On Nov 16, 2006, at 12:02 AM, suziezuzie wrote:
I called the Art of Living center in Boulder Colorado and spoke with an individual who said that the Art of Living meditation technique is different than the TM technique. He also said that there is an emphasis on krias (purification practices) and pranayama in conjunction with meditation. The meditation is called SaHaj in which the attention is put on the heart along with the use of a mantra as opposed to TM in which the mantra is effortlessly repeated with transcending naturally occurring. To say that both techniques are identical according to this individual is incorrect. He knows because he was a TMer and learned SaHaj as taught by the Art of Living also. So at this point, I've decided to go with TM for my daughter and hope she likes it and sticks to it. This individual also mentioned that there is no tension between Shankar and MMY, that MMY support everything Shankar is doing. He also said that prices are negotiable, students pay half the price and that there is no problem if someone cannot afford to pay at all. He said that Shankar was a secretary of MMY's and when he became enlightened, MMY encourage Shankar to go off and teach with MMY's blessing. That according to this person I spoke with, there never was a problem with MMY and Shankar. I get the impression that many of the TMers who went with this group were looking for a more personal relationship with a master/organization which is what it sounds like, like what the TM organization was back in the 60s early 70s, loosely conducted with a Guru who is very assessable. Mark
Interesting story, thanks Mark. The "attention on the heart" part is an advanced TM technique your son would not get without paying many thousands of dollars for TM + several 3000 dollar "advanced" techniques. Of course they will not be able to admit that it *is* the same due to lawsuits--and I imagine they've all been prompted to state so in any questioning situation. On the other hand, Sahaj appears to be the successor and the natural evolution of TM--a more full, complete and balanced program. In other words, he is truly upholding "purity of tradition", rather than diluting it. It will very likely bade well in producing independent students, rather than clinging vines. Way to go Ravi! (Ra! Ra! Ra!).
