How sure are you that this is a photo of Maharishi dead? He doesn't appear to be seated on a bed and his skin isn't pale.
It just looks to me like a picture of him sitting with his eyes closed. --- In [email protected], "Alex Stanley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > For those who read FFL via the website and therefore do not see > attached files, I've uploaded the MMY Mahasamadhi photo that was > attached to the post below to my webserver: > > http://alex.natel.net/ffl/images/mmy_mahasamadhi.jpg > > --- In [email protected], Dick Mays <dickmays@> wrote: > > > > From: "Steve Van Damme" <steve@> > > > > Dear Friends, > > > > On January 11, 2008, Maharishi gave his farewell address to his > > worldwide family, saying that he had fulfilled his "designed duty to > > Guru Dev" and was handing over all responsibilities to his Rajas and > > Ministers and national leaders, and retiring from activity. It was an > > emotion-filled tribute that followed, with all the assembled > > dignitaries of the Movement giving their personal appreciations and > > cherished memories. He asked his Rajas if he deserved a gift of a > > memorial, to himself and Guru Dev, for what had been brought to the > > world: a Tower of Invincibility in each of the countries overseen by > > the Rajas. > > > > A couple weeks ago, it was resolved that the first tower would be > > built right next to Maharishi's house. The groundbreaking ceremony > > took place on Monday January 28. Offers of funding poured in from > > around the world. > > > > Today, February 5, 2008, having fulfilled his duty to Guru Dev, > > Maharishi took mahasamadhi. He has left his mortal body, but he > > remains with us eternally in spirit, in our hearts, in the very > > Silence that permeates every grain of creation. > > > > I remember the first time I saw Maharishi. It was in the auditorium > > at Humboldt University, California. He walked through the line of > > people on either side, gently taking the flowers people offered him. > > I didn't have any flowers, it was a new concept to me to give flowers > > to a man. But the feeling of gratitude was so overwhelming that it > > was so natural that I wished I had a flower--anything--to give. He > > glanced at me with a brilliant gleam in his eye, a smile, and a soft > > Jai Guru Dev as if to say, "It wasn't necessary, just enjoy." My > > heart melted in joy. It was a moment made indelible in my memory. > > > > Tonight, around 7:30 pm everyone here collected in the big meeting > > tent where Maharaja Raam announced the news (which you can hear on > > the Maharishi Channel, see link below). We listened to sahasranam, > > and then did puja to Guru Dev. The air was saturated with incense, > > purity, and a sanctified transcendental bliss colored with a soft > > silent sadness. The Rajas and Directors were invited by Maharaja Raam > > to Maharishi's house, then everyone was invited to go. > > > > The only time before when everyone was invited into Maharishi's house > > was just before he entered it the first time, about 10-11 years ago, > > no doubt with much celebration. This time it was quiet. Only a few > > whispers. A lady couldn't hold back and wept. Single file we slowly > > made our way upstairs to the brahmasthan room that Maharishi had > > spent so many hours in the past 10-11 years, pouring out an > > inexhaustible flow of knowledge and inspiration and guidance to > > Movement leaders, to Purusha and Mother Divine, and to the whole > > world, through every modern system of communication. > > > > One has time to let the reality of events sink in while waiting in > > line. My thoughts touched on wonderful memories of Maharishi and also > > the events of the day. A mixture of joy and sadness on the solid > > ground of bliss. And a bit of pondering. What would happen now that > > he isn't directing and prodding his Movement to move at every turn? I > > felt the thoughts of some others, similar. Others emanated solid > > confidence. Indeed, this Movement is in very good hands. > > > > Finally I reached the door of the brahmasthan. I could see the large > > room was full of Rajas and Ministers, meditating or just silently > > watching. It was also full of all sorts of gifts from years of > > celebrations, on tables, on shelves, and free standing. Devatas and > > elephants, Faberge eggs and flags, gold wish-fulfilling trees and > > building models, and innumerable other gifts with so much > > concentrated gratitude emanating from each. It was a beautiful gold > > and crystal wonderland. But the most striking decoration was the row > > of huge pictures of Guru Dev above--maybe 8--which Maharishi could > > see from his couch every day. They dominated everything. Maharishi's > > life always was 100% devotion to Guru Dev. As he said just a few > > weeks before, he offered his EVERYTHING to Guru Dev. > > > > His mortal remains sat upright on a bed, wrapped in white except for > > his face, garlanded in a few thin strands of flowers from head to > > foot. Maharaja Raam sat meditating next to the bed. I couldn't stand. > > My mentor, my teacher, my infallible guide through the perilous roads > > of life had gone silent. I bowed in prayer of gratitude and a > > request. Somehow I felt it already answered. > > > > Such a divine master is so unimaginably rare. It has been our > > extraordinary great fortune to have been touched by his infinite > > compassion and transformed by his perfect knowledge. He altered our > > personal destinies and the destiny of the whole world. I think it is > > quite fair and true to say he saved the world from annihilation, > > several times probably. I know he saved me, many times, in ways I can > > barely comprehend, too personal to describe. You must have your own > > story. > > > > Within our hearts Maharishi will always remain. We pray that his > > work, the work of Guru Dev, will be carried on ceaselessly through > > his Rajas, Ministers, Directors, Governors, sidhas, meditators, and > > all lovers of life, to bring permanent Invincibility to every nation > > and to unfold the full glory of life in enlightenment in every > > sincere seeker for all generations to come. > > > > Maharishi gave us everything we need. Now let us move forward, guided > > by Maharishi and Guru Dev in our hearts, to create the full glory of > > Heaven on Earth. Nothing else could be more worthwhile to do. > > > > Jai Guru Dev, > > > > Steve > > > > Watch for announcements of ceremonies at: > > <http://news.mou.org/>http://news.mou.org/ > > > <http://globalgoodnews.com/watch-live.html>http://globalgoodnews.com/watch- live.html > > > > Maharishi's farewell addresses of January 9, 11, and 12, 2008: > > > <http://press-conference.globalgoodnews.com/archive-menu.html>http://press- conference.globalgoodnews.com/archive-menu.html > > > > A beautiful synopsis of Maharishi's achievements can be found here: > > > <http://maharishi- programmes.globalgoodnews.com/achievements/Maharishi.html>http://maharishi- programmes.globalgoodnews.com/achievements/Maharishi.html > > >
