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The Brian Lehrer Show

Death of the Maharishi

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Singer/songwriter Donovan and Michael Kress, managing editor of BeliefNet, talk about the death of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, spiritual guru to the Beatles and founder of the modern transcendental meditation movement.


Comments

  • [1] Maggie Clarke from New York, NY February 06, 2008 - 11:50AM

    I learned TM in 1973 and have been doing it ever since. Just last week, the TM movement had a brief statement by Maharishi handing off the movement to others. He didn't sound too good on the audio... It's the passing of an era. I hope that those who have taken over will be able to publicize the scientific results more than they have. People need to know. It needs to become far more practiced.


  • [2] smidely February 06, 2008 - 11:53AM

    What is the position of Maharishi and TM on the role of money in one's life?

    What is the cost to TM students and how much goes to the Maharish's HQ?


  • [3] Marc from NYC February 06, 2008 - 11:53AM

    What nonsense!

    http://skepdic.com/tm.html


  • [4] serpu February 06, 2008 - 11:54AM

    Most famous practitioner of TM I know: Howard Stern. Picked it up from his mom. They still both practice it. Brian?


  • [5] ab February 06, 2008 - 11:57AM

    TM is intriguing to me but not Donovan and the stroll down baby-boomer memory lane....enough with the baby-boomers already! And what a horrible song at the beginning of the segment...I honestly thought it was some kind of spoof at first!


  • [6] Maggie Clarke from New York, NY February 06, 2008 - 11:58AM

    It is a shame that the cost went up so much. I paid $45 as a college student in 1973. Part of the rationale I believe was that Maharishi really wanted people to value it more and continue the practice forever. When you don't pay much, you don't value it much. Insurance should pay towards it as it does help solve some medical problems.


  • [7] Valerie from Bushwick February 06, 2008 - 11:58AM

    I was a child TM-er back in 1971. I meditated, my parents meditated, everybody was meditating. It's a crock and I hope the caller doesn't spend the completely avaricious and shocking twenty five hundred dollars to learn how to do it.

    I can't believe Brian isn't having any anti TM speakers about this.

    Donovan really drank the Kool Aid, didn't he?


  • [8] Dubya February 06, 2008 - 12:00PM

    Man, that guy is kind of obnoxious. I guess he doesn't understand time slots. Poor Brian couldn't get a word in.


  • [9] Maggie Clarke, Ph.D. from New York, NY February 06, 2008 - 12:02PM

    Across the universe. Beamed across the universe by NASA yesterday at midnight England time. Written about Maharishi, Guru Dev, his teacher, and TM. Played at the end of this segment. Did he die at this time?


  • [10] walter10021 February 06, 2008 - 12:02PM

    sorry to be so uncivil! take out the swear words. I get too heated up.

    Meanwhile, it's a good reminder -- we love musicians for their music -- not for their deep thoughts!


  • [11] hjs from 11211 February 06, 2008 - 12:02PM

    I wanted to understand this topic but that guy gave me a headache. oy


  • [12] Aaron from Harlem February 06, 2008 - 12:03PM

    I'd just like to- (D keeps on)

    what would you say the- (D continues)

    Buddhists sometimes uses silence to-(more lavishing from D)

    does your pitch outweigh your message?


  • [13] Donald from Lakeville CT February 09, 2008 - 02:01PM

    My beloved Master, His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, left the physical realm today, February 5, 2008, but he will dwell forever in my heart. I am profoundly grateful to him for the knowledge he has given me and the millions of others who have taken his simple teachings to heart and leaqrned to experience the unbounded field of pure consciousness that lies within all of us, within everything in creation.

    I am a professional musician based around NY, and all the success of my career, my ability to create easily, to improvise in many styles, to perform in public without any kind of stage fright or stress, even in what might be considered highly stressful situations (playing for a silent film at sight in the presence of leading filmmakers and academics), are due completely to my daily practice of the TM technique.

    Thank you, Maharishi, for everything that you have taught me and will continue to teach me. I cannot imagine my life without the silence that is always inside me, thanks to you, and thanks to Guru Dev. All glory to Guru Dev and may the extraordinary work that you did in His name continue to spread and fill the world with bliss. Jai Guru Dev. Jai Guru Dev. Jai Guru Dev.


  • [14] Ted Hens from North Carolina February 09, 2008 - 04:58PM

    Brain, that was a very rude interview. Donvana is a rock icon with a real message. You kept cutting him off to work your agenda. Only problem is you have little to say that is deep and we wanted to hear him. Thanks but get some manners.


  • [15] Peter February 10, 2008 - 10:49AM

    The organization needs money to run, as any large organization. You do not hear from the skeptics about the thousands of children getting a free education in India, from the organization do you? Or that the technique costs a tiny fraction of what we pay in the far east, about $100 in the big cities.... There is a school using these techniques near here, the children always do really well there, even being banned from some academic competitions because they have won too many prizes...


  • [16] Dennis Raimondi from hawaii February 13, 2008 - 04:42PM

    Maharishi gave the World a option for peace, prosperity and happiness. TM is the best thing I ever did for my life. I recommend it for everyone.


  • [17] S.C. Walker from Tempe, AZ February 13, 2008 - 05:08PM

    I met George Harrison in 1992 in California. At the time he said he experimented with many different meditation techniques, and spiritual organizations, but felt that TM was the only technique that took you to the goal, Atman, Pure Consciousness. That is my personal experience and I'll be forever in debt to Maharishi for dedicating his life to creating "Heaven on Earth".


  • [18] Steve Herzfeld from Pondicherry, India February 15, 2008 - 12:23AM

    Maharishi is the most remarkable person I have met or even read about. It is easy to speak in superlatives about him and the beauty of his message for mankind to rise out of unnecessary suffering. I remember him as warm, loving, humorous, brilliant, and inspiring. He set an example for the rest of us of how to enjoy living life with a purpose of making the world a better place than we find it. I hope I am blessed with the ability to carry on his work in the world with the grace and dignity it so richly deserves.

    Jai Guru Dev


  • [19] Frank Lotz from Sundern, Grermany February 15, 2008 - 08:56AM

    Donovan was so clear & talked so nicely. On him you can see what TM does. The Journalist looked for finding some negativities with the beautiful Technique Transcendental Meditation (TM). His behaviour towards Donovan; i pity to hear! The other Lady had no insight! I would have been better just only inviting Donovan. Starting the false story with Beatles, instead letting Donovan talk who was 1968 present; but they wanted to stop him; strange indeed! Good done Donovan, bringing it clear to the listeners: TM is making you happy, healthy & creative. Frank Lotz (JGD). Artist, Germany


  • [20] Joe Dowd from Tucson, AZ February 16, 2008 - 12:34AM

    I too learned TM in 1973 when I was just 19.

    What a remarkable gift Maharishi gave to me. How do I thank you for so sweetly and so expertly guiding me to my own silent sanctuary and rescuing me and the whole world from the clutches of Kali Yuga.

    All glory to the Shakaracharya Tradition of India, the land of the Ved.

    I only pray you continue to guide us!

    Jai Guru Dev


  • [21] Gert Kowarowsky from Germany February 19, 2008 - 05:42PM

    In 1998 I did my Diplom - Thesis in Psychology at the University of Heidelberg on Transcendental Meditation and the TM-Siddhi Technique.

    It is the genious of Maharishi who motivated me and many fellow researchers at that time to:

    turn on, tune in,research out...

    On the basis of solid scientific datas Maharishi was able to say:

    THROUGH THE WINDOW OF SCIENCE I SEE THE DAWN OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT


  • [22] Gert Kowarowsky from Germany February 19, 2008 - 05:46PM

    1978!


  • [23] Ellen Schultz from New York City February 28, 2008 - 12:50AM

    I would like to contact Steve Herzfeld in Pondicherry, India. I just found this in Google and thought perhaps I could contact him through this. Please pass it along to Steve and ask him to send me his email address if he would.

    I studied TM about eight years ago and practiced it faithfully for two years. My blood pressure remained a stable 110/70 for the entire time. I've had blood pressure issues recently and began to practice again, however, I'm not sure I'm doing it correctly. I plan to attend the next refresher course, free of charge for life as I've been told, here in NYC. I realize people think it's a lot of money, but friends of mine go to whacko sounding retreats hosted by even whackier sounding "gurus", costing a lot more than the TM training. And the TM training is a lifetime investment in your health and well being. I can't address anything else I as strayed away.

    I only remember Maharishi Mahesh Yogi from the Beatles so I can't really comment on him. I was sorry to read he had died because he has had an impact on the lives of millions of people worldwide.


This thread is closed.


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