The unforgettable day I came face to face with the Maharishi
Champion, Skelmersdale
7 August 2002
(Article illustrated with large contemporary photos of Maharishi and the
Maharishi Golden Dome in Skelmersdale)
YOU are invited to a global news conference with His Holiness Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi, live via satellite. You will have the chance to ask questions
to be put to Maharishi during the live broadcast...
Wow, what do you say to the guy who founded Transcendental Meditation and
the worldwide Spiritual Regeneration Movement, inspired The Beatles and
formulated a master plan to create Heaven on Earth for the reconstruction of
the whole world?
For someone who has achieved such a high spiritual status, Maharishi
actually comes across as a charming, chatty Indian man who laughs a lot and
genuinely seems to be having a ball.
I found myself sitting in the conference room of the Maharishi Golden Dome
in Skelmersdale, with a few other people from the TM community who had
dropped in to hear Maharishi speak.
And can he talk! For almost three hours, he entertained the world's press
with general banter about the dreadful state of the world today and his
optimism for the future, And I have to admit, it was pretty fascinating. His
title of the day's speech was "individual nation."
He explained: "The population of the world is divided into two classes: man
is either a proud custodian of capitalism or a cosmic individual, working
for life everywhere."
Maharishi went on to speak at length about a huge variety of issues, from
corrupt governments, to education, to yogic flying.
At one point, he redirected the questions back to his listeners: "Does the
press think they're right in promoting the destruction of life? Every writer
should think what will be the psychology of my reader - will they be calm or
agitated? Will my writing add to life? Or will it add to the destruction of
life?"
"The press will create a new world, with a new light, comprising God,
harmony and happiness. The press has the key."
Maharishi's views on nation leaders were scornful; he boldly states what
many people are thinking.
President Bush is "an ignorant man" with the philosophy "I destroy you If
you don't follow me."
"But you can't blame him - he is a product of his nation. Until we have a
calm, happy, nation, we won't achieve a good president or prime minister."
Dr Bevan Morris, a spokesperson for Maharishi's national organisation,
talked for a while on education. He said: "Because of poor education all
over the world, with children only educating part of their brain, this leads
to stress, strain, negativity and crime.
"We need to change the character of the national consciousness to create
better government.
"We can do this by introducing TM into schools and setting up groups of
100-200 yogic flyers practising together in every state."
Questions were read out from Aberdeen to Australia. Maharishi answered each
one with careful consideration but you could see he was starting to tire.
And then my question was finally asked.
Hosting the conference, Dr John Hagelin said; "Maharishi, this question
comes from Sarah Burdon, who writes for The Champion in Skelmersdale: With
your knowledge, is it really possible to create Heaven on Earth?"
Maharishi straightened himself and smiled. He answered: "Yes. It is quite
near. World consciousness can become pure and in this generation, we can
create growth by sending the light wherever we want to - there is a hope for
the darkness of midnight to become dawn."
"It's not a matter of convincing the people, but merely to take notice of
the event, which is the important role of the press.
"Time is taking a turn from poverty to affluence. I want to alert the press
to what is happening and you can record it if you like.
"Suffering is being replaced by peace, by happiness - the bells are ringing
to the dawn of a better world.
"Destruction can't last much longer, but what is lasting is the light of
peace, of love. These values will blossom more and more. This is the great
hope for all the future of mankind."
And with that, Maharishi's question time was over. I stood up, and
straightened my stiff legs, feeling quite overawed. It's not every day you
get to question a world spiritual leader.
'Bush is an ignorant man.'
END
Copyright, Champion, Skelmersdale