Yes, Bob, this is what I heard many years ago. Basically Devendra was given no special instruction whatsoever and sent off to the caves to meditate, rounding with his TM. Eventually, he began to become unhinged - as will happen if one does not have very personalized instruction in such practices - one will eventually go insane. Such practice bear no similarity to TM or any of it's associated practices. Devendra eventually realized that Mahesh didn't know what he was doing and wasn't who he said he was, and he escaped penniless to never be heard, again and dropping all association with the "Maharishi".
FYI, such practices as done in caves or darkness are a highly specialized set of practices that demand close instruction from a master with direct knowledge of how they're applied. For many people, they spend a period of time alternating between meditating in the light of day and the darkness of the cave (or retreat hut). Others can 'take to it' relatively quickly. The teacher plays a vital role, as one gains instruction step by step, based on ones individual experiences as they unfold. But clearly Mahesh had no training in any such thing, and poor Devendra paid for that ignorance. Just because someone tacks the word yogi onto their name and dresses in expensive silks does not make them a yogi. Caveat emptor. On Aug 6, 2011, at 8:28 PM, Bob Price wrote: > > Mark, > > It looks like there is plenty of speculation on Devendra that can be found in > the archives of FFL using his name. The following are some highlights from > Joyce Collin-Smith who knew him both when he joined Maharishi and when he > left. > > There are a number of great stories in 'Call No Man Master". For those that > don't know-Joyce Collin-Smith, the author of the book, she was one of the > early group of meditators-followers of Maharishi in the UK. Early 60's > vintage not unlike Helena Olson. Where Mrs. Olson was a PR professional > Colin-Smith was a journalist on fleet street. She was originally part of the > UK Gurdjieff-Ouspensky- group run by Francis Roles that joined and > financially supported Maharishi in his early visits to the UK as Ouspensky, > on his death, had told them to find an eastern master because they needed > Vedic techniques to actualize their philosophy. They provided the first UK TM > center that Maharishi taught out of on Prince Albert Road in London but > eventually there was a falling out (with Roles and some others) when they > visited the TMO ashram in Rishikesh and met Sivananda at another ashram > across the river. > > Two in this early British group were Joyce Collin-Smith and Philip Williams > (Devendra). Collin Smith looked after Maharishi at this time, acted as his > chauffeur and set up the his first lectures in London and Oxford. She also > edited Maharishi's letters for him as well as making sure he was fed and had > a comfortable place to sleep. Philip was an Anglo Indian and a practising > international lawyer who had graduated with honours from Oxford when he met > Maharishi in the early 60's. He left it all behind and became Maharishi's go > to guy in the early 60's at the Albert Road center. Maharishi eventually > renamed him Devendra and publicly named him his successor after Devendra took > vows. Both Collin Smith and Devendra had been there for a number of years > when the Beatles showed up. For why Joyce Collin Smith eventually left i > recommend reading her book. > > According to Joyce Collin-Smith her and Devendra stayed in touch by letter. > Devendra was eventually sent to India to mediate full time in the caves near > Rishikesh. Eventually his letters to Joyce stopped and she didn't hear from > him for 20 years (no idea what the dates are here) until he showed up in > London penniless and broken. The story he told was that Maharishi had kept > him fasting and meditating in dark caves for years and his meditation had > become more and more bizarre. > > "In the end I thought I was going mad, alone in the caves", 'he said.' > "Maharishi gave me no assistance , no guidance. he just laughed and told me > to go on". 'Terrifying experiences had come to him as he sought to obey the > will of his once beloved and now indomitable Master, as he had always done, > without complaint' > > Long story short he eventually asked the Shankaracharya (the one on M's team) > what he should do and was advised to sneak out of India without telling > Maharishi > which he did with borrowed money. He showed up in London, he was 60, and went > to work in a Japanese restaurant and eventually moved to the Philippines to > live with his sister and was never heard from again. > > I have no idea how true any of this so if it brings about any letters to the > editor, its in the book and you can address all responses to Joyce > Collin-Smith c/o Nirvana, UK branch. I promise to never do this again. > From: Mark Landau <m...@sky5.com> > To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Saturday, August 6, 2011 3:28:51 PM > Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Devendra > > > I would think you could, please do so if you will. (No, I haven't read it.) > He did come a few times while I was with M and did seem to be another > particularly lovely man. > Thanks, m > > On Aug 6, 2011, at 4:21 PM, Bob Price wrote: > >> >> >> Mark, >> >> I met Devendra in Majorca, a lovely man.. I lost track of him till I read a >> hard copy of Joyce Collin-Smith book: "Call No Man Master" (worth the read). >> Have you read it? >> If not, I could share what she reported about Devendra at the end of his >> involvement with the movement. >> >> I'm not sure if there is something in the archives about Devendra (I'm a >> newbie as well), maybe Judy or someone else knows? I think Robin would like >> to hear also if he hasn't read the book? >> >> http://books.google.com/books?id=nc7ww0cuue4C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false >> >> Unfortunately, the bit I think you want is on page 174 which is not included >> in the google book but I think I could describe it without causing >> copyright problems? >> >> From: Mark Landau <m...@sky5.com> >> To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com >> Sent: Saturday, August 6, 2011 2:44:09 PM >> Subject: [FairfieldLife] Devendra >> >> >> Bob, >> >> Would you post the story of Devendra, as you know it, or, if you already >> have, point me to the post? >> >> I always especially liked Billy, too. >> >> Thanks, >> >> m >> >> >> > > > > > > >
