Elites/rich people are typically penny pinchers. They go out of their way to save the odd dollar. It justifies their sense of superiority towards the masses who "waste money" and "don't work hard" enough or "aren't clever enough" to do what they can do. They want also the "badges" of the elite - designer labels etc to demonstrate that money is no object when it comes to show their appreciation of "quality" and celebrate their "belonging" to a priviledged group. The trouble, for MMY, is that whilst TM may represent "quality" so do other techniques such as Buddhist ones, now also boasting scientific validation; moreover there is a global traditional "culture" of spirituality that is clearly at odds with the materialism of the TMO, which therefore makes it suspect. And as others have pointed out, as soon as anyone investigates the TMO's public image there are not one but a huge number of things that are off-putting. The TMO is just not "cool", it's downright embarassing. If attracting the elite was the objective then it would have made sense to get elite advice on how to do this. The reason so many of us are baffled, I think, is that the whole unfolding of the TMO and its activities seems uninformed, mindless and counterproductive. The only thing that makes any overall sense is the "money-grabbing tunnel-vision" interpretation; and a systematic avoidance of putting the large pundit groups effect to the test (MMY could have done it with his own resources decades ago). There is too much ignorance and denigration of what good already exists around - beautiful buildings and cities, democratic principles, human rights, musical and visual sophistication, sublime spiritual icons. In their place wooden, ridiculous, robotic figures are exaulted as infallible authority figures who seem as unspiritual as the rest of us in spite of decades of practice and fortunes spent on courses and support for MMY. This doesn't seem a good return on such personal investment for anyone, let alone an "elite"!
But then they feel good als --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Mar 24, 2006, at 11:51 AM, anon_astute_ff wrote: > > > > > Yes,, all the elite golfers in 10 years finally saw through the > > > > ridiculous pricing ofcountry clubs and are all flocking to public > > > > courses. And Nordstroms is closing in 2016 I hear, all the > > elites got > > > > wise and started shopping at walmart as they "saw through" the > > > > Nordstoms fluff. And the Four Seasons hotel chain is closing in > > 2016 > > > > its doors. Those savy elites finally got it that they could get > > a bed > > > > at motel 6 for 1/10 the price. > > > > > > This is not an analogous comparison: in each of the above instances, > > > when you pay more money, you get more. The "elite" know this and > > will > > > pay more, to get more. They are therefore unlikely to pay more > > for TM > > > to get less when they can get more--often much more--elsewhere for > > > their buck. > > > > What is the "more" that they get? They all get similar clothing, a > > safe bed and shower, and a place to play golf. The extra non-core > > attributes, some value some don't. Many elite do value them and will > > pay for them. > > Finer quality clothing; nicer room with many amenities like internet > on your TV with wireless, even butlers at some hotels, several rooms, > massage, etc.; nicer greens, top-rate gourmet restuarant, nicer > clubhouse, celebs, politicians, etc. > > > How can you possibly say with certainty that the beyond core > > attributes that the TMO, or some org, is able to provide in 10 years > > will not have sufficient value to the top 3% of earners that they will > > pay for them? > > It's just my sense from being at around other people of what they > want. TM has been "passe" for a while now. Overpriced TM is even more > passe. > > > > > > > > > But I disagree with your assessment of AOL. Lots of elites I dont > > > > think want to sit on the floor in funky facilities and sing > > bajans, or > > > > go to courses and hug everyone while saying "I belong to you", or > > > > sleep in a room with a stranger -- at shared rooms or dorm > > room only > > > > facilities. > > > > > > Or the toxic mold of Livingston Manor? It would be interesting to > > > know what the occupancy rates are at the Raj--a facility which might > > > appeal to some elite who enjoy vacations in Iowa. > > > > > You and Barry can contine to respond to ghost posts that manifest only > > in your minds, but the point I am raising as conjecture is that a > > neo-TM in ten years, if properly done, may be attractive to the top > > 2-3% of incomes earners. That has nothing to do with toxix mold in > > Livingsoton Manor in 2006. > > I was responding to your comments on "funky facilities". > > > > > Regarding the Raj, I have not been there so Ican't address it. But I > > have been to Chopra's Center in La Jolla, and lots of "elites" were > > flocking there. And his prices were on par, perhaps higher than the > > Raj. And 20 times what the local AV tech was offering 5 miles away in > > Pacific Beach, in their garage for the same thing. > > Exactly--and it is these type of places I would expect to continue to > see "elites" go to. > > > > > My point has little to do with the TM brand, and nothing to do with > > loyalties to the TM -- I left for the most part, body, heart and soul, > > in 1978. But I think that there is an opportunity and need > > for SOMEONE, som org, to do IT in a classy, polished that appeals to > > the upper strata of society. And clients will be happy to pay a > > premium price. > > Yes, I agree--I just would be amazed if it was the TMO. There already > are such facilities (as you pointed out) and some appear to be be > doing quite well. > > Did you happen to catch the 60 Minutes installment on people who go > to Thailand and India for surgeries? It's incredible. The same thing > is happening with panchakarma. It's very, very reasonable and you > receive better care than in the US. > > > > > MMY actually does a lot of things in a classy way -- perhaps too > > polished for many of our tastes. But that he or his "team" eventually > > are the ones that do IT right within 10 years, I think is possible, > > but probably less than 10% probability. That SOMEONE does it right -- > > with M. type prices, within 10 years, I think has a greater than 50% > > probability. > > Some of the things are done very well. For example, if anything, I > could see elite continuing to use TMO panchakarma mansions if another > similar facility does not happen. Some may learn TM while there. The > organic farming subscription plan also sounds very promising to me- - > and you have a sense this will be done quite well--certainly better > than federal standards. I have a colleague whose daughter is raking > in 200K a year on her own organic farm, which is rather small, so it > could also work--if the movement doesn't fold. > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! 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