Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who introduced transcendental meditation to the West and gained fame in the 1960s as the spiritual guru to the Beatles, died Tuesday at his home and headquarters in Vlodrop, the Netherlands.

He is believed to have been in his 90s and was said to be worth about 300 million.

Steven Yellin, a spokesman for the Maharishi’s organization, confirmed the death but did not give a cause.

(A lot of people thought his serene expression was from Yoga, others just thought he was stoned!)

The Maharishi originated the transcendental meditation movement in 1957 and brought it to the United States in 1959. Known as TM, a trademarked name, the technique consists of closing one’s eyes twice a day for 20 minutes while silently repeating a mantra to gain deep relaxation, eliminate stress, promote good health and attain clear thinking and inner fulfillment.

Classes today cost $2,500 for a five-day session.

The visibility and popularity of the organization can largely be attributed to the Beatles. In 1968, the band, with great publicity, began studying with the Maharishi at his Himalayan retreat, or ashram, in Rishikesh, in northern India.

They came with their wives, the folk singer Donovan, the singer Mike Love of the Beach Boys, the actress Mia Farrow and Farrow’s sister Prudence.

They left in the wake of rumors of sexual improprieties by the Maharishi, an avowed celibate, when he started hitting on all the women in the group!
No sexual-misconduct suits were filed.

Nevertheless, public interest in the movement had been aroused in the West, and it continued to grow in the 1970s as the Maharishi took his movement around the world.

He gained respectability as a "flying Yogi" even though he really just bounced around on his ass.

Float in peace!

Never mind that I am is the author of the book The Plain Truth About God (What the mainstream religions don't want you to know!) and is available at the web site www.God-101.com I'm going to start my own religion!!!!

Visit the blog "Perspective" at http://God-101.blogspot.com