I appreciate your sharing. I think it is part of Movement history. I have heard similar stories to yours and ones similar to Barry's. One woman I met in Indiana told me of her application process to TTC - she said she answered all the questions honestly and openly including her drug history and when the Center chairman looked it over when she gave it to him, he tore it up right in front of her and as she sat there looking shocked, he pulled another blank form out and said "You'll never become a teacher that way. Let me help you fill this one out." And so he did. And she went on TTC and became a TM teacher.
I think it depended on where you were as to how people behaved - but I must admit I have heard more stories like Barry's and Curtis' than the other side like yours. ________________________________ From: "[email protected] [FairfieldLife]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, May 19, 2014 8:32 PM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Graphing the Illumined Batgap interviewees by types Thank you for asking Michael. I was a full time, dedicated student and teacher from the years of 1974-1981. I initiated numerous people, gave many advanced lectures, taught many residence courses, and participated in administrative center functions. Now allowing for possible selective memory, I know that tensions would periodically arise among teachers over various issues, but in terms of recommending people for courses, there was never a severe vetting process, at least that I was a part of. We always had a pretty good idea of who was wanting to go to Teacher Training, and it was never a big deal. I always read different books about other teachers, and again, it was never a big deal. I knew many people who read the same books and recommended many to me. The only prohibition was to not see other teachers, as it gave the impression that you were still "seeking". If you wish to jump on this as some evidence of cult mentality, go ahead. I never found it to be a big deal. We had our local UC celebrity, Judy M., and she was supposedly close to MMY. On the other hand, she never touted her SOC. But consider Michael, in most teacher/student relationships, or Master/Disciple relationships, I think there is a certain protocol that is followed. The student does not attempt to upstage the teacher. I think TM followed that protocol for the most part. Probably the biggest defection was that of SSRS, And there are various versions of his departure. Curtis remained involved in the organization longer than I did. His experiences were different. ---In [email protected], <mjackson74@...> wrote : So you are disagreeing with Barry - does that also mean you are skeptical of the experiences Curtis relates on these same issues? ________________________________ From: "steve.sundur@... [FairfieldLife]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, May 19, 2014 9:06 AM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Graphing the Illumined Batgap interviewees by types I have to say Barry, when I hear you talk about your experiences in California as as Regional or State Coordinator, it doesn't jibe with my experience in the Midwest, as it pertains to keeping people off course etc. You paint a very severe and petty picture which I do not recognize. P.S. As regards Andy Rymer, as I've reported here previously, during the time I saw him interact with Maharishi, which was around 1977, it was always a very affectionate interaction. There was no "competition" going on. P.S.S. As regards this ostracizing of anyone who claims to have reached enlightenment, I suspect the protocols in the TM Movement were similar to most any student/teacher relationship in the eastern tradition. But it isn't surprising that you would try to paint this relationship in the worst possible way as it pertains to the TMO. Let's face it, that is what constitutes about 80% of your participation here. ---In [email protected], <turquoiseb@...> wrote : I can confirm what Curtis says here, from my earlier Regional Office and State Coordinator days. Other than conducting a Black Mass in the TM center, *nothing* was as likely to get you on Maharishi's Shit List and exiled forever from the movement than "announcing your enlightenment." It was an instantaneous way to be dropped from all mailing lists, be barred from any courses, and be shunned by all concerned. As Curtis suggests, this is pretty odd behavior for a group that promises the fastest path to enlightenment. Several scholars who have specialized in the study of spiritual groups have proposed as one of their primary definitions of a cult the tendency to denigrate any student who claims to have achieved what only the "leader" is supposed to have achieved, and promote the idea that "Nobody graduates." This is seen by many of them as *the* most defining characteristic of a controlling cult.
