I appreciate everything you say here. It makes me think. And also I'm remembering: I worked on MIU staff for 1 year and that credit paid for eight weeks of TMSP prep courses in 1977; I worked on MIU staff for 3 years and that credit paid for an 11 month graduate program, MA in SCI; I received a full scholarship for 3 years to earn an MS in Psychology; I currently go to the Dome twice a day every day completely free of charge. I understand that others have had a different experience. But I must honor my own experience and it is that the TMO via MIU has been very generous towards me.
Regarding the school children and the energy exchange: perhaps they are encouraged to offer a week's allowance or something like that. If not, I'm sure Beingness understands (-: As for the people responsible for high prices now: if they are doing something that is good on some level we cannot now see, then I'm happy for their good karma; if they are doing something harmful, then I wish for them a thorough and compassionate burning off of this bad karma. Perhaps I'm being too simple. I agree that it is all quite absurd and complicated. And yet to be a human is an amazing thing even with complications and absurdities. ________________________________ From: navashok <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 11:20 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Speaking of puja --- In [email protected], Share Long wrote: > > I've heard that in the beginning Maharishi wanted to teach TM for free. I have heard that too! >  But the Westerners told him that people would not value it if it did not > cost money. I know the logic, but it is over-extended here IMO. Now it's just all about money. And it is simply not true that people can not value something that is free, of course they can, lot's of rich people donate for free things. Think about Ammachi, she does not charge anything, and yet her ashram must be one of the richest in India. Same with Sai Baba (whatever you may think of him), access to him was always free, and yet he gathered billions in donations. There are also many people who think that true spirituality shouldn't cost anything. You may not agree, but money puts an extra layer in at any spiritual movement, and it complicates things. IMO the essential teaching of any movement or religious organization should be either free or low cost and affordable. There can be always 'add ons' spiritual articles that are not essential for which you can charge, and which people like to have, like CD's, books, Ayurvedic products etc. I am just here at an ashram in India, where everything is either free or very low-cost, even books. I rent a room for 3$, I eat in the dining hall for not even a dollar a day. Yes it is India, but it is still very reduced even subsidized by the Ashram. > When I began in 1975, the cost was one week's salary. Also, I know some New > Age teachers who say that there must be an exchange of energy in order for > what they impart to be effective. Yes, I know, but that 'exchange' should be based on free will, on ones own insight and appreciation, it shouldn't be forced onto people. Also the economic situation of people may vary over time. Take as an example advanced technique, they are highly recommended by the movement, and yet, for a very small addition, you have to spend the same amount as for basic TM, which is already overcharged. In this case you get clearly people, who surely appreciate the technique, they have been practicing, but they can't go on to a longer mantra, as they may just not have the money at hand. Here certainly the logic doesn't hold true anymore. Also, people don't just value something, because it is overpriced. It always depends on the competition, if you can get the same thing for free or for much cheaper. Take the case of the iphone. In the beginning it had a monopoly, it was the latest thing in town and a must have. Now the competition is getting stronger, with Android phones being cheaper and also getting better, the market share of the iphone is reduced, they either have to introduce some new innovation or reduce the price to be more competitive. I know nobody outside of the TM movement who understands the price policy of TM. Everybody I meet in the spiritual scene thinks that TM is just about money making, and therefore don't take it serious. And what do you think, when school kids get sponsored by other people to learn TM? How does this relate to the 'exchange energy', as THEY aren't giving back, it's some rich TM donor. Well, if you think about it, it's all quite absurd. > ________________________________ > From: navashok > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 5:09 AM > Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Speaking of puja > > >  > --- In [email protected], Michael Jackson wrote: > > > There are others like former TM teacher Bob Fickes who say the puja > > ceremony helps to refine the awareness of the initiator and gives the > > mantra its potency. He has said without the puja the mantra won't have the > > proper vibration or potency. > > That's how we were told on our TTC. That's exactly the logic given to the TM > teachers at the time. > > > Still others, specifically Raja Badgett Rogers has said that the mantra > > doesn't work unless there is the offering or dakshina of the fruit, flowers > > and money, and it is the offering, the gift, that makes the mantra work and > > of course the flowers and fruit are part of the puja. > > The logic of this, with the speciphic emphasis on money here in this context > makes my hair stand on end, really! We weren't told this on TTC, it must be a > new thing. It is a merchants attitude to God/ Spirituality. 'I give you > enough money, and you render my mantra effective.' This has been called > spiritual materialism by Chögyam Trungpa. Reminds me of catholic indulgence. > IMO this twisting is exactly how knowledge is lost. > > In the same vein is the idea that scientific research 'belongs' to somebody > who sponsored (bought) it, and therefore 'belongs' to him, like somebody here > recently posted. >
