The Battle for Realism

Schisms in the Early Meditation Movement

by Tor Hersoug

During Acem's first 5-6 years, the organisation cooperated with Mahesh Yogi - also known as the Maharishi - and what would later be known as the TM movement. Deep-seated differences led to a final break in 1972. This article will start by outlining some of the values that we think were at the root of the conflict. Next follows an outline of Mahesh Yogi's background and the development of the TM movement, both before and after the break with Acem. Much of this material has hitherto been largely unknown, but illustrates important differences in approaches to meditation and personal development. Our aim in describing these divergences is to shine a new light on Acem's history and present position.

1968 - Marx, Mao, Maharishi...
The 1968 generation travelled in two directions - one political, the other more spiritual, relating to lifestyle and meditation. Both were anti-establishment, and both focused on consciousness-raising, new ways of living and new social forms. Both had strong leaders and clear ideological answers. Over time, however, both movements underwent modification. The development of Acem illustrates this process. At an early stage, Acem began re-evaluating its goals and direction, and the conflict with Mahesh Yogi was the first clear expression of this.

The rupture was not superficial. Like many conflicts within the 1968 generation, it was connected to larger philosophical and psychological issues. The rift brought to light Acem's basic goals, values and critiques of the times, some of which were quite controversial. Even people who had little interest in defending Mahesh Yogi supported attitudes and ideas that belong to more or less the same platform.

In Acem's view, every adult bears an existential responsibility for his or her personal development and contribution to the world. From this perspective, we are all unfinished entities with a duty to improve ourselves, our attitudes and our actions. Through meditation and reflective interaction, we can develop and contribute more to our social environment - as supporting players, but also as counter-balances to the conventional and established.

To all practitioners, and particularly the young, Acem emphasises the importance of completing one's studies and living up to one's commitments to family, work and career. Meditation is not to be used as a flight away from reality, but as a tool to become more reality oriented. Some of Acem's early opponents objected to what they deemed a "bourgeois" and "goody-goody" approach.

The effect of meditation is determined by what the meditator actually does and has nothing to do with a guru's or deity's "grace". It is important to meditate in a way that opens the mind to unfinished psychological material. Both inner and outer action are necessary to create something new. Acem believes that the value of meditation lies in what the technique helps the meditator to realise in his or her life, and not in specific experiences during meditation. Why, then, meditate at all? Is it not more important to be involved in political or humanitarian action? With regard to some goals, this is undoubtedly true. But if the goal is increased insight and better personal relations, meditation and reflection are important. When Acem distanced itself from utopian theories and aspects of New Age, alternative treatments and "spiritual" groups, some people were indignant or disappointed. Acem does not believe in gurus or subscribe to magical-mythological thinking. Guru orientation quickly develops into personality cult, subservience, belief in magic and a shift towards passive, unproductive attitudes to life. No human being is perfect, and this is also true of gurus - whether in spiritual movements, politics, arts or science. Of course, in meditation as in all things, differing degrees of understanding and insight make some people more worth listening to, not subserviently but through exploratory dialogue. On the path to understanding, we are all responsible for our decisions, but we are not experts, even concerning ourselves. We may easily make a wrong choice and defend it as though it were right. The fellowship and insights of others can assist us towards self-knowledge. Existential growth requires the ability to share, discuss and reflect.

A meeting of East and West
Towards the end of the 1950s, a man who was then called Bala Brahmachari Mahesh decided to travel the world and teach people to meditate. After travelling in Asia, he went to the US in 1959, in his early 40s, and to Norway and other countries a year later. "Brahmachari" is a title for novices within Indian orders of monks.

Brahmachari Mahesh taught a version of a traditional Indian meditation technique called jaap, but without the use of a rosary. This technique yielded relaxation and energy and reduced stress-related problems. Mahesh arrived in the West at the right historical moment, when interest in Eastern philosophy was growing rapidly, and cultural friction was erupting as traditional Western attitudes and lifestyles came under attack. He was in a more favourable position than other Eastern gurus who arrived later, and was received with open arms.

Mahesh's appearance and comportment were Indian. He called the goal of meditation cosmic consciousness, which was widely interpreted as expressing an Indian perception of reality. His message about the importance of developing human consciousness was well received in the West, because it fit with the contemporary rebellion against conventions and materialism. His thoughts also harmonised with the prevailing utopianism which characterised both Marx-inspired materialist politics and, somewhat later, aspects of the "spiritual" New Age movement. He started a movement called SRM (Spiritual Regeneration Movement), and later formed numerous organisations with different names. For many years, the Norwegian branch was called MIKI Norge (Maharishi Institute for Creative Intelligence in Norway). It is now called MGANL (Maharishi's Global Administration through the Laws of Nature), and remained under Mahesh's leadership until his death in February 2008.

Quite early he stopped calling himself Bala Brahmachari Mahesh, and opted for Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Maharishi (Big Seer/Wise Man) is a very rare title in India, traditionally reserved for the most important spiritual personalities, so his use of it for himself reflects the level of his ambition. The meditation technique he taught was originally known as Deep Meditation, gradually switching to Transcendental Meditation (TM) in the late 1960s. The change of name distanced the method from common Indian tradition and identified it as Mahesh Yogi's personal product, particularly as he registered TM as his trademark.

In 1967-68, pop idols including the Beatles and the Beach Boys learned to meditate, greatly enhancing TM's attraction. By the end of the 1960s, people were attending Mahesh Yogi's courses in droves. Many became enthusiastic and energetic members of the movement, and profits soared.

The students who formed Acem in 1966 had also learned to meditate in Mahesh Yogi's movement. They realised that his method was effective, and at the outset it seemed natural to collaborate with his movement. However, these ties would only last for 5-6 years.