14 ICSA TODAY
aerobic and/or dynamic resistance exercise for the
adjuvant treatment of high BP. Bio-feedback techniques,
isometric handgrip, and device-guided breathing
methods are also likely effective treatments. There is
insufficient or inconclusive evidence at the present time
to recommend the use of the other techniques reviewed
in this scientific statement for the purposes of treating
overt hypertension or pre-hypertension.29
Note that certain methods—aerobic or dynamic resistance
exercise, biofeedback, isometric handgrip, and breathing
methods—were found to be most beneficial in enhancing
the effectiveness of medical treatment. Meditation isn’t even
mentioned as having a positive effect on hypertension.
The authors concluded that while TM and other meditations
studied did not appear to be dangerous, more and much higher
quality studies were needed to determine what, if any, impact
TM had on hypertension.
The overall evidence supports that TM modestly lowers
BP. It is not certain whether it is truly superior
to other meditation techniques in terms of BP
lowering because there are few head-to-head studies.
As a result of the paucity of data, we are unable to
recommend a specific method of practice when TM is
used for the treatment of high BP. [Bold added]30
It is important to note that the alternative approaches for
lowering blood pressure mentioned in the Michigan study were
not meant to replace, but rather to supplement, competent
medical treatment. In fact, the most important, potentially life-
saving advice that should be given to anyone with any heart
health concern is to seek medical advice. Roth doesn’t mention
that.
TM so distorted the study’s findings that Matthew Bannister,
the American Heart Association’s Executive Director of
Communications, wrote a stinging rebuke: “Unfortunately,
we have found that some in the media, and many in the TM
community, have tried to overstate our findings to promote their
own agendas.” 31
There is a tremendous danger when an organization’s primary
use for science is to sell a product. When a TM website makes the
ridiculous claim that TM has been scientifically proven not just to
lower, but to normalize blood pressure, something is very wrong,
not only with the TM organization, but also with those medical
professionals who, by their association with TM research, lend
credibility to the hype.
Additional Claims
TM.org presents TM as the intervention of choice for a variety
of other high-profile medical and psychological problems as
well. For example, “More evidence-based benefits” is a lead-in
for six problems that TM claims to benefit: posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
autism spectrum disorder (ASD), insomnia, depression, and
addiction. What evidence does TM present to support its claim
as a treatment of choice in addressing these problems? We have
to assume that what is presented on TM.org is the best evidence
the organization has. How strong is the evidence?
It should be noted that the TM.org website is not static, and
studies listed on the website change over time. I reviewed
studies on tm.org during July and August 2017. My analysis,
detailed in the subsections that follow, is not comprehensive,
since more studies have been listed since my initial systematic
review. My analysis will, I hope, help readers be more skeptical
and discerning about other scientific claims that TM may make.
TM and PTSD
TM’s proof of effectiveness in treating PTSD is four studies it
presents in this section. The first focuses on determining whether
three soldiers with PTSD could simply learn TM.32
The second study reported the effect of TM on PTSD in
Congolese refugees. One must question the relevance of this
population to U.S. military personnel. Additionally, the study
itself was gravely compromised. Of 102 study participants
(refugees in Kampala, Uganda) who were randomly assigned
either to the TM group or a nonmatched, wait-list control group,
30 of the 51 participants (59%) assigned to the TM group could
not attend the meetings. Subsequently, they were dropped,
leaving only 21 participants in the TM group.33
The third study was a follow-up of the 11 Congolese refugees
who were still doing TM. That meant that 80% of study
participants either stopped TM or couldn’t be located at follow-
up.34
The fourth study presented as evidence was an uncontrolled
pilot study in which researchers taught TM to five veterans with
PTSD. Once again, no conclusions on TM and PTSD are possible
from such a small sample.35
TM and ADHD
TM.org’s evidence of TM’s effect on ADHD (attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder) is an ABC television news report that
describes TM as a “solution” for ADHD that “doesn’t involve drugs”
and “may be able to replace medication.” The newscast continues
TM charges between $1,000 and
$3,000 (recently reduced from
$10,000) for Hindu prayer services
to influence and enliven Hindu
gods. … It seems these particular
gods are responsive to money.

VOLUME 9 |ISSUE 3 |2018 1315
with TM teacher and researcher Dr. Sarina Grosswald describing
her study on TM and ADHD. The study had only 10 children and
was published in an online journal.36
In addition, the study wasn’t blinded and there was no control
group. Some of the children were on medication, but the study
does not take into account the possibility of changes in medical
therapy during the study or improved compliance. Conclusions
were based on self-report and subjective questionnaires.
TM and the Autism Spectrum
The TM.org site shows a video of one mother who discusses how
TM has helped her autistic child. That’s it—no evidence.
TM and Addiction
Several studies on how TM helps with addiction are listed on
TM.org, but the most current is 23 years old, two are 30 years
old, and two are more than forty years old. Two items reference
the same study. Finally, the majority of researchers could be
considered to be in the TM family and possibly biased.
Sanitizing 50 Years of TM History
Finally, Roth’s book attempts to sanitize more than fifty years of TM
by failing to mention key elements that reveal TM as much more
than the scientific, secular, relaxation technique it pretends to be.
Some examples:
*Roth doesn’t mention higher consciousness, which was
Maharishi’s main product before he figured out he could
make more money selling health than spirituality to
Westerners.37
*Roth doesn’t mention the TM-Sidhi program—
Maharishi’s enlightenment accelerant that he promoted
as the superhighway to enlightenment. A Sidha would
develop superpowers, including the ability to levitate,
to become invisible, and to have the strength of an
elephant, omniscience, and eternal life. In the late
1970s, TM held press conferences about levitation and
distributed photographs purporting to show people
levitating. They were fakes. For more than forty years, TM
Sidhas, whom Maharishi called “yogic flyers,” have been
bouncing around on dense foam believing they will fly
like birds once atmospheric stress clears up. Sidhi courses
are still offered today.38
• Roth doesn’t mention the rajas. Rajas are the highest-
level administrators in Maharishi’s fantasy world known
as the Global Country of World Peace. Rajas reportedly
bought their titles for a million dollars each. They wear
long white robes, necklaces with gold medallions, and
little gold crowns.39
• Roth doesn’t mention that Maharishi referred to his rajas
as the representatives of Divine Intelligence, the shining
stars who played a parental role for their people, setting
all life in the evolutionary direction. They would rule
“Heaven on Earth.” As he expressed,
This will be the Peace Government, as the
government of Nature administers a very
concrete galactic universe, but very peacefully.
We are going to be a practical channel of the
Cosmic Government on Earth. We are going to
be the administrators of Heaven on Earth.40
• Roth doesn’t mention the recertified governors, who are
the next level down in Maharishi’s elite troops. They
meditate 6 hours a day and, in the time remaining, work
full time for the organization.41
The pledge below, signed by the recertified governors,
further reveals the extent to which Maharishi embraced
Hinduism and the fantasy world he had succumbed to
toward the end of his life:
I will take all these steps so that, on this Guru
Purnima, the full moon of July 2005, my city
will welcome the descent of Heaven on Earth—
the descent of Satya Yuga saying bye-bye to
Kali Yuga.
I pay homage to Guru Dev and the Holy
Tradition of Vedic Masters through all the levels
of Rajas and Maharaja of the Global Country
of World Peace—the State Rajas, the National
Rajas and the Global Maharaja—reaching the
holy tradition of Vedic Masters whose guiding
light, His Divinity Brahmananda Sarasvati, has
blessed the world with this whole knowledge
of Enlightenment to the individual and
Invincibility to the nation.42
In Hindu cosmology, a yuga is an epoch or era within a
cycle of four ages, whose lengths vary from 432,000 to
1,728,000 years.43
• Roth doesn’t mention how Maharishi sliced and
diced the Hindu religion, selling off parts he deemed
potential profit centers. Although the following lucrative
businesses are related to the TM organization, Tm.org
includes no link for any of them.
o Maharishi Ayurvedic herbal supplements.44
o Maharishi Sthapatya Veda proposes demolishing
and rebuilding entire cities so that all buildings and
rooms have the proper orientation and proportions,
thereby allowing a harmonious relationship
between the individual and cosmic consciousness.
The billions of dollars flowing through all the
demolition projects would flow through the
intelligence of his recertified governors.45
o Yagyas. This is Maharishi’s “pay to pray” scheme.
TM charges between $1,000 and $3,000 (recently
reduced from $10,000) for Hindu prayer services to