know this because in the
1970’s, I helped introduce Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation and
Science of Creative Intelligence to two schools. We succeeded
introducing the program into Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta,
California in 1972 or 1973. Their school district later terminated
the program.
The TM program experienced exponential growth in the 1960s and 1970s
through targeting vulnerable college students with the Students
International Meditation Society (SIMS). Most of those early
meditators left the organization. TM’s resurgence again targets
vulnerable youth, through university and high school campuses. Of the
many who begin TM, a few may adopt the full lifestyle.
At October 12th’s presentation, Ramsey repeatedly referred to the
“trained TM instructors” who would instruct our youth in TM.
Formally, TM instructors are known as Initiators or Governors of the
Age of Enlightenment because, according to Maharishi, “they govern in
the realm of consciousness.”
When learning TM through their seven-step procedure, the new Initiate
will bring an offering of fruit, a white handkerchief and flowers for
step #4, a private Initiation ceremony. The Initiator will perform a
puja ceremony in front of an altar to Guru Dev, Maharishi’s spiritual
master (picture attached). The Sanskrit puja offers obeisance to Guru
Dev, Hindu deities, and a lineage called the Holy Tradition of
Spiritual Masters from whence this teaching descended. According to
TM teachings, the Initiator is the living embodiment of this ancient
spiritual lineage.
What secular stress reduction technique has a Holy Tradition? For
this reason, in 1979 the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that
Transcendental Meditation and the Science of Creative Intelligence
are too religious to be taught in the New Jersey public schools,
partially because of the puja ceremony required for TM instruction.
During the puja ceremony, the new initiate will hold one flower,
quietly observing the Initiator perform the puja ceremony with
burning camphor and incense, culminating with a bow to Guru Dev’s
altar. With a gentle wave of one arm, the Initiator will invite the
new initiate to likewise bow down to Guru Dev.
The new initiate will receive a secret mantra. The mantra is derived
from the name of a Hindu deity. This word is never again to be
repeated aloud by the meditator. Some common mantras are: Enga, Ema,
Ainga, Shiring, Kirim, Sham. There are others.
During the subsequent three meetings to elaborate upon the TM
practice, new initiates will meditate together. In a relaxed semi-
trance state, the brain readily absorbs information. The TM teachers
will explain Cosmic Consciousness, God Consciousness and Unity
Consciousness as evolutionary states of consciousness that can be
achieved after long-term practice of TM. The Science of Creative
Intelligence and TM-Sidhi program will be mentioned as options for
advanced training at a later date. According to TM teachings, The TM-
Sidhi program provides paranormal powers of invincibility such as
friendliness, compassion, inner strength and levitation.
A TM-club could appear to be a positive peer support for those
desiring a wholesome lifestyle and to associate with others of common
values. For more vulnerable teens, this peer group’s idealism and
group dynamics may prove seductive. A percentage of them will likely
increase their involvement with programs at the local TM center. TM
centers offer advanced meditation programs and residence programs to
achieve deeper rest and release of stress along with a community of
caring supportive other meditators. As one becomes further involved,
he or she will learn life style guidelines to enhance their growth of
consciousness. Such lifestyle guidelines include the use of Maharishi
Ayur-Veda medicinals, Ghandarhva Veda music, Maharishi Jyotish
astrology, and architectural guidelines for enlightened household
construction called Sthapatya Veda. This is optional. Coercive
persuasion is subtle and slow.
A few may choose to attend Maharishi University of Management to
study Vedic Science, or join the Thousand-Headed Purusha or Mother
Divine programs –monastic branches of this "non-religious
organization." Some may participate in programs, such as the
Invincible America Course currently held simultaneously at Maharishi
University of Management in Iowa and in Washington, DC, whereby
groups of Sidhas (advanced meditators who have learned techniques for
achieving paranormal powers) meditate together and also “levitate”
together for hours daily. Maharishi teaches that these group
meditations provide waves of coherent consciousness throughout the
world, to generate world peace.
Group meditations, rather than political activism, would solve global
problems. The devout may relocate to Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa,
where all is orchestrated according to the Laws of Nature, beneath
the golden banner for Maharishi’s Global Country of World Peace.
Purchases in Vedic City are made with their own currency, the Raam.
Those with more time and money may opt for further expensive and
prolonged meditation courses to become Rajas. Rajas are given a
geographical domain to support consciousness expansion on Earth.
Rajas also wear gold crowns.
There is a history, albeit repressed, of some participants having
psychotic breaks and other negative results from prolonged periods of
deep meditation on TM sponsored courses.
Alcohol and tobacco come with warning labels. TM lacks a warning
label. Full disclosure is imperative when introducing a new program
to our public schools.
TM promoters well-intentionedly reveal only stress management
information in introductory talks. The more elaborate teachings are
carefully hidden in the beginning. They believe that people “are not
ready for the full revelation of knowledge. When consciousness has
expanded from experiencing the profound bliss of TM, then we slowly
reveal more.”
Some may benefit from fifteen – twenty minutes’ daily catnaps. Others
may fall sway to a deeper commitment to this method of consciousness
expansion. I observed more than my fair share of others’ psychotic
breaks, familial destruction and financial devastation by good-
hearted people who committed their lives to the teachings of
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation.
Please accept my personal experience, of forty years of exposure to
TM’s global growth, as the disclosure label to this program coming to
TLHS. In my opinion, if anyone wants to make a fully informed
decision to learn TM, then go right ahead. However, I still maintain
this does not belong in our public school system.
David Lynch’s sponsorship for Transcendental Meditation is as well
intentioned as Tom Cruise’s enthusiastic endorsement of Scientology.
In the interest of full disclosure,
Gina Maria Catena
early Child of the Age of Enlightenment through Transcendental
Meditation as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Mother of three TLHS alums
San Rafael, California
