{"id":3348,"date":"2016-01-29T20:39:03","date_gmt":"2016-01-29T20:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=3348"},"modified":"2016-01-29T21:07:19","modified_gmt":"2016-01-29T21:07:19","slug":"remember-transcendent-meditation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=3348","title":{"rendered":"Remember “transcendent” meditation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

“Maharishi Mahesh Yogi<\/a>\u00a0with the Beatles in India” – in happier times…<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Welcome to the \u201cGeorgia Wasp\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/h1>\n

This blog is modeled on the Carolina Israelite<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0Harry Golden<\/a>\u00a0did up that old-time\u00a0personal newspaper<\/a>. \u00a0And for<\/em> that he was considered a \u201cvoice of sanity amid the braying of jackals.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s now my goal as well. \u00a0To be a\u00a0\u201cvoice of sanity amid the braying of jackals<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more on the blog-name connection, see the notes below.<\/p>\n

In the meantime:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Remember Transcendental Meditation<\/a>? \u00a0In case you missed it, the\u00a0Maharishi Mahesh Yogi<\/a>\u00a0started teaching this method of\u00a0personal development<\/a>\u00a0in 1958.<\/p>\n

\"PrepIronically, “TM” was said to have launched in\u00a0Madras<\/a>, India. \u00a0(Now called\u00a0Chennai<\/a>.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

In less than a decade after 1958,\u00a0Madras\u00a0shirts, shorts and jackets<\/a>\u00a0– like those at left – became all the rage. \u00a0(“All the rage”\u00a0for middle school, high school and even college “boys” in the 1960s.) \u00a0<\/em>Getting back to TM: \u00a0It also got\u00a0\u201cmore popular in the 1960s and 1970s, as the Maharishi<\/em> shifted to a more technical presentation and his meditation technique was practiced by celebrities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Celebrities like the\u00a0The Beatles<\/a>, shown in the top-of-the-page picture<\/p>\n

The\u00a0kicker<\/a>? \u00a0You had to\u00a0pay through the nose<\/a>. \u00a0(At one point the price for “working folk” was pretty much a full week\u2019s salary<\/em>.) \u00a0For that you got instructed in the technique itself, plus<\/em>\u00a0you got your own \u201cpersonal Sanskrit mantra.\u201d \u00a0(Note that a\u00a0mantra<\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0a word or phrase – said to be of “spiritual power – that you repeat over and over again, for up to 20 minutes.)<\/em><\/p>\n

One of the goals – of “regular” meditation anyway – is to “bind the mind staff in place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"File:PicswissThat<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0– in a way – brings up that the Maharishi –\u00a0hereinafter<\/a>\u00a0“Mahesh” –\u00a0did quite well as a result of his teaching. \u00a0(The photo at right shows one of his \u201cheadquarters;” the one in Seelisberg<\/a>, Switzerland.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

\u00a0On the other hand<\/strong><\/em>: \u00a0It turns out you could get pretty much the same thing from\u00a0Lawrence LeShan<\/a>‘s 1974 book,\u00a0How to Meditate: A Guide to Self-Discovery<\/a>. \u00a0But of course, that<\/em> would mean you had to do some actual\u00a0work<\/em>, to learn the self-discipline<\/a>\u00a0on your own.<\/p>\n

(An observation that seems to be “redundant<\/a>\u00a0redundant<\/a>…”)<\/em><\/p>\n

But we digress!<\/em> \u00a0The point is: \u00a0LeShan’s How to Meditate<\/em>\u00a0was \u201cone of the first practical guides to meditation<\/a>.\u201d \u00a0And it was a whole lot cheaper than TM. \u00a0(My first copy cost $1.95.)<\/em><\/p>\n

And incidentally, LeShan noted that \u201canyone who gives (or sells) you a mantra designed just for you \u2026 is pulling your leg.\u201d \u00a0On the other hand, I remember reading somewhere that Mahesh charged Americans<\/em><\/strong> so much – for example – because\u00a0they don’t value “free stuff.” \u00a0They – we – arguably figure that if we don’t pay a high price for something, it must not be worth much.<\/p>\n

Which does make a certain amount of sense. \u00a0(And a telling comment on the American\u00a0psyche<\/a>.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Be that as it may<\/a><\/em>\u2026<\/h3>\n

We mentioned the Beatles being “converted” to Transcendental Meditation. \u00a0As\u00a0Mikal Gilmore<\/a>\u00a0noted, George Harrison’s wife Pattie introduced him to Mahesh in 1967. \u00a0Harrison was impressed enough to persuade the other Beatles to “attend a sabbatical in Bangor, Wales.”<\/p>\n

Later – in 1968 – the group went to\u00a0Rishikesh<\/a>, India, for a longer course. \u00a0However:<\/p>\n

[T]heir relationship with the teacher soured when they heard rumors that he had attempted unwelcome sexual advances on a female devotee. \u00a0Lennon and Harrison confronted the yogi, pronounced their disdain and then left him, despite his pleadings that they reconsider…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On a related note, pretty much the same thing seems to have happened to\u00a0Rajneesh<\/a>\u00a0– born\u00a0Chandra Mohan Jain – also known as “Osho.”<\/p>\n

\"Osho.jpg\"“OSHO<\/strong>” (1931-1990) was yet another “Indian mystic<\/a>, guru<\/a>, and spiritual teacher who garnered an international following<\/a>.” \u00a0In the fullness of time he got nicknamed “the sex guru<\/a>.” \u00a0(But others said he just had “straightforward attitudes about sex.”) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

All of which may prove no more than that\u00a0men are scum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(At least from a female view.)<\/em><\/p>\n

But again we digress. \u00a0Getting back to Mahesh and the Beatles, see\u00a0Maharishi Mahesh Yogi | The Beatles Bible<\/a>. \u00a0As to the group\u00a0confronting Mahesh about the allegation, Lennon said he had to do the “dirty work … as usual.” \u00a0When he said they were leaving, Mahesh ostensibly said, “‘Why?’ \u00a0Hee-hee, all that shit. \u00a0And I said, ‘Well if you’re so cosmic, you’ll know<\/em> why.'”<\/p>\n

The article noted as well that despite “the harshness of Lennon’s words about Maharishi, McCartney and Harrison, in particular, remained believers in the power of meditation.”<\/p>\n

Which could be another way of saying that the underlying discipline itself<\/em> <\/strong>was good and valid. (Even if one greedy individual did<\/strong>\u00a0use it for his own personal gain.)<\/em><\/p>\n

And the article noted a positive result: \u00a0The song\u00a0“Sexy Sadie<\/a>,” which Lennon originally wanted to title “Maharishi.” \u00a0But again, none of that means the underlying discipline is worthless. \u00a0It simply means that – at worst – one or more unscrupulous, misguided or overzealous individuals used a valid spiritual discipline for person gain.<\/p>\n

\"HennyWhich is “nothing new under the sun<\/a>.” \u00a0Take martial arts… \u00a0Please!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Many people these days come to the martial arts as if to a sport or, worse, as if seeking an effective instrument of aggression and domination<\/strong>.\u00a0 And, unhappily, there are studios that cater to this clientele.\u00a0 Violent and exploitative martial arts movies contribute to the corruption\u2026 \u00a0(E.A.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And incidentally, that\u00a0Henny Youngman<\/a>\u00a0one-liner – “Take my wife, please!” – is based on a fundamental principle of both martial arts and<\/em><\/strong> magic. \u00a0(The principle of\u00a0dislocation<\/a>.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

But for a third time, we digress…<\/p>\n

Plain old\u00a0meditation<\/a>\u00a0– the kind you don’t pay an arm and a leg<\/a>\u00a0for – is a “practice where an individual trains the mind<\/a> or induces a mode of consciousness<\/a>.” \u00a0It’s done for any number of reasons, including\u00a0to “promote relaxation, build internal energy or life force (qi<\/a><\/i>, ki<\/a><\/i>, prana<\/a><\/i>, etc.) and develop compassion,\u00a0love, patience, generosity and forgiveness.”<\/p>\n

Among the\u00a0benefits of meditation<\/a>: \u00a0better focus, less anxiety, more creativity, more compassion, better memory, less stress and “more gray matter.” \u00a0\u00a0Or as LeShan<\/a>\u00a0said,\u00a0the real goal is “to help you grow and develop as a total human being.”<\/p>\n

The\u00a0kicker<\/a>? \u00a0You actually have to put in a lot of\u00a0work.<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0Or as LeShan said, in its ideal form the “long hard practice” of true<\/em> meditation “disciplines and strengthens the personality.” \u00a0See also\u00a0Discipline – Wikipedia<\/a>, with an image captioned: \u00a0“To think good thoughts requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline \u2013\u00a0training<\/a> \u2013 is about.”<\/p>\n

All of which may be another way of saying that – when it comes to\u00a0personal development<\/a>\u00a0(a heavy-duty\u00a0industry<\/a><\/em>\u00a0in this country<\/em>) – some people prefer that kind of thing\u00a0pre-digested<\/a>:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

The upper image is courtesy of\u00a0www.vintag.es\/2013\/06\/maharishi-mahesh-yogi-with-beatles<\/a>. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

Re: \u00a0The Carolina Israelite<\/a>. \u00a0Harry Golden<\/a>\u2018s personal newspaper<\/a>, which he wrote and published back in the 1940s through the 60s. \u00a0Harry was a \u201ccigar-smoking, bourbon-loving\u00a0raconteur<\/a>.\u201d \u00a0(Which is another way of saying he told good stories.) \u00a0That also means if he was around today, the \u201cIsraelite<\/strong> would be done as a blog.\u201d \u00a0(For more on the blog-name connection, see \u201cWasp<\/a>\u201d and\/or The blog<\/a>.) \u00a0But what made Harry special was his positive outlook on life<\/a>. \u00a0He got older but didn\u2019t turn sour<\/a>, as so many seem to do today.\u00a0 He\u00a0still got a kick out of life<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

Note that\u00a0personal development<\/a>\u00a0has “developed” into\u00a0an industry<\/a>, with “several business relationship formats of operating.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The “Madras” image is courtesy of \u00a0Madras Guide – How the Shirt, Pants & Jackets Became Popular<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

References to\u00a0LeShan<\/a>‘s book,\u00a0How to Meditate<\/a>, are from the 1975 Bantam Books edition. \u00a0The “bind the mind staff” quote is from page 55. \u00a0(Along with a note that “we” should “bind ourselves gently and with humor and compassion at our own lack of discipline.”)<\/em><\/p>\n

On that note too, see <\/em>page 14, featuring a quote from\u00a0Teresa of \u00c1vila<\/a><\/em>, describing the mind of man – in the attempt to meditate for example – as an “unbroken horse that would go anywhere except where you wanted it to.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The quote about “anyone who gives (or sells) you a mantra” is from page 67.<\/em><\/p>\n

The “Switzerland headquarters<\/em> “photo is courtesy of\u00a0Transcendental Meditation \u2013 Wikipedia<\/a><\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: \u00a0The high price of TM. \u00a0For another view, see\u00a0Why does the Transcendental Meditation course cost so much<\/a>? \u00a0One theory has it that Mahesh wanted TM to be\u00a0“primarily taught to the wealthy leaders of society in order to enact maximum change in society,” and further that he “made a public address to that effect in the mid 1990’s and immediately T.M centers worldwide raised their prices.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Re:\u00a0Mikal Gilmore<\/a>. \u00a0Gilmore – a writer for\u00a0Rolling Stone<\/a><\/i>\u00a0magazine – described Mahesh and the Beatles in his 2009 book,\u00a0Stories Done: Writings on the 1960s and Its Discontents<\/a>, at pages 124, 156, and 164-65 in the 2009 Free Press paperback edition.<\/em><\/p>\n

As to the Beatles and Mahesh, Gilmore noted that later in their lives, “Harrison and McCartney reconciled with Maharishi, though Lennon never did.” \u00a0(124)<\/em><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Henny Youngman<\/a><\/em>\u00a0image is courtesy of\u00a0Wikipedia<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0His classic one-liner –<\/em>\u00a0“Take my wife\u2026 please<\/strong>\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 – relied on\u00a0dislocation<\/strong>. \u00a0That principle is used in comedy, and also in magic and the martial arts in general. See, Shinogi \u2013 Budotheory.ca<\/a>, which mentioned three types of dislocation: positional, temporal, and functional. \u00a0See also Magic (illusion) \u2013 Wikipedia<\/a>.\u00a0 Finally, see The Internet Classics Archive | The Art of War by Sun Tzu<\/a>, which noted the Chinese philosopher who said, \u201cThe fundamental principle of the Art of War is deception.\u201d \u00a0(In other words, dislocating an opponent.)<\/em><\/p>\n

So anyway<\/strong>, in the classic one-liner \u2013 literally \u201ca century ago\u201d \u2013 the audience was led to expect Youngman to say \u201cfor example\u201d when he began. \u00a0(As in, \u201cTake my wife\u2026 for example.\u201d) \u00a0But instead of saying that, Youngman dislocated<\/strong> his audience with, \u201cTake my wife\u2026\u00a0 Please!<\/strong>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The quote on martial arts as used for “aggression and domination” is from\u00a0Taisen Deshimaru<\/a><\/em>\u2019s\u00a0The Zen Way to Martial Arts<\/a><\/em>, translated by Nancy Amphoux, Arkana Books (1991), at page 3.<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: “Benefits of meditation<\/a>:” \u00a0The actual article-title is<\/em>\u00a0What Happens to the Brain When You Meditate (And How it Benefits You<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0As to “more gray matter,” the article said that m<\/em>editation has been shown “to diminish age-related effects on gray matter and reduce the decline of our cognitive functioning.<\/em>“<\/p>\n

Other benefits of meditation came from<\/em>\u00a0LeShan<\/a>‘s\u00a0How to Meditate<\/a>, in the 1975 Bantam Books edition. \u00a0(<\/em>The quote “develop as a total human being” is from page 38.) \u00a0LeShan\u00a0<\/em>pointed out that true meditation is much like physical exercise. \u00a0Both require \u201crepeated hard work,\u201d most of it \u201cbasically pretty silly\u201d in appearance. \u00a0\u201cWhat could be more foolish than to repeatedly lift twenty pounds of lead up and down?\u201d \u00a0But both forms of exercise aim for \u201cthe\u00a0effect<\/strong> on the person doing it.\u201d \u00a0(Page 3.)<\/em><\/p>\n

LeShan cited two main effects. \u00a0The first is greater personal efficiency in everyday life. \u00a0The second is \u201cthe comprehension of a different view of reality than the one we ordinarily use.\u201d \u00a0(Pages 6-7.) \u00a0<\/em>Other effects? \u00a0The capacity to transcend the painful, negative aspects of life,\u00a0and develop a serene \u201cinner peace.\u201d \u00a0(Id.) \u00a0He said it\u2019s characteristic of a\u00a0practiced<\/strong> meditator to live with joy and love; \u201ca zest, a fervor and gusto in life.\u201d \u00a0And one final effect<\/em>\u00a0– for the practiced meditator – “a very deep sense of the union<\/strong>\u00a0of himself and the All.” (Page 7)<\/em><\/p>\n

The quote about\u00a0“long hard practice” is from page 38.<\/em><\/p>\n

The lower image is courtesy of\u00a0mydailyminefield.com\/2012\/03\/20\/spring-has-sprung<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0Another good image is at\u00a0animalstime.com\/what-feed-baby-bird-what-feed-baby-birds<\/a><\/em>, along with good advice on “What To Feed A Baby Bird [Who] Fell Out Of A Nest.”<\/em><\/p>\n

I originally planned to use the image below, an illustrated quote from “that great Philosopher, Charlie Chan.” \u00a0But then I had a brainstorm, figuring an image like that of baby birds – eager mouths wide open – would get the point across better. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

“So anyway,” the image below is courtesy of<\/em>\u00a0izquotes.com\/quote\/217824<\/a>. \u00a0See also\u00a0Charlie Chan (Wikipedia<\/a>). \u00a0The quote is said to have come from Charlie Chan at the Circus<\/strong>, and in the form given. \u00a0See\u00a0Charlie Chan \u2013 Wikiquote<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>Reel Life Wisdom \u2013 The Top 10 Wisest Quotes from Charlie Chan<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0<\/span>But I could have sworn that the actual quote was,\u00a0\u201cMind like parachute; \u00a0work best when open<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A final note: \u00a0This post is a substantially altered update of a post originally published as\u00a0On the Bible as \u201ctranscendent\u201d meditation<\/a>, at\u00a0DOR Scribe – Expand your horizons<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Maharishi Mahesh Yogi\u00a0with the Beatles in India” – in happier times…   Welcome to the \u201cGeorgia Wasp\u2026\u201d This blog is modeled on the Carolina Israelite. \u00a0Harry Golden\u00a0did up that old-time\u00a0personal newspaper. \u00a0And for that he was considered a \u201cvoice of sanity amid the braying of jackals.\u201d That\u2019s now my goal as well. \u00a0To be a\u00a0\u201cvoice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3348"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3348"}],"version-history":[{"count":93,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3453,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3348\/revisions\/3453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}