Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, born Mahesh Prasad Varma in India around 1911, was a prominent philosopher and teacher known for developing and popularizing Transcendental Meditation (TM). This meditation technique, which combines mantra meditation with spiritual practices, gained significant attention during the 1960s and 1970s, particularly due to Maharishi's global tours and connections with celebrities like The Beatles. He founded the International Meditation Society in 1959, marking the formal recognition of TM as a spiritual movement. Educated in physics, he became a disciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, which profoundly influenced his teachings. While his methods attracted millions and were embraced by various institutions, he also faced criticism from some scholars for oversimplifying traditional teachings and for the commercialization of his movement. Despite stepping back from leadership roles before his death in 2008, Maharishi's influence endures, with millions worldwide practicing TM as a tool for relaxation and personal growth. His legacy lies in making meditation accessible and promoting the idea that inner peace can contribute to a more harmonious world.
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Subject Terms
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
- Born: October 18, c. 1911; Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Died: February 5, 2008; Vlodrop, the Netherlands
ALSO KNOWN AS: Maharishi (honorific); Mahesh Prasad Varma (given name)
Overview
Indian philosopher and teacher who developed and promoted Transcendental Meditation. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was an Indian philosopher and teacher. He developed Transcendental Meditation, which combines mantra meditation and spiritual techniques. The Maharishi has been called the guru of this technique, which has more recently been termed a spiritual movement.
The Maharishi earned a degree in physics from Allahabad University in 1942. Around this time, he became a disciple and helper to Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, a notable spiritual leader in India and the Maharishi’s inspiration. Around 1955, the Maharishi began to promote Transcendental Meditation and related techniques aimed at holistic well-being.
The Maharishi gained particular popularity in the 1960s and 1970s because of his worldwide tours to promote his teachings and his association with various celebrities, including the band The Beatles. He later detailed his travel experiences in the book Thirty Years Around the World (1986). He founded the International Meditation Society in 1959, the same year his movement was renamed Transcendental Meditation, and in 1966, he founded the Students’ International Meditation Society. He soon began promoting regular yoga and meditation, practices that align with the modern teachings that stemmed from his original approach.
The Maharishi later mentored Deepak Chopra, a popular Indian American physician, writer, and public speaker, during the early 1990s. The two parted ways around 1994, when Chopra left the movement, reportedly because of a disagreement about Chopra’s decision to expand his own teaching and writing career.
Millions of people have studied the Maharishi’s techniques, and many academic and clinical institutions, including universities and holistic practices, have recognized his work. According to various media sources, including Time and Newsweek, the Maharishi has been criticized by other Indian scholars and sages for presenting an overly simplified program that supposedly contradicts traditional Hindu beliefs and practices. Furthermore, others criticized the Maharishi and his affiliates for lavish spending and gaining popularity for his business acumen rather than his spiritual and holistic teachings. The Maharishi stepped down from his active leadership and administrative roles in 2008, and he observed a period of spiritual silence (mauna) until his death a few weeks later.
In the twenty-first century, Transcendental Meditation remained an effective tool for finding clarity, promoting relaxation, and offering alternative perspectives to problem-solving. It is believed that over six million people worldwide have taken an interest in Transcendental Meditation to better their physical and emotional health, and several nonprofit organizations exist to promote the practice. The legacy of the Maharishi is in his ability to make meditation an accessible idea to millions of individuals and bring it into mainstream culture as an effective way to relieve stress. The Maharishi was hopeful that his focus on guiding individuals to find inner peace could transform the world into a more peaceful place. His focus on positive change had a lasting global impact.
Bibliography
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Crumpler, Cheryl, and Matthew Thorpe. "Transcendental Meditation: The Beatles Did It, But Can It Help You?" Healthline, 22 Feb. 2022, www.healthline.com/health/mind-body/transcendental-meditation#benefits. Accessed 8 Sept. 2024.
Humes, Cynthia A. "Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: Beyond the T. M. Technique." Gurus in America, edited by Thomas A. Forsthoefel and Cynthia A. Humes. State University of New York Press, 2005, doi.org/10.2307/jj.18253046.6.
Mason, Paul. The Maharishi: The Biography of the Man Who Gave Transcendental Meditation to the World. Shaftsbury, Dorset, England: Element Books, 1994.
"Transcendental Meditation(R)." Cleveland Clinic, 19 Jan. 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22292-transcendental-meditation. Accessed 8 Sept. 2024.