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Vol. 2, No. 2 - August 22, 1996


blackball.GIFDeepak Chopra Interview


8/9/96, Exclusive Interview: Dr. Deepak Chopra granted an interview to trancenet.net's Shameless Mind Wednesday, July 31, 1996, discussing his time in TM, his decision to leave that movement, the Maharishi's grave illnesses, the recent Weekly Standard allegations, issues of spirituality and free speech -- and promised to direct his law firm to immediately cease all legal proceedings against trancenet.net and this author. Includes responses from Dr. Chopra.

8/9/96, Exclusive Chopra Interview

blackball.GIFThe Chopra Letters


On July, 16, 1993, the "Maharishi National Council" wrote to all TM centers claiming that not only had Deepak Chopra left the Movement, but all TMers "should ignore him and not try to contact him or promote him in any way" -- to preserve the purity of the teaching. Shortly after Deepak Chopra announced his departure from the TM movement. Two weeks later, Dr. Chopra wrote a letter dispelling "rumors and misunderstandings" -- claiming that he still supported the Movement and would be pleased to hear from anyone "who feels the need or desire to contact me." What really happened?

7/16/96 Letter from National
7/30/96 Letter from Chopra, Page 1
7/30/96 Letter from Chopra, Page 2

blackball.GIFThe Maharishi Predicts Global War!

In a recent world-wide conference call, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi predicted imminent biologic and genetic warfare on a global scale will break out between the major industrialized countries within weeks.

According to attendants of the closed conference call in Fairfield, Iowa, on or about May 27, the Maharishi claimed, "If we don't act today, there may not be a tomorrow." He spoke of the horrific impact of genetic and biological weapons that he believed will be released in a devastating global war within weeks.

On August 11, Bevan Morris repeated the warnings of global war and discussed a total restructuring of the TM movement to avert the "crisis."

The Maharishi & Bevan on Imminent Global War

blackball.GIF3 Days Checking Notes

First Time Published Anywhere! Three Days Checking Notes are the outline for the follow-up course to TM instruction. They were dictated on Teacher Training Course, Phase III (TTCIII) to prospective initiators. Future initiators essentially memorize the "notes." Includes overview and foot notes.

"3 Days Checking Notes"

blackball.GIFSteal this Flyer!

Are you or a loved one considering starting TM? Here are some basic facts which you and others may wish to know. Written together by a TM initiator and a new meditator, this flyer outlines insider secrets and questions you may wish to consider. We also provide a versions that you may laser print.

Questions for an Intro Lecture

blackball.GIFWhat Is TM?

New to TM? Based on an outline by Steven Hassan, this concise outline defines basic terms and gives a general overview. With special sections for current and former members, friends and loved ones, the media, and more.

TM Defined

blackball.GIFChildren's Initiation

Details on how TM teachers initiated children as young as 3 years old into the "walking word of wisdom" -- literally verbal japa of Hindu diety names.

Some court records from Kropinski talk about signs of autistic behavior among some MIU children. Also the "German Study" found that "....Some children who began the practice of T.M. at an early age, were diagnosed as having developed autistic behavior."

To our knowledge this material has never before been published anywhere..

TM Children's Initiation

blackball.GIFNJ Court Case -- Full Text

Judge Meanor's 1976 precedent-setting opinion that found TM, the puja, and the Science of Creative Intelligence all to be religious -- and barred TM from public schools. "Although defendants have submitted well over 1500 pages of briefs, affidavits, and deposition testimony in opposing plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, defendants have failed to raise the slightest doubt as to the facts or as to the religious nature of the teachings of the Science of Creative Intelligence and the puja. The teaching of the SCI/TM course in New Jersey public high schools violates the establishment clause of the first amendment, and its teaching must be enjoined." With links to the appellate decision and important American case law based on this precedent.

1976 NJ Court Case: "TM Is a Religion"

blackball.GIFCourts: TM Religion in '96!

In January 1996 Memorandum Opinion, a Federal judge denies Diane Hendel's complaints against the TM movement, because it is a religion subject to all the constitutional protections and sanctions of any other religion. With appeal for review.

Hendel vs. WPEC

blackball.GIFProblems with TM Research

Is TM universally benign? Does long-term TM practice cause negative side effects? Why is the scientific research on these issues so contradictory. Professor Barry Markovsky, Director of the Center for the Study of Group Processes, talks about the issues facing researchers into consciousness phenomena.

Problems with TM Research

blackball.GIFStories: Don, Marcy, "anon3"

In an unusual submission to TranceNet's "Personal Stories Archive," Don Krieger and Marcy Greene tell how they faced Don's exit from TM as a couple. Also, the story of "anon3," a TMer who found much spiritual good in the Maharishi's teachings -- but questioned Movement policies.

New Personal Stories

blackball.GIFNighttime Techniques

We publish -- for the first time anywhere -- several versions of the secret, on-again-off-again Nighttime Techniques taught by the Maharishi, Deepak Chopra, and others in the TM movement. Said to promote "witnessing sleep" and growth to Cosmic Consciousness, the techniques are among the most secret in the Movement's history.

Nighttime Techniques

blackball.GIFChopra "Bliss" Techniques

Several versions of the techniques taught by Deepak Chopra -- taught both during and after his involvement with the TM movement.

Chopra Bliss Techniques

blackball.GIFTM's Secret Forms & Data Bank

The constant use of forms sets the TM movement apart from eastern spiritual groups, where a personal relationship with one's teacher is the norm. That these forms were important cannot be denied: They were subject to the utmost secrecy, never to be revealed to the public. Our new "Forms Archive" includes a very incomplete selection of the dozens of forms a TMer will complete during his or her involvement with the movement.

TM's Secret Forms & Data Bank

blackball.GIFTM News Archive

We add articles on a nearly daily basis to the largest TM news archive on the Web!

TM News Archive

blackball.GIFLinks, Links, Links!

Our vastly expanded Links Archive will direct you to over 100 TM, Natural Law Party, Rama, Chopra, Moon, cult, human rights, consumer protection, domestic abuse, and legal resources on the 'Net.

Links, Links, Links!


Past Issues of TranceNet

  • Two dozen personal stories: Mitch Kapor, Founder of Lotus, Inc., Peter McWilliams, Pat Ryan, and more.
  • Court documents allege murders, suicides, violence, and psychosis.
  • Purusha threatens law suits
  • Natural Law Party in the news
  • Independent research that long-term TM practice may lead to epileptic-like seizures, dissociation, and debilitating depression
  • Secret TM mantras, teachings, techniques, and scriptures and much, much more
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Creation has two sides: intelligence, which is the cause of everything, and the manifestations of intelligence, which are the physical and psychological features of the everyday world. Because Transcendental Meditation directly approaches intelligence, rather than the manifestations of intelligence, it solves problems by introducing harmony and well-being at the most basic level, and not by dealing with problems themselves. That's why it is so effective.

Consider this example: The gardener supplies water to the root of a tree. That water, that nourishment, then reaches all parts of the tree - leaves, branches, flowers, fruit - through the sap. We can think of the sap as analogous to intelligence and the green leaves or yellow flowers as analogous to the manifestations of the intelligence. The leaves and flowers are the intelligence of the sap, after it has been transformed. So intelligence - like the leaves and flowers of a tree - appears as the many different forms of manifest life. Those manifestations include every aspect of existence, from the material and physiological, through the psychological, intellectual, and spiritual. All of those features of life come from transformations of intelligence. In meditation, we directly meet this essential intelligence. Therefore, we have the possibility of nourishing all of its other levels, and thus all levels of manifestation, in a way that is harmoniously related to the whole universe.

How is Transcendental Meditation different from the various other forms of meditation?

Maharishi: The basic difference is that Transcendental Meditation, in addition to its simplicity, concerns itself only with the mind. Other systems often involve some additional aspects with which the mind is associated, such as breathing or physical exercises. They can be a little complicated because they deal with so many things. But with Transcendental Meditation there is no possibility of any interference. So we say this is the all-simple program, enabling the conscious mind to fathom the whole range of its existence.

Transcendental Meditation ranges from active mind - or performing mind - to quiet mind - or resting mind. In this resting mind, one has purity and simplicity, uninvolved with anything other than the mind, uninvolved with any other practice. In Transcendental Meditation, because we deal only with the mind, we nourish all expressions of intelligence.

The mind meditates, gains Transcendental Consciousness and brings about transformation in different fields of manifestation. All fields of life, which are the expression of intelligence, are nourished or transformed and made better through experiencing Transcendental Consciousness.

The mind, of course, is always concerned with other aspects, such as the physiology of the body, the environment, and the whole universe for that matter. But since Transcendental Meditation deals only with the performance of the mind, from its active states to its settled state, it remains unconcerned with those other aspects, though it deals with them all, because intelligence deals with them all. -- Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, unknown interview, copyright presumablyheld by Maharishi Vedic University, The Maharishi Foundation, or another group within the TM family.

Cults come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Categories of cults that are recruiting successfully today include:

Eastern meditation: characterized by belief in God-consciousness, becoming one with God. The leader usually distorts and Eastern-based philosophy or religion. Members sometimes learn to disregard worldly possessions and may take on an ascetic lifestyle. Techniques used: meditation, repeated mantras, altered states of consciousness, trance states.

Religious: marked by belief in salvation, afterlife, sometimes combined with an apocalyptic view. The leader reinterprets the Scriptures and often claims to be a prophet if not the messiah. Often the group is strict, sometimes using physical punishments such as paddling and birching, especially on children. Members are encouraged to spend a great deal of time proselytizing. (Note: included here are Bible-based neo-Christian and other religious cults, many considered syncretic since they combine beliefs and practices). Techniques used: speaking in tongues, chanting, praying, isolation, lengthy study sessions, many hours spent evangelizing, "struggle" (or criticism) and confession sessions.

Political, racist, terrorist: fueled by belief in changing society, revolution, overthrowing the "enemy" or getting rid of evil forces. The leader professes to be all-knowing and all-powerful. Often the group is armed and meets in secret with coded language, handshakes, and other ritualized practices. Members consider themselves an elite cadre ready to go to battle. Techniques used: paramilitary training, reporting on one another, guilt, fear, struggle sessions, instilled paranoia, long hours of indoctrination. -- Captive Hearts, Captive Minds, Lalich and Tobias, Hunter House, 1993.