Over the 50 years since Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced the Transcendental Meditation program to the West, it has spread to over 150 countries worldwide and is practiced by millions of people. In the modern world of the Internet, every organization will attract some criticism, and it’s hard for the reader to sort out what is fact or fiction. I will be addressing the few inevitable criticisms from my scientific perspective (see About David Orme-Johnson ).
These issues include challenges to the research, questions about whether TM is a religion or cult, whether it has harmful effects, and about court cases, and on the Maharishi Effect and TM’s possible influence on society.
Science is not a good measuring stick here, my questions were about an affect on one’s soul. I practiced TM briefly long ago, observed some somatic benefits, but then realized that I am entering an unknown realm with only TM instructor as a guide. Sorry, in such endeavors I’d rather be guided by JC.