Monday, January 29, 2007

Sue's Experience

At age 20 and 21, (in the years 1974-75), I lived in Mahesh enclaves in Switzerland, supported by my parents because a new "University" was opening up...Maharishi International University, and my parents were open minded during the world's time of oddball schools opening up everywhere...and I WAS UNABLE TO FUNCTION IN SOCIETY AFTER GOING THROUGH THE RIGOUROUS TEACHER TRAINING COURSE THE YEAR BEFORE. I had become like a freak to the world, couldn't get a job, couldn't even study at a real college, and couldn't relate to anybody but fellow "meditators," so they gave up and sponsored a 2 year stay at MIU.
The life there consisted of a couple hours of "studying" a traditional college subject like physics on video tapes...related to the Mahesh's "Science of Creative Intelligence." So we learned how the laws of physics demonstrated the Mahesh's ideology. (He had majored in physics himself). There were videotapes made of bonafide teachers teaching physics, philosophy, and math. The school was just beginning, so there were many subjects missing.
The idea was to relate the"Science of Creative Intelligence" or SCI to the different subject areas; we were all to get a degree in "Interdisciplinary Studies."
There were periodic visits from the guru, "Maharishi," as we lovingly called him, which was by his self-given title which means "great seer." I fit into the description of innocent and naive young sheltered, middle class white girl. The most important label would be "naive." I wanted to meet personally with the great man, if I possibly could because I was in the Maharishi stupor of being filled with whatever strange chemical gets created inside a person's brain during TM, especially too much of it, and the only anti-dote to this strange state of mind was more of the Mahesh "dharshan" or "vibes" as we said in the '70,s. I was allowed to see him personally.
The skin boy briefly consulted with the strange Indian dressed in white robes, and I was inside the room with no one else around. I was really nervous, feeling the presencs of a "holy man." there was the TMish smell to the room, the typical sweet faded incense smell, and lots of white everywhere, sheets, clothing, along with a flower or two. I don't know how the conversation opened, but I do remember him asking me of I had a boyfriend and when I said "no," he remarked, "Good, it's frivolous." Then he advised me to go back to school. Now I know how lucky I was. He was kind enough to advise me properly to go back to school, even though I didn't have the brain capacity due to all the meditation I was doing, and good enough not to try to have sex on me!
I am really glad for that. Really.
Thanks you old SOD!

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2 Comments:

At February 16, 2007 at 11:56 AM , Blogger Lehmann108 said...

Sue, looks like you and I were on the same TTC. I started in the fall of '72 in LaAntilla, the winter up the road in Punta Umbria and then on to Seelisberg in the spring of '73. Sorry to hear that TM wiped you out. Too much transcending! It never really had that effect on me. I went on for the whole ball of wax, graduated from MIU in '78, ATR's, TM-siddhi program, Purusha, TSR in Fairfield. I still meditate and enjoy it, but I'm far from being in the movement any more. Seems you bailed-out because of the effect it was having on you. Now, as I'm sure you know, the TMO is just replete with CRAZINESS. Ha! we even have a king! Anyway, all the best to you and I'd love to know who you were. I was the young guy (19) with the cane on TTC because of an earlier motorcycle accident with, of all people, John Hagelin ! (strange karma, huh?). Take care of yourself.

 
At February 24, 2007 at 8:36 AM , Blogger Sue said...

John,
I was also 19! i have a picture of our gradualting class; "the cream of the Crop!" is what some of us called ourselves. Boy was i wiped after that! Why son't I remember a cane? the only other really young person i was aware of was Lisa, who was even younger. My name was Sue Sweetalnd, and if you have a picture I am front row deaad center (strange, eh?) If I can figure out how to use the picture sender, I'll send you a picture or even sen a hard copy if i had your address. My e-mail is susan_crittenden@yahoo.com thanks for the comment.I was friends with Pam Brudno, but i fear she is still cooking in Holland; it makes me sad.

 

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