How the long and winding road to Spiritual Enlightenment starts in the heart of Exeter
Express & Echo, Exeter
22 August 2002
PEACE, MAN!
BY PHIL MARTIN
(Image of local TM experts and television with Maharishi speaking during weekly press conference)
OM'S the word for a £2 million Peace Palace idea being floated for Exeter by a group of dedicated yogic fliers.
And there is nothing fly-by-night about their plans which have the blessing and backing of the much-respected His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who once shared a meditating carpet with the Beatles, and is now based in Vlodrop, Holland.
The idea is to create an Exeter centre that would 'employ' some 200 full-time professionals dedicated to world peace and the growth of organic vegetables.
No site has yet been designated in the city or immediate area for the palace-although it will need a substantial acreage of suitable land to accommodate the necessary crops.
The county's richest individuals are to be approached to help raise the cash for the palace which would be self-sufficient and create its own wealth through its vegetables which will be cultivated using the ancient Vedic method.
And those who might raise an eyebrow at such ambitions are being advised to take a look at any car park in the city.
Peter Brown, who helps run one of the Maharishi's groups said: "We may be suspicious of foreign ideas, yet we have no worries buying German or Japanese cars. Why not try Eastern philosophies?
"People who listen to Maharishi and practise his techniques wil1 be healthier and have less stress in their mind and bodies.
"With lower stress levels there will be less crime and violence.
"There have been over 500 studies into a subject which, on the outside looks to be veiled in mysticism.'
Mr Brown said the meditation and organic agriculture methods would be likely to receive a sympathetic response from many people living in Devon.
The Maharishi's message is transmitted by satellite every Wednesday on the internet from his Global Country of World Peace base in Holland.
Among those who have tuned in are Les and Penny Gare of Rivermead Road, Countess Wear.
Penny said: "It's easy to be cynical, but the only way to fmd out if you could benefit from the philosophies is to go along and see for yourselves at one of the meeting places in Devon."
The Maharishi's methods are based around creating an 'inner' peace of mind which is achieved by transcendental meditation (TM) and yogic flying.
This is where you sit and meditate, eventually becoming 'levitational'.
It is said to be a powerful experience.
One of Maharishi's main aims is to bring mind and body to a state of peace and 'invincibility'.
His aim to establish peace palaces across the globe is also linked to an ambitious project under way along the banks of the River Ganges in India.
Mr Brown said the Maharishi wanted to provide homes for 40,000 Indians whose mass meditation would change the world and make it more difficult for war and crime to be carried out by relieving stress at the global level.
Mr Brown said that by the beginning of next year there should be between 10,000 and 20,000 Indians meditating on the site.
"Everyone will notice a huge effect," he said.
"It will be dedicated to creating peace, not just by talking about it but at the most fundamental level.
"That is all these professionals will do-it will be their job."
In a recent satellite broadcast the Maharishi said: "Stress accumulates in the body and nervous system. This has to be released now and again, often in the form of illness, anger or depression. Practising TM and yogic flying drastically reduces the stress produced by negativity."
o The Maharishi is available every Wednesday on www.globalcountry.org
CITY MAY BE CENTRE FOR MAHARISHI'S FOLLOWERS
Copyright 2002, Express and Echo