--- In [email protected], "george_deforest" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > TurquoiseB wrote: > > > > I kinda doubt there would be much cud to chew. > > My take on Maharishi is that he *doesn't* self reflect > > like all of us. I'm sitting here racking my brain > > trying to remember any example of seeing him do so ... > > > > Maybe someone else here can, but it appeared to me that > > self-reflection, especially if it required him to assess > > his own actions critically, was just [not] among the tools > > in his toolbox. > > well there is one phrase that shows up now and then...roughly, > "after 50 years - the time for talking is over, now it is > time to produce the effect" > > This is rather revealing, that he knows that so far he has only > talked the talk, but not yet walked the walk, so to speak. > > two examples him saying this, there are others > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/message/112521 > http://www.rickross.com/reference/tm/tm127.html
While yours is a positive and, IMO, generous POV on Maharishi's use of that phrase, George, I don't quite see it that way. When I've heard him use it, its intent seems tied to who he's talking to, and about. That is, the followers, his students. It's time for *them* to stop talking, and sign up for the course the way he wants them to (first link you cite). Or contribute big bucks so that he can pursue another of his world-saving schemes. I'm stickin' to my guns on this one, but I am curious as to whether anyone else here (many of you, after all, have far more experience being close to Maharishi than I have) has heard quotes that indicate that Maharishi *does* self-reflect, in a manner that can be interpreted as viewing his own actions critically, admitting mistakes, and attempting to learn from them and not make similar mistakes in the future. I've racked my tiny brain, and I can't remember even a single instance of this. Perhaps someone here can help out and prove me wrong. I just don't think his wetware is wired that way, that's all. He doesn't question his own actions or second-guess them because he *assumes* that they are "in accord with the laws of nature." His con- sistent actions and words when one of his schemes blows up and/or produces negative reactions has been (in my experience) to hide the evidence and blame someone else. Case in point -- the first court case over whether TM was not religious in nature and thus could be taught in public school systems. When that court case hit the fan, I was working in the Regional Office in L.A. We received a demand from Maharishi (through another Regional Coordinator who was with him when he made the decree) that certain audio and videotapes we had in the offices in which he used language that could be interpreted as religious were to be "recalled," and sent back immediately to Switzerland. We were instructed to enforce this in the individual TM centers as well, and force them to send the tapes back as well. We were told to promise them that they would be reimbursed by National for the expense of the tapes they were sending back. No one was ever reimbursed. All of the tapes disappeared, as far as I can tell, into the black hole of covering Maharishi's ass. And at the same time, Maharishi gave several talks blaming the whole situation on TM teachers who had "strayed from the purity of the teaching," by repeating in public *his own words*. I stand ready to be corrected on this by anyone who has more knowledge and experience than I on this subject. But for right now, I have to stick with my original assessment -- self reflection and the ability to admit one's mistakes and learn from them is just not one of the tools in Maharishi's spiritual toolbox.
