Vaj wrote: > On Apr 4, 2009, at 5:37 AM, TurquoiseB wrote: > > >> As for the program itself, I wish it well. I really >> do think that kids would benefit from learning a >> simple form of meditation while still kids. That the >> form of meditation being proposed is TM I think is >> problematic because I honestly believe that the way >> it's taught and explained in followup talks is >> religously-based and thus inappropriate for American >> schools given the Constitution and the clear wishes >> of America's founding fathers. But the courts will >> decide that. >> > > While one did get a good feeling that kids meditating was a good > thing, I was more interested in that they are targeting 'kids at > risk'. What seems to be happening is, since it's getting harder for > the TM Meditation industry to target American kids without drawing > negative attention, they're now targeting the poor in third world > countries where such opposition is less likely. In America they seem > to be targeting the poor also where resistance would likely be less, > as resources to investigate or oppose are also much more feeble. In > other words, I have wonder if the TM meditation industry is targeting > the poor because they're an easy target. > > What it really boils down to is: what is the underlying motivation? Is > it to help kids, or is it targeted market segments to get the TM > Meditation industry back making money and recruiting fresh blood--at > 600 bucks a pop? Clearly if it was just for the kids, they could > easily pay a salary of 100,000 to a dozen or so teachers who could > teach for free for a living. But that is not what they're doing. > Therefore, there's a different underlying motivation. What is that > underlying motivation? Sort of like marketing cigarettes to kids? ;-)
My guru taught a bunch of "at risk" kids meditation as one of his disciples was a juvenile probation officer. So as project he taught them. I never asked if he taught them mantra meditation which he might have because Indians are usually unaware of the church vs state thing in the US. And besides they don't see yoga as a religion but a science. Just because someone labeled the metaphors "Hindu Gods" doesn't mean it is a religion. But we're dealing with extremely ignorant westerners here. And as I implied my guru wouldn't have had to teach them mantra meditation either as we are allowed to teach a bunch of secular techniques many which one can locate in books. They are not as powerful as mantra meditation but are still calming. One of the things that happened during the course with kids is that he held a little birthday party at a session for girl who broke down in tears when he brought in a birthday cake. Her shitty family NEVER celebrated her birthday. For some reason I can't imagine TM teachers doing that. They would probably just say "keep meditating and things will get better." ;-)
