Hello All, I've been involved with the TM org. since 1969 in a variety of fashions and decided, for once and for all, to 'get out" back in 1990. This does not mean I've broken all contact, just outer contact.
Presently I'm a freelance writer specializing in back-of-book indexes and my clients include some of the world's great presses and then a lesser known but popular group of publishers. I have access to and contact with many editors. I say this for a reason. My own story, in very short, continued to fall apart the more I stayed involved with TM and acted as if my life was an example of what M was talking about. Although the "promises of TM" as heard by me and many others did manifest for some, they not come to fruition for me as they did not for many others. It was not until I chose to take my life in my own hands which included first leaving Fairfield, then finally avoiding the centers and any type of outward oriented TM activity, that I was able to turn things around from the dregs of poverty to a more successful life in terms of earning ability. I am not a TM basher. I did what I needed to do and still do so. After reading many thousands of posts first at alt.tm then here I have the idea of writing a book about what I think of as The Other Side of Spiritual Growth. With the new wave of Oprah-Eckhart Tolle, every magazine in creation touting some kind of yoga. and presenting only the "pro" side of living the Eastern or Spirit-based life, I have thought that there are many many people like me, and like others posting on FFLIfe, and many people here know of others, both TMers or some kind of other spiritual aspirants, who have lived the spiritual life only have things go awry as opposed to better. They do not necessarily turn into ardent bashers but they are experiencing disappointment, disillusionment and may have taken steps such as I have and many others have by getting out and pursuing an independent life. I am looking for stories, first-person accounts from people, like me, who are not out to bash what they have done, but to express themselves, addressing the disappointments and broken promises, their side of the story, how life may have taken a downturn inside of the opposite. Also, what you/they have done to create a change for yourself. Or if you/they even have. If you are someone who would like to tell your story, of course no names need be used, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. If you know of other groups I might contact and make a similar request of and/or other people who might like to get their story of the "other" side of spiritual pursuits, please contact me. Everything is held in the strictest of confidence which is how my entire business works as I get books, some very known after they are published, before they are released and am used to that type of discretion. Thank you!! Ken [EMAIL PROTECTED]