Thank you, Bob, I appreciate this. It doesn't seem to jibe with the little I thought I knew, but I really didn't know anything. I had some impression from somewhere that he left the movement for awhile and then came back. But I really never knew.
On Aug 6, 2011, at 6:28 PM, Bob Price wrote: > > Mark, > > It looks like there is plenty of speculation on Devendra that can be found in > the archives of FFL using his name. The following are some highlights from > Joyce Collin-Smith who knew him both when he joined Maharishi and when he > left. > > There are a number of great stories in 'Call No Man Master". For those that > don't know-Joyce Collin-Smith, the author of the book, she was one of the > early group of meditators-followers of Maharishi in the UK. Early 60's > vintage not unlike Helena Olson. Where Mrs. Olson was a PR professional > Colin-Smith was a journalist on fleet street. She was originally part of the > UK Gurdjieff-Ouspensky- group run by Francis Roles that joined and > financially supported Maharishi in his early visits to the UK as Ouspensky, > on his death, had told them to find an eastern master because they needed > Vedic techniques to actualize their philosophy. They provided the first UK TM > center that Maharishi taught out of on Prince Albert Road in London but > eventually there was a falling out (with Roles and some others) when they > visited the TMO ashram in Rishikesh and met Sivananda at another ashram > across the river. > > Two in this early British group were Joyce Collin-Smith and Philip Williams > (Devendra). Collin Smith looked after Maharishi at this time, acted as his > chauffeur and set up the his first lectures in London and Oxford. She also > edited Maharishi's letters for him as well as making sure he was fed and had > a comfortable place to sleep. Philip was an Anglo Indian and a practising > international lawyer who had graduated with honours from Oxford when he met > Maharishi in the early 60's. He left it all behind and became Maharishi's go > to guy in the early 60's at the Albert Road center. Maharishi eventually > renamed him Devendra and publicly named him his successor after Devendra took > vows. Both Collin Smith and Devendra had been there for a number of years > when the Beatles showed up. For why Joyce Collin Smith eventually left i > recommend reading her book. > > According to Joyce Collin-Smith her and Devendra stayed in touch by letter. > Devendra was eventually sent to India to mediate full time in the caves near > Rishikesh. Eventually his letters to Joyce stopped and she didn't hear from > him for 20 years (no idea what the dates are here) until he showed up in > London penniless and broken. The story he told was that Maharishi had kept > him fasting and meditating in dark caves for years and his meditation had > become more and more bizarre. > > "In the end I thought I was going mad, alone in the caves", 'he said.' > "Maharishi gave me no assistance , no guidance. he just laughed and told me > to go on". 'Terrifying experiences had come to him as he sought to obey the > will of his once beloved and now indomitable Master, as he had always done, > without complaint' > > Long story short he eventually asked the Shankaracharya (the one on M's team) > what he should do and was advised to sneak out of India without telling > Maharishi > which he did with borrowed money. He showed up in London, he was 60, and went > to work in a Japanese restaurant and eventually moved to the Philippines to > live with his sister and was never heard from again. > > I have no idea how true any of this so if it brings about any letters to the > editor, its in the book and you can address all responses to Joyce > Collin-Smith c/o Nirvana, UK branch. I promise to never do this again. > From: Mark Landau <m...@sky5.com> > To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Saturday, August 6, 2011 3:28:51 PM > Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Devendra > > > I would think you could, please do so if you will. (No, I haven't read it.) > He did come a few times while I was with M and did seem to be another > particularly lovely man. > Thanks, m > > On Aug 6, 2011, at 4:21 PM, Bob Price wrote: > >> >> >> Mark, >> >> I met Devendra in Majorca, a lovely man.. I lost track of him till I read a >> hard copy of Joyce Collin-Smith book: "Call No Man Master" (worth the read). >> Have you read it? >> If not, I could share what she reported about Devendra at the end of his >> involvement with the movement. >> >> I'm not sure if there is something in the archives about Devendra (I'm a >> newbie as well), maybe Judy or someone else knows? I think Robin would like >> to hear also if he hasn't read the book? >> >> http://books.google.com/books?id=nc7ww0cuue4C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false >> >> Unfortunately, the bit I think you want is on page 174 which is not included >> in the google book but I think I could describe it without causing >> copyright problems? >> >> From: Mark Landau <m...@sky5.com> >> To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com >> Sent: Saturday, August 6, 2011 2:44:09 PM >> Subject: [FairfieldLife] Devendra >> >> >> Bob, >> >> Would you post the story of Devendra, as you know it, or, if you already >> have, point me to the post? >> >> I always especially liked Billy, too. >> >> Thanks, >> >> m >> >> >> > > > > > > >
