16 ICSA TODAY
Notes
[1] Bob Roth, Strength in Stillness: The Power of Transcendental
Meditation (New York, NY: Simon &Schuster, 2018).
[2] See Meditation Practices for Health: State of the Research (https://
drive.google.com/file/d/0B4dmoPK1tYNjZkxzT05uZW1ISU0/
view).
[3] Bob Roth, Strength in Stillness, p. 52.
[4] See https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/puja
[5] “Transcendental Meditation Domain of Atlanta Directors
Meeting Notes, 2005–2007” (https://wikileaks.org/wiki/
Transcendental_Meditation_Domain_of_Atlanta_ Directors_
Meeting_Notes,_2005-2007).
[6] Malnak v. Yogi, 440 F. Supp. 1284 (D.N.J. 1977) (https://law.justia.
com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/440/1284/1817490/).
[7] Malnak v. Yogi, 440 F. Supp. 1284 (D.N.J. 1977) (https://law.justia.
com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/440/1284/1817490/).
[8] Bob Roth, Strength in Stillness, p. 52.
[9] “Trancenet: TM Initiator’s Oath” (http://minet.org/www.
trancenet.net/secrets/puja/oath.shtml).
[10] What Is the Transcendental Meditation Mantra? YouTube video
(1:41). Posted by Transcendental Meditation (https://youtu.
be/_0rbfSaRwCU).
[11] Beacon Light of the Himalayas, 3 of 4 (Maharishi’s discourse),
Trancenet (http://minet.org/www.trancenet.net/secrets/
beacon/beacon1.shtml).
[12] Beacon Light of the Himalayas, 3 of 4, (Maharishi’s discourse),
Trancenet (http://minet.org/www.trancenet.net/secrets/
beacon/beacon1.shtml).
[13] Bob Roth, Strength in Stillness, p. 54.
[14] Bob Roth, Strength in Stillness, p. 54.
[15] Aryeh Siegel, Transcendental Deception: Behind the TM Curtain
– bogus science, hidden agendas, and David Lynch’s campaign to
push a million public school kids into Transcendental Meditation
while falsely claiming it is not a religion (Los Angeles, CA: Janreg
Press, 2018), pp. 179–194.
[16] “Trancenet: DeNaro Affidavit” (http://minet.org/www.
trancenet.net/law/denarot.shtml).
[17] “General Points” (checking notes), Meditation Information
Network (http://www.minet.org/ checkinggp.html).
[18] Governor Recertification Course: Overview of Policies &
Procedures, Wikileaks (https://file.wikileaks.org/file/tm-
governor-course-2005.pdf).
[19] “transcendental meditation,” Results Page, ClinicalTrials.
gov, 6-20-2018 (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results/
displayOpt?flds=a&flds=b&flds=c&submit_fld_opt=on&
term=transcendental+meditation&show_flds=Y).
[20] “mbsr,” Results page, ClinicalTrials.gov, 6-20-18 (https://www.
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/
About the Author
Aryeh Siegel, MSSA, MPH, is a former
TM teacher and author of Transcendental
Deception: Behind the TM Curtain – bogus
science, hidden agendas, and David Lynch’s
campaign to push a million public school
kids into Transcendental Meditation while
falsely claiming it is not a religion. For more
information, visit tmdeception.com n
influence and enliven Hindu gods. The chanting
is done in India, and the Hindu gods are asked
to respond to specific requests of the purchaser
such as personal health, wealth, love, business,
and so on. Yagyas could also be purchased for the
well-being of a country, and also for weddings,
anniversaries, the birth of a child, and more.46 It
seems these particular gods are responsive to
money. Maharishi encouraged people to spend
as much money as possible on a yagya to get the
greatest response from the gods. The donation
level was tied to the intensity of the problem and
the desired speed for achieving objectives.47
o Maharishi Jyotish, Maharishi’s private-label
astrology technology.48
o Mother Divine and Purusha. These are programs
for TM’s nuns and monks, who meditate many
hours a day, carry out various tasks for the
organization, and are supposed to maintain
celibacy.49
o The Brahmasthan. Roth doesn’t mention that TM
raised almost $100 million to build a Hindu prayer
center known as the Brahmasthan in India. By
2008, that Brahmasthan had reportedly become
a ghost town. TM started raising funds for a new
and improved Brahmasthan, and by 2010 had
raised more than $200 million of a proposed $400
million budget.50
o Roth doesn’t mention that Maharishi lived in a
200-room palace in Vlodrop, Holland, or that,
in 1998, the Economist estimated the value of
TM’s real-estate holdings, exclusive of its many
businesses, at more than US$3 billion (just under
US$5 billion in current value [2018]).51 A lengthy
investigative article by India Today in June of 2012
valued Maharishi’s wealth in India at his death at
60,000 Indian crores, or approximately US$9.33
billion.52 n

VOLUME 9 |ISSUE 3 |2018
[21] “relaxation response,” Results page, ClinicalTrials.gov, 6-20-2018
(https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/
[22] See Meditation Practices for Health: State of the Research (https://
archive.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/meditation/
medit.pdf page v).
[23] Bob Roth, Strength in Stillness, p. 81.
[24] Bob Roth, Strength in Stillness, p. 82.
[25] Bob Roth, Strength in Stillness, pp. 81–85.
[26] Larry Husten, “New Concerns Raised About Withdrawn Archives
Meditation Paper,” Cardio Brief, June 28, 2011 (http://www.
cardiobrief.org/2011/06/28/new-concerns-raised-about-
withdrawn-archives-meditation-paper/)
[27] “TM and healthy, normal blood pressure,” Transcendental
Meditation News &More, March 4, 2015 (https://tmhome.com/
benefits/transcendental-meditation-and-blood-pressure/).
[28] Bob Roth, Strength in Stillness, p. 84.
[29] Robert D. Brook et al., “Beyond Medications and Diet:
Alternative Approaches to Lowering Blood Pressure,”
Hypertension, 61 (May 2013), pp. 1360–1383 (http://hyper.
ahajournals.org/content/61/6/1360).
[30] Robert D. Brook et al., “Beyond Medications and Diet:
Alternative Approaches to Lowering Blood Pressure,”
Hypertension, 61 (May 2013), pp. 1360–1383 (http://hyper.
ahajournals.org/content/61/6/1360).
[31] Stephen Propatier, “American Heart Association promotes
alternative therapy for hypertension,” Skeptoid (skeptoid.
com/blog/2013/05/01/american-heart-association-promotes-
alternative-therapy-for-hypertension/).
[32] See Vernon A. Barnes, PhD John L. Rigg, MD and Jennifer J.
Williams, LCSW. “Clinical Case Series: Treatment of PTSD With
Transcendental Meditation in Active Duty Military Personnel,”
Military Medicine (2013), 178(7), pp. e836–840 (https://academic.
oup.com/milmed/article/178/7/3836/4243566).
[33] See Brian Rees, Fred Travis, David Shapiro, &Ruth
Chant. “Reduction in Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms
in Congolese Refugees Practicing Transcendental
Meditation,” Journal of Traumatic Stress (2013),
26(2), pp. 295–298 (https://pdfs.semanticscholar.
org/51b1/608a58fd545e9b45b49c547a96e71c77d945.pdf).
[34] See Brian Rees, Fred Travis, David Shapiro, &Ruth Chant,
“Significant Reductions in Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms
in Congolese Refugees Within 10 days of Transcendental
Meditation Practice,” Journal of Traumatic Stress (February
2014), 27(1), pp. 112–115 (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/
abs/10.1002/jts.21883).
[35] See Joshua Z. Rosenthal, MD, Sarina Grosswald, EdD,
Richard Ross, MD, PhD, &Norman Rosenthal, MD. “Effects of
Transcendental Meditation in Veterans of Operation Enduring
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom With Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study,” Military Medicine (2011),
176(6), pp. 626–630 (https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3906/
cef2ca4270ffb755a55164d1aa392a113dad.pdf).
[36] Sarina J. Grosswald, William R. Stixrud, Fred Trais, &Mark A.
Bateh. “Use of Transcendental Meditation Technique to Reduce
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by Reducing
Stress and Anxiety: An Exploratory Study,” Current Issues in
Education (2008), vol. 10 (see study at https://cie.asu.edu/ojs/
index.php/cieatasu/article/view/1569/614) and commentary on
study at https://spacecityskeptics.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/
how-to-design-a-positive-study-meditation-for-childhood-
adhd/)
[37] Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Science of Being and Art of Living:
Transcendental Meditation (New York, NY: Plume 2001).
[38] See http://www.yogicflying.org/how-to-learn.html
[39] As depicted in the David Sieveking documentary (David Wants
to Fly, 2010 Berlin: Neue Visionen), which began as a tribute
to Sieveking’s hero, noted film producer/director David Lynch.
Upon learning of Lynch’s commitment to TM, and desiring to
get close to him, Sieveking underwent TM training. He was
allowed access to the highest levels of the TM organization.
The documentary depicts the rajas in costume and one raja
confirms on-screen the million-dollar cost of raja training.
[40] Governor Recertification Course: Overview of Policies &Procedures,
Wikileaks (https://file.wikileaks.org/file/tm-governor-
course-2005.pdf).
[41] Governor Recertification Course: Overview of Policies &Procedures,
Wikileaks (https://file.wikileaks.org/file/tm-governor-
course-2005.pdf).
[42] “Resolution of the Governors of the Age of Enlightenment
on the Auspicious Day of Rām Navami of the Vedic Calendar,”
Wikileaks (https://file.wikileaks.org/file/transcendental-
meditation-governors-resolution-april-18-2005.pdf).
[43] See https://www.britannica.com/topic/yuga
[44] See http://www.mapi.com
[45] Governor Recertification Course: Overview of Policies &Procedures,
Section 7, Wikileaks (https://file.wikileaks.org/file/tm-governor-
course-2005.pdf).
[46] “Maharishi Special Yagyas,” Maharishi Vedic Pandits (http://
vedicpandits.org/yagya/special-yagya/).
[47] “Maharishi Special Yagyas,” Maharishi Vedic Pandits (http://
vedicpandits.org/yagya/special-yagya/).
[48] See https://www.maharishijyotishprogram.eu
[49] See https://www.motherdivine.org and https://purusha.org
[50] David Wants to Fly, directed by David Sieveking (2010 Berlin:
Neue Visionen).
[51] “Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,” Obituary, Economist, February 14,
2008 (http://www.economist.com/node/10683705).
[52] Shantanu Guha Ray, “Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Rs 60,000
crore fortune faces battle between two groups of followers,”
IndiaToday, June 23, 2012 (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/
maharishi-mahesh-yogi-rs-60000-crore-fortune/1/201925.html).
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