RLGN 350 Exam 2 New Age Spirituality Transcendental Meditation

founded, location

• founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1917-2008) in 1955-1958 in India

• bases in Hinduism and karma yoga

• headquarters today in Vlodrop, the Netherlands

• also called Wold Plan Executive Council

key writings

• Hindu scriptures including the Bhagavad-Gita

• Meditations of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Science of Being and Art of Living, and other writings by the founder

who is God?

• each part of creation makes up “God” (Brahman)

• supreme Being is not personal

• all creation is divine; “all is one”

who is Jesus?

• Jesus is not uniquely God

• like all persons, Jesus had a divine essence, but unlike most, he discovered it

• Christ did not suffer and could not suffer for people’s sins

who is the Holy Spirit?

the Holy Spirit is not part of this belief

how to be saved

• humans have forgotten their inner divinity

• salvation consists of doing good in excess of evil in order to evolve to the highest state (final union of the self with Brahman) through reincarnation

what happens after death?

• reincarnation over successive lifetimes based on one’s karma

• souls will eventually merge into union with Brahman

• no heaven or hell

other beliefs, practices

• mentally recite a mantra (word associated with a Hindu god)

• meditate twice a day to relax and achieve union with Brahman

• Maharishi University of Management in Iowa offers advanced T.M. programs in “levitation” and “invisibility”

• yoga, Hindu astrology, crystals, and idol worship (offerings of flowers, fruit, and cloth for Maharishi’s dead teacher, guru Dev)