[Buddha-l] Maharishi Mahesh Yogi dies

[Richard Hayes]

Since everyone seems to be confessing their former 
relationship with TM (TradeMark), I might as well confess 
that I have never had any formal connection to it. I did, 
however, have a cousin who was certified as a TM 
instructor and instructed people for several years before 
he left meditation in favor of cocaine. One time, breaking 
all the rules apparently, he gave me a mantra and told me 
to try it. He told me repeatedly that he was not supposed 
to give mantras to people who had not paid for them, but 
since I was family, and he thought I would benefit, the 
rules could be relaxed a bit.

I got my mantra. I followed instructions. I meditated on 
my mantra. I got the giggles. They started as little 
involuntary squirts of air out my nostrils, and grew from 
their to bellow-like wheezes and hoots and howls, that 
became so enlarged that they transcended my body. In 
short, I eventually fell over sideways on the floor and 
laughed until my ribs ached and my lungs were burning.

My cousin knitted his brow and said the mantra was not 
supposed to have quite that effect. He took the mantra 
back and told me never to use it again. My TM career 
ended. It was a short spiritual journey, but one of the 
most enjoyable I have ever embarked upon.

-- 
Richard Hayes
Department of Philosophy
MSC03 2140
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-001