Recently a friend of mine has approached me an asked me to post his thoughts about a lecture that he attended that was provided free to the University of Vermont community and the Burlington township. The orignal invite for this seminar looked like this:
Transcendental Meditation Free Introductory Lecture UVM Bittersweet Bldg Conference Room Historic Red Building - SW corner Main & Prospect Street Parking: Across S Prospect Behind Allen House
Wednesday - March 31st 7pm
Practical & Profound Benefits for Mind & Body
Increases Creativity, Intelligence & Happiness
Improves Mental & Physical Health
Reduces Stress & Anxiety
Improves Interpersonal Relationships
Increases Clarity of Thinking & Learning Ability
Sponsored by UVM Environmental Program & the Burlington Peace Palace.
Contact Information: Thomas Hall, 863-8469
ThomasHall@alum.mit.edu, www.BurlingtonPeacePalace.org
Having not attended this lecture, I can not comment, but I thank you Nick for your insights, comments and warnings:
AT WHAT PRICE COMES ETERNAL BLISS?
Transcendental Meditation is a nice concept. Imagine a technique that can increase creativity, intelligence, happiness, health, relationships, and reduce stress and anxiety. For the minor sum of $2,500, you can have all that and more! What more? You will also get a 6 hour training (divided over 6 months) and a to secret mantra. (cult watchout #1)
Secret mantra? $2,500.?? Where do they come up with this stuff? I'm going to save myself the $2,500 and google this stuff. What I found was pretty damn scary. Apparently this entire movement is questionable at best, a powerful cult at its worse.
https://minet.org/mantras.html (get your mantras free here!)
https://www.classicalyoga.org/cont.html
Where you sign up? On the form that they provide at the end of the seminar. Under no circumstance is that form allowed to leave the room. (cult watchout #2)
The information they collect also raised a few eyebrows-- (usual personal stuff, along with such interesting tidbits as "other meditation techniques tried and results", "hallucinogenic substances tried", etc.) may be used for yogi knows what? Rest assured, the form "Will be keep confidential." There is a disclaimer at the bottom which states that individual results may vary. (this-place-was-sued-watchout #1)
The lecturer drew diagrams on a post-it pad which showed us our current way of thinking, and the problems with that. We were asked about the number of thoughts we had in a given day. (i lost count at 2,500) The diagrams were actually rather interesting, if viewed from a Mondrian perspective. Many studies were quoted (cult watchout #3) which showed the superior results of TM as compared with any other scientific or medical approach to stress and the ailments it apparently generates. However, nothing of substance was mentioned, until the cost was let known, in the last 5 minutes of the seminar.(cult watchout #4)
If its inner peace you want, I would suggest any of the other free meditation techniques/practices espoused everywhere. If you feel you must pay money to achieve a "blissful" state, there are lots of drug dealers on the corners and books at Barnes and Nobles.
-Nick Ogrizovich
Glad you had the good sense to ignore the hook. Get the warning out.
TJ
that's awesome.