The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his073/cult09.arj/CULT09.TXT

Text File | 1988-04-12 | 6KB | 111 lines

                     TM - CULT OF THE EMPTY MIND

.    Transcendental Meditation comes in many guises.  Indeed, it can
come heavily disguised.  (For a Hindu this is quite logical because he
will gladly lie to gain a convert.)
.    My reason for mentioning Hinduism is given below, but Christian
readers must always be on their guard when it comes to what seems to
be a Christian 'therapy' or meditative process.  In particular, watch
out for 'harmless' treatments available on the NHS or other therapy
provision.  It is very easy for a professional Christian worker to be
fooled by what appears to be a slick and proven therapy.  One example
is Gestalt Therapy, which relies heavily on Eastern mysticism and its
philosophies.

                            HISTORY OF TM

.    There are many faces to Transcendental Meditation (more commonly
called TM), but do not be sidetracked - it is just one of the many
facets of Hinduism.  It first hit the headlines in the swiftly
changing, heady atmosphere of the 1960's, when the cult leader,
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, toured the U.S.A.  He presented TM as a
scientific answer to today's problems of race hatred, violence, drug
abuse and anxiety.  Literally thousands flocked to enroll in TM
courses.  Everyone, from university educationists to the armed forces,
prisons, schools and even theological colleges, swarmed to be a part
of the new wave of thinking.  They all felt the need for change, for a
new spirituality.  TM seemed to offer this, even though it was
primarily billed as scientific.
.    Many scientific claims were made for the truth and helpfulness of
TM.  But, one by one, concerned scientists found the claims to be
false or exaggerated.  Personally, for instance, I have noted that
certain mechanical machines used to lower blood pressure can do the
same work as TM does.  More pertinently, Christian holiness and prayer
is far superior to any 'method'.  Today TM is often used in
psychiatric settings.  Alas, it is also to be found within our
churches.  As in the past, TM may often be disguised as something
else.  Many martial arts, for example, are based on TM techniques.
Others, in an effort to hide the true origins of TM, try to present
certain meditative processes as scientific or psychological
treatments.

                          TRUE NATURE OF TM

.    Those who attend TM sessions usually believe they are to be
treated for anxiety.  TM also claims to make better work relations,
reduce fears, etc.  But, as one Hindu priest told me, "people must, if
needs be, be tricked into becoming Hindus"!!!  The Maharishi himself
tells instructors that people are "too ignorant" to understand
Hinduism, therefore they must be helped, by deceit!!
.    Thus, newcomers to TM are asked to bring flowers with them to
their first session.  They are also urged to bring fruit and a
handkerchief (these are themselves a warning signal!) They are put
facing the Maharashi's own dead guru and the instructor sings a song
in Sanskrit and invites the newcomer to bow.  Many Christians have
done this.
.    What is not known is that the song is in praise of Hindu gods and
it invokes the spirits.  The newcomer is given a 'mantra', a
meaningless word which is used as a repetitive prayer.  When the
initiate repeats his mantra he is actually invoking the gods for
himself.  All this time, he does not know he is doing anything
religious but believes it is a meditative technique.

                            RESULTS OF TM

.    Gradually, the initiate comes under the control of both his
instructor and his own mantra.  There comes a time when the constant
repetition of his mantra produces a numbness of mind, when he does not
even hear himself praying to the gods.  His mind empties of all
thought, leading towards the 'merging of self' with the so called
'absolute deity', Brahma.
.    Eventually, adherents to TM lose their personality and lose touch
with reality.  They no longer love anyone else and many end up with
mental disorders.  Many, also, suffer demon attack and even
possession.  The Maharishi sees no place in the world for a non-Hindu.
He claims that man is divine and so he cannot sin.  His only 'sin' he
says, "is that he does not recognize his own divinity"!!!  It is not
unusual that TM adherents take up the occult in its many forms,
including levitation, witchcraft etc.

                          THE PLACE OF YOGA

.    Yoga exercises are not as harmless as they seem.  Again, many
Christians take up Yoga as a 'harmless pastime' to help relieve
tension and aches.  Experts say, however, that yoga is no more
effective than any other form of physical training.  More to the
point, though, is the fact that every single minute movement to be
found in any yoga exercise is really a prayer to the gods!  Each
passive, gentle movement is a symbol which 'speaks' to the spirits.
Christians who take up yoga seriously or TM, eventually lose all love
they ever had for their Savior and God.  They begin to accept all
kinds of 'other gospels' and will usually start to say that God can be
reached by other faiths.  Some may also experience the other horrific
problems already mentioned.

                              CONCLUSION

.    TM is not to be fooled with or toyed with.  It is a cult, a lie
of the devil.  It cannot, in any form, be 'mixed' with Christianity.
In my own town, the local Anglican church regularly holds yoga
sessions and TM sessions in the aisle!  It is all put under the title
of 'Christian'!  TM is Hindu.  It is meant to draw you into a false
religion which is devoted to false gods and evil spirits.  The devil
will use any means to destroy men and turn men from the true God.  TM
in its many disguises does just that.

(This text, which has been edited by TRINITY 1 BBS, was originally
supplied by REACHOUT Trust, PO Box 43, Twickenham, Middx TW2 7EG)

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