Talk:Transcendental Meditation/Reception draft

Relationship to religion and spirituality
Official Transcendental Meditation websites state that the Transcendental Meditation technique is a mental technique for deep rest that is associated with specific effects on mind and body. These sites state that the Transcendental Meditation technique does not require faith, belief, or a change in lifestyle to be effective as a relaxation technique. Maharishi called the Transcendental Meditation technique "a path to God," and the Transcendental Meditation technique has been described as "spiritual" but not religious, and as a coping strategy for life.

Professor Jeffrey K. Hadden pointed out that the "...meditation techniques taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi are clearly grounded in the teachings of Hinduism and that the claim to be scientific and not religious produce controversy at a number of levels...".

In The Sociology of Religious Movements, William Sims Bainbridge has found Transcendental Meditation to be a "...highly simplified form of Hinduism, adapted for Westerners who did not posses the cultural background to accept the full panoply of Hindu beliefs, symbols, and practices." Going on to note that TM is an example of a "missionary" religious group which distills the essence of its own religious traditions to make itself more acceptable to its intended audience. Bainbridge describes the Transcendental Meditation puja ceremony as "...in essence, a religious initiation ceremony".

Clergy have varying views when assessing the compatibility of the Transcendental Meditation technique with their religions. For example, Jaime Cardinal Sin, then Catholic Archbishop of Manila, said in 1984 that some concepts taught by Maharishi conflict with Christianity. Other clergy, including Catholic clergy, have found the Transcendental Meditation technique to be compatible with their religious teachings and beliefs.

In 1979, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the US District Court of New Jersey that a curriculum in the Science of Creative Intelligence/Transcendental Meditation, was religious activity within the meaning of the Establishment Clause and that the teaching of SCI/TM in the New Jersey public high schools was prohibited by the First Amendment. The court ruled that although SCI/TM is not a theistic religion it deals with issues of ultimate concern, truth, and other ideas analogous to those in well-recognized religions. The court found that the religious nature of the course was clear from careful examination of the textbook, the expert testimony elicited, and the uncontested facts concerning the puja, but also largely determined by apparent involvement of government. The court also found state action violative of the Establishment Clause because the puja involved "offerings to deities as part of a regularly scheduled course in the schools' educational programs".

Instruction in the Transcendental Meditation technique has been introduced in a number of public charter schools.

University of South Carolina sociologist, Barry Markovsky describes teaching the Transcendental Meditation technique in schools as "stealth religion".

Cult issues
In 1987, the Cult Awareness Network (CAN) held a press conference and demonstration in Washington, D.C., saying that the organization that teaches the Transcendental Meditation technique “seeks to strip individuals of their ability to think and choose freely.” Steve Hassan, author of several books on cults, and at one time a CAN deprogrammer, said in the same press conference that those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique display cult-like behaviors. Cult-like tendencies are described in Michael A. Persinger's book, TM and Cult Mania, published in 1980.

David Orme-Johnson, former faculty member at Maharishi University of Management (at which all students and faculty practice the Transcendental Meditation technique daily) who has researched the Transcendental Meditation technique and the paranormal Maharishi Effect, cites studies by Schecter, Alexander , and Pelletier showing greater autonomy, innovative thought, increased creativity, general intelligence and moral reasoning in those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique. According to Orme–Johnson cult followers are said to allegedly operate on blind faith and adherence to arbitrary rules and authority, while these studies seem to indicate the ability of those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique to make mature, independent, principle-based judgments.

Self definition
The official website descibes Transcendental Meditation as a mental technique for deep rest that does not require faith, belief, or a change in lifestyle to be effective. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi speaks of the Transcendental Meditation technique, in his book, The Science of Being and Art of Living. In the book he states: “Let it [Transcendental Meditation] be adopted by the peoples of all religions, and let them enjoy it while being proud of their faiths.”

Responses from religious communities
Responses to Transcendental Meditation from religious leaders varies. For example: In 1989, The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a document to Bishops of the Catholic Church on “…Some Aspects of Christian Meditation” outlining concerns that the personal and communicative aspects of Christian prayer could be lost in trying to fuse Christian prayer and eastern derived meditation techniques such as Transcendental Meditation, and that such techniques be continuously scrutinized to ensure “syncretism” does not occur. In 1984, Jaime Cardinal Sin, then Catholic Archbishop of Manila, released a pastoral statement in which he outlined concepts taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi that he believed conflicted with Christianity.

Basil Pennington a Cistercian Monk describes the Transcendental Mediation technique as a simple technique that can stand on it own, but whose deep rest can act as a preparation for more traditional prayer. Adrian B Smith, a Catholic Missionary priest describes that the Transcendental Meditation technique in itself is not taught in the context of any religion, but that it can enrich the spiritual aspects of life.

Religious or not?
Whether Transendental Meditation is actually religion or religious in nature is controversial. In The Sociology of Religious Movements, William Sims Bainbridge describes Transcendental Meditation as a form of Hinduism simplified for Westerners whose cultural background would make acceptance of Hindu beliefs, Gods, and symbolism difficult. Pennington, on the other hand, says Transcendental Meditation is not religious and comes out of the ancient Vedic tradition, but is taught in a form “divorced" from that tradition and philosophy even though, Maharishi himself is a Hindu Monk. (Pennington. p95)

George Chryssides says the Transcendental Meditation technique may resemble a religion in some respects but lacks certain important elements that define a religion. For example, the mantra is recited as a technique that can benefit the practitioner, his surroundings and the world, rather than as a religious obligation. Chryssides goes on to say that although Maharishi’s philosophical tradition can be identified, practitioners of Transcendental Meditation are in no way bound by them.

Method for personal development
Alan Alridge describes Transcendental Meditation as a social movement in which the technique is used by a large and respectable group of people to reach personal and career goals. The Transcendental Meditation technique has also been described as "spiritual" but not religious, and as a coping strategy for life.

The puja
Bainbridge sees the puja, the ceremony performed by the Transcendental Meditation teacher during instruction in the Transcendental Meditation technique, as a religious initiation ceremony. Stark and Bainbridge describe the puja as a ritual that Transcendental Meditation teachers perform to remind themselves of their responsibility to teach in strict accordance with an ancient tradition. Religious elements, which may also be present in the ceremony, are understood by Transcendental Meditation teachers as philosophical concepts expressed through the language of Hinduism, according to Stark and Bainbridge. (Bainbridge p287)

Mantras
Mantras given to those learning the Transcendental Meditation technique are described by Cardinal Sin as invocations, some to deities. However this idea is not supported in comments by authors such as Hunt, Shear and Pennington. Hunt describes the Transcendental Meditation mantra as having no meaning but considers that the sound itself is sacred. While Shear, and Pennington ( Pennington p97) state that the mantras are used for their sound value alone.

Schools
In 1979, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the US District Court of New Jersey that a curriculum in the Science of Creative Intelligence/Transcendental Meditation (SCI/TM), was religious activity within the meaning of the Establishment Clause and that the teaching of SCI/TM in the New Jersey public high schools was prohibited by the First Amendment.[64][65] The court ruled that although SCI/TM is not a theistic religion it deals with issues of ultimate concern, truth, and other ideas analogous to those in well-recognized religions. The court found that the religious nature of the course was clear from careful examination of the textbook, the expert testimony elicited, and the uncontested facts concerning the puja,[66] but also largely determined by apparent involvement of government. The court also found state action violative of the Establishment Clause because the puja involved "offerings to deities as part of a regularly scheduled course in the schools' educational programs".

Since then, instruction in the Transcendental Meditation technique that does not include the SCI course, has been introduced in schools in the US including public charter schools as part of a voluntary "Quiet Time" program.

Cult issues
In 1987, the Cult Awareness Network (CAN) held a press conference and demonstration in Washington, D.C., saying that the organization that teaches the Transcendental Meditation technique “seeks to strip individuals of their ability to think and choose freely.” Steve Hassan, author of several books on cults, and at one time a CAN deprogrammer, said in the same press conference that those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique display cult-like behaviors. Cult-like tendencies are described in Michael A. Persinger's book, TM and Cult Mania, published in 1980.

David Orme-Johnson, former faculty member at Maharishi University of Management (at which all students and faculty practice the Transcendental Meditation technique daily) who has researched the Transcendental Meditation technique and the paranormal Maharishi Effect, cites studies by Schecter, Alexander , and Pelletier as demonstrating greater autonomy, innovative thought, and increases in creativity, general intelligence and moral reasoning in those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique. According to Orme–Johnson cult followers are said to allegedly operate on blind faith and adherence to arbitrary rules and authority, while these studies would indicate the ability of those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique to make mature, independent, principle-based judgments.