Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (born "Mahesh Prasad Varma" according to some sources, and "Mahesh Srivastava" according to others, between 1911 and 1918 in Jabalpur, India; died February 5, 2008, in Vlodrop, The Netherlands)[1] founded and developed the Transcendental Meditation technique and related programs and initiatives, including schools and a university with campuses in the United States and China.[5] He was born in India, around 1917; various years are given for his birth: most frequently 1911, 1917, and 1918,[2], and some sources state he was born on 12 January.
Around 1939 he became a disciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati [6] who, from 1941 to 1953, was the Shankaracharya (spiritual leader) of Jyotir Math, located in the Indian Himalayas. Maharishi credits the Shankaracharya with inspiring his teachings. Since his first global tour in 1958,[3] Maharishi's techniques for human development have been taught worldwide.[4] He continued to focus on making all aspects of the Vedic Literature widely available.[5] He became well-known in the Western world due to The Beatles having visited him in 1968. Starting in 1990, Maharishi coordinated his global activities from his residence in Vlodrop, the Netherlands.[6]
On January 11th, 2008, he announced his retirement from his normal activities: "Invincibility is irreversibly established in the world. My work is done. My designated duty to Guru Dev is fulfilled." He resolved to use all his remaining time to complete his commentary on the Veda. He passed away less than a month laterEarly life
Maharishi was born to a Hindu family living in Jabalpur, Central Provinces, British India, and was named Mahesh Prasad Varma at birth.[10] According to Jay Randolph Coplin, the name "Mahesh" indicated that Maharishi came from a Hindu family that worshipped Shiva.[11] Maharishi later earned a degree in physics[12] at Allahabad University.[13]
In 1941 Maharishi became a secretary to Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, who gave him the name Bal Brahmacharya Mahesh. Besides indicating his family faith, Coplin[14] says the conferred title "identified him as a dedicated student of spiritual knowledge and life-long celibate ascetic." Maharishi remained with Brahmananda Saraswati until the latter passed away in 1953. Although Maharishi was a close disciple, he could not be the Shankaracharya's spiritual successor since he was not of the Brahmin caste. [15]
In 1953, Maharishi moved to Uttarkashi, in the Valley of the Saints, in the Himalayas, where his own Master had lived in previous decades with his Master, Swami Krishanand Saraswati. In 1955, Maharishi left Uttarkashi, [16]and began publicly teaching what he states is a traditional meditation technique that he later renamed Transcendental Meditation. He began The Spiritual Regeneration Movement in 1957, in Madras, India, on the concluding day of the Seminar of Spiritual Luminaries. According to J. Lynwood King, the feedback Maharishi received from the diverse population that learned his technique suggested to him that it could be of wide benefit.[17] By 1958 Maharishi had begun the first of a number of worldwide tours.
Expansion of teachings
World tours
His first world tour began in Rangoon, Burma, now Myanmar. Maharishi remained in the Far East for about six months teaching Transcendental Meditation.[18] His teaching received press coverage in various cities. On December 31, 1958, the Honolulu Star Bulletin published an article about Maharishi saying: "He has no money, he asks for nothing. His worldly possessions can be carried in one hand. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is on a world odyssey. He carries a message that he says will rid the world of all unhappiness and discontent."[19]
In 1959, Maharishi taught the Transcendental Meditation technique in Hawaii[12] and later went to California and became a guest in a private home owned by the Olson family. He continued to visit and teach from the Olsons' home over the next few years.[20]
During the 1960s and early 1970s practitioners of the technique began to be seen as part of the then current "counter-culture" phenomenon. Also during that time, a number of celebrities that included The Beatles,[21] the Beach Boys, (including singer Mike Love,[22] who became a TM teacher) and singer-songwriter Donovan, who befriended Maharishi and put his picture on the back cover of his A Gift from a Flower to a Garden album, learned the technique. Comedian Andy Kaufman and magician Doug Henning were also students of Maharishi. Clint Eastwood[23] and David Lynch are two notable directors who have practiced the Transcendental Meditation technique.
Transcendental Meditation teachers
After starting the Spiritual Regeneration Movement in the United States, Maharishi continued his world tour. He travelled to Europe in early 1960, stopping first in London. During the next two years, he returned to India and the Far East, before revisiting the U.S., Europe, and Africa. He lectured about and taught the Transcendental Meditation technique, and also established administrative centers where practitioners could meet in his absence. Eventually the more experienced practitioners were trained to become teachers of the technique. In 1961, he conducted his first international Teacher Training Course near Rishikesh, India. Over 60 meditators from India, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Britain, Malaya, Norway, the United States, Australia, Greece, Italy and the West Indies attended. [24] Teachers have continued to be trained.[7]
Early books
In 1961, Maharishi began to introduce additional knowledge regarding the development of human potential, including a translation and commentary on the first six chapters of the ancient Vedic text, the Bhagavad Gita.[25] Maharishi said that the source of his commentary was his master and the increasing interest in Vedic knowledge: "We are just an innocent means for the spontaneous flow of that knowledge -- that's all."[26]
In his 1963 publication, Maharishi describes the Bhagavad Gita as "the Scripture of Yoga." He says that "its purpose is to explain in theory and practice all that is needed to raise the consciousness of man to the highest possible level."[27] In 1964, Maharishi attended the All-India Yogic Conference held in Calcutta, India, where he said that because the teachings contained in the Bhagavad Gita were misunderstood, "the practice of yoga was misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misapplied," resulting in "weakness in the fields of thought and action."[28]
While working on his translation and commentary of the Bhagavad Gita, Maharishi audiotaped the text of the The Science of Being and Art of Living which was transcribed and published in 1963.[29] [30]
Advanced programs
Over a 30-year period Maharishi held advanced, in-residence courses and assemblies in North America, India and/or Europe for practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation technique. These courses provided long meditation sessions, lectures by Maharishi, discussions based on personal experiences, questions from course participants, and organizational meetings. Maharishi believed that this group practice of the technique benefited the environment.[31] In-residence courses continue to this day.[8]
In the late 1970’s, Maharishi designed the TM-Sidhi program as an additional option for those who had been practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique for a period of time. According to Coplin, this new aspect of knowledge emphasized not only the individual, but also the collective benefits created by group practice of this advanced program.[32]
Other initiatives, projects and programs
Maharishi International University (renamed Maharishi University of Management in 1995), the first university Maharishi founded, initially held classes in Santa Barbara, California, in the 1973-74 academic year. After that, the university moved to Fairfield, Iowa, where it remains today. The university houses a library of Maharishi's taped lectures and writings that includes the 33-lesson, Science of Creative Intelligence course, originally a series of lectures given by Maharishi in Fuiggi, Italy, in 1972. Described in the M.U.M. university catalogue as combining modern science, and Vedic science,[9]the course also describes claimed higher states of consciousness and guidance on how to attain these states. [33]
Over the years Maharishi continued to introduce programs and practices such as an alternative medical system called Maharishi Ayur Veda, Maharishi Jyotish, a system of Vedic astrology, Maharishi Sthapatya Veda, a system of Vedic architecture, Maharishi Gandharva Ved, and various other practices related to music, systems of education, theories of management, defense, and government.[34] Maharishi also offered a program said to alleviate poverty and introduced a new currency, Raam Mudra, toward this end.[35]
The Beatles
The Beatles had met with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi during a 1968 TM teacher-training course they attended in Rishikesh, India. John Lennon was inspired to write the song "Sexy Sadie" ("what have you done? You made a fool of everyone") about Maharishi based on stories he had heard about Mia Farrow and Maharishi.[36] [37] Mia Farrow's autobiography is ambiguous on the matter, describing her "panicking" and fleeing after an embrace during a meditation session.[38] Some later said the rumors were false[39][40], while others claim that Farrow herself said she believed the Maharishi had made a sexual advance.[41] According to several authors, (Brown and Gaines, 1983[42]; Miles, 1998[43]; Spitz, 2005[44]; Cynthia Lennon, 1978 [45]) Alexis Mardas deliberately engineered these rumors because he was bent on undermining the Maharishi's influence on the Beatles. George Harrison's statement, "Now, historically, there's the story that something went on that shouldn't have done—but nothing did,"[46]. Sir Paul McCartney, in his biography, likewise says that he does not believe the allegations.[47]
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