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Affidavit of Linda Kehl
Affidavit
1. I am Linda Kehl, formerly Linda Whipple, having married Kim Kehl on
November 8th, 1983. I am 43 years of age.
2. My current mailing address is 412 N. Greenbay Road #1505, Waukegan
Illinois 60085.
3. I was made a teacher of Trancendental [sic] Meditation, T.M., in La Antilla, Spain 1973, and a Governor in Amherst, Ma. in 1979. I also attented [sic] various other
courses including India 1980 for the Ayurvedic and Vedic teachings. I have
taught over 100 people T.M. and have been associated with the movement for
10 plus years.
4. We did talk about "enlightenment" of the individual based on a "purified
nervous system" as a result of practicing the T.M. technique and all of its' [sic]
advanced programs in a period from "5-7 years". This was at times qualified by
the condition of the individual's nervous system at the time they started the
program and the desire to speed up their evolution by means of the many
programs offered to do so within the movement, ie., residence courses, teacher
training. SCI, Sidha courses, etc. As instructors, we were programmed to
program that enlightenment means operating at 100% of ones' mental potential,
being perfect and having a "stress free" or "purified nervous system". We taught
that perfection lead to operating ones' life within the laws of nature...which
in turn meant always doing right action, thus implying that one could do no
wrong and would only be able to act out ideal social behaviors. Furthermore, we
taught that if enough people did the T.M. program. and became enlightened they
would create world peace based upon the foregoing logical steps.
5. As an instructor, the T.M. movement required that before releasing a mantra
to an initiate, the initiate first had to orally agree not divuldge [sic] their personalized mantra to anyone for the following reasons:
1. The mantra would lose its power and effectiveness.
2. It would ruin another individuals opportunity (for enlightenment) not to
have a qualified teacher of T.M. give him his own specific and correct
personal mantra, (which we said was based on many factors taken from
their personal interview form which also served as a written agreement
not to reveal the mantra), and who would instruct them on how to
use the mantra properly and effectively according to the instruction given
to him or her personally by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi which he taught them
was according to the oral Shankara Charya [sic] tradition given to him by his
Master Guru Dev Swami Brahamananda [sic] Saraswati and which the
responsibility of the purity of this tradition was now placed in our hands'
and this agreement must be made to fulfill this obligation.
In fact, based on my present full knowledge of the fact that from course to
course mantras changed and that I personally had (16) mantras in which age
was the only determining factor and that the mantras and how they are used
are public knowledge available in books and libraries leads me to believe there
was purposeful fraud and deception in order to try and maintain exclusive use
of these techniques for monetary gain and world domination.
6. As teachers of T.M., we were told and did teach the mantras were sounds
without meaning but with known effects. That due to time tested results. the
mantras had only those qualities which were life suporting [sic] and which put one
on the path towards enlightenment. That is why it was so imperative to have
the correct mantara [sic] and to be personally taught. Obviously, none of the adverse
reactions are discussed until after one begins the T.M. program. When
headaches, involuntary body movements, mental negativity. anxiety. etc.,
ocurred [sic] , the individual was always the cause of these problems; never is the
technique ever considered or allowed to be considered the cause of such
problems. Whenever problems ocurred [sic] and were brought up. usually on
courses, the explanation given to us as teachers was that individuals were
unstressing or that their nervous system was purifying and that the individual
should continue the T.M. technique irregardless. Consequently. that canned
explanation is what we as teachers of T.M. used to handle every problem we
encountered personally or with others when in reality no one knew what was
really going on. If anyone pushed for answers or complained too much, he or
she was accused of being a heavy unstresser and a threat of not being able to
attend future courses was proposed which was horrifying to the one in the class
who planned to be enlightened in 5-7 years. In essence we were talking in
terms of that individuals salavation [sic]: his life.
7. People are initially interested in T.M. because it is attractively marketed as a
simple relaxation technique. "scientifically" verified by accumulated research
which is handed out in number at the introductory lecture and referred to
throughout the lecture.
People are told it is not a religion, philosophy, way of life, contemplative or
concentrative form of meditation or a form of hypnosis. We were told of the
benefits of T.M: advanced mental potential, improved health, positive social
behavior, and world peace. The T.M. movement used "scientific" charts to verify
and validate their claims. I myself and countless others would not have become
involved had we not been decieved [sic] into believeing [sic] "the truth that is only sweet"
or had we been informed of the many other deceptions, ie., T.M. is a religion
based on the New Jersey court decision.
7. I have paid a high price due to the deception. I am partially aware of the
physical, psychological, and emotional damage I experienced from using the T.M.
techniques let alone the time and my financial loss. It is not possible in what is
supposed to be a brief document to disclose 10-plus years of details. But to
those still living the lie, and to those who may buy the lie, I feel an
overwhelming concern and obligation to bring information forward so that the
truth about this group can be made publically [sic] known.
[signed]
Linda Kehl
STATE OF ILLINOIS
LAKE COUNTY
On this 14th day of July, 1986, before me a Notary Public in and for the
county and state aforesaid, appeared Linda Kehl, to me personally known to be
the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and
acknowledge that she executed said instrument as her free and voluntary act for
the uses' and purposes therein expressed.
Witness my hand and seal the day and year last above given.
[signed]
Rose M. Sheets
Member of the Internet Link Exchange
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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.
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