Deliciously Ironic...

As has already been explained in the premier article to this blog, my voice was taken away at the TM-Free blog when I was banned from posting further comments. The irony in this is that it was TM-Free that gave me a voice in the first place, at least a voice with respect to all things TM movement-related.

When I began to question some of the things that the movement was doing, I searched for answers and found a few internet sites critical of all things Maharishi, his movement, and TM. Eventually, I found TM-Free blog that, from all outward appearances, offered something that the other sites could not - free expression of ideas and an opportunity for discussion.

I lurked for awhile, reading articles and comments, and was elated that others once involved in the movement (just as I was still) recognized the same shortcomings that I had begun to see. But the content of some articles I didn't agree with at all, but figured that it must be healing to the author to be able to write about it. When I felt comfortable with the contributors and commenters, I began to post my own comments when I felt that I had something to say, whether in support or critical of another's writings. Initially, it was cathartic for me to put into words my sheltered feelings about current happenings in the movement, and in return to receive the reactions and insights of others (not to mention the headiness of it all). This continued for some time until I began to notice patterns in the majority of writings at TM-Free, i.e. repetition, proselytization, close-mindedness, cultishness, etc., which caused me to reflect on and re-evaluate my participation there. (I will explore this in more depth in a future article that I'll be writing at my other blog, TM-Free Free.)

So what was accomplished by my participation at TM-Free? For me, clarification of doubts and crystallization of what I feel about Maharishi and the TMO in that it may not be as good as I once thought but it's far from being as bad as the critical sites portray. For others, well, that may yet to be decided by those who read, with an open mind, what I was trying to say.

I believe that when life closes one door that it opens another that is perhaps more evolutionary (in spirtual terms, that is). The door to TM-Free blog has been closed but the door to this blog has now been opened, and perhaps what I and others have to say here will be of benefit to you, the reader...or not. What I do know is that it is of significant benefit to me. See the point? Thanks for listening.

The Bird

"Self" Destruction by/of a "Cult"?

In my opinion, some of the most creative writing to appear on TM-Free blog in recent months has been a series of comments from someone calling himself "muffpotter" in response to other comments under the following articles:

But it is so *beautiful*! posted May 16, 2011

Will Hagelin have the chutzpah..." posted June 7, 2011

Open Thread for Readers posted June 27, 2011

Reflections on Recent TM Publicity posted July 13, 2011

Let us entertain you... posted by Gina on July 22, 2011

A few words about comments posted July 24, 2011.

I say "has been" because muffpotter (as well as yours truly) now have the distinction of being two, if not the only, commenters banned from posting at TM-Free by current blog moderator Mike Doughney. (It is worth noting that the moderator reins were handed to Mike from blog creator John Knapp in a December 2010 announcement.) My point to all this is that Mike and some of the other contributors at TM-Free don't like to be criticized for the way they run things over there nor being asked to defend their sometimes blatant "untruths" (to put it mildly) about the TMO and its now deceased leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. And in their continuing quest to warn others of the dangers of over-practice (referred to as "rounding") of the meditation technique known as TM offered by Maharishi and his initiators since the late 50s, they have turned something once noble (in their minds at least) into a former shadow of itself as nothing more than attention-seeking repetition of "war stories", long-held grudges, and laying all the blame of what some of them have become in life (or should I say "have always been") on a person to whom they devoted their younger years.

And now it appears as though another TM-Free reader has left the ranks of commenter (but of his own accord) because he dared to offer his opinion that there might be some merit to "faith" in one's life, and then double-dared to calmly and rationally defend his opinion against the onslaught of circular arguments that ensued. Foolish man! When reading one of Mike's responses to this commenter, keep reminding yourself that he is the moderator, and hence primary spokesman, for this blog.

My bets are that TM-Free will self-destruct within the year. (Then again, this blog might not survive the month!) However, in Mike's defense, he did become captain of, in my opinion, a sinking ship (or at best, one hopelessly lost at sea) that all the trustworthy and believable contributors and commentors abandoned long ago. (It remains to be seen whether this captain will go down with the ship.) And to his credit, he has not deleted (as yet) the comments made by muffpotter and myself that resulted in our banning. Thanks Mike.

Well, that's about it for now folks, thanks for listening! Please watch for future articles and developments in my "new" project...your sincere comments, although moderated at present, are most welcome.

The Bird

PS. If you're out there friend Muff, I would love to have you writing posts on this blog if you feel so inclined.