Peace
at
Last
“Whatever is unnamed, undepicted in images, whatever is omitted from biography, censored in collection of letters,
whatever is misnamed as something else, made difficult-to-come-by, whatever is buried in the memory by collapse
of meaning under an inadequate or lying language—this will become, not merely unspoken, but unspeakable.”
—Adrienne Rich, On Lies, Secrets, and Silence
By Gina Catena
Keyboards wet with tears messaged
around the world when a group of
quasi-siblings learned that another peer
had passed away prematurely.
Connections between Transcendental
Meditation (TM) defectors remained
strong into postcult adulthood. Their
beloved “gentle grizzly” joined his
younger sister, Lara, and mother, Susan, in
eternal slumber in 2012. Compassion and
love from far-flung community would
sustain Dan no more.
Dan’s emotional family encompassed
the world from his lifetime in Maharishi’s
enlightened peace plan and global TM
movement. Like most TM kids, Dan
deeply loved his biologic family and his
meditation family. He lived by his
Facebook favorite quote, “be true.”
Dan was a kind, gentle, and forgiving
soul. He strove to do right by himself and
for others. At the end of his fourth
decade, Dan strived to live his last few
years with his patient and solidly stable
non-TM father. During that time, his
creativity blossomed through painting,
music, and digital communication with
loved ones.
Dan wisely distinguished between
abiding love for the people in his life and
the TM community’s
deluded ideals. His
youthful frustration
from judgments that
narrow-minded
idealists directed
toward him evolved to
compassion for the
manipulated devotees.
Dan and I often
discussed dysfunctions
shared by generations
of TM’s children.
Dan wanted me to
share his story as a warning for others. His
quiet activism supported healing and
acceptance. His interview for David
Sieveking’s exposé documentary David
Wants to Fly was omitted from the film’s
final cut. When he asked me to publish
his story several years ago, Dan approved
a manuscript that included the following
tales.
ICSA TODAY 12
1999, Dan hugs the author.
at
Last
“Whatever is unnamed, undepicted in images, whatever is omitted from biography, censored in collection of letters,
whatever is misnamed as something else, made difficult-to-come-by, whatever is buried in the memory by collapse
of meaning under an inadequate or lying language—this will become, not merely unspoken, but unspeakable.”
—Adrienne Rich, On Lies, Secrets, and Silence
By Gina Catena
Keyboards wet with tears messaged
around the world when a group of
quasi-siblings learned that another peer
had passed away prematurely.
Connections between Transcendental
Meditation (TM) defectors remained
strong into postcult adulthood. Their
beloved “gentle grizzly” joined his
younger sister, Lara, and mother, Susan, in
eternal slumber in 2012. Compassion and
love from far-flung community would
sustain Dan no more.
Dan’s emotional family encompassed
the world from his lifetime in Maharishi’s
enlightened peace plan and global TM
movement. Like most TM kids, Dan
deeply loved his biologic family and his
meditation family. He lived by his
Facebook favorite quote, “be true.”
Dan was a kind, gentle, and forgiving
soul. He strove to do right by himself and
for others. At the end of his fourth
decade, Dan strived to live his last few
years with his patient and solidly stable
non-TM father. During that time, his
creativity blossomed through painting,
music, and digital communication with
loved ones.
Dan wisely distinguished between
abiding love for the people in his life and
the TM community’s
deluded ideals. His
youthful frustration
from judgments that
narrow-minded
idealists directed
toward him evolved to
compassion for the
manipulated devotees.
Dan and I often
discussed dysfunctions
shared by generations
of TM’s children.
Dan wanted me to
share his story as a warning for others. His
quiet activism supported healing and
acceptance. His interview for David
Sieveking’s exposé documentary David
Wants to Fly was omitted from the film’s
final cut. When he asked me to publish
his story several years ago, Dan approved
a manuscript that included the following
tales.
ICSA TODAY 12
1999, Dan hugs the author.
