Transcendental Meditation Movement - Promotion

Promotion

In 1968, when The Beatles were followers of the Maharishi, money and promotion were sources of tension. Although there was talk of making a film about the Maharishi in co-operation with Apple Films, it was discovered that the Maharishi was independently negotiating with ABC Television in the US to create a TV special featuring the band. Two visits by their business manager to the Maharishi failed to stop him proclaiming that he could deliver the band for a TV show. Their road manager was surprised when he realised the Maharishi was a sophisticated negotiator, knowing more than the average person about financial percentages. Another project involved Four Star Films and Bliss Productions, a company run by Charles Lutes who was the head of the Maharishi's Spiritual Regeneration Movement in the US. It was hoped that The Beatles would appear in it, but the contract was signed without their commitment. Some followers consider the crew's presence to have precipitated the sudden departure of Harrison and Lennon and was the catalyst for their discontent. John Lennon later told his wife that he felt that the Maharishi had, in her words, "too much interest in public recognition, celebrities and money" for a spiritual man.

As of 1975 the movement operated a full scale printing operation called MIU Press. In addition their World Plan Television Productions contained a film library and audio and TV production studios, with $2 million worth of equipment, which distributed 1,000 videos each month to their TM teaching centers.

Beginning in 1989, the movement began naming everything connected to the Maharishi after him, even retroactively renaming already existing entities or concepts. In her book, The Field, author Lynne McTaggart notes that the "organization has been ridiculed, largely because of the promotion of the Maharishi's own personal interests", but suggests that "the sheer weight of data......is compelling". In 2007, a large number of movement documents were released to Wikileaks. Part of the documentation exposed an organized and coordinated effort to undermine critical examination of the Transcendental Meditation movement, including references to TM which appeared on the WWW. These efforts also involved targeting comment sections of web pages related to TM movement press releases, whereby TM supporters would insert salutary comments to make it look as if the articles had exaggerated and more widespread acceptance by the public.

According to the New York Times, since 2008 there has been an increasing number of celebrity endorsements of Transcendental Meditation. Those who have appeared at promotional events to raise funds to teach TM to students, veterans, prisoners and others include comedian/actor Russell Brand, TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz, and singer Moby. A benefit performance in New York City in 2009 included a reunion performance by former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as musicians Donovan, Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Bettye LaVette, Ben Harper, Paul Horn, and Mike Love. Others appearing included comedian Jerry Seinfeld, actress Laura Dern, and radio talk show host Howard Stern. In addition, a 2011 book by Dr. Norman Rosenthal surveys the scientific research and promotes the health benefits of TM.